Crossover: After deciding to give up, i became popular

Time flies, and night turns to day.

The next day, in the Shuchiin Academy student council room.

Natsukawa Kanade was seated as usual in the president's chair, handling official duties.

Next week was the student council election, so this week was unusually busy. In addition to regular work, he also needed to prepare notes for the handover. Though he found the work itself manageable, recalling and organizing the critical points to document was proving to be a hassle.

The simplest solution, of course, was to stop overthinking and focus on defeating his opponents in the election.

"Kaguya, could I trouble you to show me the candidate profiles for this term?" Kanade looked up.

Know your enemy, and you'll win every battle. Though he hadn't been paying much attention before, now was the time for some last-minute preparation.

"Yes." Kaguya Shinomiya replied, a faint smile playing on her lips.

Finally, the opportunity I've been waiting for!

For the past week, Kanade had seemed distracted, and she hadn't managed to get any time alone with him. Asking Ai Hayasaka had yielded no useful answers either. What had happened between Kanade and Hayasaka in that bookstore? She was dying to know!

Wasn't Ai supposed to fully support her love life? What a traitor!

But none of that mattered anymore. If today's plan succeeded, she'd have Kanade wrapped around her finger! Once he was hers, not only would she learn what happened at the bookstore, but she'd even uncover why he resigned as student council president two weeks ago!

This battle is mine to win!

"President, here you go." Picking up the neatly prepared candidate list, Kaguya approached Kanade and handed it to him.

She then pretended to have a little "accident," dropping an eraser with someone's name written on it onto the president's desk.

Perfect!

Her movements were so fluid it was as if she had rehearsed them a hundred times. Truly, she was Shinomiya Kaguya!

Now all she had to do was wait for Kanade to notice the eraser, pick it up, and read the name on it. When he did, she'd act all shy and bashful...

Kaguya picked up a financial report and pretended to review it, though her full attention was on Kanade. She watched as he continued scribbling on papers, switching from one sheet to the next...

Another sheet...

She felt like she'd been waiting an eternity, but Kanade still hadn't noticed the eraser!

Getting impatient, she considered whether to hint at it herself.

Then, she saw Kanade pause his work and glance around the desk, as if searching for something.

It's happening!

Her heart raced as Kanade's hand moved closer and closer to the eraser. Finally, he picked it up!

Now was the time to strike with her perfectly practiced shy expression! She had trained for this moment all night with Hayasaka, and she was confident in her ability to deliver. But...

Instead of inspecting the eraser, Kanade used it casually and then tossed it aside without even glancing at the words written on it.

At least wonder where it came from, President!

Kaguya could no longer sit still. Waiting for Kanade to take the initiative was clearly futile; even Hayasaka would've been married off by now if she waited this long.

"Ahem. President, about that eraser..."

A blatant hint! Surely, he wouldn't ignore it now. Once he saw the name written on the eraser...

"Oh, is it yours? Thanks. I'll keep using it for now," Kanade replied without looking up.

"..."

That's not the point! Borrowing it or not doesn't matter; just read what's on it!

But since he'd already said that, she couldn't very well demand it back now... Plan B it was!

"Speaking of which, the elections are almost here, aren't they, President?" Kaguya stood and slowly walked toward him.

"Yeah, it's been keeping me busy," Kanade replied.

"This might be our last week working together. Such a memorable time, wouldn't you agree?" Kaguya said with feigned wistfulness. Then, as if remembering something, she smiled triumphantly. "I happen to have a group photo of everyone. Would you like to see it as a memento, President?"

She called this the "Hidden Agenda" Plan—creating a nostalgic atmosphere and then shifting focus to the group photo. Of course, the group photo wasn't the point. Hidden within was a single photo of Kanade himself.

Since finding a candid solo shot of Kanade was nearly impossible, she had Hayasaka edit one out from the group photo. Privately treasuring a picture of the boy she liked—how could that not express her feelings?

Once Kanade inevitably asked why she had his photo, she'd have him hooked...

"Uh, looks nice."

But Kanade only glanced at her phone for barely a second before looking away again. His disinterest was so quick that Kaguya doubted he even saw the photo properly.

"President, at least look at the picture properly before commenting!"

"..." Kanade reluctantly glanced at the screen again. After barely a second, he turned away once more, coughing lightly. "Ahem. Kaguya, I know you're a confident person, but photos like this... you should probably keep them for yourself."

"?" Kaguya was stunned.

Why wasn't this going as planned? Shouldn't he ask why she had his photo? Instead, he seemed fine with her keeping it? Could he actually condone such fangirl-like behavior? Or was it that he really felt nothing for her?

But Hayasaka had said Kanade probably liked her...

Something was off!

Thinking the issue might lie with the photo itself, Kaguya turned her phone back to herself and froze.

Instead of Kanade's photo, it was one of her private snapshots—sitting on her bed, with her collar slightly undone...

!!!!!!

In an instant, the elegant and composed Shinomiya Kaguya transformed into a steaming mess.

"I...I...!"

"Kaguya? Kaguya, calm down! I didn't see anything, really! I didn't even..." Kanade panicked and stood up, ready to comfort her.

Just then, the student council room door opened, and a blonde girl dressed as a maid walked in.

"Natsukawa-sama, good day. I am Kaguya-sama's personal maid. I've come to retrieve her. Please don't worry."

Swiftly, she escorted the malfunctioning Kaguya out of the room, pausing to bow politely.

"Sorry for the trouble, Natsukawa-sama. Have a productive day. Goodbye."

"..."