Chapter 107

The large mall was bustling with people, as it was Saturday in this world. Chika Fujiwara pulled Kuroha Itsuki and Kaguya Shinomiya with excitement, weaving through the crowd towards the higher floors of the building.

With a face full of excitement, Chika pushed through the crowd, turning back to shout at Kuroha, "Kuroha-chan, what kind of dress do you want? Japanese or Western style?"

Seeing Chika's forehead slightly glistening with sweat, Kuroha subtly used her energy to create a small clearing ahead, allowing for a bit of open space. She shook her head gently and replied, "I haven't decided yet."

"Then we should just try everything!" Chika cheered, raising her arm in excitement before diving back into the crowd.

"Eh?!" Chika blinked in confusion as she stood on the escalator, her head full of question marks, puzzled about the path she had just managed to clear so easily.

Kaguya took out a handkerchief and wiped the sweat off Chika's forehead. She said, "Alright, Chika-san, we made it, so there's no need to keep rushing."

"But..." Chika supported her chin with her hand, ready to explain what had seemed strange moments ago, but Kuroha grabbed her hand.

Smiling softly, Kuroha said, "Chika, you're already drenched in sweat. Let's continue going up slowly." She led Chika forward, turning back to smile at Hiroshi, who was following them.

"Let's go, Kaguya."

Taking Kaguya's arm, Kuroha stepped off the escalator.

"Ah, President!" Kaguya turned and looked anxiously at Miyuki Shirogane and the others who were behind, saying, "Kuroha, they haven't caught up yet!"

"Kaguya, you really do like the President, don't you?"

"N-no, it's not like that! I'm just worried about getting separated!"

"Oh! Kaguya-san likes the President?!" Chika exclaimed.

"No, I don't! Kuroha, please stop saying that!"

"Really?"

Pushing open the door to the dress shop, Kuroha looked at the beautiful dresses on display and turned back to Kaguya with a teasing smile, "Kaguya-san, you should try on a dress as well. I'm sure the President will love it."

"Ah! A-alright." Hearing this, Kaguya's face flushed even redder. She responded in a small voice and looked up to see both Kuroha and Chika staring at her. She shouted, "It's not because I want the President to say I'm cute!"

"I'm just helping Kuroha pick out dresses, that's all!"

Kaguya grabbed both of their shoulders, her ears bright red, and yelled, "I'm just helping Kuroha, alright?!"

"Kaguya-san, your hands..." Chika whimpered, wincing in pain, "My shoulders hurt, Kaguya-san, please let go..."

"Ah!" Kaguya quickly released her grip, looking puzzled at Kuroha's calm face, and then turned to Chika, her eyes tearing up. "I'm sorry, Chika. I got a bit carried away."

"Hehe, it's alright." Chika shrugged it off and grabbed Kaguya's hand, smiling. "Leave it to me. I'll pick out the perfect dress, and the President will have no choice but to call you cute!"

Turning around, Chika raised her arm in determination, her eyes seemingly on fire, as she walked deeper into the dress shop.

"You're being mean, Kuroha," Kaguya muttered softly, looking at Kuroha, "Now I have no choice but to make sure the President confesses to me."

"Kaguya-san, love doesn't wait for anyone." Kuroha took Kaguya's hand gently and smiled, "Be careful, or someone else might snatch the President away before you know it. There's no use regretting it later."

"Haha, I was told the same thing once."

"Kuroha, tell me, who confessed first, you or your boyfriend?"

"I confessed first."

Miyuki was lost in his thoughts as he heard Hiroshi recall how Kuroha had confessed to him, a soft smile forming on his face. "I confessed first. This kind of thing should never be left to the girl."

"I see..." Miyuki mumbled, before looking at Hiroshi with admiration, "You really are a good guy, Hiroshi. Kuroha is lucky to have you."

"You like someone too, don't you, Miyuki?" Hiroshi replied, seeing the other boy hesitate before patting his shoulder. "As a man, you can't let the girl make the first move. I can see Kaguya likes you a lot, even if she won't say it."

"And you feel the same about her, don't you?"

Reaching the end of the escalator, Hiroshi noticed the store where Kuroha's energy lingered. He led Miyuki and Yu Ishigami to a bench nearby. Looking at Miyuki's thoughtful expression, Hiroshi spoke sincerely, "Love doesn't wait for anyone, Miyuki. Remember, Kaguya is incredible, and surely many people admire her. If she ends up with someone else, you'll regret it forever."

With his head in his hands, Miyuki imagined Kaguya with another guy—a random, unremarkable guy.

"No way!" he exclaimed, terrified. Miyuki grabbed Hiroshi and said quickly, "That won't happen! Kaguya spends every day with me, an amazing guy! How could she ever choose someone like that?!"

"But what if..." Hiroshi leaned in, almost whispering like the devil tempting him, "Kaguya is very cute, and teenage girls are very emotionally complex. If you keep holding back, she might think you don't like her. Then, in a moment of sadness, she might end up with someone else."

"But..." Miyuki rubbed his hands together nervously, "You don't understand. Kaguya's family is one of Japan's four great financial powers. They have assets of over 200 trillion yen."

"Kaguya is their eldest daughter. Compared to that, I'm just the eldest son from a poor family. How could I possibly confess?"

"Do you think you could earn more than 200 trillion yen?"

"No... I can't..."

Hiroshi smiled as he looked at the downcast Miyuki. "Do you think Kaguya would stop liking you just because of money?"

"Well... no."

"See?" Hiroshi patted his back. "Then, do you have the confidence to make Kaguya happy?"

Miyuki's eyes began to shine. He sat up straighter and smiled at Hiroshi, "Of course! I may never earn as much as the Shinomiya family, but I am confident I can make Kaguya happy!"

"That's the spirit!" Hiroshi pointed to the dress shop, where Kaguya, her face red, looked like she was about to faint as she held hands with Miyuki. "Princess Kaguya is waiting for you, her prince."

Kaguya's black hair was styled into an elegant updo, and she wore a lily-colored evening gown. Her red eyes sparkled, replaying Hiroshi's words in her mind. She looked up and asked softly, "President, how do I look?"

Miyuki took a deep breath and looked at her, his gaze steady. "Beautiful. I love it."

"President..."

"I-I mean the dress! Kaguya, don't misunderstand!"

"I know. I like it too!"

Not far away, Ishigami lowered his handheld console and looked at Hiroshi, speaking softly, "Thank you."

"But why did you help the President and Vice President?"

Ishigami looked at Hiroshi with confusion, "It's only our first time meeting."

"I hate seeing people who like each other being unable to confess because they're shy." Hiroshi smiled, his gaze turning toward the dress shop door, which was slowly opening. "And besides," he continued, watching Kuroha step out, "My princess asked me to."

He crossed the hallway in a few steps, looking at Kuroha, who was smiling softly at him, his own expression growing even more tender.

"You look beautiful, Kuroha," Hiroshi whispered, admiring her in her snow-white dress.

"I'm glad you like it," Kuroha responded, her face lighting up with joy. She gently took Hiroshi's arm and looked at Miyuki and Kaguya, who were holding hands. "It's wonderful that the President and Kaguya-san finally expressed their feelings," she said.

"Watching them is like looking back at us." Their fingers intertwined, Hiroshi and Kuroha said together, smiling, "It makes you want to give them a little push."

"By the way, Kuroha, how do you know Kaguya and her friends?"

"We're classmates and friends. We're all members of the student council."

"So you got into Shuchiin Academy?"

"Yeah, I'm the top first-year student there."

"Haha, as expected of my princess."

"By the way, Hiroshi, why did you seem like you already knew Kaguya and the others?"

"Ah, that... I'll tell you tonight."

"Eh? Kuroha-chan, what are you talking about?"

Chika, wearing a red dress, appeared from the door and looked at Kuroha, just about to pounce on her. Her eyes caught sight of Miyuki and Kaguya holding hands, and her expression shifted to one of surprise.

"Ah! President and Kaguya-san!"