"U-Um… during the Test of Courage event, we have to form teams, right? So… how about teaming up with me?" Eriri's voice wavered slightly as she extended her invitation, her twin tails swaying in the breeze.
It wasn't easy for her to ask. For once, this wasn't about work or some excuse she could hide behind. No, this time, she genuinely wanted to spend time with Natsukawa Kanade—just the two of them.
I don't know if he realizes this, but… Eriri's cheeks warmed as she recalled rumors. Every year, after the forest school trip, there were always stories about new couples forming. The Test of Courage and the Bonfire Party were like legendary catalysts for romance, working together to bring people closer.
If I can team up with him… then maybe… Eriri's thoughts raced, her heart pounding with determination. She couldn't let this opportunity slip by. This was her chance to take the initiative!
"The Test of Courage, huh…" Kanade tilted his head slightly, thinking it over. "I don't see any problem with that. But since I have some student council duties, I might need to go with the last batch."
His gentle response made Eriri blink in surprise. She had steeled herself for some teasing or at least a bit of resistance. After all, Kanade wasn't the type to easily get roped into these things without a good reason. Yet here he was, agreeing without much hesitation.
Kanade had noticed something peculiar. Eriri's usual tsundere attitude was conspicuously absent. Her tone was earnest, even vulnerable. For someone as prideful as her to drop her usual defenses… it spoke volumes about how much she cared.
She must really want to do this, Kanade thought, feeling a pang of sympathy. He wasn't entirely sure why she had chosen him, but knowing that she didn't have many close friends made it harder to refuse.
"That's great! No—um, I mean, it's a promise then!" Eriri's face lit up, her signature fang peeking out as she flashed a dazzling smile under the sunlight.
Kanade couldn't help but smile back. "Yeah, it's a promise."
There was something endearing about seeing Eriri like this. Her cheerful expression suited her so much better than the usual pouty or indignant faces she wore when she was annoyed. Although, to be fair, her twin-tailed fury was pretty cute too—especially when she unleashed her whirlwind of tsundere energy.
The two walked side by side, chatting casually until they reached Eriri's classroom. As they entered, a wave of curious stares from her classmates greeted them.
"Good morning, President! Thanks for being Eriri's hanabira no mamori (flower protector) and escorting her back safely," a cheerful voice teased from within the group.
Kanade turned toward the speaker, a petite girl with a playful smile. Her words were lighthearted, but her tone was dripping with mischief.
He glanced at Eriri, who was visibly flustered, her face a mix of embarrassment and indignation. However, she didn't look upset. If anything, she seemed oddly pleased.
Kanade gave a small, polite smile. "It's nothing. Eriri-san and I are good friends, so it's only natural to help her out."
The reply was simple, but it carried an unexpected weight for Eriri's classmates. The teasing girl's eyes widened in mock shock.
"Eriri? You're so bold!" she exclaimed, her tone exaggerated for effect.
"Bold?" Eriri repeated, confused. She tilted her head, trying to decipher the girl's cryptic reaction. "What do you mean by bold?"
Her mind raced. Does she know about the Test of Courage invitation? But I didn't tell anyone, and there's no way anyone overheard it…
"N-Nothing, never mind!" The girl waved her hands quickly, brushing off the topic. Yet, the mischievous glint in her eyes betrayed her amusement. This is going to be fun to watch, she thought to herself.
Eriri, still puzzled but unwilling to press further, nodded cautiously. "Oh… okay."
Kanade, meanwhile, remained unaffected by the exchange. His thoughts drifted to the earlier conversation he'd had with another classmate—not realizing that the Angel herself had just asked him to call her by her first name.
After a brief moment, Kanade looked around the room, his eyes scanning for someone. "By the way, where's Shinomiya?"
The playful girl's demeanor shifted immediately. The lighthearted teasing vanished, replaced by a respectful tone. "Ah, Kaguya-sama… She's in the kitchen, supervising the preparations."
Kanade blinked. The sudden change in the girl's attitude didn't escape him. She's a fan of Kaguya? he wondered. It wasn't unusual for Kaguya to command respect—or even awe—from her peers.
Still, it wasn't any of his business. Kanade shrugged it off. Whatever admiration this girl had for Kaguya didn't concern him. His focus was elsewhere.
"Thank you for the help," Kanade said with a polite nod. He then turned to Eriri, who was still lingering nearby. "I'll leave you to your class. Take care." With that, he began making his way toward the kitchen, following the direction the girl had pointed out.
As soon as Kanade left, the girl leaned in closer to Eriri, her expression kind yet somehow unnerving. "Thank you for your hard work, Eriri-san. Shall we go and deliver the firewood together?"
"Ah... sure," Eriri responded hesitantly, though an inexplicable unease began to creep over her. The girl's tone was friendly, but there was a subtle edge to it—a chill, like the faint breeze before a storm. What unsettled Eriri most was the way the girl looked at her, as though she were a fragile summer cicada destined to fade away before the season's end.
What on earth did I do to deserve that kind of gaze?
Meanwhile, Kanade arrived at the kitchen and spotted Shinomiya Kaguya. She stood among the bustling activity, her eyes intently focused on the cooking process. Her usual air of composed elegance was amplified as she observed each step of the preparations, occasionally nodding to herself as if studying the creation of fine art.
Kanade chose not to disturb her and instead stood silently at the edge of the room, observing her.
"I see... you need to do this step first and then that..." Kaguya murmured to herself, her voice carrying a note of fascination.
Kanade tilted his head slightly. Despite her rapt attention, the techniques of the students she was watching were average at best—clumsy, even. It was clear they didn't have much practice. So, is Kaguya trying to learn how to cook by observing others? he guessed.
Breaking the silence, Kanade spoke in a low voice, careful not to startle her too much. "If you want to learn, Shinomiya, cooking isn't all that difficult. I'd recommend trying it yourself."
Kaguya stiffened, her shoulders jolting at the unexpected voice so close to her. She turned quickly, eyes wide, only to find Kanade standing right beside her, their faces almost too close for comfort.
"!?"
For a split second, her mind blanked. Then, as though on cue, her usual composure reasserted itself. "Good morning, President," she greeted, her voice steady and refined despite the faint blush coloring her cheeks.
Kanade stepped back slightly, giving her space. The familiar scent of her delicate perfume lingered in the air. Kaguya, meanwhile, found herself keenly aware of his presence—his casual posture, the quiet strength in his voice, and even the subtle trace of shampoo she could catch from this distance.
Despite her effort to appear calm, her heart was racing.
"President, this might seem abrupt..." she began, her tone soft but resolute, "but could I trouble you to accompany me for a moment?"
Kanade raised a brow, intrigued. "Hmm? What for?"