Judging by Fujiwara Chika's demeanor—a smile hiding a dagger—she clearly did not come with good intentions.
This was also the first female Kanzaki Saku had encountered since synchronizing his memories who seemed to hold hostility toward him.
It could only be said: as expected of that woman. She truly caught Kanzaki Saku off guard.
"Secretary Fujiwara, you flatter me. I am merely fortunate to have gained the President's trust. I still have much to learn, so I will be relying on everyone's guidance in the future."
Kanzaki Saku responded to Fujiwara Chika's sarcasm with a tone that was neither humble nor arrogant.
"Oh my~ Vice President, you're too humble!"
Fujiwara Chika giggled, her voice crisp as silver bells. Her gaze swept back and forth between Kanzaki Saku and Kaguya, looking like she was sniffing out gossip.
"How could someone who made President Kaguya make an exception be ordinary? I'm really looking forward to the Vice President's future performance! You will surely bring many different changes to the Student Council, and even to the entire Shuchiin, right?"
Fujiwara Chika's words were mostly casual jabs, but she probably couldn't have imagined that Kanzaki Saku was already changing Shuchiin through his actions.
Whether it was the subtle influence on the delinquent girls or the newly started enterprise of aiding the unconfident little chef girl, these would forever change the Student Council and Shuchiin in the future.
Fujiwara Chika made no attempt to hide her hostility toward Kanzaki Saku, yet Shinomiya Kaguya, far from being angry, seemed pleased to see it.
This wasn't hard to understand. It was like when you take a fancy to a pretty girl and introduce her to a friend at a gathering; you certainly wouldn't want to see the two of them hitting it off enthusiastically. Otherwise, wouldn't you look like a clown?
As the absolute domineering CEO type, Kaguya believed that Fujiwara Chika wouldn't dare to defy her. Chika saying these things served to show that there was no possibility between her and Kanzaki Saku—implying 'I don't look up to him, so I'm making things difficult for him.'
It also provided Kaguya with an opportunity to defend Kanzaki Saku and boost his favorable impression of her; it was truly killing two birds with one stone.
As expected of a woman from the Fujiwara family. In terms of scheming and reading the room, she was impeccable. If you don't get ahead, who will?
Kaguya's red eyes narrowed slightly. She was just about to seize the moment to speak up and stage the classic drama of "Only I am allowed to criticize my people."
However, before Kaguya could open her mouth to display her domineering protection of her man, Hayasaka Ai interjected first.
Unknown to them, she had quietly wheeled over that exquisite small dining cart at some point and began arranging the tea set with fluid movements.
"Vice President Kanzaki, please don't take it to heart. Secretary Chika has no malicious intent; please sit down and have some tea first. These are cookies I just baked this morning. Paired with the black tea Eldest Miss Kaguya likes, it should help relieve the morning tension."
Hayasaka Ai's voice was as gentle as water.
As she spoke, she pulled out the chair at the head of the table for Kaguya, then signaled for Kanzaki Saku to sit in the guest seat next to it, and only finally prepared settings for Fujiwara Chika and herself.
As for Kasumigaoka Utaha, she wasn't qualified to sit at the table just yet.
Kaguya was rendered somewhat helpless by Hayasaka Ai's words, but she couldn't very well refute the face of this Head Maid who had taken care of her since childhood—someone who was both a friend and a sister—in front of Kanzaki Saku.
She could only pick up her teacup to mask her awkwardness, while not forgetting to remind her:
"Hayasaka, address me by my title in the workplace!"
Hayasaka Ai had no choice but to pour tea skillfully while looking at Kaguya with the kind of gentle yet slightly reproachful eyes a mother uses when looking at an awkward adolescent child.
"Yes, President Kaguya."
Hayasaka Ai corrected herself smoothly.
"I know you value Vice President Kanzaki and are eager to have him integrate. But since he has just arrived, you must let him catch his breath first, familiarize himself with the environment, and relax his mood."
Saying this, she gently placed a cup of aromatic black tea in front of Kanzaki Saku and smiled.
"Vice President, please enjoy. If there is anything you aren't used to or need, please tell me at any time."
How should he put it? Kanzaki Saku felt that the [Reversal] version of Hayasaka Ai was extremely eerie; her speech and actions gave off the feeling of a mimic.
But he couldn't pinpoint exactly what was strange, so he could only attribute it to the contrast after the reversal being too great.
Shinomiya Kaguya elegantly took a sip of black tea, deciding she needed to regain some face. She looked toward Kasumigaoka Utaha, who was standing to the side as if being punished.
"Committee Chair Kasumigaoka, report on this morning's situation. Focus on those delinquent girls."
Kasumigaoka Utaha took out her record board, known as the Death Note, and read from it.
"Yes. This morning, a total of 114 non-compliant individuals were intercepted. Among them, 51 were members of the 'Service Club,' with a violation rate of 100%."
"Other marked groups, such as the 'Kato Legion,' also had disciplinary violations, but their concentration was not as high as the Service Club."
"Vice President Kanzaki," Kaguya put down her teacup, her fingertips tapping on the table. "You heard that, right? The situation is grim."
Where was it grim? They just wanted to dress a bit more beautifully; what was wrong with that? Kanzaki Saku suspected that Kaguya was targeting their attire simply because she didn't have that kind of figure herself.
In this aspect, she and Yukino were truly sisters in hardship.
"These lawless behaviors not only destroy the school ethos but, more importantly, constitute a serious threat to a scarce and fragile male like you."
Kaguya put on a look of 'I'm doing this all for your own good,' resembling a greasy, domineering CEO caring for a little trophy wife.
"Think about it," Kaguya continued her dangerous fantasy. "If they dare to shorten their skirts today, they'll dare to forcibly abduct civilian males on the street tomorrow. As a boy who has been kidnapped by delinquent girls before, you can surely understand, right?"
Aside from Kaguya, no one else in the Student Council knew about Kanzaki Saku being kidnapped. With such a shocking revelation suddenly dropped, everyone shifted into spectator mode.
Hayasaka Ai immediately revealed a "heartache for her cub" expression, reaching out to lovingly pat the back of Kanzaki Saku's hand before refilling his tea.
Fujiwara Chika looked thoughtful, while Kasumigaoka Utaha felt as if she had heard something she shouldn't have; if she had known, she would have left immediately after reporting.
"Therefore, this disciplinary rectification is not only for the school but also for you. To eradicate those dangerous elements and create an absolutely safe campus environment. This is my true, bitter intent."
Kaguya grew more invested as she spoke, even adding a tremolo of self-righteous emotion.
After finishing, she leaned back and lifted her teacup, adopting a posture that said, "Why haven't you thanked me yet?"
Kanzaki Saku almost choked on his black tea. Although he had felt last time that this domineering CEO form of Kaguya was a bit like a landlord's foolish son...
Now it seemed she wasn't just a foolish son, but practically a "silly roe deer."
Using the legitimate reason of rectifying the campus to suppress love rivals (?) was a sound operation, but saying it out loud herself was a bit too sugary, and spoken so greasily at that.
It seemed that regardless of whether there was a reversal or not, as long as it involved romance, Kaguya would become very sappy.
However, no matter how sappy Kaguya acted, Kanzaki Saku would only play along with her words. After all, his superficial persona was that of a silly, sweet innocent.
Kanzaki Saku quickly adjusted his expression, revealing a pie-chart gaze consisting of three parts emotion, three parts realization, and four parts flattered surprise:
"Originally... President, you were doing this all for my sake. You really are too yasashii."
He lowered his head, his voice sincere (while suppressing his laughter):
"I will work hard to help the President achieve her goals, especially... I must properly 'persuade' Yukinoshita-san, making her understand the President's painstaking efforts so she can return to the right path soon."
Kaguya nodded with satisfaction.
"It is good that you understand."
She looked at Kasumigaoka Utaha.
"From now on, copy Vice President Kanzaki on all reports related to public morals. For matters requiring communication, prioritize finding him."
Kasumigaoka acknowledged this and quickly excused herself to leave, afraid that if she were a moment late, she would be taken down by the executioners.
Once the hindrance was gone, Hayasaka Ai immediately started the second round of her "Mama Mode."
"President, regarding the intensity and method of this disciplinary rectification, I believe we need to consider it more prudently. Although those children... like the members of the Service Club, do behave somewhat outrageously..."
"But basically, they haven't affected innocent students. Previously, they and the Student Council each minded their own business. Now, such overly heavy-handed measures might provoke unnecessary resistance, complicating the situation instead."
She paused, looking at Kanzaki Saku.
"The Vice President is both a member of the Student Council and the Service Club; I believe he can best appreciate the nuances involved. Forcible suppression might achieve temporary order, but it cannot eradicate the problem and might even bury greater hidden dangers."
Hayasaka Ai's words sounded as if they were entirely for the sake of the school's big picture and the students, but to Kaguya's ears, they meant something completely different.
After deciding she had taken a fancy to Kanzaki Saku, Kaguya had, of course, immediately told Hayasaka Ai, wanting her support and help.
But the usually obedient Hayasaka Ai had indicated that Kaguya's methods were wrong, stating that if she wanted to win a boy's love, she should pursue him openly and uprightly, rather than using these dirty, underhanded tricks.
So, on the surface, Hayasaka Ai was euphemistically criticizing her for using disciplinary rectification to suppress delinquent girls as being too radical.
Actually, she was saying: Your methods for chasing men are too dirty! Unprincipled! Unhealthy! Go take the pure love route immediately!
However, what Kaguya thought in her heart was: Open and upright? Would I still be Shinomiya Kaguya then? I want control, I want victory, I want him to willingly walk into the cage I've built! Pure love? Can that put food on the table?
Kaguya's hand gripping the teacup tightened slightly, and a flash of displeasure crossed her crimson eyes. But Hayasaka Ai's sincere expression of "I am doing this entirely for you and the school" left her with no way to lash out.
She could only say faintly:
"Hayasaka, the Student Council's decisions have been fully discussed. Extraordinary times call for extraordinary measures. As for other matters... I have my own discretion."
"But President..." Hayasaka Ai wanted to persuade her further.
"Sister Hayasaka, President Kaguya surely has her own considerations!"
Fujiwara Chika interjected at the right moment, smoothing things over in her capacity as Kaguya's lackey.
"But what Sister Hayasaka says also makes sense. Being too heavy-handed is indeed easy to make people afraid; maybe it will push some people who could have been won over to the opposing side?"
She blinked her innocent big eyes, looking at Kaguya.
"For example, that Yukinoshita-san? I heard she is actually very capable and has a lot of prestige among the students. If we could communicate in a gentler way, maybe she could become an asset to the Student Council."
Her words seemed to be easing the conflict between the two, but in reality, they had the effect of fanning the flames.
Especially since she mentioned the name "Yukinoshita," emphasized the other party's capability and prestige, and even proposed the possibility of her "becoming an asset."
To Kaguya's ears, this was simply failing to distinguish who the real boss was; it felt like Chika didn't want to improve herself.
Given Kaguya's arrogant personality and her annoyance with Yukino, this kind of suggestion would only make her more determined to suppress her.
Sure enough, Kaguya's eyes grew a shade colder, and her tone became more indifferent.
"The Student Council acts according to its own standards. For those who clearly violate school rules and disrupt order, there is no room for compromise. As for what others think, that is not something we need to prioritize."
Upon hearing this, Fujiwara Chika immediately revealed an expression of "I've been taught" and stuck out her tongue.
"Ah, Chika thought too simply! The President is right; rules are the most important!"
She obediently lowered her head to drink tea, but at an angle where no one was looking, the corners of her mouth curled up into a successful smirk.
She had successfully added fuel to the fire regarding the "suppression of the Service Club" in Kaguya's heart, while simultaneously establishing a harmless image of a natural airhead for herself—a perfect operation.
Hayasaka Ai looked at Kaguya's determined profile and sighed softly. Her eyes were worried, but she didn't try to persuade her anymore, merely silently adding some hot tea to Kaguya's cup.
Kanzaki Saku took all of this in, slowly savoring Hayasaka Ai's cookies. He felt that the amusement provided by this Student Council was no less than that of the Service Club.
Fujiwara Chika. Before the reversal, she was the natural-black type, making the original Kaguya always feel she was a 'green tea' bitch intentionally ruining her good deeds, when in reality, it was truly unintentional.
But after the reversal, she had become the Villainess Noble Girl character—the 'green tea' that the original Kaguya had fantasized about.
On the surface, she pretended to be Kaguya's best friend—sweet, lively, and harmless to humans and animals alike—but in reality, she tried every means to dig pits for Kaguya, create obstacles, and push the situation in a more chaotic direction.
Fujiwara Chika was happy to see Kaguya's plans hindered, her image damaged, or even see her fail.
At this moment, realizing Kaguya's unusual regard for Kanzaki Saku, her heart, which desired to stir up trouble, was already restless, pondering how to plant some seeds of destruction with Kanzaki Saku as well.
Or at least, to make the process of Kaguya obtaining Kanzaki Saku not so smooth.
Meanwhile, the [Reversal] version of Hayasaka Ai was an overly gentle Mama-type Head Maid, creating "trouble" for Kaguya from another direction.
She sincerely cared about Kaguya, hoping Kaguya could handle interpersonal relationships (especially romance) in a "healthy" and "normal" way like an "ordinary girl," wanting Kaguya to walk on the right path.
Her starting point might have been good, but for Kaguya, this kind of thinking was completely dragging her down, interfering with her carefully laid plans and rhythm.
If their relationship weren't so good, she would have been sent to Siberia to dig potatoes long ago.
One secretly causing mischief, one openly persuading for good; Kaguya's role as President was truly beset by "internal trouble and external aggression."
However, the reversed Kaguya was also a god-tier individual. Adding in the amusement-seeker Kanzaki Saku, this Student Council could be described as several god-tier individuals torturing each other until their hair turned white.
"President, the tea and snacks are delicious. Thank you, Miss Hayasaka."
Kanzaki Saku first politely thanked Hayasaka Ai, then looked at Kaguya.
"So, regarding the disciplinary rectification and my duties, what exactly do I need to do?"
____
New Story: Stardew Valley: What Do You Mean They All Became My Servants
✅ Read 40 chapters ahead on every series!
✅ Unlock supporter-only perks and news!
Let's reach these milestones together:
🎯 100 Powerstones = +1 free chapter for all readers
🚀 180 MEMBERS = +5 bonus chapters for all series!
👻 Walnutchan on P...