The next morning, the second-years on the school trip had free time.
Thinking it was a good chance to date Kaguya, Shirogane sent her a message first thing in the morning, inviting her to hang out.
But her reply was, "I'm going out with classmates today," while promising to spend the whole next day with him.
Although disappointed, Shirogane accepted it. At least tomorrow was secured.
"Shirogane, today we have to ask some girls out."
"You two go ask yourselves."
With Kaguya absent, Shirogane had no intention of joining his friends in asking other girls out. Today, he'd just kill time on his own.
Anyway, this group of four always ended up being three, since Tanuma had likely run off with his girlfriend again.
As for Shirogane, his plan was simple—buy some Kyoto souvenirs for his family and for Rinji as gifts, then stroll around until the day passed. Tomorrow was his real date with Kaguya.
As for his two friends…
Shirogane glanced at the full-of-energy Kazamatsuri and Toyosaki. The chance of them successfully asking girls out was slim.
"Hey, boys."
Two girls came running toward them.
The moment Toyosaki and Kazamatsuri saw them, they lit up with excitement.
"Eh."
"Kaguya and Hayasaka seem to have gone off on their own."
It was Hayasaka's friend, Hinokuchi, who spoke.
"So now it's just the two of us in the group. Want to go around together today?"
"Of course, of course!"
"Gladly."
Shirogane: "…"
Really? Girls actually came to them?
But since he now knew Kaguya had gone out with Hayasaka, it left him with a strange feeling. His girlfriend going out with Rinji's girlfriend…
If in the future he married Kaguya, and since Rinji was his friend, their wives would be close too…
Imagining married life made Shirogane blush as a smile tugged at his lips.
"Shirogane, do you want to come along too?" Hinokuchi asked.
"Ah, I'll pass. I plan to wander on my own today."
---
[Kaguya-san, can you hear me?]
"Yes…"
[When you get there, I'll tell you what to say. Just follow my instructions.]
"Will this really work?"
[No problem at all.]
On the other side of Kyoto, Kaguya stood at the entrance of the Shinomiya main estate, hesitating as she looked at the buildings inside.
In her ear was a Bluetooth earpiece, and on her chest hung a camera disguised as a pen. At the other end of the feed sat Hayasaka in a milk tea shop.
To give Kaguya the same overwhelming presence as Rinji during negotiations, she couldn't speak to the main family in her usual way. And since she had no idea what Rinji would say in such talks, she needed Hayasaka, who knew him best, to guide her.
"Forget it, I'll just take it step by step."
Kaguya sighed. After meeting Wilson yesterday, she knew she had no chance of escaping.
She pressed the bell at the estate's main gate.
After a few seconds, the doors slowly opened.
Taking a deep breath, Kaguya stepped into the main family's hated grounds.
Walking along the stone path, she reached the tea room and raised her hand to knock.
[Wait.]
"What?"
[Rinji would never knock in this situation.]
"Then what should I do?"
[Just kick the door open. These sliding doors in Japanese gardens aren't sturdy. One kick will break it.]
"How barbaric is that!?"
Having received a refined upbringing, Kaguya couldn't bring herself to actually kick the door. After a brief hesitation, she slid it open instead.
Inside sat Shinomiya Oko, who beamed when he saw her.
"Kaguya, you came."
Kaguya loathed and feared this smiling-tiger brother, but she had no choice.
She stepped forward and said, "Brother."
[Wrong.]
"Eh?"
Kaguya was confused, and Shinomiya Oko was also startled.
He remembered a few months ago, Kaguya had stopped calling him "brother" and instead had addressed him as…
Lowly wretch.
Not knowing that the Kaguya from a few months ago was Rinji disguised as Kaguya, Oko also didn't understand why Kaguya's attitude today had reverted back to that timid little sister.
Was it an act? Or…
As Oko pondered Kaguya's change, Kaguya was listening to Hayasaka's guidance through her Bluetooth earpiece, her face slowly turning red.
It wasn't shyness but shock that Hayasaka actually told her to say such vulgar things.
[Just say it. The effect will definitely be good.]
"…"
After hearing this, Kaguya began using the lines Hayasaka had taught her.
She sat cross-legged in front of Oko, one hand propping her cheek, the other on her knee, her face showing clear irritation.
"Hey, shiny head, acting all high and mighty with me? You think just because I've been stuck in Tokyo too long I don't have time to deal with your crap?"
'I'm dead! I actually said it out loud!!'
Kaguya had never imagined that her graceful self would one day utter the kind of words only a delinquent girl would say.
She was so embarrassed she wanted to crawl into a hole.
"Girls shouldn't talk like that."
Finally sensing Kaguya was being more "normal," Oko smiled.
"You're still putting on an act, huh? Do you want me to slap you across the face?" Kaguya's cheeks burned as she recited Hayasaka's lines.
Seeing her flushed face, Oko thought she was angry and quickly said, "Kaguya, calm down. You came here today because…"
"You don't know yourself?"
Having given up on her pride, Kaguya threw herself fully into the role.
"You promised me access to the raw material channels, but they're still all under your control. You don't plan to fulfill your obligations? Shinomiya Oko, do you really not know how to spell the word 'death'?"
By now her gaze had already started to look corrupted.