Chapter One: “The Princess Wants to Win Over the Prince” — Part Eleven

“Hm? Iori-senpai’s not here?”

I’d come to Class 2-1 the moment lunch break started, but Iori-senpai was nowhere to be seen.
We had plans, so she’d probably just stepped out to the bathroom.

I used the moment to check my hair in the corridor window. Today I’d made a special effort — twin tails clipped up above my ears.

Mm. I really am cute. Surely even Iori-senpai would think so.

“Himena-chan.”

The voice that said my name was not Iori-senpai’s clear, beautiful one. It was an unfamiliar boy’s voice.
I turned around. A male student I didn’t recognise was standing there. Being called Himena-chan so casually by someone I’d never spoken to was grating in itself.
That said, I couldn’t exactly greet him with open hostility.

I was the school princess, after all. And I had no idea when Senpai might come back.

“Can I help you?”

I put on a polite smile. He took a step toward me. I took three steps back.

“Did you read my letter?”
“…Oh.”

I’d forgotten all about it.
Come to think of it, there had been something at the end of that letter about being in Class 2-1.

“I wanted to hear your answer — well, maybe not right here, though.”

A first-year in the second-year corridor was already conspicuous enough, and with me being quite as cute as I am, we were naturally drawing attention. Of course people were staring.
This was bad. I’d been so preoccupied with Iori-senpai that the love letter had completely slipped my mind.

“Why don’t we just swap contact details for now?”
“…Umm.”
“I mean, you haven’t reached out at all.”

He pulled out his phone and kept closing the distance between us. I backed away in something close to retreat.

Just swap contact details for now? Absolutely not — I have a very bad feeling about where that leads.

“Besides, you’re not in any clubs, right? You’re free after school. Like, what about today? Want to hang out, just the two of us?”
“Uh, well, that’s — um—”

What was I supposed to do? I had no interest in spending time with someone like this, today or any other day — and I certainly didn’t want to give him my contact details.

But he was a senpai. If things turned unpleasant, that would be a problem, wouldn’t it?

“Come on, please. We can go wherever you like. I’ll even pay for dinner!”

He kept stepping closer despite my obvious efforts to keep distance, seemingly oblivious. I found myself steadily backed against the wall.

“It’ll be fine, right? Come on, please!”

He probably didn’t mean any harm. But the way his voice kept getting louder frightened me.

I can’t. I don’t want to.

I wanted to say it plainly like that. But the moment I imagined him turning on me, my whole body seized up.
I stood there unable to say a word — and then, from somewhere behind me, came the sound of unhurried, steady footsteps.

“What’s going on here?”

At the sound of Iori-senpai’s voice, I felt myself relax with a force that surprised even me. The girls around us filled her in, and Senpai listened with a nod.
Iori-senpai fixed him with a look. The boy shrank back slightly.

“Sorry, but — today, tomorrow, and every day after that — Himena-chan’s after-school hours are already reserved. By me.”

She said it with a smile, and stepped in front of me, shielding me with her back.

“So she won’t be swapping contact details with you, and going forward — please don’t speak to Himena-chan anymore.”
“Huh? …W-why is it any of Yaoji’s business?”

He was visibly rattled, but with everyone watching, he couldn’t bring himself to back down. Iori-senpai watched him and let out a quiet laugh.

“Because Himena-chan is mine.”

She turned to look at me, and squeezed my hand tight.

“Let’s go.”

And with that, she led me away.
Senpai’s hand really is big.