112 "Kaguya’s Limited Edition"

Kanade's hand instinctively drifted to the spot where Kaguya had touched his hair moments earlier. He could still feel the faint warmth of her fingertips lingering there.

His intuition whispered that some invisible barrier between them was gradually dissolving. But the experiences he'd had with Shiina reminded him not to overthink it—this was probably just normal interaction between friends. Even someone like Kaguya Shinomiya would naturally crave genuine friendship, though her grasp on appropriate boundaries might be a little off.

"Um… does your finger still hurt?" he asked.

"It doesn't hurt at all now. Thank you for your concern, President," Kaguya replied with a sweet smile that left Kanade at a loss for words.

"…"

A long silence stretched between them.

"It's getting late. We should probably head back for lunch. Everyone's probably waiting," Kanade said, glancing out the window at the bright midday sun.

"Can't we stay a little longer?" Kaguya's voice was soft as she reached out and lightly held his hand, a hint of pleading in her gaze.

"Can't we spend just a little more time together, President?"

"Uh…" Kanade froze.

This side of Kaguya—softly pleading, almost like she was pouting—was something he had never imagined seeing.

Normally, she was the undisputed princess of their class: regal, commanding, and dignified. Yet this fragile, almost spoiled demeanor gave her an even more irresistible charm. The contrast between her usual composure and this sudden vulnerability made Kanade's heart pound loudly in his chest.

It was as if the dim wooden cabin had been flooded with a radiant light.

"Just for a little while," he relented.

"Yay, just a little while is enough!" Kaguya beamed, pulling him to sit beside her. Without hesitation, she leaned against his arm and held onto it tightly.

"The President smells so nice. Are you wearing cologne?"

"N-No…" Kanade shook his head, instinctively trying to free his arm. But her grip was firm, making escape impossible.

"Really? But you smell so good…" She took a delicate sniff, leaning in closer until their faces were mere inches apart. Her glittering eyes locked onto his.

"You don't use cologne, but you smell nice. Why is that, I wonder…"

"…"

"President…"

"W-What?"

"Can I get a closer sniff?"

"…!"

You're already practically glued to me. How much closer do you want to get?! Kanade thought, feeling that something was off.

This wasn't the composed and calculating Kaguya he knew. It was like she had transformed into someone else—a naive, lovestruck girl.

"Are you feeling okay?" Kanade asked cautiously.

He remembered hearing something about Kaguya having a split-personality-like condition, though he'd never witnessed it himself until now. If this really was one of those episodes, he couldn't ignore it.

"Is there anything I can do to help?"

Kaguya's adorably innocent behavior, while undeniably charming, also raised concerns. What if this alternate personality caused lasting effects on her usual self? Would she remember any of this later?

If she did, how would she react? Would she feel embarrassed or even retreat into herself?

Kanade glanced down at her hand still tightly clutching his. Even though their relationship had recently grown closer, this level of intimacy felt premature. For Kaguya in her current state, it all seemed perfectly natural. But if her usual self found out…

"How about you lie down and rest for a bit?" Kanade suggested.

Maybe sleeping it off would help. If she closed her eyes and drifted off, perhaps she'd return to normal when she woke up.

"I don't want to rest yet. Can you stay with me for a while longer?"

"How about this: you lie down, and I'll keep you company while you rest," Kanade coaxed.

At the moment, Kaguya seemed far too easy to placate, making Kanade feel as if he were coaxing an innocent child.

"Hmm… then you lie down too!" Kaguya tilted her head, then nodded enthusiastically.

"I don't think that's necessary…" Kanade began, but Kaguya suddenly reached out and pulled him toward her.

The next thing he knew, he was hovering over her in what could only be described as a "bed-don," the bed-top equivalent of a kabedon.

"…"

"…"

The room fell into a profound silence, broken only by the faint rustling of leaves outside.

But the rhythmic beating of Kanade's heart drowned out every other sound, reverberating in his chest as his gaze locked onto Kaguya's bright, innocent eyes.

"…What's wrong?" Kaguya asked, her tone as guileless as her expression.

"N-Nothing." Kanade quickly snapped out of his daze, pushing himself up and away from the bed.

He tried to escape, but Kaguya wouldn't let him. Her slender fingers wrapped around his hand once more, holding him in place.

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

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

"And your hand…"

"You have to hold it."

"…"

It was impossible to say she wasn't acting spoiled. But unlike Shiina's soft, pleading tone of vulnerability, Kaguya's spoiled behavior felt more assertive—commanding, even.

It wasn't a "Can you please do this for me?" kind of request. It was more like, "I'm cute, so you should do this for me."

But paired with her sweet demeanor and innocent charm, it wasn't off-putting in the slightest.

"You really do have so many different sides…" Kanade muttered.

"What are you talking about, President?" Kaguya asked, tilting her head with an amused smile.

"Nothing," Kanade replied, shaking his head.

He stayed by her side, chatting aimlessly until Kaguya finally let out a soft yawn, her eyelids drooping.

"Looks like you're getting sleepy," Kanade said gently.

"I don't want to sleep… If I do, I won't see you anymore," Kaguya murmured.

"You can still see me in your dreams, you know. Just imagine it," Kanade reassured her.

"If you're in my dreams…" Kaguya's expression softened as she considered the idea, a small smile forming on her lips. "That sounds wonderful."

"But the President has to sing me a lullaby!"

"Huh? I'm not very good at—"

"Then I won't sleep!"

"…" Kanade had no choice. He began humming a simple tune, relying on memory to string the melody together.

As the soft hum filled the room, Kaguya's eyes fluttered shut. With the sound of Kanade's voice in her ears, she drifted into a peaceful slumber, weaving dreams in which her beloved President surely featured prominently.

"…"

"Sweet dreams, Kaguya…" Kanade whispered.