Crossover: After deciding to give up, i became popular

"President, try this."

"Ah… okay."

"And this… and this, too!"

"Uh-huh…"

It was hard to describe the scene unfolding. How could one explain the absurdity of trading extravagant, luxurious dishes for simple homemade side dishes from someone else's bento? Was it a case of overindulgence?

If it were anyone else, it might seem baffling, but for someone like Shinomiya Kaguya—a wealthy young lady curious about ordinary home cooking—it made sense.

Still, staring fixedly at someone else's bento the way she was… wasn't that going a bit too far? Was it really that delicious?

Natsukawa Kanade couldn't help but feel that Kaguya was moments away from drooling.

It had all started earlier when Kaguya suggested they eat lunch first and discuss student council matters afterward. Kanade had no objections.

However, the moment he opened his humble bento, he felt Kaguya's eyes lock onto it like a predator spotting prey.

She completely ignored the opulent lunch prepared by renowned chefs in front of her, focusing entirely on Kanade's modest, self-made meal.

Thinking she was just curious about unfamiliar items like squid sausage or hamburger patties, Kanade had offered to trade a few bites. He didn't want her to feel bad about taking from his meal without offering something in return.

But his act of kindness had turned lunch into an uncomfortable experience.

Foie gras, Tasmanian blue lobster, Caspian caviar… countless luxurious items, some of which Kanade couldn't even identify, ended up in his budget bento box.

It was a simple, humble 1500-yen bento—it wasn't built to handle such decadence!

What had begun as a friendly exchange of food had morphed into something that felt like swindling a naïve heiress.

If she liked his cooking so much, Kanade wouldn't have minded giving her the whole bento. But that would leave him with her lavish meal in return. The exchange rate wasn't just unfair—it was absurd!

"Ahem… let's discuss the real topic at hand," Kanade said, trying to redirect the conversation.

The chefs' craftsmanship was impeccable, and the aroma of their creations was almost too tempting to resist. To stay focused, he had to distract himself.

"Kaguya, I have faith in your abilities. Is there anything that could possibly stump you?"

Sophisticated, elegant, and supremely talented—Shinomiya Kaguya was undoubtedly a genius. Kanade didn't know the full extent of the effort she had put into becoming who she was, but he deeply respected her dedication.

After all, she was someone he had once admired—no, someone he had once loved. Trusting her unconditionally was simply what one did for someone they cherished.

"Uh!" Kaguya's heart skipped a beat.

Just moments ago, she had been sulking because the president had closed his bento, denying her more bites of his cooking. But then he had praised her so sincerely!

He recognized me!

Kaguya's mood soared, as if she were lying on a soft cloud, enveloped in warmth that was melting her from the inside out.

"Kaguya?"

"Yes! Absolutely!"

"Uh… like what?" Kanade asked, curious.

Kaguya had clearly been lost in thought just now. Whatever had occupied her mind, Kanade had neither the time nor the inclination to guess.

Girls' thoughts were far too complicated. Trying to decipher them was as futile as buying a lottery ticket. At least with the latter, there was a chance of winning.

"For example… being a good student council president! That's something I can't do!" Kaguya declared firmly.

This was a line she had rehearsed with Hayasaka beforehand.

From Kaguya's perspective, she desperately wanted Kanade to remain as the student council president. Otherwise, she'd have no excuse to spend time with him at school, let alone get opportunities for one-on-one interactions like today.

Today's meeting had taken a lot of effort—convincing Hayasaka to plan everything, asking for advice on how to invite Kanade, ensuring Hayasaka guarded the student council room's entrance to keep others out, and staying in constant contact for backup.

Securing private moments with Kanade was no small feat!

"Being… a good student council president?" Kanade looked stunned.

Honestly, he had expected some sort of monumental challenge—something that could stump even the brilliant members of the student council. But this?

Being the student council president wasn't that hard, was it?

Hadn't Shirogane Miyuki proven as much during Kanade's recent absence? The student council had run smoothly without him, which only showed that Kanade wasn't irreplaceable.

Miyuki was even the rightful student council president in the original story!

Kanade felt like he had simply borrowed the role. By resigning, he was just returning what wasn't truly his.

"What about Shirogane? I think he could handle it…"

"No way!" Kaguya's expression turned serious. "Shirogane might be capable, but he could never replace you, President!"

"You are you—there will never be another!"

Oh no, that sounded way too much like a confession! What if the president thinks I like him?! Stupid Hayasaka, this is all your fault!

Although Kaguya had followed Hayasaka's script to the letter, her feelings had seeped into her words, making them sound far more heartfelt than intended.

Kanade was visibly moved.

"Thank you for believing in me…"

Yes! The president thanked me! Hayasaka, you're amazing!

Kaguya, lost in her own emotions, didn't notice the complicated look in Kanade's eyes.

Her words echoed in his mind. Was she acknowledging his abilities, or affirming his uniqueness? So, this was how Kaguya saw him…

Kanade felt a warmth in his chest.

Whether her words were entirely sincere or not, they had touched him deeply.

For the first time, Kanade remembered a neglected truth: he had never confessed his feelings to Shinomiya Kaguya.

With Shiina Mahiru, and even Yukinoshita Yukino later, he had always mustered the courage to confess his heart.

But with Kaguya, he had only ever tread cautiously, never daring to lay his feelings bare.

Maybe it was because she reminded him so much of Yukino, who had always looked down on him. He had assumed Kaguya felt the same and given up before trying. But what if…?

"Kaguya, there's something I'd like to tell you…"

"Hm? What is it, President?"

"I… Sorry if this seems sudden, but I feel like I need to say it—" Kanade took a deep breath, his hands clenching tightly. His tall frame trembled slightly, dreading her response.

"I…"

"Yahallo!"

The student council room door swung open abruptly, cutting him off.

A pink-haired figure popped into view, her face adorned with a silly grin.

"There you are, President! Kaguya-chan! Guess what I just saw? The piglet in the petting zoo climbed a tree after being chased! Hahaha! Oh, oh, and look at this!"

Fujiwara Chika, as if presenting a treasure, pulled her hands from behind her back to reveal a hamster nibbling on sunflower seeds.

"It's Hamster Taro!"

Kanade: "…"

"Fujiwara-san," Kaguya said, her tone icy as she glared at the pink-haired intruder. "Keeping animals from the petting zoo is against school rules. I suggest you return it immediately."

Her cold stare wasn't aimed at the hamster—it was directed at the disruptive cow who had ruined her private time with the president.

"Eh? No way! I just found Hamster Taro! Let me play with him a bit longer!"

Unfazed, Chika ran up to Kaguya, hugging her arm and pouting.

"Hey, Kaguya-chan, did you change your hairstyle? It looks so pretty!"

"Oh… You noticed?" Kaguya responded casually, sneaking a glance at Kanade.

She felt a twinge of disappointment. It was nice to be noticed, but why hadn't he been the one to notice first?

Kanade froze, a whirlwind of thoughts surging through his mind.

People usually changed their hairstyle after a significant emotional shift. Could this be the case for Kaguya?

Was it his resignation? Or… no. There had to be more.

Kanade's eyes flickered with realization: during his absence, Shirogane Miyuki had likely stepped up as the hero, managing the student council crisis. His fatigue-induced sharpness probably impressed Kaguya even more.

In the original story, Kaguya and Miyuki had fallen for each other naturally. Kanade's meddling had only delayed the inevitable.

I was never meant to win, was I?

Kanade sighed internally. Perhaps it was time to admit defeat. He couldn't even notice a simple hairstyle change—what right did he have to love her?

For the first time, Kanade felt gratitude toward Chika Fujiwara. If not for her interruption, he would have made yet another irreparable mistake.