Chapter Text
First, you fall in love.
Then, you confess it.
…and find it returned in—
whoawhoawhoa wait a second. I was going to repeat the intro to the first episode of the Kaguya-sama anime, but I can’t do that with Ao3’s policy against plagiarism. Hmmm. What to do now…?
Eh, y’know what? Gonna summarize it in a single sentence. To win in love you can’t confess first, yada yada, love is war, yada yada, Shuchi’in Academy is a prestigious high school okay good we’re caught up now. Let’s get to the actual original content.
Contained within the halls of Shuchi’in Academy lies a many promising young students—third-years, stressing over their college entrance-exams; second-years, just now accustomed to the rules of their community; and first-years, excited to begin their days at one of Japan’s most prestigious high school academies. And yet, each and every one of these students has had their attention drawn to a particular pair of classmates walking side-by-side. On the surface, they’re normal high schoolers, and yet the aura exuded by their mere presence is simply inescapable; for whatever reason, no student can draw their eyes away.
This is Yu Ishigami, VP of the Academy Student Council. His family owns a toy manufacturing company that specializes in producing for big-brand corporations. Although his brother will ultimately take over as CEO, Ishigami still supports him from the sidelines with his skills in accounting and data management. There were once rumors that he was a deranged stalker, but those tales have long since passed and now students respect him for his approachability and incredible work ethic, which have lead to him scoring near the top of his classes. Unbeknownst to most students, when he’s not partaking in his student council duties, he enjoys playing video games and reading manga, amassing a vast knowledge of various pieces of pop culture. In other words: he is an otaku.
But more importantly, let’s talk about the girl he’s walking with.
The student council’s president, Miko Ino. What she lacks in height she makes up for with her brilliant mind, and she always places at the top of her exams. Her unwavering sense of justice clearly runs in the family, as her father is a high court judge, and her mother a member of an international humanity organization. She heads the Disciplinary Committee, ensuring that students follow the rules as a testament to her dedication to upholding Shuchi’in Academy’s principles. Ever since she took office she vowed to revitalize the school's reputation and make it stand at the absolute peak of Japan’s high school institutions. Pinned to her collar is a gold braided cord—a symbol of prestige for every student council president ever since the olden days of Shuchi’in Academy.
I’ll be honest, though, some of these lines are still sounding familiar...
A large crowd has now formed. As if coming to a silent agreement, the students crowd against the sides of the halls so that the President and her VP can freely pass through. Girls and boys alike stare in awe at the duo, whose faces remain calm in spite of their many admirers. Words of gossip fly around the crowds—little rumors about their home lives, interests, and activities outside of school; but certainly what’s most prominent is their discussion on whether or not Ino and Ishigami—the Harbingers of Hope—are secretly in a relationship!
They, however, merely walk on, as if oblivious to the whispers dancing around them. Of course, they’re entirely aware of what's being said about them, but they choose to ignore it for now. And soon, they break away from the crowds and enter into the student council room, where Ishigami relaxes upon one of the couches, while Ino sits on the other across from him.
Ishigami: It’s surprising how long this has been going on. I can’t believe everyone still thinks we’re in a relationship.
Ino: Tch. I wish they’d all just keep to themselves. They’ve got better things to do than spread rumors all day.
This exchange is a bit familiar too…
Ishigami: It’d be better to just ignore them. Teenagers love to pretend that every boy and girl who interact are secretly dating.
Ino: Eh, I guess I can’t blame them. Wouldn’t you want to go out with someone as charming as me?
Ishigami: Ha! In your dreams! There’s no way I’d date you.
Ishigami: [I can understand all these rumors, of course. But it’s all in their heads. If I were to get in a relationship, my student council work would surely suffer. There’s no way I could look Miyuki in the eye if I flunked my job because of that. Simply put, there’s no possible way Miko and I could be dating…
[Although… if she confessed first I would totally go out with her!]
Ino: [The president of the student council dating her VP? That’s preposterous! I have a duty to uphold as president, and there’s no way I’d let some lousy relationship get in the way of my responsibilities. I was elected as president to steer this year’s student council into an era of progress. Getting a boyfriend would simply hinder my ability to work to my fullest potential…
[Though if Yu confessed first I would simply have no choice but to go out with him!]
Although the two keep the stoic expressions on their faces—their eyes closed and heads pointed slightly downwards—they both giggle to themselves, as if certain in their belief that the other person will confess first, and so there’s no need to reveal their feelings just yet. If they just hold on for long enough, eventually the other must cave in and confess. And when that happens, they’ll simply have no choice but to accept those feelings and go out with them as boyfriend or girlfriend!
...Yup. That’s where my Déjà vu is coming from. If you’re reading this, I take it you’ve already seen the series and know why, but if you haven’t, then what the heck are you doing reading Ao3 fanfiction of it? Go read the manga first! Or at least watch the anime, I ain’t explaining it to you!
And so, while our protagonists are busy with their delusions…
Half a year goes by!
…and nothing happens.
You’d think at least something would have happened by now, but nope! They’re still close friends, but they have yet to make any progress whatsoever, justifying their inaction as them prioritizing their student council duties over their measly feelings. But of course that’s not the actual reason—what kind of story do you think this is?
Ishigami: [Man this really blows… I gave Miko so many opportunities to confess, but she hasn’t taken any of them!
[…at this rate I'd have to be the one to confess first... yeah, no chance! I’ve been talking about my interests around her like Kaguya said I should, so surely she would’ve fallen for me by now, right? *sigh* I’m starting to think that that’s not actually how things are supposed to go…]
Ino: [ARGHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!! WHAT IS GOING ON WITH HIM!!!!!!!!!!! How many times must someone sit with you during school hours before you confess to them!
[I know Miyuki suggested I get Yu to confess first by doing this and all, but I’m starting to think this might not be a good strategy…]
Indeed, these six months of zero romantic tensions have escalated their minds from thinking “I’m okay with keeping things like this for now” to “I must get the other to confess no matter what!” You'd think the logical decision would be to confess first, but, again, what kind of story do you think this is?
And so we begin the newest chapter in the battle known as love—a conflict of truly epic proportions! And this time, new strategies will be employed and new dynamics will be at play as our heroes fight to win the other’s heart.
Love is no game, after all. It’s…and say it with me now…
WAR
…and it all begins with a pair of movie tickets.