Ryota's POV.
Ryota: *yawn*
Just as I was about to enter the student council room, I was stopped by Hayasaka-san.
Ryota: What's the matter, Hayasaka-san?
Hayasaka: Can you come with me for a while?
Ryota: H-Huh—
She grabbed my wrist as she lead me into one of the benches as we both sat down.
Hayasaka: K-Kaedehara-kun.......
Hayasaka: About the...........
Ryota: Yeah. I know.
Hayasaka: Huh?
Ryota: To be honest, I don't know how will I deal with it.
Ryota: My mind's been a mess for the past few weeks since the new semester began.
Hayasaka: Sorry, for my sudden........
Ryota: It's alright.
Ryota: But I did tell you that give me some time, okay?
Hayasaka: But........what if........
Ryota: Don't worry.
Ryota: I need to settle something first.
Hayasaka: Settle something?
Hayasaka: From the past again?
Then I showed her the locket that I found before I went to my summer trip.
Hayasaka: A locket?
Ryota: Yeah.
Ryota: This thing has been bugging me out.
Ryota: As far as I know, I have this locket but that's it.
Ryota: I can only guess I have this locket for a long time now.
Hayasaka: I see. There is also a keyhole in there.
Ryota: Yeah. I feel like there is something within there, that is something to do with me in the past.
Ryota: But anyways, I don't know what will happen, afterwards.
Ryota: Hayasaka-san, let me ask you this, when you confessed to me.
Ryota: Is it out of recklessness? Because of your own free will? Or is it because you just feel like it?
Hayasaka: ............
Hayasaka: It's genuine. I really like you.
Hayasaka: I really do!
Hayasaka: I........I..........
Ryota: Then prove it to me.......
Hayasaka: Prove it?
Ryota: Prove it that I should be the one who should be reciprocating those feelings.
Hayasaka: What are you talking about?
Ryota: We just barely know each other, y'know. Although we've been hanging out lately........
Hayasaka: I see.......so you wanted to know more about me. Right?
Ryota: Yes.
Hayasaka: I see. I guess, I should tell you........a secret.
Ryota: A secret?
Hayasaka: Please, promise me not to tell this to everyone...........
Just from her conflicted expression and shaking hands..........
She's about to unravel her true self.
That's right.
All this time, I knew that she's hiding her trueself, underneath another personality.
How could someone, change their personality in an instant? From a gal to being serious to being funny to being flirty.
I concluded one thing.........
Hayasaka Ai.........
.......is putting up a front.
She's hiding something.
Hayasaka: I am...........Kaguya-sama's personal valet.
Hayasaka: I work for the Shinomiya family.
Ryota: I see.
Hayasaka: You're not going to say anything?
Ryota: No. Why would I?
Ryota: I mean, I guess you need to do that to protect Shinomiya-san's personal life and to protect yourself.
Ryota: And to look out for her.
Ryota: I can't see anything that is wrong about it.
Ryota: You do you.
I stood up from the bench as I pat her head.
Ryota: Thank you, for telling me this.
Hayasaka: You don't hate me?
Ryota: Why would I?
Ryota: Why would I hate someone whose guilt is already eating them deep inside.
Ryota: After all, we humans lie because we wanted to protect something or someone dear to us.
Ryota: Well, it's part of being human to make those mistakes.
Ryota: I remember what my dad told me about truths and lies.
Ryota: "People lie, because they know the truth can hurt them."
Ryota: "But I'd rather be hurt by the bitter truth, than to be a fooled by a sweet lie."
Ryota: We don't want to be hurt, we also don't want to hurt others. I don't know if this is true to others.
Ryota: I had a friend, when I was a kid.
Ryota: Who was lying to theirselves.
Ryota: That friend of mine would go on and on with their endless flaws.
Ryota: I already sensed that and that was the reason why they would always lie to theirself.
Ryota: That old friend of mine, can't even see the truth. The truth that they can change their flaws and make it their own strength.
Ryota: They were always full of weaknesses and would always lie just to prove theirself that they can do it.
Ryota: But in reality, they can't.
Ryota: That's why I helped that certain friend. To find the truth about theirself.
Ryota: But suddenly, I moved out of town and I wasn't able to help them until they could've acknowledge theirself.
Ryota: In fact.......
Ryota: I even forgot their name and face.
Ryota: I guess that's the most cruelest thing I've ever done as a friend.
Ryota: Some friend am I, to forgot them.
Hayasaka: But you still remembered what you did to help them, right?
Ryota: Yes, but still. I even forgot the promise we made to each other.
Ryota: I just know that it's a promise. But I don't even know what is even that promise.
Ryota: It's been so long.
I just clenched the locket in my hands.
Ryota: I just hope that this locket holds the answer.
Hayasaka: Would you mind, if I help you find that person?
Ryota: How can you even help me if, even I myself don't know who they are anymore.
Hayasaka: Oh.
Ryota: But still, thank you for hearing me out.
Ryota: It really helped me a lot.
Hayasaka: Thank you as well. For accepting me who I am........
Then she lays her head on my shoulder as she said.
Hayasaka: Can I stay like this for a little while?
Ryota: You know, you always like putting your head on my shoulder.
Hayasaka: It's comfortable. Warm and I always feel comfortable with you around.
Hayasaka: But don't worry, the me who visited your home for the first time, the me who took care of you while you're sick..........
Hayasaka: That was the real me. I would never lie, to what I truly feel.
After a few moments, she lets go and when I checked at the time on my phone.
Ryota: Looks like I need to go to the music club now.
Ryota: Since the summer fest was cancelled, we hope that the fall and winter fest wouldn't be cancelled.
Hayasaka: I hope so. Don't worry, I will support you with everything I got.
Hayasaka: You can count on that, Maple Leaf Prince.
I flicked her forehead.
Ryota: Haha. Don't call me like that you know.
Hayasaka: Why!? It suits you.
Ryota: It's kinda lame for me.
Ryota: Anyways, gotta go. I might get an earful from Mio-senpai if I'm late.
---------------
Hayasaka's POV.
And he's off.
Hayasaka: *sigh*
???: So, you're also in love with Ryo-chan.
Hayasaka: !?
I quickly turned around to see none other than........Fujiwara Chika.
Hayasaka: Did you..........?
Chika: No. I couldn't clearly hear what you two are talking about. I was passing by when I saw you, laying your head on his shoulder.
Hayasaka: What do you want?
Chika: I will not give him up!
Hayasaka: What!?
Chika: I will not give up on Ryo-chan!
Hayasaka: I see.
A declaration of war.
One way or another, it's going to end up at this point.
Of course.
After all............
She loves Kaedehara-kun as much as I do.
Hayasaka: I know you love him that much.
I stood up from my bench.
Hayasaka: But I love him as much as you do!
Chika: I know about him more than you do.
Hayasaka: He showed me bits of his personality he never showed to anyone.
Chika: I won't lose to you, Hayasaka-san!
Hayasaka: To you as well, Fujiwara-san.
Hayasaka: I will make Kaedehara-kun fall in love with me.
Chika: Not until I get to it first.
Hayasaka: Then..........
Chika: ..........it's on.
-----------------
Meanwhile.
Ryota: *shivers*
Ryota: Why do I feel like something bad is gonna happen?
Ryota: No, no, no.
Ryota: *inhale* *exhale*
Ryota: Think happy thoughts, Ryota.
Ryota: Happy thoughts.
Ryota: Bears hugging each other, singing birds, frogs and crocodiles being nice to each other.
---------------
Chika's POV.
Chika: So, she also loved Ryo-chan.
Chika: Hayasaka Ai............
Chika: Known to be a fashionable one.
Chika: I won't easily lose to her! I have my feelings and resolve that I'm willing to fight for!
Chika: I won't let my feelings for Ryo-chan end like this! Just until the end.
Chika: I need him to know..........just how much I love him.
----------------
Hayasaka's POV.
Hayasaka: This is it. She declared war.
Hayasaka: And I have no plan, in losing this war!
Hayasaka: I won't let her outshine my feelings for him! I won't let her!
---------------
And so, their rivalry began.