Chiyoda Ward.
On the road beside a high-end residential area.
A black stretch limousine slowly pulled over by the roadside.
Spotting the approaching car, Chika Fujiwara checked the license plate before cheerfully opening the door and greeting the girl seated inside:
"Good afternoon, Kaguya-chan~"
"Good afternoon, Fujiwara-san."
In contrast to Chika's exuberance, Kaguya Shinomiya appeared polite, elegant, and composed.
Seemingly long accustomed to Kaguya's demeanour, Chika smoothly got into the car, shut the door, and happily snuggled up to Kaguya without a care for her slightly stiff expression:
"You know, I never thought you'd actually agree to come play games with me~"
"After all, the last time we played together was during last year's school trip~"
"It seems that way." Kaguya Shinomiya forced a smile as she distanced herself, preventing Chika Fujiwara from shamelessly clinging to her.
This wasn't because Kaguya disliked Chika, but rather because whenever Chika got close, those nauseating fatty deposits of hers would inevitably press against Kaguya, creating an extremely unpleasant sensation.
"Ehehe~ It's been so long since we've played together~"
Chika stuck to her like glue, rubbing cheeks with Kaguya:
"Every time I invited Kaguya-chan before, something strange would always happen. I've been waiting so long to finally get you out~~"
"Is that so... You've really worked hard then..."
Facing Chika's enthusiasm, Kaguya desperately cast a pleading glance towards the blonde maid sitting opposite them.
'As expected, the young mistress is completely useless when dealing with Fujiwara...'
Ai Hayasaka sighed helplessly at Kaguya's inability to handle Chika, then instantly changed her expression.
In the next moment, the innocent rookie maid Ai Hayasaka made her dazzling debut:
"Oh? You must be Miss Chika Fujiwara, the very best friend that Lady Kaguya always talks about."
"Eh? I'm Kaguya-chan's best friend? Really?"
Chika instantly lit up with excitement.
Seeing this, Kaguya could only grit her teeth and nod. "That's certainly true."
"Wonderful!!" Chika immediately hugged Kaguya's arm, vigorously rubbing her cheek against it.
It was only then that she seemed to notice the maid girl sitting opposite them.
Suddenly, Chika paused, tilting her head in confusion:
"Huh? Isn't Hayasaka-san supposed to be accompanying Kaguya-chan today?"
Chika remembered that Kaguya was usually accompanied by an Irish male butler named Hayasaka.
Why had this beautiful blonde maid replaced him?
And that face... it somehow felt familiar.
"Hayasaka-san is my distant cousin. He's fallen ill, so I'm accompanying Lady Kaguya today instead."
Maintaining her sweet smile, Ai explained to Chika:
"I'm Ai Hayasaka. Pleased to meet you!"
Chika instantly believed Ai's words, her face full of concern:
"Eh!! Hayasaka-san is sick? Is he alright now?"
Ai smiled gently in response. "He's developed pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis and has gone abroad for treatment. He'll probably need one or two years to recover."
Kaguya's eyes widened at this.
While others might not know who Hayasaka was, she understood perfectly - it had always been Ai's disguise for dealing with Chika.
'Hayasaka, is it really okay to declare yourself terminally ill like this?'
"He's already gone abroad? How could this be..." Chika looked devastated. "I didn't even know. I'm terrible."
Ai calmly continued, "Cousin Hayasaka didn't want you to worry, which is why he didn't say anything. So please, stay strong for him."
"Is that so..." Chika wiped a tear from the corner of her eye, sighing emotionally. "Hayasaka-san is such a kind person."
Having inexplicably been given a 'nice person' card, Ai shot a dark glance at Kaguya.
If it weren't for this psychologically twisted, despicable woman needing her to gather intel within the school, would she really have to disguise herself as a male butler in front of Chika Fujiwara from the same academy?
Every time Chika Fujiwara visited, she had to spend one or two hours on makeup. With such a heavy workload already, you're adding more to my plate—shouldn't you take responsibility for this, Shinomiya-sama?!
Facing Ai Hayasaka's glare, Kaguya Shinomiya clasped her hands together in a pleading gesture from a corner where Chika Fujiwara couldn't see.
Seeing this, Ai Hayasaka sighed before casually steering the conversation away with Chika Fujiwara:
"Speaking of which, I'm also a student at Shuchi'in Academy. Can I add you on LINE, Fujiwara-san?"
"Yes, yes!!" Chika Fujiwara quickly took out her phone, opened LINE, and exchanged accounts with Ai Hayasaka. "Ai-chan goes to Shuchi'in too? No wonder I felt like I'd seen you before!"
After adding each other, Chika Fujiwara giggled and plopped onto the sofa, cheering:
"Gaming teammate +1, hehe~ This time we'll definitely unlock more gameplay options~"
Ai Hayasaka merely raised an eyebrow at this, then checked the time on her phone before saying:
"Fujiwara-san, would you mind having one more gaming partner?"
Chika Fujiwara instantly perked up. "Eh, someone else wants to join?"
"Yes." Ai Hayasaka smiled outwardly, though inwardly, she was thoroughly displeased.
After all, this person had been arranged by Oko Shinomiya.
Across from Ai Hayasaka, Kaguya Shinomiya maintained a smile—though it was more of a cold smirk.
"Yay, yay!" Chika Fujiwara pumped her fist, waving her hands excitedly. "With one more teammate, we'll definitely perfect-clear the first floor today~"
"Since you agree, I'll have the driver change course then."
Not long after Ai Hayasaka spoke, the car pulled up at an intersection to pick up the intended guest.
When the door opened, a girl wearing a brown beret and large sunglasses stepped in, only to freeze in surprise upon seeing Chika Fujiwara:
"Chika?"
Chika Fujiwara blinked, then her eyes lit up instantly:
"Utau?!"
Kaguya Shinomiya was taken aback. "You two... know each other?"