เรื่อง Kaguya-sama: Beyond the Confession

Two days had passed since Kaguya Shinomiya had seen Miyuki Shirogane at the charity event. The memory of that night lingered in her mind, but life at the Shinomiya estate continued as usual.

It was early morning, and the mansion was quiet except for the soft footsteps of the staff as they went about their duties. The mansion was enormous, with high ceilings and long hallways that seemed to stretch on forever. The walls were adorned with elegant paintings and the floors were covered in rich carpets that muffled every sound.

Kaguya sat at the long dining table, her breakfast laid out before her on fine china. The room was bright with sunlight streaming in through the tall s, casting a warm glow over the polished wood furniture. Despite the beauty around her, Kaguya felt a sense of emptiness.

Her personal maid, Ai Hayasaka, stood nearby, always attentive. Kaguya picked at her food, not really tasting it. Her thoughts kept drifting back to Miyuki. She remembered how they had worked together so naturally at the event, how easy it had been to talk to him, and how comfortable it had felt. But now, here she was, back to her routine, and it felt like something was missing.

"Kaguya-sama," Hayasaka said softly, bringing Kaguya out of her thoughts. "You have a meeting with your father at 9 AM."

Kaguya nodded, placing her fork down. "Thank you, Hayasaka. I'll get ready."

After breakfast, Kaguya walked through the mansion's grand hallways, each step echoing slightly in the vast space. The walls were lined with portraits of her ancestors, each one looking stern and serious. The air was cool and smelled faintly of the fresh flowers that were always arranged in large vases throughout the house.

When she reached her father's office, the mood shifted to something more intense. The office was large, with dark wood paneling and heavy bookshelves filled with important documents. Her father sat behind a massive desk, his presence commanding and intimidating. The conversation was all business, discussing the details of an upcoming merger. Kaguya listened carefully, her face calm and focused, but inside, she felt a strange disconnection it all.

Once the meeting was over, Kaguya retreated to her private study, a smaller, cozier room that was lined with books and had a large overlooking the garden. The garden was beautiful, with neatly trimmed hedges and blooming flowers, but Kaguya hardly noticed as she sat down at her desk.

She opened a folder containing plans for a new charity project she was working on. Normally, would have excited her—she cared deeply about helping others and using her family's influence for good—but today, she couldn't fully concentrate. Her mind kept wandering back to Miyuki.

She remembered his serious expression when they talked about their futures, the way his eyes softened when they shared a joke. She missed that. But these thoughts frustrated her. She had so much work to do, so many responsibilities, yet here she was, distracted by someone who wasn't even part of her life anymore.

Later in the day, Kaguya attended a luncheon with some influential figures the business world. The restaurant was upscale, with soft music playing in the background and waiters moving gracefully between tables. The conversation was polite and superficial, everyone smiling and nodding while discussing business and society. Kaguya participated, as she always did, with grace and intelligence, but inside she felt a little hollow, as if she was just going through the motions.

When the luncheon was over, Kaguya returned to the mansion, feeling drained. She changed out of her formal clothes into something more comfortable and made her way to the garden. The garden was one of her favorite places, a peaceful oasis in her otherwise demanding life. The flowers were in full bloom, their bright colors vivid against the green of the grass. The scent of roses and jasmine filled the air, and a gentle breeze rustled the leaves of the cherry blossom trees.

Kaguya walked slowly, taking in the beauty around her, but her thoughts were far away. She stopped beneath one of the cherry blossom trees, the same type of tree that had surrounded her and Miyuki during their time together at school. The memory of their shared moments under those trees felt so real, almost like she could reach out and touch it.

She wanted to move on, to focus on her responsibilities and the future she was being groomed for. But every time she tried, her mind kept pulling her back to those memories. The connection she had with Miyuki wasn’t something she could easily forget.

As the sun began to set, casting a warm, golden light over the garden, Kaguya realized that despite everything—despite her best efforts to stay focused—she couldn’t deny how much those memories meant to her. She would continue with her duties, she would be the perfect Shinomiya heir, but the thoughts of Miyuki, of what they once shared, would remain with her, no matter how hard she tried to push them away.