Heartbeats and Illusions

The next day arrived with the gentle hum of the morning sunlight filtering through the curtains. When Natsukawa Kanade stirred awake, his senses still groggy from sleep, he caught the faint clinking of utensils and the savory aroma wafting from the kitchen. Shiina Mahiru, already dressed immaculately in her school uniform, was moving gracefully about, preparing breakfast.

"You're awake," she said, her tone warm yet composed as her golden eyes flicked over to him. "Go brush your teeth and wash your face. Breakfast is almost ready."

"…Yeah." Kanade rubbed the sleep from his eyes, his mind still hazy. Her voice carried the usual calm authority that left him with little room to argue.

By the time he returned, refreshed and slightly more awake, the table was already set. The food was neatly arranged, almost like something out of a commercial, and Mahiru was seated, waiting for him.

"Did you sleep well last night?" Kanade ventured as he took his place across from her. Though he had carried her to his bed while he'd resigned himself to the sofa, he couldn't help but ask. It felt like the polite thing to do, especially after hosting her overnight.

"Not bad," she replied, her voice quiet but tinged with a faint awkwardness. Her gaze darted to the side, betraying her conflicted emotions. While she was grateful for the gesture, a part of her bristled with subtle frustration.

After all, this clueless boy had simply tucked her in, said a quick "goodnight," and left without so much as a second thought. No lingering words, no playful banter, not even a hesitant goodnight kiss. Just a quick retreat to the sofa.

Is he that timid? she wondered, her cheeks puffing slightly as she took a sip of tea to hide her thoughts.

"Y-Yeah, that's good…" Kanade nodded, his voice faltering as her reaction reminded him of their situation. It wasn't every day someone as elegant as Shiina spent the night in his house, let alone in his bed—his bed! As his thoughts began to spiral into dangerous territory, he shook his head vigorously, willing himself to think of something else. Morning energy was not a force to be trifled with.

The room fell into an uneasy silence. Both of them, trapped in their thoughts, avoided each other's gazes. The only sound was the soft clinking of utensils as they ate.

"I'm full," Kanade announced after finishing the last sip of warm milk. He put his hands together in gratitude. "Thank you for the meal."

The words felt a little strange, considering he was sitting at his own dining table, but with Mahiru taking the lead in everything, it felt natural to let her handle things.

"You should hurry to school," she said, already rising to clear the table. "I'll finish tidying up before I leave."

"Why don't we go together?" Kanade suggested, slinging his schoolbag over his shoulder. After all, they'd shared breakfast and the morning together. Walking to school seemed like the logical next step.

Mahiru hesitated, her eyes softening for a moment as she considered it. But then she shook her head, her resolve firm. "Forget it."

She wanted to walk with him—there was no denying that. But to walk together, to be seen together in such an obvious way, would stir too much attention. Mahiru didn't want to provoke idle speculation unless there was something tangible to show for it. Kato had once advised her to act carefully, and she had taken the lesson to heart.

"Alright then." Kanade sighed, his shoulders slumping slightly. Picking up his bag, he turned toward the door. "I'll leave first."

"Wait a moment," Mahiru called after him, her voice gentle but commanding.

She trotted over to him, her every step precise, and stopped just in front of him. With delicate fingers, she brushed an invisible speck of dust from his collar, straightened his ribbon, and fastened a loose button.

"Honestly, you should pay more attention to your appearance," she scolded lightly, though her tone lacked any true bite. "You're the student council president, after all."

Kanade stood there, frozen, as her graceful hands adjusted his uniform. Her scolding felt more like a warm breeze, the kind that left him oddly content rather than embarrassed.

"Be careful on the road," she added, her voice softening as she stepped back.

"Yeah…" he mumbled, his heart thudding in his chest as he opened the door.

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Here's a revised version of Part 2 with an anime-inspired tone and a word count above 550:

The silence stretched across the road, punctuated only by the occasional chirping of birds. Natsukawa Kanade wasn't particularly surprised—his thoughts were still caught up in the morning's whirlwind events. But as he approached the school gate, a familiar figure came into view, standing resolutely with the kind of seriousness only she could muster.

"Iino-san, good morning." Kanade offered a casual wave, his voice carrying an easygoing tone. He didn't expect much of a response; after all, their interactions had always been... complicated.

"G-Good morning, President…" Iino Miko's reply came in a stammer, her body visibly stiffening as if she were bracing for some sort of ambush. Her eyes darted around nervously, and she even took half a step back before catching herself.

Kanade raised an eyebrow at her reaction. While her usual wariness was nothing new, the intensity today was... unusual. Still, he could hardly blame her. His reputation had taken yet another hit thanks to Kaguya's antics.

It wasn't like he could ignore it. "About yesterday," he began, his tone more serious now, "there's been a misunderstanding. I'm not... that kind of person. I hope you won't believe the rumors."

"Eh? Misunderstanding?" Miko's head shot up, her face dusted with a faint blush. "I-I don't care at all!"

She cared. Oh, she cared a lot.

Her inner turmoil was practically written across her face. Miko had always prided herself on her sense of justice, and the stories swirling around Kanade were impossible to ignore. She'd once chalked them up to baseless rumors, but after yesterday—after hearing that from Shinomiya-senpai herself—her doubts had grown.

Where there's smoke, there's fire, right? And now, with students casting her strange glances and whispering cryptic warnings to "prepare to be hurt," her suspicions had only deepened.

Worst of all, it felt like Natsukawa Kanade had set his sights on her.

Miko's grip on her clipboard tightened. There's no way I'm falling for his tricks! she thought fiercely. She'd seen his type before—or so she believed. The kind who smiled sweetly, whispered compliments, and left a trail of broken hearts in their wake.

"That's good," Kanade said simply, seemingly oblivious to the storm brewing in her head. He wasn't expecting to change her mind with a single conversation, but it felt good to clear the air, even if just a little.

After a brief pause, he added, "By the way, Iino-san, you're always so serious about your responsibilities—whether it's for the student council or the disciplinary committee. It's really impressive."

"!"

For a moment, Miko froze, her face lighting up with a mix of surprise and smugness. His compliment struck her like an unexpected gust of wind, leaving her both flattered and flustered. But she quickly recovered, her expression hardening as she raised her clipboard defensively.

"N-No! Don't think you can get away with anything just because you praise me!" she declared, her voice rising an octave. "I-I'm still watching you! I won't let you get away with any violations, President!"

Kanade chuckled softly. Her fiery determination was oddly refreshing. "Of course. You're welcome to keep an eye on me anytime."

Miko blinked at his nonchalant response, unsure how to interpret it. His calm demeanor only made her more suspicious. Was this part of his strategy? Lowering her guard with casual compliments and an easy smile? She wouldn't fall for it—not now, not ever!

"I'll be leaving now," Kanade said, noticing more students gathering around the gate. Staying any longer would only draw unnecessary attention to both of them, and Miko's work was already demanding enough without him disrupting it.

Miko nodded curtly, watching him walk off. As the crowd thickened, she kept her usual vigilant stance, clipboard in hand, ready to mete out justice where necessary.

But as her thoughts settled, a nagging realization crept in. Wait a second…

She replayed their interaction in her mind. Somehow, without even realizing it, Kanade had disarmed most of her suspicions with just a few words. She frowned, gripping her clipboard tighter.

He's definitely up to something. I need to stay sharp. This scumbag president isn't going to get the better of me!

With renewed resolve, Iino Miko stood firm at her post, determined to uphold justice and keep a close eye on Natsukawa Kanade, no matter what.