"Shinomiya-senpai, happy birthday and may you live a long life. This is not much... Please accept my gift." Said the shoulder-length black-haired boy with bangs covering one eye. He was the one who came with Shirogane and was a junior from the same school as Kaguya.
As the heiress of one of Japan's famous toy companies, he received an invitation to attend Kaguya's birthday party.
Kaguya recognized him and her gentle smile immediately diminished, she only smiled faintly with a cold expression. "Ishigami-kun, thank you."
Then, she signaled Hayasaka with her eyes. Hayasaka understood and accepted the gift from...
[Yu Ishigami, he is one of the supporting characters in the series Kaguya-sama Love Is War. Gosh, I didn't expect to see him here. It makes sense that the protagonist Shirogane could be here, he came with him.]
Many heroines were surprised.
What day is this? Eiji remembered the name of a male character other than the protagonist!
Normally he didn't remember it and wouldn't bother to do so.
Feeling Utaha's gaze, Eiji squeezed her soft waist.
Utaha almost moaned, she pinched her boyfriend's arm and glared at him. Why did he suddenly do that? Was he greedy for her body again?
Perverted man!
[I feel like Utaha is thinking rude things about me.]
Ohh, you know what?
Utaha smiled amusedly. From the perspective of Kaguya and the others, she and Eiji were seen flirting with each other.
Shirogane was dumbfounded.
{I know Eiji's not a good boy, but the pretty girl hugging him looks familiar. I've seen her before... Wait! Isn't she one of the heroines of Saekano, Utaha Kasumigaoka?!}
{Damn, I'm jealous! Instead of being with her protagonist, why is she with Eiji?!}
Utaha was a little surprised, the protagonist this time recognized her from the original work. But that was it, she didn't think much of it.
"You're welcome, Shinomiya-senpai. Um..." Ishigami hesitated to say what he wanted to say and glanced at his senior who came with him. Because of their good relationship after the other party helped him, he invited him to come with him to Kaguya's birthday party.
Actually it was Shirogane who asked him to invite him, Ishigami was unable to refuse. However, he was worried that Kaguya would object to this.
"Do you have something to say, Ishigami-kun? Say it quickly because I still have to talk to the other guests." Kaguya was a little impatient, especially when she saw Utaha who was being flirtatious with Eiji and pressing her large chest against his body. She didn't know why, but she felt unhappy.
She did not look at Shirogane at all even though from Eiji's inner voice, he was the protagonist in the same series as her.
That boy dared to call her his future wife in his heart, Kaguya's impression of him instantly dropped to negative numbers.
Ishigami shivered when he felt Kaguya's aura that seemed to grow colder and hurriedly said, "S-Shinomiya-senpai, I just wanted to ask if you mind if I bring Shirogane-senpai here?"
"As long as it's not too much, I don't mind my guests bringing their friends, girlfriends or family members to attend my birthday party." Kaguya said without glancing at Shirogane.
Ishigami was relieved and did not notice Shirogane's ugly expression.
{Kaguya, why don't you look at me when you talk about me? Hey Kaguya, I'm your future husband!}
Pfft! Utaha stifled a laugh by covering her mouth with one hand.
Kaguya's face was grim, the protagonist this time was really annoying.
Before Ishigami took Shirogane away to the other side of the room.
"Shinomiya, I—" Shirogane was about to speak to get Kaguya's attention and ask if she remembered him? He was her future husband, ehem! I mean he had beat her in the previous semester's exam and got first place.
Even if she didn't immediately fall in love with him, she should be curious about him, right?
However, Eiji suddenly walked up to him while pulling Utaha and interrupted his words. "Shirogane, what a coincidence. I didn't expect your friend's birthday party to be Kaguya's birthday party."
"Friend?" Kaguya frowned. When did she and Shirogane become friends?
Shirogane froze, he felt embarrassed and glared at Eiji as if to say don't say that.
{Eiji, you bastard! You better shut up!}
Eiji pretended not to understand Shirogane's gaze and not to hear his inner voice. He answered Kaguya's question innocently. "Last afternoon I met Shirogane who was shopping with his younger sister. Long story short we got acquainted, and knowing he was having trouble choosing an outfit to attend his friend's birthday party, I helped him."
{Ahhh! Eiji, stop! Please, you have to stop right there!}
Shirogane's face was flushed but his expression looked frightening. He looked like he was holding something back, like someone who wanted to go to the toilet.
Utaha knew Eiji was humiliating the new protagonist, she had a drama-watching mentality. Unfortunately, she didn't have any popcorn.
"Doesn't that mean you're his friend, Kaguya?"
"....!" Shirogane wanted to disappear. This was the first time he had been humiliated like this in two Lives. He hated Eiji. However, as long as Kaguya recognized him as her friend for the sake of keeping his face, he would be safe and happy.
{Kaguya, please! You are my future wife and will marry me just like in the original work. Even though we're not too close right now, I know you're a girl who's cold on the outside and warm on the inside, you wouldn't let your schoolmate lose face in this situation, right?!}
Eiji tried to restrain himself from laughing out loud like Utaha. Currently, their gazes were fixed on Kaguya.
Kaguya finally turned to the protagonist Shirogane.
Shirogane was happy because had his moment arrived? In this situation, Kaguya might also remember him and fall in love at first sight!
{Actually, I also don't mind if Kaguya calls me husband. Hehehe... I'm kidding, but I'm sure it's only a matter of time before that happens.}
Wow... Just like the other protagonists, the protagonist this time is very confident. However, not a few of the heroines thought he had screwed up.
Kaguya was also a heroine like them, so she must have heard his nasty inner voice.
What was the normal reaction of a woman in this situation?
"I don't know him, Eiji. Don't misunderstand." Kaguya said. She seemed to be worried that Eiji would misunderstand and not care about Shirogane's face.
Shirogane froze and his face turned slightly pale. Kaguya really didn't care about him, she didn't even know him. How could that be?!
"Pffft! Hehe... Ah, sorry. I can't help it." Utaha who could not hold back her laughter did not help, she added insult to Shirogane's protagonist.
The blonde boy clenched his trembling fists and roared in his heart.
{Damn woman! Even though you're the heroine, Utaha... You're just as evil as Eiji! How dare you laugh at a protagonist like me?! And Eiji, you did it on purpose to humiliate me. I know!}
Utaha sneered, she was not at all afraid of Shirogane's sharp gaze and looked at him with an amused smile. She even deliberately rubbed her plump chest against Eiji's body.
Shirogane looked at that boy with envy! He was a transmigrator, shouldn't he be the one to receive such treatment from the heroine?
Why did he feel like a clown entertaining the spectators? This was wrong!
[Hahahaha! Slander, it's slander. Ehem, I really didn't mean to embarrass Shirogane. I'm just telling the truth and asking curiously if he's really Kaguya's friend?]
[But Kaguya didn't admit that he was her friend. It's not my fault if he feels embarrassed because of that.]
This time, many heroines who heard his inner voice couldn't help but laugh. Those who had known Eiji for a long time couldn't believe he hadn't done it on purpose.
He was shameless.
But those who hadn't heard his inner voice for a long time believed in his words, and thought the protagonist Shirogane was suffering from his own fault.
It was his own fault that he lied in the first place.
Ishigami stifled a laugh but more than that, he felt sorry for Shirogane. He awkwardly asked him. "Senpai, are you alright? Sometimes I lie too."
He tried to comfort him, but Shirogane was not happy at all. He felt very humiliated.
"You don't know him? This..." Eiji made a surprised expression and covered his mouth with one of his hands. He looked at Shirogane and said, "Sorry Shirogane, I didn't mean to embarrass you."
"Eiji, you..." Shirogane was angry, he was sure Eiji did it on purpose, he had malicious intentions towards him from the start. But in this situation, he was trying to be patient because he did not want to destroy his image further, especially in front of Kaguya. He forced a smile at Eiji before saying, "It's okay, Eiji. I understand. It's also my fault for not saying things clearly from the start. After all, we just met each other this afternoon and I don't think we'll see each other again. I don't want to tell too many details to people I just met..."
The corners of Shirogane's mouth lifted higher and said, "Isn't that natural?"
Eiji widened his eyes and clapped his hands in his heart.
[Interesting, finally a protagonist with a pretty good brain appears. I'm going to have fun.]
Shirogane's protagonist is pathetic, the heroines thought.
Eiji seemed to be interested in playing with him longer, he would definitely suffer more because of that.
"You're right, that's natural." Eiji agreed with what Shirogane said.
Shirogane was relieved and thought his recently lost face had returned a little. However, he took this opportunity to ask Kaguya. "By the way Shinomiya, do you really not know me?"
Kaguya frowned, she reluctantly looked at the protagonist again. Compared to the gentle gaze given to Eiji, her gaze this time was indifferent and cold. Ishigami did not even dare to look her in the eye!
"No, I don't know you."
"How is that possible? I'm Miyuki Shirogane. I attend Shuichiin Academy and am a second year student like you. Not that I'm arrogant, but a week ago I managed to place first in the semester exam and beat you."
Shirogane tried to say that in a humble tone.
Kaguya blinked her eyes before saying without changing her expression. "Ohh, congratulations to you, Shirogane-san. Is that all you wanted to say?"
"..." Shirogane froze again.
Eiji chuckled and immediately covered his mouth with Utaha's head. Utaha loved being hugged by her boyfriend from behind, but don't use her head to muffle laughter!
Her hair might also get messed up because of that, by the way...
Why are they standing so close to a blonde maid?
Hayasaka was expressionless, she was a professional maid like Grayfia. But there was a slight blush on her cheeks because right now, one of Eiji's hands was rubbing her butt!
Was he crazy? What if Kaguya saw what he was doing?
Even so, she did not try to stop him considering he had killed Oko Shinomiya. Her gratitude to Eiji made her not resist even though he was doing perverted things to her.
However, was it just gratitude?
Hayasaka herself was not sure but she felt happy at the moment.
Still, Ishigami saw the scene and was dumbfounded. He wondered who Eiji was? Kaguya was even being friendly to him.
Whoever he was, he must be...
'Riajuu, this guy is a Riajuu! He already has a very beautiful woman in his arms, but he still dares to put his hand on another woman's ass!'
'Damn, I'm so jealous. Why don't the Riajuu in this world explode and die?!'
If Hachiman heard what Ishigami was thinking, he might feel like he could be friends with him.
"Shinomiya, y-you're not surprised or angry?"
"I was a little surprised but that's it."
Kaguya was telling the truth. Ah no, she did not say that she felt disgusted at Shirogane.
She in the past would probably have reacted violently because someone like him beat her test scores. But after meeting Eiji and hearing his inner voice all this time, she often lost focus in studying.
It was only natural for her grades in exams to deteriorate so that someone could overtake her.
Shirogane did not know this and looked at Kaguya in disbelief.
{Wrong! Kaguya, your reaction is wrong! Right now, you should be very surprised and be competitive with me. If you don't, how can you fall in love with me?!}
[Hmm... I remember there was something like that in the original work. The reason why Kaguya was able to fall in love with the protagonist Shirogane was because they originally competed against each other in school.]
Hearing Shirogane and Eiji's inner voice, Kaguya fell silent.
She did that?
It sounded like what she would have done in the past but now, there was no way she was falling for Shirogane. Right now, she did not even have a good impression of him.
After that, Kaguya immediately invited Eiji and Utaha to enjoy the party on the other side. Hayasaka followed them.
But Shirogane? He was left behind. However, he was at least not alone because Ishigami put his hand on his shoulder and said, "Senpai, do you like Shinomiya-senpai?"
"That's right, Ishigami."
Shirogane admitted he liked Kaguya, he wasn't tsundere like the real Shirogane. Looking at Kaguya who was talking while smiling with Eiji, he felt that something had been stolen from him and made his head green.
{Shit! Shit! Kaguya, I won't give up! I'll make you fall in love with me and after that, hehe... Still, why does Eiji seem to have a relationship with Kaguya? I forgot to ask about that!}
Shirogane did not realize his confidence and perverted laughter had made Kaguya's disgust for him increase by several points.
Ishigami sighed and asked, "Senpai, you're not going to give up?"
"Of course not! Ishigami, I realize the difference in status between us makes you hesitate. But, I believe love can overcome differences in social status."
Shirogane's words sounded quite cool, he was like a poor young man who wanted to eat goose meat in certain movies. Ishigami was amazed but when thinking of the coldness and even disgust in Kaguya's eyes when talking to Shirogane, he wondered if it would work?
Moreover, he felt that Kaguya and Eiji's relationship was very good.
...
Kaguya's birthday party continued. When Kaguya spent more time with Eiji and Utaha than the other guests.
The scene had actually been witnessed by one of her brothers— Un'yo Shinomiya. From the second floor, he held a glass of wine and said to the blonde woman behind him.
"Nao, what do you think?"
The woman called Nao replied expressionlessly. "It's quite surprising. I think Kaguya-sama likes that boy named Eiji Seiya. Unfortunately, he seems to already have a girlfriend who is no less beautiful than her."
Or rather more. As a woman, Nao was even a little envious of Utaha's excellent figure. Hayasaka who was standing not far beside her was even inferior to her.
"You also think that way? That's good. I want you to tell her an offer from me after the party is over."
"Un'yo-sama, do you seriously want to do this? But Seiya-kun already..."
Un'yo interrupted the woman coldly. "Nao, are you stupid? I don't care if Eiji has a girlfriend. I even know he already has two fiancés from the Yukinoshita family, and my brother's death might have something to do with him."
He doubted Oko died in a car accident and fell into a ravine where his body could not be found. But as he said, he did not care and was happy that the bald man was dead.
"Kaguya will probably be happy too. After all, it's not bad for her. For the sake of the family, she can't refuse."
Un'yo did not forget to add the last part in a rather cruel tone. Nao who was standing behind her sighed and said, "Alright, Un'yo-sama. I'll do it."
Un'yo nodded in satisfaction, he looked at Nao's figure from the reflection of the glass and suddenly had an idea. "If Eiji is not satisfied with my offer, you must persuade him in any way, Nao."
Nao understood any way Un'yo meant and blushed without changing her expression. She was a married woman and had a daughter Kaguya's age. Although she was still quite confident in her appearance, she doubted Eiji would be interested in her.
But as a person with the status of servant to the Shinomiya family, she could not refuse Un'yo's excessive requests.
"Of course, it's not free. As a reward for you, I will allow you to see your daughter anytime from now on. How's that? I'm not as cruel as my older brother."
"Thank you Un'yo-sama, I will do my best."
Hearing the reward Un'yo said, Nao replied firmly and was even passionate in her words.
After Oko Shinomiya's death, she was transferred as Un'yo Shinomiya's servant. She thought he was just as cruel as her older brother and cold-blooded because he didn't care about the death of his family members, but he turned out to be quite kind.
On the other side.
Eiji rubbed his nose and looked more excited than ever. With his ears, he could hear any sound within a radius of hundreds to thousands of meters from his position.
"Eiji, your smile is suspicious. What bad things are you thinking about?" Utaha asked while supporting her chin with one hand, and holding a glass of wine in her other hand.
Since she was not an ordinary person since becoming Eiji's woman, she still kept her sanity and did not get drunk.
Eiji pinched her cheek, she groaned and glared at him. Ah, that kind of hurts!
"What bad thing was I thinking? I'm just excited from sitting with beautiful women and eating cake with them."
"Hmph! I'm already immune to your sweet words, I won't blush!"
Utaha slapped the hand pinching her cheek and folded her long legs with an arrogant expression.
Even so, she looks cute, right?
However, the other women like Kaguya and Hayasaka looked embarrassed from hearing Eiji's words.
Utaha clucked her tongue and thought it was only a matter of time for the two of them to fall into her boyfriend's hands.
Should she call them sisters from now on?
It would be fun to tease them.