Kaguya-sama: Love is War IF - If Shirogane Had Embraced Her Behind the Gym
Shuchiin Academy. Student council president Miyuki Shirogane and vice president Kaguya Shinomiya are both secretly in love with each other. But due to their ridiculous pride—believing that 'whoever confesses first loses'—they continue their daily battles of wit.
Then one summer day, during sports festival practice, Kaguya feels dizzy from mild heatstroke and heads toward the infirmary. Worried, Shirogane follows her and calls out behind the gym where no one is around.
'Shinomiya, are you okay?
Kaguya-sama: Love is War IF - If Shirogane Had Embraced Her Behind the Gym - Declaration of War by the Intruder — The Enemy Beyond the Suit
Monday morning.
I left the house a little earlier than usual because I couldn't stop thinking about the "one-week deadline" Hayasaka had thrown at me in that high-end lounge over the weekend.
[[Qualification Exam Failure Count: 6 days remaining]]
[[Status: Impatience (Urgent)]]
Words floated up in my mind, just like a game status screen.
(Calm down, me.)
As I pedaled my bicycle, I told myself that over and over. Show proof that I can make Kaguya happy, in just one week. If I can't, it's over. I know. I know that, but seriously, what the hell am I supposed to do?
I passed through the upscale residential area of Minato Ward, and the school's main gate came into view.
Normally, it would still be quiet around this time. Just the sports club members coming for morning practice and the serious students like me who came to school early (or rather, those who had nothing better to do at home).
But.
"...What's that?"
A black luxury foreign car was pulled up right in front of the main gate.
Not just any foreign car. It was gleaming unnaturally. I didn't know the model well, but it was the kind of thing you could maybe buy with several years of my father's monthly income. It even had a chauffeur. A genuine, bona fide rich boy's car.
I stopped my bicycle without thinking, frozen in place.
The rear door opened silently.
First, I saw the shoes.
Brown leather shoes. The proper kind you'd wear with a suit. In this school where sneakers with the uniform were the norm, they seemed terribly out of place.
Then, the full figure emerged.
A chestnut medium bob. The outward-flipped ends created a silhouette with a dynamic, British-style movement. Slightly greenish light brown eyes. Pale skin, and a posture that held a certain elegance.
Was this person a girl—? No, a guy.
He was a full head taller than me. He wore a well-tailored navy jacket over a white shirt. A silver pen was tucked into his breast pocket.
He looked about my age, yet he was strangely mature. He had an unreal presence, as if he'd stepped right out of a movie.
"[surprised]Good morning. You must be Shirogane Miyuki, correct?"
That guy—Fujiwara Maya—called out to me the moment he spotted me.
A friendly smile. And yet, a gaze that seemed to be sizing me up.
I let my guard show completely and gripped my bicycle's handlebars tighter.
"...Who are you?"
"[gentle]Ah, my apologies. I am Fujiwara Maya. Chika's cousin. I'll be transferring to Shuchiin Academy starting today."
Fujiwara. Chika's.
Which meant—
"[excited]Now then, Shirogane-san. There's something I'd like to ask you."
Before I could say anything, Maya closed the distance by a step.
A bright, breezy tone. But his eyes weren't smiling. Like a hawk targeting its prey, he seemed to be trying to see right through to the depths of my heart.
"[calm]What exactly is your relationship with Shinomiya Kaguya-san?"
My heart thumped hard in my chest.
"...What does that have to do with anything?"
"[laughing]It has everything to do with it. After all—"
Without losing his smile, Maya moved only his lips.
"[serious]Ever since I met her as a child, I have always believed she is my destined partner."
The morning air suddenly felt cold.
This guy, what did he just say?
"Shirogane-san. Do you possess anything worthy of her?"
Maya didn't wait for my answer.
He just smiled brightly and turned his back.
"[casual]Well then, I'll see you later. I'll be stopping by the student council room to complete my transfer procedures."
His back as he walked away toward the school building.
I could do nothing but watch him go.
The handlebars of my bicycle creaked under my grip.
(Don't screw with me.)
Inside my chest, an emotion I couldn't tell was anger or frustration swirled into a vortex.
But more than that.
His eyes. Those eyes brimming with confidence—I couldn't get them out of my head.
Those were the eyes of someone who truly believed, from the bottom of his heart, that Kaguya was "his."
---
Morning classes.
[[Skill <<Perfect Understanding of All Subjects>> has activated automatically]]
[[...However, concentration has dropped by 60%]]
The words on the blackboard wouldn't sink in.
The teacher's voice sounded muffled, like distant noise. The only thing spinning around in my head was what Maya had said earlier.
'Destined partner.'
'Do you possess anything worthy of her?'
(If I did, I wouldn't be struggling like this.)
I cursed inwardly.
Looking around the classroom, I could tell the rumors had already spread.
"Hey, did you see? That foreign car."
"He's Fujiwara-senpai's cousin, right? I heard he just got back from London and he's insanely good at piano."
"And apparently, he's after Shinomiya-san."
The whispers of my classmates stabbed at my ears.
Some were amused. Some looked at me with concern. And then—there was one person quietly observing my state.
The seat to my right.
Hayasaka Ai was resting her chin on her hand, staring intently at my profile. She was in her gal mode today, but those blue eyes alone were just as cold and quiet as when she was in her valet mode.
I pretended not to notice and dropped my gaze to my notebook.
Just then, my hand slipped, and I dropped my eraser onto the floor.
It rolled and rolled, stopping at Hayasaka's feet.
Crap, I thought.
Hayasaka silently picked up the eraser, but instead of handing it to me, she placed it on my desk.
Our eyes met.
She said nothing. I couldn't say anything either.
...Awkward.
Hayasaka and I, almost simultaneously, turned away from each other with a huff.
From somewhere else in the classroom, I heard someone teasing, "Shirogane, you okay?" but I was in no state to care.
(Why do YOU look so awkward, Hayasaka...)
---
After school.
With heavy steps, I headed to the student council room.
Maya had said he'd be coming by for the procedures. I had nothing but a bad feeling about this. If I could, I'd run away right now.
But as the student council president, and more importantly, as the man standing beside Kaguya, I couldn't run.
"President, you look a little pale."
She was already there.
Today, Kaguya's voice was a little stiffer than usual. Her crimson eyes wavered, as if frightened by something. Had she already heard about Maya?
"Shinomiya, are you okay?"
"[whispers]Yes... I'm fine."
The end of her sentence trailed off. That was Kaguya's habit when she was lying. She was hiding something.
That's when it happened.
A light knock-knock echoed through the room.
"[excited]Pardon me! I'm Fujiwara Maya. I've come for my transfer procedures!"
The door opened.
In the hallway, a crowd of onlookers had already gathered, hoping to catch a glimpse of Maya.
"[surprised]Ah...!"
The moment Kaguya saw Maya's face, the documents in her hands slipped and scattered to the floor.
Clear agitation. Her translucent white skin grew even paler.
"[gentle]It's been a long time, Kaguya-san."
Maya bowed gracefully, like a prince, and picked up the fallen documents.
"[laughing]You're as beautiful as ever."
"[shaky]M-Maya-san... why are you here?"
"[casual]Isn't it obvious? I came to see you."
As he handed the documents back to Kaguya, Maya turned around smoothly.
And then, loud enough for the onlookers in the hallway to hear clearly, he made a declaration.
"[proud]Everyone, it's a pleasure to meet you! My name is Fujiwara Maya! I'll be transferring to this academy starting today, but first, allow me to make a clear declaration in front of you all!"
The hallway fell silent.
"[serious]I, Fujiwara Maya, understand Shinomiya Kaguya-san better than anyone. Ever since the day I met her as a child. And I am certain that no one but me can make her happy."
My back teeth ground together.
"[bold]Therefore, I declare it here! I will compete fairly and make her happy! Current Student Council President Shirogane Miyuki-san! This is a challenge to you!"
The entire school erupted.
"Whoa, he actually said it!"
"It's a public proposal!"
"President Shirogane, don't you lose!"
Flashes of light. The sound of photos being taken with smartphones.
(Dammit...!)
I stood up and opened my mouth to argue. I had to say something. Anything.
But no voice came out.
Maya looked at me and just smiled quietly.
"[gentle]There's no need to rush, Shirogane-san. The contest is just beginning, you see?"
After receiving the transfer documents, Maya gave Kaguya one more elegant bow and left the student council room like a storm.
Even though I had a mountain of things I wanted to say, I couldn't utter a single word.
It was the first time in my life I had felt such genuine, profound frustration with myself.
---
The sunset dyed the student council room orange.
The onlookers had left, and in the room where silence had returned, only Kaguya and I remained.
"...You knew."
I forced the words out.
Kaguya didn't move, still staring out the window.
"About Maya. That he's that obsessed with you."
"[whispers]...Yes."
Kaguya's voice was barely a whisper.
"I met him a few times when we were children. At music recitals. He played the piano wonderfully."
"Is that all?"
"[shaky]...That's all."
A lie.
It wasn't just that. There was no way she'd be that shaken if it were just that.
But Kaguya said nothing more. I could see her slender fingers gripping the window frame tightly. I had a mountain of things I wanted to ask. But I didn't want to corner her.
"[serious]...I see."
I took a deep breath.
"I'm not giving up."
Kaguya's shoulders trembled slightly.
"No matter what he says, no matter what tricks he uses, I will absolutely earn the right to stand by your side."
Leaving only those words behind, I exited the student council room.
As I closed the heavy door, I saw Hayasaka leaning against a pillar in the hallway.
Her expression didn't change even when she saw my face.
"[cold]The one-week deadline remains unchanged. The matter of Maya-sama is unrelated to you."
"What is Kaguya hiding?"
I asked, practically snapping at her.
"You must know. What exactly happened between Maya and Kaguya?"
"[dismissive]Who knows. A valet doesn't go around blabbing about her mistress's past."
With just that, Hayasaka turned her back on me and walked away.
"[muttering]...This has gotten troublesome."
I just watched her back melt into the twilight.
---
The one-week exam.
And a new wall named Maya.
Two deadlines were now bearing down on me simultaneously.
Maya had money, talent, everything. So much so that being jealous felt stupid. But even so.
(I can't afford to lose.)
My nails dug into my clenched fist.
The record of the piano competition withdrawal that Hayasaka had left behind. The reason Kaguya had flinched at the words "destined partner."
It felt like the pieces were about to connect, but they hadn't yet.
But I'll definitely find it.
In a way only I can, I'll unlock the key to Kaguya's heart.
In the twilight hallway, only my shadow stretched long.
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