"041. Not Her Ladyship, but Her?"

Watching Ai Hayasaka interact so closely with Kanade Natsukawa, Kaguya Shinomiya felt deeply conflicted.

On the one hand, she hoped her maid would succeed in coaxing a confession out of Kanade—finding out who he truly liked and whether he harbored romantic feelings for her.

On the other hand, she dreaded the idea of Kanade being so easily swayed by Hayasaka's "charm offensive" and revealing such intimate truths to someone he barely knew.

The former was driven by her personal desires and the needs of their plan, while the latter stemmed from a nagging fear: if Kanade did confess so easily, wouldn't that render all her efforts over the past weeks meaningless?

If someone else could get the answer simply by asking directly, while she had spent so much time and effort using indirect methods to no avail… she didn't think she could handle that kind of blow!

What's worse, although she trusted Kanade's loyalty, there was always the terrifying possibility—what if Kanade actually fell for someone like Hayasaka?

No way! Haha, absolutely not! There's no chance the president would be swayed by someone like Hayasaka… Absolutely none!

But still… she needed to have more faith in him!

Giving herself a mental pep talk, Kaguya continued her clandestine surveillance, watching their interaction carefully, afraid to miss even the smallest detail.

Having never been in love herself, Kaguya had completely lost her ability to think critically under the influence of Hayasaka's convincing arguments.

Hayasaka's claim—that "the president actually likes you, Lady Kaguya, but he's too shy to confess"—had become an unshakeable belief. She wasn't even considering other possibilities.

At most, she felt a tiny bit worried that Kanade might be charmed by Hayasaka's feigned sweetness… Just a tiny bit!

As for the two under her watchful eye—

"Sorry to bother you, President. I hope you don't mind keeping me company for a bit…"

"It's fine. I happen to have some free time," Kanade replied, shaking his head. His words were far from sincere, though.

If she hadn't played the trump card of saying, "President, please help me!" he would've walked away immediately.

Such were the burdens of being a student council president—sometimes, he had no choice but to humor people.

"That's great! I knew the president was a kind person," Hayasaka said with a sweet smile.

"…" Kanade's brow twitched at her words, which felt more like mockery than a compliment, though he couldn't prove it.

"You know, I've always wanted to buy a computer of my own, but I don't know much about them. So I've been hesitating…" Hayasaka adopted a troubled look before brightening up again.

"But I'm lucky to have run into you, President. I've heard boys tend to know more about these things, so I was hoping you could recommend something for me!"

"Then you've got the wrong person. I don't know a thing about computers," Kanade said bluntly, shaking his head.

Nearly 18 years of life in this world had left him clueless about tech. He rarely even used his phone, and in his previous life, he hadn't owned one at all.

His strict upbringing had filled his days with endless study sessions, leaving him little time for leisure. His parents even controlled who he befriended, denying him any semblance of freedom.

Once, out of sheer curiosity, he overheard classmates talking excitedly about anime. Thinking it might give him common ground to connect with them, he decided to check it out during his limited one-hour weekend breaks.

Initially, it was just a way to fit in. But as time passed, seeing the carefree lives of anime characters made him long for the same and sparked a desire for a life of his own outside his parents' rigid rules.

In short, he genuinely didn't know much about electronics and had no intention of pretending otherwise.

"Uh…" Hayasaka froze, momentarily stunned. Why isn't he playing along?

Wasn't it normal for a boy to help out in this situation?

She wasn't even flirting—just asking for help! Even if he didn't know, couldn't he at least pretend to make an effort in front of a cute girl?

"Well, that's fine! I trust your instincts, President. Just pick whatever feels right!"

"Sorry, I can't help you with this," Kanade said, shaking his head again. "If I were to go with my instincts…"

"Forget it. I'm not the person you're looking for. Apologies, but I'll be heading out now."

"W-wait, President!" Hayasaka panicked, quickly following him.

She had anticipated that winning him over might be challenging, but this was downright maddening. "Actually, I have something else I need your help with!"

"…"

Kanade stopped and looked at her again, clearly exasperated.

"What is it now?"

He couldn't help but think this girl was oddly persistent. He had turned her down repeatedly, yet she refused to give up.

"I-I need help with my schoolwork!" Hayasaka's expression turned pitifully earnest. "To be honest, President, my grades are terrible. No matter how hard I try, I just can't improve…"

Having exhausted her planned topics, Hayasaka had to improvise.

Gaming? She didn't play. Sports? Not appropriate for the setting. Romance? That was her ultimate goal, but their current dynamic was too awkward to broach it outright.

That left academics as a safe fallback.

Kanade, after all, was known for excelling in studies—beating even Kaguya Shinomiya in some areas. Surely, he'd take pride in helping someone improve their grades.

"Here, in this bookstore?" Kanade asked hesitantly.

"Why not?" Hayasaka looked at him expectantly, her eyes wide with hope.

"…Fine." Kanade sighed after a long pause and nodded.

The bookstore staff had already been casting curious glances at them for the commotion they were causing. If he refused again, it would only attract more attention.

And with her persistence, he doubted she'd leave him alone otherwise.

So this is what they mean by being single-minded in love, Kanade thought, slightly impressed. If even one of the girls he had pursued in the past had shown this level of determination, he wouldn't still be single.

Maybe… just maybe… Kanade Natsukawa thought.

Could I actually consider dating a girl like this "background character"?

Leaving aside other concerns, at the very least, she seemed to have some level of affection for him. Otherwise, she wouldn't have gone out of her way to approach him so actively.

If he couldn't be with the girl he liked, maybe he should try being with someone who liked him. It wouldn't be the most genuine start to a relationship, but he was willing to shoulder the responsibility and keep trying until he truly came to care for her.

Of course, he couldn't be sure of her intentions just yet. He'd have to observe her a bit more.

With that thought, his attitude softened subconsciously.

"Let's move over to the café seats."

"Okay!" Ai Hayasaka nodded sweetly, inwardly celebrating her victory. The "teach me study skills" gambit had worked, and Kanade's attitude toward her had visibly improved.

Once they sat down, Hayasaka pulled a math workbook out of her bag and placed it in front of Kanade.

Kanade nodded and began scanning through the questions.

As expected, the problems she struggled with were all math-related—a common issue for many girls. Math was unforgiving; if you didn't understand the concepts, you couldn't fake your way through it.

"For this problem, your process is correct, but you used the wrong formula here." Kanade pointed at the error and began explaining.

"In fact, there's a simpler way to solve this. If you substitute directly using this formula… See? The answer comes out immediately."

Although rumors painted him as a genius who surpassed even Kaguya Shinomiya in every field, Kanade knew the truth. His achievements came from relentless effort and a tiny sliver of natural talent.

His real advantage lay in his previous life, where studying was all he had ever done. That experience had left him with an extensive mental library, making academics much easier for him in this life.

"Wow, that's amazing…" Hayasaka blinked in genuine surprise.

She hadn't actually struggled with this math problem—it was intentionally wrong—but Kanade's elegant shortcut impressed her.

So this is possible? Math really is fascinating!

"What about this one?" Before she knew it, Hayasaka found herself genuinely engaged.

"This is similar, but we need to derive a specific condition first, like this…" Kanade continued his explanation.

"Oh, I see…"

Thus began an impromptu study session, with the two earnestly exchanging questions and answers.

Meanwhile, Kaguya Shinomiya, who was cautiously spying from a hidden corner, was completely flabbergasted.

Excuse me?

Hayasaka? Ai?

What on earth are you doing?! Hurry up and get the president to talk! Don't just start studying like an idiot!

But Kaguya couldn't barge in and interrupt them, so she could only grit her teeth and watch as the two leaned closer and closer over the workbook. She made a silent vow:

I'll dock Hayasaka's pay! No, I'll dock it heavily!

Time passed. Just as Kaguya's jealousy threatened to boil over, the "harmonious atmosphere" between the pair finally began to dissipate.

"Ugh, studying is so exhausting!" Hayasaka yawned, her drowsiness clearly taking over.

"That's a good sign—it means you were using your brain," Kanade said with a nod.

Rather than being annoyed by her fatigue, he appreciated her effort.

If she hadn't been paying attention after all his explanations, he would've felt disappointed.

She's a good girl, Kanade thought.

"Shall we continue? Or take a break?" He glanced at the workbook, noting there were still plenty of questions to cover. He left the decision up to her.

However, when he turned to her, he saw that she had already slumped over the table, her breathing soft and even.

"Can't study anymore… zzz…" she murmured faintly, clearly asleep.

"…Hasaka?"

Kanade gave her a gentle nudge, but she didn't budge.

"She's really asleep…" Kanade muttered, taken aback.

She must work really hard usually to be this tired.

But sleeping here like this…

Frowning slightly, Kanade scanned the surroundings. Then he stood up and walked toward the staff counter.

Kaguya, still hidden in her corner, ducked further into the shadows, terrified of being discovered.

A moment later, Kanade returned, carrying a small blanket.

He approached quietly and gently draped the blanket over the sleeping girl's shoulders. Then he sat back down beside her, careful not to disturb her rest.

Not one to idle, Kanade picked up his pen and began writing detailed notes and annotations on the remaining problems in the workbook.

"…"

"…"

One was a sleeping girl.

The other, a focused boy.

Neither spoke, each immersed in their own activity.

The peaceful scene, however, was almost unbearable for Kaguya Shinomiya.

"How can…?"

How could Hayasaka be treated so gently by the president?!

I want the president to take care of me like that too!

She imagined him draping a blanket over her, the scent of his cologne lulling her to sleep. Then he'd mischievously lean in to kiss her cheek… or perhaps… her lips…

Kyaaa!

I'm so jealous! Kaguya Shinomiya fumed inwardly.

You idiot, Hayasaka! You said you were going to get the president to confess his feelings, but all I see is you drooling over his looks! I trusted you, and you let me down!

As the situation dragged on, Kaguya endured an agonizing wait, her face emotionless as she watched Hayasaka occasionally steal glances at Kanade Natsukawa. Kaguya decided she might as well dock her maid's entire paycheck for the month.

"Ugh… Huh? Did I fall asleep?" Hayasaka mumbled, rubbing her sleepy eyes. Glancing at her watch, she let out a gasp.

"No way—it's been three hours?!"

"Feeling better? Do you need to rest a bit longer?" Kanade asked, putting his pen down and looking at her with genuine concern.

"N-no, I'm fine now…" Hayasaka stammered, her flushed cheeks making her look particularly endearing after her extended nap.

"Thanks for asking… Wait—President, did you stay here the whole time?" she asked hesitantly, as if seeking confirmation.

"Not exactly…" Kanade hesitated, then shook his head. "I was just standing over there reading for a bit and thought I'd sit down to rest."

Kanade had long since learned that excessive kindness could make people suspicious. From his past experiences, he knew better than to act overly attentive, even with good intentions.

"Is that so…" Hayasaka nodded slightly, choosing not to call him out despite knowing the truth.

What a liar… He was writing notes the whole time.

"It's getting late. Now that you're awake…" Kanade started to say, but Hayasaka suddenly looked up, her expression unusually serious.

"President…" she began, her gaze filled with a mixture of determination and nervousness.

"Do you… have someone you like?"

"…"

Kanade froze, his mouth opening and closing wordlessly.

Hayasaka… Could she actually like me?

It wasn't as if he was jumping to conclusions, but considering the events that had unfolded…

Her persistence despite his indifference, her unwillingness to give up even after multiple rejections, and now this intimate atmosphere with her hopeful, longing gaze…

He couldn't help but entertain the thought.

Still, she wasn't someone he knew well. Could this be fate playing tricks on him? His past romantic failures had taught him that his feelings rarely aligned with those of others, yet here was a girl who seemed to genuinely care for him.

"W-why would you ask that out of nowhere?" he finally managed.

"B-because… I'm curious," Hayasaka said, her voice tinged with hesitation.

"…" Kanade fell silent.

Now he was certain—this girl genuinely liked him. The choice was now his to make.

Would he accept her feelings? Or reject her and risk hurting her deeply?

He didn't feel strongly about her, but he did have a slight fondness for her now. Reflecting on his past failures and how much they had hurt him, he made a decision.

I can't let a good girl like her suffer.

"H-Hasaka!"

"Y-yes?" Hayasaka was startled, not expecting Kanade to suddenly raise his voice.

"Actually…" Kanade took a deep breath, steadying himself. With repeated mental reassurances, he found the courage to continue.

As a man, I need to step up when necessary. Confessing shouldn't be something a shy girl has to do.

"I know this might seem sudden, but… would you go out with me?"

"…"

Hayasaka's eyes widened, her pupils dilating in shock as her mind erupted into chaos.

What? A confession?! From him? To me?!

Not to Kaguya-sama… but me?!

Her disbelief was akin to hearing an announcement that the world was about to end—something so absurd she couldn't possibly take it seriously. But if every nation on Earth started broadcasting the same message, how could she laugh it off?

Kanade Natsukawa, the supposedly devoted romantic, just confessed… to me?

No. This couldn't be real. Unless… unless his affection for Kaguya-sama had always been fake?

But then again… had he ever truly shown Kaguya-sama special warmth? He'd always been teasing her, and Kaguya had never mentioned him acting particularly gentle toward her.

Could she have been the real target all along? Had he been using Kaguya-sama as a stepping stone to get closer to her?

…

The more Hayasaka thought about it, the more plausible it seemed.

At the same time, she couldn't help but feel a mix of admiration and unease toward Kanade. If he had hidden his true intentions this long, wasn't that terrifyingly impressive?

"Hasaka? Are you okay?" Kanade asked, his voice laced with concern.

"…"

"Hasaka?" When she still didn't respond, he reached out to gently tap her shoulder.

"!" Startled, Hayasaka jumped up and instinctively took two steps back.

"…"

"No, no, it's not like that…" Seeing the hurt in Kanade's expression, Hayasaka scrambled to explain.

"There's no need to explain, Hasaka. I get it. I'm sorry if I scared you. I'll leave now."

Without waiting for a response, Kanade quietly gathered his belongings and walked away.

"P-President…" Hayasaka extended her hand, as if to stop him, but found herself unable to do so.

Only after Kanade disappeared from view did Kaguya emerge from her hiding spot.

"What just happened, Hayasaka? Why did the president leave all of a sudden? Hayasaka? Are you okay?"

"Lady Kaguya…" Hayasaka murmured, her voice trembling as she turned to face her mistress, her mind still reeling from what had just occurred.