Chapter Four: “The Princess Wants to Be Chosen by the Prince” — Part Four

The courtyard was getting a little warm.

Until recently, the shade from the trees had kept it quite cool — almost chilly when the wind blew, perfect for a lunch break.
But lately, every time I came here, summer made itself known a little more. Another month and sitting still would be enough to break a sweat.

Two months from now, eating here might not be possible.
…I was assuming without thinking about it that Himena-chan and I would keep having lunch together indefinitely.

We settled on the bench, and Himena-chan took out her usual small lunchbox. Every time our eyes met, she smiled at me.
But it was still different from the easy, unguarded smile she showed Yuuri-chan. I hadn’t noticed before. Now I did.

She could show me more of those sides of herself too, if she wanted.

“Hey, Himena-chan.”
“Yes!”

The moment I spoke, she put down her chopsticks and looked straight at me.

“…I got these from my parents, but would you want to come? If you’re free.”

I reached into the inner pocket of my blazer and took out two aquarium tickets. A complete lie about the parents — I’d bought them myself at a convenience store this morning.

“A friend of theirs couldn’t make it, so the date’s already set.”
“Th, this, th, this is…!”

Himena-chan took one of the tickets with trembling hands.

“This is a date, isn’t it?! You’re asking me on a date, aren’t you?!”

She couldn’t contain herself — she stood up and started bouncing. Her hair jumped with her, like a dog’s ears.

“Yes. Our first date.”

I crossed my legs slowly, keeping my composure. Oh…! Himena-chan stared at the ticket with shining eyes.

“Himena-chan.”

I drew her gently toward me by the hand, and stroked her ear, letting my voice drop just slightly lower than usual.

“I’m really looking forward to it. Our first date, Himena-chan.”
“S-Senpai, are you, are you teasing me?”

Even with her ears red all the way to the tips, she couldn’t quite manage to glare at me. Even now, Himena-chan’s gaze was so warm it was almost dizzying.

“I wonder.”
“Ugh, Senpai, you really are unfair…!”
“Am I? In what way, exactly?”

Himena-chan went even redder. I laughed softly and let go of her ear.

Hey, Himena-chan.
Right now, your head is completely full of me, isn’t it?

I wanted it to be more and more like that. I wanted her so full of me that she couldn’t think about anyone else.
I’d never felt anything like this before and couldn’t quite explain it even to myself. But seeing Himena-chan flustered felt good.

“…Iori-senpai. Don’t you get misunderstood a lot, saying things like this?”
“I don’t know what the misunderstanding would be, but I only say these things to you, Himena-chan.”

That wasn’t a lie. These feelings had started with Himena-chan, and no one else.
But I wasn’t going to tell her that. Because if I didn’t, she’d probably think about me even more.

“I always tell you I like you, Senpai, but… if, if I said it was in a romantic sense, what would you do?”

She’d said if, but her voice was trembling.
Still, she didn’t look away. She looked straight at me.
It wasn’t a surprising question. From the beginning, I’d thought it might be that.

“I’m not sure. I don’t think I’d know until it actually happened.”

That wasn’t a lie either. I’d never been in love, never thought of anyone as special in that way. So I genuinely didn’t know.

“Iori-senpai.”
“Yes, Himena-chan?”
“Then shall we make now that moment?”

The mouth I’d been about to open was stopped by something warm.
Before I knew it, Himena-chan’s face was right in front of mine, and my lips were just slightly damp.

“Senpai. Let me say it properly. I’m seriously in love with you.”

Himena-chan’s gaze was sharper than I had ever seen it. Something fierce glinted in the depths of her eyes, like a wild animal.

I had to say something. I needed to say something.

I knew it, and yet my mouth wouldn’t move. My body wouldn’t move. Only my heart, working overtime.

I kissed Himena-chan.

I couldn’t think about anything else, and without a word, I looked down.