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

“You did your best, Himena-chan.”

When I went over to Senpai after the match, she patted me on the head.
If this was the reward for trying hard, it had all been worth it.

Even though I never once managed to touch the ball!

The match ended in a three-to-two victory, somehow. Two of those three goals were Yuuri’s, and she was surrounded by classmates heaping praise on her.

Yuuri is even more of a homebody than I am — and yet she has actual athletic coordination…!

“…But I was completely useless.”
“Maybe so. But I could tell you were giving it everything, Himena-chan.”

Iori-senpai crouched down and looked up into my face. A moment ago she’d shown me that unbearably soft expression — and now she was a perfect prince again.

Prince-mode Senpai is still my absolute favourite. Obviously.

“Will you come and cheer for my match next?”
“Yes. I’m cheering for every moment of your entire life, Senpai.”
“Thank you. Let’s go, then.”

As naturally as breathing, Iori-senpai took my hand and led me forward. Just that was enough to blow away every trace of tiredness from the match.

Iori-senpai — she’s a prince, and a princess, and apparently a magician too.

When we moved to the gymnasium, Senpai went straight into pre-match preparations. I staked out a front-row spot to watch her, but fans were already gathering thick around me — mostly girls, though of course there were boys too.

I was unquestionably the cutest one there. But whether that meant I’d be chosen was an entirely different question…

The anxiety was starting to creep in when the match began. The moment it did, Iori-senpai! and Yaoji! rang out all around me, the gymnasium filling with noise.

I wasn’t going to be outdone. At least in volume, I had to be first.

“Iori-senpai! Go for it!”

For just an instant, Iori-senpai glanced back, and I thought — I was sure — she waved. Kyaa! squealed the girls on either side of me. But I knew.
That wave was definitely for me. Because our eyes definitely met!

Senpai’s play was breathtaking — overwhelming enough to hold even someone like me, who understood nothing about basketball, completely transfixed.
She dribbled without once looking at her hands. She moved faster dribbling than I could run at full sprint. And above all else, the ball came to her as though it had a will of its own, as though it had decided she was where it belonged.

“…She’s incredible.”

This was just a school event — not a club match. And yet Senpai held nothing back, which meant she was simply dominant. Some people might have called it overkill — but to me, that wholehearted commitment was dazzling.

No wonder everyone was captivated.
Because Senpai — she shines like this.

Senpai scored, and drove her fist toward the ceiling. Her teammates swarmed around her with a roar, surrounding her, pressing in close.
The nearness of them made me a little jealous.
…I’m lying. It made me enormously jealous.

Senpai — please become mine alone, soon.

Watching Senpai play basketball with that brilliant, unstoppable grace, I found myself thinking of the crimson-faced Senpai from earlier. Everyone here screaming her name right now — none of them knew her face like that.

I want to see more of it. The sides of Senpai that only I know.