Chapter 317: Watching Over

"During the sports festival, there will be a large number of people from other schools entering Shuchiin Academy. Notify the disciplinary committee to strengthen security. Also, the school store needs to stock up..."

"I've already informed the disciplinary committee. The store's also been notified to restock, and they're allowed to open additional booths during the event."

"Good."

With the sports festival approaching, the student council members were all back to work.

Rinji had quickly prepared and printed budget forms for all the potential expenses.

"Also, to prevent injuries, we should recruit more volunteers as usual. If anyone collapses, they can be sent straight to the infirmary," Rinji said.

"Mhm."

Shirogane nodded and handed a signed document to Kaguya beside him.

"Shinomiya, could you take this to Sagara-Sensie?"

"Sure..."

"...What's wrong? You seem a little off today."

"No, it's nothing..."

The moment Shirogane came close, Kaguya's face turned a little red, and she looked dazed.

"If you're tired, make sure you rest."

"Yes."

"By the way..."

Shirogane suddenly leaned in close to her. As she tensed up, he reached out toward her hair.

"There's a string stuck in your hair."

He pulled it out—it must've gotten there during work.

"Thank you, President," Kaguya smiled. "I didn't notice at all. Lately I've been feeling a little..."

Her voice grew faint, and in the next moment, she collapsed to the ground.

Thud.

"... Shinomiya! Are you okay!?"

Shirogane quickly helped her up as others gathered around.

"President, call an ambulance!"

Rinji walked up and grabbed her hand, pressing three fingers to her wrist.

"...Her heartbeat seems a bit weak," Rinji frowned.

"Shinomiya... does she have some kind of illness?"

Shirogane, who had already called the ambulance, quickly asked.

"I don't know. I'm not a doctor," Rinji shook his head. "But I don't see any obvious signs."

---

That day, a sudden event struck the student council.

Vice President Kaguya Shinomiya collapsed and was taken to the hospital by ambulance.

Watching the vehicle leave campus, Shirogane looked deeply worried.

"Shinomiya... will she be okay?"

"They say she's had a weak heart since childhood," Fujiwara said with concern. "Every time the seasons change, she needs to rest. Her mother also passed away from heart disease..."

"I see..."

"President, should I go check on her?" Rinji offered. "I know some doctors in Tokyo. If needed, I can call in some top specialists from abroad."

"Please do."

---

In the largest hospital in Tokyo's Minato ward—

The ambulance arrived quickly, and when the hospital director learned the patient was Kaguya Shinomiya, he canceled an upcoming conference and personally took over her case.

Ten minutes after Kaguya was brought in, Rinji also arrived.

"...Figured you'd show up too."

"This can't be helped. Kaguya-sama's condition is rather unique," Hayasaka replied.

Their meeting wasn't really a coincidence. As Kaguya's attendant, Hayasaka was obviously by her side.

While Kaguya was inside getting checked, Hayasaka and Rinji sat on a bench in the hallway.

"I heard she has a condition. Is it hereditary?"

"More or less. She came to this hospital for check-ups when she was little."

"I see."

Rinji pulled out a folder from behind his back and flipped through it.

"Shimizu Nayotake, Kaguya's biological mother, died ten years ago from congenital heart disease. Her attending physician seems to be..."

"The same one treating her now," Hayasaka replied, glancing at the examination room.

"Shozo Tanuma. He developed pediatric heart bypass surgery, is the hospital director, and one of the world's most renowned doctors. He's also the Shinomiya family's personal physician."

"Right, that's him. His grandson attends Shuchiin—Tanuma Tsubasa, I think. They say their whole family marries young," Rinji chuckled.

He turned back to the investigation report.

"I was just digging into the Shinomiya family's medical history... but found something much bigger. Her mother was apparently..."

"Since you found it, I guess I can't hide it," Hayasaka sighed. "She was a concubine. In other words, not a legitimate wife."

"This is the 21st century, right?"

"After Shinomiya Gan'an's previous wife passed, he married someone new, but due to status issues, it wasn't made public. So Kaguya, born from that union, wasn't favored in the family and has no inheritance rights."

"What a mess."

"Big families are always like that."

"My family's big too, but nowhere near this messy," Rinji said. "My dad has one wife—my mom—and one son, me. Just the three of us, very harmonious."

"I don't know your family, so I can't comment," Hayasaka replied. "What you found about her mother, I can't stop you, but please don't spread it. I promised to keep it secret."

"I'm not that bored."

Rinji gave a light laugh, but his eyes gleamed red.

"A family that could be crushed in an instant, yet full of so much drama... it's fascinating."

"...By the way, why did you come when Kaguya-sama fainted?"

"Because someone very worried about her couldn't come himself," Rinji smiled. "I promised to keep his secret too. But I'm sure you can guess who."

"It's the President, huh?"

Hayasaka smiled faintly.

She seemed pleased to see Kaguya's love life progressing.

"Still, their road to love won't be easy."

"I get that," Hayasaka said with a bitter smile. "If only Kaguya could be a little more honest."

"Yeah."

Though they rarely saw each other at school, Hayasaka and Rinji had always been doing the same thing:

Silently watching over the love between Miyuki Shirogane and Kaguya Shinomiya.