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

“My aunt means well, but I do rest properly. I massage my muscles so I don’t get injured, and I sleep enough too.”

Iori-senpai ate her curry and launched into excuses with the energy of a small child defending herself.

“I haven’t missed a single day of school since middle school started. Haven’t even caught a cold.”
“That’s impressive, but I also think you push yourself too hard, Senpai. The basketball club already practises constantly, and on top of that you’re always doing extra training on your own.”
“You can’t get stronger just by doing the same things as everyone else.”

She said it simply, as though it were obvious. That ethos had probably been carrying her forward for years.
Cool as it was, I still worried.

Which was exactly why I had to support her.
Yes, yes, that was the right call. Things like giving her a thorough hands-on massage, that was surely the kind of thing she needed.

“Senpai.”
“Yes?”
“Leave all logistical support to me.”
“…What does that mean?”

I should probably learn to cook properly too, for when I’m Iori-senpai’s wife. I’d like to make something for her again soon, maybe get Yuuri and the others to help.

“Anyway, Himena-chan. What are you doing after this?”
“After this?”
“If I go back to school this early my coach will be furious, so I was thinking of just going home for now. Want to come, Himena-chan?”
“Sorry, what?! Have I slipped into a dream?!”
“You’re so dramatic. It’s just a normal house.”
“The mere fact that you live there makes it an important cultural property — no, a national treasure — to me!”

Because Senpai’s house meant the sofa she normally sat on, the bed she slept in, her favourite cup, an entire treasury of precious things like that?!

“Iori-senpai. I absolutely want to go!”
“All right, come on then.”
“Oh, but could we stop somewhere first? A department store or somewhere? I’d like to bring something for your parents.”
“You don’t need to bother. No one’s home right now.”
“What?!”

No one’s home…?!
Which meant I was about to be alone with Iori-senpai, in an enclosed space. And Senpai had invited me there knowing no one would be home.
That had to mean what I thought it meant, didn’t it?!

“…Iori-senpai.”
“Yes?”
“I’ll be as gentle as I can…”

Iori-senpai let out a very deliberate sigh, laced her fingers together, and rested her chin on them.

“Himena-chan. Save that kind of joke for when we’re alone, all right?”
“Y-yes…”
“Good girl.”

She gave a soft laugh and reached out to pat my head. One gentle pat, then another, and my heart came so close to leaping out of my chest I thought today might actually be my last day on earth.