Shirogane Kaguya was the heiress of the Shirogane Group.
To outsiders, her status seemed extraordinarily prestigious. But she knew all too well how awkward and suffocating that position truly was.
The Shirogane family was nothing short of a den of vipers.
Here, only cold calculation and self-interest reigned; warmth and affection were utterly absent. To the family's higher-ups, Kaguya—born of a concubine—was merely a delicate puppet. Her life's purpose was to serve as a tool for cementing the family's status through arranged marriages or as a "reward" to attract talented individuals…
In short, the train called "Shirogane Kaguya" could never leave its tracks. Its path was set, and the destination predetermined.
Did Kaguya accept this fate?
Of course not.
But if you asked her what she could do about it…
Honestly, she couldn't come up with any good solution. Compared to the colossal Shirogane Group, she was infinitesimally small—so small that no matter how much effort she poured in, there seemed to be no hope in sight.
Yet surrendering completely, letting herself be a string-pulled puppet… that was something she could not accept.
With that complicated mix of frustration and resolve, Kaguya began to struggle for her freedom.
No matter what, recruiting and leveraging talent to strengthen one's own position was never a bad idea.
However, the Shirogane family had long controlled Tokyo like a steel fortress. While studying at St. Eden Academy, Kaguya could meet other members of high society, but most of their respect was born from fear of the Shirogane name. Expecting them to help her escape her family's iron grip would be a fool's hope.
It was then that she noticed her classmate—the new transfer student, Yukinoshita Yukino.
Yukino hailed from Chiba Prefecture, from a respected local family.
This was unusual. Nobility from such regions typically finished high school locally before moving to Tokyo for university. The reasoning was simple: with enough money for private tutors, there wasn't much difference in education before college. Why leave a comfortable hometown to face snide looks in Tokyo?
So when Kaguya noticed Yukino, a small idea began to form in her mind—could she use Yukino as a connection to the local Chiba power network? After all, the Shirogane influence in Chiba, though strong, was nowhere near as stifling as in Tokyo.
With this in mind, Kaguya began to observe Yukino's circumstances.
As she expected, being an outsider made Yukino's life in Tokyo difficult.
Watching Yukino struggle, Kaguya quietly assessed her resilience, searching for the optimal moment to offer her aid. This was a delicate operation; any misstep could jeopardize her own plans for freedom.
Yet in the end, that moment never came. Yukino seemed to have already found her own way to survive, no longer needing Kaguya's hand.
Recognizing this, Kaguya let her gaze drift away with a touch of regret.
But according to news from Hayasaka Ai…
Perhaps there was still a chance.
By January, the autumn chill had nearly faded. Though the weather wasn't unbearably cold, walking through the streets and seeing passersby bundled up reminded everyone that winter's footsteps were approaching.
Yet such a mild chill was no obstacle for our gourmet hunter!
Though some unexpected events had occurred that morning, Hara Kei's plan remained unchanged.
Following his phone's map and the recommendations of food bloggers, he searched for a yakiniku restaurant when his phone suddenly rang.
The caller ID read "Hiratsuka Shizuka," and Hara Kei paused for a moment before answering.
Rationally speaking, what were the odds that Shizuka would give up if he ignored the call?
Zero. Absolutely zero.
With a slight sigh, Hara Kei pressed the "answer" button.
Before he could even bring the phone to his ear, Shizuka's distinctive voice rushed out urgently:
"Hara Kei! Where are you right now?!"
"Oh, let me check," Hara Kei said calmly, switching to his map app. "I'm on the Sakurajima Crossroad, on the right…"
"I didn't ask you to tell me where you are! What are you doing there?!" Shizuka's tone started to crack in frustration.
"I heard online that there's a particularly good yakiniku place here. The owner supposedly makes a unique sauce. And, well, someone knocked over my lunch earlier—she apologized and offered to treat me, but I'm still pretty hungry…"
"Is now really the time to leisurely go eat yakiniku?" Shizuka's voice dripped with exasperation. "Do you even know what the student council president is…"
"She went to see Yukinoshita-san, right?" Hara Kei interrupted.
"…Huh? How do you—" Shizuka sounded momentarily stunned.
"Kongou is the type who doesn't stop until she achieves her goal," Hara Kei recalled his morning encounter with her. The memory of her saying, 'Be mine' still lingered vividly. "If she's decided she wants me in the Student Council, she won't act from my side alone. It's logical to assume she sought out Yukinoshita-san to negotiate.
"After all, she's technically my president, and seems much easier to persuade."
"…So you're just doing what you normally do," Shizuka said, her tone softening. She seemed confused by Hara Kei's reasoning. "Isn't this supposed to be the time when the 'Lamb Club' works together to face a challenge?"
"Hmm. Let's just say our definitions of 'challenge' are fundamentally different. I don't consider this one a challenge.
"As for Yukinoshita-san," Hara Kei's voice paused slightly, "I think this might actually be good for her growth."
Though it was still hard for Shizuka to fully accept, she eventually seemed to yield to Hara Kei's logic.
After hanging up, Hara Kei let out a soft sigh.
This growth… might be a little uncomfortable.