"Although there wasn't much opportunity today, there might still be a chance to awaken that Stand in Kaguya in the future, right?"
As the banquet neared its end, Chika Fujiwara wore a satisfied expression as she spoke to Kaguya Shinomiya and Shin.
"In that case, why don't you two exchange contact information first? It'll make it easier to communicate later."
Of course, Chika was pleased—after all, today she had confirmed that Shin truly possessed "supernatural abilities." This undoubtedly satisfied the curiosity of a girl like her, and Shin suspected that Chika would frequently reach out to him in the coming days to ask about such topics.
However, Chika hadn't forgotten her main objective. To distance herself from her own strange thoughts, she decided to play matchmaker between Shin and Kaguya. Hence, she took the initiative to suggest they exchange contact details.
But when Shin saw Kaguya pull out her outdated flip phone, he couldn't help but twitch his lips and propose:
"You should really consider switching to a smartphone. Using LINE is much more convenient than email these days."
Although he already knew from the original story that Kaguya still used a flip phone, actually seeing her take it out gave him a strange sense of temporal dislocation.
"Is that so…?"
Kaguya tilted her head slightly in confusion. Having never truly experienced the convenience of a smartphone, she didn't understand why she needed to switch. Growing up within the Shinomiya family's information bubble, she had always believed that a phone only needed to make calls and send emails.
While she often saw people at school taking photos with their phones, she considered such functions meaningless and had hardly ever used her phone's camera.
But hearing Shin's suggestion, Kaguya hesitated for a moment before finally saying:
"I understand. I'll try switching to a smartphone later."
Beside her, Chika's eyes widened as she stared at Kaguya, as if she were seeing her for the first time.
After all, in the student council, Chika had repeatedly tried to persuade Kaguya to change her phone, only to be refused every time. Yet today, with just a casual remark from Shin, Kaguya had actually decided to switch.
Was this the power of a fiancé? Did a single sentence from a boy carry more weight than her best friend's words?
Chika suddenly felt a bit disheartened.
Unaware of Chika's thoughts, Kaguya earnestly exchanged phone numbers and email addresses with Shin. As she looked at the new contact in her address book, a faint smile appeared on her face.
Aside from members of the Shinomiya family and a few people from the student council, this was the first time she had received contact information from someone else—and the first from a boy her age.
Her initial resistance toward Shin had now completely faded, and she found herself somewhat accepting this "fiancé" that the Shinomiya family had forced upon her.
Of course, while that was how she felt, the Shinomiya family hadn't officially announced their relationship. This "engagement" was merely an unspoken understanding.
If someone truly disregarded the Shinomiya family's influence and tried to secure an engagement with Shin first, they could still technically beat her to it.
"Then, Chika, Ai… would you two also like to exchange contact information with Shin?"
After storing Shin's details, Kaguya turned to Ai Hayasaka and Chika and made the suggestion.
She had enjoyed chatting with everyone today, so even though Shin was her "fiancé," she didn't mind them having his contact information as well.
However, the reactions she received were not what she had expected.
"I'll pass."
Ai raised her hand calmly and replied.
"I already have Shin-sama's contact information."
"Huh?"
Kaguya's face froze in astonishment—why did Ai already have Shin's contact details?
Kaguya had no idea that Ai and Shin had met multiple times before or that Ai's earlier absences were to meet with him.
In her mind, today should have been Ai's first time meeting Shin.
Hearing that Ai had already obtained his contact information left her momentarily stunned.
But then, Chika's voice chimed in from the side:
"Actually, I already have Shin's contact info too…"
Kaguya's eyes widened as she turned to Chika.
She knew Chika had previously investigated Shin on her behalf and might have interacted with him before. After all, the way Chika and Shin had conversed earlier clearly wasn't their first meeting.
But she never expected Chika to have already exchanged contact information with him—that went far beyond mere investigation, didn't it?!
So, in the end, she was the last one to get Shin's contact details?!
Kaguya's previously good mood instantly plummeted.
She couldn't quite explain why, but she felt extremely unhappy, and even her gaze toward Chika turned somewhat hostile.
...
As the banquet concluded, the gathered guests gradually dispersed. The event had no real theme—it was simply an excuse for the Shinomiya family to invite everyone for a gathering.
But those with sharp eyes could tell that the Shinomiya family's true goal was Shin. The entire banquet was merely a pretext to allow him and Kaguya to interact.
Of course, while many recognized Shin's unusual status, no one dared to make a move against him with the Shinomiya family standing in the way.
Most simply committed his face to memory to avoid future conflicts that might provoke the Shinomiya family's retaliation.
Meanwhile, families or factions with closer ties to the Shinomiyas began considering how to leverage those connections to approach Shin.
The sight of Chika chatting and laughing with Shin had also been noticed by many, making it clear that he wasn't exclusively tied to the Shinomiya heiress.
"So, Master, what do you think of Lady Kaguya?"
As Shin stepped out of the banquet hall, Ai's voice came from behind him.
As one of the few who genuinely cared about Kaguya, Ai was curious about Shin's impression of her.
"Hmm… somewhat interesting, I suppose."
That was the only answer Shin could give about the current Kaguya.
As for how she might change in the future—whether she would become the complex, chaotic girl from the original story—that would depend on how things unfolded.
To be continued…
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