Chapter 133: So-Called "Confession"

"Hayasaka, you seem to be in a good mood today."

"Huh? Really?"

"You're still expressionless like always, but we've lived together for ten years. I can tell," said Shinomiya Kaguya in her pajamas, watching Ai Hayasaka clean the room in her maid uniform. "You seem really happy today. Did something good happen?"

"Not really. I just met with Rinji last night."

"Eh!?"

Kaguya shot up from her bed in surprise. "Did you two get together!?"

"Not yet. We're still just friends."

"Then why are you so happy?"

"Because I can finally face Rinji as a normal person. The two walls that were between us are gone now," Hayasaka said with a smile.

"Oh... well, that's definitely a good step forward."

Although Hayasaka was technically Kaguya's personal attendant, the two had grown up together and were close as sisters. So seeing Hayasaka make progress made Kaguya genuinely happy.

"How about you, Kaguya-sama? Any progress?"

"Me? What progress?"

"With the president, of course."

"I told you, I'm not in that kind of relationship with the president!"

After the fireworks festival the day before, Kaguya had gone right back to her tsundere self. Her face turned red the moment Hayasaka brought up Shirogane Miyuki.

"Well~ I did have some pretty good luck yesterday. I got to see the fireworks with everyone from the student council, and the president even invited me to walk around the festival with him. Honestly, it's only a matter of time before he confesses to me."

Seeing Kaguya's blushing face trying to act proud left Hayasaka speechless for a moment.

"Kaguya-sama, do you know why the main house suddenly let you go out yesterday?"

"Huh? Why?"

Truth be told, Kaguya had been wondering that herself—why her normally cold-hearted father had allowed her to leave.

"Because Rinji went directly to the head of the family and settled everything for you."

"Eh!? Takamine Rinji!?"

Kaguya's jaw dropped. This revelation was too shocking for her.

"How did he even know I wasn't allowed to go out? And why would he help me...?"

At school, Rinji was always teasing or insulting her, which annoyed her to no end. Now she was being told he'd helped her yesterday? She didn't know how to process that.

"Well… probably because the president wanted everyone in the student council to attend, so Rinji stepped in."

"Ah, that makes sense."

Though she and Rinji clashed constantly, he got along well with Shirogane. Kaguya found that reasoning acceptable.

"Either way, I owe him one. I'll have to repay the favor sometime."

She lowered her head, thinking.

"By the way, how did he convince the people at the main house? They wouldn't budge for an outsider..."

"Oh, I heard he just beat up everyone he saw."

"That violent!?"

"It wasn't that bad. No one died," Hayasaka said flatly. "Only about a dozen people ended up in the ICU. The main house is a mess now. They'll probably beef up security soon."

"Then… are you okay? Your mother works at the main house too, doesn't she?"

"That's not a problem. She was out on a business trip. Besides, she's seen Rinji's photo. If anything happened, she'd reveal her identity and be fine."

"Hmm... So, Hayasaka, I assume you've already got your next plan in motion?" Kaguya whispered.

"More or less."

"Oh? A plan to get Rinji to confess?"

Hayasaka gave her a sideways glance—like she was looking at an idiot.

"W-What? Don't tell me you plan on confessing first?"

"Of course. I'd never sit around waiting for someone to confess to me."

"'Sit around'?!" Kaguya looked offended.

"I don't think Rinji will confess on his own. So I'll have to raise his affection level and confess myself."

"A confession is something that should happen after a proper emotional connection is built. The success rate of random confessions is basically zero. Got that, Kaguya-sama?"

Hayasaka's tone was serious, her presence suddenly towering, making Kaguya feel like her personal maid had transformed before her eyes.

"S-Sorry."

"Anyway, a proper confession takes time. Right now, it's more important to build a strong emotional bond."

Hayasaka sighed. The road ahead was still long.

---

Meanwhile, on Rinji's side, he had woken up early the morning after the festival and headed to an abandoned building listed in a text message.

Inside, a crowd had gathered, all watching two muscular men in a fierce battle at the center.

It was another Kengan match—currently Rinji's best way to rake in massive profits.

"Ohma Tokita vs. the famous Japanese wrestler Jun Sekibayashi?"

In the ring, Ohma was at a disadvantage, getting thrown around by the towering, dreadlocked wrestler with the bulk of a tank.

"Mr. Takamine, you came to watch Tokita's match?" asked Nogi Hideki from beside him. His stunning secretary, Akiyama Kaede, stood next to him.

"Yeah. The odds on this one are still quite lucrative."

"How much did you bet, Mr. Takamine?"

"One billion."

"Whoa. That's big."

Nogi grinned, pulling a cigar from his coat pocket and lighting it.

Rinji took a cigarette from his pocket and placed it between his lips.

"Got a light?"

"Of course."

Nogi quickly lit his cigarette for him.

Rinji exhaled a smoke ring, eyes still on the ring.

"What's your take on this match, Mr. Takamine?"

"Barring surprises, Ohma Tokita will win."

"But he's clearly at a disadvantage right now."

In the ring, Sekibayashi was already lifting the bloodied, unconscious Ohma to deliver a finishing move as the crowd roared.

"I know his abilities. He must be holding back," Rinji said with a smirk. "And besides, you're the one who should be worried, President Nogi. You can only stand equal to Katahara Metsudo if you win this match."

"True."

Nogi's expression grew tense.

Just then, things changed in the ring.

Ohma, seemingly unconscious, suddenly broke free. Slowly, his skin began turning red.