Crossover: After deciding to give up, i became popular

Eccentric, carefree, whimsical—Fujiwara Chika was someone who did exactly what she wanted. She seized anything that piqued her interest, only to abandon it the moment her enthusiasm waned.

She was a bird in the wild, untethered and free, singing her way through a noisy, colorful life that never seemed to tire her.

The polar opposite of Shinomiya Kaguya.

When had they first met?

Perhaps it was back in fourth grade, when Kaguya noticed a tired-looking Chika slumped in front of a piano. Offhandedly, Kaguya had remarked, "If you don't want to play, then don't."

What had Kaguya been thinking at the time? Was she angry at Chika for disrespecting the art? Projecting her own frustrations? Or envious of her freedom? The exact emotions were now a blur.

What she hadn't expected was for Chika to stop playing altogether. Instead, she began pestering Kaguya incessantly.

"Kaguya-chan, let's eat together!"

"Kaguya-chan, let's walk home together!"

"Kaguya-chan, let's be friends!"

Day after day, the relentless barrage wore Kaguya down. In the end, she proposed a compromise: they'd play a game. If Kaguya lost, she'd be Chika's friend.

And she lost.

How? How could someone like her lose to someone so half-hearted? Was Chika cheating? Or had Kaguya thrown the game without realizing it?

Those details didn't matter anymore. What Kaguya remembered was the strange joy she had felt after gaining her first friend.

Even now, as a high school student, Chika remained her only close friend.

Kaguya had once thought they'd be lifelong companions—until she witnessed Chika ravaging the president's bento like a ravenous beast.

Where was her poise? Her elegance?! Was she a reincarnated starving ghost? Put the president's bento down, you human-shaped livestock!

Fine, Kaguya thought darkly, if Chika suddenly drops dead tomorrow, I won't lift a finger to save her.

Yet, Kaguya smiled as she watched Chika rummage through the bento box. To an outsider, it might even look affectionate.

But her eyes had grown cold.

"Kaguya-chan, try this! It's super tasty!"

Oblivious to Kaguya's simmering resentment, Chika offered her half a hamburger patty.

"Ahhhh~~~"

"Even if you say that… it's good!" Kaguya's eyes lit up, instantly transforming into a foodie.

"Right?! The warm, juicy flavor of the hamburger patty is amazing, but the way the cool temperature concentrates the flavors inside the meat is incredible too!"

Chika's impassioned critique made her sound like a food connoisseur.

Meanwhile, Kanade glanced at Kaguya's untouched luxurious bento, filled with dishes crafted by master chefs. He couldn't help but pity it—overshadowed by such simple, humble ingredients.

Kanade himself hadn't eaten much, settling for a few bites of rice and some side dishes Kaguya had traded him. Most of his painstakingly prepared meal had ended up in the two girls' stomachs.

"Ah, I'm so full!" Chika patted her stomach with a blissful smile.

"Hmm…" Kaguya was equally pleased.

Though she hated to admit it, Chika had redeemed herself somewhat. Kaguya decided to generously forgive her this time.

But while the two of them had eaten to their hearts' content, the president hadn't eaten much at all. This was her moment to act!

"President, I'm sorry we ate all your side dishes. If you don't mind, please have mine instead."

She extended her bento and chopsticks toward him. Not just any chopsticks—her used ones.

The implication was obvious. Indirect kiss.

Come on, President, this time you can't stay unmoved!

"I'll pass. I'm not really hungry," Kanade said, shaking his head.

One piercing truth after another had struck him today. The idea of eating was simply unappealing now. That he hadn't broken down entirely was a testament to his mental fortitude.

"How could you…" Kaguya's face fell in disappointment.

Chika glanced between her and Kanade, then spoke with a serious tone:

"President, being a picky eater is bad, you know! Even if the Shinomiya family's chefs make terrible food, you shouldn't waste it!"

Kaguya: "…!"

Kanade: "…?"

What? Picky? Terrible? Was she serious? Was she even talking to him—or was this aimed at Kaguya?

"Fujiwara… are you talking about me?" Kanade asked hesitantly.

He had always known Chika was scatterbrained, but this…

His gaze shifted to Kaguya, who looked genuinely upset. Suddenly, it clicked.

"You're right—being picky is a bad habit. Kaguya, if you don't mind…"

"Of course not! Please, President, have some!" Kaguya perked up instantly.

Kanade nodded, silently accepting her bento and starting to eat.

To him, it wasn't about appetite. Knowing Kaguya liked Shirogane was hard enough; losing his appetite was inevitable. But from Kaguya's perspective, she likely felt guilty for taking his food and leaving him with nothing.

Her pride wouldn't allow her to accept unsolicited kindness, but a fair trade would ease her conscience.

And so, the fragile balance of peace was restored. A world where no one gets hurt was complete.

"Oh, oh, Kaguya-chan! What about your story? Who's the person you care about?" Chika, as energetic as ever, pressed on.

"That doesn't matter," Kaguya replied without looking up, her focus entirely on Kanade's graceful eating. She seemed intent on memorizing his every movement.

"Of course it matters! This is the first time I've heard about you caring for a boy!" Chika protested.

"Oh, that… it's my nephew."

Kaguya's tone was casual, but her eyes never left Kanade. Her concentration was almost obsessive, as if she were analyzing his actions frame by frame.

"So cute; he's learning to walk. Even when he falls, he doesn't cry—he just gets back up. And he always smiles at me…"

"Ugh! That doesn't count at all!" Chika pouted.

"Why not? I do care about him."

"Ugh… it just doesn't!"

"You're so troublesome…"

The two girls continued their playful banter, leaving Kanade to silently endure his meal.

Listening to Kaguya's obviously fabricated excuse, Kanade felt a dull ache in his stomach.

What a painful lunch.