085. Miko Iino’s Outburst

"President, is there anything I can help with?" Miko Iino asked softly.

It had been at least ten minutes since she entered the student council room, and apart from a brief exchange upon her arrival, the president hadn't spoken to her. With no clear task at hand, she had been sitting idly on the couch, growing increasingly restless.

"Anything at all! As long as I can be of help," she added earnestly.

Kanade Natsukawa looked up from his desk, seemingly about to respond when Miko suddenly blurted out:

"W-well, nothing inappropriate, of course! Only proper tasks!"

"..."

Kanade sighed internally, pausing before replying, "Then could you bring me the files on the coffee table?"

He observed her expression as she moved to comply. Despite her words, it was clear she hadn't completely forgotten the earlier "incident." She was likely pretending not to have seen anything to avoid further awkwardness.

What a thoughtful kid, Kanade thought.

As Miko handed him the files, he decided to shift the topic. "You're also a part-time disciplinary committee member, right? Shouldn't you be on patrol this morning?"

"Fujiwara-senpai told me to come here. She said it would be best for new members to report in, and she offered to cover my duties," Miko replied, standing obediently by his side as if eager to watch him work up close.

Kanade raised an eyebrow. "Are you sure that's okay?"

He held back the urge to groan. Of course this is Fujiwara Chika's doing. But he hadn't expected Miko to trust Chika so implicitly. Did she really not know Chika's true nature?

"Of course it's fine! Fujiwara-senpai is amazing! She even won a gold medal at the National Pythia Piano Competition!"

"That was in fourth grade…"

"Not only that, she's fluent in five languages! She's a linguistic genius!"

"Yet she struggles with basic Japanese…"

"And she's an average scholar at Shuchiin Academy!"

"…That sounds more like a flaw."

"Anyway! Fujiwara-senpai is incredible, and I respect her so much!"

"..."

Kanade could only nod stiffly, marveling at Miko's unshakable faith in Chika. It was obvious she had been completely duped by Chika's cheerful façade.

"I have so much I want to say," Kanade muttered, pinching the bridge of his nose. "But let me just offer some advice—never place blind expectations on anyone. They might not be the person you imagine them to be."

His words were deliberately vague, but the implication was clear. Having once experienced the disillusionment of seeing an idealized figure fall from grace, Kanade wanted to spare Miko from the same heartbreak. Given how much time they'd likely spend together in the student council, the truth about Chika's personality was bound to surface sooner or later.

"Don't expect too much…" Miko frowned, looking confused. "Are you saying… I shouldn't trust Shinomiya-senpai?"

"...Huh?" Kanade blinked, caught off guard.

"Because Shinomiya-senpai did make that kind of deal with me. I saw it with my own eyes," Miko said, growing increasingly agitated. "Wait a minute… how did you know? Unless… you were the one behind it, President?!"

Her previously respectful demeanor vanished as she stepped back, glaring at Kanade with suspicion and anger.

"I knew it! It all makes sense now! Why else would Shinomiya-senpai, the vice president, approach me with such an offer unless you were pulling the strings?! You're just trying to clear your name, aren't you?! Well, forget it! I won't stoop to your level!"

"Wait, wait! Hold on!" Kanade raised his hands in exasperation. "What are you talking about? I don't understand a word of this!"

To Kanade, Miko's sudden outburst was utterly baffling. One moment they'd been discussing Chika, and the next she was accusing him of masterminding some kind of scheme involving Kaguya.

"Calm down. Let's start from the beginning," Kanade said firmly. "At least let me understand what's going on."

Miko hesitated, clearly skeptical, but eventually nodded. "Fine. Ask your questions."

"Alright, first of all—what is this 'deal' you mentioned?"

"Well… last week, Shinomiya-senpai asked to speak with me privately. She proposed that I withdraw from the student council election. In exchange, she promised to help me become the president when you all move up to third year…"

"I see…" Kanade nodded slowly. It seemed Kaguya's meticulous planning extended not only to the various clubs but even to the other candidates. Truly, she lived up to the Shinomiya family's reputation.

"You said you suspect I'm the one behind this," Kanade continued. "Why?"

"...Because it makes sense," Miko admitted grudgingly.

"Alright, I understand." Kanade nodded again, his expression thoughtful. "Now, one last question, Iino-san—have you ever lied?"

"Huh? What does that have to do with anything?" Miko frowned, clearly puzzled by the shift in topic.

"Just answer—yes or no."

"…Yes."

"Good," Kanade said, his expression unreadable. "Now, was that lie for yourself or for someone else?"

Miko hesitated, her brow furrowing deeply. After a long pause, she answered quietly, "…For someone else."

"..."

Kanade leaned back slightly, satisfied. Her answer gave him what he needed. Whether it was for self-interest or altruism, he now had the leverage to steer the conversation in his favor.

If it was for herself, he could shift the narrative to undermine her credibility. If it was for someone else, he could take the blame for Kaguya's actions, apologize sincerely, and disarm her suspicions.

This, however, felt like a pivotal moment.

"Alright," Kanade said softly, his tone calm. "Let's keep talking."

Notes-Read advances chapters in patreon.com/Shadow_D_X, i have finished uploading the whole series in patreon, a total of 274 chapters you can find it in the collections, thanks for supporting me and special thanks to all the patrons for joining