A crossover anime/manga story, set in everyday Tokyo, but within a loop of a game.

……

Listening to the whispers around her, Kaguya Shinomiya remained calm and composed. After all, she had long been accustomed to everyone's respectful distance and the way they treated her, like they would a Japanese horror doll. However…

Kaguya Shinomiya glanced at Asagiri beside her, then turned her gaze back to the front and spoke softly.

"Utsunomiya-kun, aren't you afraid of me?"

"I can't even answer that question."

Asagiri shook her head and asked in return with a smile.

Why should I be afraid of you? Because you'll steal my homemade food?

"What is 'putting together a meal'... No, that's not important."

Kaguya Shinomiya realized that when she talked to Asagiri, she would unconsciously follow his train of thought, so she quickly steered the conversation back on track.

"You've seen it too, most of the students in this school, and even many teachers, treat me like I'm cursed, as if I'm being cursed. But why... why have you never looked at me like that?"

Upon hearing this, Asagiri couldn't help but ask in return out of curiosity.

"So what kind of look do I give you?"

"Um……"

Kaguya Shinomiya paused for a few seconds, as if pondering which words would be most appropriate to describe her.

"The way you look at me... is very ordinary, just like how you look at anyone... no, just like how you look at anyone except Iwanaga-kun and Yuki-kun, as if you have no interest in me at all."

"Hey, you're not right about that."

Asagiri emphasized this with a serious expression.

"I still have an instinctive lust for you. Don't make the way I look at you seem so innocent, it makes me feel really embarrassed."

Shinomiya Kaguya: "..."

She raised her right hand again and touched her left cheek. After forcibly calming her emotions, she spoke softly.

"You mean you think I'm cute, so you're interested in me? I don't know about others, but you're unlikely to do that. Besides, don't you already have a girlfriend? Although I don't know whether your girlfriend is Iwanaga or Yuki."

Asagiri replied without hesitation, "Both."

"..."

Kaguya Shinomiya took a deep breath and once again used that little trick of using psychological suggestion to force herself to calm down.

She realized that in terms of making startling remarks, Asagiri was even more outrageous than her friend Fujiwara Chika.

After arriving at a quiet corner of the campus, Kaguya Shinomiya and Asagiri sat down together on a bench.

She took out the bento box from her handbag, but instead of opening it, she placed it on her lap. Clearly, a young lady like Kaguya Shinomiya would not do something as impolite as eating her bento while talking to Asagiri.

“Utsunomiya-kun.”

It was only at this point that Kaguya Shinomiya finally got to the point.

"The election for the new student council is about to begin. Are you interested?"

Asagiri shook her head without hesitation.

"I'm not interested; it's just a waste of time."

"The student council of Shuchiin Academy is not a waste of time. If you win the election, you can use the power of the student council to build a lot of connections. Most students in Shuchiin Academy are rich or noble. The connections and reputation you have built up in high school can become an asset in the future... Never mind, I know you don't care about these things at all."

Kaguya Shinomiya shook her head, paused for a moment, and then changed the subject.

"But wouldn't it be a good thing for Ashikaga-sensei if you took on an important position in the student council?"

Upon hearing this, Asagiri's expression remained unchanged; she simply smiled and asked in return.

"Are you aware of my collaboration with Ashikaga-sensei?"

"Please do not underestimate my intelligence channels."

Kaguya Shinomiya spoke slowly with a calm expression.

“I know about the discussions at the last council meeting, and I also know a bit about Ashikaga-sensei. I roughly know what she wants. Combined with the obvious preferential treatment you’ve received since the start of the semester and your hate-inducing behavior, it’s not hard to guess the cooperative relationship between the two of you. However, there’s one thing I’m very curious about.”

At this point, Kaguya Shinomiya turned her head, stared at Asagiri's profile, and said softly.

“I can understand why Ashikaga-sensei wanted to collaborate with you, but I can’t figure out why you would agree to collaborate with him. Although you’re a mixed-age student, you don’t seem to lack money and don’t need any special treatment like tuition waivers. Your grades are more than enough to get into Shuchiin Academy, but you don’t seem to aspire to this school like most people here. So… why did you choose to collaborate with Ashikaga-sensei? In the end, why did you come to Shuchiin Academy?”

"Why so many questions? It's just for fun."

"Just for fun...you mean..."

Kaguya Shinomiya frowned slightly, seemingly unable to understand Asagiri's words.

"Because it's fun? Just because it's fun?"

Asagiri shrugged, seemingly unconcerned.

"What else? I found it interesting, so I did it. Being able to enjoy it is enough reason for me."

Kaguya Shinomiya pursed her lips and hesitated.

"I... I don't quite understand. I originally thought it was for more... more practical reasons, such as wanting to use Shuchiin as a stepping stone to achieve certain accomplishments, to become a powerful and influential person with absolute authority in a certain field, or to expand one's network of connections..."

"So, we're completely different."

Asagiri shook her head and chuckled softly.

"In everything I do, I prioritize myself. I do what I want to do and I don't do what I don't want to do. It's that simple."

Upon hearing this, Kaguya Shinomiya suddenly realized why she was attracted to Utsunomiya in front of her.

The other person possessed qualities that she had never had but had always longed for.

Freedom, freedom that is not affected by any factors.

"Okay, I understand. Let's leave this topic here."

Kaguya Shinomiya promptly interrupted their conversation, fearing that if they continued, she too might develop the urge to do something pointless, just for fun. But... she wasn't Utsunomiya; she couldn't do that, and she shouldn't even have the thought of doing so.

"What I want to talk to you about today is very simple. I will be running for the student council this year. I will serve as the president, Qianhua will be the secretary, and I would like to invite you to serve as the vice president."

Before Asagiri could give a reply of refusal, Kaguya Shinomiya immediately spoke up.

"Don't worry, although we're inviting you to be the vice president, you won't need to handle the tedious daily work of the student council. It's just a title. If you can become the vice president of the student council, Ashikaga-sensei will have more say in the council. From your personal perspective, you seem to really enjoy the feeling of winning. Participating in the student council election should be a lot of fun for you."

"so……"

Kaguya Shinomiya's ruby-like eyes revealed a hint of nervousness and anticipation. She lowered her head, not wanting Asagiri beside her to notice, and spoke softly.

Please consider it.

2

Chapter 02: The Undercurrents of Shuchiin.

Upon hearing Kaguya Shinomiya's words, Asagiri did not immediately reply, but instead asked in a calm tone.

"You just said you're running for student council president? If I'm not mistaken, there's no precedent in Shuchiin's history for a freshman to become student council president."

Kaguya Shinomiya nodded, speaking calmly.

“You’re right, and I’d like to add that not only is there no precedent for a successful election, but since the founding of Shuchiin Private Academy, there has never been a freshman who directly ran for the position of student council president. I am the first.”

The student council of the private Shujiwon Academy is completely different from the student councils of ordinary colleges, which spend all their time dealing with club activity rooms and fund allocation, and helping students solve personal difficulties, like playing house.

The Shuchiin University student council wields considerable power, including but not limited to allowing faculty to design extra courses, deciding on the location of school trips, funding internal clubs, and even influencing the way the school operates to some extent.

However, just like student unions in ordinary universities, the election for the position of student union president is ultimately just a competition of one thing.

That is the candidate's level of support on campus.

Showcasing personal abilities and discussing future plans—all these campaign actions are merely attempts to increase one's support among the other students.

Compared to upperclassmen, first-year high school students have a natural disadvantage. On the one hand, even Kaguya Shinomiya, a pure insei student, has only just entered the high school division and is not yet very familiar with Shuchiin High School.

On the other hand, if a freshman becomes the student council president as soon as he enters high school, the upperclassmen will feel somewhat ashamed. After all, they are the seniors, and if a freshman becomes the student council president, wouldn't that mean that they are not even as good as the freshman?

Therefore, gaining the support of older students is a difficult task.

Most importantly, upperclassmen who are already serving as student council presidents will also participate in the spring election. As long as they haven't made any particularly serious mistakes, most students are still willing to support them.

"Normally, the process to become the student council president is to first join the existing student council in the first year, serve as the current student council president's assistant, familiarize yourself with the daily work of the student council, and build up your reputation. Then, when you enter the second year of high school, you can participate in the student council president election. Through the experience accumulated in a year of work and the reputation gained, you should finally win."

Asagiri looked at Kaguya Shinomiya, who had a serious expression, and said with a smile.

"Losing an election is very shameful. Someone like you who pays so much attention to your image and always shows the demeanor expected of the eldest daughter of the Shinomiya family, never revealing any flaws, why would you be willing to risk losing face in front of the entire school to run for student council president at this time?"

"I……"

Seeing that Kaguya Shinomiya did not answer directly, Asagiri stood up and said in a calm tone.

"You come to me for cooperation, but you're not even willing to explain your motives? If that's the case, I'm afraid I can't agree to your request. Goodbye."

"Wait a moment!"

In her haste, Kaguya Shinomiya reached out as if to grab Asagiri's sleeve to stop him from leaving, but she stopped halfway through her outstretched hand, placed the lunchbox on her lap on one side of the bench, and then stood up and said softly.

"I need the position of student council president... because I need a legitimate reason to stay on campus after school. It has to be a student council president with decision-making power. I also need the student council office as a space with absolute privacy. As for why I need it..."

Kaguya Shinomiya pursed her lips, a complex expression in her eyes.

"I can't tell you that; I don't want to involve you."

"That's it..."

Asagiri gave a noncommittal reply, then looked at Kaguya Shinomiya and smiled.

"I will consider it, but I need to discuss it with Ashikaga Mikazu before I can give you an answer."

Kaguya Shinomiya nodded slightly, tucked a strand of long hair behind her ear, and said softly.

"Hmm... the candidate list won't be submitted until next week, so just give me your reply by this Friday."

"OK, I'll be going now."

"See you."

Watching Asagiri's departing figure, Kaguya Shinomiya breathed a sigh of relief, glanced at the bushes beside her, and said softly.

"Come out, stop hiding."

As Kaguya Shinomiya finished speaking, a blonde girl with blue manicured nails, a jacket tied around her waist, and a very fashionable, glamorous style, stood up from behind the bushes.

"You actually managed to spot me? Has my disguise technique deteriorated?"

Hearing the slightly puzzled words of the blonde girl, Kaguya Shinomiya's beautiful face showed a rare smile, and she couldn't help but chuckle.

"Actually, I didn't even notice you. It's just that there was only this one thing covering our ears, so I said that on purpose. I didn't expect it to actually trick you into revealing yourself."

"How cunning."

Kaguya Shinomiya smiled, then asked curiously.

"By the way, since you overheard my conversation with Utsunomiya, what's your impression of him?"

"Impressions..."

Hayasaka Ai gently tapped her chin with her fair index finger, recalling the scene just now as she answered.

"He treated you like an ordinary person, seemingly not considering you as the eldest daughter of the Shinomiya family at all. Moreover, he was very good at negotiating and always controlled the conversation. His personality seemed somewhat eccentric and frivolous, but there was also a complexity that made him unfathomable and unpredictable. Most importantly..."

Hayasaka Ai paused for a moment before speaking.

"I have a feeling that he has already discovered me, but just didn't say anything. Utsunomiya Asagiri... this person gives me the feeling of unpredictable danger."

"I'm feeling it too."

Kaguya Shinomiya nodded, thinking that Utsunomiya was indeed a dangerous person. After all, he had just said that he did everything out of interest and did not consider the practical reasons. This kind of person who only cares about having fun is the most unpredictable.

"Even so, I do need him, and Ashikaga Miwa's help, and in my eyes..."

Kaguya Shinomiya remained silent for a moment before speaking softly.

“Utsunomiya-san’s help is more important than Ashikaga Miwa’s help as a board member.”

……

Later, in Ashikaga Miwa's office.

"I had the monsters check it out. The person who posted comments about the death game online... is dead. The Osaka Metropolitan Police Department investigated the crime scene and determined it to be a homicide. Apart from the deceased's cell phone, nothing was stolen. The Metropolitan Police Department is investigating, but hasn't made any progress."