After breaking up, my ex asked me to win her back

The night after the truth was unveiled.

Kiryu Hina never spoke a word again to Kagura Hikaru and Kohinata Motoyo.

Until they graduated from middle school, the three of them had no further connection.

Hina didn't care about what would happen to those two, but she inevitably heard some developments from their mutual friend—Sakata Asahi.

As it turned out, it seemed like Kagura Hikaru had broken off his friendship with Kohinata Motoyo.

The latter went to study abroad in Europe, while Kagura Hikaru ended up at the same high school as herself.

It must have been a coincidence.

Hina was certain that he, just like her, had no desire to see each other again.

Men who could comfortably interact with a girlfriend who had betrayed them once were not common in this world.

As far as Hina knew Kagura Hikaru, he was not the type of man lacking in shame.

...No, she couldn't say that now.

Because of her belief in her initial impression of him, hadn't she already learned a painfully memorable lesson from being betrayed once?

After that, due to some issues involving the Kiryu and Ayakoji families, Kiryu Hina approached the most skilled deceiver among her acquaintances, a swindler—her ex-boyfriend, Kagura Hikaru—to ask for his help.

After a long time without seeing each other, he had changed a lot.

His soul had grown, alongside his body.

Didn't a great man once say that not being able to smile is proof of maturity? Wasn't it Mr. Lu Xun?

It doesn't matter.

Anyway, when Hina approached him, for a moment she thought she was talking to another person wearing Kagura Hikaru's skin.

Because he didn't smile.

The Kagura Hikaru she knew would never be unable to smile.

The him from before, the him from middle school, was like a golden retriever, constantly smiling wherever he went to the point where people really wanted to tear off his mouth so he wouldn't spread his charm around.

However, in just one short year.

He had become a man who didn't smile, who lacked confidence, mature beyond his years.

To be more precise, he was overly mature, thoroughly ripe, skipping past the stages of 'the naïve newcomer to society' and 'the wage slave tormented by reality,' directly entering the era of an old man.

Emptiness, yes, that's the word she meant to use.

Not maturity, but emptiness was more fitting.

There seemed to be nothing left inside this body, and seeing him made people think so.

But upon further conversation, she realized that he was indeed still the Kagura Hikaru of the past, kind-hearted, not prone to anger, and abundantly tolerant.

And he was brave when it was necessary.

During a spring outing when she fell down a slope, he jumped down without a second thought to save her.

From that time on, Hina gradually rediscovered a familiar feeling.

Even though she had hired him as a swindler, and knowing this, she unwittingly let herself be fooled as well.

He aroused her curiosity with a pitiful demeanor unlike before, perhaps even with a little sympathy, with a compliant attitude that agreed and allowed, with the gratitude for saving a life that made one lower their guard, slowly weaving a web like a spider, tenderly wrapping her within it.

By the time she realized it, the web that she once thought would break with a tug had gathered into a tough rope that silently strangled her throat.

Unexpectedly, she was to experience betrayal for the second time in her life, again at the hands of Kagura Hikaru.

She couldn't believe she had fallen for him twice.

This also explained the strange recent behavior of 'Ayakoji Chiyoko.'

Why all her recent plans had failed.

Hina had thought it was because Ayakoji Chiyoko had grown up, but if Kagura Hikaru had taken her side, it all made sense.

The person thwarting her behind the scenes was not Ayakoji Chiyoko, but him.

In the school, the one who understood her best was undoubtedly Kagura Hikaru.

He knew all about her way of thinking and habits. Once they became opponents, he would undoubtedly become the most dangerous person.

More threatening even than Ayakoji Chiyoko.

Even with this knowledge, Hina had never imagined that he would become so difficult to deal with once he took action.

Yet indeed, none of these mattered anymore.

What lingered in Kiryu Hina's mind at the moment was only the fact that he had betrayed her once again.

Anger, jealousy, resentment, sadness.

A myriad of emotions crossed her face.

Finally, they settled into an expressionless façade of being utterly devoid of anything.

She stood up, her hands leaving Kagura Hikaru's shoulders, her tone surprisingly calm and cold.

"So, what you're saying is, you're also going to be my enemy, is that it?"

"I have no intention of being enemies with anyone," Kagura Hikaru slightly tilted her head, "But indeed, if that's how you want to think, I cannot object, for what I must do will not change."

"...From today on, we are enemies. Brace yourself."

"I will."

She took a deep breath and turned to leave.

After she turned her back, her eyes immediately reddened, her nose wrinkling in frustration.

No, I can't cry, I can't cry, I can't cry.

If someone sees me like this, I'll never be perfect again.

Like a command programmed into a robot, Kiryu Hina immediately suppressed the urge to cry.

She thought of that girl who everyone saw as truly perfect—beautiful, innocent, flawless, and without blemish—the girl she found so detestable.

If I'm not perfect... if I'm no longer perfect.

How can I approach her, become her, and drive her out?

In the end, how can I completely replace her?

Kiryu Hina closed her eyes, and when she opened them again, there was no longer any anger or sadness in them, only gentleness and purity, and she revealed a stunningly beautiful smile.

She was the perfect Student Council President, and she would become the perfect Student Council President.

For that, she would pay any price, do anything.

It was heartbreaking that Kagura Hikaru wasn't willing to help. Frankly, she had no other options left.

Defeat was looming ahead.

But that's okay.

As long as Kohinata Suse doesn't appear before her, there would be no one in this school who could rival her.

Exhausting all her wisdom and connections, she would beautifully resolve this matter, just as she had done before.

Then, after the election ended, just like always, she'd sit in the Student Council office, holding a warm teacup, and continue to refine her pursuit of perfection.

If that were the case, someday...

Watching Kiryu Hina's departing figure, Kagura Hikaru was torn, but she had no regrets.

If Kagura Hikaru had really stirred up Saijo Mari to help her at this moment, she would undoubtedly draw suspicion from Ayakoji Chiyoko, and the task entrusted to her by Kiryu Hina would never be completed.

Did she realize this, or did she deliberately ignore it?

It's just the position of Student Council President. There are no monetary gains; it's tiresome and time-consuming, and at most, it adds a single line to a resume after graduation. Is it really worth abandoning her role as a spy?

This completely contradicted her initial logical behavior, it felt like she was being reckless without considering the consequences.

This only proved Kagura Hikaru's point again: the role of Student Council President was Kiryu Hina's mask of perfection, a facade of her perfection, and a shackle upon herself.

Therefore, to correct her, Kagura Hikaru could not compromise.

Hina, she surely doesn't understand.

But that's okay, even if she hates me like before, it doesn't matter.

What he's doing, ultimately, will never be understood by anyone.

He is just a man seeking retribution against his ex-girlfriend, a scumbag; understanding him as such is sufficient.

No matter how it's phrased, the harm he has caused to Hina cannot be mended.

So, after doing all that needs to be done, they will never meet again.

Enemies don't need to see each other, after all.

It's a simple truth, isn't it?

Lunch break ended, and Kagura Hikaru returned to her class.

Kiryu Hina, seated in front of him, chatted with her classmates with a smile, as usual, never once looking back.

The bell rang, signaling the start of class, and the teacher came in through the door.

He usually began the lecture by flipping open a textbook, but today seemed different.

After placing the textbook on the lectern, he rested one hand on the desk, his other hand on his hip, and said to the students below, "Today, we have a transfer student to introduce."

Come in.

The teacher said to someone outside the door.

"Excuse me."

A clear voice sounded.

Then, a long-haired girl in Ugao High's summer uniform walked into the classroom gracefully.

The instant she entered, Kagura Hikaru's mind turned to mush.