"Ehh… never confess first?"
"Never. If you don't want your heart shattered, don't be the one to stick your neck out," Rinji said solemnly. "Just wait for the other person to confess."
"That's a bit..."
"You can't say that!" Kaguya suddenly walked up.
She felt that if she didn't speak now, things would only get worse.
The relationship between Kaguya and Miyuki was essentially mutual affection, but neither had confessed, each unwilling to give up their advantage after becoming a couple. Kaguya's daily mission in the student council was to set up traps to make Miyuki confess. Likewise, Miyuki did the same.
But what Rinji had just said completely destroyed her plans—what could only be described as acareerended before it began.
"If you don't express your feelings properly, you'll never get them across. If both people keep waiting, they'll never end up together."
"Yeah! Waiting for a confession is way too passive!"
Chika Fujiwara immediately perked up, excited by any talk of romance.
"Confessing your feelings is sweet and romantic..."
"No, not romantic at all," Rinji said flatly.
"Huh?"
"Have either of you ever confessed to someone?"
Kaguya: "No."
Chika: "Never even been in a relationship."
"Then why are you talking like you know everything? This is historical revisionism. Totally invalid."
"..."
Rinji turned and grabbed the confused Miyuki's shoulders, speaking solemnly.
"I once confessed to a girl I liked. She turned me down. You wanna know how I felt? Like the world had ended. Like I'd finally climbed a mountain, only to be kicked off the peak. The world felt cold... only the AK in my hands felt warm."
"Was it really that bad?"
"Yeah. I had to numb myself in the most dangerous ways just to cope. Kids these days are so blinded by romance they forget reason. When they confess, they only think about the dream. They never think about the nightmare if they fail."
"..."
"Think carefully, President."
Rinji leaned in, voice dripping with temptation.
"Imagine you muster the courage to confess to the girl you like, and she replies, 'Oh my, I just see you as a good friend. I didn't know you felt that way. How cute~' How would you feel?"
Thud!
Miyuki collapsed forward, overwhelmed by the vision of Kaguya saying those very words, her voice and expression perfectly imagined.
Seeing him down, Rinji patted his back.
"Looks like you imagined it. I'm using my own heartbreak as a case study here—I'd never steer my president wrong."
You're clearly trying to sabotage me!!
Though Kaguya maintained her graceful composure, her heart had exploded.
I see what you're doing, Rinji! You said you wouldn't mess with me, but now you're doing it in the most underhanded way! But I won't let you win!
Smiling sweetly, she said, "Actually, if you confirm the other person likes you first, then confessing is sure to go smoothly."
"Naïve. 'She likes me' is just a life illusion. You never really know what someone else is thinking. A girl might act elegant, smile kindly, show concern—but deep down, she might see you as a worthless insect."
Upon hearing this, Miyuki's face darkened even more.
Are you directly insulting me?! I've never seen her like that!
Kaguya kept smiling and said, "Rinji-kun, that's a little extreme. Not every girl is like that."
"Yeah, it depends on the person... some people aren't arrogant."
"Exactly..."
Still crouched beside Miyuki, Rinji added, "Okay, I take back what I said earlier. But just to be safe, eliminate all girls whose families have assets in the trillions. Most of them look at us like bugs. Trust me, the elimination method works."
Takamine Rinji! You're doing this on purpose!
"And one more thing—if the confession fails, seeing each other afterward will be super awkward. It's fine if you don't see each other often, but if you're classmates, or worse, coworkers in the same office..."
"AAAAHHHHHH!!!"
Rinji looked up, confused by Kaguya's sudden outburst.
"What's wrong, Lady Shinomiya? Are you feeling unwell?"
"I'm not sick!"
"You seem kind of agitated."
"I... ahem, no, it's nothing."
Kaguya quickly calmed down. Tearing Rinji to shreds in her mind wouldn't solve anything. She had to think of a counter-strategy.
What should she do?
"That's absolutely not true!"
Suddenly, Chika Fujiwara, who had been silent, shouted. She marched up and pointed right at Rinji's nose.
"You gave up just because one confession failed?"
"Huh? What are you talki—"
"A man who gives up after one failure will never be liked by girls!"
"Never be liked!"
"Never!"
"Never..."
"Ugh!"
Her words stabbed straight into Rinji's heart.
Ironically, they helped Miyuki pull himself together a bit.
Seeing that Rinji looked thoroughly wounded, Chika gently approached him and said softly, "And if you never find the courage to confess, you'll never have a girlfriend for the rest of your life~"
"..."
Thud!
"Never... have a girlfriend...?"
"Treasurer Rinji, are you okay?"
Miyuki looked at the collapsed Rinji with concern.
"President..."
"What is it?"
"Her words cut deeper than any blade! Secretary Fujiwara's words cut straight to the soul!"
"It's not that bad."