Momo slipped into the student council office during class time, hoping to find the president—but he wasn't there. She figured he was probably off training again.
A sudden wave of frustration welled up in her.
He's the reason things between me and Rukia turned out like this… and he's walking around like nothing happened.
But that thought only lingered for a moment.
It's not his fault. No matter how you look at it, I'm the one who handled things badly.
Yesterday, after Rukia had said all those things, she had still made it clear that she wanted to stay friends. It was Momo who'd shut her out out of spite…
She was the bigger person. Even knowing they liked the same guy, she'd still treated Momo with grace.
Regret began to gnaw at her.
I should've talked to Rukia properly. I really don't want to lose her as a friend…
Momo sat down in the president's chair. Her face felt hot all of a sudden. She reached up and touched her cheek—only to find it wet.
She'd started crying without realizing it.
Just then, the door opened.
Momo quickly wiped her tears and stood up, thinking the president had returned.
But it wasn't him—it was Kanisawa.
When she saw Momo sitting in Nobu's seat, her brows knitted slightly. "What are you doing here?"
"I… came to see the president."
Kanisawa noticed the tear streaks on Momo's face but didn't comment. Instead, she asked, "Isn't it class time?"
"And yet here you are."
"I got permission from the teacher," Kanisawa replied, holding a stack of documents. "Did you?"
"…I did," Momo replied, voice dropping slightly.
But Kanisawa, ever the stickler and head of the disciplinary committee, immediately saw through the lie.
With a blank expression, she said, "Skipping class without permission—I'll be reporting this to your homeroom teacher."
Already in a sour mood, Momo's temper flared. "I'm on student council business. What's the big deal?"
"Even so, you should've informed your teacher ahead of time. And student council work doesn't override class. What business are you even here for?"
"Then what about the president? He skips all the time. Why don't you say anything to him?"
"Our teacher granted him permission."
"You—!" Momo was so angry she couldn't speak.
Kanisawa walked over to the desk, set her papers down, and picked up another stack.
"I'll inform your homeroom teacher about your truancy. You should return to class immediately."
"Well I'm not going back!" Momo said defiantly, plopping herself back into the president's chair. "You already said I'm skipping, so what's the point?"
She didn't even bother with honorifics now. Just thinking about her relationship with the president—and that disgusting request Kanisawa had made of him the other day—only made her angrier.
Kanisawa's voice turned cold. "As the head of the disciplinary committee, I have the authority to demand that you return to class."
"And I'm saying no! What, are you going to drag me there yourself?"
"I won't lay a hand on you. But I will report everything you've done today to the school administration."
At that, a flash of panic hit Momo—but her pride wouldn't let her back down, not in front of Kanisawa. It was one thing if it were Rukia, but this girl?
She clenched her jaw and suddenly sneered.
"Kanisawa-senpai, I know you like the president. But give it up. He's never going to like you."
Kanisawa's face went stark white.
"…What did you say?"
"I said, the president will never like you! You even used his promise to you as leverage just to force him to kiss you. That's— that's shameless!"
Momo was too furious to care anymore. The bridge had already burned—what did it matter if she lit the forest too?
Kanisawa's grip on her paperwork tightened until it crumpled. Her icy glare bored into Momo, making her chest tighten with anxiety.
But in the end, Kanisawa said nothing. She simply turned and left the office.
Once she was gone, Momo let out a long breath and began to cool down. She slapped her cheeks, overwhelmed with remorse.
What the hell did I just do?
If the president finds out about this… what's he going to think of me?
The urge to run after Kanisawa and apologize surged up—but her legs wouldn't move. She sat frozen in place.
---
Outdoor Kidō Training Grounds
The student council had access to all class schedules, so Nobu knew exactly which rooms were occupied and when.
This particular open-air training hall was currently unused.
"[Hadō #73: Sōren Sōkatsui]!"
Violent Reiryoku surged from every fiber of his being, concentrating in his palms. An intense blue blaze erupted forward, slamming into a white target across the field.
The target, made of dense sekki stone, barely flinched. Despite the spell's dramatic force, it didn't even make a satisfying bang.
Nobu exhaled slowly.
How many times has it been now?
As that thought passed, he suddenly sensed something and looked toward the entrance.
"You came?" he said.
It was Kanisawa.
Nobu shook out his sore arms. "How'd you know I was here?"
"There's only one available training hall at this hour," Kanisawa replied. "If you weren't sleeping or bathing, you'd be here."
Nobu laughed. "You really do know me, Kanisawa."
But he stopped short when he noticed something off about her expression.
"…What's wrong?"
Kanisawa stepped toward him, stopping just half a meter away. Her usually composed face now carried a rare trace of vulnerability.
"Kanisawa, you—"
"Do you like me?" she asked suddenly.
The directness of it caught Nobu completely off guard.
Again?
He was already struggling to deal with the fallout from Rukia and Momo's argument, worried their affection levels might drop—and now Kanisawa too?
What happened to her? What triggered this?
But Kanisawa was staring straight at him, eyes unwavering, waiting for an answer.
"Kanisawa, I—"
"Don't," she cut him off, eyes closing. "Don't say anything."
She still held the file in her hands, but her head dropped. Then she turned her back to him.
"Forget it. Just pretend I was never here."
Without giving him a chance to reply, she left the training ground, leaving Nobu standing there, completely stunned.
But halfway through the exit, she stopped, turned back, walked right up to him again—and, rising on her toes, placed a soft kiss on his forehead.
"I'm giving it back," she whispered.
"…Kanisawa?" Nobu was still in a daze, unsure of what had just happened.
But Kanisawa spoke again, as if to herself.
"I guess I'm not shameless anymore…"
Then, she turned and left for good.
---
T/N: ooof...
bonus chaps tomorrow
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