Chapter Text
LOVE IS WAR!
People fall in love, confess, and get together. No matter who you ask, everyone would agree that that is a wonderful thing.
BUT THAT IS WRO-
…
What do you mean, you’ve already heard this monologue before? Oh, so you have already seen the story that preceded this new tale didn’t you? Indeed, around two years ago, the (by then) President and Vice President of the prestigious Schuchi’in Academy were engaged in a Love War, and after several months of strategies and mind games, those two foolish teenagers finally reached their happy ending.
You most likely noticed as well that in the background of those our former protagonists’ tale, a second story was developing in the background, a story about two teenagers that drifted off from each other several years ago, just for them to slowly get back together, and their tale in what some may call an anticlimactic manner, with both working together on the Student Council as neither of them was willing to confess.
And it may seem that with that, we have a solid point to stop observing their stories… BUT YOU’RE WRONG! This is the story of the final stand of both the Schuchi’in Academy President Miko Iino, and her Vice President Yu Ishigami. This is the story about how they finally reach their goal in their long, long path. This… is the B-side of the War of Love and Brains!
It was the middle of February, as the 69th Student Council was dealing with the school’s affairs. Sitting at the President’s desk was Miko Iino, dealing with some heavy paperwork. She is a student of very high prestige, with her having the highest grades among the second graders. She is also a strict but somehow fair rule abider, that stuck dearly to the school’s rulebook, but knew when to be lenient, creating a lot of respect from her underclassmen.
“Ishigami, have you got the budget for the rest of the semester? Graduation is coming up and we need to work fast.” Iino said at her hand picked Vice President Yu Ishigami. Who was working away at his laptop. Ishigami used to be surrounded by infamy, thanks to certain rumors that smeared his reputation, he used to also be lazy and had a tendency to be an underachiever. But now? He has more work than ever since he became Vice President, as not only Iino gave him heavy work, but he led the movement of modernizing the school with current technology.
“I’ve already asked Tono to get them, she should arrive any mo-” Then out of nowhere, the Secretary Mitama Tono bursted out of the door. Tono was an enthusiastic young girl among the first graders, she was the new Captain of the Cheer team after proving herself as a valuable member to replace the one who graduated from the academy, she also had very good grades as well. “VICE PRESIDENT! VICE PRESIDENT! Could you check next semester’s budget plan please- ACK!” Toni said as she proceeded to trip up and fall on her face… she was kind of a klutz as you could already tell.
“Whoa! You alright over there Tono?” Ishigami asked concernedly. “Let’s take it a bit easier, okay? It’s okay to take a break here and there.” “What do you mean it’s ok to take a break? There’s still tons of work left to do! We’re getting through this entire mountain of paperwork today, got it?” Said Iino as Ishigami sighed and Tono flinched and went to work on the couch, at that moment two students entered the room. One was the Financial Auditor Kogane Kanegae, an exchange student who had excellent grades in the French division of Shuchi’in, but recently entered Schuichi’in in her Freshman year.
“Mitama chan! Everything alright?” Asked Kanegae curious about the pile of paperwork the girl was given. “Kogane san! The President just gave me several piles of work.” Sobbed Tono. “I mean it only makes sense, graduation is getting closer, so they probably want to prepare for the event when it comes…” Said the Treasurer Taikoku Takano, another first year student who entered the school thanks to the scholarship program. He gained the respect of others despite his status by consistently getting first place on his grade and then entering the Student Council. All the three other members of the Council were handpicked by Ishigami and Iino due to their abilities, so they were all highly reliable members.
“They seem so invested in their work right now… they’re both so cool!” Said Kanegae impressed at the work of the two heads of Council. “YEAH! The President’s incredible! Her grades are always at the top of her class, not to mention that professional aura she always has around her!” Said Tono getting caught in the hype as well. “Right!?” Replied Kanegae. Both girls were very easily getting carried away in the excitement. “But the Vice President is also super cool, you know?” Intervened Takano. “Not to mention he’s ranked 8th in his entire year. I don’t understand how he can balance studying with all that work he does… It really makes me wonder just what’s going inside his head…”
The three teenagers took a good look at their upperclassmen. Who were quietly working on the pile of work they had in front of them. “Aren’t they so great together!?” Said Tono excitedly. “It’s like they’re always on the same page even when they’re not talking with each other!” Continued Kanegae. “Apparently, they used to be on really bad terms with each other.” Explained Tono. “What! No way!” Said Kanegae. “But look at how great they look together now!” Replied Tono pointing at them. “That’s certainly news to me! Wonder what they’re thinking right now…” Questioned Takano.
Meanwhile all that was on Ishigami’s mind was: “Gaaah… this suuucks… I just wanna go home and play games. Why did I even decide to accept this position in the first place…” Said Ishigami looking at his pile of homework. “No matter how much I optimize, Iino just fills any time I save with new work so I can’t catch a break… if only things were less hectic around here… then maybe I’d be able to sit down and have a proper chat with Iino, but…” Ishigami sighed as he then turned his back to see the first graders chattering and couldn’t help but glare.
“God… the first years are so loud. You know I can hear everything you say right?” Grumbled Ishigami. “Me? Go out with Iino? What are you even talking about…? HAVE YOU CONSIDERED WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF I ASKED HER AND GOT REJECTED!? This entire Student Council would fall apart! The previous Student Council has- (for the sake of convenience we decided to skip his rambling to the most important part) -that much to satisfy their lust! But well… It’d be a totally different story if she asked me out instead!” Ishigami rambled inside his head. “If that were to happen, then, well… I’d probably figure something out!”
Meanwhile on Iino’s side, as she has been taking peeks at Ishigami doing his work every now and then: “If he doesn’t have any work to do, he’ll just go straight home! So I’ve got to make sure he stays busy!” She thought to herself. “But he always blows through whatever I assign him, so coming up with new work is starting to become a real pain!” Iino then noticed the freshmen chattering as well, and she couldn’t help but glare at them as well.
“Seriously, these first years… they’re really saying whatever they want, huh…” Iino thought to herself, and couldn’t help but hold her head in frustration. “BUT YOU KNOW? NO MATTER HOW MANY SIGNALS I SEND THIS GUY, HE JUST ABSOLUTELY REFUSES TO ASK ME OUT! The longer this drags on, the harder it’s going to be for both of us! It’d be so much easier if- (the second verse is the same as the first one) -but still, if I were to confess to him now… then no matter how I look at it… It'd definitely be my defeat!” Iino rambled to herself.
With that the layout of the Love Battle was set, the two opponents will have to use their wits to outsmart each other and worm out a confession from the other. And with this, we shall begin our journey, as our two protagonists finally reach their final goal in their long journey. After all… Love… is War! And the setting for our first love battle was finally going to make its appearance! The first years finally noticed the grim stares they were getting them from their upperclassmen, making them all flinch.
“Yikes! I forgot they get mad when we start talking in the middle of the work! What do we do now?” Said Kanegae. “Um… um… oh! I have an idea!” Said Tono searching herself and pulling out two tickets. “Ah by the way, I won a pair of movie tickets the other day!” She said as Ishigami and Iino stopped on their tracks looking at the girl holding the tickets. “I won a raffle so I got two tickets! I thought that since lately you’ve been working so hard you may want to take a break one day!” Said Tono sighing in relief as she put the tickets in the table and saw how her upperclassmen frowns disappeared.
At this point they both looked at each other and knew what to do. “Um… Iino…” “Ishigami…” They said as they both grew a small blush in their faces. “Might as well come together for the movie, right? No point in going alone.” Ishigami said sheepishly. “Sure, it would be nice. And I heard some of the recent movies have been very good.” Said Iino, blushing as well. “Alright then, it’s a deal. The tickets are for Saturday at 2 pm, so that’s already arranged.” Concluded Ishigami.
LOVE BATTLES! Now this might seem as an underwhelming way to end the battle, but this is just merely the beginning. Just as different people show their love in different ways, different people battle their love in different ways. For some couples even agreeing to go to a movie together is its own battle. But in the case of our protagonists, their battlestyle is more active. And their focus isn’t whether they go or not or rather…
“What will we do in the movie theater…” Thought Iino to herself. “One thing is going to watch movies together but another one is-” “How will I make her confess to me through that! I mean, I guess I could make a good impression on her from the start… THAT’S IT!” Thought Ishigami to himself, while Ishigami wasn’t particularly cunning, he still knew that the best strategy to make her confess was to get as many opportunities to impress her as he could. “Hey Iino, I think your house is quite away from the movie theater. I don’t think it would be safe to go alone wouldn’t it?” Ishigami said trying to act disinterested.
“You’re right… it is kind of far.” Said Iino thoughtfully, Ishigami already knew he had won. “Alright! I can imagine her being so desperate for someone to accompany her and then I swoop in as the hero and-” Ishigami thought to himself when Iino spoke up again. “Guess I’ll need to take a taxi then.” Said Iino calmly, making Ishigami flinch for a second. “HUH!?” The boy said in shock. “You aren’t slick at all Ishigami, if you want to actually walk together to the movie theater you have to ask me yourself!” Thought Iino to herself.
“That seems like a sane idea.” Said Tono as Kanegae pulled her away and started whispering to her ear. “¡Huh!? You can never be 100% sure that the taxi you get is also safe as well!” Exclaimed Ishigami. “Of course it is, nowadays you can even pick what taxi picks you up.” Responded Iino. “But what if there’s a traffic jam that day?” “I can simply take the train instead.” “But what if you spend all your money and can’t afford your ticket.” “We were already given the tickets, remember?” The boy and the girl were in a back and forth conversation as the former knew he was getting cornered.
While Miko would use any chance to spend time with Ishigami, she has put her foot down that he is going to be the one that offers walking to the theater with him. “How can I expect him to confess when he can’t even do something as simple as that? I’ll let the opportunity pass if I have to, I still have other plans on what to do with him in the movie.” She thought to herself as hesitation started to pop in her mind. “Though, the movie theater is going to be really crowded… and walking together is probably our only chance to spend some time alone…” Thought Iino as Ishigami saw her clearly hesitating, and knew it was his chance.
“I mean, I’m just saying that it might be a bit lonely on the way there in the crowded streets of Tokyo, so I was just wondering if that didn’t bother you.” Ishigami making use of the fact Iino was doubtful to be more direct. “You’re right… it would feel a little lonely…” Said Iino as she was slowly sinking on her sadness as she quickly realized what Ishigami’s game was. “THAT JERK! Two can play at this, you know.” She thought outraged to herself. “Honestly, lately I barely get to go outside with my friends, which aren’t many to begin with. Honestly it would be nice if someone offered to go with me, but it looks like no one cares enough.” Said Iino pulling out some fake tears, which worked wonders on Ishigami as a big feeling of guilt was pressed on his shoulders.
“But I guess it’s just the usual at this point… I’ll reserve the taxi…” Iino said as Ishigami interrupted her. “Hey Iino…” He said blushing. “Yes…?” The girl said, looking expectantly at him. “I heard Saturday will be a busy day, are you sure you want to take public transport?” Said Ishigami in a last ditch effort. “WHATEVER!” Said Iino with genuine indignation as she was leaving the room and just before she got out Ishigami grabbed her by the wrist, the boy was blushing like crazy knowing he had to act now or never, as the girl was excited to know victory was in her grasp, until suddenly…
“WAAAAAH! PRESIDENT IINO!” Bawled Tono pushing Ishigami aside and tackling the brunette in a hug. “I’m sorry for not telling you earlier, but me and Kogane chan got tickets too! So we can go to the movie theater together!” She said, as the girl she just mentioned was trying to hush her as much as she could. “Sounds great! I could go with Ishigami senpai and we could all join together at the theater.” Said Takano as Ishigami (who still hasn’t bother to get up from the floor) was looking in horror as his plan was crumbling apart.
“Sounds like a deal! Meet you guys there! It’s been a while since we’ve all gone out together as a group.” Said Tono as Iino could feel as her victory vanished in front of her. “What do you guys think?” “Yeah… yeah… sounds great…” Said Iino with barely any energy as she slowly got back to her desk. “Sure… would love to…” Said Ishigami as he lazily wandered out of the room to God knows where.
TODAY’S RESULT: MUTUAL DEFEAT
But this story is merely just the beginning, as we continue along this long arduous journey, these two fools will keep discovering themselves on their way to their final happiness! The battle is over, but the War will keep going on until they both decide to face their feelings as this story continues!