Kaguya-sama: Love Is War (かぐや様は告らせたい～天才たちの恋愛頭脳戦～)

Mm! Thanks for the tangerine!

I'm watching you.

Are you ready?

Blast off!

Shuchiin Academy is back!

Yuck. Only Ishigami?

What do you mean, "yuck"?

You're that upset it's just me?

When did I ever say anything of the sort?

You might as well have.

So anyway, where is everyone?

They're still at the second-year assembly.

A student council member shouldn't need to ask.

I can't even keep my own grade's schedule straight,

so how would I know?

I'm getting a headache just from hearing your voice.

You can stop talking now.

She's tuning out my "yucky" voice with earphones?

Not that it matters.

I couldn't care less about her, either.

Is that rain?

-- --

No, these are ambient sounds!

Ah.

Iino failed to notice her headphones

aren't plugged in all the way.

Classic.

It's mortifying when everyone can hear your music,

so should I tell her?

She'll snap back at me like a yappy little dog

with something to prove if I do.

Well, since I'm in the mood for some soothing sounds,

I'll let things play out.

Uh! Is this audio from a construction site?!

This overpowering sense of vitality.

-- -- Is that a camel? Come on!

What sane person would use this grating noise as study music?!

She's seriously vibing to this?

Her eccentric side's showing in a big way.

I've seen glimpses of how tenacious she is,

and she's pretty tactless despite her smarts.

Even now, she's studying every spare second she's got.

Maybe I should take a page from Iino's book,

just not from her music library.

If that racket really relaxes her, though,

who am I to criticize?

You are awesome.

I see you trying so hard, but you're perfect the way you are.

You're such a good girl and everything's gonna be all right.

If you feel like it, go ahead and cry when things get tough.

Don't worry. I'm on your side no matter what.

Okay, what the actual freaking hell?!

How is this brainwashing soothing for her soul?

Where can you buy camel groans and sexy affirmations?

It's actually called

Moral Support from Heartthrobs volume three.

Only available via mail order, so get it while supplies last!

I bet they're sound samples from some weird website

that slipped in by mistake.

She's not listening because she wants to, right?

You're such a kind girl.

And you're so sweet.

She looks like she's achieved nirvana!

We've reached the point of no return!

I can't let her know I hear it, too.

If I were in her shoes, I'd die!

You're cuter than cute.

-- Hello! --

Oh, hi, Fujiwara!

Close call!

I thought I heard someone else's voice in here.

Guess not.

My throat's kinda scratchy, so.

Ooh! Miko's jammin' out!

Whatcha listening to?

Um. It's, uh...

It's just some light, therapeutic music.

Oh.

No, it was pretty heavy!

Well, I'm sorry for interrupting your studies!

No. It's all right.

Hold it right there!

Inside voice!

Uh... How should I put this?

I need some advice.

What kind?

Okay, so. It may not sound serious, but it is to me.

Do you girls know Tsubame from the Cheerleading Squad?

Really, Iino?!

Is your interest in me so little that

you can't even hear the beginning?!

-- Yes. -- I should've known!

Dammit!

Who do you think I'm going to such lengths for?

I guess if only Fujiwara hears,

the damage would be minimal.

You were saying?

It's no biggie if a weirdo calls you weird.

But if Shinomiya or the prez heard...

Sorry we're late!

Timing!

Oh. Good afternoon.

The universe is just not on Iino's side today.

Being exposed to no-nonsense people

like those two, would be devastating!

So what? Do I go ahead and tell her?

It'd prevent the worst-case scenario

of everyone finding out.

But...

No. You're telling me that you heard?

Wow! Is this Golden Chip?

Yes. I had it shipped directly from Sri Lanka.

Take a break and have some tea, Miko!

No, thank you. I should finish this.

It smells really good!

The only one who can protect her...

...is me.

Excuse me, Ishigami.

I think your earphones are unplugged.

Ah, classic.

What is this lively yet chaotic song?

Now that Iino's seen me totally disgraced,

she'll realize the danger and check her own aux cord.

I can keep her safe and she'll be none the wiser.

I don't think you could be more scatterbrained if you tried.

I'm embarrassed enough for you.

Say what you want.

I didn't do this to be thanked.

I did it of my own free will.

So I feel fine.

Well, I'm going back to studying now.

You truly are adorable.

And sweeter than candy.

Enchanté, my petit mignon.

Everyone's head-over-heels in love with you.

Wait--

Oh, the hell we are! Idiot!

Results for today's battle:

Ishigami and Iino lose.

Welcome home, miss.

Thank you.

How should I reply?

She's on LINE!

Shinomiya got her first smartphone the other day,

which means she finally got to make her LINE debut!

Lady Kaguya.

You've been staring at your phone

for the past two hours now.

Wouldn't a swift reply be the best reply?

I don't see any reason why I'd need to rush.

He can't tell that I saw it, so who cares when I write back?

Huh?

All I have to do

is say I only just saw his message if I reply a bit late.

No.

Kaguya is still adjusting to using

a touch screen and has yet to send a single message!

Which could only mean one terrifying thing!

Could it be Lady Kaguya is unaware

of the read receipt system?

Read receipts!

The moment your recipient opens the chat window,

the message you sent is marked "Read"

and a notification appears onscreen.

While it's convenient in that it lets you

confirm that your messages are received,

it also completely invalidates the excuse,

"I haven't seen it yet!"

Two hours have passed

since Kaguya's read receipt popped up,

so Shirogane's a little frantic.

It says "Read," so why hasn't she replied?!

She's setting herself up

to be caught "read"-handed in a lie!

Or worse:

He'll realize she's been gawking at his messages the whole time!

Hayasaka is torn.

Should she explain this concept to her naive lady or keep quiet?

Considering the uproar that would ensue

if Kaguya learned she'd held out on her...

Lady Kaguya.

The thing about LINE is that--

-- --

A text from who-know-who!

Instant read receipt!

Jeez. He's so impatient.

When you have the sender's chat window open,

a read receipt is generated the very instant the text arrives!

You might as well just write back,

"Oh, don't mind me. Just starin' at your messages."

Instant read receipt!

She has our chat open right now?

During an inactive chat,

this is a clear sign you're monitoring DMs,

at which point you've reached stalker territory!

Did you, by chance, have the president's

chat window open when you received his first two messages?

Yep, sure did.

Three instant read receipts in a row!