Having heard from Ai Hayasaka about Kaguya Shinomiya's rather active imagination, Rei Ao didn't know whether to laugh or cry.
"So you came here just to tell me the Lady is calling me a pervert? Though I can't say she's wrong."
"That's good,"
Ai said in a relieved tone.
"I just wanted to make sure you know, so you wouldn't get mad if Lady Kaguya reacts strangely the next time she sees you."
It was about nipping trouble in the bud. Clearly, Rei Ao was the last person in this world anyone wanted to offend.
And for Ai, he was also Kaguya's final trump card if it ever came to that. She didn't want him to dislike them over some silly misunderstanding.
"I see."
Rei Ao understood her reasoning.
"You're quite the maid—always prepared. Not just beautiful but very capable. I'm a bit jealous of Kaguya having you."
His comment could be read in multiple ways.
"…"
Under his admiring gaze, Ai felt as though he was seeing right through her. Luckily, it didn't last too long.
"Oh, right. I almost forgot to remind you,"
Rei Ao said,
"The chat group logs all chats by default, so there's a good chance Kaguya saw what you said in there before."
"…"
Ai Hayasaka's eyes went dark, staring at him meaningfully.
Rei Ao instantly caught on.
"I take it my warning comes a bit late. So your Lady already found out you were, well, a little spy?"
"…"
"But clearly she didn't kick you out. I'm guessing you two had a heartfelt talk?"
"…"
"So now you probably know Kaguya's secret, right?"
"Huh?"
Finally, Ai broke her silence.
"Her secret? You mean…"
"Rei Ao!"
"Senpai!"
Two voices spoke up, two figures stepping into view. They were Eriri and Iroha Isshiki, both walking their way. Ai Hayasaka stopped herself from responding to Rei Ao and fell silent.
Eriri ran over first and clung to his arm in an affectionate manner.
"…?"
Iroha Isshiki halted, startled by the scene.
"Senpai… Who is she?"
"She's Eriri, my girlfriend. And this here is Ai Hayasaka, my…friend."
"…"
Girlfriend?!
Iroha's eye twitched. Another girlfriend—like Yukino and the others. Today's attempt to "woo senpai" hadn't even started, and she was already served a plateful of dog food.
Eriri sized up Iroha for a moment before exclaiming:
"So you're Iroha Isshiki."
"Eh? H-how do you know my name?"
Iroha blurted out, suspecting Rei Ao might have mentioned her.
"Well…"
Eriri realized Iroha wasn't in the chat group, so she improvised:
"I've, uh, seen you around, but you've never met me. Let's just leave it at that."
She changed the subject:
"Hey, Rei Ao, come over to my place after school. My mom asked me to invite you."
"Sure, I was planning on visiting Aunt Sayuri anyway."
Feeling she couldn't get a word in, Ai Hayasaka took the chance to bow slightly:
"Class is about to start. I should be going."
"Alright."
Rei Ao gave a brief nod, making no further mention of "Kaguya's secret." He trusted Ai would seek him out later if needed.
"By the way, Iroha, did you need something from me?"
He turned to Isshiki.
"Uh…"
She hesitated. She'd been hoping to invite him somewhere, step-by-step carrying out her plan to charm him. But Eriri beat her to it—the girlfriend. So she got cold feet. She couldn't exactly poach him right in front of his official girlfriend—that would be too shameless. Even she feared the consequences.
Awkwardly, Iroha forced a smile:
"N-nothing. I was just passing by, haha…"
Then she turned and ran off.
"Rei Ao, did I mess anything up? She was obviously trying to cozy up to you, right?"
Eriri teased, staring at Iroha's retreating figure.
"Stop it," he said, giving her a little knock on the head.
"Ow!"
Eriri yelped, rubbing the spot.
"Go on, get to class. I'll come find you after school."
"Hmph, fine. But quit hitting me on the head!"
She pouted in mock displeasure.
…
The Student Council
During the mid-day break, as Student Council President Kaguya Shinomiya, she should have been tackling some paperwork—like approving club budgets—but she was incredibly distracted. She'd scribble a bit, then stop and zone out again.
Her mind was filled with what Ai had explained: the things couples do, how babies are made, all those sorts of images.
"So… that's how you have a baby…?" she mumbled absentmindedly. She didn't notice Chika Fujiwara entering the room, who picked up on her muttering.
"Heeeh? A baby, who?"
Chika sidled closer with shining eyes.
"Ah?!"
Kaguya nearly jumped out of her chair. She waved her hands frantically:
"N-no, it's not me!"
Pfft!
Chika couldn't help but laugh.
"Kaguya-chan, I know it's obviously not you who's having a baby. But you did say 'baby' just now."
"…"
Kaguya realized her outburst was a mistake. Trying to act calm, she said:
"I was just talking to myself. Don't mind it."
"How could I not care?! You got me all excited—thought someone you knew was pregnant."
Chika puffed out her cheeks in a playful sulk.
"…"
After a few beats of silence, Kaguya found herself blurting:
"Chika…you know about, uh, how babies are made, right?"
"Of course I do, how could I not?"
"But—did you know that…just k-kissing doesn't, um…make a baby?"
Kaguya tried to confirm, hoping Chika would side with her. Ai's explanation had, after all, shattered some illusions she'd had.
"…"
Chika froze for a moment. Then, she suddenly burst out laughing—clutching her stomach in absolute mirth.
"Hahahahaha!!!"
"???"
Kaguya stared in confusion. Why is she laughing so hard…?!
~~~
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