Shirogane and Rinji were busy with company business. At the same time, Hayasaka and Kaguya were also out together.

Of course, they weren't discussing business. They simply sat down at a café to chat.

"Even though I became the President's girlfriend… and the main family can't interfere with me anymore… why is it that since this semester started, I've had fewer moments alone with him?"

"Our second-year school trip is coming soon. The President is probably busy with that."

"So what about now, on the weekend?"

"Oh, the President was called out by Rinji."

"That's exactly the problem!!"

Kaguya clutched her head, looking like she was about to cry.

"It's a rare weekend. Shouldn't the President care more about me, his girlfriend? Why would he rather go out with Rinji than come find me!?"

"…"

Watching Kaguya complain like that, Hayasaka couldn't think of what to say.

"Hey, Hayasaka, can't you think of something? You're Rinji's girlfriend! Can't you control him a bit so he doesn't drag the President out all the time?"

"I think what you're saying is very problematic Kaguya-san," Hayasaka replied with a blank face.

Since she had formally resigned, she now addressed Kaguya as "Kaguya-san" instead of "Kaguya-sama," and their relationship at school had become closer than before.

"Rinji and the President are only going out because of work. That's not something I can stop," Hayasaka said. "Besides, if you really want to cling to the President that much, why not just tell him directly? You're in a relationship after all."

"But… but…"

Kaguya's expression turned awkward and shy.

"I don't want the President to think I'm some selfish woman who only cares about myself and doesn't consider how busy he is."

"So you'd rather make me persuade Rinji not to, regardless of what he thinks? Kaguya-san, you're really a heartless woman," Hayasaka teased.

"Could you really stand it if your boyfriend never took time out to be with you on the weekend?"

"It's just one weekend," Hayasaka said. "Besides, we live together. Missing one weekend doesn't matter."

"…"

"If Kaguya-san really can't stand being lonely, why not use bridal training as an excuse to move into the President's house?"

Blushing furiously, Kaguya shouted, "What are you talking about!?"

After calming her embarrassment a little, Kaguya laid her chin on the café table and looked up at Hayasaka, who was sipping her coffee.

"Hayasaka, how far have you and Rinji gone?"

"We live together."

"No, I mean…"

Her face flushed again, and in a tiny voice she muttered,

"Further than kissing…"

"What are you saying, Kaguya-san?"

"I mean… sex…"

As soon as the word left her mouth, Kaguya clapped her hands over her face.

For a sheltered young lady like her, just saying the word was almost too much to bear.

And that was only thanks to Fujiwara's constant, shameless "education."

"Oh, that?"

Hayasaka calmly took another sip of coffee and said,

"No."

"No? But you've been living together for so long!"

"Yes. Living together in the literal sense, just sharing the same home. Nothing further," Hayasaka said. "We haven't done that."

"…Rinji's really holding back."

"Yeah. Honestly, even if I couldn't hold it anymore, I think he still could."

Hayasaka sighed.

"In this respect he's a lot like you. Probably won't go that far until marriage. Very traditional, not like a young man at all."

"I actually admire that about him."

Kaguya nodded.

"The real issue now is… with the President, our relationship should…"

"You want to sleep with him?"

"Hayasaka! What are you saying!?"

Kaguya realized that ever since Hayasaka had officially quit her maid position, her way of speaking to her had become much more casual.

While that was nice in some ways, sometimes it left her red-faced.

"I just mean I want my relationship with the President to move forward."

"You're already dating, what further step could there be? Sounds like I guessed right." Hayasaka squinted at her. "But can you really accept that kind of thing?"

"…"

From Kaguya's conflicted expression, it was clear she couldn't accept going that far before marriage.

"And what if the President asked for it?"

"If it's the President…"

Kaguya began to imagine.

————————Imagination————————

Night. A dim lamp cast a faintly suggestive light.

On a large bed, Shirogane pressed Kaguya down beneath him.

"Shinomiya, is this okay?"

"No!"

Terrified, Kaguya shoved him away.

Disappointed, Shirogane stood, straightened his clothes, and turned aside.

"I knew it. Shinomiya must hate me, that's why…"

"That's not true!!"

————————Imagination ends————————

"If I refuse him… the President will definitely hate me, right?"

"I don't know what you were just imagining, but the odds of that happening are pretty low," Hayasaka said, watching Kaguya fall into sudden fear.

"If your boyfriend were Rinji, you wouldn't even need to worry about that."

"Kaguya-san, I'm really about to get mad."

"It's just an example," Kaguya said gloomily. "Even though we've confirmed our relationship, I still have no idea how to interact with him now."

"Why not use me and Rinji as a reference?"

"What's your daily life with him like?"

"Honestly? Very ordinary."

Hayasaka thought back over her days with Rinji.

"In the evenings after school, I go home and tidy up the bedroom a bit. Rinji buys groceries. Then he comes home and cooks, we eat dinner together, and after that we spend some time doing homework. Then we watch TV together, sometimes play console games in his room, or go out for a walk and enjoy the night scenery. In the morning, Rinji makes breakfast before school. That's basically a day."

"Damn, it's so ordinary it makes me jealous."