Ep 8. Kaguya Wants Her to Say It / Miyuki Shirogane Can't Lose / Yu Ishigami Closes His Eyes

Miyuki Shirogane and Kaguya Shinomiya are both members of the student council at Shuchiin Academy, but despite being attracted to each other, they both refuse to confess their feelings. In "Kaguya-sama: Love Is War" season 1 episode 8, "Kaguya Wants Her to Say It / Miyuki Shirogane Can't Lose / Yu Ishigami Closes His Eyes," the two of them continue to play a game of romantic cat and mouse.

In the first half of the episode, Kaguya is determined to get Miyuki to confess his feelings first. She believes that whoever confesses their love first will be at a disadvantage, and she doesn't want to lose her chance to gain the upper hand in their relationship. She spends the morning trying to manipulate Miyuki into confessing to her, but her plans all backfire. Miyuki is too focused on studying for exams to notice her advances, and even when she tries to be more direct, he misunderstands her signals.

The middle of the episode focuses on a different member of the student council, Yu Ishigami. He is a loner who doesn't seem to be interested in love or relationships, but his quiet demeanor hides a painful past. When his friends confront him about his behavior, he reveals that he's been shadowbanned online for expressing his opinions about women's rights. This has led to him becoming a social outcast, and he's lost all faith in humanity. Kaguya and Miyuki try to comfort him and help him regain his optimism, but it's not easy.

The final act of the episode sees Kaguya trying a new tactic to get Miyuki to confess his feelings. She decides to pretend that she's in love with someone else, hoping to make Miyuki jealous. She enlists the help of Chika Fujiwara, another member of the student council, to make it look convincing. However, her plan backfires when she realizes that Miyuki is genuinely happy to see her happy. His selflessness and concern for her feelings touch her, and she realizes that she may have been wrong about him all along.

Throughout the episode, the tension between Kaguya and Miyuki remains high. They both have feelings they want to express, but neither wants to be the first to make themselves vulnerable. However, the possibility of losing the upper hand in their relationship is too great to ignore, and they both continue to scheme and plot in their own ways. It's a battle of wits and wills, but it's also a battle of hearts.

"Kaguya-sama: Love Is War" season 1 episode 8 is a charming and witty take on the classic romantic comedy trope of two people who are obviously in love but refuse to admit it. With a colorful cast of characters and clever writing, the show keeps viewers engaged and invested in Kaguya and Miyuki's high-stakes game of love. It's a fun and lighthearted series that will leave audiences in stitches while still tugging at their heartstrings.