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

The conversation never found its usual rhythm, and the five-minutes-to-end-of-lunch bell rang out across the courtyard.

“Senpai.”
“Yes?”
“I’m so looking forward to our date!”

She nodded, and her face was already back to its usual self. I felt a small pang of disappointment, but then again, I didn’t want anyone else seeing those sides of her — so it was probably for the best.
We stood and headed back inside. Right up until we parted ways, Senpai was about five times quieter than usual.

“Yuuri.”

I called to her the moment I walked into the classroom. She turned around, took one look at my face, and her eyes went wide.

“What happened to your face.”
“Never mind that, just come with me!”

I grabbed her hand and dragged her out of the classroom. Her protest about class starting was ignored.

I needed to talk to someone or I was going to explode, my head was such a mess!

“…Hey, Yuuri.”
“What?”
“It’s about Iori-senpai.”

I pulled her into an empty classroom, checked that no one was around, and started talking.

“Obviously.”

Yuuri leaned against the teacher’s desk and nodded with an air of complete indifference.

“I kissed Iori-senpai.”
“What?!”

The desk rattled. Yuuri stared at me with her eyes wide open.

“You could get sued for that!”
“I, probably—”
“Probably?! What were you thinking?!”

What was I thinking. Why did I kiss Senpai like that.
It had been so impulsive that I couldn’t properly explain it even when asked. My body had just moved on its own.

“It just… kind of… happened…?”
“…You’ve got guts, I’ll give you that. Let’s hope you don’t get arrested.”
“I’m not getting arrested! Senpai didn’t mind!”

That was the truth — Iori-senpai hadn’t minded at all. She’d gone red and shown me the most adorable expression, and she hadn’t looked even slightly, even a tiny bit, like she was upset about it.

“That’s not your imagination?”
“It’s a fact! And today Senpai was the one who asked me on a date!”
“…Seriously?”
“Seriously. Completely seriously.”

I see… Yuuri murmured, and went quiet for a while. Even when the bell rang to signal the start of class, neither of us made a move to hurry.

“Himena. Did you actually confess properly?”
“Yes. I told her I liked her in a romantic sense.”
“That’s not what I mean — did you actually say you want to go out with her?”
“Oh…”

I’d been so focused on getting my feelings across that I’d forgotten to actually ask.

Come to think of it, just saying I like you didn’t give Senpai anything to respond to, did it.

“Yuuri.”

I grabbed her by the shoulders.

“I’ve decided. I’m going to confess to Senpai properly on our date. I’m going to ask her out, clearly and directly!”
“Go for it. I’m rooting for you.”
“Thanks. So help me.”

Yuuri made a face that communicated intense reluctance, but I didn’t have the bandwidth to worry about that right now.
I was going to confess to Iori-senpai officially and ask her to go out with me.
And if Senpai became my girlfriend, I could kiss her as much as I wanted, and even more than that…

“Himena, your face is disturbing.”
“Cute, you mean.”

Just you wait, Iori-senpai.
I’m going to win your heart on the best date you’ve ever had!!