Ryota's POV.
Fujiwara-san is scribbling on a certain date on the calendar of May.
Chika: Um, the welcome party is next Monday.
Chika: Other than making decorations, we need to go shopping for souvenir sweets.
Kaguya: We probably need two people for that.
Ryota: If you're talking about sweets, I know someone who can make them.
Miyuki: Oh?
Ryota: My mom.
Chika: Really?
Ryota: Yep. My mom studied under some of the greatest pastry chefs around the world.
Kaguya: Wow. That's amazing. But......
Kaguya: We don't want to bother your mother.
Miyuki: I agree with Shinomiya. We can't afford to bother Koharu-san to this matter.
Chika: But isn't it convenient to ask Koharu-san for this? I'm sure she'll be delighted to do it.
Miyuki: But still, it's kinda embarrassing to ask this to your mother.
Ryota: Well, I guess the decision is still up to you guys.
Kaguya: Well, besides from shopping.......
Kaguya: We'll need a few other things, too. Not to mention, that should be enough for all the participants, so that's a lot of stuff.
Miyuki: Which means giving up our day off to go shopping.
Miyuki: What a pain. Who'd wanna do that—
Then I glared at him.
Ryota: Giving up your day off, huh?
Ryota: How nice that you guys have your day offs.
Miyuki: K-Kaedehara, why are you looking at me with killing intent?
Ryota: Well, it's a total insult for me when you said that line earlier. For your information........
Ryota: During the weekdays, I work after school, then on weekends I work for almost 12 hours straight.
Ryota: Not to mention, dealing with every kind of customers, even annoying ones.
Ryota: So.............
Ryota: If you plan on making me run those errands, sorry. I'm totally busy.
Kaguya: Well, looks like Kaedehara-kun is always busy in their café.
Kaguya: Have you ever decided on hiring new staff.
Ryota: We already have but there are still no response. No one has submitted their resume.
Ryota: Well, they are probably busy.
Chika: Aw.
Ryota: I really don't mind it though.
Ryota: But still, shopping on the things needed for the party...........
Ryota: Well, maybe Saya could help.
Miyuki: Your cousin?
Ryota: But, she's as busy as I am.
Kaguya: Oh.
Chika: We'll be in trouble if no one wants to do it.
Miyuki: Well, if it's really necessary, I'll do it.
Miyuki: Unlike this guy.
He points his thumb at me.
Ryota: Oi, don't drag me into this mess. Also, it's not my fault for always having a busy schedule in our café!
Chika: Oh!
Then she grabs the flashcards that are lying on the table!
Chika: Then why don't we play a game and the losers have to go!
Miyuki & Kaguya: A game?
Ryota: Well........
Chika: Yes! The banned word game!
Ryota: Oh, is it the game that they will give you a piece of paper and then someone will write a certain word on that paper.
Ryota: The word written on there is the forbidden word.
Then she writes something on a piece of paper and writes the word on it.
Chika: I write a word like this and pass it to the person on my right. But I'll give this to Kaedehara-kun just for example.
Well, there are two couches facing each other and a table between the couches.
Shinomiya-san is seated to Fujiwara-san's right side while Kaichou is on my right side and we're facing the two girls.
I'm facing Fujiwara-san while Kaichou is facing Shinomiya-san.
Chika: Hold it up and don't look at it.
Ryota: And that's the word that the person can't say.
Miyuki: I get. So you don't know what your banned word it.
Ryota: Yep. That's it. It's that simple.
Chika: You're out.
I looked at the paper and the written word is simple.
Ryota: And this is what I'm talking about.
Miyuki: !!!
Chika: Now let's do it for real!
Ryota: Hmmm.....now what word should I write?
Chika: And since we're four people, the ones who'll take the 3rd and 4th place will be the ones who'll do the shopping.
Ryota: I see.
The person on my right is Kaichou.
Ryota: Hmmmm.........I guess I should write the word "serious" because I know the president gets fired up when he becomes serious.
I write the word on the paper and the others did it as well.
We passed on our papers. Now, then what did Shinomiya-san wrote on the paper she gave me.
Then we held the papers above our heads.
Chika: Is everyone ready?
Ryota: Let's see........
Ryota: Kaichou's word is serious, since I'm the one who wrote it. Fujiwara-san's word is "check-it-out" wait, what the heck are you thinking Kaichou!?
Ryota: Then Shinomiya-san's word is "love."
Ryota: What is my banned word, I wonder?
Then Fujiwara-san started beatboxing and speaking in a rap like manner.
Chika: Yo, yo, let's get started, yo!
Ryota: Uh, is that even allowed?
Miyuki: Fujiwara?
Chika: When I play da banned word game, people be choosin' words n' phrases I be sayin', but not now, yo!
Chika: I be changin' da way I speak, so my words be different, yo! Too bad, man!
Miyuki: !!!!!!!!
Ryota: Is that so?
Ryota: Then, thou left me no choice, Fujiwara-dono.
Chika: W-what!?
Ryota: I shall speak in this very formal manner.
Miyuki: Oh, right. You shouldn't take Kaedehara this lightly. He always deal with different kinds of customers in their café.
Miyuki: He knows what words should be said and what words are not appropriate to say.
Ryota: In other words, I'll never go down that easily.
Fujiwara: Grrrrrrrrr.........
Fujiwara-san just continued talking like a rapper and when she attempted to make Shinomiya-san talk.........
She just smiled and didn't say anything.
Chika: Kaguya-san, what do ya think is your word, yo?
Chika: Say, "Hooo!"
Kaguya: *smile*
Chika: Say, "Hooo!"
Kaguya: *smile*
Chika: Say "Hooo"..........
Kaguya: *smile*
Ryota: Wow! That's one way to win this game!
As Fujiwara-san tries to make Shinomiya-san talk, Kaichou steps in.
Miyuki: Shinomiya, we won't get anywhere like that.
Miyuki: At the bare minimum, speak enough to make a conversation.
Kaguya: If you insist.
Kaguya: Fine.
There was a long silence between the four of us.........probably Kaichou is making a plan to make Shinomiya-san say the word "love."
Until..........
Miyuki: Fujiwara, Kaedehara, is there something you guys hate?
I see. A misdirection tactic.
Ryota: Something I hate, huh?
Ryota: Well, I hate..........people who would just poke their nose into other people's private life.
Kaguya: !!!!
Miyuki: B-Besides from that?
Ryota: Hmmm, let's see.........
Ryota: The things I hate.........
Ryota: Well, first thing is.........I hate liars.
Miyuki: Liars?
Ryota: Yeah. I hate liars. To the point that I can even differentiate whether a person is saying the truth or a lie depending on their eye movement, the tone and pitch of their voices, body language.
Ryota: You see, I learned this skill interacting with different kinds of people.
Ryota: To the point that I even saw who are Yuki's true friends back then during middle school.
Chika: You mean?
Ryota: Yep. She may be popular in our class but, I only know a few who are really true to her.
Ryota: Who saw Yuki Nakahara for who she truly is. I know, after all, we became a couple and basically, she is really honest to me.
Ryota: I was the one who saw her, without her mask. With her true face and her true self.
Miyuki: I see.
Miyuki: How about you, Fujiwara?
Chika: What I hate?
Chika: Let's see......
Chika: People often tell me I'm not good at reading the situation, yo.
Chika: That's what makes me a complete opposite to Kaedehara-kun, yo.
Chika: But they say it's also a good thing, yo.
Chika: But when they talk about love and stuff, they don't include me!
Chika: Well, except for Kaedehara-kun who shared his tragic love story to the student council!
Ryota: It's because I trust you guys and I know that somehow, you'll understand me.
Chika: But still! They also say that I'd step on a land mine!
Ryota: I can't believe she already knows that fact and yet ignores it all the same. This girl is total chaos.
Chika: When I think about making problems for people without knowing even realizing it, it makes me sad.
Somehow the atmosphere became heavy.
Chika: That's what I hate.
Kaguya: Fujiwara-san.......
Then Shinomiya-san pats Fujiwara-san's head.
Kaguya: I've never thought you've caused problems for me.
Kaguya: In fact, there are many people who've been helped by your straightforwardness.
Ryota: And the fact that you understood how sad my story is.......I'm glad that somehow.......
Ryota: Someone gets it.
Chika: Kaedehara-kun, Kaguya-san.......
Chika: Really? You guys don't hate me?
Ryota: I would never hate someone whom I placed my trust in and I know that you guys are the ones who knows how to understand and keep their secrets.
Kaguya: As for me. Well, I mean.....I.....
Kaguya: .......love you.
Ryota: ...........a............
Chika: You're out, yo!
Then she quickly saw her banned word which is, "love" in other words, she lost.
Kaguya: !!!!!!!!!!
Ryota: That.......was a magnificent bluff.
Kaguya: Was all of that a lie?
Ryota: Nope, it wasn't a lie. It was the truth.
Chika: Of course, people would include me in conversations about love interests, yo!
Ryota: Well, Shinomiya-san is out. That only leaves me, Kaichou and Fujiwara-san.
Ryota: I'll just have to aim for the 2nd place. I can't afford to win against Fujiwara-san in this kind of game!
Ryota: Not to mention, her banned word is going to be hard to say it!
Then I just watched the two of them bicker as I also noticed that the President is in deep thought.
Miyuki: Say, Kaedehara? What would you do in this kind of situation?
Ryota: I need to assess the situation itself. Well, with the things going on right now........
Ryota: This is going to be hard.
Miyuki: But since you're perspective, Kaedehara, do you really think it's a lie?
Ryota: Like I told you, body language, eye movement, tone and pitch of one's voice. You can easily tell it from the first glance.
Ryota: Well, the fact that she was alienated is true.
Ryota: Have you observed the interaction between Shinomiya-san and Fujiwara-san just now?
Miyuki: Hmmmm? Now that you mentioned it, it really does makes sense.
Miyuki: I see.
Miyuki: Then........
Miyuki: Kaedehara, Fujiwara......
The two of us turned our attention to the president and as if a menacing aura is surrounding around him.
Miyuki: I'm going to get serious here.
Ryota: ............a.............
Chika: You're out, yo!
Miyuki: HUUUUUIUUUUUUUH!?
Chika: Yes! I beat the president, too!
Kaguya: *jaw dropped*
Chika: Yay! Yay!
I lean on my seat and crossed my legs.
Ryota: You may have won the battle, but not the war.
Ryota: Fujiwara-san, the war is far from over!
Fujiwara: Oh, I forgot that you're also participating on this one!
Fujiwara: Then, since the 3rd and the 4th placers will go to the shopping, then I guess the 2nd place will get to treat the other!
Ryota: Oh? Are you challenging me?
Fujiwara: Hehe! Prepare your best drink at your café!
Fujiwara: Because, I'll win this, yo!
Ryota: Then bring it on!
Fujiwara: Then, check this out!
Miyuki: ...........
Kaguya: ..............
Ryota: ...................
Chika: Eh? What happened to you guys? As if you just saw a ghost?
Ryota: Hehehehe. Hahahahahaha.
Ryota: AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!
Ryota: Just look at your paper!
She checks it.
Chika: AAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH!
Chika: How!?
Ryota: You fell in my trap fool!
Miyuki: Looks like, Kaedehara-kun is the winner.
Ryota: Now, let's see the my banned word.
I checked the paper and it was written there.......
Ryota: "Calm."
Ryota: I see...........
Ryota: Well......that was nice. But you see, Shinomiya-san, I've always been calm in these kind of situation. That's why that word always resonates within my mind.
Shinomiya: U-urk! I can't believe this......you saw through it all!?
Ryota: Well, not all of it. I just went with the flow. But I never thought that my taunt will work against, Fujiwara-san.
Chika: WAAAAAAAAHHHHHHH!
Ryota: Haha.
Ryota: Nevermind that. Say, what about you guys drop by the café? Maybe you can get some ideas?
Shinomiya: I'd love to.
Miyuki: Sure. I would say no to a cup of coffee.
Fujiwara: But......how about the treat?
Ryota: Don't worry, it's on me. Order whatever you guys want.
Fujiwara: Yay! Then I'll try the Caramel Macchiato!
And so, today's battle results:
Ryota's Victory!