Chapter 41

41

"Can you tell me your name?"

Different from the voice I usually hear from afar, it's sweet.

I could feel the heat in the prince’s eyes that stared at me as he.smiled.

―――I want to run away.

I want to run away from the prince from the bottom of my heart.

"Subaru, you're troubling her."

Hasumi quickly stepped in front of me as if to hide me.

Hiding completely behind his back, I breathed out a sigh of relief.

"Won't you introduce her to me? Aah, right, I still haven't introduced myself. I am Tojo Subaru."

"......I know. Tojo-sama is a famous person."

Having regained a bit of calm thanks to hiding behind Hasumi, I come forth and gave an ojou-sama like smile next to Hasumi.

"Nice to meet you, Tojo-sama. My name is Kaguragi Rinka. It seems like my little brother has been in your care, right?"

'Thank you for always caring for my little brother,' I said and bowed my head.

The prince looked at me as if he was happy.

"That's because Yuto is extraordinary. I think that my care is not needed, but I always end up unintentionally wanting to do it."

"Fufu, my little brother feels grateful to you, you know?"

"Really? That makes me happy."

My improvised ojou-sama mask is going to come off soon.

I tried to convey it to Hasumi who stood next to me.

I am a bit anxious that it didn't reach him, but I'm sure that, if it's Hasumi, he'll surely get it. No, I mean, I'll be troubled if he doesn't.

"Subaru, didn't you have something to ask me?"

It seems like the eye contact functioned. Thank G.o.d.

"Ah, yeah. It's something that happened before this….."

Hasumi and the prince began to talk about something I don't really understand.

Isn't this my chance to escape from here?

Well, if I don't escape now, I won't be able to get away until lunch break is over, right?

Okay, let's escape.

My lips floated with the archaic smile I inherited from my father.

"Since I shouldn't interrupt you two, I'll excuse myself now."

When I was saying "gokigen'yo" and trying to quickly leave that place, my arm was seized by the prince.

Geh.

"Wait."

"Is there something?"

Without destroying my archaic smile, I looked at the prince.

This is tiring you know. Let me go back quickly please.

"I would like to get to know you better. Can we talk again another time?"

With only those words from the prince, my smiling face twitched.

I never thought I'd hear such lines in real life……!

However, I am an ojou-sama.

Making use of the skill of an ojou-sama I had cultivated till now, I was somehow able to maintain my smile and force out words that my mind truly abhorred.

".......if you are fine with me, I'll be happy to comply."

The prince laughed looking satisfied at my response.

When I turned my eyes to look at Hasumi, I saw that his eyes were swaying with anxiety.

Is he worried for me?

I smiled at him to convey that I was alright, then I elegantly bowed and left that place behind.

Today we finished our student council work earlier, and I went to the tea shop I once went to with Hasumi.

After the incident earlier, I got an email from Hasumi that said to go to tea shop later.

It must be about what happened at lunch break. He's probably worried.

I felt a warm feeling inside me thanks to Hasumi's kindness.

When I arrived at the tea shop, the shopkeeper greeted me in the same way, and guided me to the same seat as last time.

Hasumi still hadn't arrived.

He took a leave from the student council saying that he had something to do today.

I am astonished towards Hasumi's capableness, as he is finishing yesterday's work too.

For that reason, I who was informed about this beforehand, ordered a drink at once.

Since I am at it, let's eat the cake I had my eyes on last time.

Today, I feel like eating a shortcake. So let's eat it.

I called the shopkeeper, and ordered black tea and shortcake.

In the time I waited, I began to think of what happened at lunch break.

I understand that I can't avoid that forever.

I had resolved myself to meet the prince at some future time.

But, I thought that I would meet him 『at some future time』and not 『today』.

I never encountered anyone else in the courtyard I always met with Hasumi until now, and never saw anyone other than Hasumi there.

That's why I lowered my guard. Thinking that place was safe.

It was a terrible misunderstanding. That's not a place only exclusive to Hasumi. Any student can use that place.

Even when it’s like this, I was under the impression that it was Hasumi exclusive s.p.a.ce.

That impression gave birth to today's encounter.

I bit my lower lip.

What should I do from now on?

That voice and gaze from the prince. That had a never seen "heat."

―――the prince, had surely fallen in love with me.

Exactly like in the manga.

Would it be okay if I rejected him? But, I don't know whether the prince would give up or not.

Well, I really don't know what to do about the prince.

The thing I am most scared about is that if I'll, "end up falling in love with the prince," like in the manga.

If that is truly because of my own will, it's fine. However, what if that is the manga’s forceful twist?

If so then, what will happen to "my" will?

I don't know.

However, I am really living here in this world. I'm not the character from the manga. I am "myself".

I want to live as "Kaguragi Rinka" with my own will.

I don't want to change due to some unknown force.

If I'll fall in love, "I" want to do so.

Not as the main character heroine of Sekakoi.

If, by any chance "I" will fall in love with someone, what kind of person would he be?

When I was thinking of such things, the shopkeeper came to bring me tea and cake with a gentle smile floating on his lips.

I took them and said thanks.

I inhaled the smell of the black tea from my nose, first, I should put in some sugar to drink it with.

Are. Today's tea is sweet even without sugar.

"Ojou-sama looked to be troubled over something, so I thought that, by putting a bit of honey in, it would relax you, is it to your taste?"

"It's truly delicious. Somehow I feel calmer."

"I'm glad to hear this…...is ojou-sama's trouble perhaps related to love?"

".......yes, that's right. I'm scared, that if I were to fall in love, I wouldn't be myself anymore."

".......is that so. However, let's say that is love."

"That is... love?"

" An old person such as me would see love as something that sparkles. Even if it is something that is going to ruin him, the enamored person would see it as beautiful."

The shopkeeper looked at me gently.

"You may change in the process of falling in love. However, there will always be things that won't change. Ojou-sama, please do not be scared of the thing called love. Love is a really wonderful thing. It may just be something an old person says to put on airs, but that is still something I can say proudly."

"Love is a wonderful thing….."

"Oya oya. That won't do, when you get older, the story you tell becomes longer. Ojou-sama, can you listen to one last thing?"

"Yes. What is it?"

"I'm sure that ojou-sama's love interest will come soon. That's an old person's hunch."

Well then, enjoy yourself please.

Having said that, the shopkeeper entered the back of his store.

".......love, eh….."

I carved what the shopkeeper said in my heart.

Thanks to him, my mind has become lighter.

I still don't know about love.

I don't know what will happen from now on.

It's something I cannot understand in the end.

There are a bunch of things that I don't understand, but I distinctly felt that I must properly face the prince thanks to the conversation with the shopkeeper.

Till now I've only escaped. From both the prince and love.

From now on I won't run away.

I decided to face things properly.

On this road I want to advance on.

I took a bite of the cake.

The sweetness of the cream permeated my heart.

Tn: Naoriel

Ed: Aeternatrix

Nao's lil corner♡

Hmmm so.

I saw that many people really wanted to do the kick the prince game xD

So shall we? Though I only have 1 chapter edited so the amount of kicking required will be higher to unlock the chapter xD (I know you can do it!)

Last time we left at 73, so the first person will be the 74th!

RULE

Same as the last time.( # + number)

And.... hmmm actually kicking him will be optional! Since I shouldn't treat a character of the novel I'm translating that badly xD let's just  *step on his feet*

#74 *step on his feet* (kick him in secret) d.a.m.n brat, I really dun like ya!

Once we reach #120 the extra chappy will be unlocked!