"So you're here again, Shijo-san. Looks like you've got another issue you want to consult the student council about."
Rinji was straightforward. He'd seen this girl plenty of times already, so he just sat down next to Ishigami and asked the question directly.
"So, what exactly is the problem?"
Ishigami whispered into Rinji's ear, "Same as always—relationship stuff."
"...Relationship stuff?"
"Yeah."
"Kashigawa and Tanuma?"
"Exactly."
"...Give me a second."
Rinji stood up from the couch and walked over to a nearby cabinet.
As everyone watched in confusion, he pulled out two bags of chips and a bottle of cola. After sitting back down, he opened one bag, popped a few chips into his mouth, and said, "Alright, go ahead."
"You're just here to watch the drama!?"
"Come on, Shijo-san. Let out your troubles so I can enjoy them."
"You're just trying to piss me off!!"
Shijo felt like her lungs were about to burst from anger.
"Every time you come here, you find new ways to bring up the same issue. I think that's pretty impressive."
"You jerk..."
Seeing Shijo gritting her teeth, Rinji just smiled and kept eating.
"This time, Shijo came to ask a more serious question," Shirogane suddenly said.
"Hm?"
"She said... what if the person you like ends up with your best friend... or something like that."
"...That topic, huh. Let me think."
Rinji put down the chips and quietly pondered.
It didn't take long for him to give up thinking.
"I don't think something like that would ever happen."
"Huh? You're that sure?"
"Whether it's the person I like or my friends, I trust them. So I don't think that kind of thing is even possible."
"..."
Hearing that, the two others immediately lowered their heads.
In that moment, they couldn't help but feel a little guilty.
Shirogane and Ishigami had indeed worried about the possibility of Kaguya (or Koyasu-senpai) ending up with Rinji. But it turned out Rinji trusted them so completely.
"Honestly, if you really want to avoid that kind of situation, just be clear from the beginning."
Rinji said.
"Like, when you're chatting with your friend, casually drop the name of the person you like. If they're a real friend, they won't go after that person. It's a simple thing to do, right?"
Pfft.
Shijo felt like an arrow had struck her in the chest.
"If you don't say anything, how is anyone supposed to know? And if a friend brings up your crush during a chat and you stubbornly deny it with stuff like 'Ugh, only an idiot would like that kind of person,' then it's your own fault how things turn out."
Pfft.
Another arrow to the chest.
"If you don't express your feelings, the other person won't notice you. And if you don't close off the possibility for your friend to fall for them too, who can you blame for the tragedy? If you never tell anyone who you like, and when you're all heartbroken they suddenly say, 'We're getting married tomorrow, thanks for helping us get together,' then... Ishigami, get her some tissues."
"On it."
Sitting across from the three of them, Shijo now had tears streaming down her face, looking incredibly wronged.
As he handed her the tissues, Rinji continued, "All I'm saying is, sometimes being a little more honest helps. If you don't share intel with your allies, friendly fire is bound to happen. It's just like the FBI and CIA always messing each other up because they won't talk."
"Ugh..."
"Seeing you about to cry puts my mind at ease. Yep, that's the Shijo I know," Rinji smiled.
"..."
"Rinji, you really don't hold back when you talk, huh?"
"Just calling it like I see it."
"You've been gone the past few days, and there's something I've really wanted to ask you."
Shirogane looked around.
Ishigami had gone out to buy something. Right now, it was just Rinji and Shirogane in the student council office.
With no one else around, Shirogane could finally speak his mind freely.
"You've noticed how Shinomiya's been acting lately, right?"
"Yeah, it's like her personality totally changed."
"Well, not totally. She was like this a year ago too... I just don't get why she suddenly shifted again."
Shirogane's voice even trembled as he spoke.
"She's still normal with everyone else, but just cold toward me. Did I do something to upset her?"
"Maybe it's a hormone imbalance lately?"
"Can't you give a serious answer for once?"
Shirogane sighed. His concern was obvious.
"I was thinking... maybe her family already arranged a fiancé for her? That's why she's been acting differently lately?"
"Huh?"
"It's a big family thing—eldest sons inherit, daughters marry to form alliances... You're from a big family, right, Rinji? You'd know about this stuff."
"Not at all. I'm not from a big family."
Rinji replied.
"President, there's nothing to worry about. There's no way the Shinomiya family would assign a fiancé to Shinomiya."
"Why not?"
"Because I'm in charge of everything between you and Shinomiya. If the Shinomiya family ever made such a buzzkill move, then..."
Rinji made a slicing motion across his neck.
"That so-called fiancé might end up moving to Africa. Along with all their family assets."
"That's terrifying!"
Even though he thought Rinji was kind of reckless, hearing that still helped Shirogane feel better.
He wasn't going to be swayed by what Shijo Maki said earlier either.
There was no doubt Rinji was his best friend—and he'd been doing everything he could to help Shirogane and Shinomiya get together. So what happened to Shijo was never going to happen to him...
Click.
The office door opened, and Kaguya stepped in.
She also noticed the two people sitting on the couch.
"Oh, Rinji-kun, you're back at school?"
"Yeah."
"Shinomiya..."
Kaguya greeted Rinji, while Shirogane also tried to greet her but was completely ignored.
She paid no attention to Shirogane and walked straight over to Rinji.
"Rinji-kun, can I talk to you for a moment?"
"Huh?"
"I have something important to tell you."
"Can't we talk here?"
"No, I'd like to speak with you alone," Kaguya said with a smile.
Sitting off to the side, Shirogane's mouth gradually fell open.