Chapter 354: Marketing Strategy

"To save myself time, let's be clear here, Shinomiya."

Rinji took a sip of his drink and stared directly at her.

"You like the president, don't you?"

"E-Eh? Rinji-kun, stop joking around."

After a short fluster, Kaguya composed herself and reverted to her usual lofty persona.

"You understand my position. As the eldest daughter of the Shinomiya family, everything I do reflects on our name. There's no way I could develop something with a commoner. While I do admire the president… it's nothing more than admiration."

"…"

Rinji and Hayasaka exchanged glances.

What a hassle of a woman.

"You do realize the Shinomiya family is barely holding on, right? You, an outsider, really know how to put on airs," Rinji said flatly. "To be honest, the president used to be the director of the Dainippon, and soon he's going to be the chairman of a company worth over a trillion. Behind him is Japan's entire financial sector. Frankly, I think you're the one who's unworthy."

Kaguya: "…"

Hayasaka: "Wait a second…"

Rinji continued, "And with your family's shrinking assets, whether the Shinomiya family can keep its monopoly in Japan is doubtful. At this rate, you're just a fallen noble's daughter. Hoping to be worthy of someone like the president? That's wishful thinking."

"Why… why would you say such cruel things?"

Tears welled up in Kaguya's eyes.

"…This expression… I've seen it before."

"Probably from Shijo-san," Hayasaka whispered. "The Shijos were originally a branch of the Shinomiya family, and Shijo Maki is the granddaughter of your father's younger brother. You're blood-related."

"Got it."

Rinji cleared his throat and turned back to Kaguya, who was on the verge of tears.

"In short, Shinomiya, if you don't make a move soon, someone else—probably richer, prettier, and with a better body—is going to take him from you."

Thud!

Kaguya slammed her head onto the table.

"No… It can't be true… President…"

"Of course it's not true. I was just speculating. Speculating, okay?"

"Ugh…"

"But you're in luck. You've still got one chance if you want to be with him."

"I told you I—"

Just as Kaguya was about to continue arguing, Rinji pulled out his phone from his pocket.

"Since I know a few young ladies from prestigious families, why don't I introduce them to the president? Let him go on some mixers and pick one."

"Nooo!!!"

Kaguya jumped up and quickly pressed down on Rinji's hand and phone.

"Don't do anything unnecessary!"

"I thought you didn't like the president?"

"I just think..." Kaguya averted her gaze. "We're still high schoolers after all. Deciding on a girlfriend so early is a bit..."

"But you're already at Japan's legal marriage age."

Rinji looked at her expressionlessly.

"If you don't like the president, at least don't stop him from finding a girlfriend."

"..."

She realized that Rinji was forcing her to admit she actually liked the president.

Just as she was caught in inner turmoil, Hayasaka suddenly stood up and said she needed to go to the restroom. As she walked past Rinji, she tugged lightly at the back of his collar.

Rinji understood and stood up to follow her.

—

Next to the restroom.

"Kaguya-sama is currently stuck in a loop."

"Hmm?"

"She has confession anxiety," Hayasaka said. "She's afraid of getting rejected by the president, so she doesn't want to confess. The more afraid she gets, the less likely she is to act."

A confession is the final step, and there's no turning back afterward.

No matter how good the relationship is between a boy and a girl, once a confession is made, only two outcomes remain.

One is a happy ending where they start dating.

The other is that even their current relationship falls apart. To avoid awkwardness, they end up avoiding each other completely and become strangers.

"I see. That makes sense."

Rinji nodded thoughtfully.

"I've had confession anxiety too. I was rejected when I confessed..."

Mid-sentence, Rinji suddenly remembered the girl who rejected him was standing right in front of him.

"Ah, sorry."

"It's okay. I should be the one apologizing."

Hayasaka replied.

If she had been braver back then, things might not have ended up this way.

Even now, she wasn't planning to give up. She felt responsible for the situation and wanted to see it through.

"So if we want Kaguya-sama to confess to the president, we need to make her believe that 'the confession will definitely succeed.'"

"That's doable... but how do we tell her? I can't exactly say the president likes her too... guess we'll have to use that trick."

"Huh?"

—

"Sorry to keep you waiting."

Rinji and Hayasaka returned to their seats ten minutes later.

To Kaguya, those ten minutes felt like an eternity. Her hand had been shaking her drink bottle ever since they left, betraying her inner turmoil.

"Back to our earlier topic, Shinomiya," Rinji said. "You're aware that you'll be in your final year of high school next year, right?"

"Yes."

"That means focusing on your studies. The president will likely put all his attention into school. You'll have no chance then. He's definitely aiming for an external university, since a good school means a better future. And when that time comes, you two will be separated."

"Eh..."

"You'll probably opt for internal advancement, as your family requires. At that point, he'll be meeting many other outstanding girls, and you'll be out of the picture."

"..."

"I don't care whether you really like the president or not, but your time limit is the end of this semester."

Limited-time only—this was a basic marketing tactic.

Typically used in time-limited sales: "Buy now or miss out forever." A common method to trigger consumer urgency. Rinji simply applied this logic to Kaguya.

He was essentially telling her: If you don't confess now, you'll never have another chance with Shirogane. This was enough to stir up her anxiety.

"That's all I needed to say. So—"

"I'll confess."

"Hmm?"

"I'll do it at the Hoshin Festival. If the president doesn't confess first, I will."