Chapter 071: Angel? Fallen Angel!

After stepping off the Ferris wheel and having dinner with the mischievous junior, Kanade Natsukawa found himself feeling somewhat distracted.

Following her unexpected confession, Isshiki seemed unchanged in demeanor. However, Kanade couldn't help but feel a bit awkward, unable to view her in the same light as before. Thankfully, she didn't tease him or try to make things uncomfortable, keeping a reasonable distance as they walked back.

Returning to his apartment and slipping into his indoor slippers, Kanade immediately noticed Mahiru Shiina sitting on the couch.

He had no idea when she'd returned or whether she'd eaten dinner yet.

"I'm home," he called out.

Mahiru's reaction was peculiar. She looked startled, hurriedly hiding her phone behind her back.

"W-Welcome back!"

"…"

Something was definitely up.

Kanade's sharp intuition told him there was more to this than met the eye. Normally, Mahiru would ask how his day went or if he had fun. This time, however, she said nothing of the sort, leaving him curious about what might have happened.

Could it be related to today's events?

Suspecting a connection, Kanade decided to change into fresh clothes and wash up before addressing the matter.

Once settled beside her on the couch, he casually turned on the television and asked, "Did you have fun today, Shiina? What did you and Kato do?"

"We… didn't do much. Just wandered around a bit. It was fun…"

"…"

Her words didn't match her behavior. The timid way she avoided eye contact and her visibly stiff posture didn't convey someone who had enjoyed themselves.

"Shiina, did you do something that might upset me?"

"Eh?! Why would you ask that?!" Mahiru exclaimed, covering her mouth with her hand, her eyes wide with shock.

"Well… I think I've gotten to know you pretty well. For example, you're not great at hiding your emotions…" Kanade remarked gently.

Ever since he walked through the door, Mahiru's nervous expressions and stiff movements had been obvious to him. She seemed anything but relaxed in her own home.

"Of course, if it's something you'd rather not talk about, that's fine too," he reassured her.

"It's not that… I just don't know if you'd be angry if I told you." Mahiru hesitated, stealing a glance at him.

"I won't be. You can trust me on that."

Kanade had never been angry at her—not even when she rejected his confession. He simply assumed he wasn't good enough and moved on. Mahiru, of all people, was unlikely to do anything that would genuinely upset him.

"Well… Kato shared some of your photos with me while we were out today…"

"Photos?" Kanade raised an eyebrow. That didn't sound so bad.

"Could I ask what kind of photos they were?"

"Swimsuit shots… and costume photos…"

"…"

Kanade froze.

At first, he thought it couldn't be true. Kato wouldn't have taken or shared photos like that. Then he remembered: during their club activities, they had taken various themed photos as material.

But why would they look at those pictures during an outing?

"May I see them?" Kanade asked cautiously.

After a moment's hesitation, Mahiru nodded and handed him her phone.

"…"

Kanade scrolled through the photos, growing more self-conscious with each swipe.

They were indeed taken during club activities—nothing inappropriate, but still embarrassing. Swimsuits, theatrical costumes, and silly poses… they weren't exactly his proudest moments.

"Could you delete these?"

"Eh?! But you promised you wouldn't get mad!" Mahiru protested, her voice rising in panic.

"I'm not angry…" Kanade sighed. "I just feel like I'll never live this down."

Everyone has moments of embarrassment captured in photos—childhood antics or cringeworthy phases immortalized forever. At the time, it might seem harmless, but looking back years later could make anyone cringe.

That's exactly how Kanade felt now.

While the original club members who took those photos understood the context, Mahiru seeing them was a different matter entirely. It was hard not to imagine her assuming he had some bizarre hobbies.

"These were taken for… um, game development purposes," he tried to explain. "They're not reflective of any strange interests or anything. I hope you understand."

He sighed again and asked once more, "So, can you delete them?"

"…If Kanade doesn't like it, I suppose…" Mahiru's face fell, looking genuinely heartbroken.

To be fair, if Kanade had funny or embarrassing photos of his friends, he wouldn't want to delete them either—they were keepsakes of shared memories. Still, Mahiru's reaction tugged at his heartstrings.

Her downcast lashes, slightly puffed cheeks, and faintly pouting lips were enough to make anyone feel like a villain.

"…"

Without a word, Kanade handed her phone back and fixed his gaze on the television, feigning indifference.

"Just… don't show them to anyone else, okay?"

"Huh?" Mahiru blinked, taken aback. Then, realizing what he meant, her face lit up with a radiant smile.

"Of course! I'd never do that!"

"…"

Kanade said nothing more, trying to make himself as inconspicuous as possible. Maybe if he kept quiet, Mahiru would lose interest, and his embarrassment would fade.

But instead, Mahiru scooted closer, leaning her head against his shoulder. She even raised her phone high, scrolling through the photos in plain view.

"…"

She's a fallen angel, isn't she?

Too cunning, Mahiru Shiina! Who would have guessed she had such a mischievous streak?

The peaceful weekend flew by, and soon, Monday arrived—a day of toil and responsibility.

Kanade woke early, meeting with the "former" student council members at a designated spot before heading to the school auditorium together.

Their arrival naturally drew attention, with many students sneaking glances and whispering.

However, when Kanade and the others looked their way, the onlookers quickly fell silent, creating an air of tension.

Their group certainly gave off a "tough crowd" vibe.

With the intense stares of Miyuki Shirogane, Ishigami's brooding aura, Kaguya Shinomiya's icy demeanor, and Kanade's own stoic expression, they could easily be mistaken for a gang of delinquents. Only Chika Fujiwara's cheerful antics offset the menacing atmosphere.

And then, as they made their way to the auditorium, they ran into another group—Isshiki's campaign team, composed of none other than...

The Service Club.