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 16

Chapter 16: The Princess who foresaw everything.

My parents curiously watched me as I flinched embarassingly. I felt crushed in many ways.

“Tell me the truth.”

Minami-san spoke with a firm tone.

Probably, I couldn’t deceive her with a poor excuse. She would see right through me.

I hesitated for a few seconds but eventually gave in.

“…I don’t think it’s right for only me to be spoiled. No matter how many times Minami-san permits it, I don’t like the idea of having it easy while everyone else is struggling.”

Minami-san blinked quietly.

I came to hear her inner thoughts.

[‘Haaah, I figured it was something like that. Even though I went through all the trouble, making you the photographer so as to keep you away from everyone.’]

“Eh?”

“What do you mean by, ‘Eh’?”

I quickly shook my head, saying, “It’s nothing.”

Being appointed as the photographer did feel somewhat abrupt, but it was actually Minami-san doing that considering my health in her own way.

Yet, I ignored her feelings. I deserved to be scolded.

“Takaki-kun, you are misunderstanding something here. I’m not spoiling you or letting you take it easy. I’m just telling you not to overdo it. We can’t have you feeling unwell like during the entrance ceremony of your time after all.”

I felt a slight shock. I looked up again at Minami-san straight in the eyes seriously this time.

“You knew?”

“I told you that before right, that I looked into the student council members profiles quite closely.”

Now that I think about it, that’s about right, she did say that. She had seen through everything.

I sighed and scratched the back of my neck. Since she was concerned about me, I couldn’t just stubbornly insist, especially since I was starting to feel unwell even now, making her point actually valid.

“Sorry for acting on my own. I’ll go to the photography spot right away.”

“Good.”

Minami-san put her hands on her hips and snorted. Her small frame being all puffed up actually made her look cute instead.

“Also, Takaki-kun, promise me you won’t do anything not instructed by me in the future.”

“Eh, that’s a bit impossible.”

“ImPossible? And Why is that exactly?”

Minami-san’s gaze grew sharper again. So, I quickly explained.

“I think it’s important to help out the members or try out new ideas. That also helps the members to grow as well. I don’t mean to criticize your methods, but just doing what I’m told by Minami-san can is a bit boring, or make me dull, you know what I mean right?”

She stared at me silently.

With my ability inactive, I couldn’t even read her thoughts anymore.

Moreover, I wondered, maybe if she had seen through my other motive as well?

———–That I wanted to act alone so that I could overcome my traumatic response.

After a moment of time, Minami-san nodded. “Very well.”

“Of course, I’ll respect your autonomy. So, please first consult me first. Occasionally, I might approve.”

“Isn’t that practically saying you won’t? By the way, how rare is that ‘occasionally’?”

“About as often as winning the first prize in a year-end lottery.”

“Isn’t that just 0.00001%! Raise the odds a bit more!”

“Then, as often as drawing an SSR quality?”

“Why are you suddenly use a Gacha analogy for reference now…”

Isn’t her vocabulary glitching?

But if it’s as rare as getting a rare character, that’d be around 0.2% I guess. It’s a significant increase from the lottery though, so I guess it’s a concession. Or is it really?

I felt like I was falling into Minami-san’s trap somehow though.

“Haaah. For the timebeing, at least try to look at those in positive light.”

“I’ll try.”

“Or rather, Minami-san, you also spend time in playing games too?”

“What are you talking about? Aren’t you the one who—”

Right at that time, Minami-san stopped mid-sentence. She abruptly turned away and said, “Then next time,” curtly, then hurried back to the student council president’s seat.

What was that about right now? I didn’t quite get it, but I at least got her to agree on not to completely stop me from taking autonomous actions.

I doubt someone as overprotective as her would easily allow it, but with this, I could try different things as well.

***

The entrance ceremony proceeded smoothly, and it was time for the welcome speech by the current students. Minami-san walked up to the stage. She stood tall, walking confidently to the place in front of the microphone.

She bowed once and began speaking slowly.

“The cherry blossoms also have stopped raining down, and the season of sprouting leaves is now upon us. Newly enrolled students, I congratulate you on your admission to this academy. On behalf of the current students, I extend a warm welcome to you all.”

Her voice echoed all throughout the gymnasium. Despite facing a large crowd of new students, she remained composed and dignified without a flinch in her face, as her beautiful and flawless voice naturally drew everyone’s attention.

(You’re really amazing… you know?)

As I aimed my camera at Minami-san, I once again recognized the extraordinariness she is.

The content of her speech was common. Yet, just with the way she would deliver it, captivated people all so readily. Even in practice sessions with the student council, we found ourselves mesmerized by her many times.

Even though she might be an addition of a bit pervert, with a bit of a natural airhead, and with the overprotective nature to an extreme level, but her talent was undeniably exceptional. Her worth was higher than anyone else’s, and surely even in future, she would continue to captivate and charm many more people surrounding her.

But that fact made me anxious.

I felt that Minami-san being interested in me was in other way, a waste of her time altogether.

If her feelings are not monopolize around me, then with that time, she might be able to build more meaningful relationships for the future. She might find something even more important and worthwhile for her future.

While accompanying her in the practice of her speech, these thoughts kept swirling in my mind.

As I pressed the shutter button and moved to the corner of the gym to get a frontal shot of her; right at that time, I felt like our eyes met through the viewfinder momentarily.

I lowered the camera and watched her giving the speech.

(At first, I joined in to find out why you liked me, but now… I got a completely different reason that led me to continue my stay instead.)

Feeling anxious, thinking about what to do.

In the end, I concluded that I needed to change.

I still didn’t know why she fell for me, but I was sure her feelings wouldn’t change that easily. She was someone whose thoughts and mental strength were far beyond ordinary, enough to forcibly recruit me into the student council and meticulously plan her strategies to keep me in.

She would probably continue to support and protect me, stand by my side, no matter how many mistakes I made. She would stand by me as my ally.

If that continued, as Saeki had pointed out her favoritism, others would resent it eventually. The student council’s reputation would also begin to suffer. Disappointment in Minami-san would spread all out the surroundings.

Just thinking about such a future was already terrifying.

I wouldn’t let that ever happen.

Because of my trauma, I can’t let her taint her student council history, and tarnish the precious time she is weaving in for the future, is something that can’t be allowed to happen in any way in future

As originally intended, I would find out the mystery surrounding Minami-san and the reason why she came to like me in one way or another.

But aside from that, I would take full responsibility for my role as a secretary.

No matter what truth awaited, I would give my all for her.

I vowed in front of her as she stood on the stage.

Her speech ended, with a thunderous applause following in.

The never-smiling princess, was as expected, didn’t smile at all.