The discussion about mobile phones did not last long.
Kaguya Shinomiya ultimately decided to change her phone. Shirogane Miyuki also mentioned that with a smartphone, they could use various convenient applications—the Student Council's LINE group hadn't even been created yet because they were afraid Kaguya Shinomiya would discover them communicating behind her back.
This young lady's personality was a bit obsessive. Grudge-holding, jealous, paranoid—she had many of the minor flaws common among high school girls. Previously, when Kaguya Shinomiya was in her "iceberg" mode, she could suppress these traits. But after softening recently, these personality issues had become increasingly evident.
Today, Fujiwara Secretary had gone to the Tabletop Game Club, saying she had invented a new game and wanted to test it with friends first. Once it was suitable, she would bring it to the Student Council for everyone to play. She didn't seem to realize that, in fact, the Student Council members didn't particularly enjoy playing tabletop games. They only played with her simply because the one making the request was Fujiwara Chika—especially Sakurai General Affairs, who never refused her and almost spoiled her to the heavens.
Without tabletop games to play, Sakurai Saki and Shirogane Miyuki exchanged a word and then prepared to do serious work: finding materials.
The Student Council's old storeroom.
It was a long-abandoned storage room, where materials and miscellaneous items from all previous Student Councils were kept.
"What is this?" Sakurai glanced at the messy pile of papers on the shelf in front of him. "Trash?"
"Cultural Festival planning proposals." Shirogane Miyuki picked them up and patted them a few times.
A large amount of dust accompanied his movements, drifting into the air. Sunlight streamed in through the window, and the dust particles seemed to glow—no, they were glowing, and quite annoying.
How long has it been since this place was cleaned? Is this some ancient battlefield?
Sakurai glanced elsewhere. Equally dirty and messy. Almost 0.8 times Gabriel's combat power.
Shirogane Miyuki noticed his expression and said with a smile, "Let's clean it together next time. For now, let's just find what we need."
"Clean?" Sakurai took a few steps forward and looked into a corner, where there were some toys. Sandbags, kendama, and some large glass marbles. Wait—why were these glass marbles connected by strings? Were these really children's toys? "We can leave that for the next generation. I think the previous Student Council and I are probably on the same page."
"What are we here to find this time?" He turned back. "Some student's dirt?"
Shirogane Miyuki's face was full of black lines. "Sports Festival material."
"Oh. I thought you were preparing for the Student Council elections in advance."
Given Shirogane Miyuki's personality, it was quite normal for him to research his opponents several months in advance. Sakurai recalled for a few seconds, walked over to a box on the floor, and opened it. The bottom inside was indeed as he remembered—Sports Festival material—but some things on the surface were quite an eyesore.
"How did these things end up in the storeroom?"
Sakurai took out several letters placed on top of the material.
Love letters.
"Can I open them?" He tore one open as he spoke.
"...That's probably not a good idea." Shirogane Miyuki said, though his eyes didn't move away.
"The content feels a bit familiar."
"You read them last year. Of course they feel familiar." Shirogane sighed.
"Really? I don't remember."
"You didn't say anything when you looked at these love letters back then. Your personality was quite cold at the time." Shirogane recalled. "Just one look from you felt like being trapped in an ice cave."
Perhaps it was around July last year? Sakurai had been similar to Kaguya Shinomiya back then—feeling uninterested in everything.
Sakurai ignored him. He had indeed considered burying Shirogane Miyuki, who kept coming to chat with him, in the ground back then.
"The recipient of these confessions seems to be a former Student Council President." Sakurai opened a few more. "Probably a beauty."
In this day and age, were people still using traditional confessions? Wasn't electronic confession better?
"What are you implying?" Shirogane Miyuki asked.
He felt offended.
"Rest more. Work and study less. You could also be popular, Shirogane Miyuki." Sakurai's voice was dry. "Otherwise, it's too pathetic to be avoided by female students in the hallway... Huh? What's wrong, Shirogane Miyuki?"
Shirogane Miyuki snatched the material from the box and walked straight toward the door.
He was sensitive. He couldn't bear to hear such things.
Night. Shibuya streets.
Sakurai Saki once again finished his work for the day, the evening breeze ruffling his hair. He stared blankly at the street view for a while.
"...I really can't forget the first one," he whispered.
Last night's chance encounter had been a lucky boost from his superpower. He had originally thought he wouldn't encounter her today.
Until—
Someone patted him on the shoulder from behind.
"Sakurai-kun~?"
The white-haired older sister had caught the younger Sakurai once again.
Sakurai Saki turned around. In his mind, the image of her riding on him resurfaced—her figure was very good.
"Why are you wearing a mask?" He observed her.
A black mask. A very ordinary style. Long silver-white hair. A baseball cap on her head. Last night, the lights hadn't been on, and she had never taken off her mask. Sakurai Saki still hadn't seen her face.
"Don't you think it's mysterious?" Hayasaka Meow tilted her head, her right index finger resting against her cheek.
"What?"
"It's very important for girls to maintain a sense of mystery." She thought for a few seconds. "It can give boys a fresh feeling. It's like an onion—layer after layer."
Sakurai replied, "I don't like onions. They make my eyes water."
"Are you saying I'm ugly?" Hayasaka Meow couldn't accept him saying that.
But she really couldn't let him see her face—it would expose her.
"You said that yourself. I didn't say it."
Sakurai glanced around. Late at night, there were still many people strolling the streets. For them, the nightlife had just begun. The two walked down the main street, and Sakurai stopped at a vending machine to buy coffee. He inserted coins, and two cans dropped down.
After handing her one can—
"Can cats drink coffee?" Sakurai asked, then suddenly remembered that she only meowed when drunk. She wasn't actually a cat.
He had asked an unnecessary question.
"Of course I can drink it." She was super brave.
A few minutes later.
"Meow?" Hayasaka Meow tilted her head, looking utterly foolish. There was a kind of innocent beauty to it. Perhaps this was true natural clumsiness.
"Besides alcohol, you can't handle caffeine either." Sakurai massaged his forehead.
Are this person's weaknesses too many?
"Eh heh" She swayed slightly. "I think I meow don't drink very well"
She had replaced "not" with "meow" again. Her voice sounded soft—like marshmallow and clouds.
"You looked quite brave just now."
Sakurai discovered that this person liked to pretend, and then would quickly be proven wrong. Raise a flag, then retract it a few minutes later. Perhaps this was also a talent. During the latter half of last night, she had also been begging for mercy with her backside in the air.
White Cat leaned against the vending machine, looking completely dizzy.
"What do you do during the day?" Sakurai walked over and supported her. "Wandering the streets of Shibuya at night—don't you need to work or rest?"
"Sleeping during the day, meow~" White Cat followed his movement, leaning into his arms.
Sakurai Saki realized he had asked another stupid question. How could someone who could casually pull out tens of thousands of yen for prostitution be an ordinary person? Sleeping during the day, going out at night, and not lacking money—she was probably a rich second-generation.
He took the money she had left him that morning from his pocket and put it back into her jacket pocket.
"Why did you leave me money this morning?"
"Meow?" White Cat was confused by the question.
Was it not normal for a girlfriend to give her boyfriend money? Besides, the other person worked hard every day and was already tired. If he came home and was still squeezed dry by her, he would need tonics or he'd be completely drained.
Just as Sakurai was about to correct her financial views, a few lines of text appeared in his vision.
[When will Hayasaka Ai know that Sakurai has superpowers?]
[Uncle, the lemon is sour.]
[White Cat and Hayasaka Ai are related.]
Sakurai Saki: "?"
When will Ai-chan know I have superpowers? You should ask Ai-chan, not me.
The second one—meaning unknown. Probably someone wanted to eat lemons?
The third one caught Sakurai's attention.
A day had passed, and finally a seemingly useful piece of information had arrived.
"By the way, Cat." He looked at her face, recalling his love rival. "Do you know someone named Hasaka?"
"Meow know~"
"You don't know?"
"Meow do know."
Oh. So she didn't know after all.
Indeed, this ability is still trash.