What is love?
Is it a sweetness that seeps into the heart like honey? Or a blazing, passionate fire that burns itself into the soul? Or perhaps a gentle mountain stream, flowing silently and peacefully through the heart?
Falling in love with someone, confessing, and finally walking into each other's daily lives as lovers.
Everyone says this is the most wonderful thing in life, and it all seems so natural.
But some people don't see it that way.
For them, there is a clear power dynamic between lovers.
The exploiter and the exploited.
The one who gives and the one who receives.
The winner and the loser.
Born as a human, if one wishes to live nobly, one must absolutely not become the loser, even in love.
Love is War. In this romantic war that gambles on the future.
The one who falls in love first is the loser.
So...
....
First day of school, lunch break.
Shuchiin Academy, Student Council Room.
"President."
Hearing the voice, Shirogane Miyuki, who was sitting in the large main seat of the office reviewing documents with a pen, looked up. The corner of his mouth curved into a barely perceptible arc, his slightly sharp gaze falling on the tall, graceful girl with long, straight black hair who had appeared before him. Her every move exuded an elegant, noble aura.
"What is it, Shinomiya?"
"Nothing." Shinomiya Kaguya reached up to tuck a stray strand of hair behind her ear, her index fingers hooked together. She glanced slightly at the bag next to Miyuki's hand on the desk and asked with some curiosity.
"I'm just a bit curious."
"Curious?"
Subconsciously following Kaguya's line of sight, Miyuki understood what she was referring to and smiled, lightly patting the bag.
"It's just a lunch bento someone prepared for me."
"Oh?" Kaguya blinked, a sharp glint flashing in her eyes. She crossed one arm over her chest, rested the other hand on her cheek, and tilted her head slightly. "Did the President's sister prepare it?"
"No."
Miyuki answered casually, fully focused on his documents.
"It was prepared by that kouhai of mine."
Kouhai... I see.
Like winter ice melting, the coldness in Kaguya's red pupils vanished without a trace, replaced by a gentleness that contrasted with her noble young lady persona.
"Is it that Aragaki-kun?"
"Yeah."
Completely oblivious to the change in Kaguya's gaze, Miyuki nodded. Thinking of his increasingly mature and steady kouhai, the smile on his lips gained a few more traces of doting affection.
And Kaguya didn't miss this tiny change.
Seeing this, her curiosity grew even more, specifically her curiosity about the kouhai the President called 'Aragaki Miyahito'.
"Speaking of which, previously, the President spent a lot of effort helping that Aragaki-kun solve his problem." Reaching out to help Miyuki organize the documents on his desk, Kaguya asked with feigned calmness. "The last time the President took something so seriously, if I remember correctly, it was during Ishigami-kun's case, wasn't it?"
"Yeah, that's right."
Hearing this, Shirogane Miyuki put down his pen, leaned back slightly against his chair, and rested his hands loosely in his lap. He looked at Shinomiya Kaguya with a sincere expression.
"I still have to thank you and the others, Shinomiya. Thank you for indulging my selfishness."
"It's nothing, President."
Although her tone was calm, the corners of Kaguya's lips curled up involuntarily, betraying her inner joy.
"For the Shinomiya family, it was merely a trivial matter."
"No, at least a thank you is necessary, Shinomiya."
Miyuki still earnestly thanked her.
Faced with the President's stubbornness, Kaguya shook her head with a mix of helplessness and doting affection.
Well, isn't this exactly the kind of President I like?
Secretly rejoicing, Kaguya looked back up. As her gaze fell on Miyuki, who had already returned to his work, a trace of hidden adoration flashed in her eyes.
"President, could you tell me what kind of person he is?"
"Miyahito?"
"Yes."
"I see. Let me think."
Saying this, Miyuki stood up from his office chair, walked over to the lounge area, and sat down on the sofa.
Kaguya, who had been standing in front of the desk, naturally turned and walked over to the tea area.
"Is the President having coffee as usual?"
"Yeah, thank you, Shinomiya."
Soon, Kaguya returned with a tray.
"Please enjoy, President."
"Thank you."
Taking a small sip of the coffee, savoring the fragrant bitterness lingering in his mouth, Miyuki placed the cup back on the table. He looked up, a slight smile on his lips, at the subtly expectant Kaguya.
"Well, he's a good kid."
"...."
Noticing the 'That's it?' expression on Kaguya's face, Miyuki smiled faintly.
"I'm not brushing you off, Shinomiya."
"If you could see him in person, I think your impression would be exactly the same as mine."
It had to be said, Miyuki's evaluation genuinely surprised Kaguya.
"Is that so? That sounds quite promising."
"If there's a chance." Miyuki nodded with a smile, taking another sip of his coffee before continuing.
"He can cook, his grades are decent, and he's good at sports."
"As for his personality, he's sunny, cheerful, and very gentle and kind to others. Although he can be a bit careless in some aspects, overall, he's an excellent young man."
"Oh." Eyebrows raised slightly, Kaguya leaned forward a bit, placing her black tea on the table. A hint of surprise appeared on her face.
"Surprisingly detailed evaluation, President."
Miyuki didn't say anything to that, just smiled silently.
"Hearing you say that," Kaguya smiled, "makes me want to meet this Aragaki-kun even more."
Just then.
Bang—!
"President! I'm back!"
Along with the slightly loud sound of the door opening, an energetic girl's voice reached the ears of the two in the office.
"Welcome back, Secretary Fujiwara."
"Hehehe." Beaming with a happy smile, Fujiwara Chika, wearing the Shuchiin girls' uniform with a black bow adorning her smooth, shoulder-length pink hair, plopped down next to Kaguya with a cheerful heave-ho.
Her eyes faintly sparkling with curiosity and gossip, she looked between Miyuki and Kaguya, her voice carrying a high-spirited tone.
"What were the President and Kaguya-san talking about?"
"Nothing." A slightly helpless yet doting arc curved Kaguya's lips as she reached out to tidy the bangs that had fallen over Chika's forehead.
"We were just talking about the President's 'little brother-kun'."
"Ah!" Hearing this, a trace of surprise appeared on Chika's baby-fat-cheeked face.
"Doesn't the President only have Kei-chan as a sister? Where did a brother come from?"
"Could it be that the President found his long-lost brother?! Oh my! This is the kind of heart-fluttering development I love!"
"...."