Kanade was completely baffled.
Who wouldn't be? Hearing something as provocative as, "If you're that concerned, why don't you check it yourself?" would send anyone spiraling into confusion.
He began trying to decode Kaguya's true intentions. Was she teasing him, implying he was overthinking things? Or was she genuinely indifferent about such close contact and thought it was no big deal for him to check?
The more Kanade considered it, the more he realized he might indeed be overreacting. After all, on the day of the injury, he had carried Kaguya on his back the entire time. Compared to that, a simple touch like this was hardly worth making a fuss over.
"Alright, let me take a look for you," Kanade said with a nod.
Now it was Kaguya's turn to feel flustered.
She hadn't expected him to actually agree! Her words had slipped out in a moment of impulsive mischief, and now she was entirely unprepared for this level of intimacy.
Sure, he had tended to her hand injury before, and he'd carried her on his back, but those were different. The first was too subtle to leave much of an impression, and the second had been an extraordinary circumstance. This was entirely different—it was happening in a calm, ordinary moment, making it a much more powerful indicator of their growing closeness.
Though embarrassed at the idea of showing him her feet, Kaguya decided to be brave. Perhaps this would be a rare opportunity to deepen their relationship. She had even heard rumors about certain people having… ahem, "preferences" in this area. Could Kanade possibly be one of them…?
Her thoughts racing, Kaguya gave a small, hesitant nod. But agreeing was one thing—actively extending her leg was another. She simply couldn't bring herself to do it.
Fortunately, Kanade wasn't the impatient type. Not being a pervert, he wasn't the least bit eager or overexcited.
The coffee table had been cleared and tidied up, but checking her foot there felt strange. So, Kanade moved to sit beside her, leaving enough space to avoid making things uncomfortable.
Everything was ready—except for Kaguya to lift her foot.
Kanade waited, watching her.
Kaguya, overwhelmed by his expectant gaze, shrank back slightly, her movements stiff. She had convinced herself not to waste this chance, but when the moment came, the embarrassment was too much. Still, there was no turning back now. Trembling slightly, she reached down, hooked her fingers around her indoor shoe, and gently slid it off with a soft "thud" as it fell to the floor.
Then she repeated the process with her other shoe, producing another faint "thud."
"..."
Kanade blinked, feeling a little puzzled.
Didn't she only sprain one foot? Why take off both shoes?
But as Kaguya extended both legs toward him, his earlier confusion gave way to a new question:
Uh… Kaguya-san? Why didn't you take off your socks, too?
Kanade's expression turned slightly complicated. His vivid imagination wasn't helping—despite the white ankle socks covering her feet, he couldn't help but notice her toes twitching rhythmically, almost as if keeping time to some invisible beat. It was strangely endearing.
She has really nimble toes. Could she… solve math problems with them?
Of course, as high schoolers, they'd long since mastered basic arithmetic.
"..."
Kanade remained silent, unsure how to proceed. It seemed Kaguya hadn't realized she needed to remove her socks. When she cast him a questioning look, her confusion clear, he knew he had no choice but to act.
Kaguya is a smart person. If she left her socks on, she must have her reasons, Kanade thought, setting aside his doubts and getting to work.
Oddly enough, though he had no inappropriate intentions, this marked the third time Kanade had removed socks for a girl. First, it was Kasumigaoka-senpai's tights, then Yukino's long black stockings, and now Kaguya's short black socks. The thought made him feel like he was completing some sort of bizarre achievement. He could almost hear the chime of a video game accomplishment unlocking in his mind.
The experiences were surprisingly distinct. With Kasumigaoka, the situation had been laced with tension and defiance, so he hadn't paid much attention to the details—just that it felt a bit too suggestive. With Yukino, he'd been so focused on her well-being after finding her in distress that he hadn't had the mental bandwidth for anything else.
This time, however, was different. Kanade had plenty of mental capacity to notice things he normally wouldn't. So Kaguya's feet are this small and cute, huh? And is that… a faint animal print pattern on her socks? That's unexpectedly adorable.
With these thoughts drifting through his mind, Kanade reached out and removed her socks decisively.
Perhaps his movements were a bit rough, or maybe it was simply the unfamiliar sensation of someone else doing it for her, but Kaguya seemed startled. Her legs tensed briefly, and she instinctively pulled back slightly. Still, she managed to avoid any reflexive kicks to his face, which was a relief.
"Lift it a little higher; I can't see clearly," Kanade instructed.
Kaguya's sprain was near her ankle, and their current seated positions made it difficult to examine the area.
"Alright," Kaguya murmured softly, her embarrassment growing with each passing second.
She hadn't intended for Kanade to remove her socks himself. Lost in anticipation of what would happen next, she had forgotten entirely about them. By the time she felt his hand against her leg, she was too flustered to do anything but comply. Now, with her mind a haze of emotions, she found herself going along with whatever he asked.
Summoning her courage, Kaguya lifted her leg slightly.
Thanks to her yoga practice and decent physical fitness, holding this position wasn't particularly difficult for her. Kanade, however, instinctively reached out to support her leg—it was a natural gesture to ensure he could examine her injury more carefully.
But to Kaguya, his actions seemed to suggest something else entirely—
"!"
Kaguya's mind was in chaos.
What is the President doing?! Why is he suddenly grabbing my leg so firmly?! Could it be… Is he planning to… k-kiss my foot?!
Her thoughts spiraled into panic. No way! At least let me wash it first! Wait, no! That's way too weird! I can't accept this!
Kaguya's face turned bright red, and her embarrassment skyrocketed to unprecedented levels.
Their actions—innocent though they were—had taken a turn for the awkward. To get a better look, Kanade leaned in closer, his head moving toward her leg, which only made Kaguya's heart race faster. Her flustered mind conjured increasingly wild ideas, and it wasn't entirely unjustified—because from another person's perspective, it probably looked even worse.
"What are you two doing in the student council room?!"
A sudden shout from the doorway broke the tension.
Both Kanade and Kaguya froze in alarm, their heads snapping toward the source of the voice. Seeing that the person was a fellow student council member, they relaxed slightly.
Thank goodness it's just someone we know…
We should've closed the door… Wait, no! We weren't doing anything inappropriate, so why would we need to close the door?!
"It's a misunderstanding. I was just checking Kaguya-san's injury—she sprained her ankle earlier," Kanade explained succinctly.
Iino Miko's expression softened a little, but she still looked skeptical, her face a mix of doubt and discomfort.
"Even if you're checking a foot injury… shouldn't it not look like that?"
"Like that?" Kanade echoed, glancing at their positions.
He took another look at himself and Kaguya, seeing nothing particularly odd. But as he was about to reply, it hit him.
To him, their positions were perfectly logical, and everything was in plain view. But from Iino's vantage point—partially blocked by the sofa's backrest—all she could see was their shoulders and heads close together, and his hand holding up Kaguya's leg. No wonder it looked strange.
Realizing this, Kanade tried to clarify. "I swear, there's nothing weird going on. Kaguya's injury is at her ankle, and I needed to lift it to see properly—"
"Then why not move to the side? You'd have a clear view from there," Iino interrupted.
"..."
Kanade opened his mouth but couldn't find a single counterargument.
She has a point…
Scratching his head awkwardly, Kanade admitted, "You're right. I should've thought of that."
It was clear the moment had been interrupted, and continuing wasn't an option. Conceding defeat, Kanade quickly checked Kaguya's ankle again and came to a conclusion.
"The swelling has gone down, and it doesn't look too serious. A few more days of rest should do the trick. Just try not to do anything too strenuous in the meantime."
After giving Kaguya a few words of advice, Kanade stood and returned to his seat. Before leaving, he didn't forget to retrieve Kaguya's socks and hand them back to her.
Out of Iino's sight, Kaguya lowered her head slightly as she took the socks. She said nothing, completely lacking her usual poised and elegant demeanor.
The truth was, when the shout had come from the doorway, her heart had nearly stopped. A surge of guilt, like being caught doing something wrong, flooded her—but oddly enough, it was also exhilarating, leaving her with a strange sense of thrill she couldn't quite shake off. Now, she was silently replaying the scene in her mind.
Iino, oblivious to Kaguya's internal turmoil, glanced around as she took a seat on the sofa. After a quick inspection, she concluded that nothing inappropriate had occurred—both parties were fully clothed, and the room smelled completely normal. Still, the atmosphere was undeniably strange.
Something about this doesn't feel right… Iino thought, her heart inexplicably uneasy. For some reason, seeing the two seniors so close made her uncomfortable.
Hmph! As the moral compass of the school, I have to crack down on improper relationships between boys and girls! Iino convinced herself.
Her role as a disciplinary committee member aside, she couldn't shake the feeling that her intervention today had been timely. Who knows what might have happened if she hadn't shown up? The sanctity of the student council room could've been compromised!
Once again, she fixed Kanade and Kaguya with a sharp, scrutinizing gaze, her eyes darting between them.
Kanade felt a shiver run down his spine. He was reminded of the early days of Iino's tenure on the student council when she had watched him like a hawk, treating him as if he were a suspect under surveillance.
And to think I even spent time with her on her birthday out of kindness… Only to be treated like this in return! Why does she act this way? She doesn't even bother calling me 'senpai' anymore!
Thankfully, someone who could disrupt Iino's focus arrived just in time.
"Yaho~! Secretary Fujiwara reporting for duty!"
The pink-haired bundle of chaos made her usual energetic entrance. She blinked in confusion at the room's silence.
"Huh? Why isn't anyone talking? Did you have a fight or something?" Fujiwara tilted her head, her curiosity apparent.
"Fighting isn't allowed! Everyone should get along~" She clapped her hands as if resolving the matter. "This calls for a game to lighten the mood!"
"And so, let's play a game!" Fujiwara's eyes sparkled with mischief, her true motive shining through.
"..."
Kanade suddenly felt nostalgic for the earlier tension.
Actually, maybe that atmosphere wasn't so bad…
Could you leave now, Fujiwara-san? Please?
Notes-Read all chapters in patreon.com/Shadow_D_X