"I am sorry, Kaguya-sama."
Hayasaka bowed her head deeply to Hayasaka, apologizing for not being able to stop Ishigami.
"...no, it's fine."
While Kaguya wondered why Hayasaka was together with Ishigami, her head ached when she thought that her family would definitely know that Ishigami had decided to visit her in the middle of the night.
Considering how strict the nature of her house was, for a young man to appear at her house at night would definitely attract the attention of her family, probably including her father, which made her slightly lose her composure, yet even so, Kaguya would be lying if she didn't feel anything when she got a text that he had come in front of her house, telling her that he wanted to meet her.
This was probably the first time she saw someone had dared to do something so bold in her life, yet she didn't blame him.
Instead, she felt quite happy for some reason.
"You are too reckless, Ishigami. If you want to meet me, then you should just tell me tomorrow at school."
However, she still admonished him, and she did this because she was worried about him.
Her house aside, if he came to her when they were at the school, then it would be okay since no matter how powerful her family was, they wouldn't be so brazen to infiltrate the school to monitor her.
Regardless, everything had happened, and nothing could be changed, so after Ishigami came, Kaguya quickly brought him to her room so they could talk privately, but she knew well that all of the staff must have reported this to her family, which gave her a headache, wondering what she should do to protect him.
As she thought so, Ishigami asked, "Why?"
"...what do you mean, why?"
"Why did you reject Kaichou? Don't you love him?"
"...."
His questions were straightforward and never wavered, causing Kaguya to fall into a state of shock, realizing why he came to her house in the middle of the night, even if he might be targeted by her family.
Yet, this was a fair question, especially when Kaguya and Shirogane had gone on a date three times.
The first time was all due to Ishigami, who used the pretense of asking for a date experience as he was nervous about asking his crush for a date.
The second was under Kaguya's initiative.
The third was under Shirogane's initiative, and for the first time, he showed his courage to confess his feelings despite all of his inferiority, yet when Kaguya showed hope, she rejected him.
Was her feeling that she showed him at that time something so fickle that it could change so easily despite how short their meeting was?
Was her meeting with Shirogane, which was so long and genuine, something that she should have sought after?
Why should she abandon all of that for something so... superficial and shallow like him?
Other than just being slightly more handsome than normal people, what was so good about him?
Instead of the sincere love of someone who could give their everything, why should she choose someone like him, who couldn't even give his love to a single person?!
Yet—
"...don't you understand the reason?"
As Ishigami came to meet him and asked her straightforwardly, Kaguya also didn't hide anything, but she answered him round way since, as a girl, it was impossible for her to show her complete honesty.
"...."
It was because Ishigami understood, and because of that, he couldn't understand.
Somehow, part of him wished to return to the past when neither of them became close, nor did he ask for help from her, so their relationship was far from how they were now, and he didn't cause the sadness of someone that he owed so much.
Yet, everything had happened, so what could he do?
Still, Kaguya had an impulse and thought to express her feelings, but Ishigami, who didn't want to hear her feelings and knew that he couldn't let her continue, decided to do something unthinkable.
"Ishigami, I—"
Kaguya couldn't finish her words, and she was dumbstruck when she saw Ishigami kissing Hayasaka's lips.
Hayasaka was in a daze, and subconsciously, she showed her obedient side when he kissed her, but when she realized everything and wanted to push him away, he parted away and said, "The truth is we have this relationship."
"..."
While Ishigami was calm, Hayasaka was in panic and filled with intense fear. "Kaguya-sama, I—"
"Ishigami, can you leave and let us talk."
Ishigami nodded and followed Kaguya's words to leave, but Hayasaka was in tears, wondering why he had done all of this, yet at the same time, inside, she also felt relieved since she knew that it was impossible to hide everything, and she knew that it was the time for her to part away from Kaguya... the one who she had betrayed from their meeting till now.
"I am sorry, Kaguya-sama."
Bowing her head deeply, Hayasaka apologized after she stopped her tears since she knew that she didn't have a right to cry.
"...can you tell me more?"
"I will, and I will leave you too from now on."
"...what do you mean?"
"I mean... my relationship with him isn't the beginning of my betrayal toward you."
As Hayasaka exposed all of her lies and betrayal toward Kaguya inside the room, Ishigami waited outside, and as expected, when he walked out, he saw a few people who seemed to be in charge of monitoring them, but quickly left when they saw him leaving, yet he could feel that they were staring at him curiously from far. Even if they were tasked to monitor Kaguya from others, in this house, she was the mistress, and they were under her control and could only do their jobs discreetly.
Still, Ishigami ignored them and just stood outside, waiting for the two to finish their conversation.
While he knew that his action might cause him to be killed, he didn't regret his decision since he knew well that the one who was in need of care at that moment wasn't Kaguya but Hayasaka.
Yes, Kaguya might have had a rough childhood due to her family's situation, but Hayasaka was even more so.
Hayasaka might always appear cheerful or calm in many situations, but Ishigami knew well what kind of crybaby she was and how spoiled she was, so instead of Kaguya, he thought to save Hayasaka first as Hayasaka was his woman, and he wanted to clear up everything before he was clear about what he wanted to do.
Nevertheless, while it took so long for Hayasaka and Kaguya to talk inside the room, Ishigami wasn't impatient, and soon, the door of Kaguya's room was opened, and the one who came out first was Kaguya.
"Ishigami."
"Yes."
"Can I slap you?"
"....."
Ishigami stared at Kaguya, who was smaller than him, yet even so, she felt gigantic and fearsome than he was.
Still—
"Go ahead."
Slap!
The loud, crisp slap echoed within the corridor, causing everyone to be dumbfounded.
Hayasaka, who saw him, whose tears started to dry, started to cry again, but—
"Don't protect me, Ai. I deserve this."
Yet, Ishigami had to say that it was so painful to be slapped by Kaguya, especially when she was so merciless, and her training with Kyudo also made her wrist much stronger than normal people's.
Still—
Slap!
Ishigami got another slap from Kaguya.
"...."
While Ishigami was speechless and in so much pain, he remained still, without saying anything since, as he had said before, he deserved this slap.
"I have fired Hayasaka. The paperwork is in the process, but take her and bring her away from here."
"Thank you."
Ishigami thanked Kaguya, then looked at Hayasaka, who was staring at him with tears. "Let's go, Ai."
"Um, Yuu."
Letting her hand be held by him, Hayasaka held his hand tighter as she let herself be led by him.
"Take care of her."
Kaguya's voice was quiet, but Ishigami heard it clearly. "I will."