Kaguya-sama: Love Is War wants me to turn myself in.

"We recently discovered a role that would be perfect for you; you'd definitely be super popular."

Upon hearing this, Natsuki Amamiya said:

"I'd rather be a photographer than a cosplayer."

Kitagawa Kaimu rested her chin on her right hand: "The photographer you're talking about, is he serious?"

Whether the photographer is serious or not, I don't know, but you're definitely not!

"Speaking of which, I ran into a talent scout on my way to work yesterday." Kitagawa Kaimu sipped her miso soup and continued, "That person wanted to invite me to become an idol. He even gave me a business card and said that if I was interested, I could give it a try. It sounded pretty good."

Amamiya Natsuki put down her chopsticks and looked at Haimu, saying:

"Being an idol is an extremely demanding profession."

“I know.” Kitagawa Kaimu nodded. “I’m just a little curious. You never know what tomorrow will bring, so I want to experience things I’ve never been before.”

"I just saw a news article on Twitter, take a look."

Natsuki Amamiya handed over the phone.

"What news?"

Kitagawa Kaimu curiously leaned closer and looked at the phone: "A brutal popularity contest... A certain underground idol girl group has officially announced that they will be holding a popularity contest, and the idol with the lowest popularity ranking will have to accept the punishment of debuting in the industry... This is too terrible!"

Kitagawa Kaimu said speechlessly:

Why did they agree to such an outrageous demand? Couldn't they just have withdrawn?

“Because it can’t be refunded,” Natsuki Amamiya said. “Idols have to sign contracts with agencies, and you’ve heard of the exorbitant breach of contract fees.”

“Yes, that’s right.” Kitagawa Kaimu blinked and said softly, “I’ve seen similar news before. Underground idols work hard to participate in activities, but their monthly income is only tens of thousands of yen. Later, when they want to quit, they are sued for breach of contract fees of tens of millions of yen… The path of an idol is really too hard.”

"Do you still want to be an idol now?"

"I won't take it anymore."

"Then let's eat quickly."

"..."

After breakfast, the two went out together, met up with Miko and Yurikawa, and walked towards the school together.

Speechless all the way.

Upon arriving at the school, Natsuki Amamiya went straight to the student council, where she happened to run into Tsubame Koyasu, who was wearing a gymnastics uniform and had just finished training.

"Good morning, junior."

Zi An Yan raised her right hand and greeted everyone with a graceful and generous manner. Her sweet smile was irresistible to both men and women. Not only the boys, but several girls also blushed and secretly glanced over.

As expected of the super popular Senior Yanzi, if you want to experience the joy of dating, you can easily find a girlfriend, let alone a boyfriend.

"Good morning, Senior."

Amamiya Natsuki stopped and nodded in response.

"Are you going to the student council, junior?"

"Ah."

"That's perfect, let's go together."

Koyasu Tsubame walked briskly to Amamiya Natsuki's side, her pink ponytail swaying gently, full of energy.

"Senior, you're too close," Natsuki Amamiya whispered a reminder. "Keep your distance."

"Eh?"

Zian Yan was startled, and her pretty face quickly turned red.

I was rejected!

I just finished training and I was a little sweaty, but I'm sure I didn't smell bad, right?

It's outrageous that you're making me keep my distance!

Even the usually carefree and magnanimous Senior Sister Yanzi was starting to lose her composure, forcing a smile as she said:

"I'm going to take a shower... Junior, you should go to the student council first."

Snapped.

Amamiya Natsuki reached out her right hand and grabbed the wrist of her senior who was about to turn and leave.

"Senior, don't misunderstand," Amamiya Natsuki said in a low voice. "I asked you to keep your distance because I don't want to become the enemy of the whole school. There's no other meaning behind it."

“I didn’t misunderstand.” Zi An Yan turned her pretty face away, biting her pink lips with her pearly teeth. “…Let me go, I need to go to the restroom.”

They still say there's no misunderstanding, but the smile on their face has completely disappeared!

Amamiya Natsuki's expression turned serious: "Since you don't believe me, then I'll have to prove myself."

"prove?"

Snapped.

Amamiya Natsuki stretched out her other hand and pressed it against the wall behind her senior, causing Koyasu Tsubaki's heart to skip a beat.

(I...I got pinned against the wall!)

Although she had many friends and was well-informed, this was the first time she had ever been cornered against a wall by a boy. As Amamiya Natsuki got closer and closer, her heart rate involuntarily increased, and the temperature on her face rose rapidly.

(Where's the promised proof?)

(This is blatant bullying!)

Seeing Amamiya Natsuki getting closer and closer, almost kissing her forehead, Yanzi-senpai finally couldn't resist and nervously turned her head away, blushing as she whispered:

"Okay, I believe you!"

"Don't push yourself, senior."

"Not at all forced!"

Koyasu Yan placed her hands on Amamiya Natsuki's chest, her bright and confident demeanor replaced by a girlish shyness. "Get up quickly, or someone will see you."

I really misunderstood. It wasn't that I disliked the smell of my own sweat... I almost kissed your forehead just now!

Amamiya Natsuki stood up and said regretfully, "I would have preferred that you, senpai, be stubborn to the end and never bend."

Zian Yan covered her chest with her right hand and turned pale upon hearing this: "If you have the guts, then say this in front of Kaguya-san."

"Let's go," Natsuki Amamiya said, not daring to actually say, "to the student council."

"..."

As we approached the student council building, people gradually arrived.

"Natsuki-kun, Haimeng told me that it's really possible to have a photographic memory, right?"

Fujiwara Chika clasped her hands in front of her chest, looking over expectantly.

"Indeed."

Amamiya Natsuki nodded and recounted the experiment from the previous night in detail.

"I'm going into seclusion to train. From now on, I'm determined to be number one in the grade." Fujiwara Chika clenched her fist, raised her chin, and said, "From now on, I'll be number one, Kaguya-chan number two, and Natsuki-kun number three."

"Why am I third?" Natsuki Amamiya protested. "I was first in the midterm exam, and Kaguya was only second."

“Natsuki-kun may have forgotten.” Kaguya Shinomiya folded her hands and placed them on her lower abdomen, her posture quite elegant and ladylike. “I came in first place in the entrance exam.”

"Don't fight," Mrs. Kaguya said with a smile, seemingly always eager for chaos. "How about this: during the final exams, the three of you will have a competition. The loser has to be the servant of the winner for three days, and can't refuse any requests during that time, little Chika. What do you say?"

“I agree.” Fujiwara Chika put her right hand on her hip. “As long as I can remember everything I see, I can definitely get full marks on the exam. I’m going to be number one.”

Hey, you're way too confident!

Subjects like Chinese literature and history are one thing, but to get a perfect score in math, you need comprehension skills; rote memorization won't work!

“I agree.” Amamiya Natsuki said seriously, “If you can become the top student in your grade once, you can naturally become the top student in your grade a second time.”

Kaguya Shinomiya pursed her pink lips, remaining remarkably calm: "I refuse."

No request can be refused, just like the clause stating that "the final interpretation right belongs to the event organizer," which is simply a rogue clause.

Mrs. Kaguya smiled.

"Is Kaguya scared?"

Kaguya Shinomiya's pretty face hardened as she looked at her mother: "What am I afraid of?"

"Of course, I'm afraid of losing to Natsuki again." Mrs. Kaguya smiled and held up one finger. "On the road to invincibility, once you lose the first time, you'll lose often afterward."

"A boring provocation."

The silly young lady saw through her mother's true nature at a glance; she was just stirring up trouble.

"Xiaoxiashu, what do you say?"

Mrs. Kaguya turned her gaze to Natsuki Amamiya.

Amamiya Natsuki pretended to ponder and said:

"Since Kaguya isn't participating, then Chika and I will compete for first place."

The strongest opponent for first place is clearly himself. Even if Fujiwara has a photographic memory, he still can't become number one!

"I'll participate!" The silly young lady bit her lip, successfully provoked. "First place will definitely be mine."

"..."

In contrast, Senior Yanzi was much more rational. She wasn't interested in being number one; she only wanted to ensure her grades didn't drop and, ideally, could even improve them—because of the numerous terrifying evil spirits in reality, Yanzi's academic performance had clearly declined recently.

"Let's try to get the crystal ball for free first."

Natsuki Amamiya took out the witch's crystal ball and placed it on her desk.

Several girls took turns touching the crystal ball, but unfortunately, without any luck, none of them received the knowledge passed down inside.

"Hai Meng said last night that she has found more than half of the ingredients for the potion formula?"

Kaguya Shinomiya turned her gaze towards Natsuki Amamiya.

“That’s right, many of the ingredients in the recipe have corresponding items in the real world.” Natsuki Amamiya nodded. “However, we’re still missing the last two ingredients; we haven’t found them yet.”

"Let's try again today," Kaguya Shinomiya said softly. "If we find it, we can start trying to make it."