Chapter 53: Love Letter
"Ronan, what was the first Japanese phrase you ever learned?"
Inside the student council office, the usual four members had gathered once again.
Since it was lunchtime and Ronan had nothing better to do, he often came here just to kill time.
Shirogane sat at his desk, diligently signing student feedback forms as usual. Kaguya was absorbed in reading a letter on the couch. As for Chika Fujiwara… well, Ronan had never seen her actually do any student council work.
Perhaps out of boredom, Chika decided to strike up a conversation with Ronan, who was equally unoccupied.
"Why do you care about the first Japanese phrase I learned?"
"I'm just curious! After all, you're one of the few international students at Shuchiin," Chika said with a bright smile.
It was worth noting that Chika came from a political family—her mother was a diplomat—so she had been exposed to multiple languages from a young age.
"The first phrase, huh… Let me think…"
Ronan paused for a moment, cleared his throat, then pointed forward dramatically.
"Shinjitsu wa itsumo hitotsu!" (The truth is always one!)
"Ohh~ That one! So you came to Japan because you liked anime, after all!" Chika giggled.
"Not really. I just watched a couple of episodes as a kid and thought I could already speak Japanese. So I went around showing off a few phrases. Thinking back on it now, it's kinda embarrassing." Ronan laughed. "By the way, the second phrase I learned was—Za Warudo!"
"…That's not Japanese. That's just badly pronounced English."
"Later on, when I had to come to Japan for some business, I made an effort to learn a few practical phrases. Like—shine (die), bukkorosu zo! (I'll kill you), and stuff like that."
"…Why would you learn such violent phrases first?" Chika asked, looking genuinely concerned.
"Oh, because they're part of everyday conversation."
"Do people actually use those phrases in everyday conversation…?"
Chika let out an awkward laugh. Just then, she noticed that Kaguya, sitting beside her, was reading a letter. Curious, she leaned in.
"Kaguya, what are you reading?"
"Oh, this?"
A slight smirk appeared at the corner of Kaguya's lips.
"It's a love letter."
"EH?! A love letter?!"
The moment Kaguya uttered those words, Chika practically shrieked in excitement. Shirogane, who had been diligently working, froze mid-signature. Ronan's eyes widened in surprise.
"Yes, a love letter," Kaguya repeated, clearly pleased with their reactions. Casually glancing at Miyuki, who was pretending to be indifferent, she continued with a playful smile, "The writer was very passionate and even invited me out to dinner."
Ronan scoffed. "Are the students at this school blind?"
"What do you mean by that!?" Kaguya immediately shot back. "I'll have you know I'm quite popular in this school!"
That one sentence completely ruined the atmosphere Kaguya had been carefully building.
She turned her gaze back to Miyuki.
Though he kept his expression neutral, the slight tremble in his hands was enough to betray his inner turmoil.
'Good, looks like the plan won't fail even with Ronan here.'
Miyuki, though momentarily concerned upon hearing that Kaguya had received a love letter, quickly brushed it off.
In his mind, there was no way Kaguya would accept an invitation from some random guy. After all, was there really anyone in this school more outstanding than him?
"T-Then…" Chika asked excitedly, "Are you going to accept the invitation, Kaguya?"
Kaguya gave a knowing smile.
"Of course."
CRACK!
Miyuki's pen snapped in half.
'Are you out of your mind?! Accepting an invitation from someone you haven't even seen?!'
Panic set in.
Meanwhile, Kaguya clutched the letter to her chest, playing the part of a love-struck girl. "Since they must have mustered so much courage to write this letter, I'm sure I'll come to like them too."
Chika, completely caught up in the moment, looked at Kaguya with sparkling eyes. Miyuki, on the other hand, looked utterly dumbfounded.
And then…
"Miss Shinomiya, the school regulations do not permit romantic relationships." Ronan said flatly.
'Nice save, Ronan!'
Miyuki Shirogane was screaming internally, but on the surface, he remained as composed as ever.
"Oh my, Ronan, you're no longer a member of the Public Moral Committee. Do you really need to concern yourself with this?" Kaguya countered smoothly.
"I may not be in the Disciplinary Committee anymore, but I still have connections there. Are you sure you want to blatantly violate school rules like this?"
"The rules don't outright forbid relationships. Besides, it's just a meal," Kaguya replied with a smile.
"So you're really planning to go?"
"Of course."
As she spoke, Kaguya subtly focused on every single movement Miyuki made.
'Unless the president begs me not to go, I'm not canceling this date.'
This was a classic case of playing hard to get.
She wasn't actually interested in going on a date—her real goal was to make the one she cared about anxious.
If Miyuki panicked and asked her not to go, then her plan would be a success.
"Kaguya."
At last, Miyuki lifted his head and spoke in a stern voice:
"As the student council president, I oppose inappropriate relationships between male and female students."
Flanking maneuver!
Rather than speaking as an individual, he framed his argument as an official stance from the student council, expertly dodging the core issue.
"You're overreacting. I already said it's just a meal," Kaguya said with a smile.
"It's not up to you to judge your actions—it's up to the school administration," Miyuki said, feigning calm. "If you insist on going, I'll have no choice but to report this to the teachers."
Telling the teachers!
…No words needed. This was peak little brother behavior.
"Huh?! Suspension?!"
Chika Fujiwara shot up from her seat, glancing frantically between Miyuki and Kaguya. It was clear that the mere mention of suspension had deeply unsettled her.
Kaguya hadn't expected Miyuki to play this card, but since things had already gone this far, she had no choice but to double down.
"If it's true love, I'd be willing to get expelled for it."
The resolute tone, the unwavering expression—it was so convincing that everyone in the student council believed her.
"EEEEHHHHH?!"
'Have you lost your mind, Kaguya?!'
"It's just a suspension," Ronan said nonchalantly. "I was suspended for a whole month once. It's no big deal."
"Oi!! Ronan, whose side are you on?!" Miyuki Shirogane was screaming internally.
"As Ronan-kun just said, if it's for true love, then just a suspension—"
Before Kaguya could finish, Ronan turned to Miyuki and remarked, "You see, President? A single unsigned love letter is enough to lure her away. It just proves that Lady Kaguya is a frivolous woman."
Kaguya Shinomiya: "…"
Direct attack!
This was a forbidden move—one that ordinary people wouldn't dare use.
Kaguya had wanted to provoke Miyuki into confessing, but she definitely didn't want to be seen as a frivolous woman.
"Or maybe," Ronan continued, "Lady Kaguya is just desperately starved for affection—"
"Enough!! I am absolutely NOT going on that date!"
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