The Courting Prince

The morning had just risen, and so did Kei. She started to prepare herself for school just like always. But what she didn’t expect was the voice calling out for her, “Kei, someone’s waiting for you,” the voice of her mother called from below.

This was rare for her to do this, so Kei replied, “Yeah just wait a minute.” She quickly got ready as she rushed down; but when she got to the bottom of the stairs, she saw him sitting on the porch, the back of his long black hair facing her.

“Mom and Dad invited him to enter, but he insisted on staying outside,” Kei’s sister, Keiko, quietly remarked as she gave her sister a knowing look. “So~ you have someone picking you up now huh? He’s pretty cute too,” she taunted.

Kei’s face blushed slightly as she gave her sister a grumpy look, “I didn’t ask him to come by.” Kei walked closer to the boy, and when he heard her footsteps, Iscodaya turned around. And as their eyes met, he smiled, his eyes looking a lot more gentle than normal.

“Morning,” he uttered, his voice as smooth as honey.

The two sisters recoiled at the word, as Keiko turned to Kei, “That’s irrefutable evidence there,” she whispered as Kei grabbed her cheeks.

“Shut up, I think he’s doing it to play with me,” she whispered back before turning to Iscodaya, “What’s with the entrance? And how do you know where I live?” She asked, her tone entering a teasing one.

But as he heard this, Iscodaya’s smile grew, “I heard from Yusuke that no one picks you up, so I decided to keep you company.” Kei’s teasing offense fell down at Iscodaya’s genuine words. She then rushed to him and started to push him out.

“We’re going to school, bye Keiko,” Kei stammered as she left their house and closed the door. Keiko was left a bit confused at what had just happened. But a knowing smile came over her face as she noticed how red the boy’s ears were getting.

Outside, Iscodaya and Kei were just walking the route to school, “Good play Kousa, I guess you win the teasing battle for today,” Kei expressed, a little angry at the boy.

But what she didn’t expect was when Iscodaya stared at her with a questioning gaze, “What do you mean teasing?” He asked, causing Kei to give him a sharp glare.

“Okay, what’s happening this time? Why did your personality do a complete one-eighty?” The girl asked, almost in a begging manner. But yet again, Iscodaya surprised her as he smiled, closing his eyes.

“I can do whatever I want, and what I want to do right now is to walk with you,” yet again, Iscodaya being genuine was being too much for Kei. But as the two reached the place where Kei always gets her breakfast, Iscodaya stopped her. Wondering what he was doing, Iscodaya brought something out of his bag, “I heard from Yusuke that you get breakfast here. So I made this for you before going out.”

To Kei’s shock, Iscodaya brought out a sandwich. He gave it to her while she was stunned, “W-why?” She asked.

Iscodaya shrugged, “For you to save money, duh,” he explained as he went to the convenience store, “Can you wait for me? I have to go to the bathroom real quick.” As Iscodaya entered, Kei was left speechless.

“...Did he get replaced? He was low-key most of the time, but now it’s more apparent, AND HE’S SMILING!!” She yelled inside her mind as she got rid of the plastic wrap around the sandwich.

But inside the boy’s bathroom in the convenience store, Iscodaya was staring at himself in the mirror. His face was as red as a tomato, as he was telling himself to get back his composure.

Yusuke’s talk with Iscodaya really struck him, for if Kei really thought of herself that lowly that she wasn’t worthy of romance, then Iscodaya would let down his pride to do something someone of his position would never do.

A lot of years back, the whole world of Eon was surprised when the crown-princess of Phirines, Nairuga Kousa, married someone without a royal lineage, General Drano. Only royals marry royals, and it was further shocking to learn that it was Nairuga who courted Drano.

Their three sons eventually grew up to inherit their father’s reputation, never once did the three ever court. Daranya was courted many times, eventually marrying a very high-value Princess for the nation. Senodaya was courted many, many times, eventually becoming engaged to a very powerful nation’s crown Princess, and would become their King when she becomes Queen. Iscodaya was courted a few times, but never once did he accept or even reply to them.

But now, that line was broken, as Phirines’ second Prince, Iscodaya Kousa, was courting the human girl, Kei Inoue. The Prince washed his face and tried to get back his composure “C’mon Iscodaya, stop acting selfishly, it’s not about you, it’s about her.” When he finally got his composure back, he left the bathroom.

And as he left, the cold winter winds hitting his face, he saw Kei, eating his sandwich, her beauty causing him to warm up, “You finished?” She asked, leading Iscodaya to smile and nod.

“Yeah, thanks for waiting.” The two continued their walk, with Iscodaya talking a lot more than usual. But during one of their conversations, Iscodaya saw himself in a reflection. And as he did, he recalled many months back, when he was still new to Earth, and remembering how he looked and acted, to how he looked and acted now, really struck him hard.

But as the window went, and the only thing he could see was Kei, he smiled, for she really did change him for the better. But as he continued to look at her, he noticed something, “Wait, Kei… we’re, the same height.” The comment stopped Kei in her tracks.

“W-what!?” She recoiled, as she went closer to him, causing Iscodaya’s heart to skip a beat, “No way.” She put a hand on the top of her head, then slid it off to his. It touched the top of his head, “NO WAY!! It’s gotta be your shoes!” She stated.

When the two got to school, they asked Kaus to check their heights without shoes, “Oh, Iscodaya is one inch taller.” The news came to the shock of the friend group. Kei was devastated by the news, and as she looked at Iscodaya, that bright, smiley Iscodaya was gone, as in his eyes were ones of pure victory.

“You're almost seventeen right? I thought you would’ve stopped growing, but apparently not,” Yuuma remarked, as Iscodaya boasted about his body’s skill to go beyond. But as Kei sat on her chair, Iscodaya followed her.

She gave him the stinkeye as she saw his sly grin, “What? Are you going to make fun of me?” She asked. Iscodaya first looked around them, then, when no one was looking, touched Kei’s cheek.

“And why would I do that, my little Princess?” He taunted, causing Kei to get a bit irritated. But the two were suddenly interrupted as Yusuke came up behind them.

“Taking about Princesses,” he entered, causing Iscodaya to get a little flustered. “My father is holding an event for a European-like dance party, he told me I can get some of my friends to come with, you guys want to come?”

This came as a shocker to both Iscodaya and Kei, “Your father can do that?” the curious boy asked.

“Bro, I told you many times, my father is an event planner,” Yusuke replied, causing Iscodaya to get slightly embarrassed. But after Kei and Iscodaya said that they could go, Yusuke tapped Iscodaya’s shoulder, “I’m going to the bathroom real quick.”

Iscodaya immediately knew what this meant, “Yeah me too, let’s go.” As the two were out of the sightrange of Kei, Yusuke turned to Iscodaya.

“You know the reason why I said that right?” He stated, causing Iscodaya to nod, “Alright, it takes part seven at night, saturday two weeks from now, literally the next day after school ends, prepare yourself and learn how to dance and be all Princely.”

But after hearing that last sentence, Iscodaya confidently smiled, “You don’t have to worry about that.”