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 30

Chapter 30 : Princess is getting hit on by Grade grade students

(Is that for real…. Like seriously… Can she read minds as well…?)

There’s no concrete evidence, but the circumstances are suspiciously close to confirming it.

The moment reality hits me, a mix of agitation and confusion—something akin to panic—floods through me. Even though I’m the one who suspected that she can also read minds, my own mind is struggling with how can this be possible.

If this theory holds true, that she can also read minds, then has she been reading my internal thoughts all along?

Remembering, all those moments, and those embarrassing thoughts that went in my mind—

(Gyaaah! No, no, that’s not what I meant! Please! let me explain!)

I stop in my tracks, clutching my head.

This is bad. I don’t know with what kind of face can I even face her anymore. “Just laugh it off”? That’d make me look like some shameless pervert in return!

…Nope, no, wait, calm down, me. It’s still not confirmed yet. There could be many other reasons leading to her turning down my invitation.

Like, how she maybe creeped out by me suddenly asking to talk to her alone and bolted out. Or maybe she was just so grossed out that she started speaking in broken Japanese to cope!

(Both of those are awfulllllll!)

I shake my head vigorously. Just then, at the edge of my vision, I spot a boy standing alone, half-hidden in a grove of trees off the park’s jogging area/road.

(Nn? That kid…)

He’s wearing work gloves and holding a trash bag, which means he must be one of the Grade schoolers from the extracurricular activity.

Why is he by himself?

Curious, I watch him. He moves stealthily, and instead of joining the group, he hides in a blind spot and starts staring at the other kids walking ahead. He does not even pick up any trash. Just what’s he doing?

As Minami-san was busy with another kid, even she hadn’t noticed. Even the other members are occupied too.

No choice, then. I could use a moment to cool off anyway, guess I’ll talk to him.

I approach quietly to avoid startling him.

“Hey there.”

“!”

*Biku*

The boy jumps and turns around.

His young face, still carrying traces of childishness, has sharp eyes that regard me warily.

“Sorry for scaring you there. I’m one of the members of the Oomine North High student council.”

I introduce myself to ease his guard, but his expression only hardens.

“You’re too far from the group. Would you want to head back a little? If it’s hard to join in, I can stick together with you as well.”

“Don’t get in my way!”

The boy’s kick lands squarely on my achilles heel.

“—!?”

I couldn’t help but crouch in pain. As it’s just a grade school kid’s kick, so there’s not much strength in it, but the fact that he hit right on my achilles heel, was just that bad.

In that moment, the boy darts away.

“What, the heck, are you trying to pull…!”

‘That was a really close call. I was almost unable to keep watching.’

A voice echoes in my mind. Getting kicked got him close enough with me for my ability to activate.

From the voice alone, it’s clear he was deliberately watching the group from a distance.

‘Ah, there she is. Yeap, as I thought, Saeki’s the best. She’s so mature. Hoshino’s all timid and kinda annoying. But, Saeki’s got a really sharp personality, though… The top pick’s gotta be Katsuragi, but she seems really hard to win over.’

“Haah!?”

Forgetting the pain, I shoot to my feet.

Don’t tell me, he was checking out three high school girls for fun? A fifth grader?

Even after kicking me, that little brat—no, that cheeky little punk—hides in the shadows, ogling at the three high school girls.

This kid’s guilty as charged.

(Geez, kids these days are way too fast on getting addicted to horny stuff.)

As I chase after that boy to warn him about his actions, around the same moment, Minami-san notices him and starts approaching him as well.

She reaches and calls out to that boy before me. As I get closer, their conversation becomes audible.

“Come on, this is just so lame. I don’t wanna keep going.”

“It’s still part of your class, so let’s endure it.”

“Haaah. If there was some kind of reward, maybe I can try harder though.”

“A reward is it?”

He talks just like any classic delinquent-kid would, but he’s probably just saying random stuff to get Minami-san’s attention. Even now, he’s grinning like he’s enjoying himself.

Even if he’s a kid, I don’t want someone with ulterior motives to get near her. I need to step in fast.

(—Wait a minute. If she can hear his thoughts, she’d know his ulterior motives as well, right?)

Just when I suddenly got curious about how she’ll react to that, was when the boy’s voice cuts through.

“If you, Oneechan goes on a date with me for a whole day, I might put in effort in this as well.”

Haah?

Nope, no way, what is this child really blabbering about? There’s no way she’d take him seriously.

A mixed feeling of amusement and exasperation wells in me looking at his childishness, as I approach near them.

At the same time, Minami-san responds.

“Sure.”

“Haa?”

As a natural shock left out of my mouth, Minami-san turns around instantly startled. “Ko-Takaaki-kun…!”

She mutters in a panic, and suddenly steps behind the boy, sounding flustered. Her cheeks had a faint red blush to it.

Eh, just what’s with that reaction?

“For real!? You mean it!?”

“Y-yeah.”

Minami-san nods to the excited boy while sneaking glances at me.

The boy stands right between us, making it impossible for me to get close. It was as if she was keeping me at bay.

“Alright, this Sunday, then! The place—”

“Let’s talk about that later. First comes, trash picking.”

Grabbing that boy’s arm, Minami-san hurries off.

Is this what people feel when they talk about witnessing something unbelievable.

***

The cleanup event volunteering wraps up just as planned by noon. The student council members help dismantle tents and pack up, but the Grade schoolers are dismissed to go home.

Thus, I move quickly.

The boy I’m looking for is standing alone, away from others.

He turns around with a hunch, eyeing me suspiciously and frowning.

“What’s getting you, Oniisan?”

“You, are you seriously planning to go on a date with Minami-san?”

“Don’t call me ‘you.’ I’ve got a name—Adachi Yu.”

The boy named Adachi, says this provocatively.

Don’t get mad, me. Stay calm. I’m here to gauge how serious he is.

If he’s genuinely pursuing her, I have no right to stop him. But if he’s doing this frivolously, I’ll shut him down for Minami-san’s sake. That’s all. I’m definitely not getting jealous over a fifth grader.

“Look, you understand that she was just humoring you around like that, don’t you, Adachi-kun?”

“You came all the way just to say that? Are you her boyfriend?”

“…No.”

“Then you’ve got a crush on her huh. Haaah, getting jealous over a fifth grader? Really lame.”

Uooohhhh, I SO WANNA PUNCH A HOLE IN HIM!

No, don’t let him get on your nerves. I step forward, closing the distance to within 30 centimeters. Adachi flinches, but doesn’t worry, as I was not doing anything.

Just that, I am going to check his true intentions.

At that moment, a familiar voice calls out, “Adachi-kun.”

“About the promise from earlier——ah.”

Minami-san approaches me and pulls Adachi by her shoulders, hugging him.

“What are you trying to do?” seeing how her tone was laced with caution, I faltered.

Just then, Adachi’s shameless voice blares in my mind: ‘Whoa, so soft! She smells so nice, this chick.’

“Nope, just that, I was… getting a little concerned about what he said earlier.”

“That’s a promise just between us. It doesn’t concern you to the slightest.”

She said that out bluntly. She pointed that out sharply. Minami-san, of all people.

As I stand speechless, Adachi’s voice chimes in: ‘Oof, he got dumped.’

That cuts even deeper than before.

I’m shocked at myself, unable to get shocked that I can’t even muster anger.

‘Ahh, maybe I kinda did something really bad for this nii-san… But it’s just a trip to the university hospital, so maybe he’ll forgive me later?’

…Hospital?

I glance at Adachi. Maybe because of his enthusiasm, he looks slightly surprised.

Right then, a sweet scent tickles my nose.

“Worried?”

When I realizes, Minami-san was right next to me, whispering almost in my ear.

“Don’t worry about it. I’m just humoring the little kid for one day.”

‘A real date would only be with you, Ko-kun.’

As I froze solid. Minami-san spins away, her hair gently brushing my cheek.

The two walk off, leaving me behind.

But as my ability’s one-minute duration keeps on, Minami-san’s voice rings in my mind.

‘He was definitely getting jealous… Even though there’s no way I’d turn my eyes to a fifth grader, really, silly Ko-kun. Ahh, but the way he was getting all worried about me makes me soo happy, so sweet, so cute, I love you!’

I just have no idea what to feel anymore after this.

[Tl: She’s a master manipulator.]