Hayasaka Ai finished writing the self-reflection report.
With heavy steps, she walked out of the preparation room.To be honest, she never imagined there would come a day when she'd be caught by Iino Miko.
After all, since the beginning of the semester, she had transformed into the "Yellow Flash" and slipped past Miko countless times. Even when spotted not wearing her uniform properly in the corridor, Miko had never stopped her.
"Sorry, Miko, lunch break is almost over! I'll be going now~!"She always escaped with excuses like that.
But that boldness only existed in her gyaru persona.
For Hayasaka Ai, although she had the ability to change forms, she couldn't switch between them freely. Even she worried that doing so too often might give her multiple personality disorder.
So when wearing male attire, she played the role seriously—fitting the persona, staying calm, and even obediently following Miko to the preparation room to write the self-reflection report.
The result of that compliance?
All her plans for the day were completely ruined.
"Beep beep~"
Her phone buzzed. Ai-chan took it out and glanced at the screen.
She nearly fainted.
"Hayasaka, I have some bad news for you. Sakurai might not like you."
...?
Huh!?
No!!!
Wait—why would Kaguya Shinomiya come to that conclusion!?
"He said it himself in the Student Council Room."
Just reading that second message gave Hayasaka Ai a stomachache.
I can't take it… this is too much!
She scrolled further, her anxiety rising—until the next message finally gave her a glimmer of hope.
"I told him you were meeting the person you were confessing to. Someone asked if he wanted to go… but he said no."
"..."
Hayasaka Ai exhaled deeply in relief.
If Sakurai Saki had run straight to the confession spot, that would've nearly counted as a declaration of war—or, more accurately, a confession of love through jealousy.
But he hadn't gone.
So now the situation could be viewed two ways:Sakurai Saki's affection for her wasn't deep enough—not enough to feel jealous.Sakurai Saki was too familiar with her and knew she wouldn't accept some random confession, so he didn't see the point in checking.Ai-chan leaned toward the second theory.After all, when Sakurai Saki was confessed to, she hadn't been worried either.
This love game, from start to finish, only involved three people.
Sakurai Saki, herself, and Fujiwara Chika.
Love triangles are so annoying!Twisted and torturous!
Hayasaka Ai sighed.Couldn't that blockhead Sakurai make up his mind already—her or Chika?
...Wait, he wouldn't want both, would he?
No way. He was too dense. A guy like him wouldn't even consider two-timing.
Let's rule out that possibility for now.
"Since he's not planning to go, there's no point in going to the sports field either."
Hayasaka murmured to herself.
Kaguya had also said she'd cancel the plan.She told Ai-chan to wait for her at the entrance since there wasn't much Student Council work left.
Although a member of the Archery Club, Kaguya rarely went. She was more of a part-time member in name only.
Still dressed in her male uniform, Hayasaka Ai held the love letter and her school bag in hand and began walking toward the front gate.
As she passed the courtyard at the entrance of the teaching building, she glanced at the central fountain.She raised the love letter and held it in front of her eyes.
"I really hoped... he'd come to see me."
When she found out Sakurai Saki had no intention of going to the sports field, she'd been a little disappointed.
Even a flicker of jealousy would've made her happy.
But he hadn't even gone to watch.
Hayasaka Ai wasn't satisfied with that outcome.
While she stood lost in thought by the fountain, Sakurai Saki walked out of the teaching building.
He had tutoring later.
As he passed the courtyard, his attention was caught by the tall, unfamiliar figure near the fountain.
A handsome black-haired boy, standing there alone.
It was the first time Sakurai had seen this face on campus.A new first-year, maybe?
"…"
But what really caught his eye—The love letter in that person's hand.
Wasn't that the same letter Ai-chan had in her pocket earlier?
How had it ended up with this guy?
Sakurai activated his X-ray vision.The letter did contain a confession—and the signature at the bottom read: "Hasaka."
A foreigner?
The boy did have a mixed-race look, not unlike Ai-chan. Hayasaka Ai, too, had striking features.
So this was... Ai-chan's admirer?
And since he hadn't been seen last year, he must've just enrolled.
Sakurai thought for a few seconds.
Should he strike up a conversation?
He wasn't worried that Ai-chan would accept.He just thought this "Hasaka-kun" had probably failed his confession and was standing here heartbroken. And as the Student Council's General Affairs officer, Sakurai had a duty to comfort heartbroken juniors.
...That's how he rationalized it to himself.
He walked forward.
"Hello, student! Are you in some difficulty?"
Hayasaka Ai heard the familiar voice and turned her head.
The moment she saw him, she froze for a few seconds—then quickly straightened up and said,
"Hello, Sakurai General Affairs!"
Sakurai scratched his cheek a little sheepishly.
"Sorry for striking up a conversation so casually. I just saw you standing here with a letter, and your eyes were unfocused, so I was a little worried."He smiled.
Right now, he was in full Sakurai General Affairs mode.
In other words, a sunny big boy!
Kind. Top of the class. A natural at all sports.Sakurai Saki was practically a school legend—the type who topped the "Most Desired Boyfriend" ranking every time.
Facing such a Sakurai Saki…
Hayasaka Ai paused, considering how to spin her story.
After a few seconds, she looked up at him with a faintly troubled expression and said:
"Sakurai General Affairs… actually, I just confessed to someone I like. But she didn't accept me, so now I'm wondering... should I give up?"
Her voice lowered slightly as she continued:"She's really popular. A lot of boys like her. I was going to wait a little longer, but… I thought, if I don't confess soon, someone else might beat me to it."
Ai's words were layered with implications:"I'm popular.""I've been confessed to.""If you don't act fast, you might lose your chance."
Sakurai Saki looked at her—him—and asked gently, "Can you tell me who it is? The person you like? And why you fell for her?"
He already had a guess, but he wanted to be sure. Kaguya's earlier message mentioned a confession on the sports field, yet here they were, far from it.
"Um… Sakurai General Affairs, my name is Hasaka. I'm a new student, just transferred this year."
Hayasaka Ai smiled—a bright, happy one, as if just thinking of her crush brought joy.
"As for why I fell for her, well… it's simple, really."
"When school started, I got lost. I didn't know my way around the high school section. I was panicking… and then someone reached out and helped me."
"From that moment on, I fell for that warm, kind, beautiful, generous, gentle, and incredibly cute person."
She said it all with a straight face. Shamelessly narcissistic."And that person, Sakurai General Affairs… you should know her very well."
Sakurai Saki stared at Hasaka's innocent, sincere expression.
This is such a classic backstory…
But what shocked him even more?
It actually sounded real. Entirely plausible.
And still—he hadn't realized it was Hayasaka Ai in disguise.
He had no intention of peering into someone's body with his X-ray vision, so her secret remained safe. He never even questioned it.
After she finished detailing her "encounter" with herself, Hayasaka Ai placed the love letter over her chest with both hands, like it was a sacred vow.
"So… I want to be with Hayasaka Ai-senpai."
"I want her to know how I feel."
"I want to spend the rest of my life with her. Even if she rejects me again… I won't give up."
"I like her. I super like her."
Then she looked up, gazing directly into Sakurai's eyes with such intensity that he blinked.
In truth, every word of this confession could have been addressed to him.But the cowardly Hayasaka Ai could only express her feelings like this—disguised, masked, indirect.This was the only way she could be brave.
Sakurai Saki, completely oblivious to the hidden layers in front of him, remained in full block-of-wood mode.
"…Sakurai-senpai," Ai said again, as if casually,"Do you know? Everyone says Hayasaka-senpai likes you."
Sakurai blinked. "Where did you hear that?"
"Everyone at school says so." Ai put on a convincingly sad expression."If it's true, then… I might never have a chance."
"If you didn't like her, Sakurai-senpai, maybe I'd still have hope. But… you seem to like her too."
"Then all I can do is wish you both happiness… from afar."
She lowered her head, looking like the perfect picture of a heartbroken admirer.
Even Sakurai Saki was moved.
It was rare to see such a pure, straightforward kind of affection these days.
Ai-chan had one last card to play.
She looked up again, her gaze soft but firm, locking onto his.
"So, Sakurai-senpai…"
"Do you like Hayasaka-senpai?"
The question struck straight to the core.
Sakurai Saki was caught completely off guard.
Do I… like Ai-chan?
It wasn't even something he needed to mull over. He wasn't that indecisive.He just didn't like being pushed into declaring things so abruptly.
But that didn't mean he didn't know how he felt.
"…I think…" he murmured, voice low, almost to himself, "I should like her."
That one sentence sent Ai's head dipping.
Her cheeks, already flushed from holding back emotion, turned an even deeper pink.Her smile curled up without permission—silly and sweet.
Her mind was spinning.
'How could this be…? He actually said it… he likes me…?!'
Even though he didn't respond to my last confession, he admitted it now…
Oh no, oh no—my heart's pounding so fast I can't breathe—
So happy!
Super happy!!!
Hayasaka Ai felt her legs give out slightly beneath her.
Too excited… my knees are weak!This is so embarrassing!!
She slowly crouched to the ground, trying to catch her breath.
"Hoo~ ha~"Ai-chan was practically hyperventilating.
Her chest rose and fell quickly. Her breathing was uneven.Is this… what it feels like when the person you like actually likes you back?
The thought alone made her dizzy.She was seriously considering pulling off her wig right there and confessing everything.
But before she could do anything impulsive, Sakurai Saki spoke again:
"If you really like Hayasaka-senpai, Hasaka-kun… maybe it's best to let go early."
"She seems gentle on the outside, but she's actually pretty dark.""She makes weird sounds when gaming, doesn't drink black coffee, and gets annoyingly smug when she wins at anything.""Honestly… she's kind of a handful."
Hayasaka Ai, still kneeling, stiffened.
She braced her hands against her thighs and stood up slowly—but kept her head bowed, refusing to look up.
Her face was burning.
'W-what was that just now?!''Was he… awkwardly exposing all my flaws… to turn off a rival in love?!'
It worked far too well.
Her heart was thumping like a drum, and she didn't know where to hide.
This is more embarrassing than anything I imagined!
"Um…" Ai-chan mumbled, voice barely above a whisper,"You don't have to say anything more."
Please stop. I already know you understand me better than anyone else. Just… please stop talking before I melt from embarrassment!!
How is this any different from directly confessing to me!? You total blockhead!
"I… I'll give up," Ai-chan said, bowing deeply.
And then—she turned and ran off as fast as she could, fleeing like her life depended on it.
Sakurai Saki watched her retreating figure.For some reason… he felt relieved.
"Hasaka-kun…"He won't… go around repeating the weird stuff I just said, right?
And just like that, a small love war centered around a mysterious letter came to a close.
"Today's victory: Iino Miko's victory!"(Achievement: revenge! — Even though she had no idea it happened.)
Inside the Disciplinary Committee preparation room,
Iino Miko looked at the self-reflection report Hayasaka Ai had left behind and beamed.
Another successful day of preserving justice and order.Yay!
Though honestly, she thought,it would be even better if I could catch Hayasaka-senpai again tomorrow!
That infuriating Hayasaka-senpai—Always ignoring the dress code,Always tying her jacket around her waist like it's part of the uniform!
Next time, I definitely won't let you off!