Crossover Anime: I'm at Shuchiin Academy, and my surname is Uchiha.

Chapter 44, Palace 4: I'm actually number 1 in the grade.

I'll go ask her later. Hayasaka Ai really wants to know Fujiwara Chika's recipe right now, and not for herself! But... yes! For Kaguya-sama.

However, given the Shinomiya family's capabilities, it's normal for them to make several portions, and it's also normal for the young lady's personal maid to eat one as well!

Hayasaka Ai made a decision; she would definitely go and ask him about it later.

"Why are you looking at this too? I've finished my homework... cough cough, have you finished the exercises I gave you?"

Hayasaka Ai stopped writing. "Ryo-kun... what did you just say? Is what I'm doing now your class's homework?"

Uchiha Lingyi retorted righteously, "How could that be! These are exercises specially made for your academic performance. Do you think I'm the kind of person who lets others do my homework and then just slack off?"

"..."

Although in the end, Hayasaka Ai still managed to finish Uchiha Ryo's weekend homework using her true abilities... congratulations!

On the other hand, Fujiwara Chika didn't hide her abilities like Hayasaka Ai did. In this study group filled with academic elites, she felt very lonely...

Kaguya Shinomiya: "Fujiwara-san, this is how it should be done."

Uchiha Ryo: "No, no, Fujiwara-kun, my method is more effective and more suitable for students with your grades."

Kaguya Shinomiya bypassed Chika Fujiwara and looked directly into Ryo Uchiha's eyes.

"My method is the fastest and most effective. Fujiwara-kun, you're absolutely right to use mine."

Uchiha Ryo snorted lightly, "Your method is fine for your own use, but can Fujiwara's calculation ability compare to yours? My simplified algorithm is more suitable for her than your advanced method."

The two argued fiercely, and although they both calculated the correct answer using their own methods, neither was willing to acknowledge the other's.

At this point, a third person is needed to break the deadlock!

Hayasaka Ai understood this principle, so she silently did her homework (as Uchiha Ryo) and didn't intend to interfere in the affairs of the young lady and Ryo-kun.

Meanwhile, at the center of the vortex, Fujiwara Chika felt that Shinomiya Kaguya's method was too complicated to calculate, while Uchiha Ryo's algorithm... wait? It can be done like that!

"How about this, Shinomiya-san? Arguing won't change anything, so let's have Fujiwara-san do a math problem and see which method she uses!"

Fujiwara Chika broke out in a cold sweat; the battle between the first and second place in the grade was about to begin!

Kaguya Shinomiya smiled almost imperceptibly. "Well, I'm thirsty. The loser of this contest should bring tea to the other person."

"I...I'm done..."

No sooner had Kaguya Shinomiya finished speaking than a certain pink-haired girl had already solved the next problem. And the method she used... was none other than Ryo Uchiha's simplified algorithm.

Kaguya Shinomiya: "..." She was a little unwilling!

Uchiha Ryo feigned a cough. "Shinomiya, my throat is so dry, I'm a little thirsty~ Go get some tea."

Kaguya Shinomiya gritted her teeth. "Why did Fujiwara-san use your method?!"

"Shinomiya-kun, I'm the real number one in the grade!"

"you...."

Door: Bang!

Kaguya Shinomiya went outside, probably to make tea for everyone. As expected of an all-around genius young lady who is also skilled in the art of tea.

"Hey Ling, I've finished my homework."

Hayasaka Ai sat down, bored; she no longer wanted to study.

Fujiwara Chika immediately pushed aside the workbook in front of her, "Let's play!"

"Play? What can we play?" Uchiha Ryo looked at the pink-haired girl, Fujiwara Chika, whose head seemed to be full of all sorts of games.

However, before Fujiwara Chika could decide what to do, the door was pushed open again, and Shinomiya Kaguya walked in carrying freshly brewed tea.

Kaguya Shinomiya: "Then, let's continue our studies."

"Hey! Kaguya~ No, I want to rest." Fujiwara Chika refused to study. She felt that the amount of study she had done in the past few hours was almost equivalent to several days of classes at school!

Uchiha Ryo patted Hayasaka Ai on the shoulder, "Since you want to rest, then go out first."

Hayasaka Ai seemed to have thought of something, and immediately pulled Fujiwara Chika out of the study.

"Let's go, Fujiwara-san, let's go outside for some fresh air."

Fujiwara Chika felt as if she had seen a savior, so the two girls held hands and ran out together.

The spacious study was now empty, leaving only Uchiha Ryo and Shinomiya Kaguya.

"It's just the two of us left now."

Uchiha Ryo nodded. "It's just the two of us now, shall we continue the study session?"

Kaguya Shinomiya snorted coldly, "Of course not, and I have something to ask you."

"I loved you, save the baby, save my mother."

Kaguya Shinomiya: "???"

What is this person saying? Why can't she understand it at all?

"What I want to ask is... your true relationship with Brother Yunying!"

"I see..." Uchiha Ryo's expression also became serious, and then he sat on the ground and quietly looked at Shinomiya.

"Okay, actually I was sent by your brother to help you."

"help me?"

Kaguya Shinomiya was even more confused. She felt that the people her brother Yunying sent were more likely to restrain and control her than to help her.

"You should know that the three young masters of the Shinomiya family are currently embroiled in a bitter dispute over the inheritance."

Kaguya Shinomiya remained indifferent, but she had already sat down and was listening attentively to Ryo Uchiha's story.

"As someone without inheritance rights, it's difficult for you to escape this vortex. That's why Yunying came to me, hoping I could become his partner. He can focus on seizing power, while you stay out of the way and study diligently at Xiuzhi Academy."

Kaguya Shinomiya frowned. "How can you prove you're telling the truth?"

"I don't need to prove anything to you; you can see for yourself!"

Suddenly, Uchiha Ryo smiled.

"Shinomiya-kun, aren't you actually quite lonely being caught in the vortex of the Shinomiya family?"

"...Are you kidding me? I am..."

"Although you have two people you can be considered family to, Fujiwara Chika and Hayasaka Ai, you don't have any other friends at school, and the other students are all distancing themselves from you, right?"

Kaguya Shinomiya fell silent, but still shook her head and stared at Ryo Uchiha.

"What is Brother Yunying's purpose in sending you here? Or rather, what do you hope to gain from your appearance?"

What a troublesome woman...

Uchiha Ryo glared at Kaguya Shinomiya with some impatience. "Then I'll be honest with you. I came here to gain your favor! (And Hayasaka Ai's, and Fujiwara Chika's, um... and Hayasaka Nao's.)"

Kaguya Shinomiya was deeply shaken.

From childhood to adulthood, everyone who wanted to be her friend or confessed their feelings to her was motivated by the status and power of the Shinomiya family. Even conversations between relatives revolved around family business—things devoid of any genuine emotion.

In Kaguya Shinomiya's view, there are probably no good people in this world.

Any so-called kindness and care are just on the surface; the other person must have some ulterior motive!

But the moment Uchiha Ryo spoke, Kaguya Shinomiya felt a certain something in her eyes... that he was telling the truth.

"Uchiha Ryo, I'm afraid I can't answer what you've said for now. But I'll keep watching. I'll use my eyes to verify... your true purpose."