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 32

Chapter 32 : Princess Bugged

After the commotion, we ended up at what looked like a small, privately-owned café. Fortunately, it was nearly empty, so we could sit in a spot where no one could overhear us.

Across the table, Adachi boy sat with a sullen expression, while Minami-san, lips pressed into a thin line, maintaining her usual impassive face.

I seized the moment as the waiter left us glasses of water.

“I’ll cut to the chase. Why were you two arguing out there?”

“Before that, I’d like you to explain why were you even there, Takaaki-kun.”

Minami-san’s retort was sharp and hit like a rock.

“Well, about that, since it’s Sunday, so… I was just out there hanging out.”

“You sure he wasn’t stalking you.” Adachi boy interjected grumpily.

“I mean, come on, what are the odds of running into us like that, and at that time? You were freaking out about me asking her on a date yesterday, as well. You were looking for her from the very start itself, admit it.”

“Is that true?”

It seems Adachi boy is clearly holding a grudge from earlier.

And since it’s true, I can’t argue back. I should’ve come up with a better excuse before butting in.

*Jiii

As I sit there, sweating bullets, Minami-san, who’d been glaring at me, lets out a sigh.

“That was careless of me. I didn’t account for your actions.”

“…What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Anyway, thank you for helping me earlier. I appreciate it. But from here on out, this is between me and him. So, please take your leave.”

Her blatant retort comes with a dismissive tone. Even Adachi boy looked confused by her words.

A question—why?—mixes with a sick feeling in my gut.

“Let me ask you straight-up. Tell me what’s going on and what you’re thinking, Minami-san.”

“Why should I?”

“Because I’m worried.”

“Thank you for your concern. But if you really care about me, you’ll go home without asking anything.”

That’s not becoming an answer. Her stubborn attitude only amplifies my unease.

It’s clear as day that Minami-san was hiding something from everyone. But even if I don’t take her suspicious behaviour into account, there’s another reason I can’t just back off.

(Minami-san didn’t say anything when she saw me touch Adachi boy. As I thought, she must’ve seen through my lie about having a fear of contact.)

I had forgotten to keep up my act, but it looks like even she overlooked it in her own panic.

Either way, if she knows I don’t have a fear of contact and is still this overprotective, there’s got to be another reason.

What is Minami-san really hiding? Moreover, what’s her goal in the end?

I will find out no matter what.

Above all, I don’t want to leave Minami-san just like this.

“Am I in the way if I stay?”

“That’s not what I mean. It’s just… things won’t work out for his sake, and for yours as well.”

Minami-san glances at Adachi boy as she speaks. He frowns.

I lean forward, resting my elbows on the table.

“Explain it properly. Why is it that I can’t be here?”

“I’ll tell you another day.”

“You always say that, but you never do. You’re planning to dodge me again this time, aren’t you?”

Minami-san doesn’t respond. She just stares at me, her eyes wavering.

Adachi boy starts fidgeting as the tension between us spikes, but I don’t have the luxury to pay him attention.

“You said it’s for my sake, but you can’t explain that either?”

“I’m sorry. But trust me, I don’t have any ill intentions or desire to hurt you at all.”

Her sincere voice also carried a sense of urgency. She must have genuinely cared about me—I know that from her past behavior as well. Her inner voice doesn’t lie as well. This stubbornness, this determination to keep things hidden, stems from her feelings for me.

That’s exactly why it’s making me so frustrated as well.

“…I see. Well, after all, I am getting involved in other people’s affairs as well. There’s probably some complicated stuff going around this kid as well.”

In my words, disappointment flashes in Adachi boy’s eyes. Maybe he was hoping I’d convince her or take her away instead.

Minami-san gently places a hand on Adachi boy’s shoulder.

“I’m glad you understood. Then please leave the rest to—”

“But if you’re planning to get involved in that mess, I’m not leaving you alone. I’m not going anywhere unless you talk.”

Minami-san’s eyes widen, as she follows with an exasperated tone,

“Are you some disobedient child?”

“Right back at you, you’re the one being stubborn here. Why are you so hard headed?”

“That’s… nevermind, just leave!”

“No way.”

“Leave.”

“Nope.”

“Leave.”

“Don’t want to.”

“Leave!”

“Not happening.”

As we trade barbs—something shifts in her.

Minami-san’s brows shoot up, her cheeks puff out, and she glares at me with a low “Muuu!”

That Never-smiling Princess was showing anger.

“Just why won’t you just listen to me? Do you hate me so much that you can’t even do what I ask from you…!”

Of all the options you had, is that really the only option you had with you.

I’ve hit the limit to my patience.

“Isn’t the reason exactly the opposite.”

Why can’t you see that I feel the same way about you?

As I’m worried, I don’t want you to get hurt, I want to be by your side—just why can’t you understand that?

It’s just that simple, overriding reason—why can’t you still get it?

“It’s all because I love you, that I just can’t leave you alone right now!”

Minami-san, raw with anger, freezes.

Right then, was when it hit me.

I might have just blurted out something really insane.

But as this flood of emotions demands an outlet, everything starts spilling out of me unchecked.

“I’m anxious that you might be caught up in something bad, I want to help if you’re in trouble, I don’t want you to deal with it alone, that is why I’m not going anywhere, I’ll do anything just to know you are safe, so stopping me is pointless!”

I bite my tongue at the end.

Adachi boy, who’d been stunned by that, turns away, stifling her laughter.

What an embarrassing scene. If there is a hole nearby, I want to crawl into it right away.

But Minami-san doesn’t move a muscle.

Her anger vanishes, leaving her just frozen on spot with a blank expression.

Her mouth slowly falls and opens, as her pale skin gets coloured from pink to red.

“E-E-Ehh–Wha-Wha-What, uh, um, um, um, K-K-K-Ko-Ko–Takaaki-kun, wh-wh-wh-why-th-th-th-that-ba-ba-ba-ba”

Minami-san’s bugged.

Unable to control her emotions, she had her speech stumbling, her hands flailing wildly, and her eyes swirling. Without a doubt, she has completely lost her cool.

Looking at her state suddenly made the reality sink into me as well, with my whole body feel like boiling. “I–Iyaa, today’s really hot, isn’t it!” I blurt out nonsensically, chugging the water in my glass in one go and choking on it.

“…Umm, then with this, I’ll take my–.”

Adachi boy stands from his seat.

“Wait right there, don’t leave, we’re not done with the talk yet!” right when I go and stop him from leaving.

Just then, my shirt sleeve gets pulled from the side.

A voice echoes in my mind.

‘Haaah, mou. It’s my loss, Ko-kun.’

I freeze up, as Adachi boy eyes me suspiciously.

Like a rusty puppet, I turn and meet her eye to eye.

‘You’re just as stubborn as ever… I understand now. I’ll talk it through to you, about everything. And, about my secret as well.’

The Princess Who Never Smiles, and still expressionless, spoke directly into my mind.