While all the classes were consumed in preparation for Shuchiin Academy's Hoshin Culture Festival, Shirogane and those from Class 2-B were working hard at making balloon art. As Fujiwara delicately puts finishing touches on a cute balloon bear, the clumsy Shirogane keeps popping them no matter how many times he tries. The sound of balloons popping echoes sadly in the classroom. But Fujiwara, who has joined Shirogane's special training many times up until now, hardens her heart and decides not to help this time. To overcome this without the help of others, Shirogane heads to the student council room for practice. However, Kaguya is in the room...

Shuchiin Academy is a beacon for talented students with a bright future ahead of them. The vice-president of Student Council, Kaguya Shinomiya, and the president, Miyuki Shirogane, are attracted to each other, but they are both too proud to be honest about their feelings, so all they do is think about how to get the other person to confess their love. Six months pass without anything happening between them, but then one day, the secretary, Chika Fujiwara, comes in with news about how she won a pair of free tickets to see a movie, a movie that supposedly turns males and females who see it together into romantic couples. This is the trigger that kicks off the romantic game of wits...

The students at Shuchiin Academy are under the impression that Shirogane is a veteran when it comes to romantic affairs, and so it is that despite the fact that Shirogane actually has no romantic experience whatsoever, a male student comes to him seeking advice on a matter of the heart. But if the truth about Shirogane's lack of experience got out, he would lose his dignity as the president of student council. So he nervously takes on the student's request with false bravado: "If it's about love, leave it to me!" Kaguya finds herself in a position to surreptitiously eavesdrop and does so as a chance to hear Shirogane's views on love, but finds his advice off the wall...

As term-end exams approach, the psychological war between Kaguya and Shirogane in the student council room ramps up. Kaguya is an all-around genius, but her pride is hurt because she hasn't yet beaten Shirogane when it comes to academics. Meanwhile, when it comes to making an effort, Shirogane is second to no one and as the president of student council, he refuses to let anyone else usurp his position at the head of the class. The two of them lie through their teeth and employ wiles worthy of Machiavelli in an attempt to get ahead of the other. At last, it's the day of finals, but which of them will the goddess of victory smile upon?

No one surpasses Shirogane when it comes to academics, but he has never been very confident with his musical skills and always faked it by lip-synching whenever they had to sing the school anthem. Though Shirogane’s secret is soon discovered by Fujiwara, if the other students find out that he can’t carry a tune, his reputation as the perfect former student council president would be ruined. Since Fujiwara was able to help Shirogane overcome his lack of athletic skills in the past, she agrees to help him with singing lessons... However, little does she know that Shirogane’s level of tone deafness may be beyond hope!

Shirogane accidentally steps on Maki Shijo, a female student who had collapsed on campus, and takes care of her in the student council room. Apparently, she has suffered from the sorrows of love. When Maki discusses her situation with him, her expression changes from high-spirited, to anxious, to explosively angry, to tearful. After witnessing such an intense range of human emotion, for some reason Shirogane was struck by a strong sense of déjà vu. What on earth was this feeling?

When it comes to studiousness, Shirogane is second to none, but as for athletics, he's hopeless, which is why he's training hard for volleyball in the gym after school. However, no matter what he does, Shirogane isn't showing any signs of progress. Playing volleyball for P.E. is only a week away, and at this rate, his image as the perfect president of Student Council will be crushed. Just as Shirogane gives in to despair, Fujiwara shows up. Swallowing his pride, he begs her to coach him, and so Shirogane's days of training under the enthusiastic tutelage of Fujiwara begin. Will he be able to deliver an average serve in time?

Kaguya and Shirogane had an argument over the "home visit incident" and as they're both unable to be honest about their feelings, a hostile mood pervades the student council room. Since Kashiwagi has a boyfriend, Kaguya goes to her for "romantic advice," although she lies, saying she's "asking for a friend." Meanwhile, when Shirogane asks romcom fan Ishigami how he can make up with the "person of the opposite sex" he had a fight with, the class treasurer goes off on a heated rant... After getting an earful of various advice, Kaguya and Shirogane begin to realize how they really feel about each other.

For some reason, Kaguya and Shirogane indulge Fujiwara's idea of doing cosplay for the upcoming gathering with students from their sister school in Paris. Deep down, Kaguya thinks it's silly, but when she puts on cat ears, a subdued "meow" escapes her mouth. Moreover, that minor cosplay is an unexpected major hit with Shirogane, an avowed cat lover. He's so bowled over by her cuteness that he isn't able to maintain his usual presence of mind. The situation becomes more complicated when Shirogane follows suit and puts on cat ears, which secretly thrills Kaguya. Unable to hide their thoughts that each other looks cute, the two act weirder and weirder...

Kashiwagi's boyfriend goes back to Shirogane for more romantic advice while Kaguya eavesdrops again. Thanks to Shirogane's advice the first time around, the boy has been dating Kashiwagi, but a month has passed and the two haven't even held hands yet. To Kaguya, the question of what to do in order to hold hands is so simple that she's disgusted by it, but for Shirogane, who doesn't actually have any experience when it comes to romantic relationships, it's a relief since he feels capable of addressing the problem. However, like the previous occasion, Shirogane's advice seems to go in an unexpected direction...

Half a month into their summer vacation, Kaguya spends her days moping around, unable to see Shirogane without the student council to throw them together. However, she does have plans to see a fireworks display with the other members of the student council toward the end of the break. Kaguya has never been able to make summer memories because of her strict upbringing as the daughter of the head of a financial conglomerate, so she is anticipating the day she can have fun with everyone. But the day before the event, Kaguya's father suddenly summons her home to Kyoto...

The newly formed student council welcomes Miko as the auditor, but for some reason the student council room is full of tension. Miko is such a stickler for the rules that if she sees anything that appears remotely inappropriate she frequently ends up harshly berating them.

In an effort to break out of his shell and become a normie, Ishigami decides to join the cheerleading squad for the school sports festival, but much to his dismay, the team is essentially the “Tribe of Yay!” While Ishigami feels hesitant, the team meeting intensifies fueled by enthusiasm and zeal, where it is decided that all the boys will dress up in girls’ school uniforms while cheering. However, Ishigami, who is a loner, can’t think of any female friends that would casually lend him a uniform. As he begins to consider quitting the team, Kaguya appears…

Yu Ishigami is the fourth member of the student council. Despite being a first-year, he was scouted out by Shirogane for his talent with numbers and appointed the council's treasurer. Owing to Yu's introverted personality, he normally doesn't stand out much, but the council would fall apart without him. But one day, Yu goes to Shirogane and confesses his desire to quit the group. In fact, his mind is made up, even though Shirogane desperately tries to persuade him to stay. Apparently, the situation is beyond Yu's control, but with a tear in his eye, he explains to the president that he thinks he's being targeted for murder...

The boy who has been dating Kashiwagi, thanks to Shirogane's help, comes back yet again for more relationship advice from Shirogane. But something seems different about him. With his return from summer vacation, he has completely transformed into a player. Getting advice was just an excuse to brag about his girlfriend to Shirogane and Ishigami, and the two suspect that he has "experienced nirvana." They decide to leave the couple alone and observe them from afar as the two lovebirds start to get into a romantic mood...

Kaguya finally gets to go window shopping and watches vigilantly for her chance to befriend Shirogane’s sister, Kei. While the Fujiwara sisters get in the way, she eventually manages to position herself next to Kei. But then, she can only see Shirogane’s resemblance in Kei’s profile, making her heart beat wildly out of control. Kaguya still decides to take the opportunity to figure out what she should give Shirogane for his birthday when Kei mutters that she isn’t very close to her brother. What secrets will Kei spill about Shirogane?

After finally making her long awaited smartphone debut, Kaguya restlessly contemplates over how to respond to Shirogane's LINE message. As Hayasaka watches over, she realizes that Kaguya is not aware of the "read receipt" function. If Kaguya lies by responding that she just read the message, she runs the risk of exposing the truth that she had been obsessively staring at Shirogane's message with glee. Weighing out her options to best serve her mistress, Hayasaka decides to explain LINE's functions when suddenly a new problem emerges.

Kaguya makes a big fuss when she learns that Shirogane was invited to a karaoke group date and orders Hayasaka to remove him from the venue. Dissatisfied with such treatment yet unable to refuse her mistress' instructions, Hayasaka joins the party as Shirogane's acquaintance Smithee A. Herthaka and plans to ruin the atmosphere by airing out that Shirogane once dumped her. And although she manages to get Shirogane out, a rebellious spirit against Kaguya has begun to grow...

After their second semester final exams end, there are plans for a sleepover at Kaguya's house. But Shirogane and the others are unable to come, leaving Fujiwara as the only one who can join. While barley glancing at an upset Kaguya, Fujiwara gets excited about the totally hot butler Mr. Herthaka without realizing it's Hayasaka dressed as a man. That night as the girl talk unfolds at the pajama party, a sleep-deprived Kaguya takes on a strange mood before anyone can notice. With that energy, she calls Shirogane and ends up asking outrageous questions.

Parent-Teacher Conferences to determine each student's future begin at Shuchiin Academy. One wishes to continue in the academy's university, one is considering taking exams for a different university – both will declare their future plans. Fujiwara, who is joined by her father, jokes around and expresses her desire to go to a university outside of the academy. Meanwhile, Kaguya's father didn't show up, but she informs them just as her parents instructed – that she will continue to Shuchiin's university. While Maki, Hayasaka, and the others each discuss their dreams, last but not least is Shirogane who is taking the exam. In a clear and confident tone, he declares the road he must proceed. And that answer is...!

Kaguya learns about the romantic legend that giving a heart-shaped gift at the Culture Festival brings eternal love. She wonders if there is a way she can give Shirogane a heart-shaped gift without getting caught. But her plans are full of errors, and she panics. She becomes sick of herself as a cowardly person who can only come up with negative ideas. There, Shirogane, exhausted from preparing for the Culture Festival, shows up. As Kaguya sees Shirogane doing his best for everyone as the student council president, she...

When Fujiwara glances at an unwholesome magazine confiscated by the headmaster, she notices to her dismay a survey with the question, "When was your 'first time'?" The magazine claims 34% of high school students have had that experience. Fujiwara calms a startled Shirogane by doubting the veracity of the figure, believing it to be too high, while Kaguya posits, "This percentage seems about right to me," and freely admits that she has had that experience. Shirogane, who has never been in a romantic situation, is shocked by Kaguya's admission, but when she sees his reaction, she uses it as an opportunity to stir him up by asking, "Don't you have a girlfriend?"

The fateful day of the student council elections finally arrives, but Miko’s efforts are in vain, and it appears that Shirogane’s past experience as the president has given him the edge to be the projected winner. Kaguya gives a perfect endorsement speech showing that Shirogane and his team are leagues above Miko’s camp. However, for some reason Ishigami looks troubled. He is worried that Miko, who suffers from stage fright, will be unable to deliver her speech, and become the laughing-stock of the whole school. As Ishigami is visibly frustrated by this prospect, Shirogane utters “I just need to win in a way so that Miko Iino won’t be ridiculed by the other students, right?” as he heads for the stage…

One week after enrolling in Shuchiin Academy as a special scholarship student, Shirogane had already regretted that he had come to a school he should not have. The students around him were elites born into famous families. Shirogane, who is from a modest household and enrolled from a school outside of Shuchiin's track, couldn't even find a friend to eat with, so he quietly kills time away from the cafeteria. Just as Shirogane's miserable emotions explode, an upperclassman with a student cap appears in front of him. A shining golden fourragere lays across his chest as proof of student council president. And he says that he's come to recruit Shirogane into the student council.

When Kaguya stays home from school with a cold, Shirogane tells the other council members that he's going to drop off handouts at her house, an announcement that stirs Fujiwara up as she volunteers to go in his stead. According to Fujiwara, Kaguya acts like a baby when she gets a cold. Shirogane's heart beats fast as he imagines a cute Kaguya who's upfront about what she wants, but he shoots down the idea of all the student council members barging in on Kaguya when she's sick. So, Fujiwara proposes playing a game of Concentration to decide on who will visit Kaguya. Even Ishigami gets dragged into what becomes a serious battle!