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

This is completely different from what I imagined — what is happening?!

I desperately swallowed the urge to cry that out in the middle of the library and tightened my grip on my mechanical pencil. In front of me: a flustered Iori-senpai, and a mountain of study guides.
With the exam two days away, I was finally having my long-awaited study date with Iori-senpai after school.

But this wasn’t how it was supposed to go…!!
I’d imagined something more like — a warm, giggly, flirtatious study session! That kind!

This was the first set of exams since starting high school, which meant I hadn’t known yet just how brutal Sakuraba High’s tests actually were.

The range was too wide, the content too hard — what were we even supposed to do?!

The thing was, I’d only scraped a passing grade in the entrance exam through truly desperate effort. I could never tell Iori-senpai, but honestly, just keeping up with the lessons was already a struggle.

“…What is this.”

Senpai, working through her maths workbook, murmured it with a pale face. I wanted to lean over and help — but there was no way I could solve a second-year’s problems.

“I-Iori-senpai.”
“…Himena-chan. At this rate I’m going to end up in remedial classes.”

Ugh!! A dejected Senpai is far too adorable…!!
— No, that wasn’t the point! The whole plan had been for me to breezily teach Senpai and have her completely won over by cool, clever me — that was how it was supposed to go!

Wishing I were smarter wasn’t going to make me smarter.
Just as I put my head in my hands with no idea what to do, two familiar faces came through the library door. Yuuri, and Kanami-senpai.

Today was the study date I’d been so excited about. I wanted to enjoy every moment alone with Senpai right to the end — but at this rate, we were both heading for failing grades. So there was nothing for it.

“Yuuri!”

I stood up and went over to her. When I grabbed her arm without warning, Yuuri looked at me with her most put-upon expression.

“Please — teach me and Iori-senpai! We need help!”
“…Weren’t you all excited about your study date?”
“Needs must. Please, Yuuri. Think of it as rescuing your adorable childhood friend.”

Yuuri was kind underneath it all, and we were in front of Kanami-senpai. If I begged hard enough, she wouldn’t say no.
Just as I’d expected, Yuuri sighed and checked with Kanami-senpai.

“What do you think, Kanami-senpai?”
“I’m happy to help if you’ll have me. I’ve already finished going through my exam material.”

In that soft, gentle voice, Kanami-senpai said something almost frightening with perfect ease. A third-year’s exam material covered far more ground than a first-year’s.

“Yuuri-chan, there are parts of the second-year content you haven’t covered yet, aren’t there?”
“Yes — I’m not confident in some subjects.”
“Then I’ll help Yaoji-san. I’m a little weak on the science side, but I’ll do what I can.”

The two of them had this entire high-level exchange while walking over to join us at the table.
Yuuri sat down next to me; Kanami-senpai settled beside Iori-senpai.

“Nice to meet you. I’m Hashimoto Kanami, third year. I know Himena-chan through Yuuri-chan.”

Kanami-senpai introduced herself properly, and Iori-senpai matched her with an equally proper introduction.

Come to think of it — Senpai’s in a sports club, so she’s probably very respectful with upperclassmen. Watching Iori-senpai talk to someone older is a rare sight for me…!!

I was drinking in this unusual view with shining eyes when Yuuri pinched my thigh hard under the table.

“Your face just now was alarming.”
“Was it really? I need to be more careful — my true nature keeps slipping out.”

We whispered back and forth, keeping our voices low so the others couldn’t hear. Then Iori-senpai glanced over at Yuuri. And you are?

“Samejima Yuuri, first year. I’m in the home economics club with Kanami-senpai, and Himena’s childhood friend.”
“Childhood friend?”
“Yes. We live near each other — I think we’ve known each other since before nursery school.”

Right? Yuuri looked to me for confirmation. I had no memory of the very first time we met, but that sounded about right.

“So you’re close, then?”

Iori-senpai’s question made Yuuri and me instinctively glance at each other. By most measures we probably were close. If anything, bound together by fate and inertia felt more accurate — but it was also true that neither of us had anyone else.
We exchanged a wordless look and settled it with our eyes alone.

“We are! We’re really good friends, aren’t we, Yuuri?”

I smiled and slung an arm around her shoulder, trying to project the image of a sociable girl who was close with her friends — but Iori-senpai only gave a quiet oh and nodded.
The atmosphere went slightly flat, and at that moment Kanami-senpai clapped her hands together.

“Right, let’s get to work. We’ve got until the end of school — let’s all do our best together!”

Until closing time: about two hours. I nodded, and reached for my pencil.