Chapter 128: Do You Really Wish for That?

A few more days of the boring summer break passed, and finally, Kaguya Shinomiya had something to do.

Today was a day she had arranged to hang out with friends.

She was supposed to go out with Chika Fujiwara, who had just returned from overseas, her little sister Moeha, and Kei Shirogane.

Kaguya really wanted to build a good relationship with Kei—not just because she was Miyuki's sister, but because she genuinely liked the girl.

Of course, part of it was also because Kei reminded her of Miyuki.

"Hayasaka, how does this hat look?"

"It suits you very well, Kaguya-sama," Hayasaka replied with her usual calm expression.

"Really…"

A faint smile appeared on Kaguya's face.

The monotonous summer break had been weighing on her. But at least today, going out with friends gave her something to look forward to. It was a brief reprieve from the days of not seeing Shirogane.

But Kaguya was well aware: unexpected things often happened around her.

Just as she cheerfully opened her door, she was greeted by two people in suits and sunglasses standing in front of her.

Leading them was a woman whose voice was cold and impersonal. "Young lady, the head of the family would like to see you. Please come to the main estate."

"But I made plans with my friends today—"

"Please don't make this difficult, young lady."

Her words carried an air of absolute authority.

Kaguya visibly hesitated. She was clearly intimidated by the woman from the main household. Though she didn't want to comply, she could only nod helplessly.

Hayasaka, recognizing the situation, clicked her tongue in annoyance—something rare for her calm demeanor.

The woman glanced at Hayasaka, but the blonde girl simply stood there elegantly, as if nothing had happened.

"…Fine. Hayasaka, you come too."

"Understood."

As Kaguya's attendant, Hayasaka had to go wherever she went.

Though they both served the Shinomiya family, Hayasaka deeply resented the main household.

---

The Shinomiya estate was a large, traditional Japanese mansion in Kyoto. Servants bustled through the long hallways.

By the time Kaguya and Hayasaka arrived, it was already night.

They knelt together on the tatami mats of one room, waiting for the arrival of Kaguya's father—Shinomiya Gan'an, the head of the family.

"Kaguya-sama…"

Seeing Kaguya's saddened expression from missing her outing, Hayasaka gently held her hand.

"I'm fine."

Kaguya had known from a very young age:

She wasn't free.

She'd been given far more blessings than others—luxury, talent, status. But all of it came with a price.

She had never gone on a family vacation, had no summer memories to speak of.

As a child, she thought that was normal. After all, she was special. She was luckier than most—so losing something in return… was acceptable.

She was already used to being summoned without warning.

At the main house, the servants always greeted her politely, but once they passed, they'd whisper behind her back.

Even her two older brothers ignored her. When she greeted them, they pretended not to hear and walked past her.

There was no warmth in the main branch of the Shinomiya family.

But Kaguya didn't mind.

She understood all too well: the amount of "fortune" and "misfortune" a person has in life eventually balances out. Since she had the envy of others, she would naturally lose something too.

She and Hayasaka had been waiting in the room for nearly three hours. Only servants had come by to deliver tea.

Finally, footsteps echoed down the corridor. Kaguya looked toward the door and saw her father approaching with a cane.

"Father…"

"Hm. You're here."

Though he knew she was in the room, he didn't even glance at her as he walked past, leaving only those cold words behind.

"Um… good evening…"

"Good work."

That was the second thing her father said to her that day—likely the last.

Seventeen years old, and she'd never heard her father say "Good night," or "Take care," or "You did well."

Hayasaka remained composed, but whispered under her breath, "All that effort just to get us here and he brushes it off in a few words? What a rotten old man."

She couldn't say it aloud—if anyone heard, it would definitely lead to trouble.

Kaguya hung her head.

She had long gotten used to this.

Since she was a child, the family demanded that she carry herself with the dignity of a noble. They constantly warned her not to bring shame to the name, treating her like a tumor they couldn't cut out.

"Kaguya-sama…"

"It's okay, Hayasaka." Kaguya forced a smile. "It's fine. The fireworks festival is the day after tomorrow. I can go with the president and the rest of the student council then."

"…Yeah, that would be best."

Hayasaka gently held her, letting Kaguya rest her head on her shoulder.

---

"Kei, you're back early?"

Takamine Rinji walked into the Shirogane house with groceries and saw Kei zoning out at the dining table.

"Didn't you say you were going to Harajuku with Secretary Fujiwara and Shinomiya Heiress? Why are you back already?"

"We didn't go today," Kei sighed.

"Shinomiya-senpai couldn't make it."

"Ah, she bailed, huh? Those big families…"

"That's not it!"

Kei jumped in defensively.

"Shinomiya-senpai got suddenly called back to the main house. She couldn't defy their orders."

"Oh, the main house, huh?"

Rinji chuckled and pulled a can of cola from the bag, opening it.

"I wonder if she passed along what I said to them."

Unlike Rinji, who seemed indifferent, Shirogane Miyuki appeared genuinely concerned.

"I just hope Kaguya can make it to the fireworks festival the day after tomorrow…"

"…"

Rinji set down the cola and looked at him.

"You really want her to go, don't you?"

"Of course I do."

"I see."