Chapter 262: A “Tribute” from the Junior

"What's wrong, Iino? Is there something on your mind?" Kanade attempted to start a conversation with Miko Iino, and the effect was immediate.

"!" Iino straightened up in her seat like a startled rabbit, her demeanor suddenly respectful. "N-No, there's nothing at all! Please don't mind me…"

"There's no need to be so stiff," Kanade reassured her with a soft smile. "Relax a little, like you would in the student council room. The only difference here is the setting."

From her nervous behavior, Kanade couldn't tell if she had noticed anything unusual. However, his goal of diverting her attention remained unchanged. He needed her to blend into the group's lively atmosphere.

"Are the snacks to your liking? Should I bring out anything else?" Kanade glanced at the table and noticed that the plate in front of Miko was empty. He was about to offer to get more when she hastily shook her head.

"No! Don't trouble yourself, Senpai!" she said, her cheeks tinged with pink.

The realization that she was visiting a boy's home for the first time—one she considered her "friend"—made her a little self-conscious. She hadn't prepared herself mentally for this and was already feeling out of place. Eating snacks had been her way of distracting herself, but now that she was aware of her surroundings, she couldn't help but feel flustered.

"T-That cup! It's… um, very cute! It suits you, Senpai… huh?" Miko stammered, pointing at one of the cups on the table. However, her voice trailed off as she leaned closer for a better look.

From her angle, she could clearly see the cup's design: an adorable bear hugging a heart, with a matching plush bear tied to the handle. The playful and charming design stood out, especially because it was so unlike what one would expect of someone like Kanade—a boy who was clearly not the "cute things" type.

"…" Kanade froze for a moment before cold sweat began to form on his brow.

This is bad! I was so focused on hiding the cushions and slippers that I forgot about the cups!

The relaxed atmosphere he had managed to build up was instantly shattered. His anxiety spiked, knowing this topic wouldn't be dropped so easily.

As he feared, Chika immediately leaned in to inspect the cup. Stretching her neck, she squinted at the design before breaking into a wide grin.

"Wow! It is cute!" Chika nodded in agreement with Miko before glancing mischievously at Kanade. Her expression practically screamed, Oh my, I had no idea the President liked such girly things!

"…"

Kanade clenched his jaw, trying to keep calm despite the rising heat in his cheeks.

At first, he panicked, unsure of how to explain himself. But then he realized Chika had inadvertently given him an escape route—he could just admit the cup was his. While this might slightly alter his image, it was still preferable to having Mahiru's presence in his home exposed.

Then another thought crossed his mind, one that seemed even better.

"Actually… this isn't my cup," Kanade began after taking a deep breath. "It's my sister's. She visits me sometimes and stays for a bit. This is her cup."

Kanade's logic was simple: while fabricating a story could lead to complications, a partial truth often worked best. He did indeed have a younger sister, though she never visited him. If he framed Mahiru as his "sister" going forward, it could cover for any oddities they might notice in the future.

The explanation seemed to land well. Everyone's expressions shifted from curious to surprised—after all, Kanade had never mentioned having a sister before.

Unexpectedly, the most stunned reaction came from Kaguya.

"W-Wait, President… you have a sister? A biological one?"

"Mm," Kanade confirmed with a nod. "She's two years younger than me and about to graduate from middle school."

"Wow, really?! Do you have a picture? Can I see her?" Chika exclaimed, her curiosity piqued. As a fellow older sibling, she couldn't help but wonder what Kanade's sister was like. Was she more well-behaved than her own?

"Chika, that's incredibly rude! It's someone's personal business," Kaguya scolded before turning to Kanade with a slight bow, her expression apologetic. "I'm sorry, President. I was just… surprised."

Though Kaguya tried to maintain her composure, Kanade could tell she was just as curious as Chika—she was simply better at hiding it.

"It's fine. I'd show you if I had any pictures," Kanade said with a shrug, "but unfortunately, I don't have any on my phone."

"Aww, what a shame…" Chika pouted in disappointment.

Kaguya, on the other hand, refrained from showing any visible reaction. Internally, however, she was already strategizing. I must find a way to get closer to the President's sister someday…

Miko, sitting quietly nearby, was having the most thoughts of all.

She began piecing together a theory: perhaps Kanade's kindness toward her stemmed from having a sister around her age. Maybe he saw her as a little sister too?

Though this reasoning suggested a closer relationship, Miko found herself feeling oddly dissatisfied. Why didn't she like this idea?

"…"

Kanade noticed Miko suddenly fall silent. She wrinkled her nose slightly and lowered her head, as if deep in thought.

"Miko? What's wrong?" he asked cautiously.

He'd been keeping an eye on her since earlier, convinced she wouldn't uncover anything, but her sudden pensive demeanor made him uneasy.

"Are you hungry? I can grab more snacks," Kanade said quickly, standing up before she could refuse. Internally, he was apologizing profusely to her.

He had avoided mentioning her bottomless appetite to spare her embarrassment, but now it was the perfect distraction to shift her focus.

Sure enough, his sudden movement caught her off guard. She waved her hands frantically in protest.

"N-No, it's fine, Senpai! Really, you don't have to go to the trouble!"

Miko Iino, though slightly worried about revealing her appetite, never considered the possibility that Kanade might be intentionally calling attention to it. After all, she had just been thinking that Kanade probably viewed her as a little sister. So, she assumed he was merely concerned about whether she was hungry, given that it was around dinnertime.

On the side, Chika tilted her head, observing the exchange between Kanade and Miko. Then, she suddenly clapped her hands as if she had come to a realization.

"Oh! Now that I think about it, it is dinnertime!"

"Well then, let's call it a day! I hereby declare that today's 'President Visit' has been a rousing success!"

Chika playfully clapped her hands, prompting a bewildered Miko to reflexively do the same before being pulled closer by Chika.

"Miko-chan, why don't you join me for a meal? My stomach's starting to growl, too!" Chika invited cheerfully.

She then turned toward Kaguya and extended the same invitation.

"How about you, Kaguya-chan? Care to join us?"

"…"

Kaguya seemed momentarily tempted but ultimately shook her head. "I'll pass this time. I've been out for quite a while, and if I stay longer, the household staff might start to worry."

Her words weren't entirely inaccurate. Though the staff's "worries" had more to do with her whereabouts than actual concern for her well-being, the truth was that it was about time for her to head back. Any longer and she'd risk inconveniencing Ai.

"That's a shame…" Chika sighed, visibly disappointed. Still, she understood Kaguya's home situation and didn't press further.

"What about you, Miko-chan? You can't ditch me too, okay?!"

"Uh… if you don't mind, Senpai…" Miko replied hesitantly. It was rare for someone to invite her to eat out so enthusiastically, let alone someone she admired like Chika. Although she had started to realize some of Chika's true colors, it was hard to shake her initial perception of her Senpai. She figured this was a good opportunity to learn more about her.

"Yay!" Chika exclaimed in excitement, then turned toward Ishigami and Shirogane.

"What about you two? Want to join us?"

"No thanks. I need to get home and game," Ishigami replied bluntly, cutting off any further attempts. What was a group meal compared to diving into the masterpieces of gaming? Impossible to beat!

Chika glared at him, pouting in frustration. "It's because of that attitude that no girls ever want to hang out with you!"

"Heh, women…" Ishigami smirked dismissively. "Do you think a mere two-person creation can compare to the tireless work of an entire team pouring their souls into an artistic masterpiece?! Don't underestimate art, you philistines!"

"…" Chika stared at him, dumbfounded, before turning to Miko with a serious expression.

"See that, Miko-chan? Take a good look! This type of guy is absolutely not boyfriend material!"

"Yes, I understand," Miko replied earnestly, nodding in agreement.

Pleased with her junior's obedience, Chika smiled in satisfaction before shifting her attention to Shirogane.

"What about you, Shirogane-kun? Are you coming?"

"I'll pass. I have a shift at work," Shirogane replied casually, shaking his head. Even without his job, he would likely have declined. He held fast to his belief in not eating out unnecessarily.

As for Kanade… no one even thought to ask his opinion.

Even Chika knew it was absurd to invite someone recovering from an illness to go out for dinner. Naturally, Kanade was left out of the discussion, which he didn't mind in the slightest. In fact, he let out a small sigh of relief as the group began planning their post-visit activities.

Finally, they're leaving…

On one hand, he was glad for the reprieve. On the other, he felt a twinge of regret. Having friends visit his home was a rare occurrence, and he had hoped to show more hospitality—perhaps even prepare a meal to let them experience his cooking firsthand. However, with Mahiru's presence to keep secret, such plans were impossible today. He could only hope for another opportunity in the future.

Once their plans were set, the group began filing out. Kanade escorted them to the door and bid them farewell one by one. Finally, after closing the door, he turned back, ready to let Mahiru know the coast was clear.

But before he could take a step, the doorbell rang again.

"Who could it be now…" Kanade muttered, his heart suddenly racing. A creeping anxiety filled him as he considered the possibility—could someone have noticed Mahiru's presence?

With cautious movements, Kanade opened the door and was met with Ishigami, who stood alone on the doorstep, waving casually.

"Yo, Senpai. I forgot something," Ishigami said nonchalantly before stepping back inside without waiting for an invitation.

He scanned the room conspiratorially, as if ensuring no one else was around. Then, with a sly grin, he scratched his head and pulled his backpack forward, unzipping it to reveal its contents.

"I almost forgot to give you this," Ishigami said, handing over an item.

Kanade looked down to find a magazine featuring swimsuit models, its glossy cover showing it to be a fresh release.

"…This…"

"Don't mention it, Senpai. It's a token of appreciation for letting me borrow that game," Ishigami said with a wink, giving Kanade a knowing look.

"…" Kanade nodded silently, his expression unreadable. He glanced over his shoulder toward his bedroom, where Mahiru was still hiding, before replying in a hushed tone.

"Thanks, I guess…"

"Heh, enjoy, Senpai. See you tomorrow." Ishigami waved goodbye with a chuckle as he headed out.

"Yeah… see you tomorrow." Kanade closed the door, exhaling deeply.

Let's hope Mahiru didn't overhear that…