Chapter Two: “The Princess Wants to Appeal to the Prince” — Part One

“I want to get even closer to Iori-senpai.”
“What? All of a sudden.”
“I want to be lovey-dovey with Iori-senpai.”
“…Here we go again.”

Yuuri sighed in resignation and tried to go back to her book. I grabbed her arm. The look she turned up at me said, very clearly: you are an inconvenience.

Not that I cared.
Caring every time Yuuri made that face would be a full-time job.

“I want to try my next plan for getting closer to Senpai.”
“Do whatever you want.”
“And I need your help with it.”

I smiled my brightest smile and looked her straight in the eyes. Then I announced the name I’d spent careful thought on.

“Operation: Catch Iori-senpai’s Stomach and Her Heart — The Heartfelt Gift Offensive!!”
“What a terrible name…”
“It’s the content that matters, not the name! And it’s not even terrible!”

Iori-senpai had basketball practice almost every day — weekdays, weekends, basically without exception. I wanted to do more to appeal to her, but getting in the way of her club was out of the question.

Which was how I’d arrived at: the gift offensive.

“When she’s tired after training, getting a homemade treat from someone who cares — Senpai would have to be happy about that!”
“Homemade what, exactly?”
“The classic, obviously — lemon honey preserves. The kind that’s always turning up in sports manga!”

I’d never actually eaten them — or seen them in real life, for that matter — but they were a staple of the genre. They had to be exactly right for a body worn out from athletics.

“…You can’t cook.”
“Which is why I’m asking you, since you’re in the home economics club. You’ve apparently been surprisingly dedicated to it?”

I leaned in to look at her face. Yuuri turned away with a slightly awkward expression.
She’d said she was joining the most relaxed-looking club for the transcript credit — but lately Yuuri had been showing up to every single home economics meeting without fail.
Which was remarkable, given that everyone besides Yuuri and the third-year club president was an absent member in all but name.

“If you don’t help me, I’m telling Kanami-senpai what you’re really like.”
“It’s not as if I’m putting on anywhere near as much of an act as you.”

She said it — but made a very obvious face of extreme reluctance.
Kanami-senpai was the home economics club president, a beautiful, gentle, softly-spoken third-year type. I’d met her a handful of times myself, and she always waved at me with a warm smile.

“So — are you helping? Yes or no?”
“…Fine. I’ll help.”
“Settled!”

With Yuuri on board, the treat was sure to turn out well.
A homemade gift, made with feeling, from a cute little first-year — delivered to Senpai when she’s worn out from practice.
She’d have to be happy about that, right?!

“Heheh… heheheh…”

Just you wait, Iori-senpai. I’m going to deliver a whole lot of love straight to you!