The Heroines Want to Confess.

When the student council members gathered together.

Among the crowd outside the stadium, Hayasaka Ai was observing the scene, her face devoid of any expression.

She saw Fujiwara Chika throwing herself into Sakurai Saki's arms, loudly bragging about how fast she had run in the relay race just now, how amazing she was. Sakurai Saki, as always, patted her head and praised her.

It was clearly the same scene as before, yet why did it hurt so much this time?

Even though Hayasaka Ai was dating Sakurai Saki, she couldn't publicly appear beside him.

The fact that the student council members were always close to him made it difficult for Ai-chan to join any conversation.

They could only talk and exchange words in private…

But—

'We're already in a relationship, boyfriend and girlfriend, so why do we still have to be so cautious about everything like this?'

Unwilling, deeply unwilling.

She had won the confession battle with Sakurai Saki, had defeated Secretary Fujiwara, and yet why did she feel even more miserable than the loser?

On weekends, she had to take care of Kaguya-sama. On weekdays, she still had to take care of her. Even during events like the sports festival, she couldn't be by Sakurai Saki's side.

'…' But all of that—who could she blame for it?

Thinking it through, aside from her own cowardice, who else could she blame?

Hayasaka Ai was jealous of Fujiwara Chika. That girl could live carefree, innocently, without worrying about social ties, simply living and still being loved by everyone, pampered by Sakurai Saki?

Based on what? Why did she have to try so hard just to get close to Sakurai Saki, while that girl didn't have to do anything at all? If she hadn't taken the initiative that time, she wouldn't even have gotten the position of "girlfriend"!

Hayasaka Ai glanced at Shinomiya Kaguya, and a flame of jealousy rose within her heart.

That girl was pitiful, but even if she was pitiful, even if she lived in a 'prison', at least she still lived the life she wanted, still enjoyed the beauty of youth.

'If only everything could disappear. If only the person I love were the only one left in this world…' Hayasaka Ai lowered her head, a dark thought rising within her.

A few seconds later, she found that thought ridiculous.

How could this world bend to her wishes?

She was just a mere maid of the Shinomiya family. Even if her parents were senior executives of the Shinomiya Corporation, the Hayasaka family was merely a bloodline that had once been defeated by the Shinomiyas and was later chosen to be taken in.

In that kind of situation, how much say or freedom did the Hayasaka family still have?

And more importantly, she couldn't abandon Shinomiya Kaguya—that was truly the core of it. If Hayasaka Ai could abandon Kaguya and quit, she absolutely could do it. But how would a new personal maid treat Kaguya? Would they help disguise her intelligence work, take care of her meticulously like she did?

Shinomiya Kaguya had no one left. The only person she could completely trust was her. Until Kaguya found a new support, Hayasaka Ai didn't want to leave her.

"If only everything could disappear."

Once again, Hayasaka Ai wished for that.

She didn't dare look at the student council members. She knew that was not a place where she belonged.

Ai-chan didn't dare approach, not even look at the student council members for too long.

However, Sakurai Saki had already noticed Hayasaka Ai—she had been sneaking glances in this direction the entire time.

Because he hadn't gone out of his way to look for his girlfriend all day, this was the first time Sakurai Saki had seen her today.

Mainly because his mom had been clinging to him too tightly, not giving him any opportunity.

Now that she had gone home early, he finally had some free time.

Sakurai Saki noticed that she kept her head down the whole time, looking quite unhappy.

He must've made her feel neglected.

But luckily, even now, it wasn't too late.

"Sorry, everyone. I've got something to do," Sakurai Saki said, then immediately walked away.

The other student council members more or less figured out the reason.

Shirogane Miyuki knew, Fujiwara Chika knew, and as for Shinomiya Kaguya—needless to say, she understood better than anyone.

Only Ishigami Yuu was still clueless.

To this moment, he still thought Sakurai Saki was dating Fujiwara Chika.

————

"What's wrong?" Sakurai Saki walked over to his class group. On the edge of the formation, Hayasaka Ai was standing absentmindedly.

He asked a question, but Hayasaka Ai didn't respond.

Sakurai Saki, helpless, reached out and pinched her cheek. Only then did Ai-chan snap out of it.

Her eyes widened. "Sakurai-chan! Why are you here!? Oh right! Did you see Miko-chan tripping just now? It was so funny!"

"…Where have you been hiding all day?" Sakurai Saki ignored her facade.

Then he grabbed her hand, preparing to pull her out of the sports field.

"Wait a sec, Sakurai-chan, why are you holding my hand? The events aren't over yet!"

Sakurai Saki didn't reply. He pulled Hayasaka Ai along, ignoring her resistance.

"You're acting weird today!" Sakurai Saki was starting to get angry.

"What do you mean weird?" Hayasaka Ai asked.

They reached the lower level of the school building, an empty area with no one around.

Sakurai Saki let go of her hand and said in a cold voice, "Everything about you is off."

"I've always been like this!" Hayasaka Ai said with a smile.

"Can you drop the act already?" Sakurai Saki frowned. "I'm your boyfriend, right? Do you really have to pretend even in front of me?!"

Hayasaka Ai: "..."

Seeing her lower her head in silence only made Sakurai Saki even angrier.

"Hayasaka Ai, answer me—do you even want to keep dating or not?" Sakurai Saki blurted out in frustration.

Since the beginning of the school year, this was the first time she had used that mask around him in private! And she even gave him a whole scripted performance!

Wasn't that the same as treating him like a stranger?

"…I…" Ai-chan's eyes began to sting.

She didn't understand why Sakurai Saki was this upset.

"You don't want to make our relationship public, and I seriously don't get it! Does dating me disgust you that much?" Sakurai Saki gritted his teeth. "You work part-time every day after school, what the hell are you so busy with? Inviting you out on weekends is like praying to the gods!"

"Do you know any couple who's been together for nearly two months and only gone on one date?!"

After he said that, Sakurai Saki noticed Ai-chan's shoulders trembling.

A few drops of tears hit the ground.

"You want to break up with me?" Ai-chan looked up, tears welling in her eyes.

"If I wanted to break up, I wouldn't have accepted your confession in the first place," Sakurai Saki sighed, then took out a handkerchief to wipe her tears.

His girlfriend really was a crybaby.

"I didn't mean to push things this far, but since you keep hiding things from me, this was all I could do."

Sakurai Saki issued a "crime forecast."

"What are you planning?" Hayasaka Ai rubbed her now-reddened eyes.

As long as he wasn't breaking up with her, anything was fine.

Sakurai Saki spoke casually, as if he were just heading out to get a drink—

"I'm going to stand in front of the entire student body of Shuchiin and confess to you over the broadcast—within five minutes!"

Hearing that, Hayasaka Ai froze in place, her mind going completely blank.

Sakurai Saki rested his right hand on his chin, thinking, "Come to think of it, last time you confessed to me, I don't think I ever gave a proper reply."

"This time, consider it my way of making it up to you."

"Ai-chan, don't repeat my mistakes."

Sakurai walked away right after saying that, not giving Hayasaka Ai any chance to respond.

Ai-chan held her head—there was too much information, she couldn't process it all.