Chapter 340: Is It Cheating?

"Kashiwagi-san, was there something you wanted to ask?"

Everyone sat around the sofa. Kaguya smoothly redirected the topic to Nagisa Kashiwagi.

She knew there were certain things she couldn't ask in front of Shirogane—Rinji would definitely hijack the conversation.

"Right. What kind of issue are you here to consult about?"

Rinji also played his part as a student council member.

Though he was technically the treasurer, when students came for consultations, he had to be present too.

"It's about a relationship issue."

"Tch, why is it always relationship issues?" Rinji said with a sour face. "Can't any of you bring a different kind of problem?"

"But aren't love issues the biggest concerns for high schoolers?" Kashiwagi replied.

"You've got the wrong idea about high schoolers. Their job is to study, study, and study. If you have time to date, go solve a few more problems."

"That'd make high school life too dull."

"Just hang in there until college. What if you can't get into one?"

"No way," Kaguya interjected. "Shuchiin Academy is a unified school system. After senior year, students can directly progress to Shuchiin University."

Kashiwagi: "And I'm doing pretty well academically—fourth in the grade. There's no chance I won't get into college."

Even if someone flunked out, most Shuchiin students came from elite families and could just take over the family business.

"…Fine. What's your question?"

As soon as Rinji asked, Kashiwagi's eyes turned teary.

"My boyfriend cheated on me!"

"..."

"..."

Kaguya and Rinji both fell silent.

This was probably the most intense case they'd encountered.

Rinji had only just found a girlfriend. Kaguya hadn't even dated yet. Meanwhile, this girl was already dealing with infidelity.

Honestly, it was hard to deal with.

Rinji picked up his phone and stood up, clearly intending to leave.

"Shinomiya, I'll leave this one to you."

"Hey! Are you seriously trying to dump this all on me!?"

"You're the vice president. You should be great at handling this."

"…You only remember I'm the vice president at times like this."

Kaguya sighed and turned to Kashiwagi. "So… what exactly are you unsure about, Kashiwagi-san?"

"This is my first time encountering something like this, so I'm hesitating," Kashiwagi said, her expression conflicted.

"What are you hesitating about? Whether to break up—"

"Whether to get rid of him or her."

"Eh!?"

Kaguya jumped.

The emptiness in Kashiwagi's eyes didn't look like she was joking.

"Oh, cleaning up people, huh? I'm pretty experienced in that,"

Rinji had just walked out and now returned to the couch, smiling brightly.

"This is the worst time for you to reappear!!"

"Calm down, Kaguya. Let's hear Kashiwagi out," Rinji grinned. "So Kashiwagi, how do you want it done? Clean and dignified, or messy and casual?"

"Your focus is completely off!!"

Seeing Rinji take interest made Kaguya genuinely worried things were going to spiral out of control.

Kashiwagi slowly looked up. Her lifeless eyes stared at Kaguya and Rinji.

"This is the first time I've suffered this kind of emotional trauma. I can't just let them off."

Kaguya: "That's… kind of extreme. I think—"

Rinji: "Sounds good to me."

"Were you even listening!?"

"This is a serious emotional injury," Kashiwagi said. "Shinomiya-san, you've probably never experienced this kind of betrayal, right?"

"Exactly. Shinomiya doesn't understand others' pain. Can't you try empathizing?" Rinji chimed in.

"…Rinji-kun, you're the last person qualified to say that."

Rinji turned to Kashiwagi. "Let me be honest, in situations like this, it's best to start thinking about your boyfriend's funeral arrangements."

"There you go again! Are you seriously wishing death on Tanuma!?"

After yelling, Kaguya sighed and looked at Kashiwagi with a helpless expression.

"So… what made you think your boyfriend cheated?"

"I think he's cheating because… I saw him happily chatting with another girl after class!!" Kashiwagi shouted with her eyes shut.

Kaguya: "…That's it?"

"That alone is enough to judge, right?"

"Uh… I mean, it's just talking," Kaguya replied awkwardly.

She was starting to think Kashiwagi's jealousy and possessiveness were on another level.

Then Kashiwagi looked toward Rinji.

"What do you think, Rinji-kun?"

"I'll be fair—this kind of situation? No question, it's cheating."

"EHHH!!??"

Rinji's answer made Kaguya feel like the entire world had gone insane.

"I knew it. You think so too."

"Of course. Start preparing the funeral. And don't worry about choosing who to get rid of—just get rid of both."

Rinji even made a slicing motion across his neck with his finger.

Kaguya: "..."

She realized she shouldn't have brought Kashiwagi Nagisa here while Rinji was around.

"Hold on, Rinji-kun, I think your logic has some flaws." Kaguya rubbed her temple, clearly getting a headache. "Don't you talk to girls at school?"

"I'm talking to you right now, aren't I?"

"Then do you consider yourself cheating?"

"Of course not."

"Try switching perspectives. What if your girlfriend saw you chatting with me and assumed you were cheating—how would that feel?" Kaguya asked.

"karura would never think that."

"I'm saying hypothetically."

"You make it sound like she'd care. She doesn't even get upset when other girls sleep next to me or kiss me. Just chatting with a girl and calling that cheating? That's impossible." Rinji shrugged. "Karura doesn't even have the concept of cheating in her head. Honestly, that's my biggest problem right now."

"…"

"Umm…"

Kashiwagi, hearing Rinji's words, finally snapped out of her gloom and timidly raised her hand.

"You got kissed by another girl even though you already have a girlfriend?"

"Yeah, to protect her reputation, I won't say who it was."

Kaguya thought: That must've been Hayasaka. She told me about that.

"But judging by her personality, she wouldn't do that on her own. Someone must have pushed her into it." Rinji narrowed his eyes. "They'd better hope I don't find out who, or I'll cut them up."

Kaguya shivered instinctively.