"Dissolved... huh?" Pressing her fingertip lightly on the button of the self-service drink machine, watching the orange juice slowly flow into her cup from the spout, Chika suddenly said with a sigh of emotion.
"If Miyuki-kun had been President for one more year, everything would have been perfect."
Yeah, it was only one year of time spent together.
It felt like there were so many plans she wanted to make that she didn't have time to finish... It was such a pity, and there was an indescribable sense of regret.
However.
"That won't do."
"Hmm?" Chika looked with some surprise at her friend, who was standing beside her, operating the ice machine to pour ice cubes into her cup.
Although Kaguya, who had closed her eyes and calmed her mind to recall the bits and pieces of the past, didn't see Chika's expression, she could still guess what her friend's face looked like at that moment.
Sigh, how could she not want to do exactly as Chika said, to stay by that man's side once again as Vice President?
She still wanted to stand by Miyuki's side once again, and once again, guarding him as always, watching silently, and accompanying him quietly.
To brew a cup of rich, fragrant coffee for him.
To gaze tenderly at that serious profile, and with a faint smile, softly call out the familiar title of "President."
But just as that online singer, who was also Miyuki's junior now and would be her younger brother in the future, had once casually said:
"Behind every beautiful thing, there is always a silent burden that belongs to you."
Kaguya also felt that during that visit to the Student Council office, when Miyahito-kun looked at Miyuki, who was focused on his work, the words he spoke were absolutely correct.
"Being the Student Council President at this school is very hard work." Kaguya's calm voice carried a trace of imperceptible heartache. "Balancing studies and a part-time job while also serving as President is a bit hard to fathom."
"Since he has already secured the Chairman's recommendation, Mi... ahem, there's no real benefit to being President again next year, is there?"
Clink, clink—!
Holding up the glass already filled with ice, Kaguya walked calmly past the dazed Chika, leaving behind a single sentence.
"Don't say such selfish things."
Yeah, that was just being selfish.
She knew perfectly well that if she let everything return to its former track, all she would get would be making the person she liked take on the heavy burden he had just put down once again.
To trade another year of time for their paths to cross with Miyuki-kun once again... Aside from that, there was nothing more Miyuki-kun would gain from this sacrifice.
Therefore, this was just being selfish.
.....
When Kaguya and Chika returned from the drink bar with their beverages, still a few steps away from their seats, they saw Miyuki looking as if he was hurriedly denying something, and Miyahito wearing a "I get it, I totally get it" expression with a highly intriguing smile.
The two girls subconsciously stopped in their tracks and exchanged a glance.
"Kaguya, look at Miyuki-kun and Miyahito-kun." Turning her head, her gaze falling on the two boys at the table again, Chika's eyes gradually ignited with the fire of curiosity. "It feels like they're talking about something interesting!"
Especially Miyuki-kun's reaction! It really, really makes one incredibly curious!
"Mhm."
A hint of curiosity also faintly appeared on her face as Kaguya nodded in agreement.
"Let's sneak over there."
"Mhm... Eh?"
Snapping back to her senses, Kaguya subconsciously reached out to stop Chika, who was trying to sneakily "stealth" over, and said with a hesitant expression.
"Isn't this a bit inappropriate? Eavesdropping and all."
"Aren't you curious, Kaguya?"
"..."
"Are you sure that those two will continue talking once they see us coming?"
"...."
"Besides, look at Miyuki-kun's panicked look. Miyahito-kun must have discovered something!"
"Maybe Miyuki-kun was caught by Miyahito-kun having a crush on a girl!"
"...!!!"
A girl he likes! Miyuki-kun likes a girl!
In an instant, Kaguya's eyes seemed to be lit up by something.
But the next second, noticing the teasing smile on Chika's face, she hurriedly suppressed the inadvertent smile at the corners of her mouth.
Shifting her gaze away with a hint of embarrassment, Kaguya said in a slightly trembling voice.
"Th-then... just this once."
"Mhm, mhm! Let's hurry over there."
"....."
With Kaguya's addition, the highly action-oriented Chika didn't say another word and directly dragged Kaguya, sneaking over stealthily.
As the distance between the two girls and the boys in the booth grew closer, slowly, the voices of Miyuki and Miyahito gradually became clearer.
However, not knowing what exactly the two were talking about, they had deliberately lowered their voices, so the two girls who had sneaked over to eavesdrop could only catch fragmented words.
"How could there be... certainty... risk... back then... Utaha was the same....."
Listening to the mixed, fragmented conversation of the two, Chika felt as if her curiosity was being scratched by a cat.
Ahhh! What on earth are Miyuki-kun and Miyahito-kun talking about!
Can't they just speak a little louder!?
What are they even saying! Something about "certainty," "risk," and even Kasumigaoka-san's name came up.
Could they really be talking about romance!?
However, just as Chika, with Kaguya blushing inexplicably and acting like a lovestruck maiden, tried to get a little closer, noticing something strange about her friend, Chika turned her head and looked at Kaguya in astonishment.
What's wrong with Kaguya? Could it be that she heard clearly what Miyahito-kun and Miyuki-kun were saying?
Well... Chika's guess wasn't entirely wrong, nor was it entirely right.
This was because, in fact, Kaguya hadn't completely heard the boys' conversation clearly either, but perhaps due to her frequent exercise and her practice of Kyudo (archery), which required a quiet atmosphere.
Compared to Chika, who could only catch a few fragmented keywords, Kaguya heard one complete sentence. It was a complete, very quiet sentence that Aragaki-kun said to Shirogane-kun.
"Miyuki-nii, Shinomiya-senpai is such a wonderful girl, you really need to hold on tight."
For the first time, Kaguya felt it from the bottom of her heart.
So, practicing Kyudo for so many years is actually this useful!
'He's actually encouraging Miyuki to hold on to me! And he thinks I'm a good girl!'
Good grief! Miyahito-kun is actually such a wonderful, good kid! How can he be so well-behaved and so nice! Seriously!!
Her cheeks gradually flushing red, Kaguya's gaze toward Miyahito, who seemed to be subtly urging Miyuki to confess quickly, transformed into a look of maternal kindness, gratification, and emotion, as if she were looking at her own younger brother.
Good boy! Truly a good boy!
From now on, I'll be your older sister!
No one is allowed to bully you!
I said so!
Kaguya raised her gaze slightly, looking at Miyuki, whose expression was becoming increasingly shaken, and Miyahito, who was now putting even more effort into his persuasion.
For the first time, she saw the dawn of victory in this "Love War" between her and Miyuki.
'Do your best! Miyahito-kun!'
Clenching her fists slightly, Kaguya watched the two boys with gradually tensing eyes, silently cheering for Miyahito in her heart.
However, just then, an accident occurred.
"Miyuki-kun! Miyahito-kun!"
Completely unaware that Chika had broken through her blockade, squeezed her way to Miyahito and Miyuki's side with a face full of curiosity, and forcibly inserted herself into the conversation, Kaguya was completely stunned by the sudden change before her eyes.
"You guys are so mean! Talking about romance-related things and not even inviting me!"
"..."
Looking at Chika, whose face was overflowing with an incredibly brilliant smile, Miyuki, who looked as if a huge weight had been lifted off his shoulders, and Miyahito, whose face was full of regret and pity.
For the first time, a murderous intent surged in Kaguya's heart, wanting to sink Chika—this unprecedented menace—to the deepest part of Tokyo Bay right then and there.
"Today's victor: Fujiwara Chika (who successfully breached the battlefield and disrupted Miyahito's offensive rhythm)."
"Defeated: Shirogane Miyuki, Shinomiya Kaguya, Aragaki Miyahito."