Chapter 229: Kaguya Shinomiya's Internal Trial

Kaguya Shinomiya was a girl with heavy emotional armor.

This mental mask protected her under the pressure of the Shinomiya family, but as a result, multiple personalities developed within her.

This internal trial was her different selves arguing to determine how the real her should act.

The debate continued.

Ice Kaguya, cold and aloof, stared at the defendant—Kaguya's true self.

"Utterly laughable. What kind of thought process leads to preparing a cake like that?"

"You're right..."

Kaguya's true self hung her head in guilt.

She hadn't lifted her head once since the trial began.

"But still..." Idiot Kaguya objected. "If the president can eat cake, he'll definitely be happy~"

Kaguya's true self: "...You're not wrong."

"Make the president happy? That's exactly the problem."

Ice Kaguya remained expressionless as she addressed both Idiot Kaguya and the main Kaguya. "Have you forgotten our goal?"

"Our goal?"

"To make Miyuki Shirogane confess. To make that man surrender to us completely. That's our mission."

At those words, the real Kaguya suddenly snapped back to reality.

"Right... That's why I've been doing all this—to make the president confess. There's no reason for me to try to please him."

"Objection!" Idiot Kaguya yelled.

"Huh?"

"The answer is obvious."

"Huh?" Kaguya's true self didn't understand what she meant.

But Idiot Kaguya now wore the expression of a love-struck girl.

"Because you... love the president."

"Absolutely not!!"

She could never admit to liking the president. Not even in front of a version of herself.

"I only wanted to celebrate his birthday to make him confess to me!"

"Eh? Is that really true?"

Idiot Kaguya looked confused.

"You want to see the president happy, right? Talking with him makes you happy, doesn't it? Just having him nearby warms your heart. You can't fake that—because we are you."

Every word struck Kaguya's true self silent, her face turning increasingly red.

"So don't worry about all that. Just go and celebrate the president's birthday properly."

"Hey, newbie."

Ice Kaguya cut in, her voice icy.

"We are direct descendants of the Shinomiya family. Commanding others is family tradition. Going out of our way to please others is forbidden."

"Exactly. That's how it is."

Kaguya's true self finally found an excuse to escape the embarrassment.

But just as she agreed with Ice Kaguya's reasoning, Ice Kaguya said:

"Miyuki Shirogane is indeed an outstanding male. As a young woman, I crave his body on an instinctual level. I'll admit that."

"What are you even saying!? Don't admit that kind of thing!!"

Kaguya's true self jumped up in shock.

"But it's just a passing desire. Rationally speaking, the president only appears to stand out because we're confined to a closed school environment. Logically, he's not even more capable than Takamine Rinji."

Ice Kaguya stated coldly.

"Once we graduate and enter society, we'll meet many more capable men. Am I wrong?"

"..."

Kaguya's true self was silent for a while before murmuring:

"Right. This is just a game, not real love. Even if the president really confessed to me one day, I..."

"That's not true at all!!"

Idiot Kaguya slammed the table and shouted.

"No one could ever be better than the president!! Don't forget—he was even a bank president! What other high schooler could do that?"

Ice Kaguya: "That was just a job Takamine Rinji arranged for him. Do you really think the president accomplished that on his own?"

"Why are you always defending Rinji!?" Idiot Kaguya snapped. "Are you saying he's better than the president!?"

"I'm simply being objective."

"So you wouldn't mind marrying Rinji someday!?"

"Of course not. It would resolve the Shinomiya family crisis and elevate us even further. It's a win. And I don't dislike him."

The two Kaguya personalities instantly began arguing.

"Rinji isn't as kind as the president!"

"Talent and morality are unrelated. I only care if he's competent."

"Enough already! We all like the president! Are you going to betray us and like Rinji instead!?"

"..."

Ice Kaguya fell silent.

After a long pause, she spoke: "You should understand, my feelings toward Takamine Rinji aren't romantic. It's admiration."

"Eh?"

"I envy his ability to make the Shinomiya family fear him instead of the other way around. I envy how close he is to the president. I envy how he expresses his feelings without restraint. I envy that he doesn't wear a mask."

Ice Kaguya looked at the others.

"He's the version of us we could never become—the ideal version of ourselves."

Knock knock.

Little Judge Kaguya tapped her gavel a few times.

"That's enough. The topic of Rinji ends here. Today's focus is whether or not we should celebrate the president's birthday."

She looked toward the defendant Kaguya.

"So? What will you do?"

"Eh? Aren't you the one who makes the judgment?"

"We are all you. The only one who can decide is you."

"..."

As the courtroom in her mind emptied, Kaguya remained silent.

———Internal Trial Ends———

"President..."

"Hm?"

Still working on documents, Shirogane looked up to see Kaguya had turned off the lights.

"Could you close your eyes for a moment?"

"Oh, okay."

He had no idea what for, but he obediently shut his eyes.

"Alright, open them."

At her voice, he opened his eyes.

Standing before him was Kaguya, holding a small slice of cake with a candle on top.

"Happy birthday, President."

She set the cake down and presented him with a beautifully wrapped folding fan.

"Summer's almost over, but since you always wear a jacket, you must be hot. That's why I picked this."

She spoke softly, then turned and quickly ran out of the office without waiting for him to reply.

"..."

Shirogane looked at the cake and the fan in his hand.

Kaguya had celebrated his birthday all by herself.

Feeling overwhelmed, he couldn't help but use the fan to hide his smile.