In truth, Kaguya had done nothing.

Unlike Rinji, who used her identity to stir up trouble, Kaguya was extremely careful when pretending to be him.

With Hayasaka's supervision, she avoided messing up his relationships or saying the wrong things.

But ironically, not "saying the wrong things" was the biggest red flag.

Rinji was someone who would curse at the drop of a hat, even around the Shirogane family, where he barely restrained himself.

And cursing? Kaguya couldn't do it at all. With her strict upbringing, swearing was nearly impossible.

Also, out of habit, Kaguya occasionally revealed her feminine side.

Even though she knew she was playing Rinji at the Shirogane home, being face to face with Shirogane made her shy, and she naturally acted her best, always being considerate.

As for Kei...

She was Shirogane's sister and Kaguya's future sister-in-law, so Kaguya tried to take care of her too.

This led to a problem.

Kei's favorability toward "Rinji" kept rising, while Shirogane started to develop the strange delusion that his male friend was surprisingly charming.

"You've been visiting the president a lot during our swaps."

"Can't be helped... he lives so close."

"Aunt Kana lives next door and you never visited her. She's been your teacher for two years," Rinji said. "Anyway, you're heading back to the main house today, and I've got a trip to Kyoto..."

"Eh? You're going to Kyoto too?"

"Going home with Karura. Promised I'd spend New Year with the Kure clan," Rinji sighed. "Won't return to my family until February."

"I see..."

Kaguya was shocked to learn Rinji was also going to Kyoto.

She thought he was planning another attack on the Shinomiya family.

If that were the case, as the eldest daughter, she definitely wouldn't sit by and watch.

She'd run far away. Out of sight, out of mind.

Although Rinji didn't seem ready to act just yet, the fact that they still hadn't figured out how to swap bodies tomorrow was worrying.

If Rinji used her identity to pull something at the main house, she didn't even want to imagine the outcome.

"Looks like I'll have to wear girls' clothes the whole time I'm there."

As long as she wore girls' clothes, even if Rinji's consciousness swapped into her body, he wouldn't act up. That just wasn't his style.

---

8 p.m., after dinner.

Kaguya and Hayasaka had finished their meal at the main house.

Even though they were chauffeured to Kyoto, the main house showed no signs of welcoming Kaguya. Aside from a few greetings, most ignored them.

Everyone from executives to servants knew that Kaguya was an extra, with no inheritance rights. There was no need to butter her up.

Kaguya and Hayasaka were used to this and felt no resentment.

It was always like this every year.

Neither her brothers nor her father cared if she was healthy, how school was going, or even asked the usual annoying "how are your grades" type questions.

Her standing was rock bottom.

The only questions asked were about Rinji—he was the Shinomiya family's number-one enemy, and since he went to the same school as Kaguya, she was naturally interrogated.

Even so, a madman who once stormed into the Shinomiya main house now went to school beside their heiress, and no one cared about her safety.

"This family is really something."

"It's fine. I'm used to it."

In their room, Kaguya let down her black hair, dressed in an elegant kimono. She and Hayasaka sat kneeling at a low table.

After dinner, they stayed here. Even if they walked around, the main house members ignored them, so they may as well stay put.

"But you, Hayasaka, you were interrogated for a while just now, right?"

"Yeah, but they only asked about Rinji. I told them a filtered version."

That "filtered version" was 90% of what she knew about Rinji. She hid most of it.

"You could've just told them you're his girlfriend. Their attitude would've changed instantly."

"But then they might use me against him. They're capable of anything," Hayasaka said. "Since the conflict can't be resolved, they'll definitely gamble on something risky."

"That's true."

Kaguya sipped her tea. Her hand trembled slightly before she set the cup down.

Just then, Gan'an passed by outside, walking with a cane and trailed by servants.

He didn't even glance at his daughter.

Hayasaka muttered, "That old geezer. Why won't he just die already?"

"Come on, Ai, don't curse."

"Sorry."

She said blandly.

"Just couldn't help it."

"Mhm."

"Honestly, I wish Rinji would swap bodies with you tonight and beat them all up, but the timing's probably too late."

It was a surreal thing anyway—body swapping. Sometimes it didn't happen, and that was normal.

"Ai, we already swapped."

"Oh... huh?"

Hayasaka quickly turned to look at Kaguya.

The "Kaguya" next to her still had a gentle smile.

"Rinji?"

"It's me."

"..."

---

Kaguya: "..."

While sipping tea at the Shinomiya Main House, Kaguya suddenly lost consciousness. When she opened her eyes again, she realized that she had once again swapped bodies with Rinji.

Only this time, the setting wasn't Rinji's home, and Hayasaka was nowhere in sight.

Instead, she found herself standing in a massive Japanese-style courtyard, facing three muscle-bound men nearly two meters tall, cracking their knuckles and exuding an oppressive aura.

"Rinji, even though you're Karura's fiancé, we have to come at you with the intent to kill, since you're such a formidable opponent."

The leading man spoke solemnly, his black sclera filled with killing intent.

Kaguya: "Gentlemen... is there any chance we can sit down and talk this out? I believe there may have been some misunderstanding."