Kanade felt genuinely pleased that Kaguya and the others had come to visit him. It proved their friendship was not only real but also strong—otherwise, they wouldn't have bothered organizing a group visit just a day after hearing he was unwell.
However, this wasn't exactly a situation where he could relax and enjoy their company. The possibility of Mahiru's presence being exposed loomed over him. If that happened, explaining things would be far from simple.
"Why are you all here?" Kanade greeted them with a look of "surprise and delight."
"We're here to check on you, of course!" Chika Fujiwara replied cheerfully, stepping inside and immediately glancing around the room.
"Hmm… Hmm… This is unbelievable…"
Kanade was by the shoe rack, rummaging for slippers to offer his guests. When he saw her reaction, he tensed up.
"W-What? Is something wrong?"
"Not really," Chika said, shaking her head. "It's just… this place is way too clean! It doesn't feel like a room a single guy would live in!"
"…" Kanade felt a bead of sweat forming on his forehead.
This girl… Could she have hit the nail on the head purely by accident?
Thankfully, today's visitors weren't limited to Chika. Kaguya quickly stepped in, defusing the situation.
"That's a rude thing to say. Of course, the President's home would be this tidy—it's only natural," Kaguya said matter-of-factly, handing over a fruit basket she had brought.
"This is a token of our goodwill. Please accept it."
"…Thank you." Kanade nodded awkwardly, feeling a bit flustered.
The truth was, the cleanliness of his apartment was entirely thanks to Mahiru, who handled all the housework. If it were just him, there was no way it would look this pristine. Her efforts made him feel both grateful and a little guilty for receiving compliments he didn't deserve.
After accepting the group's gifts, Kanade invited them into the living room one by one.
"Would you like something to drink? Juice, soda, tea, or maybe milk?" he offered, gesturing toward the kitchen. "We've got cold drinks in the fridge. Feel free to grab whatever you'd like."
"Ooh, I'll have some soda!"
"Me too!"
"I'm fine, not thirsty."
"I brought my own water."
"Don't be so formal—make yourselves at home," Kanade said with a smile, noting how the boys in the group seemed more reserved than the girls.
Although he'd felt on edge when they first arrived, now that everyone was settled in, he began to relax. The tension in his chest eased as he realized the visit might proceed as a normal social call without any suspicion being raised.
As he had hoped, the group quickly became absorbed in their own interests. Ishigami and Shirogane wandered over to the shelves, where they became engrossed in browsing Kanade's collection of games, books, and manga. Meanwhile, the girls sat on the couch, quietly chatting and occasionally glancing around the room.
Kaguya, however, graciously offered to help Kanade prepare refreshments.
"Sorry for dropping by unannounced like this. I hope we're not imposing," Kaguya said, a faint note of apology in her tone.
"Not at all," Kanade replied, shaking his head. Though their timing was far from ideal, he appreciated their thoughtfulness. "If anything, I'm glad you came."
"Good," Kaguya said, a hint of satisfaction in her expression. She seemed pleased to confirm that his response wasn't just empty politeness. "By the way… how are you feeling now?"
Her concern was genuine, not just for his health but for what it meant for tomorrow. She'd gone almost an entire day without seeing him, and the thought of it continuing was almost unbearable. After all, school was the only place where she could see him freely. Her time outside of school was strictly controlled, and even today's visit had required Ai's help to coordinate.
"I'm much better now," Kanade said with a nod. "I should be fine to return to school tomorrow. Thank you for worrying about me—and for handling the student council matters in my absence. You've really worked hard."
For Kanade, having someone as capable as Kaguya as his vice president was a huge blessing. She practically halved his workload, and her loyalty was unwavering. She never sought to overstep her role or challenge his authority. And now, she was not only covering for him but also showing concern for his well-being. With qualities like these, how could anyone dislike her, even if she showed up uninvited?
"It's nothing. I'm happy to help," Kaguya replied gracefully, a gentle smile on her lips.
"…" Kanade felt a little flustered, unsure why her response suddenly caught him off guard.
After a brief silence, he realized his reaction might have been over the top. Perhaps Kaguya was just being polite, so he cleared his throat and tried to change the subject.
"By the way… do you remember the bet?"
"The one Chika proposed earlier?" Kaguya tilted her head slightly, her eyes focused intently on him.
"Yeah, that one." Kanade nodded. "I just wanted to say—you don't need to hold back because of my health. No need to worry about 'going easy' on me or feeling guilty. Just give it your all as you always do. Even if my condition impacts the outcome, it's my own responsibility. After all, managing your health is part of learning too, right?"
Kanade had been thinking about this ever since Kaguya arrived. He wanted to address it directly so she wouldn't feel any unnecessary pressure. He knew Kaguya was a determined and conscientious person who wouldn't take shortcuts. Her extraordinary talents didn't diminish the hard work she put into everything she did.
Kaguya blinked, processing his words, before responding softly, "I understand…"
She hadn't expected Kanade to consider her feelings in this way. Of course, he'd slightly misunderstood her intentions—she had no plans to "go easy" on him in the first place. On the contrary, she'd been preparing for the bet with her full effort, even sacrificing half an hour of sleep each night to stay sharp. There was no way she'd let his illness deter her resolve.
Not that this meant she didn't care about his health! It was just that both the bet and her concern for him were equally important, each requiring her utmost attention. And now that Kanade had explicitly told her not to hold back, it felt like a validation of her approach. After all, giving it her all was the ultimate way to respect him.
With her confidence renewed, Kaguya's eyes gleamed with determination. She was sure of her victory now—it was only a matter of deciding what to make Kanade do once she won.
Of course, Kaguya wasn't planning to pick something simple if she won the bet. After all, she wouldn't have put so much effort into preparing otherwise. The reward had to be something Kanade would typically find difficult to agree to. She couldn't quite decide on specifics yet, but luckily she could consult Ai later for ideas.
Meanwhile, Kanade wasn't dwelling on anything complicated. His focus was entirely on preparing refreshments for his guests.
With Kaguya's help, the two of them quickly finished assembling snacks and tea. Together, they carried everything to the coffee table in the living room. Kanade even fetched a few extra chairs to ensure everyone had a place to sit. Once everyone was comfortable, the room's atmosphere became lively, filled with chatter and laughter.
The conversation flowed naturally, much like their usual dynamic in the student council room. Perhaps because of this, Chika suggested they play a game together. Out of nowhere, she produced a brand-new board game.
"Rejected," Kaguya said flatly, a rare moment of decisive opposition. "The President is still recovering. He should rest more before playing games. We can do this another time, once he's fully better."
"Oh, that's true!" Chika scratched her head in embarrassment, realizing she'd forgotten the purpose of their visit. She quickly turned to Kanade with an apologetic look. "Sorry, President…"
"Uh, no…" Kanade started to wave off her concern but stopped himself. Now wasn't the time to indulge in board games—not when Mahiru was still "trapped" in his bedroom. Ignoring her feelings and playing games behind her back would be far too inconsiderate.
So, he nodded earnestly and said, "Kaguya's right. Let's play after the midterms are over. There's plenty of time, so no rush."
Kanade glanced at Kaguya, giving her a look of gratitude. She beamed with delight, practically glowing. See, Ai? I really do understand the President best!
Chika, on the other hand, was equally pleased to have received a "promise." The delay didn't bother her—after all, she could always swap out the board game later and turn Kanade into the test subject for the Gaming Club's latest creation. A perfect plan!
Meanwhile, the two boys in the group were thoroughly entertained. Ishigami, in particular, was poring over Kanade's game collection with starry eyes.
"Wow, Senpai, your collection is amazing! You even have so many visual novels—this is like a shrine of gamer culture!" Ishigami exclaimed, admiring the assortment of titles in Kanade's cabinet.
"Uh… yeah…" Kanade's expression grew a bit stiff, as if Ishigami had uncovered a secret he wasn't ready to share. The truth was, most of these games weren't ones he'd bought himself—they were gifts from friends. Still, seeing them displayed so openly made him feel exposed.
"I play most of them since they're gifts," Kanade said, attempting to explain.
Ishigami gave him a knowing look. "Ah, I get it."
The silent understanding in Ishigami's gaze only made Kanade more flustered.
"…"
Fortunately, the girls didn't seem to pick up on the specifics of the conversation. They assumed it was just gamer talk between enthusiasts. Ishigami, thankfully, didn't elaborate either, preserving Kanade's dignity.
But then Ishigami froze, his eyes widening in astonishment.
"Wait… is this—?!" Ishigami pointed to a specific game on the shelf. "No way! Senpai, you have Shiro Gonen? That's not even officially released yet—it's supposed to come out next Monday!"
"Oh, that," Kanade said casually. "A friend gave it to me early to test. They asked me to share feedback on it." Seeing how excited Ishigami was, he added, "It's just a test version, so the final release might be a bit different. I've played through most of it, though, so if you want to borrow it, feel free."
"Really?! Are you serious?!"
"Yeah, of course," Kanade said, nodding. "Just keep it under wraps. Even though it's a test version, I don't want it leaking anywhere. You get what I mean, right?"
"Absolutely! I promise not to let it slip," Ishigami said, nodding fervently.
During the game's demo event, Ishigami had been dying to attend but couldn't because of school. Now, he could hardly contain his excitement at getting a sneak peek.
With Ishigami sorted out, Kanade turned his attention to Shirogane, who was engrossed in his bookshelf. Kanade offered to let him borrow some of the books, an offer Shirogane gratefully accepted.
This left only Iino, who was quietly observing the room. She hadn't said much, but Kanade could sense her gaze lingering on various details around the apartment.
Though Iino wasn't the type to make outright rude comments, Kanade couldn't help feeling uneasy. After all, she was still scrutinizing his space. Having come this far without incident, the idea of everything falling apart now was unbearable.
As if sensing his gaze, Iino turned to meet his eyes for a brief moment. Then she quickly averted her gaze, bowing her head in an overly reserved manner.
Kanade's brows furrowed slightly. A sinking feeling crept into his chest. Had she noticed something?
"…"
No, he couldn't take any chances. He'd need to keep an eye on Iino to ensure she didn't stumble upon anything suspicious.