"Finally, it's all done…"
Natsukawa Kanade let out a sigh of relief and stretched his back.
He had spent nearly all his free time in the student council room that day and had finally managed to finish everything before club activities ended.
"It's only Monday and there's already so much to do. You must've worked really hard…"
"Actually, it's not that bad. We already filtered out what we could handle. The rest are matters only the president can decide."
Shinomiya Kaguya refilled Natsukawa Kanade's teacup.
"A whole week's worth of things?"
"Yes."
Natsukawa Kanade was speechless.
No wonder it felt like so much was happening—it turned out most of it was leftover from the previous week.
"If you ask me, with your skills, you could've made those decisions yourself, right? Why didn't you?"
After his resignation, when he handed the work over to Shirogane, he had let him make his own decisions. Yet the guy kept messaging him, asking what to do, acting like a mere assistant.
It made Kanade feel awkward—like a heartless boss who used a flimsy excuse to take a vacation and dumped all the work on his subordinates.
It had just been a passing thought at the time, but now that he was back, he realized it had been true.
"Because we always believed you, President, would return to lead us. We never overstepped our authority."
Natsukawa Kanade: "…"
Oof. That hits the conscience…
If it had just been Fujiwara Chika saying that, he might've suspected it was an excuse to slack off. But coming from Shinomiya Kaguya, it was clear they all felt the same.
The funny thing was, all that unfinished business had piled up, and now he had to deal with it. He'd brought this on himself.
But if returning to the student council meant getting along with everyone again, then this small burden really wasn't so bad.
"Shinomiya, are you doing anything later?"
Natsukawa Kanade took the teacup Kaguya handed him and took a sip.
Kaguya's delicate body trembled, and a strange feeling surged in her heart.
Was the president… inviting her out?
How lucky! It was the first time he'd invited her like this! A walk together? Going home together? Dinner, maybe…?
Where's Hayasaka? Ai, come save me! At least stop the main family from interfering…
Her emotions were so chaotic she couldn't even carry out her original plan of pretending to pass tea just to create an "accidental" phone contact.
"Are you free?"
"Yes! Of course I'm free!"
"Great, then I'll ask you to stay in the student council room. I've got something else to do, so I'll head out first. I'll leave you the key."
Natsukawa Kanade nodded, gathered his things, and turned to leave.
He didn't even glance back at Kaguya Shinomiya as he closed the door behind him.
Shinomiya Kaguya: "…"
This was completely different from what she had imagined!
But Natsukawa Kanade, who had already left, naturally couldn't hear the quiet sorrow echoing in the student council room. He was headed alone to the school's nursery.
Maybe it was because he'd seen Yukinoshita Yukino today that he remembered a presence he had nearly forgotten.
"Be good, be good, Yukine…"
He crouched down, stretched out his fingers, and rubbed the little one's chin back and forth, prompting a soft "meow meow."
Yukine: a kitten he and Yukinoshita Yukino had cared for together.
It wasn't entirely accurate to say they raised her together, but that's how Natsukawa Kanade saw it, and it made him feel deeply connected to Yukinoshita.
When he first saw Yukine, she was lying in the grass, trembling, her paws bloodied and her body covered in scars.
As a devoted cat lover, Yukinoshita naturally couldn't leave her alone, so the two of them rescued her, nursed her back to health, and—at Kanade's suggestion—entrusted her to the school's orphanage.
That way, someone would care for her, and they could visit often.
It just so happened that the elderly woman who managed the garden was kind and gladly accepted her.
Since then, Natsukawa Kanade often used the excuse of "visiting Yukine" to invite Yukinoshita out—until his confession was rejected…
"Sorry, I've been busy lately and haven't come to see you much."
"Meow?"
It's been a while. You've gained weight. Looks like you're eating well here.
"Meow!"
"Not bad, not bad. You look lively…"
He smiled fondly, then lifted the cat in both hands and was about to shower her with affection when someone interrupted him.
"Kanade?"
A cold voice reached his ears. He turned and saw Yukinoshita Yukino.
"…What a coincidence."
He sighed, then gently set the cat down and patted her head.
"I come here at this time every day."
"All right, I'll avoid it next time."
Yukinoshita shook her head but said nothing more.
It wasn't that she didn't want to see Kanade—she was just clarifying the word "unfortunately."
She slowly walked over to Kanade's side and crouched down, her skirt covering her face.
"Are you eating well? Don't trouble your caretaker."
Yukinoshita's smile was truly beautiful—but it had never been directed at him.
"Meow?"
Yukine tilted her head, looking from Natsukawa Kanade to Yukinoshita, who kept a slight distance, her expression puzzled.
"Don't worry, there's no conflict between us," Yukinoshita said softly.
She really wanted to pick up the cat—normally she would—but with Kanade still beside her, she hesitated.
"Meow."
"All right, all right…"
"What are you going to do about the club?"
"Recruit members."
"That's not like you."
"But it's the most straightforward method, isn't it?"
Natsukawa Kanade stayed silent.
For a long time, neither of them spoke.
"I'll be going now."
He stood up and prepared to leave.
He'd get bored staying in one place too long.
Yukinoshita paused, as if responding, and slightly parted her lips, wanting to say something.
But Natsukawa Kanade had already walked some distance away, so she had no choice but to call out.
"Kanade… what are you thinking?"
"What am I thinking?"
He froze. He never expected Yukinoshita to ask that so suddenly.
"That Yukine is cute?"
…
"If you hadn't asked… I'd probably just be thinking about how to live each day to the fullest."
…
"Believe it or not. Either way… it's time to say goodbye, Yukinoshita."
He waved without stopping.
Yukinoshita Yukino held Yukine in her arms and gently stroked her.
"Yukine, do you believe him?"
"Meow?"
"I see… Just as I thought, he's a liar…"