Chapter 371: Hayasaka's Scheme, Pacifying the World
"Didn't expect the checkpoint to be set up in the park."
"Probably just for convenience. This place recently hosted a marathon, and Shuchiin only took over about a quarter of that course."
Shinomiya Kaguya looked toward the row of tables, chairs, and tents already set up ahead.
At that time, the teachers would be sitting there handing out sports drinks for the students to rehydrate.
The entire marathon course was 42 kilometers long. When Athens defeated Persia, the commanding general, wanting the people back home to hear the good news as soon as possible, sent a soldier known for his incredible speed to deliver the message — that distance was exactly 42 kilometers.
To commemorate that event, the Olympic Games later added a similar category — and that's the origin of the marathon.
Incidentally, that soldier died in the end.
Cause of death: exhaustion.
To commemorate a man's death, everyone decided to imitate him by running… This sport really is a kind of performance art.
"No wonder they chose this timing. Probably because the marathon stuff hasn't been fully cleared out yet, so Shuchiin just took over to save the hassle."
As Sakurai Saki spoke, he glanced to the side — during their conversation, Fujiwara Chika had already plopped down on a bench.
They hadn't even been walking for an hour, and she was already this tired. Could she really finish the entire course?
"This time they said all students are required to participate?"
"Of course not. Anyone who doesn't want to run can ask the teacher for permission. But with those guys' pride, I doubt any of them would actually skip it."
Shinomiya Kaguya recalled the discussion in class.
Some of the girls wanted to opt out, but every single guy said he'd take part.
"Such pointless pride. If it were me, I'd quit the moment I couldn't keep up."
"Hmph." — Shinomiya Kaguya gave a mocking smile, clearly unconvinced.
A man's mouth — all lies!
"There are things girls can lose in, but guys absolutely can't."
As Sakurai Saki spoke, his eyes briefly flicked toward Shinomiya Kaguya's chest before quickly darting away.
That motion was immediately caught by Shinomiya Kaguya.
She covered her chest with her hands, angrily saying, "What are you looking at?"
(｡•̀ ⤙ •́ ｡ꐦ) !!!
"Girls don't have it easy in this world either." — he commented thoughtfully.
At that moment, Shinomiya Kaguya really wanted to punch him, but since there were too many people around, she held herself back.
A few women were gathered nearby, chatting while taking their children out to play during Golden Week.
Their voices were loud enough for both of them to hear.
"Why did that little couple suddenly start arguing?"
"That's what happens when the honeymoon phase ends. Break up, make up again — back when I was in school, I knew a bunch of couples who fell apart during that so-called 'compatibility trial.'"
"Tch, could those two be rookies from some entertainment agency? Their looks are just absurds."
Hearing her appearance described as "absurd," Shinomiya Kaguya tucked a few loose strands of hair behind her ear and said awkwardly,
"Let's not make ourselves a laughingstock anymore."
(⸝⸝⸝╸▵╺⸝⸝⸝)
Her expression was so adorably bashful that Sakurai Saki couldn't help but chuckle softly.
"What's so funny? Stop laughing!" — Shinomiya Kaguya hurriedly reached out and covered his mouth.
Sakurai Saki didn't respond, merely removed her hand gently, then turned toward Fujiwara Chika and asked,
"Chika, are you done resting?"
Shinomiya Kaguya suddenly remembered that Fujiwara Chika was still right beside them.
'Damn it, I completely slipped into our own little world just now!'
She turned her head toward Fujiwara Chika and found that the girl seemed utterly oblivious to the ambiguous exchange between her and Sakurai Saki — Kaguya quietly sighed in relief.
If Secretary Fujiwara were to discover the ambiguous relationship between her and Sakurai, things would get completely out of hand!
"When the stork and the clam fight, the fisherman profits."
I absolutely cannot let myself get dragged into the battlefield between Hayasaka and Secretary Fujiwara...
Shinomiya Kaguya understood very well the principle of "enduring and waiting for the right moment."
Of course, she didn't hide her "secret" interactions with Sakurai Saki — every move she made was known to Hayasaka!
"Could it be that Hayasaka actually has an NTR'ed fetish?"
Otherwise, why would she allow me to get this close to Sakurai?
Hmm… it seems I've just realized something rather off.
...
At the same time.
In Sakurai Saki's rented apartment.
"Achoo~"
(｡>﹏<)~
Hayasaka Ai — who was cleaning the house — suddenly sneezed for no reason.
"So dusty."
She glanced at the thick layer of dust covering everything and sighed softly.
Ever since the apartment got bigger, cleaning had become a real hassle.
"Right about now, Kaguya is probably dealing with the marathon event together with my boyfriend, huh?"
And Secretary-chan must be there too.
Good.
Just keeping an eye on Chika to make sure she doesn't flirt with my boyfriend is already exhausting enough, both physically and mentally — not to mention having to babysit Shinomiya Kaguya on top of that.
Right now, she just wanted those two to get into a mess with each other, so she could spend her final year of high school peacefully by her boyfriend's side.
With Chika's grades, there's no way she could get into the same university as them — eliminated by intellect.
As for Kaguya-sama, once she entered university, she'd definitely have to take on more responsibilities for the Shinomiya family — eliminated by family burden.
And the Nakano quintuplets — even without talking about ability, their grades alone made it clear they weren't the type to get into a prestigious university.
In short, once they all got into college, the girls clinging to her boyfriend would disappear.
Then she could finally begin a shamelessly happy life!
Wonderful!
All according to keikaku!
...
An hour later.
The trio — Sakurai, Kaguya and Chika — had passed two checkpoints and returned to the shopping district.
Passing by a bubble tea shop, Chika said she wanted a drink, so all three stepped inside.
"Put too much stuff in bubble tea and it ends up tasting bad." Sakurai Saki commented as he watched Fujiwara Chika madly pile every kind of topping imaginable into her drink.
There was a promotion today, which was why Chika was going wild like this, but seriously — could that chaotic mess even be called bubble tea anymore?
Just to save a few yen, she might end up unable to finish it later.
"It's fine~ If I can't finish it, you can have the rest." Fujiwara Chika said as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
"…What am I, a trash can?" Sakurai Saki muttered.
"Not a trash can, a treasure box." Fujiwara Chika said, grabbed the receipt, and headed back to her seat.
Sorry, Chika, but in a guy's eyes, whether it's a trash can or a treasure box — the essence is the same.
Girls really are cunning creatures — anything they don't like to eat, they just toss to the guy.
…Wait a sec, we're not even dating, are we?
Hmph~
Fujiwara Chika, I've underestimated you.
So you're actually that kind of deceptively innocent girl who toys with my pure heart — I almost fell for your tricks.
"Kaguya-san, aren't you ordering anything?"
"I haven't decided yet." Shinomiya Kaguya looked at the long list of items on the menu, momentarily unsure of what to pick.
Every time she came here before, she always ordered bubble tea.
"What's this one?" Shinomiya Kaguya suddenly pointed at an item on the menu and asked.
"Couples' limited-edition bubble tea?"
Sakurai Saki still hadn't ordered anything either.
"Why would they even have a couples' event this season?" Fujiwara Chika asked curiously.
Love Detective Chika-chan would never overlook any topic related to romance.
"Maybe because May 20th is coming up?"
Golden Week fell in early May.
Today was already May 7th — just two more days before school resumed.
"520?"
"Yeah. Bubble tea originated in Taiwan, and there's a homophone there — 520 sounds like 'I love you'."
"Sakurai-san, you can speak Chinese?" Shinomiya Kaguya asked in surprise.
"I also know Italian and French…"
You people simply can't comprehend the genius of an Esper like me.
...