Crossover: After deciding to give up, i became popular

Inside one of the Shinomiya family's many lavish residences, in Kaguya Shinomiya's private room, a heated debate raged between the young heiress and her ever-loyal maid, Ai Hayasaka.

"I refuse to believe it! There's no way I'm perfectly fine! This medical report must be a fake... yes, fake! It's probably mixed up with someone else's by mistake!"

"Face reality, Miss Kaguya. This report was prepared by your family doctor and states that you're in excellent health. There's nothing wrong with you."

"Hayasaka, while modern medicine has indeed advanced greatly, it is not infallible! Blind faith in it will only lead to ruin!"

Kaguya shook her head dramatically, snatching the medical report from the table and tossing it into the nearby trash can without a second glance.

"I know my body better than anyone. I am definitely sick!"

"The doctor did say you're suffering from something... lovesickness."

Hayasaka glanced at the clock on the wall. The hour hand had long since passed eleven, and the moonlight streaming through the window only deepened her sigh.

"If you insist on claiming you're unwell, Miss Kaguya, could you please describe your symptoms in detail?"

"For example, I've been restless all day and found myself wandering around aimlessly," Kaguya replied earnestly.

"That's because you didn't see Natsukawa-sama all day, so you felt unsettled."

"Impossible! I just thought today's routine was particularly dull, that's all. At most, I felt a lack of motivation without the president around..."

"..." Hayasaka's expression turned into one of utter exasperation. Was this really the brilliant, all-capable genius she served? Because right now, she looked more like a stubborn child in denial.

"Anything else bothering you?" Hayasaka asked, forcing herself to maintain composure.

"While I'm in the student council room, I sometimes feel short of breath. But if I sit in his chair, I calm down."

"...Just to confirm, by 'his chair,' do you mean the one Natsukawa-sama usually sits in?"

"Of course! Since the president is resigning, I've been handling his duties as the acting president. Naturally, I need to sit in the president's chair!"

"..."

Hayasaka's jaw tightened. Was Miss Kaguya developing a fetish for the chair already? It had only been two days since Natsukawa had stepped down!

To Hayasaka, this whole situation reeked of Natsukawa's "push-and-pull" tactics. His feelings for Kaguya had always been painfully obvious—at least to everyone but the love-illiterate heiress herself.

Observing Kaguya's current state, Hayasaka couldn't help but marvel. Master Natsukawa... your methods are terrifyingly effective!

"That's because the chair still carries Natsukawa-sama's scent, which brings you comfort when you sit in it," Hayasaka said, her words oozing with secondhand embarrassment.

It took every ounce of willpower for her to utter those words without cringing. How could she ever face the family matron again after this?

"That's absurd! Hayasaka, your claim makes me sound like some weirdo obsessed with the president's scent!" Kaguya shot to her feet, her cheeks blazing with indignation.

She began waving her arms animatedly, railing against Hayasaka's "baseless" accusations.

"I'm merely saying his scent is... pleasant! It must be a new kind of shampoo! Hayasaka, investigate this immediately!"

"..." Hayasaka reined in her irritation at being assigned yet another absurd task. With an unreadable expression, she pulled out her phone.

"Hello, this is Natsukawa-sama, correct? I'm Miss Kaguya's maid."

"Ha! Nice try, Hayasaka," Kaguya scoffed. "The president must be asleep by now. He won't pick up—"

"Good evening. How can I help you?"

The familiar voice of Natsukawa Kanade came through the phone's speaker.

"! President!"

Kaguya's eyes widened in panic. It was their first phone call since exchanging Line contacts! I'm talking to the president! Right now!

Her mind spun. No! Calm down! Remember the dignity of the Shinomiya family!

Straightening her posture, Kaguya prepared to listen attentively to the conversation.

Hayasaka smirked inwardly, then handed the phone to Kaguya. "Natsukawa-sama, Miss Kaguya would like to speak with you. One moment, please."

"Wait! Hayasaka!" Kaguya hissed, but it was too late. With trembling hands, she accepted the phone.

"G-good evening, President," she stammered, her back ramrod straight.

"Good evening, Shinomiya," Kanade replied smoothly.

"..."

"..."

The line went silent. After a simple exchange of greetings, Kaguya froze, unable to utter another word.

"Miss Kaguya, say something!" Hayasaka mouthed urgently, but Kaguya was too lost in her thoughts to notice.

What's the president doing now? Is he reading at his desk? Lying in bed, about to sleep? Or perhaps... taking a bath?

Wait! I'm in my pajamas right now! This is practically like we're talking in bed together!

Watching Kaguya spiral into her own fantasies, Hayasaka felt a wave of despair. Where was her poised, intelligent mistress? Who was this lovesick mess?

But as a loyal maid, she couldn't let her mistress make a fool of herself any longer. Snatching the phone from Kaguya's hand, Hayasaka spoke briskly:

"Hello? Natsukawa-sama? The connection here is bad. Since we can't hear you clearly, we'll hang up for now. Miss Kaguya will discuss the matter with you in person tomorrow."

Before Kanade could respond, Hayasaka ended the call with a swift press of the button.

On the other end of the line, Kanade stared at his phone's full signal bars, confused.

"Hayasaka! Why did you hang up?! I wanted to hear more of the president's voice!"

"..." Hayasaka took a deep breath, barely holding herself together.

Were you even talking? You were so nervous you couldn't say a word!

"With all due respect, Miss Kaguya, in your current state, you're incapable of holding a proper conversation with Natsukawa-sama. I suggest you go to bed immediately!"

The clock's hands were nearing midnight. If Kaguya didn't rest soon, Hayasaka herself would barely get five hours of sleep.

And if her sleep deprivation continued, she might not survive the week. She hadn't even had her own romance yet—dying now was out of the question!

"Fine! But only because you look so pitiful," Kaguya muttered, relenting at last.

Tomorrow, she resolved, she would meet the president with grace and poise.

Though she hadn't seen Kanade all day, the memory of his gentle "Good evening, Shinomiya" lingered in her mind, filling her with newfound energy.

As Kaguya drifted into peaceful dreams, Hayasaka quietly collected the discarded medical report.

I need to make her realize her feelings soon, she thought grimly. Or else I'll lose my mind before she wins her love.