"I've never heard of this so-called 'punishment' before," Kanade grumbled. "Isn't this just supposed to be a casual game for fun? And why is it automatically based on me providing the reward? At least get my opinion on it first!"
This was not something he could let slide. If he caved now, they'd expect him to provide rewards every time they played a game together. At this rate, he'd end up owing so many "debts" that selling his soul wouldn't even cover it!
"Eh?" Iino Miko gasped, covering her mouth in genuine surprise. Her expression made it clear she wasn't faking it.
Kanade could tell she was honestly startled, and it only added to his exasperation.
What on earth does she think I am? A charity provider?
"S-Sorry! I just assumed the rules were the same as last time—whoever wins can ask the President to fulfill one condition…" Miko stammered, clearly flustered. She was worried about coming off as someone who liked to take advantage of others.
"It's fine. I wasn't offended or anything; I just wanted to clarify my position," Kanade replied, waving her concerns away. Her sincerity softened his tone. "But the condition I agreed to last time still stands. Whenever you figure out what you want, just let me know."
"As I said before, as long as it's nothing too outrageous, I'll do my best," Kanade reminded her. After all, he wasn't some blue robotic cat who could magically produce anything from a bottomless pocket.
"Eh? Miko-chan hasn't cashed in her reward from the President yet?" Fujiwara Chika interjected, her curiosity piqued.
Considering how much time had passed since that game, it was indeed unusual. If it were her, she would've used the reward on the very first weekend—whether or not Kanade would have actually agreed to her demand was another matter.
"Yeah… I just haven't come up with a good idea," Miko admitted with a small nod. Initially, her hesitation had stemmed from unease. She'd been wary of Kanade, who carried a reputation as a "notorious student council president," and hadn't given much thought to the reward. But after spending time with him and sharing happy moments together, her perception of him had shifted completely.
Now, however, she had a different problem: there were too many ideas swirling in her head, and she couldn't decide which one to choose.
"Oh, oh, oh! I know that feeling! So many options, right?!" Chika said, nodding fervently as she began ticking ideas off on her fingers. "Like making the President bring you lunch for a whole week, dressing him up with cute accessories for a photo shoot, or even making him be your butler for an entire day! There are so many fun possibilities!"
Chika's audacity knew no bounds. She had no qualms discussing her ideas in front of Kanade, the subject of said suggestions. And somehow, her list of "rewards" was quickly morphing into a list of punishments.
Bringing lunch might still be reasonable, but dressing up in her choice of accessories? That definitely wouldn't be anything "normal." And a butler? Where did she even get these ideas? Kanade couldn't believe this pink-haired octopus had such bizarre tastes!
Kanade's face darkened as he imagined the potential disasters that could've unfolded if Chika had been the one to win the game. He was almost grateful that fate had spared him from such a humiliating ordeal.
"Don't listen to her nonsense. Just think about it yourself. It's fine if your request is something simple. What matters is that it's your idea," Kanade said, attempting to steer Miko back toward more sensible suggestions.
Though Chika continued to bombard Miko with her absurd proposals, Kanade wasn't too worried. He figured their relationship wasn't close enough for Miko to seriously consider such outlandish requests. Besides, Miko's more serious nature made it unlikely for her to agree with Chika's antics.
But when Kanade glanced at her and accidentally locked eyes, he noticed something odd. Miko seemed flustered, her gaze darting away as if trying to avoid him.
"Y-Yeah… I'll think about it…" Miko replied weakly, a faint blush crossing her face. For a brief moment, she had genuinely considered some of Chika's ideas—and that embarrassed her deeply.
"I'm not giving bad suggestions!" Chika pouted, puffing up her cheeks like an angry pufferfish. "This is a rare chance! Why waste it on something boring? And President, stop butting in! As the 'prize,' all you have to do is accept your fate!"
"..."
What the hell?! Kanade thought, glaring at her. I'm the one offering the reward, not the reward itself! Stop twisting the narrative!
Rolling his eyes, Kanade decided to ignore Chika entirely and returned to his desk. Their game of UNO had dragged on for quite a while, and with class about to start, he needed to finish up some student council work before heading back.
Chika mistook his retreat for a concession and grinned triumphantly before turning back to Miko, resuming her spirited lecture on how to make the most of her reward. Miko, ever the respectful junior, listened attentively, despite the increasingly ridiculous nature of Chika's suggestions.
Meanwhile, Kaguya, who had been mostly quiet, found her mood growing complicated.
On the one hand, some of Chika's ideas were surprisingly intriguing. Who knew there were so many ways to use a reward? But on the other hand, Kaguya couldn't help feeling a twinge of regret that she wasn't the one to win. The chance had gone to Miko, a relatively new addition to their group.
More concerning was how seriously Miko seemed to be taking this.
Was it Kaguya's imagination, or was Miko genuinely invested in this "reward"? She seemed to be carefully weighing her options and even seeking Chika's advice. Kaguya had assumed Miko would come up with a quick, simple request and move on, but now she wasn't so sure.
No, it must just be Chika's influence stirring her interest, Kaguya reassured herself. Not every girl who meets the President falls for him, after all.
After all, Miko had once told her, "You and President Kanade are a perfect match. Your compatibility is so strong you might as well get married right now!" If anything, Miko was a loyal supporter of the "Kaguya x Kanade" ship. There was no way she'd harbor any inappropriate thoughts, right?
Kaguya nodded to herself, feeling more confident in her reasoning. Besides, her real focus should be on more obvious threats.
According to her spy, Hayasaka, certain shameless women had been making moves to get close to the President lately—some of them even women who had previously been rejected by him.
Hmph, to think those defeated losers have the nerve to try again…
Kaguya's mind was filled with disdain, but she wasn't worried. The President's heart was already leaning toward her—she was sure of it. Their date during the courage test was proof enough.
They had shared a magical evening with countless moments of closeness, their bond growing stronger than ever. No one else could possibly come between them now.
It's only a matter of time, Kaguya thought confidently. As long as I keep following my plan, I'll win his heart for sure.
And once that happened, she'd make sure to meet those "cute girls" who failed to win him over. Not out of pettiness, of course—just to showcase her and Kanade's perfect harmony.
Definitely not out of spite.
...
Afternoon classes ended quickly, and after finishing up student council duties, Kanade was ready to head home early. On his way, he passed by a long-abandoned storage room and suddenly heard faint noises from within. He hadn't planned to meddle, but a glimpse through the slightly open door revealed a familiar face.
"Eriri? What's she doing in there?" Kanade wondered aloud, puzzled. Since this was a chance encounter, he decided to go in and say hello.
Pushing the ajar door open, he stepped inside.
Eriri was focused on something, her back turned to him. Curious, Kanade called out to her.
"Eriri, what are you doing here?"
"Eek!" Startled, the blonde girl flinched and spun around. Realizing it was Kanade, she exhaled in relief—but her expression remained tense.
"K-Kanade… T-there's a ghost!"
"…What?" Kanade blinked, completely bewildered. He scanned the room but saw nothing out of the ordinary. "Are you sure you're not imagining things?"
"I'm not imagining anything!" Eriri stammered, pointing toward the curtain. "Over there, under the curtain! There's a pair of skeleton feet!"
Following her trembling finger, Kanade glanced at the curtain—and to his surprise, there really was a pair of pale human foot bones visible beneath it.
"What the…? There really is something there…"
Was this world suddenly embracing the supernatural? And at broad daylight—barely four in the afternoon, with the sun still shining brightly? A ghost brazen enough to haunt during the day had to be a malevolent spirit!
"Wait, don't move," Kanade instructed, furrowing his brow.
But the more he looked, the more details he noticed. It wasn't just the skeletal feet—there was also a faint humanoid outline behind the curtain.
Then, as a gust of wind swept through the room, the curtain fluttered, revealing a white skeleton leaning motionlessly against the wall.
"..."
Great. Not a ghost, but a skeleton prop. The lowest-level trash mob.
"Ah! A-a skeleton monster!" Eriri cried, trembling like a leaf. She clung to Kanade's arm in panic, her eyes glistening with tears.
Kanade could only sigh. "Seriously? This is what you're afraid of?"
It was a bare-bones skeleton with no weapons or armor—a pitifully low-tier enemy. A single punch could probably knock it down!
"Look closer. Open your eyes," Kanade said, pointing toward the skeletal figure.
"I-I can't! I'm too scared!" Eriri shook her head frantically, refusing to even glance at it.
"..." Kanade sighed again. "If you're scared, that's even more reason to look closely. If it were real, you wouldn't have time to run away anyway."
Eriri tilted her head, confusion written all over her face.
Kanade gestured toward the skeleton. "You need to see for yourself."
He could've mocked her for being so skittish, but he held back. If someone like Kasumigaoka were here instead, Eriri might never live this down.
After some coaxing, Eriri finally turned her head toward the skeleton.
Under the bright sunlight streaming in through the window, the skeleton appeared spotless—no rust, no bloodstains. Its bones weren't a sickly yellow but a pristine white, brighter than most girls' skin.
"..." Eriri opened her mouth, at a loss for words.
She finally realized that this so-called skeleton monster was nothing more than a plastic anatomical model—a prop for educational use.
To drive the point home, Kanade approached the skeleton, grabbed its arm, and gave it a light shake.
"See? It even has screws at the joints. What else could it be but a prop?"
Eriri's cheeks flushed with embarrassment. Even though she still felt a little uneasy, the evidence was undeniable. She couldn't argue anymore.
"I-I was just being cautious, okay…"
Kanade chuckled softly but refrained from teasing her further. He knew Eriri's fearfulness all too well—this was the same girl who had once gotten so scared in a small haunted house that she ran off and got lost.
"By the way, what are you doing here? Don't you have club activities?" Kanade asked, genuinely curious.
For him, it was different—he had already finished his student council work, and with everyone else in the council busy, he found the room too lonely to stay in.
"Oh, about that…" Eriri suddenly stretched her voice, her face lighting up with a playful smile. Her sharp little canines sparkled as she beamed. "Since I won the grand prize in the school's art competition, I've been granted the rights to use this storage room!"
Her excitement was palpable, and it was clear she was fishing for praise.
Kanade didn't disappoint. He reached out and gently ruffled her golden hair, smoothing it with a soft touch.
"Well done. I'm impressed—you really outdid yourself this time."
Eriri's expression brightened even more as she basked in his praise.