Heartbeats and Illusions

Kanade's Pov

After escorting Kasumigaoka-senpai home, I hurried back to change into my school uniform. Sadly, there wasn't enough time to enjoy a refreshing shower or wash my hair. Still, I managed to avoid being late.

"Morning, Hachiman."

On the winding bluestone path leading to school, I bumped into Hikigaya Hachiman, who trudged along with his trademark slouch. Beside him, Yuigahama Yui followed with her usual radiant smile.

"Don't tell me I'm interrupting anything," I teased, throwing a casual glance at the duo.

"You're already interrupting just by existing, so feel free to leave," Hachiman replied, lips curling into his signature deadpan.

Ah, the sharp-tongued cynic at his best. He and Yuigahama were like fire and ice, complete opposites whose chemistry made for interesting mornings. Still, if he really wanted to make his life easier, he'd stop letting her tag along in public.

"Come on, Hikki! Don't be so rude to Natsukawa-kun!" Yuigahama scolded with a pout before turning to me. "Good morning, Natsukawa-kun!"

"Good morning, Yuigahama-san," I replied, nodding politely.

"So, how was your weekend? Did you do anything fun or meaningful?" she asked, tilting her head curiously.

"Fun and meaningful? Are you asking if I spent my time like you, frolicking in a picture-perfect romcom setting that would make others jealous?" I shot back, grinning. "I spent my weekend with my Sempai instead."

Hachiman groaned audibly. "And here we go. I can already hear Komachi's imaginary commentary: 'Ugh, Oni-chan's remarks are so gross, but he's still thoughtful, so he gets high marks from Komachi!'"

I laughed, genuinely amused. "Oh, speaking of Komachi, I haven't seen her in ages! I need to recharge my little sister power levels soon."

"Recharge? What are you planning to do to my sister, you degenerate?" Hachiman glared, clutching his coffee cup like it was the last defense against a hostile takeover.

"Nothing nefarious, I promise!" I said with mock innocence before snatching the cup right out of his hand. "Thanks for the coffee, by the way. I skipped breakfast."

"Hey! That's mine!"

"And it's delicious. Bye!" I shouted, bolting away before Hachiman could chase me.

Hachiman groaned in defeat, muttering under his breath. "Why waste my energy chasing after a caffeine thief first thing in the morning…"

As Yuigahama watched the interaction unfold, she tilted her head in confusion. "Hachiman, what was that about? You two are always so weird around each other…"

"It's none of your business, and even if I explained, you wouldn't understand," Hachiman retorted, pulling out his phone.

He quickly typed a message to me, knowing full well that "collaborating with the enemy" was inevitable when dealing with someone like me. Deep down, though, even he couldn't deny that these ridiculous exchanges were part of his own brand of youthful camaraderie.

By the time I arrived at school, the hijinks with Hachiman had already energized me for the day. After slipping into my indoor shoes and dropping off my bag, I headed straight for the student council room.

The previous night, I had sent a message to all the members, asking them to gather. There was something important I needed to say.

I paused outside the door, taking a deep breath to steady myself. "Here goes nothing…"

Pushing the door open, I stepped into the room where everyone was waiting. Their eyes turned to me expectantly, and without hesitation, I bowed deeply.

"Everyone, I want to sincerely apologize to you all. I'm so sorry!"

My voice rang clear in the quiet room. I stood straight, meeting their gazes with unwavering resolve.

"In the past, I chose to avoid my responsibilities as student council president. I put my personal desires first, thinking that running away would bring me peace. But I was wrong. It only made me more anxious and uncertain."

I clenched my fists, the words spilling out with growing determination. "Fear, panic, regret… All these emotions have weighed on me. I've come to realize that what I truly want is to be here, working alongside all of you."

"I know I haven't been a proper president. I wouldn't blame any of you for resenting me. But even so, I want to start over. I want this student council to continue as it always has, with everyone working together. Please… give me this chance!"

My voice softened as I finished, the weight of my confession settling in the air.

Choosing to run away wasn't the answer. Facing my mistakes and owning up to them was the only way forward. And this time, I wouldn't let my selfish desires cloud what truly mattered—staying with the people who believed in me and making the student council something we could all be proud of.

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Omni Pov

The air in the student council room hung heavy with silence, amplifying the cacophony of emotions swirling within Natsukawa Kanade. Uneasiness gnawed at him, the weight of his confession still fresh. Relief briefly flickered in his chest, but it was drowned by the looming fear of ridicule. These feelings collided, churning into an overwhelming storm that threatened to consume him entirely.

"President."

A clear, respectful voice cut through the haze, snapping Kanade back to reality. He looked up, startled, and his gaze landed on the faces of his fellow student council members.

At the far side of the room, Shirogane Miyuki and Ishigami Yu were engrossed in a quiet discussion about their work. Nearby, Fujiwara Chika shuffled through a stack of notes, though her exaggerated movements betrayed her pretense of busyness. None of them seemed to pay particular attention to his earlier speech.

Only Shinomiya Kaguya stood by his side, her calm presence grounding him. With a small but genuine smile, she extended her hand toward him.

"Welcome back, President."

Kanade's throat tightened. His vision blurred ever so slightly, and a surge of emotion threatened to spill over. He blinked rapidly, swallowing the lump in his throat. "...Yes. I'm back."

As the words left his lips, the room erupted into cheers. Confetti rained down, streamers filled the air, and balloons popped in sudden bursts of color. The once-solemn student council room transformed into a scene of vibrant celebration.

"This is…" Kanade blinked, startled by the sudden outburst.

"Surprise!" Fujiwara Chika raised her hand, beaming with pride. "The idea was mine, of course! As soon as we got your message, we decided to give you a proper welcome!"

"I blew up the balloons," Shirogane Miyuki added, a rare hint of a smile gracing his face.

"I handled the streamers," Ishigami Yu mumbled, scratching the back of his head.

"And I was responsible for welcoming the president back." Kaguya's voice softened as her cheeks flushed, a faint pink spreading across her porcelain skin. Her gaze dropped to the hand that had briefly held Kanade's, as if its warmth lingered still. For a fleeting moment, she entertained an absurd thought: perhaps she wouldn't wash that hand for the rest of the day.

"As I said, President," she continued, her tone laced with earnestness, "we're all looking forward to you regaining your strength and leading us once again."

No one was more eager for Kanade to resume his role as president than Shinomiya Kaguya. Her polished exterior hid a torrent of feelings she could scarcely admit, even to herself. Her upbringing as a scion of the Shinomiya family had chained her life to rigid expectations. Friendships, love—these luxuries were out of reach for someone of her standing.

And yet, within the walls of the student council, she found a rare freedom. Here, class distinctions faded, and she could converse with the people she cared about as equals. Here, she could stand alongside Kanade and even dare to look up to him.

Ah, Kanade… Meeting you has been the greatest gift. If only… if only we could remain together forever.

Her chest tightened at the thought, but before she could spiral further into her own musings, Fujiwara Chika's cheerful voice rang out.

"To celebrate the president's return, let's play games together! I brought a new board game today!"

With her boundless energy, Chika darted to Kanade's side, latching onto his arm and tugging him toward the sofa. "Come on, President! It'll be fun!"

Ishigami and Shirogane exchanged glances, silently resigning themselves to clean up the table while Chika wreaked her usual brand of havoc.

Kaguya, however, stood frozen in place, her fingers curling into a fist. The warmth from her earlier touch was slipping away, replaced by the chill of jealousy. Her sharp eyes narrowed as she watched Chika cling to Kanade with her overly familiar enthusiasm.

This shameless woman… Kaguya's lips twitched into a faint, almost imperceptible smile. Perhaps Fujiwara Chika could use some… discipline.