"You were the one who suggested having a study session in the first place, but now you're the only one not actually studying. Even the underclassman is more serious than you. Don't you feel embarrassed?" Kanade Natsukawa sighed.
He had expected Chika to pull something like this, but he still couldn't help but throw in a few jabs. It had barely been a few minutes, for crying out loud! Could she not show a little patience?
"That's not true!" Chika protested, her voice unintentionally rising.
Realizing she was too loud, she quickly covered her mouth and glanced around. After confirming that no one nearby seemed to be paying attention, she turned back and continued in a hushed tone.
"The study sessions I imagined aren't supposed to be like this! Everyone's just silently studying by themselves—it's so boring…"
"..."
Kanade resisted the urge to roll his eyes. What did you expect us to do in a study session? Sip tea and chat? That's called a tea party.
"Let me just ask… What exactly does a study session look like in your imagination?" he asked.
"Obviously, everyone sits together, talks about their study progress, and helps each other with tough problems. Then, after all the hard work, we enjoy some snacks as a reward!" Chika explained animatedly, waving her hands. "Oh, and we can also play games together or chat about random things—like romance, for example! The point is, it shouldn't feel like regular studying at home. That's so dull!"
Hearing her vision, the others paused their work and looked up.
Among them, Miko Iino seemed the most receptive to Chika's idea. She couldn't deny that she felt similarly—if it was just studying, she would have been more comfortable on her own. At least then she could have worn her headphones and listened to what she wanted. But as a junior, she didn't dare contradict the upperclassmen once they had started studying seriously.
Thank goodness for Fujiwara-senpai! Miko thought with admiration. She's such a respectable senior!
Kaguya Shinomiya, on the other hand, zeroed in on the mention of "romance topics." She wondered if this tied into their earlier plans. Regardless, she found it perfectly agreeable. As expected of my best friend, Chika!
"Uh…" Kanade hesitated, realizing that Chika's point actually made some sense—at least the first part. Reward systems could boost morale and motivation. Still, hearing it from Chika somehow made it feel… off.
"Even if you say that… We're in a library. Eating snacks here isn't allowed; it's against the rules," Kanade replied, shaking his head. While he didn't entirely disagree, as the student council president, he needed to set an example. Breaking school rules wasn't exactly ideal.
"Ugh, you're so uptight, President! As long as we clean up after ourselves, it's fine!" Chika pouted.
"That's not the point," Kanade retorted, continuing to write as he spoke. He was multitasking, jotting down answers for his literature assignment, which had become almost second nature. "The library is a shared space for reading and studying. Even if no one complains, eating food here is disruptive, especially with the smell. It's about being considerate to others."
"As for games and chatting… I wouldn't oppose those, but it depends on the setting. Like I said, this is a library. Being loud here would disturb others. If we wanted to talk and play around, choosing a family restaurant or some other location would've made more sense. At least then we wouldn't have to tiptoe around."
Kanade spread his hands in exasperation, making it clear that Chika had picked the wrong place.
It was only then that Kanade realized something: Wait… Am I already getting dragged into her pace? Without noticing, he had started chatting instead of focusing on his work.
He turned toward Kaguya and saw that she had also stopped writing, her hands resting on the table as she listened intently to the conversation. Seeing this, he felt a bit relieved.
Though he knew a few extra minutes of study wouldn't significantly impact the exam results, the idea of slacking off while his rival was diligently working had been nagging at him. But it seemed Kaguya was just as engaged in the discussion.
Miko had also abandoned her studying, now fully involved in the topic at hand.
"Um… I don't have much experience, but aren't study sessions supposed to be like Fujiwara-senpai described?" Miko raised her hand hesitantly. "That's what I've seen on TV…"
Her impression of study sessions involved lighthearted interactions among friends. Besides, both Kanade-senpai and Kaguya-senpai were high achievers, so she assumed Chika-senpai must be the same. Since they seemed so comfortable chatting, Miko figured she should join in, too, to avoid appearing out of place. She didn't want to be labeled as someone who "couldn't read the room."
"So even Iino agrees…" Kanade sighed, turning to Kaguya. "What about you, Kaguya? What do you think?"
Kaguya tilted her head slightly, a radiant smile spreading across her face as she looked at him.
Her mood had been exceptionally good lately. Every time Kanade addressed her by name, her heart fluttered with excitement. She thought she'd get used to it eventually, but instead, it only made her yearn for more. Every time their eyes met, she felt there was something unspoken behind his gaze—something deeper, hidden beneath his charming demeanor.
"Eh?! What?!"
A sudden outburst broke Kaguya's reverie.
"..."
She turned with a resigned expression toward the source of the noise—Miko, who now had both hands over her mouth, her face a mixture of panic and guilt.
"S-Sorry! I was too loud!" Miko stammered, glancing nervously around. Realizing no one was paying attention, she exhaled in relief and turned back to the group, her face full of regret.
"I'm really sorry! I was just surprised and shouted without thinking…"
"Surprised? About what?" Kaguya asked, confused. She hadn't even said anything yet, so what could have caused such a reaction? Did Kanade say something noteworthy?
The others also looked at Miko curiously. Chika, ever eager, leaned forward and asked, "What's wrong, Miko-chan?"
"It's… It's nothing, really…" Miko shrank back slightly, feeling embarrassed under their stares. "Please don't mind me. You can keep talking…"
"Oh, don't be shy!" Chika said, attempting to reassure her. "If something's on your mind, just say it! We're all friends here. No one's going to laugh at you."
Though her words were well-intentioned, her overly eager tone made her sound suspiciously like she was fishing for drama. But Miko, unaware of such nuances, felt genuinely touched and hesitantly began to explain.
"Well… it's just that… hearing Kanade-senpai call Kaguya-senpai by her name caught my attention. Um… Are you two dating?" Miko asked hesitantly, her eyes darting nervously between the two.
Miko Iino had heard rumors before—that the student council president and the "Shinomiya Princess" seemed to be dating. However, since joining the student council, she hadn't witnessed any overtly intimate interactions between them. If anything, Fujiwara-senpai seemed closer to the president.
But now, hearing the president address Kaguya-senpai by her first name caught her off guard. Especially after all the peculiar incidents she had witnessed recently… Miko had already come to see the president as a good person, which only made her more curious about their relationship.
Kaguya, on the other hand, was startled by Miko's question. What's with this junior? Such sharp intuition—could it be she's figured out that the president and I are meant to be together?
Although unsure of Miko's exact thoughts, Kaguya was internally delighted. Just for asking that question, she had already decided—once Kanade stepped down, the next student council president would undoubtedly be Miko. It didn't matter who else tried; the decision was made!
Despite her happiness, Kaguya maintained her usual calm demeanor. Resting her chin lightly on her hand, she turned her elegant gaze toward Kanade.
She had no intention of speaking first in this situation. Anything she said could be misinterpreted by the president, potentially leading to teasing or playful ridicule. That was a scenario she wanted to avoid, as it might shake her composure.
Thus, she waited to see how the president would handle the question.
Kanade, noticing Kaguya's composed expression, sighed in relief. At least she didn't appear angry. Miko's bold question could have easily provoked the "Ice Queen." Such a daring junior, he thought.
"You're mistaken," Kanade replied plainly, shaking his head. "It's just calling someone by their name. That's pretty normal between friends… Besides, didn't you already hear me do it before? Why the sudden curiosity now?"
For Kanade, names and titles didn't hold much significance. Calling someone by their first name or their full name felt the same to him. But since others seemed to care about the nuances of name usage and perceived it as a sign of closeness, he had adapted to their preferences.
"Uh…" Miko opened her mouth to respond but hesitated. Then she recalled an earlier moment—on Monday, when she first entered the student council room. She vaguely remembered hearing Kanade address Kaguya by her first name. At the time, though, she had been too focused on their compromising position to pay attention to minor details.
So it did happen, she thought, suddenly embarrassed. Doesn't this make it seem like I'm overly curious about their relationship? I hope they don't get the wrong idea…
Miko grew visibly flustered, her body language betraying her awkwardness. To Kanade, it was clear that she was feeling self-conscious. He considered shifting the conversation to a different topic to ease her discomfort, but before he could act, Chika jumped in, looking as mischievous as ever.
"Oh, right! Miko-chan wasn't here back then," Chika murmured, inching closer to Miko. Leaning in conspiratorially, she whispered, "It's nothing special, really. Just calling each other by name—no big deal! Everyone does it, you know?"
"..." Kanade shot her a deadpan glare. Who was the one making a fuss about it first?
"Everyone?" Miko blinked in confusion, then turned her curious gaze to Chika. "Does that mean… Fujiwara-senpai is called by her first name too?"
"Of course! The president has called me by my first name before," Chika replied matter-of-factly, nodding. "But honestly, I think 'Fujiwara' sounds nicer."
"Oh…" Miko couldn't help but feel a pang of envy. How carefree Fujiwara-senpai is! She doesn't seem to care at all… Maybe I'm the one overthinking this?
Seeing Miko's expression, Chika began to egg her on.
"Miko-chan, why don't you give it a try? You've been around us for so long; it's about time we started using each other's names, don't you think?"
"Eh? M-Me?" Miko stammered, flustered. "Wouldn't that be… a bit inappropriate?"
Her nervousness was palpable, but despite her words, she kept sneaking glances at Kanade. He immediately understood—she wanted to try but was too shy to take the first step. This junior is so easy to read, he thought.
Miko likely saw using first names as a sign of close friendship, and for someone who had spent her birthday alone, the prospect of forging stronger bonds was irresistible.
Realizing this, Kanade softened his expression and replied gently, "It's fine. I don't mind at all, as long as you're comfortable with it."
His tone was warm and considerate, a sharp contrast to how he usually spoke to Chika. Miko's straightforward and earnest nature deserved a softer touch.