Chapter Two: “The Princess Wants to Appeal to the Prince” — Part Five
“Iori-senpai — have you heard about the prospectus yet?”
I asked before even opening my lunchbox. More or less, Iori-senpai nodded. From her reaction, she didn’t seem particularly keen.
She’d started on her usual enormous lunch as she talked.
“It’s not that I mind, but I’m busy with club activities on days off and after school — so I was thinking of turning it down.”
“What?!”
I put my head in my hands, and Iori-senpai set down her chopsticks.
“Did you really want to do the shoot with me that much, Himena-chan?”
“More than anything. Isn’t there any way, Senpai?!”
I grabbed her hand and pleaded desperately. This was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. I had to find a way to make it happen.
“Please! I really, really want to be in a photo with you, Senpai!”
And besides — the photography club shooting it meant getting a high-quality photo of Senpai into my hands. Obviously I wanted that more than anything.
The more photos of Senpai I had, the happier I’d be!
“…You really are wonderfully honest, Himena-chan.”
“Because being direct is obviously the best way to get my feelings across!”
Iori-senpai was hardly a mind-reader — she couldn’t hear what I was thinking. The only way to get my feelings through to her was to put them into words myself.
“Senpai is popular with everyone, boys and girls both — which means I don’t have time to be roundabout about things. So I’ve already made up my mind to pour out my feelings more than anyone else — more than anyone else, ever!”
Senpai was sought after by everyone. Confessions and declarations of feeling were probably an everyday occurrence for her.
Which meant vague, indirect appeals were never going to reach her.
“So from now on I’m going to keep telling you I love you, over and over, at full force, Senpai!”
I declared it with my chin held high. Senpai gave a quiet oh and glanced away — and her cheek, I thought, had gone just slightly pink.
Wait — is Senpai actually blushing?!
“Senpai — please look at me.”
I tugged gently at her right hand. But Senpai kept her hair falling forward, hiding her face, and wouldn’t turn toward me. When I tried to lean in and look, she turned away again.
She is — she’s definitely blushing—!!
“Iori-senpai. I want to see your face.”
“Just a moment.”
If Iori-senpai told me to wait, I could wait as long as she needed. Because I loved her.
But right now, I desperately wanted to see her face gone red.
Because a blushing Iori-senpai was such a rare and precious thing — there was no way I was letting it slip by unseen!
“…I’m sorry, Senpai.”
I apologised, and then looked anyway, tilting my head to peer around her hair. Senpai’s pale cheek was flushed a soft, faint pink.
“I said wait.”
She murmured it, embarrassed, and covered her face with her right hand.
Hang on — I’m the one who needs a moment here!
Iori-senpai, you are far, far too cute right now!!
What do I do. Iori-senpai is too cute. It was exactly what I’d hoped for — but having it sprung on me all at once like this, my heart was hammering so hard I could barely think straight.
“Iori-senpai… c-can I see — please — your face—”
“No.”
No?! Now she’s being even cuter — that’s not fair!!
Senpai was so unbearably cute that something in my head was about to give way. This was dangerous.
“…Himena-chan.”
Still hiding behind her hand, Iori-senpai said my name.
“Yes!”
“I’ve decided to accept the prospectus shoot — it’ll have to be on a day off from club activities, but I’ll do it.”
“What?! Really?!”
“…I’m going to show you that this isn’t what I’m normally like, Himena-chan.”
She gave me a faint glare from behind her hand, her eyes just slightly bright with unshed tears. Like a kitten putting on a brave face — so genuinely, hopelessly cute.
“Iori-senpai.”
“What?”
“I love you so much.”
The words slipped out again, helplessly. Senpai let out a long breath — and her face, I saw with a thrill I could barely contain, went one shade deeper.