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

In the end, Senpai’s team won without conceding a single goal. She walked toward me through the surrounding cheers.

“Thanks for cheering me on. Was I cool?”

It was obviously meant only for me, but the girls nearby erupted, yes, so cool! and similar things, and made quite a fuss.
Senpai didn’t seem to mind at all, which I loved about her, but it irritated me just a little.

“Himena-chan?”

She tucked her hair behind her ear and peered at my face. The moment our eyes met, she smiled at me in that teasing way of hers.
Oh, I can’t take it!!

“Senpai, come with me right now!! You’ve been sweating, you absolutely need to hydrate!”

I called out at full volume, grabbed her hand, and led us both out of the gymnasium on sheer momentum, straight toward the vending machines.

“What’s got into you, Himena-chan? Are you jealous?”

Leaning against the vending machine, Senpai laughed with obvious enjoyment. When she teases me like this, she seems just a little bit like a child.

“Yes, I am jealous.”
“…You really are straightforward, aren’t you, Himena-chan.”
“Because that’s how my feelings actually reach you, Senpai.”

I held her gaze, and Senpai’s face went just slightly pink as she looked away.

She really is adorable.

“Do you want something to drink? I’ll treat you.”
“Oh, I couldn’t, that’s too much.”
“It’s fine. I’m the senpai here.”

That was true enough, but we were both high school students with no part-time jobs, so being treated felt wrong.
Wait, I had an idea.

“Then I’ll treat you for yours! What do you say?”
“Doesn’t that defeat the purpose?”
“It’s a perfect system: I get the experience of being treated by you, and I get to appeal to you by treating the person I like. Genius.”

I said it with my chin held high, and Senpai laughed.

Pushing forward boldly really does get to her, doesn’t it?!

“What would you like, Senpai?”
“What are you having, Himena-chan?”
“I’m having whatever you’re having, so you choose first!”
“In that case, this one.”

Senpai picked a lemon-flavoured sports drink. She still had matches ahead of her, so it was the sensible choice for a break.

“I’ll have the same.”
“You should get something different, Himena-chan.”
“Why?”
“If we share half of each, we both get to try two kinds. Don’t you think?”

She smiled, the corners of her mouth lifting just slightly, cool and composed.

This is prince-mode Senpai…!
She was blushing and adorable just a moment ago!
And now she’s this cool again?! Iori-senpai, you are far too formidable!!

“What do you say, Himena-chan?”
“Yes please, absolutely.”

There was no way I was passing up a chance at an indirect kiss with Iori-senpai. Senpai must have known perfectly well what my answer would be.

“You pick the other one.”

With that, I chose apple juice on instinct. Two sports drinks felt unimaginative, and carbonated was probably a bad idea when she still had matches to play.
We each bought one bottle and took turns drinking from both. With a friend it wouldn’t mean anything, but with Iori-senpai it was entirely different.

Actually, the way Senpai holds a plastic bottle is unfairly cool, isn’t it?!
Her profile was beautiful as a matter of course. The line of her nose was so perfect that I forgot to drink my juice and just stared.

“You really do watch me constantly, Himena-chan.”
“Well, I’d be losing out if I didn’t.”
“Drink your juice properly.”

I stared at Senpai and drank my juice. Juice tastes better when you’re looking at Iori-senpai.
Senpai went a little pink again and glanced away, casual as anything. Adorable.
Cool one moment, adorable the next. Senpai is the most exquisite mille-feuille imaginable.