Kanade carefully examined Kaguya's injured foot, his brow furrowing slightly. The wound was tinged red, a clear sign of irritation, but it wasn't anything too severe. As long as she didn't overexert herself, she should be fine.
"The wound is a little red, but if you don't feel any sharp pain, it shouldn't be too serious. You can walk, but no strenuous exercise," Kanade concluded, his voice laced with concern.
Kaguya nodded quietly as he helped her sit on a protruding rock pile. Then, without hesitation, Kanade knelt down, gently removing her shoe to get a better look at the injury.
Surprisingly, Kaguya remained completely composed, showing no signs of discomfort or resistance. In fact, she was unexpectedly cooperative—so much so that she overenthusiastically lifted her foot, nearly smacking him in the forehead.
Kanade instinctively leaned back, blinking in mild surprise. Did she have to raise it that high?
"President, shouldn't you be more thorough?" Kaguya suddenly suggested, her tone calm but carrying a hint of challenge. "I doubt a mere few seconds of observation can give you an accurate assessment. A more detailed examination might be necessary."
Kanade hesitated. Was she… testing him?
"Uh… you have a point." He sighed, leaning in again to repeat the inspection.
His fingers lightly brushed over the injured area, and this time, he noticed a slight twitch in Kaguya's expression.
"Does it hurt here?" he asked, pressing gently.
"Ouch!"
"Eh?" Kanade blinked. "But just now you said—"
"Perhaps the pain was delayed," Kaguya mused, her voice carrying a logical tone. "I didn't feel anything initially, but now that my body has relaxed, the sensation has caught up."
Kanade nodded in understanding. That made sense. Earlier, with all the tension and adrenaline, it was possible she hadn't even registered the pain. Now that things had calmed down, her body was reacting properly.
But even knowing this, he was at a loss for what to do next. He had no medical supplies, and the nearest checkpoint was still a considerable distance away. The real problem was that he couldn't just leave Kaguya here alone while he went for help.
That left only one realistic option—carrying her.
But would she even agree to that?
Kanade exhaled quietly, rubbing the back of his neck. "…Sorry. This happened because I was too careless."
Kaguya's eyes flickered slightly. "Why is the President apologizing?"
"Because your foot got injured due to my decision," Kanade admitted. "Even if you were happy about the reward you won earlier, your health is more important."
He then glanced towards the distance, gauging their surroundings. "The next checkpoint still seems pretty far. And I don't know if we'll even be able to exit from the side later. Maybe we should turn back and ask the checkpoint official about the nearest exit."
Kaguya frowned slightly, her crimson eyes narrowing. "…Exit? You mean the President wants to give up?"
Kanade gave a small nod. "Yeah. Given your injury, I don't think it's safe for you to continue."
He didn't know what the later stages of the course looked like, but there was no way they'd be as easy as taking a leisurely stroll. Even if Kaguya said she could walk, there was no guarantee she wouldn't make her injury worse.
His suggestion was logical. Sensible. The correct course of action.
And yet—
Kaguya fell silent, her lips pressing into a thin line.
This was not what she had expected.
She had lied during the first checkup, telling him it didn't hurt, just so he wouldn't worry. She had planned to push through the whole course with sheer willpower. And later, when she did let the pain show, she had assumed Kanade would simply carry her without hesitation—just like before.
But instead… instead he chose this? He was actually willing to give up on the challenge?
Where was the boldness he had just displayed earlier?! Stand up, President!
"I don't think it hurts anymore," Kaguya suddenly declared in a low voice.
Kanade blinked. "Huh?"
"I mean, my foot no longer hurts. There's no problem—I can complete the course just fine." To prove her point, she took several steps forward, maintaining her usual graceful posture despite the obvious strain on her foot.
Kanade's expression darkened slightly. "…But you just said—"
"I must have been mistaken," Kaguya interjected smoothly. "I was overly focused before, so I probably misinterpreted the sensation as pain."
Kanade stared at her.
He wasn't an idiot. Did she really think he'd believe such a flimsy excuse?
If she had insisted from the start that she was fine, he might've let it slide. But the moment he had suggested quitting, she had suddenly changed her stance?
Wasn't it obvious?
Kaguya would rather endure the pain than give up.
Kanade sighed internally. Was this really necessary? The Test of Courage was fun, sure, but was it that important?
Then again… for Kaguya, it probably was.
This wasn't just about a silly event—this was an experience she cherished. He understood that.
For someone born into the prestigious yet suffocating Shinomiya family, even the simplest childhood games—like playing house—were likely foreign concepts to her. Structured lessons, rigid etiquette, and an endless cycle of expectations had defined her life. Moments like these, where she could experience something as trivial yet thrilling as a Test of Courage, were rare treasures. That was why she held onto them so tightly.
So, in the end, he couldn't bring himself to stop her.
Even if he insisted on turning back, Kaguya would stubbornly push forward alone, because that was just the kind of person she was. Strong, determined, and unwilling to let anything—even an injury—steal this moment from her.
Kanade let out a quiet sigh before speaking again.
"Let me confirm one last time... Even though you're injured, you still don't want to give up on the Test of Courage, right?"
Kaguya huffed, crossing her arms. "President, you're so long-winded. It's just a minor injury. It doesn't even hurt..."
Kanade's eyes narrowed slightly. "Are you going to lie to me?"
Kaguya flinched. Her gaze wavered before she quickly turned her face away. After a long pause, she muttered under her breath, "...It hurts a little bit at most. Just a little..."
A knowing smile tugged at Kanade's lips. "Then there's no helping it."
Without another word, he crouched down and turned his back to her.
"You don't mind if I carry you, right?"
"Eh—?" Kaguya's breath hitched. Her crimson eyes widened in shock.
Wait, wait, wait—
Did her wish just come true instantly?!
Her mind went blank for a moment. This was what she had secretly wanted, wasn't it? But still—why a piggyback ride?! Wouldn't it be far better if he carried her in his arms? If she could rest her head against his chest and hear his heartbeat—
Kaguya quickly shook her head, ridding herself of such ridiculous thoughts. No, no, even a piggyback ride was fine! She could feel the warmth of his back, the strength in his shoulders… Yes, this was more than acceptable!
Yet, despite her inner turmoil, she remained frozen in place.
Seeing that she hadn't moved, Kanade sighed, assuming she was just feeling embarrassed. "Look, there's no other way. I can't just stand by and watch you force yourself through this alone."
Kaguya's expression softened. Her fingers curled slightly at her sides.
So, the President really did notice everything…
Even though her little ploy had been seen through, she refused to let it show. If she simply agreed too quickly, wouldn't it seem like she had wanted this all along? That would be utterly humiliating!
"Well…" Kaguya cleared her throat and put on a helpless expression. "If the President insists, then I suppose I have no choice."
Slowly, she leaned forward, resting herself against Kanade's back. As his hands secured her legs, lifting her effortlessly, she found herself surprised by how natural it felt.
But just before she could fully settle into the warmth of the moment, she quickly added, "Please don't misunderstand, President. It's not like I wanted this or anything. I'm only allowing it because you insisted and because the situation calls for it. I won't agree to something like this so easily next time."
Kanade let out a small chuckle. "Yeah, yeah, I get it."
He didn't argue. He didn't call her out. He just let her have that small bit of pride.
Because, deep down, he already knew the truth.
After all, what the other party said was the truth, and he himself was not naïve enough to think that Kaguya Shinomiya would start to like him just after some intimate contact. That was no longer something he should fantasize about.