"Hehe, Nangong-kun, you're so sweet to Tsubaki!"
"Yeah, yeah! But Tsubaki, you can't just run off with him ahead of us!"
The girls' teasing echoed through the courtyard, and Tsubaki's cheeks glowed a delicate pink. She stammered, voice barely above a whisper, "Th-thank you, Nangong-kun, for going easy on me. And… you don't need to be so formal. Just call me Tsubaki."
Shuo flashed her a warm grin. "Alright, Tsubaki."
For a moment, a comfortable silence settled over the group—until Sona, after a long, thoughtful pause, finally spoke.
"Nangong-kun."
He turned, a hint of confusion in his eyes. "Yeah?"
Sona squared her shoulders, her gaze steady. "I'd like to formally invite you to join the Student Council."
Shuo's lips twitched. "And let me guess—next comes the offer to make me your peerage, right, Sona?"
She blinked, then shot him a suspicious look. "How did you know? Don't tell me Rias tried the same thing?"
He chuckled. "You guessed it. Actually…" Shuo quickly recounted Rias's attempt to rope him in through Asia.
Sona nodded, then fixed him with a determined stare. "So Rias failed. But will you refuse me too? No matter how many times I fail, as long as there's a chance, I won't give up on you."
Her persistence was almost endearing—though Shuo found himself rubbing his temples. "Are you confessing to me, Sona? If I said I'd join your peerage only if you agreed to marry me, would you?"
To his surprise, Sona didn't flinch. "If I said yes, would you really become my peerage?"
He didn't hesitate. "Nope. Not a chance."
"...Why? Am I not good enough?"
Sona's composure cracked for a split second—her voice small, almost vulnerable.
Shuo shook his head, his tone softening. "That's not it. Sona, you're beautiful—and honestly, you're the kind of girl I'd want to win over. But I don't want to get you through a contract. I want you to fall for me, for real. On my terms."
His words hung in the air, and for a moment, every girl in the Student Council stared at their president with open envy.
Shuo, catching the shift in mood, grinned wider. "Just so you all know, I'm aiming for a grand harem—so it's not just Sona. The rest of you are on my list, too."
The girls: …
Yura Tsubasa, ever the bold one, burst out laughing. "Wow, talk about ambition! I like it, Shuo-kun. Just don't forget about me!"
He winked. "If you can handle me, Tsubasa, you're welcome in my harem any day."
Even Sona couldn't hide the blush blooming across her cheeks. After all, she was still a high school girl at heart.
Sona cleared her throat, regaining a measure of composure. "So, does this mean you'll join the Student Council? But if you do, you can't favor Rias's side."
Shuo nodded. "Sounds fair."
Before anyone could respond, a new voice cut in—sharp, familiar, and tinged with jealousy.
"Sona, are you trying to steal Shuo from us? If so, we're not letting that happen!"
Rias and her group strode into view, their timing impeccable.
Sona arched an eyebrow. "Rias, what brings you here?"
Rias folded her arms, pouting. "If I'd showed up any later, you'd have sweet-talked Shuo into joining the Student Council."
Sona adjusted her glasses, feigning innocence. "Sweet-talk? Please. I simply recognize his value. Besides, with so many girls on the Student Council, I'm sure Shuo will see the appeal."
Tsubaki, face still flushed, spoke up. "We'd love to have Shuo with us. His swordsmanship alone would be a huge asset."
"Agreed!" echoed the other Student Council girls, their voices overlapping.
After all, the Occult Research Club boasted the academy's top beauties—Rias, Akeno, and the so-called "middle school mascot," Koneko. To the Student Council, they were the main rivals. Every girl here was determined to stake her claim.
Akeno, ever the tease, let out a musical laugh. "Ara, ara… Shuo-chan, such a heartbreaker—how many pretty girls have you bewitched already?"
The Student Council girls blushed furiously, ducking their heads.
Meanwhile, Koneko fixed Shuo with a deadpan stare. "Leave him alone for five minutes and he's surrounded by girls. Typical. Pervert."
Shuo pretended not to hear.
Suddenly, Asia burst forward, cheeks blazing, and clung tightly to his arm. "Big brother is mine! You… you're not allowed to steal him!"
The feel of her soft embrace made Shuo shudder. He coughed, desperate for an escape. "Uh, Asia, why don't you get to know the Student Council? I'll go grab a drink."
He slipped away, but barely made it to a quiet courtyard before a voice called out behind him.
"Shuo-kun, wait! I need to talk to you!"
He turned. Yura Tsubasa stood there, fidgeting, her usual boldness faltering.
"I… um… I like—" Her words tangled as nerves got the better of her. For all her bravado, confessions weren't her strong suit.
Shuo smiled gently, stepping closer. "You really are hopeless, Tsubasa."
Without waiting for her to recover, he pulled her into his arms, settling her on his lap. Her face went crimson as he leaned in and kissed her—soft, lingering, sweet.
"Mmm… so this is what kissing Shuo-kun feels like… It's… really nice…" she murmured breathlessly when they finally parted, eyes shining.
"Tsubasa, will you be my girlfriend?" Shuo asked, his voice low and earnest.
She nodded, cheeks aflame. "Of course! Please take care of me from now on, Shuo-kun."
They lost themselves in the moment—until a sudden shout shattered the spell.
~~~~❃❃~~~~~~~~❃❃~~~~
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