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

“Thank you for earlier, Himena-chan.”

We’d searched until we found somewhere to be alone, and ended up on a bench in the courtyard. Senpai’s face was still flushed, though her ears had come back to their usual colour.

Senpai right now is unreal, she’s far too adorable…
Crimson-faced Senpai was quieter than usual, and my heart was hammering so hard I thought it might actually break.

“I-it was only natural. Senpai is a girl. And if you got injured it would be terrible — after everything you put into basketball!”

If I got a little hurt, it would just be a minor inconvenience. But Senpai was different. That was exactly why I’d been so angry at those boys for trying to drag her into something dangerous.

“You’re kind, Himena-chan.”
“…It’s because I like you, Senpai.”

I’d said it so many times before — and yet for some reason it made me shy, my face going warm.

“Iori-senpai.”
“Yes?”
“Can I hold your hand?”

I asked — and then took her hand before she could even answer. Senpai didn’t pull away.

“…Himena-chan. Don’t you need to go back? You have matches too.”
“There’s still time. And besides — skipping might not be the worst thing.”
“I think it might actually be.”

She laughed, and squeezed my hand back. And then, just like that, she rested her head on my shoulder.

“Just a little longer. All right?”

My heart was so loud. Thump, thump — if it kept up like this, Senpai would surely feel it too. Well — she could. That was fine.

“…Yes.”

Senpai’s hair smelled of sweat and shampoo all mixed together, and it was wonderful. Something citrusy and fresh.
Maybe I should start using the same shampoo.
But then I wouldn’t be able to pick out Senpai’s particular scent anymore. That might be a shame.

“Himena-chan. Thank you — truly.”

Her voice so close to my ear was so achingly beautiful that something in my head started to come loose.

☆★☆★☆★☆★

“Right — shall we head back? I’ll come and cheer you on, Himena-chan.”

She stood up and was, astonishingly, entirely back to her usual self. So thoroughly that I almost wanted to doubt whether she’d just been resting her head softly on my shoulder a moment ago — whether I’d imagined the whole thing.

But it was real. I still remembered the weight of her.
Fighting back a grin, I nodded and stood up.
When we got back to the field, Yuuri and Kanami-senpai were already there.

“Himena. Your match is starting soon.”
“Right.”

I didn’t want to embarrass myself in front of Iori-senpai, but I had zero confidence in my ability to play well. Having her cheer for me was wonderful — and also slightly mortifying.

“Yuuri. I am going to try absolutely as hard as I can in this match.”
“Good attitude — just don’t get hurt. You’re a walking disaster.”
“Fair enough. If I had athletic ability on top of everything else, the gods would be playing favourites.”
“…Maybe try saying that in front of Iori-senpai sometime.”

I lined up alongside the sighing Yuuri. When the referee’s whistle went, the match would begin.

I want to show Senpai something good! Score a goal, or pull off a pass at just the right moment — something impressive!
For that, I needed to stay near the ball at all costs!

I didn’t really know the rules — but surely staying close to the ball was the right instinct. Acting on that theory, I ran with everything I had, and it got me almost nowhere.
The ball was moving around far too much!

I’d sprint right, and somehow it would already be on the left. How was anyone supposed to know where to be?

“Go on, Himena-chan!”

Iori-senpai is cheering for me. I love her…

Normally I’d have given up and stopped running almost immediately. A school ball games tournament wasn’t exactly worth suffering for — and suffering wasn’t going to make me good at it anyway.
But with Senpai watching, that changed everything.

At the very least, I had to show her I was trying with everything I had.

I willed my legs, already gone completely numb, to carry me forward again. I still couldn’t get anywhere near the ball. But Iori-senpai cheering me on with what sounded like genuine delight — that was enough.