112. Limited Kaguya

Natsukawa Kanade's hand unconsciously touched the spot where Kaguya had just rested hers. The lingering warmth seemed to seep into his skin, carrying with it an inexplicable sense of closeness.

His instincts whispered that the gap between him and Kaguya Shinomiya was slowly narrowing, a step at a time. Yet, his memories of Shiina tempered his hopes—this could very well be nothing more than a fleeting moment between friends. After all, even someone like Kaguya must yearn for companionship. The problem was that she didn't quite understand the boundaries between tomodachi (friends) and... something more.

"Um… does your finger still hurt?" Kanade asked awkwardly, breaking the silence.

"It doesn't hurt at all anymore. Thank you for asking, Kaichou," Kaguya replied, her smile sweet enough to make his heart skip a beat.

Kanade opened his mouth to say something, but no words came out.

"..."

A long silence settled between them, broken only by the faint creak of the wooden cabin as the midday sun filtered through the cracks in the walls. Kanade glanced out the window, the golden rays illuminating the quaint yet lonely infirmary.

"It's getting late," he finally said. "I should probably head back for lunch. The others might be waiting—"

"Can you stay a little longer?" Kaguya's soft voice interrupted him. Her hand reached out to clasp his, holding it firmly. Her gaze, usually sharp and calculating, now shimmered with vulnerability.

"I... I want to spend more time with you, Kaichou. Is that… not okay?"

Kanade froze.

Kaguya... was acting adorable.

This wasn't the composed, regal Shinomiya Kaguya that ruled the school like an untouchable empress. This was something entirely different. Her delicately flushed cheeks, her bashful tone, the way she clung to his hand—it was almost like she was a completely different person.

His heart thudded against his ribcage.

Bang bang. Bang bang.

Despite the dimly lit cabin, everything around him seemed brighter, as though her warmth alone could light up his world.

"Just for a little while..."

"Yeah," Kaguya beamed, pulling him down to sit beside her. "Just a moment is fine."

Before Kanade could react, she hooked her arm around his, leaning close enough that he could feel the soft rustle of her breath.

"The president smells so good," she murmured, her voice tinged with a hint of mischief. "Are you wearing perfume?"

"Eh? No, no, of course not!" Kanade stammered, instinctively trying to pull his hand away, only to realize that Kaguya had no intention of letting go.

"But it smells really nice..." Kaguya leaned in further, her eyes sparkling as she gazed up at him. "Why do you smell so good, Kaichou?"

"I-I really don't—"

"President…"

Her tone softened, almost a whisper.

"What? What's wrong?"

"Can I get a little closer? Just to smell it better?"

Kanade's mind reeled.

Closer? You're already practically glued to me! How much closer can you even get?

Something wasn't right.

Kaguya's usual composed demeanor was completely gone. It was as though her cold and calculated exterior had melted away, replaced by a bright and playful deredere (affectionate girl in love).

Kanade took a steadying breath, his initial distraction giving way to concern.

"Are you feeling okay, Kaguya?" he asked, his voice gentler now.

Kaguya tilted her head, her expression unreadable.

Kanade's mind raced. He vaguely remembered hearing about Kaguya's supposed split personality, though he'd never seen it manifest like this before. Was this one of those moments?

"Is there anything I can do to help?" Kanade asked, leaning slightly forward.

No matter which personality this was, Kaguya was still undeniably Kaguya. Her charm was unwavering, and even this version of her was undeniably cute. But Kanade couldn't help but worry.

Would this alternate personality affect her usual self?

Was it a fleeting state, or did it require some specific trigger to return to normal?

And… would this other version of her remember any of this?

Kanade glanced down at her hand, still tightly gripping his. While their relationship had been growing closer recently, it hadn't reached the point where such an intimate moment could happen without any hesitation.

If Kaguya realized what she was doing now… she'd probably be mortified, maybe even retreat into herself like a turtle into its shell.

"How about lying down for a bit and resting?" Kanade suggested cautiously.

He thought that maybe sleep could reset things. If she just closed her eyes and drifted off for a while, her usual self might return when she woke up.

"I don't feel like resting yet, Kaichou. Stay with me for a little longer," Kaguya replied softly, her grip on his hand unwavering.

Kanade sighed inwardly. "Then let's compromise. You lie down on the bed, and I'll sit here and chat with you."

At this moment, Kaguya seemed so easy to coax that Kanade couldn't help but feel like he was tricking an innocent shoujo (young girl). Thankfully, they were the same age—both still minors—so he didn't have to worry about someone kicking down the door yelling, "Open up, FBI!"

"Alright… but only if the President joins me!" Kaguya said with a playful tilt of her head, her eyes gleaming with mischievous delight.

"Eh? I don't think that's really nec—" Kanade's polite refusal was cut short as Kaguya suddenly tugged at his arm, causing him to lose balance.

Before he knew it, he found himself leaning over her, one arm braced against the bed in what could only be described as a kabedon, or in this case, a bed-don.

"..."

"..."

The world around them seemed to go completely still. Even the faint rustling of the wind outside felt amplified, resonating in Kanade's chest. His heart, however, beat louder than anything else, hammering against his ribs like a war drum.

All he could see was Kaguya beneath him, her delicate face framed by the soft glow of the afternoon light. Her long lashes fluttered as she blinked up at him, utterly serene despite their... compromising position.

"What's wrong, Kaichou?" Kaguya asked, her voice laced with innocent confusion.

"N-Nothing!" Kanade stammered, snapping back to reality. He quickly pushed himself up and scrambled off the bed, his face flushed.

But Kaguya wasn't about to let him escape.

Though she stayed lying down, her gaze followed him intently, and before he could step away, her slender fingers wrapped around his hand.

"Where are you going, President? Don't leave. Stay with me."

Kanade hesitated. The quiet determination in her tone left him no room to argue.

"...Alright," he relented, his voice barely above a whisper.

"And your hand…"

"What about it?"

"Hold it," she demanded, her tone less like a plea and more like a royal decree.

Kanade sighed, unable to resist.

Kaguya's version of being amaenbou (clingy) wasn't like Shiina's soft, pitiful approach. Instead, it had an almost commanding charm to it—like she was saying, "I'm adorable, so of course you'll do what I want."

Paired with her radiant beauty, it was impossible to find her behavior annoying.

"I feel like I've seen a new side of you…" Kanade muttered under his breath.

"What is the President talking about?" Kaguya asked, tilting her head in mock curiosity.

"Nothing," he replied, shaking his head. He quickly changed the subject, steering their conversation toward something more neutral.

As time passed, their playful banter continued until Kaguya let out a small yawn, her eyelids drooping slightly.

"If you're tired, you should take a nap," Kanade suggested gently.

"I don't want to sleep. If I do, I won't be able to see the President," Kaguya mumbled, pouting slightly.

"You could see me in your dreams, if you wanted," Kanade offered with a faint smile.

"In my dreams…" Kaguya repeated, her imagination already running wild. She giggled softly to herself, clearly entertained by whatever she had conjured up in her mind. "Then I'll sleep, but only if the President sings me a lullaby!"

"A lullaby?!" Kanade's voice rose an octave. "I'm not good at singing…"

"Then I won't sleep!" Kaguya declared, crossing her arms like a child refusing to eat their vegetables.

Kanade sighed in defeat. There was no arguing with her in this state. Reluctantly, he began humming a simple nursery rhyme from memory, his voice soft and uneven.

Kaguya's expression softened as her eyes slowly closed.

The gentle melody seemed to soothe her as she drifted into slumber, a faint smile gracing her lips.

"Have a sweet dream, Kaguya," Kanade whispered, his voice barely audible over the rustle of the wind.