"Ugh… my head hurts…"
Karen rubbed her temples, feeling like she'd been hit by a truck.
"You're awake?"
"Eh? Takamine-kun?"
She looked around in confusion.
"Did I fall asleep?"
"Yep. You ca to find , but then just collapsed on the desk and fell asleep," Rinji said with a smile. "By the way, what did you need?"
"I… Oh right, what did I even co to ask you about?"
She scratched her head, completely puzzled. She knew she ca to talk to Takamine about sothing important, but for the life of her, she couldn't recall what.
"Did you forget, Kino-san?"
Rinji tested her. "I rember you ntioned sothing about a movie theater, didn't you?"
"Movie theater? I haven't been to one in over a month."
"I see."
Rinji nodded, the corners of his lips lifting slightly.
Not only had she forgotten the movie with Shirogane and Shinomiya—she didn't even rember going to the theater.
mory erasure: successful.
"I'm really sorry, Takamine-kun." Karen stood up and bowed. "I barged in, forgot what I wanted to say, then just passed out…"
"It's fine, you're probably just exhausted. Go get so rest."
Rinji opened the classroom door.
"It's about ti school lets out. Head on ho."
"Okay!"
Karen didn't suspect anything and happily left.
As he watched her walk away, Rinji let out a small sigh. Looks like president's request was fulfilled successfully…
"Wait! I just rembered!"
"!?"
Kino's sudden return caught Rinji off guard.
She ran back to him, determined. He froze as thoughts raced through his mind:
What the hell? Was the mory erasure not thorough? Was the voltage too low? Should I shock her again? Or just send her straight to Africa…
"I rembered what I wanted to talk to you about!" Karen said with conviction.
"Oh? That's great. What did you want to ask?"
Rinji's voice was calm, but his hand gripped the stun baton in his pocket.
If she rembered the wrong thing… he'd have to wipe her mory again.
"Do you know anything about Tanuma Tsubasa from Class 2-B?"
"..."
"You don't?"
"I do."
Rinji let go of the baton and gestured to the room.
"Co in."
…
"So you're saying this guy, Tanuma Tsubasa, ca to the student council for love advice because of you?"
"Well, don't say I 'instigated' him. Let's just say I suggested it." Karen sighed. "Anyway, he confessed to Kashiwagi after your advice, and now the two of them are really happy."
"Sounds great, then."
"Yeah, but…"
Her eyes wandered, unfocused.
"I feel like I betrayed a friend."
"Huh?"
"Um… Takamine-kun, can I ask sothing personal? It's… about a friend."
"Sure, go ahead."
He was a little curious, but figured it was a friendship thing, so he didn't dig too deep.
"My friend has a bestie who's had a long-ti crush on a guy, but she never had the courage to confess. One day, that guy decided to confess his feelings, and… my friend thought this was her bestie's chance, so she helped him prepare. But… he confessed to another girl instead. Her bestie was heartbroken."
She looked at Rinji expectantly.
"So… is it my friend's fault?"
"Hmm."
Rinji thought for a mont.
"Your friend sounds like a caring person. Soone who genuinely worries about her bestie."
"Really?"
Karen brightened up imdiately.
"Calm down, sit. Why are you so excited about your friend's story?"
"Ahaha, yeah, right."
She sat back down, smiling.
"She has good intentions."
"Mm-hmm."
"She looks out for her friends."
"Yes~"
"She should be executed."
"Huh? EH!?"
Karen froze. "Why!?"
"ddling in others' love lives never ends well. She didn't confirm anything, just acted on her own. If her bestie got heartbroken, it's partly her fault—oh, I'm talking about your friend, don't be sad."
She sat like a guilty child, shivering in her seat.
"Wait a sec."
Rinji suddenly realized sothing.
"You just told you sent Tanuma to the council… so your 'friend' is…"
"Ahaha, I have no idea what you're talking about!"
Karen jumped up, cold sweat running down her face, flashing an obviously fake elegant smile.
"I have stuff to do, I'll get going. Thanks for helping!"
"No problem," Rinji said. "By the way, is your friend's bestie a student here at Shuchiin?"
"Huh?"
"If not, no big deal. But if she is, have her co to the student council office. I've had my heart broken too. I'd be happy to offer her so emotional support."
"Thank you so much!!"
---
The Next Day
Takamine Rinji: "..."
During lunch, he was the only one in the student council office.
Except for one guest, sitting on the sofa in front of him.
She had brown twin-tails and a slightly arrogant expression.
But sohow… Rinji thought her face looked a bit familiar—like Shinomiya Kaguya.
"Ugh, do I have to see your annoying face in broad daylight?"
"Hey! Why are you insulting the mont we et!?"
The girl shouted indignantly.
"Sorry, what's your na again?"
"Shijo Maki."
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