Ishigami Yuu was sitting behind the school building during the lunch break. In this hectic exam period, the situation in the student council office was unbearable. Everyone had been studying intensely, even while pretending not to be, and Ishigami didn't like that kind of hypocritical approach.

Studying is for losers!

Now, granted, Ishigami didn't think he failed his exams. However, it wasn't as if he had the confidence of ranking very high. He didn't need to check the announcement board. If anything, Ishigami was confident he was in the bottom ranks.

But that didn't phase him at all.

The exams were over.

However, he began to appreciate the silence granted by this strange place behind the main school building. A concrete platform inside the recess between two sides of the main building had become his favorite haunt.

Neither students nor teachers came here. Even the disciplinary committee didn't pass through here with any regularity. And yet, at the same time, the place was conspicuous enough that rule-breakers wouldn't dare to use it.

A perfect spot for a loner!

"Hey, it's Ishigami!"

Huh?!

Ishigami looked aside to see the appearance of a girl, that also just happened to be his classmate.

Her name...

"Onodera Rei..." He stiffened and muttered weakly.

"What's going on? You're eating lunch alone behind the school building?" She asked bluntly. "Though I'm not one to talk since I'm also going to eat alone today."

"Eh, uh..."

Ishigami wasn't sure what to say.

"Can I sit next to you?" She asked.

"Umm, not really! Of course, you can eat here!" Ishigami forced a smile as he flailed. "And please use this handkerchief if you want to sit there."

That was a lie.

It wasn't as if they were on a good start this early into the school year. However, Ishigami did remember something that put her apart from other girls in the class.

Onodera asked about what had happened between him and Ogino.

No one had asked about it before. Not even Iino, who didn't immediately hate Ishigami's existence without him willingly breaking the rules first, or her friend Osaragi, who treated him with pure ambivalence.

It told Ishigami that Onodera Rei had a massive sense of curiosity since most girls would have been content with what they would have heard already.

Those kinds of people were people who Ishigami had a hard time dealing with. However, his twisted chivalry acted before any consideration.

"You're a gentleman in the weirdest ways, Ishigami." She replied. "But, thank you."

He ended up lending her his handkerchief. At the very least, he could only do that much, even if he was wary of her, and wondered why someone like her would want to sit beside him.

"So what's up? Do you always have your lunch here?" She asked. "I'm not here very often."

"Eh?" Ishigami grimaced. "N-no, I have lunch in the student council office most of the time."

"I see." She said as she opened her paper lunch bag. "Around this time, people are being super annoying, so I left."

"Annoying?"

"Yeah, everyone was anxious about their mid-term grades!" Onodera replied as she munched a sandwich. "You look calm."

"Ah, well... it's not like I aimed for a high place or anything." Ishigami awkwardly grinned. "W-what about you?"

"Mmm... I'm confident I'll get above average, at least." She said. "But as for how high, no guarantees."

What a confident smile. Also, she's way too close! The way she was leaning in, normies sure are amazing. In the worst way possible. Well, she smells nice, at least.

"Do you always read a book like this while eating?" She eyed the covered book that was set beside him.

"No, I don't like breadcrumbs on my book." He responded as he also opened his lunch bag.

"What book is that anyway? Manga?"

Ishigami began to sweat badly.

The truth was that no, the book wasn't really a manga. It was actually a light novel, but he was too embarrassed to tell her.

"It's novella."

Technically true. While it was hard to find an equivalent form for light novels in the West, a novella was basically the closest in terms of length.

"Novella? What's it about?"

"Umm, it's about a romance between a socially awkward guy and an exotic transfer student!" Ishigami said. "You know, the standard stuff!"

The fact that said exotic transfer student was an elf from another world was something that should be kept hidden!

"I see." She chuckled. "Never thought you're the type to read romance."

"Guys really like romance too! We're just not as obsessed about it." Ishigami cringed. "That's why fiction aimed at guys often has romance as a subplot or subtext."

Shonen works certainly were like that about half the time, and the other half would desperately avoid anything romance-related due to potentially getting in the way of the friendship plot and themes.

And then there was also the genre of romantic comedy, which was ironically dominated by works aimed at guys.

"Huh. I don't read a lot, so I wouldn't know." She told him.

He huffed. So Onodera was one of the more uncultured normies. "Really? Then what do you do in your spare time?"

"I'd watch the movie adaptation if there was one." She shamelessly grinned.

"Have you tried to check out the originals?" He asked.

"Nah, too much work." She shook her hand.

Uncultured normie!

Of course, it wasn't as if Ishigami wouldn't be happy if his favorite written fiction got a decent adaptation, even if it wasn't something exemplary. However, the Onodera types who only watch adaptations and never tried to pick up the original work... Ishigami despised them the most!

He let out a disgusted sigh.

"So, what's the business with Ogino?" She suddenly asked.

"Hell if I know." He looked away. Of course, she wouldn't miss the juiciest topic of the month. When Ogino was about to transfer out of Shuchiin, he actually approached Ishigami and made an attempt at reconciliation.

Almost certainly, that scene made news in the normie network.

"Do you think he meant it?" She mumbled.

"Don't think he meant it, but I couldn't care less..." Ishigami said. "It's been more than half a year since we met in middle school, and then he suddenly approaches me like that. Disgusting."

"So, you still hate him."

"What difference is there whether I forgive him or not?" Ishigami sneered. "It doesn't really change anything."

Well, it does.

The students of the class no longer looked at him with contempt, however, that was assuming they looked at him at all. After that ludicrously fake reconciliation, it was as if they just didn't see Ishigami anymore.

Let alone being forgiven and acknowledged, it was as if they erased Ishigami's entire existence from their minds. Part of Ishigami felt that it was more painful to be forgotten than him being an object of hatred.

That was the entire principle behind Damnatio Memoriae, after all. Being forgotten was the most damning punishment.

"I see."

"Oh, isn't that Ishigami?"

Ishigami and Onodera looked aside to see Hachiman wandering around with his bag and a small icebox under one arm.

"Senpai, you don't go and check the notice board?" Ishigami asked.

"Don't want to, I want to go to the council office and sleep my ass off after drinking."

How carefree. But both Ishigami and Onodera could see that Hachiman sported thick lines under his eyes. He must have worked hard despite his laid-back attitude.

"Well, saying that, I'm sure Senpai will be in the top 10 again."

"I'm confident I can do at least that much..." Hachiman said, and then looked at Onodera. "Onodera, wasn't it?"

"Ah, you remember me, Hikigaya-senpai." The girl seemed surprised.

"Well, I tend to remember people who make an abnormally strong impression."

Onodera began to sweat. They weren't really on good terms the first time they met, though it was mostly because of her attitude toward Ishigami.

"Umm, she just happened to come here..." Ishigami explained. He wondered if Hachiman misunderstood and thought there was something between them.

"I didn't say anything." Hachiman raised his eyebrows. It would be weirder if Ishigami dated someone like her, though it wasn't as if such a thing could be considered impossible.

"Oh, right. Do you want something to drink?" Hachiman opened his icebox and pulled out a pair of glass bottles from inside. They had the usual light brown, yellowish colored liquid inside. "A new recipe. They're ginger-honey flavored this time."

"What is this? Alcohol? You're still a minor, aren't you?" Onodera widened her eyes in shock. She didn't expect that someone so young could be an alcoholic, let alone carrying them around openly like this at school...

"No. It's only about 1%, so it's fine." Hachiman said. Legally not considered an alcoholic drink by law, his handmade beverages became his signature to the people around him, including Ishigami.

"It's alright, even Iino drinks them sometimes..." Ishigami said as he received one from Hachiman.

"Are you serious?!"

Someone so anal about school rules and regulations like Iino Miko willingly drank it? Either she got roped in, or there was literally nothing wrong.

"Alright, then." Onodera hesitantly accepted. "Thanks, Senpai."

"If you want more, feel free to come by and grab another bottle," Hachiman said as he left.

What a strange Senpai.

"It's not spiked, is it?" She eyed Ishigami suspiciously.

Ishigami opened his bottle and then poured some down his throat without touching the bottle to his lips. He capped it again and then offered her. "Wanna trade?"

"Eh, whatever." Onodera shrugged and decided not to. Instead, she opened hers in her hand and drank its content carefully.

It was super cold at first, but slowly let out a warm and soothing sensation in her throat and chest. There was absolutely no stench of alcohol in it, but instead, the mild scent of ginger and lemon filled her nose.

"Whoa."

"Senpai is amazing in more ways than one..." Ishigami remarked.

"You sure think highly of him, huh?" Onodera hummed. "Among the first years, the President is far more popular. Hikigaya-senpai has too many bad rumors surrounding him."

"I admire them both, and I'm very much indebted to them. But rather than President Shirogane, Hikigaya-senpai is the person I aspire to be."

She chuckled heartily. "You're a weirdo."

Ishigami knew she didn't mean anything serious by it, but it still hurt to hear that.

"But you're nowhere as bad as people say."

"...People always say whatever they want." Ishigami took another chug. "News at eleven."

She put the almost empty bottle aside and then jumped off the platform. "That goes for you too, right?"

"That goes for me too." He nodded. "Don't worry, I'll return these to Senpai later. Just leave it here."

"Right. When you meet up with Senpai, please tell him it was delicious."

She grabbed the handkerchief that she had been using to sit on and looked away shyly. "As for this... I sat on it, so I'll wash it and give it back later."

Oh. NOW you're embarrassed, huh? Freaking normies, I swear.

As he saw the figure of her permed hair disappear around the corner, Ishigami looked at the near-empty bottle of kvass and picked it up.

He looked left and right and opened the lid...

Onodera drank this. He thought and gulped. What if someone...

He looked left and right to make sure no one was watching.

And then poured the remaining contents down onto the ground before screwing the lid on properly after the bottle was empty. There was no way he is that desperate for something like an indirect kiss.

But Onodera really is pretty.

やはり, 彼らが望む告白は間違っている.
As expected, the Confession they want is wrong

Original Story by: Watari Wataru and Akasaka Aka
Written by: ZeroXSEED, Co-Writer/Editor: GoukaRyuu

Chapter 25 - Onodera wants to hear...

Onodera decided to go and check the notice board. Since everyone else had decided to check already, the crowds had started to subside somewhat, and the disciplinary committee was seen hanging around with their armbands on.

"Rei, you're late!"

"You aced it."

She didn't expect people to start singing her praises, and then she noticed that she ranked 42nd in the Midterm. "Woah."

"Talk about a dull surprise..." Osaragi commented.

"How about you?" She asked the bespectacled member of the Disciplinary Committee and Iino Miko's closest friend.

"Mhhh, I wasn't feeling that hot during the exam, so I'll be in the bottom 30... probably." Osaragi smiled.

"Woah, how skeptical." Onodera cringed. "How about that?"

Iino Miko stood proud, arms crossed with a smug expression plastered on her rounded face. Onodera looked on the score sheet again and noticed Miko was ranked first.

"Nevermind then."

"Did you hear?"

"Yeah, there was a commotion in the second year area."

"I can't believe it!"

Onodera focused her hearing towards this source of noise, that being the crowd of whispering first years who were a little distant from the notice board.

"Whassup?" She asked. "Anything interesting?"

"Oh, Rei." One of them said. "It seems that someone beat Shinomiya-senpai for second place in this mid-term."

"Ehhh?" Onodera widened her eyes in shock.

The knowledge of the exam rivalry between President Shirogane Miyuki and Vice President Shinomiya Kaguya was something that the first years had inherited from their seniors. Close to the exam, this topic spread like wildfire in the school grapevine.

Three exams had passed, and the position did not change in the slightest. From the final exams of the first semester last July... to the final exams of the third semester this March... the position of the first and second rank remained unchanged.

No one expected things to change in the second year as well, yet...

"Who was it?" Onodera asked.

"Someone named Yukinoshita Yukino, another impure student..."

An impure student, those words were always mentioned with pure arrogance. Referring to the students who didn't attend Shuchiin from kindergarten to high school, but instead transferred in somewhere in between.

Those students weren't considered worthy of respect until they proved themselves.

"Does it really matter if she's pure or not?" Onodera asked. "The fact that she's here is more important. Have you checked her history before?"

Onodera was thankful because she got scolded by Hikigaya-senpai before.

Ever since she got involved in the debacle surrounding Ishigami, she learned not to take rumors and hearsay at face value. Instead, it sparked her interest to delve deeper and seek the truth.

She became a rumor chaser.

"Apparently, she's the daughter of Chiba's Representative. Her family also owns the largest construction company there. The news said that she attended middle school overseas."

So it wasn't as if she came from an ordinary family or anything, so what was the issue? Onodera thought.

"Sorry, I gotta check a few things." Onodera waved and headed to the second year area to check the notice board there.

The situation was complete chaos.

"Well... from what I heard, her grades are on an upward trend since she entered Shuchiin last year. In the third and final exam, she had ranked third, right behind Kaguya-sama."

So it was either a stroke of luck, or inevitability. Besides, that difference in score was so marginal, that in any other situation it wouldn't be a big deal.

But the whole ordeal was signal boosted by preexisting rumors.

That being the rumor of a love affair between Shirogane Miyuki and Shinomiya Kaguya. That rumor, despite having been officially denied by the involved parties, persisted far longer than it should have.

It was because the relationship between the President and Vice President was peculiar. All this time, those two stood out on the top with no one else to compare to. They had been seen as close with each other even outside of council work.

The appearance of someone like Yukino, it was like a third person barging into an ongoing relationship.

A love rival.

All this time, no one had expected, not even dared to imagine someone could be considered a love rival to someone as perfect as Shinomiya Kaguya.

Of course... it was a total stretch to connect examination grades with a love affair, but no one said that Shuchiin students were always rational.

Far from it, the post-exam period, anxiously waiting for the top 50 list to be posted in the notice board, was when tensions were running the highest.

Around this time, something as simple as a rank swap could make or break relationships. And the relationship between the President and Vice President wasn't an exception. Or at least, the public perception surrounding it wasn't.

"I can't believe this! How could they believe such a baseless rumor!" A girl with long, wavy brown hair fumed. "Heretics!"

Heretics?

"Well, they don't know the truth as we do." Her friend, a girl with a black ponytail, remarked. "They don't know Yukino-san as we do."

Oh, so they're Yukinoshita-senpai's friends.

"Excuse me, Senpai." Onodera approached them. "Do you know Yukinoshita-senpai?"

"Yes? Who are you?"

"I'm Onodera Rei from Year 1, nice to meet you." She bowed at them politely.

"Ah, I'm Kino Karen." The brown-haired girl said. "And this is Kose Erika. We've been in the same class as Yukino-san for two years and have been friends with her since then as well."

"We are from the Newspaper Club." Erika made a victory gesture. "So, we're pretty informed about things."

"I see."

"Are you interested in Yukino-san?"

"Well, not her specifically." Onodera rolled her eyes. "I just find it ridiculous that people are making such a big deal about this."

"See? We have another person with common sense here!" Erika exclaimed.

"HALLELUJAH!" Karen raised both hands up in agreement.

Wow. Overreacting much?

"But there's no way people will make it such a big deal if Yukinoshita-senpai is someone ordinary and unrelated, so I'm curious why. Forgive me if I'm being rude and nosy."

"...Onodera-san, right? Wanna come with us and enjoy some tea?"

"Thank you for the offer."

The trio ditched the crowd and went to the cafeteria.

"Yukino-san is pretty well known among us second years..." Karen said. "She didn't stand out all that much at first, not only for her relatively average background, she also came from outside Shuchiin. But over time, Yukino-san showed herself to be an exemplary student."

"Whether it was in academics, sports, or the arts, Yukino-san proved herself to be an extraordinary person..." Erika said as she bit her lips angrily. "It pains me to say this... borderline blasphemous even, but among the many talented beauties of Shuchiin, someone like Yukino-san is the only one who can stand side by side with Kaguya-sama."

Why blasphemous? Is she part of the Kaguya Cult or something?

"I see." Onodera nodded. "So, they were rivals all along."

"Even saying that, they didn't really interact a lot." Karen waved a hand dismissively. "Different class, different clubs, different social circles... I think it's safe to say that they're barely more than strangers."

"But now that she went this far, you can say it's impossible to escape them crossing fate." Someone slammed the table.

Onodera looked up to see a red-haired girl with her hair in two-tails.

Onodera knew this person.

Shijo Maki.

Her family had branched off from Shinomiya's during the post-war recovery period, where private conglomerates became increasingly more powerful and wealthy. Where Shinomiya become one of the four great Zaibatsu families in Japan, the Shijo family went overseas and grew more powerful from there.

Furthermore, Shijo Maki was the closest person to Kaguya when it came to academic rivalry. That was something that a purebred Shuchiin student like Onodera would know.

"Shijo-senpai, wasn't it?" Onodera asked.

"Nagisa, too! Come and join us!" Erika called out.

A short, black-haired, somewhat plain but, in a cute way, girl followed.

"My name is Kashiwagi Nagisa, who is this?" She sat down.

"She's Onodera Rei, a first-year."

Onodera bowed.

"What do you mean with [can't escape crossing fate], Senpai?" The freshman asked.

"Ever since the challenge that happened a year ago, this conflict has already been set into motion." Maki took a sip of her iced tea. "You might be aware that before he was president, Shirogane Miyuki was General Affairs Manager of the student council, yes?"

"I've heard it offhand." Onodera nodded. "He challenged Shinomiya-senpai before the final exams, then after he managed to miraculously win, he announced his candidacy as the next President in the general student assembly."

The fact that Kaguya became Vice President was also the result of that bet. A bet that she lost, forever changing her life.

"There was a riot back then." Karen shuddered. "It could be said that Shuchiin suffered a political shakeup. However, the performance of the new student council's formation was exemplary enough that most students were willing to let go of the past."

"Well, most of the students anyway." Maki laughed smugly. "There were tons of salty seniors that felt they were not respected enough, they're already third years today."

"Ah."

Come to think of it, Miyuki was still in his first year when he got elected. So the reaction was understandable. Not just an impure student. Not just a first year. Shirogane Miyuki was also a scholarship student.

"In other words, the rivalry of grades between President Shirogane and Kaguya-sama shaped Shuchiin's balance of power into what it is now..." Erika told Onodera. "That's why the second years are making such a big deal of it."

"Unfortunately, it seems that Yukino-san accidentally intruded into their long running feud." Kashiwagi shook her head in sadness. "If things get out of hand, I'm afraid there will be a bloodbath."

"Ha, it's probably just Auntie throwing a tantrum." Maki cackled manically. "Yukino-san didn't even bother to check the notice board. She's probably sleeping soundly like a Destiny Princess at the moment."

Sleeping?

Ah.

"Hikigaya-senpai is also sleeping."

The four second-year students became silent.

"That reminded me of something." Erika hummed. "I'm pretty sure there was something juicy about them in the past."

"Yukino-san insisted nothing was going on, and yet they talk about each other like they talk about an ex." Maki laughed hard. "Are you kidding me? Just kiss already!"

"Well... there are times where you want to be with someone, but circumstances don't permit it. Both of them are so dedicated to studying and clubs." Kashiwagi remarked. "I don't think they would have any time to date, even if they did like each other."

Onodera felt like she just stumbled into a mysterious knowledge that no first year should know.

"Either way, I don't think Yukino-san had any intentions on intruding. So hopefully, everyone just forgets about it quickly."

...

"Something like that happened, huh?" Hachiman muttered when Hayasaka called him through video chat that evening.

"[Kaguya-sama went to sleep earlier than usual.]" Hayasaka told him. "[She refused to talk about it.]"

"Well, Miyuki wasn't any different. I thought something was suspect, didn't expect for Yukinoshita to accidentally upset the entire school hierarchy though."

Hachiman was more than well aware of the current meaning behind the first and second place results in the exams. Not just in terms of deciding Shuchiin's hierarchy, but also in the interpersonal relationship between those two.

Had it been any other competition, Kaguya would have accepted her loss with grace. However, she took a precarious approach when it came to the academic exams.

"But think about it, there's nothing Miyuki can do at this time either. If he tried to console Shinomiya, it would hurt her pride even more. If he tried to dismiss it, it would be a dismissal of her efforts. As the absolute winner, he can only observe." Hachiman said. "It would be up to Shinomiya on how to cope with her defeat."

"[You know just as well how stubborn she is.]" Hayasaka frowned. "[Are you telling Kaguya-sama to suck it up?]"

"If possible? Yeah." Hachiman said. "This is not the first time she's suffered a defeat, right?"

"[But this time it's different than usual.]"

"Then make her yield, or regain her pride through other means..." Hachiman said. "Are you going to cater to her ego forever?"

"[Unfortunately, that comes with the job description.]" Hayasaka shook her head. "[I'm happy that we can work together to encourage them... I still can't overstep my bounds.]"

"Right, my bad. You're a professional, after all."

"[Is that sarcasm?]"

"No. It was an observation, Hayasaka." Hachiman said aloud. "You know what? I'm going to have a good talk with Miyuki, but knowing that bastard, he'll act tough like nothing is wrong."

"[Is there really nothing he can do?]"

"There is..." Hachiman said. "Spoil her while acting as if nothing's happened. Either Shinomiya will be content, or she will break down crying."

"[Very observant of you.]" Hayasaka smiled.

"For what it's worth, could you make Shinomiya ignore Yukinoshita for the time being? She had no business being involved in this stupid war for a confession."

"[Oh? Are you trying to protect her?]"

"Protect her? No. I'm trying to protect Shinomiya's ego." Hachiman said. "Shinomiya picking a fight with Yukinoshita would make her a sore loser."

"[Since when have you had an impression that Kaguya-sama wasn't one?]" She deadpanned.

Leave it to Hayasaka to burn her own Mistress so bluntly.

"Well, hopefully, things will cool down over the weekend!" Hachiman said. "As long as no one provokes her, I'm sure things will be fine."

That's right. After venting, the mental pressure inside Kaguya would be lessened. Then Kaguya would be able to keep her calm.

"[Right, let's make sure that remains the case.]" Hayasaka said. "[Anyway, congratulations on 6th place.]"

"Eh, not worth it. I don't think I can pull that off next time." Hachiman said. "I just happened to have fewer job requests, plus no council responsibilities to deal with."

"[Even so, it's still a result of your hard work.]" She smiled. "[Congratulations.]"

"...You can show off some more. Hayasaka." He told her.

Hayasaka froze for a moment. Why would he say that?

"[I'm not sure what you mean, Hikigaya-san. Do you think my make up stands out too much?]"

"I'm not talking about your work or your disguise." He chuckled.

"[It's already late, let's talk again tomorrow if you want.]" She told him.

"Sure enough."

On the other side of the computer, Hayasaka closed the window and took a deep breath. Even across the net, it seemed that it would be impossible for Hayasaka to fool Hachiman.

To be honest, had he not mentioned that, she probably would have tried to drag the conversation out a little longer. However, she wasn't confident she could keep her composure any longer.

"Why would you say that?" She went to the bathroom and cleaned her face.

It was time for her to make her daily report...

After making sure she fulfilled all her duties to the Shinomiya group, Hayasaka rested on her bed. She wondered if, for once, she could go to sleep early too...

She turned on her phone, trying to watch the usual shocking videos.

Yet, she couldn't help but get distracted instead. The image from the conversation she had with Chika and Momo coming back to haunt her.

"I've been studying hard with Hikki-san all week." Chika smugly lifted the glasses she wore to mitigate eye strain. "I'll take you on anytime."

"Pffft, smug bitch."

Momo remarked. "We've studied together for nine months now. He's not good enough for me at this point, I'll catch up to him for sure."

Ah...

It seemed that Hachiman was aware that Hayasaka was deliberately botching her exams so as not to stand out.

Show off some more, huh?

Even if Hayasaka wanted to, she couldn't. Hachiman's tactless encouragement rang painfully in the corner of her heart.

There was a time where Hayasaka and Kaguya would receive the exact same education from the same tutors. However, as Hayasaka's responsibilities increased with time, Kaguya also received more diverse tutoring. She no longer had the luxury of being Kaguya's equal.

"I'm..."

Hayasaka wanted to say sorry, but she wasn't sure who she felt sorry for.

Unfortunately for Hayasaka, the peaceful weekend did not come.

Kaguya faced Yukino that Saturday, her ruby red eyes gleamed full of resentment. Meanwhile, Yukino's clear blue eyes looked back at her with caution.

"Yukinoshita-san..."

"What is it, Shinomiya-san?"