Crossover: After deciding to give up, i became popular

That night, there was another person besides Kanade Natsukawa who couldn't sleep due to unresolved emotions—Kaguya Shinomiya.

"It's so unfair, right? Don't you think it's completely unfair?!"

In one of the Shinomiya family's grand mansions, Kaguya, the prestigious daughter of the main household, clung to a pillow as she rolled back and forth on her bed, her composure utterly forgotten.

Nearby, her maid, Ai Hayasaka, maintained a calm expression as she watched her lady's antics, responding perfunctorily.

"Yes, you're absolutely right."

"Why is the president playing with my feelings like that? Don't you think he's gone too far, Hayasaka?"

"Yes, I wholeheartedly agree with you."

"I was so excited about the president's invitation, but then he just left me alone in the student council room! How could he?!"

"Yes, Master Kanade is being far too cruel, bullying you like that."

"He is not! Don't say that, Hayasaka! The president is just shy! He definitely wasn't bullying me on purpose!"

"…" Ai Hayasaka's eyebrow twitched.

Didn't you just say he was being cruel? Why are you defending him the next second? And this back-and-forth has already gone on three times! Can't you just let me go take a bath already?

"Phew… Lady Kaguya, from what I can see, this is all part of Master Kanade's strategy—using a classic 'hot and cold' tactic on you," Hayasaka said, pulling out a whiteboard and jotting notes.

"For example, his sudden resignation earlier was likely meant to create a sense of crisis, making you feel like, 'Ah, I'll never see the president again!'—forcing you to lose your composure and expose vulnerabilities."

"Eh? The president… would think that way? It really seemed like he genuinely wanted to resign…"

"Lady Kaguya, don't be fooled by appearances. Based on my investigation, Master Kanade's actions are always highly calculated."

"Not only that, but he has a knack for understanding what girls like. Even someone as guarded as you, Lady Kaguya, hasn't escaped his ability to cater to your preferences," Hayasaka said with grave seriousness.

When Kanade first started interacting with Kaguya, Hayasaka had already thoroughly investigated his background—how many ex-girlfriends he had, who they were, and so on.

Though she didn't think Kanade was a suitable lifelong partner for her lady, seeing how Kaguya had become more cheerful, Hayasaka couldn't bring herself to shatter her dreams.

So, she decided to help Kaguya win over Kanade first and later mold him into someone utterly devoted to her lady, transforming him into the perfect boyfriend.

At least, that was the plan. For now, Hayasaka could only focus on easing Kaguya's anxieties and helping her secure the "wandering playboy" of the student council. After the relationship was established, she'd have plenty of ways to deal with him—like leveraging the Shinomiya family's influence, though Kaguya must never know about such measures. Otherwise, she might think her love wasn't "pure."

"I'm convinced Master Kanade is a skilled romantic strategist. He would never waste time on meaningless actions."

"I even suspect that your plan to persuade him to return to the student council was something he anticipated all along."

"To be honest, Lady Kaguya, my advice is simple: take the initiative. Be straightforward and leave him no room to maneuver."

"Take the initiative? Be straightforward? Haven't I done enough already?!"

"No, I mean… directly confess to him. Say, 'I like you, please go out with me.'"

Hayasaka's understanding of Kaguya was unparalleled, and her mimicry of Kaguya's voice was spot on. The mere imitation immediately sent Kaguya into a daydream—

"I like you, President. Please go out with me."

"Oh? So you've been harboring feelings for me all this time, Kaguya? That's adorable…"

—

"No! He'd just mock me mercilessly! There's no way I could do something like that!" Kaguya flailed her pillow, her face flushed with shame and indignation.

"That scenario is completely unrealistic!" Hayasaka pressed her temples, feeling an oncoming headache.

Based on her intel, if Kaguya confessed first, Kanade would undoubtedly accept. After all, she was the very person he was pursuing. Mocking her would be entirely counterproductive.

More importantly… once Kaguya confessed, Hayasaka would finally be free from her role as a constant "romance advisor"!

"Lady Kaguya, I guarantee you that Master Kanade likes you. You don't need to worry about any other possibilities."

"E-even if that's true! If I confess first, I'll never be able to lift my head around him again!"

"…"

But if you don't confess, you'll never even have the chance to lift your head!

Hayasaka sighed, lamenting how troublesome her lady's pride was.

All this talk about pride, dominance, and hierarchy was meaningless! The key was to secure the prize first—deal with the details later!

Honestly, if she were in Kaguya's shoes, she'd already have kids by now. Who cared about who was "on top"?

The good news was that, despite her fish-like dithering, Kaguya had at least admitted to liking Kanade. Without even that, Hayasaka might have truly lost her mind.

"So, if Master Kanade were to say, 'I like you, Kaguya,' you'd be able to accept your feelings and say yes?" Hayasaka propped her chin on her hand, plotting her next steps.

"Eh? Well… if the president said that, then… I guess I could consider it…" On Kaguya's head, a metaphorical flower of love seemed to bloom as she sank into another fantasy.

"Kaguya, I like you…"

"President…"

"Kaguya…"

"President!"

"Lady Kaguya! Please listen to me!" Hayasaka grabbed Kaguya's shoulders and shook her, snapping her out of her reverie.

They were in the middle of strategizing! Why was she suddenly spacing out?

"Ugh, I was so close…"

"Lady Kaguya, do you still want to hear my plan?"

"F-fine, just tell me!"

"Alright, here's what we'll do: first this, then that…"

"Ohh…" Kaguya nodded repeatedly, her eyes shining with newfound hope.

She felt her future with the president was as bright as the sun.