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He had come to the student council room as fast as he could after he got to the text from Kaguya to meet him there. He had no idea how long she had been waiting, just when he arrived she was standing dutifully by his chair. They really had no right to be in the council room any more, but they had yet to turn over their keys to the new student council.
“Where have you been?” Shirogane had asked. “I’ve been worried sick! No one knew where you were, I even asked Hayasaka and she didn’t answer me.”
Kaguya stood tall, her gaze blank and cold. “Miyuki,” she said, her voice small.
Shirogane didn’t hear her. “You only answered one of my texts-“
“Miyuki.”
“What’s going on with you?”
“If you’d let me talk then I could tell you!” Kaguya snapped. Her hands flew in the air.
That was when Shirogane spotted it. A glint on her ring finger. He felt his stomach drop to the floor. Kaguya must have seen the look on his face because she looked at her ring and then covered it back up with her other hand, her eyes turned away. Shirogane crossed the council room, and this time the floor felt like it had gained twenty feet. He pulled Kaguya’s hand free and held it tight as he looked down. Shirogane made a choking sound.
The ring was rose gold and a large diamond sat front and center sandwiched between two milk-white pearls. It was beautiful. It was an engagement ring. “What is this?” Shirogane still had to ask. There was no way he could be right. Not with this.
“My father and brothers have produced a marriage for me. An advantageous marriage. As the only Shinomiya daughter, it is my duty to go through with it.” Kaguya said. She said the words as if she had rehearsed them. Her voice cracked. “I’m getting married.”
“What do you mean you’re getting married?” Shirogane asked.
Kaguya ripped her hand away. “Were you not listening? Don’t make me repeat it again.”
“Your family is making you do this? Just tell them no. You can’t seriously want this.” Silence filled the room and Shirogane rounded the corner of his desk. “Kaguya, please,”
“You think I have that choice?” Kaguya asked. Tears brimmed at the corners of her eyes.
“What about us?” Shirogane asked. “Surely your family wouldn’t break us up. Surely?” Kaguya said nothing. “And you told them that you are in love with someone right?”
Kaguya remained silent.
“Does our relationship mean nothing to you?” Shirogane regretted the words as soon as they left his mouth. Kaguya took a step back and shook her head. She looked like Shirogane had burned her. “No.” Shirogane said. “Wait-“
“Love is war.” Kaguya decided. “And sometimes you lose in war.”
Shirogane felt his knees turn to jelly. He gripped the side of the table and watched as the room spun around him. Kaguya walked away, her back straight and head held high like a princess.
“Kaguya…” was all Shirogane could say.
She froze, her hand on the door knob. “I’m sorry, president.” she said. She opened the door and left. A single drop of water stained the carpet of the council room floor.
———————————————-
“I’m here to talk to Kaguya Shinomiya.” Shirogane said.
The man at the gate bristled. “I’m sorry. Lady Kaguya is busy in preparations for her wedding.”
“But I-“
The guard held up a hand as his ear piece crackled to life. His eyes drifted back to Shirogane, he held out his hand. “Follow me. Please.”
Shirogane looked up at the Shinomiya house. Part of him wanted to see Kaguya or Hayasaka watching him through the windows, he wanted to see the evidence: a ruffling curtain, a shadow, a light flicking on, but there was nothing. The gate guard stopped Shirogane as they came to a patio area. A man in a fine suit sat at the table, reading a newspaper.
“Sir, I have brought the visitor.” the guard said.
The man folded his paper over and smiled at Shirogane. “Excellent. Thank you, for bringing him here.” he said. “That will be all.”
The guard bowed, leaving Shirogane with the man. The man put his paper aside and offered Shirogane a seat across the table from him. Shirogane had no choice but to sit.
“Miyuki Shirogane,” the man said, he looked him up and down.
“You must be Oko Shinomiya.” Shirogane said. “Kaguya’s older brother.”
“I am.”
“Do you know where she is? I’ve been trying to see her, I’ve been texting her, but-“
“Miyuki Shirogane. Class president of Shuchiin Academy. Second highest grades in the school. Son of Mako Shirogane and his long-estranged wife, older brother to Kei Shirogane. You live in an apartment in the Setagaya Ward, and you ride your bike to school everyday. You have been admitted to this fall’s class at Stanford University in the United States.” Oko said. “Is everything I’m saying correct?”
Shirogane nodded. “Yes?” He felt like at any second Oko would pounce from across the table.
Oko smiled. “I would ask you what your father did for a living, but I don’t think you know that yourself!” he said. “You, however, have a steady part-time job, that you use to help pay for your family’s rent. On top of all that studying? My, my…and you cook for your sister, too!”
Shirogane’s face burned. “Please, I just came here to see if Kaguya was alright.” He said.
“Do you think you can give my sister the life she's accustomed to? The life she deserves?”
Although it was a bright and beautiful day in the gardens, any warmth was sucked out of the air.
“I…” but Shirogane could not finish the sentence. He sighed and avoided Oko’s gaze.
“I thought so.” Oko said. He leaned back into his chair. “You’ve made her very happy for a time, for that we all thank you. But we must move past that. Now, where are my manners, would you like some tea?”
As soon as the words left his mouth, servants rounded the corner with a pot of tea, cups and saucers, and enough finger foods to feed a small army. They rested their trays on the table, bowed to Oko and left. Shirogane wanted to thank them, but he was sure it would fall on deaf ears. Oko poured himself a cup and drank it blissfully. Shirogane stood from the table, he didn’t think his stomach could handle tea.
“Th-thank you for your hospitality.” he said. “And give Kaguya my regards.”
Oko said nothing in return, he took another sip of tea. “The guards will show you out.”
——————————————————-
“Miko hasn’t texted me.” Ishigami said. “And still no word from Fujiwara.”
Shirogane did not even try to raise his head from his kitchen table. “What’s the point?” he mumbled into the wood. “She’s probably long gone.”
Ishigmai sighed and plopped down in the chair across from Shirogane. He scrolled through his phone, the only sound in the apartment was his tapping and the minute hand moving on the clock on the wall.
“I got something,” Ishigami said. When Shirogane did not pick up his head, Ishigami smacked his arm. “Stop moping and look!”
Shirogane blinked as his eyes focused onto Ishigami’s phone. It was an Instagram post by Chika. She was wearing a richly patterned yukata and had flowers pinned in her hair. She was at a shrine, and in the top left corner the location was tagged at the Meiji Shrine. “A beautiful day for a wedding.” Chika had captioned the photo.
Shirogane jumped from his seat. “She only posted this a second ago!”
“We can be there in fifteen minutes if we take the train!” Ishigami said.
Shirogane grabbed his wallet. “Let’s go!”
They raced down the steps of Shirogane’s building, almost knocking into an old lady with groceries. Shirogane called apologies over his shoulder. Cars honked as they crossed the cross walk too early. They jumped over the turn styles and slid onto the trains as the doors slid closed. Commuters shot them dirty looks as they stood doubled-over in the train cars.
When the doors opened at their stop, Shirogane and Ishigami raced into the blinding light. The Meiji Shrine came into view, crowds milling around. Shirogane took a deep breath and was about to step inside, when Ishigami grabbed his arm.
“Wait,” Ishigami said, “We have to do it right.”
“What are you talking about?”
“You know how there’s a part where the officiant says: ‘If there is a reason these two should not be wed, speak now or forever hold your peace’. Well, that’s the part where you speak.”
“That’s stupid.”
“How do we even know when it’s going to happen?”
Ishigami’s face turned serious. “We got to check it out. Lift me.”
“I’m not going to-“ and before Shirogane could finish his objection, Ishigami was already scrambling to look over the wall and Shirogane had no choice but to grasp at his sneakers and support him.
Ishigami shifted, peering over the wall. Shirogane’s arms trembled. “You got anything?”
Ishigami gasped. “Oh, damn he already said it!”
“FOR THE LOVE OF-“ Shirogane turned from the window, and he felt Ishigami’s weight topple off of his shoulders.
“HEY WHAT ARE YOU DOING-?!” Ishigami yelled as he flopped onto the concrete.
Shirogane stumbled, and his knee scraped on the ground, but he pushed himself up. He ignored Ishigami’s protests and ran into the shrine grounds.
“I OBJECT!” Shirogane yelled. The words tore through his throat.
The crowd gasped and pivoted. Chika screamed half in shock and half in delight. Shirogane stood in the sea of beautiful yukatas and suits, heels and glittering hand bags. Down the aisle on the shrine steps stood the immediate family surrounding the bride and groom.
“MIYUKI?!” Shirogane looked up and Kaguya stood in the center dressed in ceremonial white, her eyes wide.
“KAGUYA!” he cried.
Before Shirogane or the congregation could move, security guards marched up from wherever they had been hiding. They sized up Shirogane, waiting for him to make a move. A laugh broke over the crowd.
“How precious.” Oko said. He could not help the delight from bleeding into his voice. “The president has fallen in love with Kaguya! Oh, good lord…”
The congregation of the two clans and their guests laughed. Their laughter filled the hollow halls of the shrine. Shirogane felt his cheeks turn red. He knew he must look like a mess standing in the middle of the wedding ceremony with his normal clothes and tired from running all over the city. Kaguya cast her gaze down, her veil falling over her eyes. Shirogane saw her shoulders tremble.
“Yes.” Shirogane said. He squared his shoulders and looked at the altar where Kaguya and her family stood. “I have.”
The laughter died down, the smiles of the crowd draining off of their faces. Someone in the back coughed to fill the void.
“She is one of the most bull-headed, infuriating people I have ever met. But she's also one of the most compassionate and smartest and-and she’s hilarious… And I love her.” Shirogane said. Kaguya peeked up and when she met Shirogane’s eyes, her lips quirked up in the barest hint of a smile. “I love you, Kaguya.” Shirogane said.
“Miyuki,” Kaguya moved to step away from the ceremony, but her brother pushed her aside.
“Security, please escort Mr. Shirogane to the police station for trespassing!” Oko cried. “And ensure that the perimeter is secure from any further-“
Mr. Shinomiya stepped forward, his cane clacking on the stones. “Oko,” Mr. Shinomiya said, “That’s enough. Stand down.”
“But, Father-“
“Don’t speak over me, Oko, it’s infuriating.” Mr. Shinomiya said. Oko shrank away. Mr. Shinomiya hobbled down the steps, and Shirogane raced to his side to offer his hand. “Thank you, but do not trouble yourself,” Mr. Shinomiya let out a long breath through his nose and looked Shirogane up and down. He looked over his shoulder at Kaguya, and then turned back to the congregation.
“We all know why we’re here today…I’m broke.” Mr. Shinomiya said. Murmurs rose form the crowd, but they fell silent as Mr. Shinomya continued to talk. “Money is a very important thing, and it makes life a hell of a lot easier, but it is not everything. Money or not, I still have three great children, and a beautiful grandson. I have the memory of my wife.”
Mr. Shinomiya reached out and took Kaguya’s hand in his, guiding her down the stairs. Kaguya blinked, but said nothing. “Love is there when the night is cold, when the roof is leaking, when the dinners are meager.” Shirogane let the old man take his hand and put it with Kaguya’s. “Love is war. Everything in the world is fighting against it, and often it does not win. When it does…that is a rare and wonderful thing.” He released Kaguya and Shirogane’s hands. “I’m sorry for what was done to both of you.”
Kaguya blinked up at Shirogane, her eyes red. The Kaguya in Shirogane’s vision swam. He took one step away from the altar stairs, pulling Kaguya with him. Together they walked down the aisle of people, not making eye contact with a single one, but he swore he heard Chika bawling. His joints felt wooden, and his Brian could not come up with a single intelligent thought. Kaguya’s hold on his hand tightened and her steps picked up the pace. Shirogane copied her. By the time they were at the shrine entrance, Kaguya’s veil had flown off and they were jogging.
“Wow,” Ishigami breathed, “It actually worked.”
If it had been any other moment, Kaguya would have told him to can it. Shirogane breezed past his friend and pulled Kaguya around a corner. He pulled her close to him.
“You came for me?” she asked.
“Of course I did.” Shirogane said.
“How cute,” Kaguya said.
Shirogane glared at her, but her smile was genuine. “I know. That’s why you love me.”
Kaguya grabbed him by his collar and pulled him down to her level. “I do love you.” she said. “Truly.” She kissed him without a care in the world.