Chapter 52: It Seems You've Done Something Enviable
"Hayasaka!!"
Behind the school building, in the open space, Ai Hayasaka was casually eating a crepe she had just bought from the cafeteria when, out of nowhere, a figure suddenly crashed into her. The impact shoved the crepe's cream straight onto her face.
Looking down, she saw Kaguya, who had just dashed out of the student council office.
"What's wrong, Miss Kaguya?"
"Hayasaka, I was bullied..."
"Now that's rare. Who in this school would even dare to bully you..."
"It was Ronan."
"..."
Looking at the frustrated Kaguya clinging to her, Ai Hayasaka was momentarily at a loss for words.
"That Ronan went too far. He embarrassed me completely in front of the president... It was just unbearable..."
"Even if you tell me, there's nothing I can do about it."
"No, you can do something."
Kaguya placed both hands on Hayasaka's shoulders, her gaze unusually serious.
"You should go talk to him properly. He'll definitely listen to you."
"...Are you serious?"
"Of course! If this keeps up, my reputation in the president's eyes will only get worse!" Kaguya said anxiously.
Although Shirogane's perception of her hadn't changed at all since Ronan joined the student council, Kaguya didn't know that. She only felt that if Ronan kept opposing her at every turn, her plan to make Miyuki confess to her would never succeed.
"...Let's think this through, Miss Kaguya." Ai Hayasaka wiped the cream off her face with a handkerchief and continued, "No one at school knows that I'm your personal attendant, right?"
"That's right."
"Then how exactly am I supposed to talk to him? Do I just reveal our relationship?"
"Well..."
The fact that Ai Hayasaka was Kaguya Shinomiya's personal attendant was a secret. Not even Ronan or any other student knew. All they were aware of was that Hayasaka and Kaguya were classmates.
As far as Ronan knew, Hayasaka's family worked for the Shinomiya conglomerate, and she had likely known Kaguya since childhood. But that was the extent of his knowledge. He had no reason to dig deeper into their backgrounds—he simply wasn't that free.
"If Ronan finds out that I'm actually serving Miss Kaguya as a maid, what do you think will happen next?"
"After that, he will..."
Kaguya paused and carefully considered the situation.
If he discovered that Hayasaka was her personal maid, assisting her with various tasks and secretly handling all sorts of work for her at school, then given Ronan's personality…
There was no doubt—he would immediately pull a gun on her.
"The woman I once loved is being treated as a servant by the Shinomiya family? Do you think not enough of your family members have died already?"
"That's exactly what he'd say!!"
At that moment, Kaguya felt a long-forgotten sense of mortal danger creeping up on her.
Ronan's peaceful days as a student had made Kaguya momentarily forget—this was the same lunatic who, at twelve years old, had stormed into her estate with a gun and fought his way to the Shinomiya main house.
"Exactly. And even if I were to go talk to him, under what identity would I do so?"
Saying this, Ai Hayasaka lowered her head and muttered to herself:
"Back then... I personally rejected him. What right do I have to tell him what to do now? Why would he even listen to me? Would he really take advice from a girl who turned him down?"
"…I'm sorry. I didn't think this through."
"It's fine."
Hayasaka gently placed a comforting arm around Kaguya's shoulders, and Kaguya rested her head against Hayasaka's chest.
It was only in places like this, where no one was around, that they dared to show such intimacy. Ever since elementary school, Hayasaka had deliberately kept a low profile at school, never revealing her connection to Kaguya.
Suddenly, out of the corner of her eye, Hayasaka saw someone approaching. In an instant, she pushed Kaguya away.
"Ah!?"
Kaguya stumbled backward, nearly falling—until a hand suddenly caught her.
"Ah… thank you."
She turned her head to thank her classmate—only to see the last person she wanted to run into right now.
"R-Ronan!?"
The one who had caught her was none other than Ronan himself. After leaving the student council office, he had been heading to the cafeteria via the back of the school building—only to stumble upon this scene.
"Miss Shinomiya…"
His gaze turned ice-cold, a sharp intensity radiating from his eyes. The sheer pressure made Kaguya shudder.
"W-What is it?"
She forced a composed smile, trying to maintain her dignity, but inside, she was panicking.
"Did he see? Does he already know that Hayasaka is my personal attendant? If he does, I'm doomed!"
"I saw everything just now…"
"He really did see!!"
What do I do?! How do I explain this? Maybe I could just say we're good friends… but would he buy that?!
"You…"
Ronan locked eyes with Kaguya and spoke in an emotionless tone:
"You lucky bastard. That was something seriously enviable just now."
Kaguya: "…"
Hayasaka: "…"
This guy really had zero shame in showing his jealousy!
But at least it seemed like he hadn't realized Hayasaka's true identity. That was a relief.
"Oh my, Hayasaka and I are classmates and friends~ It's totally normal for girls to act a little affectionate, right?"
"…I don't like it, but I can't think of a reason to argue against it."
"Exactly. This isn't something you can experience, after all."
"…"
Watching Ronan's forehead twitch with irritation, Kaguya felt immensely satisfied.
Serves him right for embarrassing me so many times.
"Tch."
Ronan clicked his tongue in frustration. He couldn't really argue, so he begrudgingly turned to leave.
However, as he passed Hayasaka, she suddenly stepped forward, grabbed his collar, and pulled his head straight into her chest.
"Eh!? Ehhhhhh!?"
As a sheltered young lady, Kaguya was utterly scandalized by Hayasaka's bold move, her face turning red as she covered her mouth in shock.
Ronan, too, was completely caught off guard.
"See? Nothing to be jealous about."
Hayasaka let go of his collar as if nothing had happened.
Ronan, covering his nose, let out a wry chuckle. "You've really gotten a lot bolder."
"People change."
...
After exchanging a few words, Ronan walked off toward the cafeteria alone, while Hayasaka and Kaguya headed forward together.
"Hayasaka… that just now…"
"It's nothing to make a fuss about."
For once, a rare smile appeared on Hayasaka's usually expressionless face.
"Looks like what happened four years ago didn't completely erase my chances."
"Eh?"
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