After All, Who Is the 'President'?
Faced with this kind of moral blackmail, you didn't lose face by saying you have no morals, but instead said this.
"I have a strategy for peaceful coexistence with the Shijo Family."
Hmm, sister, sister, so what is this strategy?
You're not telling me that because your relationship with Mikado Shijo and Shijo Maki is actually quite harmonious, you can work together peacefully and amicably, are you?
Then I'll have to... uh...
You didn't actually say those words, but you did say something even more absurd.
Yes, that's right, it's this absolutely stunning composition.
"I want to be a photographer in the future."
Chapter 274 So, who exactly is the 'President'?
Countermeasures, what countermeasures?
He asked you what your strategy was.
You said you would trust me.
He asked you why he believed you.
You said, "Then I'll reveal a little something, something I've never told anyone before."
Thus, the composition as before appeared.
... very humorous.
Of course, you did offer an explanation later.
It's a bit of a stretch, though.
Let me see if I can recall the original text.
Here's a snippet of the original text!
"Actually... I have absolutely no interest in vying for power within the Shinomiya Family. So, personally, I wouldn't mind if Brother Shinomiya Oko took control of the Shinomiya Family. However, this is all on the premise of ensuring my freedom and that the chairman and those around us are not harmed. As long as you can guarantee these things, I am prepared to sacrifice myself for the Shinomiya Family."
"Then give it a try. Since you say you can achieve peaceful coexistence with Shijo, then go and give it a shot. If you fail, you can marry him. No objections?"
This passage alone isn't particularly noteworthy.
It's a very reasonable, normal, and quite common-sense conversation.
But...
I really can't connect that sudden idea of wanting to become a photographer with any reason.
What is the basis for this? What is the cause and effect? What is the connection?
... I can't understand.
Give up thinking.
In short, that's pretty much the spoiler for this part of the plot. Whether you're stunned or dumbfounded, that's fine.
Whether the subsequent developments will proceed as planned is uncertain.
After all...
From this day forward, I will stand above the heavens.
Yes.
I rediscovered myself.
Or to be more precise...
I have never lost myself.
What's wrong with enjoying a bit of youthful campus life?! (Shouting loudly)
Okay, okay.
I should raise my hands and surrender.
I was indeed too addicted, too intoxicated.
But I can't be wrong.
That's right, God doesn't make mistakes.
I will end all evil of the past and future, I will become all evil of the past and future, I will become all good of the past and future, and I will arbitrarily decide the list of those who deserve a future according to my own will.
Make a wish.
The Law of Cycles.
Gently, Asakusa Toru closed his Diary.
Meanwhile, Shinomiya Kaguya, who had been reading the entire diary on the other end of the phone, fell into a long silence.
She felt like she was about to stop thinking.
It wasn't just because of that painting, nor was it just because of the backstory that Asakusa Toru wrote afterward.
And that last part... it's a bit confusing.
What exactly is the Law of Cycles?
"..."
Forget about the questions I don't understand; the most important thing now is what came up earlier.
"The Shinomiya Family went bankrupt?" She frowned. "Are you kidding me?"
What she couldn't understand the most was still this.
Let's not even talk about that picture where even she herself looks like she's having a hard time keeping it up.
She simply couldn't understand the composition, nor could she empathize with the words that might have been uttered by her in the future.
If we set aside the premise that the Shinomiya Family's bankruptcy is absolutely unavoidable, and focus solely on the so-called causes and consequences and background information...
Yes, that's right. As the only woman in the Shinomiya Family, she does indeed have the possibility of marriage alliances.
But the fact that the target is the Shijo Family makes it somewhat funny.
How could their relationship with the Shijo Family have evolved to the point where they would need her marriage to achieve peace?
Not to mention that Mikado Shijo and Shijo Maki came to his aid while he was under house arrest.
There is absolutely no possibility of that!
Ultimately, there was no way she would have obediently agreed to a marriage alliance and be placed under house arrest from the very beginning, was there?
... It's not entirely impossible.
If Hayasaka were used to threaten me...
Well, I might try to play along and appease them first before making a decision.
But others...
She felt that no one else could have that weight.
At least, under the tutelage of the Shinomiya Family and guided by the most basic principles of egoism, Shinomiya Kaguya did not believe that threatening her with the safety of others would make her give up her freedom.
And...
"If you doubt me, then there's no need to continue this conversation." Putting away his Diary, Asakusa Toru said nonchalantly, "The premise of this conversation is that you believe what I say. I can answer your questions, but there's no need for me to accept your doubts."
"Ultimately, isn't sending Hayasaka here in person proof of what you've been wanting to imagine?"
In her early Shinomiya Kaguya was very suspicious, harboring deep distrust towards everyone she met.
Even her best friend, Chika Fujiwara, was on her list of suspects.
The Diary didn't have the effect of brainwashing the other person into believing everything written down. If she didn't believe his words at all, Shinomiya Kaguya should have stopped reading the diary from the very beginning, and she certainly wouldn't have patiently waited until the Sports Festival to send Hayasaka Ai to her door.
Therefore, she must have verified it.
Whether it's verifying the effectiveness of the Diary Cognition Filter or verifying the words he wrote in the Diary.
Based on a certain logical deduction, she felt that my words had some credibility and that she could ask me directly.
Hayasaka Ai would only be here.
Shinomiya Kaguya: "..."
"I don't believe there's anyone who could carelessly discard Diary that everyone around them knows, especially one that locked my access after Diary lost, leaving me only able to read it but not do anything else, just sitting there for five whole months. During that time, it only mentioned something I was interested in once; the rest of the time it was just writing about my Advanced Nurturing school life, which was no different from self-indulgence to me."
She began with a long and complex sentence, then paused briefly to pause before Shinomiya Kaguya:
"To say that the target was me is completely illogical, because no one can guarantee that I will be able to read the diary entry of the day the other person brought up myself, let alone be sure that a simple sentence could completely hook me."
Quite subtly, Asakusa Toru seemed to detect a hint of complaint in Shinomiya Kaguya's words.
However, besides the tone of complaint, he couldn't help but notice another message conveyed in Shinomiya Kaguya's words.
Hey... is your access locked?
No wonder I've been wondering why you haven't left a message for so long.
They even insisted on coming directly into the school to open my box and ask me questions.
... No, why is it locked?
Even Shiina Mashiro's permissions are enabled, so why are you the only one who locked them?
Asakusa Toru wasn't too concerned about the reasons for whether or not he believed Shinomiya Kaguya; what mattered more to him was this point.
No, it's not just her who locked it. Logically speaking, if we can get a glimpse of the number of holders by looking at the number of likes, there should be quite a few people who can send comments.
But the truth is that only Chihaya Anon and Shiina Mashiro are exceptions.
In other words, they are the exceptions, while it is reasonable for those whose access is locked.
The reasons are...
It can't be just waiting for me to finish the Advanced Nurturing storyline I'm currently involved in, right?
"I don't question your words, but I need reasons to convince myself." Shinomiya Kaguya's words continued, "I can't simply accept and believe these words without thinking, even if there's a one in ten million chance that the Shinomiya Family will go bankrupt."
"I would accept house arrest, but that's not going to happen."
"So, who exactly is the 'Chairman'?"
Why should she care about the safety of the other party's relatives?
Shinomiya Kaguya said something quite unexpected.
She didn't know what a president was.
"The Student Council of Shuchiin, Miyuki Shirogane, a first-year commoner." Asakusa Toru stated Miyuki Shirogane's name directly.
He had a slight suspicion.
"I don't know him. In the end, there isn't a commoner named Miyuki Shirogane among the first-year students at Shuchiin."
His conjecture was then confirmed in his words.
It does not exist.
Beyond the Advanced Nurturing of Asakusa Toru's cultivation, what one can perceive beneath his feet is a world stitched together with countless 'stories'.
Using 'crossover anime world' to describe it is definitely the most accurate description.
According to Asakusa Toru, such a world, due to the interweaving and connection of various stories, is prone to certain errors, but it also maintains the extension of the story through subtle closures.
... What he meant was that it was perfectly normal for only the male protagonist of the original story to disappear.
Of course, a counterexample would be that one of the greatest masterpieces still exists on this campus.
This is not a law, but simply a reasonable conclusion.
"I see, I understand now." Asakusa Toru nodded. "It's alright, let's put the matter of Miyuki Shirogane aside for now. I guess we won't be discussing whether he even exists anymore."
Let's make an assumption.
"Suppose that old man Shinomiya Gan'an suddenly falls ill and is on the verge of death, do you think the Shinomiya Family will experience turmoil?"
He held up his finger and even stated the name of the head of the Shinomiya Family.