Chapter 372: Roleplay

"In any case, Gan'an was bound to die sooner or later. If not now, then later. Just a matter of time. So, teacher, any questions?"

"Takamine-kun, can you please stop fooling around?"

The teacher's temple veins were bulging now.

The three-way conference was a formal, serious event for mapping out second-year students' future paths. And here this fucker was, impersonating a parent.

"I'm not fooling around. I'm seriously discussing my granddaughter's future with you."

"..."

Refusing to look at Rinji, the teacher turned to Kaguya, who now wore a look of utter despair.

"Miss Shinomiya, where's your actual guardian?"

"I told you—I'm her guardian!" Rinji insisted.

"Stop messing around!"

Kaguya let out a deep sigh.

"My father… wouldn't come to something like this."

"I see… so the guardian can't attend?"

The teacher nodded, then turned back to Rinji.

"Takamine-kun, I won't say more about you taking someone else's place, but this is a serious matter. It's about a student's future. Please, leave."

"Old me… fine."

Rinji knew the teacher wouldn't let him stay, so he peeled off his fake mustache and stood up.

"Then I'll go bring Shinomiya's father here."

"…What?"

"Wait!" Kaguya quickly blocked him. "You're not… planning to go to Kyoto and kidnap my father, are you?"

"Of course not. What kind of person do you take me for?"

"That's true…"

"Even if I did, I wouldn't bring all of Gan'an back," Rinji said with a smile. "Just his head."

"..."

"Teacher, wait here a bit. I'll be right back~."

With that, Rinji walked out of the office, leaving both the teacher and Kaguya in stunned silence.

---

It wasn't long before the door was opened again.

"Teacher, I've brought the person."

"Hello, I'm Kaguya's father."

Kaguya: "..."

She opened her mouth wide, her face full of horror as she stared at the person entering the office.

It was none other than Shirogane's father.

Shirogane's father glanced at Kaguya and smiled. "It's been a while, hasn't it?"

"Y-Yes..."

"So how far have you and my Miyuki gotten? Have you kissed?"

"Please stop..."

Kaguya covered her face with both hands, practically wanting to disappear into the floor.

"Sir... are you really Miss Shinomiya's guardian?" the teacher asked suspiciously.

"Yes, that's right."

Shirogane's father straightened the tie on his chest with a serious expression.

He had just finished attending Shirogane's three-way conference and had been dragged here by Rinji. When he heard the subject was Kaguya, he showed great interest and came along with Rinji.

The teacher looked at Shirogane's father. Judging from his attire, he did seem like a proper middle-aged man. While it was unclear if he was really related to Kaguya, they clearly knew each other.

There was no time to worry about that now.

Shirogane's father said, "If the teacher has any questions, just ask."

Rinji added, "Yeah, no need to be reserved. Let's all speak freely."

The teacher hesitated. "Takamine-kun, why are you still here?"

"Well, even though I found Shinomiya's guardian, she's still my granddaughter," Rinji replied.

"Hold on." Shirogane's father turned to Rinji.

The teacher thought, 'Yes! Please, sir, stop him from messing around!'

Shirogane's father said, "If you're Kaguya's grandfather, doesn't that make me a whole generation younger than you?"

'That's not the point at all!!!'

"Then what do you suggest, uncle?"

"I'll play the role of Kaguya's father. How about you be the mother?"

Teacher: 'Did you just say play the role?!'

"I don't want to play a female role. Change it," Rinji said.

"Then how about Kaguya's older brother?"

"No good. Let's compromise. You play her real dad, and I'll be her godfather or sugar daddy."

"…"

The teacher had a lump of frustration stuck in his throat. Meanwhile, Kaguya looked completely broken.

For her, it didn't matter anymore. She just wished the farce would end soon.

After a round of discussion between Rinji and Shirogane's father, they settled on their roles. Shirogane's father would play Kaguya's father, and Rinji would be her uncle.

"Shinomiya, today I'm your uncle, but one day I'll still be your grandpa."

"Please just shut up..."

"Ahem, now that Miss Shinomiya has no objections, let's begin," said the teacher.

With no other choice, the teacher had to proceed with the discussion.

"Miss Shinomiya' academic performance has always been excellent, consistently ranking second in her year. Regarding future plans..."

"Niece, isn't it time you aimed for first place?" Rinji said with a stern face, sticking on a fake mustache. "Why are you always second? Have you been studying seriously?"

Kaguya: "..."

Shirogane's father added, "Hey, don't blame the kid. As long as she works hard, it's fine."

Now even the teacher looked like he was losing the will to live, just like Kaguya.

"In any case, with Miss Shinomiya' outstanding grades, she could shine anywhere. For further studies, are you planning to stay in Shuchiin or go elsewhere?"

Finally, they got to the main topic. Kaguya started expressing her thoughts.

"I... will probably listen to my family's opinion and stay in Shuchiin."

Her father, Shinomiya Gan'an, would never allow her to apply to schools outside. She could only stay in the closed system of Shuchiin until college and graduate safely. The Shinomiya family didn't want any unexpected variables.

Shirogane's father said, "You can consider my opinion, but what matters is your own decision."

Kaguya: 'No one asked you.'

Rinji added, "Internal promotion is boring. You need to broaden your horizons and see more of the world."

Kaguya: 'Definitely didn't ask you!!'

Rinji, oblivious to her inner thoughts, looked at Shirogane's father and said, "I think it's about time our niece had a romantic relationship. The way she is now, she might end up alone."

A vein popped on Kaguya's forehead.

"I think that Shirogane kid at this school is a good match. He suits her."

Shirogane's father smiled. "Yeah, I think so too."

Kaguya's face flushed bright red. She twisted her body uncomfortably.

The teacher: "..."

He didn't even want to speak anymore. At this point, nothing mattered.