A single night wasn't nearly enough for a group of energetic high school students to shake off the excitement of the test of courage. Even by the next morning, the corridors buzzed with chatter as students eagerly shared their experiences.
"Listen, listen! Last night, I…"
"Wait, seriously? You two got together?!"
"Hey, don't say it so loud! You're embarrassing me…"
For some, the night had been a dream come true. But for many others, it was simply a fun event or an opportunity to observe—mere spectators to the budding romances of their peers.
"Hey, guess what? Last night at the venue, I saw the president and Kaguya Shinomiya…"
"What?! No way! They were together?!"
"Yeah, and they were holding hands the whole time. It was like watching a pair of dumb lovebirds…"
"Wait, hold on. I saw the president with a blonde girl last night. Could I have been mistaken?"
"Blonde? No, no! I'm certain I saw him carrying a black-haired girl. I thought it was Shinomiya at first, but then I realized she always ties her hair up. So, maybe it was just a lost girl he happened to find?"
"Huh? But I definitely saw him with Shinomiya…"
"Are you sure you weren't mistaken? Maybe she had her hair down for some reason last night."
"I… guess it's possible?"
The gossip spread like wildfire. What began as a private discussion among a small group soon drew the attention of others nearby. Normally, such conversations would stop the moment unfamiliar faces joined in.
But this wasn't about just anyone—it was about the ever-mysterious and intriguing student council president, Natsukawa Kanade. And the collective decision was unanimous: the gossip must go on.
"So, it seems like the president was with at least three girls last night, right? No way that's true…"
"That's impossible! He wouldn't have had enough time. Maybe one of them was just someone he helped, not an actual date."
"But you can't prove he wasn't connected to all of them, can you?"
"Fair enough, but still…"
"Okay, let's assume the lowest possible count—two girls. That's more believable, right?"
"No, even if we downplay it, it's still three! Because I actually saw Shiina with the president last night."
"Shiina? Wait, isn't that the blonde girl someone else mentioned earlier?"
"No, no! The girl I saw had brighter hair than Shiina's, and Shiina's also smaller in stature. Plus, Shiina usually wears her hair down, but the girl last night had twin tails."
"Couldn't Shiina have just changed her hairstyle for the event?"
"Don't underestimate me! A hairstyle's just one part of it! My eyesight may not be perfect, but I'm not blind!"
"Enough bickering! Let me sum this up," one student declared. "So… last night, the president was allegedly with four girls—or at the very least, three. Either way, how does anyone manage that?!"
"Exactly! How could one guy pull off three dates in one night? He's superhuman!"
"As expected of the 'Strongest Ex-Boyfriend,' huh? The president really is something else!"
Stories about campus figures were always a hot topic, and Natsukawa Kanade was no exception. Long surrounded by rumors and whispers, he had inadvertently fueled speculation during the test of courage. Students who were already curious about his "one true love" had their suspicions amplified by last night's events.
Their conclusion? Kanade had managed to date four girls in a single night.
It was mind-blowing. Was this what people meant by a master of time management?
Previously, many dismissed his romantic reputation as mere rumor. But now, with so much "evidence," a growing number began to think there might be truth to the stories.
Some even considered gathering more intel from other classes, but the group decided against it—not because they feared Kanade's wrath, but because they respected him. After all, the last time someone had openly gossiped about him, he had simply shrugged and replied, "The truth speaks for itself."
It was this calm demeanor that emboldened them to gossip freely today. Ironically, Kanade's indifference only fueled their curiosity. Had it not been for their respect for him, they might have already assigned "spies" to track his every move on and off campus.
"By the way, why isn't the president in class yet? It's already late."
"Maybe a teacher caught wind of something and dragged him off for questioning?"
"Don't be dumb. We only just started piecing this together. How would a teacher know?"
"Then I have no idea. Maybe he overslept after staying up all night thinking about everything?"
"You think the president is like you? The ones who wouldn't have slept are those girls! I've got a feeling… things are about to get dramatic. And when it's all said and done…"
"We'll have a front-row seat to the chaos?"
"…You idiot! No, we seize the opportunity! That's how you find a girlfriend!"
"You don't have one either…"
"Shut up!ヽ(ヽ `д′)"
The heated banter was interrupted by classmates rushing over to mediate.
Meanwhile, in a quiet corner of the classroom, a certain "angel" sat with a pout.
Why isn't Kanade here yet? I even saved him a good seat…
Mahiru Shiina's simple frustration stood in stark contrast to the whirlwind of speculation surrounding Kanade. Little did she know, fewer and fewer of her classmates were betting on her connection to him anymore.