Kanade had never imagined that his first true experience of a classic Shura field—a battlefield of love and rivalry—would unfold with another guy. But thankfully, Ishigami hadn't pulled the infamous "I was the first one" line, and they had all been spared a stomach-churning, white-knuckled romantic showdown. So at least that was something.
In short, there were no major issues on Kanade's side. After responding to Ishigami's somewhat out-of-the-blue request, he tried calling him "Yuu" just once. But the moment he did, Ishigami froze like he'd been electrocuted, visibly twitching.
"Ugh, no, no… That sounded all kinds of wrong," Ishigami muttered, scratching his head in discomfort. "It gave me goosebumps. That was full-on spine-chilling."
Kanade blinked. "Oi… then why did you even ask for it in the first place?"
He almost facepalmed, resisting the urge to point out that it was Ishigami's idea to begin with. In the end, Ishigami meekly asked Kanade to just stick with calling him by his last name, while he himself kept up the usual formal "President" title.
And so, the unexpected tension in the student council was momentarily diffused—if one were to ignore Fujiwara Chika's increasingly dramatic behavior.
"Unfair! Even someone like Ishigami gets to be called by name? Why haven't I ever gotten that honor?!" she cried out, puffing up like a pink octopus ready to explode. "Yada yada yada! I won't accept this injustice! This is emotional damage!"
Kanade stared blankly. "…Seriously?"
Just as he was about to say something, Ishigami jumped in first, crossing his arms and delivering a lethal verbal strike.
"What do you mean by 'someone like Ishigami,' senpai? Don't belittle the deep, unspoken bond between me and the President!" he declared with mock sincerity. "Besides, it's your constant selfish demands that put the President in awkward positions, right?! You're just being immature and clingy. Honestly, my evaluation? You've got the emotional range of an elementary schooler—no wait, that's an insult to actual elementary schoolers… Tsk tsk, what a small fry, senpai."
Not only did he roast Fujiwara without mercy, but he even glanced at Kanade afterward, seeking approval like a child showing off a good grade. Kanade looked away awkwardly.
Okay, yeah, maybe what Ishigami said was kind of true… but you can't just say it like that out loud!
Predictably, Fujiwara exploded into full pufferfish mode. She was clearly offended, but unable to out-debate Ishigami on any level, all she could do was turn to Kaguya, sniffling dramatically and wiping her "tears" (tiny, glistening pearls) on her shoulder with a soft "Uuuu~".
Seeing this emotional mess unfold, Kanade quickly stepped in, trying to mediate.
"E-Ehem… I don't think it's that deep. Maybe Fuji—uh, I mean, Chika—just doesn't want to feel left out," Kanade offered cautiously. Honestly, Chika always seemed so cheerful and carefree that he'd never really imagined she would care about such things.
Still, since she had actually asked… it didn't seem right to reject her outright.
After all, a name is just a name. It doesn't reflect the real closeness between people.
Kaguya, who had been quietly comforting Fujiwara like a serene older sister, finally gave Ishigami a small, meaningful glance. Her eyes said: That's enough. Let it go.
Under normal circumstances, she might have encouraged him further—what girl doesn't want to be the only one a guy calls by name? But today, she was already in a good mood. Kanade had called her by her name earlier, and despite keeping his usual distance with everyone else, that one small act of special treatment was more than enough to keep her heart fluttering.
Besides, Fujiwara was her close friend. Seeing her bullied this much was starting to feel… too much. Even Kaguya had limits.
With Kaguya's unspoken cue, Ishigami begrudgingly held back from delivering a final verbal suplex.
Fujiwara bounced back almost instantly, like someone who had just pressed Reset on her emotions. Her voice was now full of smug satisfaction.
"Hmph hmph! See? It's clearly easier to call me by name! And it doesn't give off that creepy vibe, right? President, say it a few more times, ne~ Let's see who gets jealous now~"
"..."
The sheer whiplash of this girl's mood swings was astonishing. A moment ago, she was on the verge of a mental breakdown. Now she was acting like she'd won the lottery.
Of course, Kanade had no plans to indulge her any further. Thankfully, Ishigami was quick to fire back, hurling fresh verbal grenades her way without hesitation, and the student council soon returned to its usual chaotic-but-functional energy.
Mission complete. Crisis: averted.
Morning classes flew by in a blur, and before long, it was lunchtime.
Instead of heading to the cafeteria, Kanade grabbed his bento and made his way back to the student council room. He still had unfinished paperwork to tackle, and besides, it was the perfect quiet spot to both eat and strategize.
To no one's surprise, Kaguya Shinomiya was already there when he arrived, seated with her usual perfect posture, like she'd been waiting for him.
"Good noon, Kaguya," he greeted casually.
"Good afternoon, President," she replied with her usual elegant tone, calm as ever.
Kanade nodded in response, heading straight to the council's central seat without a second thought.
For a while now, Kaguya Shinomiya's fixed daily routine had been perfectly convenient for Kanade Natsukawa's "operation plans." Her consistent presence in the student council room during lunch breaks made coordination easier, not to mention her unshakable elegance and devotion to her duties. But lately… something felt different.
It wasn't just routine anymore—it was loneliness. That quiet, lingering emptiness clinging to her like a shadow.
After all, ever since Kanade stopped showing up as regularly, her once well-scheduled world seemed to falter. Now, she appeared to be coming more out of habit… or maybe, just maybe, in search of something else.
"…Do you want to eat together, President?" Kaguya raised her lunch box gently, her tone composed yet hopeful, as though trying not to sound too eager.
"Ah, un… let's eat together." Kanade nodded almost reflexively. Though his thoughts were half-occupied with work matters, he quickly shifted gears and adjusted his schedule. The documents that were meant to be annotated? He downgraded them to simple reviews. Efficient and polite—well, just a little polite.
Kaguya didn't mind at all. That was just how the President was. And thankfully, she wasn't the kind of girl who clung to romantic clichés or got upset over small slights.
"I can help if you want," she offered, reaching over slightly.
"It's fine, really." Kanade waved her off gently without even lifting his gaze. "I can look through it myself."
Of course, Kaguya already knew he would say that. That was just how Natsukawa Kanade was—reliable, self-reliant, and stubborn to a fault. Asking her to do more when she already handled so much? Unthinkable.
So, instead of arguing, she smiled faintly and returned to her meal.
They ate like this often now—him half-distracted by work, her throwing out random conversation topics that drifted somewhere between serious and absurd.
"Students are spreading rumors again. Should we issue an official notice?"
"Mn, maybe just a reminder in the next bulletin. Keep it casual."
"Lately, I feel like Fujiwara-san's gotten chubby… Is it just me?"
"Uh… really? Huh. That's… possible. I guess?"
Even though Kanade's mind was multi-tasking, he still gave her answers. He didn't ignore her, even when his chopsticks paused mid-air, his gaze flickering between documents and bento.
That said, his eating speed could only be described as glacial. What should have taken a few minutes had stretched into an absurdly long lunch session. Meanwhile, Kaguya had already finished most of her food and was politely declaring herself "a little full," while Kanade had barely touched his rice.
Only about a third of his bento had been eaten—and it had already gone cold.
"President… the food is getting cold," Kaguya said, a hint of concern creeping into her voice. "Shouldn't you focus on eating first?"
"It's alright, I'm almost done here," Kanade replied, eyes still glued to the paperwork.
She pouted slightly. Mou… He was doing it again—putting his stomach second to work. As someone who herself had a sensitive digestive system, Kaguya knew this was a dangerous game to play. She reached for her phone and, in desperation, turned to the one person who always had a plan.
Dora-Ai Hayasaka, the all-knowing sage.
Kaguya: "Hayasaka, help! The President is ignoring his food again! He's going to hurt his stomach!"
The reply came instantly.
Hayasaka: "?"
A pause. Then:
Hayasaka: "Simple. Just go up and feed him. Young Master Natsukawa is weak to those types of attacks."
"EHHH?!" Kaguya nearly dropped her phone.
Feed him? With my own hands?! Her eyes darted toward Kanade. Thankfully, he was still engrossed in his paperwork, oblivious to the chaos erupting next to him.
Just the thought of lifting a piece of food and gently saying "Aaah~" sent her into a full-blown blush spiral.
No no no, that's way too embarrassing! There's no way she could survive that!
Kaguya: "Isn't there a less shameful way?! Something more… elegant?!"
Hayasaka: "6."
Kaguya blinked. "6"? What kind of cryptic ninja code—?
Then a proper reply came.
Hayasaka: "Fine. Snatch the papers from his hands and threaten not to give them back until he finishes his meal."
"...Isn't that even worse?!" Kaguya fumed silently. She'd look like a bandit! So much for her composed, graceful image…
Hayasaka: "Then try this: pout, look at him with teary eyes, and say, 'Stop ignoring me and look at me properly while we eat…'"
Kaguya froze. That wasn't just mortifying—that was instant death levels of embarrassment!
Hayasaka, are you trying to kill me?!
She began to tap out another message when suddenly—
Hayasaka: "That's it from me. Gotta go. Ganbatte, ojou-sama. No pain, no gain."
And just like that, the messages stopped coming. The icon on Hayasaka's profile turned gray—offline.
"Haa… mou…" Kaguya clutched her phone, fuming softly. "Traitor…"
With no more lifelines, she was left to decide for herself.
The second suggestion was… truly impossible. Just imagining herself snatching Kanade's work documents made her cringe. It would utterly destroy the image of grace and elegance she had worked so hard to maintain. And the third one? Acting coquettish with those embarrassing lines? Impossible. Absolutely not. Zettai ni muri.
As for feeding him…
Kaguya Shinomiya exhaled deeply. "It's not like I want to do this," she whispered to herself, placing a hand lightly on her chest as though steadying her resolve. "But there's no other choice."
She took a deep breath—fuuu—and began steeling herself, repeating silent affirmations in her heart like a warrior stepping onto the battlefield. After all, wasn't this a dignified and strategic retreat for a greater cause?
"I really can't do anything with you…" she began softly, her voice tinged with both affection and frustration.
But before she could unleash her "special move," Kanade Natsukawa quietly set down the documents in his hands. His attention now returned to the neglected lunch box, and with a casual expression, he began preparing to eat properly.
Kaguya Shinomiya: "..."
Guuuu! Her stomach groaned—no, her heart groaned! What was that?! Why now?!
On the outside, her expression froze like a well-trained actor in the middle of a scene. On the inside, she was screaming.
She stared, dumbfounded, as Kanade picked up his chopsticks with an almost divine level of timing, rendering all her earlier preparation completely useless.
Noticing her odd gaze, Kanade tilted his head slightly. "Hmm? Something wrong?"
"Eh? Ah, no… nothing at all," she replied with a quick shake of her head. Of course, she couldn't admit that she'd been on the verge of staging a full-blown dramatic performance just to get him to eat.
But… she couldn't just let it end like this!
After all that mental fortitude she'd built up, all those embarrassing scenarios she had endured in her imagination—if she didn't at least do something, she'd never forgive herself!
After a brief internal struggle, Kaguya straightened her posture and placed a delicate hand against her cheek. Her expression turned calm, composed, and almost saintly.
"…Actually, I'm already full," she began with a practiced tone, soft and composed. "Lately I've been… managing my figure."
She gestured gently to the nearly untouched second half of her own bento.
"There's still a lot of food left, though… the chef at home got a little carried away. It'd be such a shame to waste it." She lowered her gaze slightly, then looked up again. "Would the President… perhaps be willing to help me finish it?"
Before Kanade could reply, she added in a gentle voice, as if trying not to pressure him, "Of course, I haven't touched anything. But if it bothers you… then it's okay."
Perfect. Immaculate. A flawless strategy.
She explained away her actions with plausible reasons—managing her figure, avoiding waste, even subtly blaming the overly enthusiastic chef at home. All while appealing to Kanade's sense of responsibility and kindness.
This wasn't manipulation… this was high-level diplomacy!
And that final line—if it bothers you, then never mind—was the clincher. A classic feint. She knew Kanade well enough to be certain that those words alone would make him agree. How could someone like him refuse?
Of course… she was lying. Not a big lie, just a small, strategic one.
She had touched the food. In fact, she'd taken a tiny bite out of nearly everything. Nothing too noticeable, just enough to leave a trace—just enough to create a subtle intimacy… indirect kissu—no! No, no, not that she was aiming for that kind of thing! Maybe. Possibly.
Kaguya's gaze grew expectant as she looked toward Kanade.
Even without saying a word, the pressure was real. It was like she was silently chanting—Say yes. Say yes. Say yes~—like some kind of food-offering priestess casting a spell.
Kanade blinked.
Was there… some hidden meaning behind this?
She had eaten from it, so logically there shouldn't be a problem. But maybe…
Wait… did she make this herself?
His thoughts drifted back to the forest school trip, when he had taught her some basic cooking techniques. It hadn't been that long since then, and while it was unlikely she could become an expert so quickly, this was Kaguya Shinomiya. If anyone could pull it off, it was her.
So… was this her way of asking for feedback? Of wanting him, her "teacher," to try her creation and acknowledge her growth?
Kanade gave a slight nod, feeling that he was close to the truth.
"Alright. I'll help," he said simply, reaching over to pick up a meatball from her lunch box.
To him, this kind of gesture wasn't new. Just a couple days ago, he had received cookies from Yukinoshita. He had eaten them on the spot and praised her with the kind of rational, detail-oriented compliment that made even the blandest cookie seem gourmet.
But this time…
Eh?
His eyes widened slightly. This is… actually really good?
He had expected the rough work of a beginner—under-seasoned, slightly off in texture—but this… this was nearly perfect. The seasoning was delicate but effective, the texture firm but tender.
"This is delicious," he said, genuinely surprised. "You did a great job."
Kaguya blinked in confusion.
Wait… he thinks I made it?
For a moment, she didn't know whether to correct him or not. But in the end, she decided it didn't matter. The important thing was that he was eating—and enjoying it.
Without uttering a word, Kaguya Shinomiya quietly watched Kanade eat, her gaze soft, her smile demure. She didn't want to disturb him—after all, just seeing him enjoy the food was already enough to make her heart skip.
But the more she watched, the deeper she sank into the quiet storm inside her chest.
Why does just watching him eat feel so intense?
Her fingers curled slightly, hidden beneath the table. She worked hard to maintain her usual calm and composed aura, but internally—
Doki doki.
Kanade Natsukawa, on the other hand, showed no signs of hesitation. His chopsticks moved swiftly—paku paku—clearing the contents of both bento boxes in no time. When he wasn't thinking about anything unnecessary, his eating speed was practically superhuman.
And as he ate, his expression shifted from mild surprise to admiration.
This level of progress...
It hadn't even been that long since the forest school trip where he showed her the basics. He remembered how many failed attempts it took him to make anything edible. Compared to that, her improvement was almost terrifying. If the dishes hadn't cooled and lost some of their original flavor, he was sure they would've tasted even better.
As expected of a Shinomiya.
"…I'm full too. Gochisousama deshita." Kanade pressed his palms together with practiced sincerity.
This was definitely a good experience. It wasn't the cursed "trial-by-fire" meal of an overconfident beginner—it was a genuine, well-prepared meal that left him satisfied. For that alone, he owed her thanks.
After a brief pause, he added thoughtfully, "Ah, that's right… how's your foot? Has it healed up?"
Now that lunch was done, it was the perfect time to transition into conversation. He had just processed a club application from the so-called Service Club, and while thinking about Yukino, Kaguya had come to mind as well—particularly that incident with her foot injury.
Kaguya blinked once, then looked at him with a sudden spark in her eyes.
A courage she hadn't planned for surged to the surface. She leaned forward ever so slightly and said, voice sweet but laced with mischievous confidence:
"…If you're that concerned, wouldn't it be faster for the President to check it himself?"
"...Eh?"
Kanade froze mid-blink, his brain buffering like a glitched NPC.
Did she just… say that?