"...."

  Ishigami was in a daze for a while when he saw Kaguya's mischievous smile. He knew well that he had said that she wasn't his type, yet even so, he knew well that she was beautiful.

  Still, watg him, who suddenly appeared when he wasn't prepared, wasn't good for his heart, but even so, he was a good actor, so nothing could be seen from his face except fentle smile, like how a junior, who was happy with the care of his senior.

  "Senpai."

  Putting down all of the tools, Ishigami quickly weled her. "Please e in. You might e at the time wheore is about to close, but as you are a special guest, of course, we give you special service."

  "You're sure good at talking." Kaguya sighed helplessly. "Now, I uand why you succeed so well."

  "It's all thanks to you. If you weren't there, then I might not be here now."

  If it wasn't fuya, Ishigami knew well that it would be hard for him to enjoy everything so easily. Whether it was the ability that he gained or the help that she had given him and her support for him, he owed a lot of things to her.

  Still, even so, he had made up her mind not to do anything, ae how weird it was for her to appear before him, he suppressed his uneasiness by masking it with a smile as he asked, "So, are you here to buy a flower?"

  "I guess." Kaguya nodded softly as she looked at the shop curiously. It was her first time in Ishigami's mother's shop.

  Regardless, when Ishigami's Mama saw another beautiful girl appear for her son, her lips twitched and held her urge to cut his crime tool, and she sighed, thinking that she should support him rather than cause him trouble. More importantly, sidering it was Kaguya's first time here, she might have been nervous about meeting her, so she quickly left, giving space for the two alone.

  "So, what kind of a flower do you need, Senpai?"

  "Hmm, I am not that familiar with flowers, but what do you think is suitable, Ishigami?"

  There were many flowers ihe shop, so Kaguya wondered which she should choose.

  "If I have to give you a reendation, then it will be this tone."

  "This one?"

  Following his reendation, Kaguya looked at the beautiful red flowers in the shape of trumpets, blooming proudly as their color was so vivid, causing the others to be pale in parison.

  "What is this flower?"

  As she asked this, she couldn't look away.

  "It's Amaryllis. Usually, it blooms around February, which is why it is rare for oo appear this month."

  "Is that the only reason why you reend it to me?"

  Kaguya couldn't help but g him, then fell into a daze for a moment before she kept looking at him.

  Despite knowing her gaze, Ishigami preteo be okay, calming himself as he didn't try to let his feelings leak out since, in his mind, Kaguya's partner was Shirogahe one who had saved him.

  "Do you know the fluage of the Amaryllis?

  "No, what is it?"

  "The Amaryllis symbolizes strength, beauty, pride, and love, but it also oftes resiliend determination."

  "Resilience?"

  "It is said that it bloom despite being in winter. Like you, who is beautiful and strong, this flower suits you well."

  As he said so, he turned his head to face her as if trying to engrave this image of her within his mind. Despite having so many women, he knew well that Kaguya had a special pce within his heart, and he knew well that he should fet about her.

  Yet, he wasn't the only one who thought so.

  As their eyes met, it was as if their feelings were ected, but Ishigami was dumbfounded when he saw tears spilling out from her eyes.

  "Senpai?"

  "Sorry, I will take these flowers. Is that okay, Ishigami?"

  Kaguya quickly looked away and wiped away the tears from her eyes so Ishigami couldn't see her emotion.

  "Yes, you take it for free, but what's wrong? Why did you cry? Please let me know if you need my help. Unlike before, I help you."

  "Is it okay for you to show much affe toward me? Aren't you afraid that Kaichou will notice your feelings?"

  "Senpai..."

  Was this a time for her to tease him?

  More importantly, did she notice his feelings?

  "I was just joking." Kaguya showed a smile this time toward him as she held the flower pot of Amaryllis, which Ishigami reended for her. "You 't fall in love with me, right? And I won't fall in love with a scumbag like you. If I have a man, I want him only for myself."

  "....." Ishigami.

  Then, why did you e?

  "So... this is a goodbye."

  "Goodbye?"

  "Um, I pn to move."

  "Move? Where?"

  "Kyoto."

  "...."

  Ishigami fell into a daze, feeling like he was dreaming of the absurdity of this situation.

  "Why... is it so sudden?"

  "It isn't." Shaking her head, Kaguya said, "I have thought of this so many times, and I think that this is the best for us."

  "...why?"

  "Because if I don't do so, I 't fet about you."

  "....."

  Ishigami opened his lips, shocked at Kaguya, who opened her thin lips, leaking out the feelings that she had always suppressed.

  Then, what about Shirogane?

  This the question that Ishigami wao ask, but he knew he couldn't since even if he tried to pretend not to notiything, their feelings were no longer like in the inal story; their feelings had waned and were no lohe same as before.

  Why had all of this happened?

  Naturally, it was all due to him.

  Yet—

  "But there is no need for you to move to Kyotht? You still study here. Are you okay to leave all of us like that?"

  Yes, it was just a problem of a feeling, and as long as Shirogane was given time and they were in the same school, their feelings would return!

  Ishigami was desperate at this moment, but Kaguya broke all of his hopes.

  "I am going to get engaged."

  "....."

  "It has beeermihat I will marry the son of the head of the Shijou family."

  "Shijo? Maki family?" Ishigami was dumbfounded.

  "Yes. It is also a good ce for our Shinomiya family to amend our retionship with the Shijou family. This marriage will be this try, and it even save the ey of our try, which has been going downhill sihe Lost Decade."

  Kaguya nodded and said, "As I am engaged, it is improper for me to have feelings for another man, right?"

  "...are you okay with this?"

  Ishigami didn't care about the marriage bes, and all he cared about was whether Kaguya was okay with this marriage or not.

  "This isn't about my wishes. My feelings are nothing pared to all of the bes—

  "I am asking whether you are okay with it." Ishigami cut her words and asked, "If you are not okay, then I will do something about it. Unlike before, I am no longer weak. I protect you!"

  Unlike before, he was no longer weak, and Kaguya was no longer able to abruptly move him to dangerous pces, whether it was Southeast Asia, South America, the Asian Pacific, tral Asia, or many others; she had no trol over him any longer!

  Yet, what he didn't realize, his voice raised slightly as he asked her, causio stare at him and ask, "Have you fallen for me?"

  "....."

  "Senpai, I..."

  Ishigami wao express his feelings, but whehought about how Shirogane helped him, he stopped.

  Yet, watg his response, Kaguya only smiled slightly, then asked, "Move closer, Ishigami."

  "...what's wrong?"

  "Just e closer; this is my st request."

  "...."

  While Ishigami felt unfortable, he moved closer, but then he widened his eyes since he was kissed, and Kaguya even used her tongue!

  The suddele and fortable feeling overtook him, and he was about to put his tongue inside her as he hugged her tightly in his arms, but—

  "What are you doing?!"

  He quickly pulled away and looked at her flusteredly.

  Snickering, Kaguya felt fortable as she watched his expression. Lig her pink lips with her long tongue, she said, "Sorry, and thanks. I will leave now." Taking a deep breath, she said softly, "I loved you..."

  As she said so, she no loayed ahe shop, leaving him alone in a daze.

  "...what should I do?"

  She was so close before him, yet she was also far away, but while he wao reach her, g to her, have her for himself, he knew well that he couldn't, but even so, it didn't mean that he couldn't stop her e, so after a moment of daze, he quickly took his smartphone and called Shirogane, but unfortunately, Shirogane couldn't be reached.

  "Shit!"

  Ishigami wao smash his smartphone, but he quickly e. Then, he ged to call Kei, and as expected, she accepted his call right away.

  "Senpai? What's wrong?"

  "Kei, where is your brother?"

  "Aniki? Well, he should be..."

  After hearing the answer, Ishigami thanked Kei right away, then ran as fast as possible, ign the fused expressions of many toward him.

  "I am sorry! I am in a hurry! Please give it away!"

  His time was limited, and he couldn't waste his time since if he waited any longer, Kaguya would leave for Kyoto, which made it troublesome since he didn't have power there and as a local powerhouse, it could be said that her family trolled that ey, which made it troublesome if he wao meet her.

  Or rather, he knew well that if he couldn't stop her at that moment, they wouldn't meet each ain in this life, so he had to go as fast as possible!

  'Kaichou...'

  Ishigami just hoped for the two to be happy, yet why had it bee like this?

  As long as the two were happy, he was fih supp them and watg their happiness, as in the inal story, but why?

  Why had it bee like this?

  'Hurry up!'

  As he ran, his running skills increased even further, and his high level of physical ability supported him well, but as he finally arrived at his destination and found Shirogane—

  "Kaichou—"

  Ishigami was at a loss for words since Shirogane wasn't alone and by his side. The girl that he met at the party was on Shirogane's side.

  "...."

  ---

  The end is close.

  Or rather, the end of Kaguya is tomorrow!