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

“Himena, that outfit is way too lacking in motivation, isn’t it?”
“What do you want me to do. I don’t want to get sunburned.”

The soccer matches were being held out on the field. Playing was unavoidable, but during the waiting periods I wanted to reduce the risk of sun damage to an absolute minimum.
To that end, I’d put on a long-sleeved, long-trousered tracksuit, and brought a hat on top of that for extra protection. Since I was apparently the only student wearing a hat, I was standing out a little.
But then, I stand out regardless without doing anything, cute as I am — so it came to the same thing!

“Yuuri, what are you doing after your match? There’ll be a bit of a gap, right?”

During the ball games tournament you could do as you liked when you weren’t in your own event. Most people cheered on their classmates’ matches, but that was up to the individual.

“I’m planning to watch a soccer match.”
“Oh? Kanami-senpai is in soccer?”
“…I didn’t say it was Kanami-senpai.”
“But it is Kanami-senpai, isn’t it.”

Yuuri looked away from me in silence. When things got inconvenient, Yuuri went quiet.

This was a rare chance to tease her…!

“You really do like Kanami-senpai, don’t you, Yuuri. You put on a completely different face around her.”
“Oh, be quiet. I do not.”
“Is that so? Could you say that in front of Kanami-senpai?”
“…Himena.”
“What? Have you decided to be honest? I think that’s admirable. You are sorely lacking in honesty and straightforwardness, Yuuri.”
“Want me to show Iori-senpai that attitude of yours?”
“…What?”

Before I’d noticed, Yuuri had her phone in her right hand. And on the screen: recording.

“Your voice goes up a whole register around Iori-senpai. Quite the performance. I wonder what she’d think?”
“Please I’m begging you Yuuri-sama please delete it.”

I bowed my head at full speed, and Yuuri put the phone away with a satisfied look.

Argh…!! And I’d thought it was finally my chance to tease her!

“I’m looking forward to seeing her reaction when she finds out what you’re really like.”
“…Yuuri, you are genuinely terrible, you know that.”
“Sadly, birds of a feather and all that.”

Before I could find a comeback, it was time for my match.
When am I ever going to win an argument with Yuuri?

☆★☆★☆★☆★

The gymnasium, already poorly ventilated at the best of times, had grown so stifling with body heat that I wanted to flee. But for Iori-senpai, I could endure anything.

“Where’s Iori-senpai…”

I scanned the gymnasium and noticed a large crowd gathered in the far right corner. That many people clustering in one spot — it had to be Iori-senpai.
Sure enough, when I made my way over, Senpai was at the centre of it. But the atmosphere was different from usual.
For some reason, she was surrounded by boys. And every single one of them was bowing their head at her.

“Please, Yaoji. If you play we can win — we’re counting on you…!”
“Seriously. You’re our only hope, Yaoji.”
“Hmm…”

Iori-senpai scratched her cheek with a troubled expression. Adorable even when troubled.
— No, that wasn’t the point! What on earth were they talking about?

“I am a girl, technically.”

Wait—

“We know! But you’re way better than any of us, so—”
“If it were the other way round there’d be an issue, but a girl joining the boys’ side is fine!”

No. Were these people actually asking Senpai to play in the boys’ match?
Were they out of their minds?!

The blood rushed to my head and before I knew it I’d stepped forward. I planted myself in front of Iori-senpai and glared at the boys with everything I had.

“There is absolutely no way Senpai is playing in a boys’ match!”

My sudden appearance startled everyone around us.

“H-Himena-chan? I mean, but, Yaoji is just way more, like, one of the guys than—”
“Excuse me?”

A voice entirely unlike my usual one came out of me before I could stop it. I was in front of Iori-senpai, I registered that for just a moment — but I couldn’t stop it.

Because these people were genuinely unbelievable!

“Iori-senpai is a girl!”

No matter how tall Senpai was, no matter how good at basketball, no matter how much cooler than any boy — she was a girl.
That they couldn’t see the danger of having her play against boys was beyond comprehension.

“Let’s go, Senpai.”

I grabbed Senpai’s arm and pulled — but she didn’t move.

Maybe she felt like she couldn’t refuse? That was far too kind of her!

“…Wait a moment, Himena-chan.”

When I turned around, Senpai had her face turned down, hidden from view.

“It really is dangerous, though — huh?”

The moment I peered up at her face, I froze.
Her face flushed crimson all the way to her ears. Eyes bright with unshed tears, lips pressed together in a tight, embarrassed line.

What — what — what?!
Iori-senpai is far, far too adorable right now?!

I knew Senpai was cute. I knew — but even so, this was too much.
I didn’t want anyone else to see her like this.

“Senpai. Keep your face down and run.”

I whispered it close to her ear, took her hand, and ran. Through our joined palms I could feel Senpai’s heartbeat, and I thought my own mind was going to come apart entirely.