I said you are all war criminals

Hakuno muttered, diving into the ramen shop.

The restaurant wasn't crowded, so Hakuno found a corner seat and ordered a bowl of their signature ramen. The steaming hot ramen arrived, its rich broth and chewy noodles complemented by slices of barbecued pork and a soft-boiled egg – a feast for both the eyes and the palate.

Bai Ye wolfed down his food, and after a few bites, his hunger was greatly satisfied. As he ate, he casually watched the TV on the wall. The TV was playing the news, and a man in a suit was talking to the camera.

"...The Shinomiya Group has officially announced its entry into the culinary field. Its first high-end restaurant, 'Kaguya-hime,' will open next month..."

Only then did Hakuno realize that his current worldview seemed to have been mixed with elements of "Kaguya-sama: Love is War." He hadn't noticed it before, after all, he didn't really care about it.

Speaking of "Kaguya-sama: Love is War", Hakuno has some subtle feelings about this manga.

Akasaka Akira's works always start strong but end weak. In fact, "Kaguya-sama: Love is War" is considered good, and the later "My Little Pony: The Child I Push" co-produced with Yokoguri is even more astonishingly intelligent... Hakuno doesn't know how to describe the IQ of the male protagonist Aqua. He can only say that Akasaka Akira probably played APEX with Guanren too much and lost his brain.

However, in today's world, it is obviously impossible for things to unfold completely according to Akasaka Akira's arrangements.

Is it really that easy for the Shinomiya family to fall apart?

"...Come to think of it, I didn't see the Shinomiya family in the previous simulations. Could they have been killed like stray dogs on the side of the road?"

Bai Ye was a little hesitant.

Putting aside Akasaka Akira's final wonderful move, Hakuno still quite liked Kaguya and her cheerful friends.

As an otaku, Hakuno enjoys appreciating all kinds of anime and manga. Kaguya's creative energy in animation is enough to reconcile Hakuno and Akasaka Akira's operations - in that case, if he can help Kaguya, Hakuno doesn't mind helping her.

In the next simulation, let's go and cause trouble for the Shinomiya family.

Hakuno wandered aimlessly through the streets, his mind racing with questions about how to help Kaguya Shinomiya. Honestly, he only had a limited understanding of the world's logic, and any rash actions would likely backfire.

"Wait, the news seems to mention the Shinomiya Group's new restaurant 'Kaguya-hime'..."

Hakuno suddenly remembered the news he had just read at the ramen shop. "It's probably a good idea to go check out the situation."

He followed the address he had seen on TV and arrived at the restaurant. As expected, the restaurant was decorated in a lavish and dazzling manner, clearly a gathering place for the upper class. However, since it hadn't officially opened yet, the entrance was deserted, save for a few security guards standing guard, bored and disinterested.

"How do you get in here?"

Bai Ye rubbed his chin, pondering. Forcing his way in definitely wasn't an option. Even with the simulator, he didn't want to get into trouble before the simulation even started.

His eyes rolled as a plan came to mind. Hiding in a secluded corner, Hakuno opened the system shop. The familiar horse girl shop owner appeared on the screen, smiling broadly, chewing a carrot with relish.

"Hey, what do you want to buy this time?"

Ecclesia asked vaguely.

"Invisibility cloak, do you have one?"

Hakuno got straight to the point.

"Yes, four make up one, no one is cheated."

The girl blinked her eyes and said, pulling out a light cloak as if by magic.

"Four bronze achievements, deducted."

Bai Ye waved his hand and immediately bought the cloak!

He shook out the invisibility cloak he'd bought from Ecclesia. It felt surprisingly light, thin, and soft, like some kind of high-quality silk. Hakuno draped the cloak around himself, waved his hand at the air, and it vanished. He grinned. It worked!

Hakuno swaggered through the restaurant's main entrance, the two security guards pretending he hadn't seen him. He then continued into the "Kaguya-sama" restaurant. The crystal chandelier, as large as a millstone, shone brightly, nearly blinding him. He didn't recognize any of the calligraphy and paintings hanging on the walls, but judging by their exquisite mountings and the antique atmosphere they exuded, they were undoubtedly worth a fortune.

"Tsk tsk, the Shinomiya family is indeed a chaebol. This display is truly luxurious."

Hakuno sighed as he strolled around. The restaurant was quite spacious. Besides the dining area, it also had a wine cellar, a cigar room, and even a small indoor golf course!

Honestly, Hakuno was the type who wouldn't treat himself badly, having been to restaurants with three Michelin stars before. But this "Kaguya-sama" was clearly no ordinary restaurant. Hakuno suspected it had a sign at the door saying "No entry for inferiors or dogs."

The restaurant's wine cellar was a breathtaking sight for Hakuno. Rows of oak barrels exuded a rich aroma, and the aged wines gleamed like gemstones under the dim light. He even spotted a bottle of Romanee-Conti. The price tag made him gasp—enough to buy a nice apartment in Tokyo. Hakuno swallowed, his inner demon stirring.

"Tsk, if I take a bottle of this..."

He stroked his chin, his eyes wandering.

It's not that he needs the money, but stealing valuables is really fun.

Beyond the wine cellar, the cigar room was equally opulent. A variety of premium cigars were neatly arranged in humidors, and the air was filled with the delicate aroma of tobacco. Hakuno wasn't much of a cigar expert, but he knew that the price of any single cigar here would be enough to buy him instant noodles for a month. He even saw the legendary Cohiba, each one said to be handmade by Cuba's finest cigar rollers, a luxury not always available.

"My goodness, this Shinomiya family is so rich..."

Hakuno couldn't help but sigh, and he had a deeper understanding of Kaguya Shinomiya's identity as a "young lady".

Even the tableware in this restaurant was incredibly exquisite, with white porcelain plates rimmed with gold that gleamed brilliantly under the light. Hakuno even felt a strong urge to steal one or two as souvenirs.

"If I sell this thing, it'll probably be worth a lot of money..."

He moved closer to the plate and examined it carefully in the light.

Just as he was hesitating whether to take one with him, he heard a faint sound of footsteps at the restaurant door. Bai Ye hurriedly walked into the room where the sound came from to see who it was.

The person who arrived was none other than Kaguya Shinomiya. She wore a simple white dress, her long black hair tied into a ponytail with a red bow. Her delicate features were as flawless as a doll's. However, a hint of worry lingered on her face, her brows furrowed slightly, as if something was bothering her.

"This is the business I want to manage? What is my father thinking..."

Kaguya muttered softly, with a hint of dissatisfaction and helplessness in her tone.

Bai Ye was so close to her that he could almost smell the faint fragrance emanating from her. He observed this legendary "Ice Beauty" with great interest, and suddenly a mischievous thought came to his mind.

Then, Hakuno leaned close to her ear and said in a low and slightly magnetic voice: "It's because your father values you very much, Shinomiya Kaguya."

Kaguya's body suddenly stiffened. She turned around suddenly, but saw only empty Roman columns and no one there.

"who is it!"

She looked around warily, her delicate face filled with surprise and confusion. After a long moment, Kaguya shook her head and pursed her lips. "That voice just now...was it the beast within me?"

Hakuno stood behind Kaguya, chuckling softly.

As expected of the protagonist of a romance comic, he's really fun to tease.

94

Chapter 94: Kaguya Shinomiya can’t tell the difference.

Shinomiya Kaguya.

Lily, peony, peony... This beautiful girl, whose every move and gesture can be compared to a flower, has an extraordinary background.

With total assets of 200 trillion yen and thousands of subsidiaries under its umbrella, the Shinomiya Group spans industries such as railways, banking, and automobiles, making it one of the four largest financial conglomerates. As the eldest daughter of its head honcho, Shinomiya Gan'an, this young woman was born into the world of wealth.

As if to prove her excellent bloodline, she has achieved brilliant results in various fields such as talent, music, and martial arts. She is undoubtedly a "genius".

A perfect genius girl.

Kaguya Shinomiya is such a character.

And now, this smart and wise girl is worried about one thing.

——Her father, Shinomiya Gan'an, handed over the family's first restaurant in the culinary world, "Kaguya-sama", to Kaguya.

This was a first for Kaguya.

Although as the daughter of the Shinomiya family, even if she was an illegitimate daughter, Kaguya would inherit at least a few companies as a "dowry" in the future, it was quite unusual for her to start interfering in the management of a company, even if it was just a restaurant, while still in high school.

Could it be that my father intends for me to take over the Shinomiya family?

…If Kaguya said she didn't know how foolish this idea was, she would be lying. But, as the saying goes, "Thinking is never a crime." Kaguya now heard the voice in her heart.

"Yes, that old man is already old. Why don't I follow the example of Lu Fengxian, pull out the Fang Tian Hua Ji from my waist, and kill him!"

Me, I’m pretty wild on the inside.

Kaguya was slightly shaken.

To be honest, Kaguya didn't know why her inner voice sounded like a man's, but if that voice didn't come from her heart... there was no one around?

It's impossible for a man to be hiding next to Kaguya and talking nonstop.

This is modern society, how can there be such weird things!

"That's right, this 'Kaguya-hime' is the starting point of my throne. I can turn this place into my own huge harem. Whether it's the president, Ishigami, or Fujiwara, they will all be in my pocket... Haha, I, Kaguya Shinomiya, will make everyone submit to me!"

——Is this really the voice in my heart!

Kaguya's expression remained unchanged as she walked aimlessly and irregularly around the restaurant.

Although it is not visible on her face, Kaguya's mind is in a mess right now.

"Hmph, a mere restaurant, how can it be worthy of my talent as Kaguya Shinomiya? My goal is the sea of stars! I want all the planets in the solar system to fly the flag of the Shinomiya family!"

Hakuno's voice sounded like a ghost in Kaguya's ears, with a hint of frivolous teasing.

Kaguya stopped dead in her tracks, her fingertips pale as she grasped the table beside her. She took a deep breath, trying to maintain her graceful demeanor, but her heart was churning. Conquering the stars and the sea? This...this is too far-fetched! Could it be that deep within me lurks the soul of an interstellar conqueror?

Hakuno couldn't help but chuckle at Kaguya's feigned composure. This girl was quite good at pretending, but this was just the beginning.

"I want to turn everyone into my puppets! Make them listen to me and act according to my wishes!"

Hakuno's voice sounded again, this time with a hint of evil in its low tone.

Dolls? Kaguya's mind conjured up images of the student council members transformed into puppets, controlled by her. Secretary Fujiwara's mechanical, comical dance, Ishigami Yuu moving stiffly like a marionette. And the president... what would it be like if the president became a doll?

Kaguya shook her head violently, trying to drive away these absurd thoughts. No, I can't let my imagination run wild anymore. I must be schizophrenic!

At this moment, a gentle voice sounded in Kaguya's ears: "Kaguya-san, you are so cute today."

This voice... is the president! Kaguya's heart skipped a beat, and a blush spread across her cheeks. The president actually called me cute? Was he hinting at something?

"Kaguya-san, I want to study with you, is that okay?"

Another slightly shy voice sounded, it was Ishigami Yu's voice.

"Ishigami Yuu wants to study with me?" Kaguya's mind flashed with the image of the two of them sitting side by side at the desk, discussing their studies together. Her heart beat faster and her face flushed even more.

"Kaguya! Let's dance together!"

A vibrant voice rang out. It was Secretary Fujiwara's voice.

Dancing? Dancing with Secretary Fujiwara? Kaguya's mind flashed with the image of the two of them spinning on the dance floor, and she felt her cheeks burning.

Hakuno watched the changing expressions on Kaguya's face and chuckled inwardly. It seems this chick has been completely manipulated by me.

"Kaguya, will you marry me?"

A soulful voice sounded in Kaguya's ears. This voice... was Shirogane Miyuki's voice!

Marry the president? Kaguya's mind went blank, and she felt her heart about to burst out of her chest. Could it be...could it be that the president really likes me?

Just when Kaguya was about to lose her mind, a cold voice sounded in her ears: "Yushinomiya, it's time for you to take your medicine."

This voice... is Hayasaka Ai's voice!

Kaguya snapped back to reality. She looked around, only to find the restaurant empty. Chairman Shirogane, Ishigami, Secretary Fujiwara, Hayasaka Ai… none of them were there.

Could it be that... everything that just happened was just my illusion?

No, no, no, what do you mean by taking medicine?

Difficult, could it be said...

"The patient's condition has worsened again,"

Kaguya heard Hayasaka's voice, "Doctor Shirogane, what do you think? Should we increase the dosage?"

Then, the president's voice came again, "The patient isn't particularly aggressive; she simply thinks she's the eldest daughter of the Shinomiya family. In this case, conservative treatment is recommended."

Kaguya felt dizzy and her stomach churned. She held onto the table, feeling like a small boat drifting in a storm, ready to capsize at any moment.

"I...I'm not sick!"

Kaguya's voice trembled, like a drowning person grasping at a straw, "I am Kaguya Shinomiya, the vice president of the student union of Shuchiin Academy! I am not a psychopath!"

"Ms. Shinomiya, I know it's hard for you to accept,"

Shirogane Yuxing's voice was still gentle, "But your symptoms are very obvious. You have auditory hallucinations, delusions, and other typical symptoms of schizophrenia. Besides, you are not the vice president of Xiuzhiyuan, you..."

Auditory hallucinations? Delusion? Kaguya bit her lip, trying to control her trembling body.

She looked around, the empty restaurant seemed to be mocking her.

"Shigong, stop messing around and take your medicine."

Hayasaka Ai's voice was cold and without a trace of emotion.

"I'm not kidding! I..."

Kaguya wanted to retort, but found she couldn't find the right words. How could one prove they weren't crazy? This was always a difficult question. Furthermore, Kaguya couldn't even see Shirogane Miyuki and Hayasaka Ai; she could only hear their voices.