"During the sports festival, there will be a large number of people from other schools entering Shuchiin Academy. Notify the disciplinary committee to strengthen security. Also, the school store needs to stock up..."
"I've already inford the disciplinary committee. The store's also been notified to restock, and they're allowed to open additional booths during the event."
"Good."
With the sports festival approaching, the student council mbers were all back to work.
Rinji had quickly prepared and printed budget forms for all the potential expenses.
"Also, to prevent injuries, we should recruit more volunteers as usual. If anyone collapses, they can be sent straight to the infirmary," Rinji said.
"Mhm."
Shirogane nodded and handed a signed docunt to Kaguya beside him.
"Shinomiya, could you take this to Sagara-Sensie?"
"Sure..."
"...What's wrong? You seem a little off today."
"No, it's nothing..."
The mont Shirogane ca close, Kaguya's face turned a little red, and she looked dazed.
"If you're tired, make sure you rest."
"Yes."
"By the way..."
Shirogane suddenly leaned in close to her. As she tensed up, he reached out toward her hair.
"There's a string stuck in your hair."
He pulled it out—it must've gotten there during work.
"Thank you, President," Kaguya smiled. "I didn't notice at all. Lately I've been feeling a little..."
Her voice grew faint, and in the next mont, she collapsed to the ground.
Thud.
"... Shinomiya! Are you okay!?"
Shirogane quickly helped her up as others gathered around.
"President, call an ambulance!"
Rinji walked up and grabbed her hand, pressing three fingers to her wrist.
"...Her heartbeat seems a bit weak," Rinji frowned.
"Shinomiya... does she have so kind of illness?"
Shirogane, who had already called the ambulance, quickly asked.
"I don't know. I'm not a doctor," Rinji shook his head. "But I don't see any obvious signs."
---
That day, a sudden event struck the student council.
Vice President Kaguya Shinomiya collapsed and was taken to the hospital by ambulance.
Watching the vehicle leave campus, Shirogane looked deeply worried.
"Shinomiya... will she be okay?"
"They say she's had a weak heart since childhood," Fujiwara said with concern. "Every ti the seasons change, she needs to rest. Her mother also passed away from heart disease..."
"I see..."
"President, should I go check on her?" Rinji offered. "I know so doctors in Tokyo. If needed, I can call in so top specialists from abroad."
"Please do."
---
In the largest hospital in Tokyo's Minato ward—
The ambulance arrived quickly, and when the hospital director learned the patient was Kaguya Shinomiya, he canceled an upcoming conference and personally took over her case.
Ten minutes after Kaguya was brought in, Rinji also arrived.
"...Figured you'd show up too."
"This can't be helped. Kaguya-sama's condition is rather unique," Hayasaka replied.
Their eting wasn't really a coincidence. As Kaguya's attendant, Hayasaka was obviously by her side.
While Kaguya was inside getting checked, Hayasaka and Rinji sat on a bench in the hallway.
"I heard she has a condition. Is it hereditary?"
"More or less. She ca to this hospital for check-ups when she was little."
"I see."
Rinji pulled out a folder from behind his back and flipped through it.
"Shimizu Nayotake, Kaguya's biological mother, died ten years ago from congenital heart disease. Her attending physician seems to be..."
"The sa one treating her now," Hayasaka replied, glancing at the examination room.
"Shozo Tanuma. He developed pediatric heart bypass surgery, is the hospital director, and one of the world's most renowned doctors. He's also the Shinomiya family's personal physician."
"Right, that's him. His grandson attends Shuchiin—Tanuma Tsubasa, I think. They say their whole family marries young," Rinji chuckled.
He turned back to the investigation report.
"I was just digging into the Shinomiya family's dical history... but found sothing much bigger. Her mother was apparently..."
"Since you found it, I guess I can't hide it," Hayasaka sighed. "She was a concubine. In other words, not a legitimate wife."
"This is the 21st century, right?"
"After Shinomiya Gan'an's previous wife passed, he married soone new, but due to status issues, it wasn't made public. So Kaguya, born from that union, wasn't favored in the family and has no inheritance rights."
"What a ss."
"Big families are always like that."
"My family's big too, but nowhere near this ssy," Rinji said. "My dad has one wife—my mom—and one son, . Just the three of us, very harmonious."
"I don't know your family, so I can't comnt," Hayasaka replied. "What you found about her mother, I can't stop you, but please don't spread it. I promised to keep it secret."
"I'm not that bored."
Rinji gave a light laugh, but his eyes glead red.
"A family that could be crushed in an instant, yet full of so much drama... it's fascinating."
"...By the way, why did you co when Kaguya-sama fainted?"
"Because soone very worried about her couldn't co himself," Rinji smiled. "I promised to keep his secret too. But I'm sure you can guess who."
"It's the President, huh?"
Hayasaka smiled faintly.
She seed pleased to see Kaguya's love life progressing.
"Still, their road to love won't be easy."
"I get that," Hayasaka said with a bitter smile. "If only Kaguya could be a little more honest."
"Yeah."
Though they rarely saw each other at school, Hayasaka and Rinji had always been doing the sa thing:
Silently watching over the love between Miyuki Shirogane and Kaguya Shinomiya.
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