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 12

Maybe I will lock 2 chapters for a coin after Chapter 20. Let’s see. ( ͡ᵔ ͜ʖ ͡ᵔ)

Chapter 12: The Princess Who decides to abuse her powers

“Arre… me?”

Katsuragi Minami slowly sat up, rubbing her eyes.

It wasn’t until she noticed the blanket draped over her that she began to feel flustered.

“Ah, s-sorry. I must have let my guard down.”

“It’s fine, really. You could’ve rested more if you wanted to.”

“I can’t do that. There’s still work to be done, right? I’ll make sure to stay alert this time.”

“Well, if you want that.”

I nodded about that and then stood up. As I moved to return to my desk, I could hear her inner thoughts—it was because we had been sitting side by side just a moment ago.

‘T–that was careless of me. If this goes on, I might lose his faith. I need to be stay upright.’

I almost chuckled. It was such a cute worry.

“I won’t think you’re incompetent just because you nodded off. In fact, you’ve been a big help today.”

“Eh… uh, yes. That’s, good to hear.”

Katsuragi Minami seemed very surprised. Perhaps because my words mirrored her own thoughts. It was a risky move to align my response with her thoughts, but from experience, this rarely caused issues.

I sat back in my chair. However, my ability is still going to continue for a minute.

‘He’s so kind, Ko-kun… He even went and gently covered me with this blanket. That’s why I like him. I love you, I love you a lot. I want to hug you from behind.’

My cheeks suddenly flushed more. Thank goodness, thanks to me attending to the PC, she couldn’t see my face for that reason.

“Hueh?! Wait, isn’t this Ko-kun’s blanket?! Being wrapped in a blanket that still holds his cells is practically the same as being wrapped together with him!”

…Un, it’s a relief she didn’t see my dumbfounded expression just now.

Glancing back discreetly, Katsuragi Minami seemed to act the same cool as usual while wrapping herself better in that blanket.

Her calm demeanor seemed slightly satisfied to me.

＊＊＊

Since it was after 7:00 PM,

As she had to follow her curfew, Katsuragi Minami headed home.

Since it was still dark along the way in March, I decided to walk her home. The two of us walked side by side along the quiet streets from the apartment building. I made sure to keep a distance of at least 30 centimeters.

“So your house is quite nearby was it?”

“It’s a bit far. So, I’ll take the bus from the nearby bus stop.”

“Then, I’ll see you off there.”

“Thank you. Also, about tomorrow, are you sure I’m not needed?”

“It’s alright. I’ve made quite good progress. I can manage the rest somehow now.”

I’m not telling a lie. The report was nearing completion. Also, when Katsuragi MInami comes to my house, my mom gets annoyingly excited. There was even a commotion when she was going back home.

“If you say so, I understand.”

Katsuragi Minami replied calmly. Her expression was also quite unmoved.

But her true feelings were probably different.

As I thought so, the road grew darker. The streetlights along the promenade were getting hidden by trees.

And she moved closer and closer, without me noticing it.

(“Ah…”)

My body reacted involuntarily, but I stopped my body from opening up distance she had already closed.

This dimly lit road was somewhat eerie, perhaps that made her feel a little uneasy.

‘Somehow, it feels a bit uncomfortable in this road.’

As I had expected. It was a distance where I could hear her inner thoughts, but I decided to endure it for her sake.

Glancing sideways, Katsuragi Minami was already reaching out her hands towards me.

‘If I only, just grab the edge here… That would also bother you, won’t it?’

She seemed to be debating inside on whether to grab the hem of my shirt or not. Probably worried about my illness, she is worried and trying to not let her hand towards me. She was trying to be considerate about my silly illness even at a time like this.

And yet, why did she make such bold assumptions during the day?

(…Nope, that’s not what I should thing, not now.)

She showed no expression on face, but one’s inner voice don’t lie.

Ignoring a girl, who is scared is a problem in itself as well.

“President, are you okay?”

At my question, Katsuragi Minami looked up to me in surprise.

“’Okay’? About what?”

“This road has had a bit of a weird atmosphere since long ago. So I just thought, girls might feel a little uneasy.”

“Nope… I’m fine.”

‘Was I just treated like a girl?! Yay…I’m shyo happi!’

A voice that can’t be even compared to the voice that came from her mouth, echoed in my head louder than anything else.

(…Is being treated like a girl, really that happy for her?)

It’s so strange. Even though she must have received such treatment many times from many people already.

‘I pretended to be strong in retort. But, I’m happy now.’

Katsuragi Minami had already withdrawn her hand. Despite her needlessness to pretend to be strong, she maintained her composure.

Still, it seemed unnatural for me to say anything more, so I walked with her at a distance that neither increased nor decreased.

Soon, the bus stop came into view. And in time, Katsuragi Minami’s thoughts also changed.

‘Right, I should tell him about now.’

“Um, Saiga-kun.”

When the two of them lined up at the bus stop, Katsuragi Minami casually called out to me.

“There’s something I’d like you to change soon.”

“Change? Change what?”

“The fact that you’re calling me President. I have a proper name given to me. It’s a bit much to be called by my title.”

“But the others also call you President too.”

‘Nn, you’re quite thick skull.’

“It’s part of having a smooth communication between us. After all, I call you Saiga-kun.”

“Well, yeah, that’s true, but…”

Uumu, somehow, she seems to try and forcibly move her relationship with me forward and fast.

She also said that she needed my abilities for inviting me to the student council, but that too may only be because of pursuing her love instead. However, if it were Katsuragi Minami, it shouldn’t be out of the ordinary that just by speaking with people normally, they would fall in love with her.

Don’t tell me, did she think by chance that it wouldn’t work with me.

Or maybe there’s a reason for her to hurry.

As I pondered, Katsuragi Minami looked at me with expecting eyes.

There was no choice, let’s follow the selfish request of our princess here.

“Well, then, Katsuragi-san.”

“I prefer being called Minami.”

‘I prefer being called Minami.’

(Oi, your inner feelings are leaking out.)

“As—as expected, calling each other by name is a bit.”

“Ok, then I’ll call you Takagi-kun as well.”

“Don’t you think your ‘Ok, then’ is being used wrong over here?”

‘Why won’t you realize already that I want you to call me by my name?’

“For the sake of having the student council have smooth and trustworthy communication with one another. I will also force others on this.”

“Don’t you think that’s an abuse of Presidential powers?”

‘You’re being so noisy and argumentative.’

“Don’t talk back and argue with me.”

While wearing a polite face and tone, she went on and threatened me huh.

Ehhhh, and even when I was confused, Katsuragi Minami looked straight at me with unwavering eyes. Inside her mind, there was ‘Minami!, Minami!, Minami!,’ marathon on asking me to call her by her name.

And, just then the bus came. The bus stopped at the bus stop and the door opened.

“The bus has coming.”

“I won’t get on until you call me by name.”

“So, now you’re being selfish?”

(“Yes, I am, but only for you.”)

Her inner mind’s voice spilled out taking me by surprise. Because of which, my body got immediately hot in return.

And despite even thinking about the inner turmoil going in me, Katsuragi Minami urged, “Please hurry up already, or we’ll miss the bus.”

Even the driver glanced back at us, ‘What are these kids doing at this time…’ clearly annoyed.

“Mi…”

“Hurry up, Ko-kun.”

“Minami…san.”

“Accepted.”

With a pyon(hop), Katsuragi Minami leaped onto the bus, and the doors closed. Looking back, she waved at me with a calm expression.

In a few moments, the bus started and slowly disappeared from view, I sighed deeply and slumped. Really, what was with that interaction? It’s not at the level of even exhausting anymore.

Is this what an everyday life for a secretary entails? Terrifying.

(For now, I should head home. I need a hot bath.)

As I started back along the path I came, a voice echoed in my mind.

‘It’s been a while, so it was fun.’

It was Minami’s voice in my head. It seemed my ability was still active.

(‘It’s been a while…?’)

What does she mean by that? Of course, I’ve never had any remembrance of hanging out with her before. But maybe she means it’s been a while since she had fun going up to someone else’s house or something like that.

The more I thought about it, the less important it seemed. I headed home.