When I read the heart of the never-smiling princess, for some reason she had already fallen head over heels in love for me. - v1 Chapter 10

Chapter 10: Princess’ Preparedness

As I reached my room’s door, I opened it, and stepped inside.

“Please come in. Sorry for the mess.”

“That’s not at all, please don’t apologize. It looks clean.”

Katsuragi Minami stepped into my room, her eyes darting around curiously.

There’s a girl in my room. I suddenly become aware of it, and immediately felt nervous. What should I do? Should I bring some tea and snacks?

As I pondered, a strange sound began to fill the air— ‘Su~ Haaa~ Suu~ Haaaaa~’ she was breathing deeply through her nose, as if she was taking in the room’s atmosphere into her entire being.

“What are you doing really?”

“…Please don’t mind it.”

Her response was subtle and measured, her cheeks tensed slightly with a faint blush coloring them.

It bothered me. To the point of that I was getting intensely curious.

Knowing her, there is all the reason that she was think of doing something improper or even plot something.

I, even though hesitated a lot, but pretended to reach for a cushion while quietly closing the distance between us.

‘Ahh I can’t calm down with Ko-kun’s scent, let me take deep breaths and calm down, —ahhh, ahh, ahnnn, such a strong Ko-kun smell! I just can’t get enough of it! awawawa!”

“For now, just breathe normally, please!”

“Eh?”

As she widened her eyes, I immediately realized the blunder I made. That reaction made me appear as if I had suddenly raised my voice retorting to her inner voice.

“Um! I mean, for now, please breathe normally. Have a seat here.”

“Um, thank you.”

‘Did I mishear… perhaps?’

I offered her the cushion and then quickly backed away. Katsuragi Minami sat down on it. I couldn’t hear her ask any more questions. It was a rather forced way to divert her attention, but it seems that she accepted it all well.

‘Still though, being alone in a small room like this is so nerve-wracking. My heart is also pounding like crazy, so much so that it’s hard to breathe… I wonder if he also feels the same way. I’d be glad if he’s conscious of me, just as Mother-sama says.’

Katsuragi Minami’s actual thoughts about my room and how well I cleaned it all comes through. And from time to time, I could feel her taking occasional glances at me as well.

Being conscious of whether someone is actually conscious of you or not makes you even more conscious in return. Even though it’s not becoming a proper Japanese sentence, but as it’s literally what is said, it becomes all so difficult to explain.

As if being shaken up by her inner voice, even my own heart started pounding. My cheeks felt hot.

Can I really endure spending a whole day like this?

(No, no! Today I should just focus on my work seriously, without any strange thoug—)

‘But still, if things go in that direction, after all, he’s a healthy boy too… maybe I did the correct thing coming all prepared.’

Katsuragi Minami’s inner voice continued.

Came prepared? For what?

‘I’ve cleaned thoroughly, so it should be fine. Even my underwear is the cute one.’

Eh?

‘Let’s see, if I have… yeap, it’s here.”

Katsuragi Minami was rummaging through her shoulder bag.

Have? What do you have? What needs to be prepared?

I swallowed hard. If my guess was correct, Katsuragi Minami was thinking of something extremely eccentric.

Wait, wait a moment there, Katsuragi Minami. I think it maybe a bit too hasty, or rather, but then, it’s maybe fine as well, I don’t mind as well. In fact, it’s great to come prepared because, after all it’s true that you never know what might happen between a boy and a girl, but the essential thing to consider is my mental preparation also, so let’s step through the stages first okay, no, it’s not that I am chickening out or something like that you know…

“Um, Saiga-kun.”

“Hyesh!?”

I blurted out in a high-pitched voice. When I turned around, Katsuragi Minami looked completely puzzled.

“Aren’t you going to do it?”

“What!?”

“The assignment, for the student council.”

Caught off guard, I exaggeratedly responded, “Y-yes, of course!” and rushed to my study desk. I sat down on the chair and as my PC booted up, I hid my face with both hands.

—What do I do?

Although I know she didn’t come here thinking about that stuff or something of that reason. If I don’t complete the assignment, I’ll be kicked out of the student council, so it’s not her intention to disturb my work.

But then she was definitely hoping for something more. That I am absolutely sure about.

And now that I know that fact, what do I do really.

…There nothing I can do about it. She wasn’t taking such attitude nor was she putting them into words. I have no choice but to keep pretending that I’m unaware of her inner tempting voice.

But still, being left to brood over it alone, I’m starting to feel a little annoyed over it now.

“In case of today, I won’t be giving you any instructions nor help or so. I’ll only speak up when your concentration wavers or your hands stop. Is that okay?”

When I didn’t respond back, Katsuragi Minami frowned.

“What’s wrong? …Ah, I won’t keep watching over your work, so no need to worry about that.”

Katsuragi Minami took a paperback out of her shoulder bag.

Still, as I continued to remain silent, she looked at me with a face that seemed to question.

“Saiga-kun?”

“You, um, came here to help me achieve the assignment for me, right?”

It’s my own fault for feeling restless over her. She’s not at fault; she’s just having thoughts which is just about normal for anyone of her age.

However, her straightforward affection really makes me irritated.

I want to find out why she fell for me in the first place; otherwise, I’ll have to endure this itchy-ness alone forever.

That’s just unfair.

I want Katsuragi Minami to also feel embarrassed or flustered too.

Fortunately, I’m in a situation where I can ask her directly now.

I stood up and approached her. I knelt on the floor and brought my face close.

Thirty centimeters in front of me, Katsuragi Minami had her eyes wide open.

“Do you really have no other reasons or something like that?”

It might have felt a sudden question and unnatural question, but this power of mine can’t read everything in my head as an open book. I need to guide them to think about the answer, just like an interrogation.

Sure enough, I was able to hear her inner thoughts right away.

‘W–why, what’s the rush…?’

She put on a composed expression, but upon closer inspection, her cheeks were faintly flushed pink. Even the subtlest changes, given when combined with my ability, could be read as genuine feelings.

This feeling of superiority made me bolder.

“After all, we’ve only started talking a few days ago, right? Even though it’s for getting me into the student council, you’ve taken such good care of me until now, moreover you came to my room on your own discretion.”

If I reached out, I could touch her, I was so close to her. Her white cheeks, smooth neck, silky hair, and other parts of her as well.

“The reasons why you need me, there other reasons as well, am I correct?”

At that moment, the warmth around her seemed to cool immediately.

“…As I thought, anyone would get suspicious. Suddenly barging in like this, though I did have some, well, just a little bit of expectation. But…”

Katsuragi Minami corrected her demeanour.

She looked straight at me, not averting her eyes.

She looked so honest that in fact, I felt a bit scared instead.

“I don’t know with what intention did you ask this question, but I’m here to assist you. No more, no less.”

‘Today, that’s not the purpose.’

“I’ll definitely have you become my secretary. Because my student council needs you.”

‘Till I don’t make her understand just how amazing Ko-kun is, I won’t be satisfied.’

Her inner voice exposed a fierce rivalry towards Saeki.

I couldn’t help but think of Katsuragi Minami pouting her cheeks while saying that.

“—Fu, fufu.”

“W-Why are you laughing at that?”

Being pointed out by her, I hastily covered my mouth.

“Nope, sorry… President, I think I was misunderstanding something. I’m sorry for asking something weird earlier.”

“Is that so. Well then, please, continue with your work.”

I stood up and turned my back to her. Although, even then, I could still hear her inner voice.

‘There’s no need to rush. If we gradually get along better with each other, the desired future will surely arrive.’

That’s quite the confidence. Maybe she even made simulations that would definitely lead all routes to marriage. I wonder if her plan is called something like – A complete guide to achieve Kou-kun plan.

Once again, I realized just how much of an amazing person fell for me. I kind of want to know the reason behind her affection for me even more now.

But for now, I decided to focus on the task.

Since, it looks true that she really values my abilities after all.