The Heroines Want to Confess

As Friday's final PE class wrapped up, Sakurai changed out of his gym uniform, grabbed his bag, and headed back to the classroom.

He caught a glimpse of Shinomiya Kaguya.

—Looks like she's heading to the student council too.

Sakurai had zero intention of walking with her.

So he left first.

When he pushed open the student council room's doors—

Inside, Shirogane Miyuki sat at his usual spot, drowning in paperwork.

And beside him—

Ishigami Yu, looking completely dead inside.

"Ishigami, what's wrong?"

Sakurai dropped his bag onto the couch.

"I've lost all hope in this school's clubs."

Ishigami complained while typing away on his laptop.

"Sakurai-senpai, can you believe it? The gaming club is full of normies!"

He gritted his teeth in frustration.

"How is that even possible?! I thought I finally found my place, but NO—it's just couples flirting while gaming! Disgusting!"

Sakurai glanced at Shirogane.

"Didn't club recruitment already finish this morning? Why are you still handling paperwork?"

Shirogane barely looked up.

"Oh, Sakurai, you're here. In a few days, I need to negotiate the student council budget with the Club Union. Right now, I'm working on next month's financial reports."

—Damn, that sounds rough.

Sakurai gave him a sympathetic nod before turning back to Ishigami.

"So, in the end, did you join a club?"

"...Sakurai-senpai, video games are my true calling."

Ishigami said with absolute certainty.

—Don't make such a serious face while saying something so dumb.

It was official.

This guy was a total gaming addict.

"Ishigami, I still think it'd be good for you to join a club."

Shirogane suggested while still writing.

Ishigami turned pale.

He had just been about to say, 'But, President, you're not in a club either!'

—But seeing how busy Shirogane was… he swallowed the words.

…Yeah.

Technically, he was the student council's treasurer.

Didn't that count as a club?

"You know what? You're right."

Ishigami nodded seriously.

"As the treasurer, I'm already busy enough. I don't need a club!"

Just as he finished his excuse—

Footsteps approached.

Seconds later—

Shinomiya Kaguya entered the room.

Her gaze instantly locked onto Ishigami.

"So, Ishigami-kun… what you're saying is…"

"You want to be at the bottom of Shuchiin's social hierarchy?"

She smiled.

But it wasn't a warm smile.

More like the kind of smile a villain makes before ordering an execution.

At Shuchiin, there was a clear social hierarchy based on club participation.

🏆 At the top: Athletic clubs (Kendo, Football, Archery, etc.)📖 Middle tier: Cultural clubs (Literature, Board Games, etc.)🏠 At the bottom: The Go-Home Club (students who don't join any club)

And Ishigami Yu had just declared himself part of the bottom.

Shinomiya—his upperclassman—was not impressed.

"S-Shinomiya-senpai…"

Ishigami broke into a cold sweat.

His fear of Kaguya was practically ingrained into his bones.

"Ishigami-kun," Kaguya tilted her head slightly.

"I'm not going to crush you and embed you into the school walls."

"So why are you so scared of me?"

…Lady, look in a mirror.

Ishigami didn't dare answer.

Instead, he just trembled.

Then, her gaze shifted.

To Sakurai.

"Sakurai-kun, you're not planning to join a club either?"

She wasn't letting him off the hook, either.

"If you're interested, you can join the archery club with me."

"Or, if you prefer kendo, Kojima-kun from the Kendo Club also wants to recruit you."

Sakurai raised an eyebrow.

"Why?"

Kaguya adjusted her posture gracefully.

"Because you're strong."

That was her simple answer.

Sakurai sighed.

She wasn't wrong.

A while ago, he helped Shirogane resolve a conflict with the Club Union.

One of the involved students was Ryuuzouji Momo, daughter of a yakuza boss.

She had been fighting with the Kendo Club captain.

And Sakurai got involved—handling the situation effortlessly.

Since then, many sports clubs had taken notice of him.

…But.

"Not interested."

Sakurai declined immediately.

"I have zero motivation for sports."

His "strength" came from his ESP powers.

He avoided sports because of it.

Too much physical activity increased the risk of his powers acting up.

If he lost control and hurt someone—

That would be breaking his self-imposed rules.

Sakurai's Rules:🔹 Never harm people—especially with ESP.🔹 Never fall in love before mastering his abilities.🔹 Never forget he is human.🔹 Always smile.🔹 Live life like a normal person.🔹 Live a normal, happy life.🔹 Never dwell on the past—always look forward.🔹 NEVER time travel to the past.

"If sports aren't your thing, cultural clubs are also an option."

Kaguya pressed further.

Before Sakurai could respond—

Shirogane cut in.

"Sakurai lives alone in Tokyo. He's busy enough as it is."

Silence.

Kaguya froze.

"…Alone?"

She repeated the word.

This—

Was the first time she had heard this.

She knew both Shirogane and Sakurai worked part-time.

But she never knew Sakurai was living alone.

Even she had Hayasaka Ai by her side.

Someone to talk to.

Someone to rely on.

If Sakurai went home alone every day—

Wouldn't he…

Feel lonely?

Her icy demeanor melted slightly.

And then—

Something stirred within her.

Was this…

Maternal instinct?

"Sakurai-kun…"

"You've been struggling this whole time?"

Kaguya's expression softened.

Sakurai—shivered.

His entire body tensed up.

—What the hell is this reaction?!

—Shinomiya, what's with that face?!

—Why do you look like you want to adopt me?!

Sakurai desperately searched for an escape.

And then—

He turned to Ishigami.

"Hey, Ishigami."

"Your only underclassman in the student council looks like he needs some love."

"Why not direct your motherly instincts at him?"

Ishigami: "HUH?! WHY ME?!"

But before he could escape—

"Ishigami-kun~"

Shinomiya's voice called out to him.

The voice of a demon.

Ishigami stiffened.

"W-what is it, Shinomiya-senpai…?"

Her smile widened.

"If you refuse to join a club…"

"Then raise your grades."

"Because frankly—letting someone like you into the student council is an embarrassment."

Ishigami: "…HELP ME, PRESIDENT!!"

Shirogane: "…Good luck, Ishigami."

Ishigami: "YOU TRAITOR!!!"

At that moment—

The student council doors burst open.

"What's everyone doing~?!"

Fujiwara Chika cheerfully entered.

"Are we discussing something fun?!"