Heartbeats and Illusions

"Finally, it's all done…" Natsukawa Kanade exhaled deeply, stretching his arms as though shedding the weight of an entire week's worth of responsibilities.

The Student Union room, which had been bustling with activity earlier, now exuded a tranquil calm. Kanade had spent the better part of his free time tackling the ever-growing pile of tasks, determined to finish everything before the end of club activities.

"It's only Monday, and yet there's already so much to handle. You all must have worked so hard while I was gone…" Kanade glanced at Shinomiya Kaguya, his tone tinged with genuine appreciation.

"It's not as bad as you think," Kaguya replied smoothly, her demeanor as poised as ever. She reached for the teapot and poured a fresh cup of tea for Kanade. "Most of the routine matters have been handled. What remains are decisions that require your final approval, President."

"A week's worth of unresolved issues?" Kanade raised an eyebrow, taking the offered teacup.

"Yes."

"...I see," Kanade muttered, momentarily speechless. No wonder he'd felt swamped. It wasn't just today's workload—he was essentially playing catch-up for last week's unresolved matters.

"You know," he said, leaning back in his chair, "with your skills, you could've handled some of these decisions yourselves. Why not just take the initiative?"

Kaguya's expression didn't waver. "Because we've always believed that you, President, would return to lead us. Overstepping our authority would have been… improper."

Kanade froze, her words hitting him harder than he expected.

Oops… my conscience is tingling.

If Fujiwara Chika had said something like this, Kanade would've brushed it off as her usual antics. But coming from Kaguya Shinomiya, who was nothing if not earnest, it was clear this was the honest belief of the entire Student Union.

The realization made him feel like the quintessential black-hearted boss—dumping work on his subordinates under the guise of delegation, only to swoop back in at the last moment to reclaim his authority. A casual joke when he'd stepped down had spiraled into this unintended consequence.

Still, despite the self-imposed workload, Kanade couldn't deny the warmth that came with being back in the Student Union. Working alongside these familiar faces made the effort worthwhile.

"Are you free after this, Shinomiya?" Kanade asked, taking a sip of the tea she had poured.

For a moment, Kaguya froze, her typically composed expression faltering as an unexpected surge of emotions swelled within her.

Wait… is the president inviting me out?

Her thoughts spiraled into overdrive. Could this be… a walk? Dinner? Or maybe even… going home together?

Her heart raced as possibilities blossomed in her mind, each one more extravagant than the last.

Where's Hayasaka when I need her?! Someone needs to hold back the main family at least!

Her chaotic inner monologue was so overwhelming that she nearly forgot her carefully crafted plan—to "accidentally" brush hands while passing him tea and subtly exchange contact information.

"Shinomiya?"

"Yes! Of course, I'm free!" she blurted out, her voice a little louder than intended.

"Great," Kanade said with a small smile. "I need you to stay here in the Student Union for a while. There's something I have to take care of, so I'll leave the key with you."

He placed the key on the table, picked up his things, and walked toward the door.

Kaguya watched him go, her mind struggling to process what had just happened.

"Wait… what?"

Her shoulders slumped as the door clicked shut behind him, leaving her alone in the room. This was not how she had envisioned the conversation going.

Meanwhile, Kanade was already halfway to the school's breeding garden. The light breeze brushed against his face, clearing his mind as he made his way to his destination.

His thoughts wandered back to his earlier encounter with Yukinoshita Yukino. Seeing her again after so long had unearthed a memory he'd nearly forgotten—a memory tied to a small, furry creature he hadn't visited in a while.

The moment he reached the garden, a soft meow greeted him. Kneeling down, he extended his hand toward the little white kitten nestled in the grass. "Be good, Yuki…"

Kanade's fingers gently scratched the kitten's chin, eliciting a series of delighted purrs.

Yuki had once been Yukinoshita Yukino's responsibility—or rather, the two of them had looked after it together, though Kanade's memories of that time were tinged with bittersweet feelings.

The first time he'd encountered Yuki, the kitten had been a pitiful sight. It was trembling in the grass, its leg bloodied and its small body riddled with scratches.

As someone who had always adored cats, Yukinoshita Yukino couldn't bring herself to ignore the injured kitten when she first stumbled upon it. With Natsukawa Kanade's encouragement, the two of them took the kitten under their care, nursing it back to health. At Kanade's suggestion, they eventually brought it to the school's nursery, a decision that proved to be both practical and convenient.

The old lady who managed the nursery—a kind and warm-hearted figure—happily agreed to take Yuki in, ensuring the little creature would be well cared for. This arrangement gave Kanade the perfect excuse to visit Yuki frequently, and, by extension, Yukinoshita. For a time, the kitten became an unspoken bridge between them—until the day Kanade confessed his feelings and Yukinoshita turned him down.

Standing in the nursery garden once more, Kanade crouched down beside Yuki, who nuzzled against his hand. A small, nostalgic smile crossed his face.

"I'm sorry, I've been busy lately and haven't come to see you much," Kanade said softly, his voice tinged with guilt.

"Meow?" Yuki tilted her head, as if questioning his absence.

Kanade chuckled. "You've gained weight since I last saw you. Looks like the food here agrees with you."

"Meow!" the kitten responded, as if proudly affirming his observation.

"You're looking good—full of energy," he added, reaching out to lift the kitten into his hands.

Just as Kanade was about to hold Yuki closer, a cold yet familiar voice pierced through the serene moment.

"Kanade?"

Startled, Kanade turned to see Yukinoshita standing a short distance away. Her expression was unreadable, her gaze steady and composed.

"...What a coincidence," Kanade muttered, carefully setting Yuki down and lightly patting her head instead.

"I come here at this time every day," Yukinoshita replied plainly.

"Noted. I'll make sure to avoid it next time," Kanade said with a small sigh.

Yukinoshita shook her head, a faint shadow of exasperation crossing her face. "That wasn't my point."

Without elaborating further, she stepped closer, kneeling down gracefully next to Kanade. She adjusted her skirt as she crouched, her movements elegant as always.

"Are you eating well, Yuki? Don't give the kind granny any trouble," Yukinoshita cooed, her voice soft and affectionate.

Kanade watched silently as she interacted with the kitten. Her smile—genuine and warm—lit up her features, though Kanade noted, with a touch of bitterness, that it had never been directed at him.

Yuki, caught between the two humans, seemed momentarily puzzled. She tilted her head, her wide eyes darting between them.

"Meow?"

"Don't worry," Yukinoshita murmured, stroking the kitten's fur. "There's no conflict between us."

Kanade couldn't help but raise an eyebrow at her words, though he said nothing. Yukinoshita, for her part, seemed hesitant, her hand pausing mid-stroke as if unsure whether to continue.

Kanade broke the silence. "So, what are you planning for your club's affairs?"

"Recruiting new members," Yukinoshita replied matter-of-factly, her tone betraying none of her inner thoughts.

"That's not like you," Kanade remarked, mildly surprised.

"It may not be, but it's the most straightforward approach," she said simply.

Kanade nodded but didn't respond further. The quiet stretched between them, the only sound the occasional rustle of leaves in the breeze and Yuki's contented purring.

After a long pause, Kanade stood and dusted off his pants. "I should get going."

Yukinoshita looked up, her lips parting slightly as though she wanted to say something. But Kanade had already begun walking away, his back turned to her.

"Kanade…" Her voice was barely above a whisper, but he heard it clearly. He stopped in his tracks, glancing over his shoulder.

"What is it?"

"What… What are you thinking about?" she asked, her expression unreadable.

Kanade blinked, momentarily caught off guard. "What am I thinking about?"

"Yes."

He glanced down at Yuki, who was now curled up in Yukinoshita's arms, and smiled faintly. "I'm thinking that Yuki is adorable."

"...Is that so?"

Kanade paused, considering his next words. "If it's not that… then I'm probably just thinking about how to live each day well."

Yukinoshita's gaze lingered on him, searching for something in his expression, but Kanade offered no further explanation.

"It doesn't matter if you believe me or not," he said with a small shrug. "Anyway… take care, Yukinoshita."

With that, he waved casually over his shoulder and continued on his way, leaving her behind.

Yukinoshita watched him go, her grip tightening slightly around Yuki. She glanced down at the kitten, stroking her soft fur with a wistful expression.

"Yuki," she murmured, "do you believe him?"

"Meow?"

"I see… As expected, he's a liar."