Hayasaka Ai looked at Kato Megumi. She had already conducted a private investigation on Kato Megumi.
There was no helping it, whether it was for the sake of the Shinomiya family or for Shinomiya Kaguya, things had to be thoroughly investigated to ensure safety.
The investigation concluded that this girl named Kato Megumi was extremely ordinary, with nothing special about her.
A hardworking father, a stay-at-home mother, average academic performance, no particular talents, and a very small social circle.
In summary: a very ordinary girl, and therefore very suitable to become Kaguya's friend.
Kato Megumi's ordinary life was something Kaguya could only dream of. If she could become friends with her, it would probably bring a lot of happiness to her lady.
Thinking of that, Hayasaka Ai shifted her gaze to Nohara Shin-chan.
The turning point of everything was this man. It was also because of him that Suotome Ai had chosen to return to Japan to study.
A super-high-level sword talent?
What happened at the Musashino Dojo had already spread. Due to the Suotome family's influence, Shin-chan's situation was under the watch of the upper circles in Japan.
The only daughter of the Suotome family, so many people were eyeing her.
If someone could win over that young lady, it would truly be a leap into high society. However, that young lady seemed to have a strange preference for a seemingly ordinary guy named Nohara Shin-chan. This made many people start gathering information on him.
Now everyone knew, Shin-chan was a genius swordsman, potentially the once-in-a-millennium kind, defeating two sword masters at the age of eighteen.
Hayasaka Ai had a hunch, Shin-chan definitely wasn't just a sword genius. For the Suotome heiress to be that devoted to him, there must be something more special about him.
The heir of a hidden ninja village? Successor to a secret sword clan? Hayasaka Ai's imagination was already turning into a manga plot.
"Sorry, President Shinomiya, I actually don't have many friends either. I'm not that good at keeping a conversation going."
Kato Megumi smiled apologetically at Kaguya, flustering the latter a bit. Kaguya had already made up her mind to become friends with her.
Perhaps this would be her very first friend—no strings attached, no status differences, just pure friendship.
Kaguya was sincerely looking forward to it.
"It's fine. I don't have many friends either."
More like, zero, actually.
"Really? President Shinomiya is so amazing. How could you not have friends?"
Kato Megumi began her route strategy. She had already become friendly with most of the girls around Shin-chan. This was a good start.
The drinks and desserts everyone ordered soon arrived, and the table was quickly filled with sweets.
Kaguya locked her eyes on the strawberry shortcake in front of Shin-chan, clearly drooling a little.
Why hadn't she paid more attention to the menu earlier?! That strawberry cake looked so delicious!
"Shin-chan! Try this!"
Eriri, knowing Shin-chan's sweet tooth and love for all kinds of cake, naturally wouldn't miss this chance to score affection points.
Seeing Eriri bring the mini-cake right up to Shin-chan, Yukino gritted her teeth with rage. How shameless! This despicable mutt! Always using tricks like that! Is sneak attacking all you can do?!
And getting Yukino to hand-feed snacks to Shin-chan in front of everyone? That would be as hard as asking her to die on the spot.
Eriri the former tsundere only got rid of that attitude after being a loyal dog for over a decade.
Yukino, the new pet cat, was still a bit unqualified. Especially considering that cats are naturally a bit tsundere by default.
"Tastes pretty good!"
Shin-chan shamelessly enjoyed Eriri's service. He'd taken care of her for so long, what's wrong with enjoying a bit of pampering from his own pet?
Didn't Shiro also work hard every day for the family? A pet should have the awareness of being a pet!
Kasumigaoka Utaha continued silently observing for material for her novel.
After being forced by Ai Suotome to rewrite the entire outline, she didn't actually feel that dissatisfied.
Making money isn't shameful, this was just the first step toward becoming a famous author. With the Suotome family's marketing resources, and her book not being bad in terms of quality, it was bound to explode in popularity.
And besides, the novel was always based on the stories around her. If anything, the current plot felt even more realistic.
Ai Suotome hadn't even met her in person, just communicated through the editor, and that alone gave Utaha tremendous pressure.
Eriri wanted to win? Too naive, huh?
Thinking that, Utaha glanced at Eriri with a look of pity. Good luck, my friend.
Kaguya had already forgotten about her mission to capture Shin-chan's heart, her eyes were glued to the strawberry shortcake in front of him.
If I play my cards right, maybe this commoner will obediently offer me that strawberry shortcake?
"Ahem, Nohara-san…"
Just as Kaguya tried to activate her charm...
GULP!
Shin-chan had already shoved the entire piece of strawberry shortcake into his mouth with a fork.
Kaguya froze in place. 'How could anyone's mouth be that big?! Even the corner of a cake shouldn't fit like that! And his tongue is so long?!'
"So delicious."
After chewing twice, Shin-chan swallowed the cake and even narrated, "Fresh strawberries and whipped cream, combined with soft sponge cake, only by eating it all at once can you truly enjoy it!"
'What kind of eating style is that?! That's blasphemy to strawberry shortcake! There's no elegance in that at all!'
"One more strawberry shortcake, please."
Kato Megumi silently observed the situation, raised her hand, and ordered another one.
"President Shinomiya, you really seem to like strawberry shortcake. Just order another one."
'A… an angel?!'
Kaguya was much easier to win over than expected, and also easier to understand than expected. Kato Megumi easily gained Kaguya's favor.
"Such a messy eater!"
Yukino was very displeased with Shin-chan's eating style. Meanwhile, Eriri seemed to remember something, her cheeks flushed pink.
'Shin-chan's mouth was so big… and his tongue was so flexible… Just thinking about it felt so good! As expected of my Master!'
The dessert time ended quickly. The one who paid was Kasumigaoka Utaha, after all, she had said she'd treat everyone today. As a soon-to-be best-selling author, Utaha was still pretty generous.
Especially since her entire story was inspired by these very people.
"Next, let's go get a phone for President Shinomiya."
"Just call me Kaguya."
After eating the strawberry shortcake, Kaguya had become much gentler. Her affection toward these beautiful girls increased a lot.
But in her eyes, Shin-chan, who had stuffed a whole cake in his mouth in one bite, still remained an aberration.
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