Prologue: “You’d Better Brace Yourself, Senpai”

“…Right. Perfect as always.”

I set down the powder puff and lean in close to my dressing table mirror. The face I’ve spent a whole hour crafting is, of course, flawlessly cute today. No — today I’m especially cute.

“Don’t you think so too, Senpai?”

I fix my gaze on the framed photo propped at the corner of my dressing table. Inside it is a picture of my beloved Iori-senpai. She looks wonderful in her basketball club uniform — white and pale blue.

Those striking, almond-shaped eyes. That long lower lash line, somehow a little sultry. Iori-senpai is the androgynously beautiful second-year student at Sakuraba High School — the school I started attending yesterday — and she is the person I’m destined to be with.

“I’ve finally got to see you… I’ve been waiting for this for so long.”

The Senpai in the photo doesn’t answer. But the days of longing for her are over at last. From now on, I’ll have all the real Senpai I could ever want.

I run the flat iron over my fringe and fix it in place with spray. I spritz vanilla perfume on my neck and take a small notebook from my bag.

Not just any notebook. This is a treasure — the chronicle of mine and Iori-senpai’s love story.

Flipping through the pages, I find one headed: Iori-senpai and Himena’s Fated First Meetings ♡ — 100 Scenarios. Exactly as it sounds: a hundred different ways it could happen.

Bumping into each other by accident at the school gate; Senpai picking up a handkerchief I’ve dropped; Senpai rushing to help when I stumble.
For every single one, I’ve worked out the strategy to close the distance between us. It’s no exaggeration to say that my entire spring break was spent on this.

“Besides, the gods are on my side.”

Yesterday I visited that famous shrine — the one with the deity of romantic fortune. I bought a proper love-luck charm, and my fortune slip came up daikichi (Great Fortune). Sure, it took seven draws to get there, but that’s beside the point.

I mean, I’m trying this hard — surely the gods would want to take my side!

“Oh, right—”

I turn to the calendar page and write today’s date in: Iori-senpai and Himena’s Fated First Meeting ♡. The thought of all the anniversaries I’ll fill this notebook with sets my heart racing.

“Heheh…”

No, no. I absolutely cannot let Senpai see that giddy face.
I take a deep breath and slap both cheeks. Then I check my phone, and — time to leave.

“Oh no, I’m going to be late!”

I stuff the notebook into my bag and jump to my feet. One last check in the mirror — makeup, hair — and then I say goodbye to the Senpai in the photo.

“Off I go, Iori-senpai.”

I want to see her soon. I want to hear her voice. I want her to say my name — Himena — in that cool, composed way of hers.

I want to look her in the eyes and talk to her. I want her eyes to hold me in them. I want to see her face straight-on, not just in the profile I’ve memorised from photographs.

I leave the house and walk quickly toward the station. My heartbeat keeps picking up, and it’s not because I’m in a hurry. It’s because everything that’s coming fills me with a thrill I can barely contain.

Hey, Iori-senpai. I know something about you.
Girls like you — the cool ones, the prince-types — are always the most feminine underneath. Even you, Iori-senpai, called the prince of the school: you’re still a girl.

“You’d better brace yourself, Senpai. I’m going to bring out the cute girl hiding inside you.”