"So, to decide where we'll go for summer vacation—let's play a game!!" Chika raised her hand, shouting energetically.
Inside the Student Council Room, everyone else—including Ishigami Yu, who had just arrived—reacted differently.
"Fujiwara-senpai, don't you think it's a bit early?" Ishigami Yu pressed his game buttons without lifting his head. "Of course, I'm not saying there's anything wrong with Fujiwara-senpai's brain. But it's still over a month until summer vacation in mid-July. Deciding on a destination this far in advance is pointless."
He continued, his tone flat: "Anyone would think it's silly, right? If someone has something come up and can't go, it'll be awkward. It seems like only a fool could come up with such a decision—unless there's another possibility? Of course, I'm not saying Fujiwara-senpai is a fool."
"Are you secretly calling me a fool?" Chika pouted.
She imagined herself tossing and turning in bed at midnight, picking up a book, and reading between the lines: Fujiwara-senpai is a fool. That was her feeling at this exact moment.
"No, Fujiwara-senpai. How would I dare?"
"He's not saying it secretly." Sakurai Saki added fuel to the fire. "He's saying it openly."
Chika's pout deepened—but then she brightened. "But I don't mind! If it's just a game, playing is fine."
Who told him he liked Chika?
Kaguya Shinomiya held up her teacup, her drinking posture impossibly elegant. "What are we playing?"
She didn't like playing games. She just didn't like to lose. She also didn't like being represented.
"I have a part-time job." Shirogane Miyuki spoke somewhat insensitively. "I might not have time to go out during summer vacation."
"Then let Kei come out and play with us." Kaguya Shinomiya was very fond of Shirogane's younger sister.
"...Cough." Shirogane Miyuki cleared his throat. "I think I can probably free up a few days during summer vacation."
He did not want his younger sister going out with Sakurai Saki. What if she came back with an extra person? This wasn't an exaggeration. He genuinely believed Sakurai might make a move on his sister. The man had announced he would be a scumbag—and he had put it into practice. Openly cuddling with Fujiwara Secretary. Dating Hayasaka-san.
Privately, having another lover wasn't impossible.
To protect his younger sister's safety, Shirogane Miyuki decided not to work.
"By the way, can you disclose the cost?" If it was too expensive, he might have to give up.
"What are you talking about?" Kaguya Shinomiya retorted. "If everyone wants to go to the beach, I can cover everything."
Ice Kaguya deployed her superpower—[Money Power].
Capitalists were always so generous. Kaguya Shinomiya had many resources at her disposal. Her cash reserves might not be infinite, but finding a small island and booking an entire beach was very easy for her.
"Shinomiya." Shirogane Miyuki's tone shifted. "I think the beach is definitely better."
He had become a captive of capital. Why refuse a free trip?
"...Is everyone going?" Ishigami Yu looked up.
He valued his relationships with the Student Council. If everyone was going, he would go too. But he would probably continue playing games in his room and avoid the actual beach.
Sorry, I'm not very good at swimming. That would be his excuse.
"No! I don't want to! I want to go to the mountains!" Fujiwara Chika rolled around on Sakurai's lap.
Kaguya Shinomiya sighed. "Everyone has decided on the beach, Fujiwara-kun. No matter what you say, the outcome won't change."
"Let's play a game!" Chika sat up from Sakurai Saki's lap pillow and pulled out a deck of cards. "Ta-da~ Concentration."
A very stiff topic shift.
But everyone still looked at her.
Concentration: a memory game. Face-down playing cards arranged on the table. Flip two at a time. If they match, take both cards and score a point. If they don't match, flip them back. The player with the most cards at the end wins.
It seemed a bit complicated. Maybe you hadn't fully understood the explanation. But that was okay! Just watch!
"Oh, fine. I'll play with you this once." Kaguya Shinomiya didn't have many options when it came to Chika. Chika was her good friend from middle school—one of the few female friends she could confide in. So Kaguya wouldn't directly refuse her.
"Come on." Sakurai Saki set aside the documents he had been reviewing.
Fujiwara Chika had already arranged the playing cards.
Ishigami Yu stared at the table. "Fujiwara-senpai, how are you planning to cheat this time?"
Though framed as a question, his tone was unusually certain.
"Ah... how could I?" Fujiwara Chika averted her gaze. Her light blue eyes were filled with panic. She looked as if cold sweat was about to trickle down her face. "Me, cheating? Ishigami-kun, you really like to joke~"
She finished speaking and chuckled a few times.
"This pattern." Ishigami Yu examined the cards closely. "Hmm? Something's not right."
At the corners, four different patterns. The details of those patterns had other distinctions.
"...I can't believe it!" Ishigami Yu picked up two cards and flipped them over. "Fujiwara-senpai, to win a game, you actually custom-ordered something like this?"
"Custom-ordered?" Kaguya Shinomiya asked curiously.
"Yeah. Fujiwara-senpai, didn't you see the small print on these?" Ishigami held the cards up to his eyes. "My family makes toys, so I'm familiar with this kind of thing. Some card manufacturers accept custom orders—you can add your own text and icons." He squinted. "Right here, it says 'saku.'"
He stopped reading mid-word, realization dawning.
"Fujiwara-senpai." His voice was flat. "Can you please not show off your affection for Sakurai-senpai in this way?"
Since these two had started dating, they had become more and more excessive. Even when cheating, she had to write Sakurai-senpai's Romanized name on the cards. This was a new type of public display of affection—one he had never seen before.
Fujiwara Chika's small face was completely red.
Beside her, Sakurai—who had been halfway through drinking his tea—started stifling laughter. He coughed a few times, looking somewhat pained.
"So that's how it is." Sakurai said, smiling.
Fujiwara Chika's face flushed crimson. She didn't say a word. If a hole had opened up in the floor at that moment, she would have crawled into it without hesitation.
After more than ten seconds, she made a tiny sound, barely louder than a mosquito: "I'll use regular cards."
She quickly gathered the custom cards and set them aside.
Sakurai Saki was still laughing.
"What are you laughing at!" Chika turned her head, annoyed.
"Nothing." His voice was gentle. "I'm just happy to know this."
Chika lowered her head to organize the cards.
Sakurai Saki glanced at her ears—red all the way to the roots.
So cute.