After school, Tanaka Masao returned home together with Yukinoshita Yukino. Just as they arrived, his phone received a message.
Fujiwara Chika: [Tanaka-kouhai, what are you doing right now?]
Seeing the message, Tanaka Masao replied.
[Fujiwara-senpai, we shouldn't contact each other anymore.]
[Eh? Tanaka-kouhai, you're already sick of your senpai that fast?]
[Because I need to review. I'm afraid my homework might get the wrong idea.]
[Hmph, honestly… what kind of misunderstanding could homework possibly have? If you want to review, just say so properly.]
[Hehe, saying it like that makes me sound like I'm taking studying extra seriously.]
[You bad kouhai, always playing with my feelings.]
[Fujiwara-senpai, saying that can easily lead to misunderstandings.]
[Misunderstandings? What misunderstandings? Everything I said is clearly the truth. Don't tell me Tanaka-kouhai dares to act but not take responsibility?]
[Fujiwara-senpai, I was wrong. Please don't continue.]
[Good that you know you were wrong. You're not allowed to tease me again in the future. Since you admitted your mistake, I've decided to give you a reward.]
[A reward? What is it?]
Looking at the text on the screen, Tanaka Masao couldn't help but think that maybe she'd send him a beautiful selfie.
Tanaka Masao, who had such expectations, was destined to be disappointed. Although Fujiwara Chika looked very cheerful, she was actually quite a pure and innocent girl.
[I'll help you review. Anything you don't understand, you can ask me.]
[Thank you for the offer, Fujiwara-senpai, but there's no need.]
[Why? Aren't you reviewing, Tanaka-kouhai?]
[It's not that. I'm reviewing with a friend. If there's something I don't understand, I can ask them.]
[Is that person better than me? Let me tell you, senpai here has really amazing grades.]
[Our grade's first place.]
Seeing the message Tanaka Masao sent, Fujiwara Chika puffed out her cheeks in displeasure.
"So what if she's first place? What's so amazing about that?"
Feeling unconvinced, she typed:
[Then study hard, Tanaka-kouhai. I need to review too.]
[Good luck studying, Fujiwara-senpai.]
After the chat ended, the more Fujiwara Chika thought about it, the angrier she became.
[Does being first place really mean she's definitely better than me? No way. I have to let Tanaka-kouhai know just how wrong today's choice was—and make him regret it.]
...
At the same time, the other three members of the student council had already noticed something while Fujiwara Chika was chatting on her phone.
Her emotional fluctuations were a bit too obvious to go unnoticed.
Shirogane Miyuki pinched his chin and frowned.
"Fujiwara's emotions are usually pretty unstable, but why are they swinging so violently today? Did something happen?"
Ishigami Yuu analyzed from the side.
"Judging by how Fujiwara-senpai is looking at her phone while typing, she's probably chatting with someone."
"And considering her emotional ups and downs, if I'm not mistaken… Fujiwara-senpai is probably in an online relationship."
"An online relationship?!"
Shirogane Miyuki exclaimed.
Realizing his slip, he quickly covered his mouth and cautiously glanced at Fujiwara Chika.
Seeing that she was fully immersed in chatting and hadn't noticed him, he finally relaxed.
Lowering his voice, he asked,
"Ishigami, are you sure?"
"About an eighty percent chance, based on my experience."
Ishigami Yuu looked completely confident.
Shirogane Miyuki was surprised.
"You have experience with that, Ishigami?"
"Learned it from games."
"That kind of experience?!"
Shirogane Miyuki really wanted to say how useless that sounded, but considering that games were often based on reality, he held back.
Besides, Fujiwara Chika really did seem different when she was chatting.
"I think what you're saying makes some sense."
Ishigami Yuu put on an expression that said trust me.
"But wow, Fujiwara's really playing advanced mode, huh?"
Shirogane Miyuki was genuinely surprised. While he was still locked in a back-and-forth with Shinomiya Kaguya, Fujiwara Chika had already moved on to online dating.
With some concern, he said,
"I've heard that online relationships can be risky. Do you think Fujiwara might get scammed?"
Ishigami Yuu waved his hand dismissively.
"President, you're worrying too much. Even though Fujiwara-senpai looks kinda airheaded most of the time, she's not that easy to fool."
"And besides, President, don't forget Fujiwara-senpai has a family. Anyone who tries to scam her won't end well."
Shirogane Miyuki nodded. Ishigami Yuu had a point—there really wasn't much to worry about.
Still, the idea of an "online relationship" piqued his interest.
[If I also used online dating… could I make Shinomiya confess on her own?]
Although the two of them were speaking quietly, Shinomiya Kaguya on the other side had her ears perked up, listening intently.
[Online dating? Fujiwara-san has already mastered such an advanced romantic technique. I must learn it.]
Shinomiya Kaguya quietly moved to sit next to Fujiwara Chika, intending to see how she chatted and learn from it.
But the moment she sat down, Fujiwara Chika angrily put her phone away.
And muttered, [What's so great about first place anyway.]
Before Shinomiya Kaguya could react, Fujiwara Chika leaned over, grabbed her hand, and said cheerfully,
"Kaguya-san, could you help me?"
Shinomiya Kaguya tried to pull her hand back, but realized Fujiwara Chika's grip was surprisingly strong.
Left with no choice, she asked helplessly,
"With what?"
"Could you tutor me? Midterms are coming up soon, and there are so many problems I don't understand."
Those words were like touching a taboo, instantly making the atmosphere in the student council room heavy.
To avoid revealing any cracks, both Shinomiya Kaguya and Shirogane Miyuki never studied in the student council room. Once they got home, however, they would study through the night.
And for the two of them, the time spent not studying was nothing short of agony.