074. The Silly Young Miss Meets the Scheming Man

In Natsukawa Kanade's mind, Kaguya Shinomiya had always been a symbol of icy perfection—a stoic figure with an aura that kept strangers at arm's length. It wasn't as though she deliberately acted cold to avoid people; rather, it was the natural result of her upbringing.

As the eldest daughter of the Shinomiya family, Kaguya had been molded by a rigorous imperial education since childhood. Her strict training perfectly complemented her innate disposition, leading her to adopt a mindset of "naturally looking down on others while seeking to exploit every advantage." To Kanade, this was no secret. Whether from observing her on a screen in the past or through their current interactions, he had always seen her as a calculating and composed individual.

What he hadn't expected, however, was how disarmingly cute Kaguya could be when her guard was down.

Before his very eyes, the infamous "Ice Kaguya-Princess" was flailing her arms and smacking the bed with a pillow. She huffed and puffed, pouting as she vented her frustrations in a way that seemed entirely out of character for her public image.

Rather than a cold, untouchable figure, she now resembled a sulky, petulant girl throwing an exaggerated tantrum. And, in Kanade's opinion, this Kaguya was undeniably adorable.

Hayasaka Ai, ever the reliable attendant, turned to Kanade with a calm demeanor that belied the chaos behind her. "Then, I'll leave her to you, Master Natsukawa," she said with a slight bow, her tone hinting at subtle amusement.

Kanade blinked. "Eh? Wait—"

But Hayasaka wasn't interested in arguments. She gracefully exited the health room, closing the door behind her and leaving Kanade alone with the now-mummified figure of Kaguya, who had wrapped herself completely in the bed sheets like a cocoon.

An awkward silence descended upon the room.

"…Shinomiya?" Kanade began hesitantly, his voice breaking the stillness.

No response.

He glanced at the lump on the bed and mulled over what to say. Should he play it off as if he hadn't heard anything? Try to reassure her? Joke about her overly dramatic outburst?

But no matter how he phrased it in his head, every possible opening seemed destined to make things worse. He could sense how deeply Kaguya had been stewing over her earlier words, blaming herself for perceived slights and missteps.

She was upset that he hadn't visited her immediately. She feared he might discard her from the student council. She was embarrassed that he'd overheard her. And those absurd analogies—Kanade suppressed a chuckle just remembering them.

In truth, he was surprised. Kaguya Shinomiya, who always carried herself with grace and precision, was so consumed by irrational worries. She wasn't weighing pros and cons with her usual cool logic; she was spiraling into anxious fantasies about being abandoned and misunderstood.

Her vulnerability struck a chord in him.

"Shinomiya… I'm sorry," Kanade said softly, taking a seat at the edge of her bed.

He hesitated before reaching out, his hand hovering over the bump in the sheets where her back was. After a moment, he rested it gently on the blanket, a silent gesture of reassurance.

"I didn't realize how much this was bothering you," he continued, lowering his gaze. "Maybe I wasn't clear enough, or maybe I've given you the wrong impression. But I never intended to make you feel this way."

Kaguya shifted slightly under the covers but said nothing.

Kanade sighed. "I won't abandon you, Shinomiya. Not now, not ever. Even if you did… those things, you did them for me, didn't you? To help me. I'd be a fool not to recognize that."

His voice grew quieter as guilt settled over him. "I know I've still got a long way to go. Maybe I'm not strong or reliable enough to earn your full trust yet. But I'll do my best to prove myself worthy of your support."

"That's not true!" came a muffled voice from beneath the quilt.

Kanade blinked, startled by the sudden outburst. Then, a slender hand emerged from the cocoon of blankets, hesitantly covering his own.

"The president is already amazing!" Kaguya's voice wavered with emotion. "I'm the one who's dark and despicable… That's why I acted behind your back. You didn't deserve that."

Kanade could feel her unease through the trembling touch of her hand.

He tightened his grip slightly, holding her hand firmly. "No, Shinomiya. That's not how I see it. If anything, I should thank you. Using connections and influence—it's just another kind of resource, isn't it? You were looking out for me in your own way."

He gave her a small smile, even though she couldn't see it. "I understand what it's like to want recognition, to want to be accepted without being judged. So please, believe me when I say… I'll never think less of you for trying to help."

"Shinomiya, you did nothing wrong," Kanade said earnestly, his gaze softening. "If anything, I've been the one overthinking. I've been so caught up in trying to prove myself to you, trying to preserve my ridiculous pride..." He chuckled bitterly, the sound tinged with self-deprecation.

"President..." Kaguya's voice was faint, uncertain.

"But I've realized something," Kanade continued, his tone growing more resolute. "My stupid pride doesn't matter. What truly matters is being able to stay by your side and work together. That's the most important thing to me."

He tightened his grip on her hand slightly, as if trying to convey his sincerity through the touch. "I've made so many mistakes—whether it was my earlier hesitation about stepping down or acting on my own without consulting anyone." He paused, taking a deep breath. "But every time, it's because of you. Because of you, I find the courage to move forward."

Kaguya remained silent, but her trembling hand betrayed her emotions.

"I can't do this alone," Kanade admitted with a small smile. "But with you and everyone else, I feel like I can take on anything, no matter how daunting it seems." He leaned forward slightly, his voice lowering as if sharing a secret. "So, Shinomiya Kaguya, will you be my vice-president?"

The words hung in the air for a moment, heavy with meaning. "I need you," he said, his voice unwavering.

Kaguya's hand twitched. Slowly, her fingers moved, tracing something against Kanade's palm. At first, he couldn't make it out, but as the message became clear, his eyes widened.

"OK."

Kanade's face lit up with a smile, pure and unrestrained. He laughed, the sound warm and genuine. "That's great... That's really great!"

After Kanade left the room, Hayasaka Ai slipped inside, her expression unreadable. She walked to the bed and tugged at the cocoon of blankets, revealing Kaguya's flushed face.

The eldest daughter of the Shinomiya family looked nothing like her usual self. Her cheeks were red, her eyes sparkling with a giddy light, and an almost imperceptible grin tugged at the corners of her lips. If one were to look closely, they might even imagine little flowers blooming around her head, swaying gently in the breeze.

"Hehehe..." Kaguya giggled softly, clearly lost in her thoughts.

Ai sighed, exasperation mingling with amusement. "Miss Kaguya, are you planning to calm down anytime soon?"

"H-Hayasaka... Hayasaka..." Kaguya murmured, her voice dreamy.

"Yes, it's me," Ai replied, crossing her arms.

"The president..." Kaguya's voice gained strength, her eyes lighting up with joy. "The president still thinks so highly of me!"

"Yes, yes, he does," Ai said dryly, though her tone carried a hint of fondness.

Kaguya's giggles grew louder. Her mind replayed Kanade's words, each one sending her heart aflutter. "I can't do it without you." "Because of you, I have courage." "You did nothing wrong." The phrases repeated in her head like a mantra.

Ai shook her head, watching her lovesick mistress spiral further. "She's completely fallen for him," she muttered to herself.

But as Ai pondered Kanade's words, her expression grew pensive. It wasn't just affection—no, this was something more calculated. His phrasing, his tone—it was as if he was weaving an intricate web, planting seeds of dependency in Kaguya's mind.

"I can't do it without you." "The president needs me." "I have to be by his side."

Hayasaka Ai sighed again, pinching the bridge of her nose. "How sly of you, Natsukawa Kanade," she murmured under her breath. "Turning the Shinomiya heiress into someone who can't imagine life without you..."

She glanced back at Kaguya, who was now hugging her pillow tightly, murmuring Kanade's name under her breath. Ai couldn't help but smile wryly.

"Despicable, Master Natsukawa. Truly despicable."

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A/N

Yes, I missed 2 days of chapter uploads.

A lot of people have dropped this story, can't say I blame them.

Anyway, I'll definitely finish translating it, no worries. Chapter uploads here might fluctuate though. The Patreons will keep enjoying advanced chapters and compensation for delayed releases nonetheless. 

The stones droprate has reduced to the point I don't care about them anymore, I'm doing this only for my patreons and myself. DRop them though if you wish to.

Goodday!!