Volume 2 Epilogue: Princess

It was a clear morning at Komorebi High, a school where tradition is met by modernity.

It’s been a few days since my last attendance, and I’m more surprised that none of my classmates, including Takamine-san, questioned the anomaly.

After stealing a sidelong glance at her in the front, I switched towards the window.

The school curtains drifted slowly, a cool breeze waiting for us outside.

All of my thoughts about the past events seem to be washed away by the classroom’s busy chatter, and I can feel the pressure of getting ready for the upcoming midterm exams.

Some of my classmates are just grouped together, talking about their planned getaways while others fumbled with their phones.

Majority, studying—mumbling formulas under their breaths.

So I split my mathematics book wide open, immersing myself in the impossible calculations in between.

However, Akito mumbled words just beside me, breaking my own spell.

“Ah,” he sighs in exasperation. “I am already missing Saori-chan, buddy.”

I sighed, glancing over briefly. He still wore a bandage on one cheek, while I have one on my neck.

I suffered mild burns after Ayase overheated a few days prior.

“So you didn’t miss me?”

“Well—that’s a different case. Saori-chan is something…special.”

“So what the hell are you cooking here? Finally falling for a 3D girl?”

Akito’s lips curved into a mischievous grin. “Hehe, that's a secret.”

You honestly suck at times I'm curious.

“Haven’t you checked the group chat?” I hissed, rolling my eyes away. “Saori said she’s just recovering.”

“Still.” he argues, his eyes also pinned in the same arithmetic book in his hands. “Six days is already too much for our friendship. It feels weird not having her around.”

Hearing that, I slightly lowered the book, glancing over the empty seat in front of us. I admit that it still pains me remembering how Saori looked back then, but as long as I’m here, every attempt to harm them won’t go unpunished.

“It will never happen again.” I simply muttered.

“Yeah, we’ll never allow that.”

I just shot him a soft glance and a bitter smile before opening the book and sinking on it again.

“You’re really the type of guy that is hard to unlock.” he follows up. “But apart from Saori-chan and the brawl that happened last week, I still had so many things in mind that really bugs me. About girls.”

Akito, being the oblivious loudmouth he was, continued.

“They’re weird.” he boldly remarked, making me pause.

“Weird?” I frowned.

Akito nodded, eyes glinting with mischief.

“That Takamine-san keeps stealing glances at you.”

I froze, turning a page halfway.

“…What?”

“Dude, I swear I caught her looking at you, like, multiple times recently. And not just once—a lot.” Akito wiggled his eyebrows.

I shook my head.

Maybe it's all about other reasons, not the one we are imagining. Takamine-san isn’t the type of girl who lets her intentions surface.

“You’re overthinking it.” I responded. “Cut it off.”

“I am not!” Akito insisted. “She’s totally into you!”

I snapped my book close, heaving a sharp exhale.

“Seriously,” I started, turning to him. “Am I the one that can’t move forward, or you? Like damn, I already got dumped a month ago.”

“But what about her stolen glances? About the strange atmosphere between you two? Her sudden show of concern? You don't even talk prior.”

Concern.

The word swirled in my head.

After all the blabbers he did, he finally said something that made sense. That made me ponder.

Right, Takamine-san and I didn't even talk before. But there are plenty of reasons why I confessed in the first place.

She's beautiful, socially active, a magnet of lovers, the top of school hierarchy—but she dismissed anyone that attempted to go straight through her heart. I am no exception.

Maybe I just needed something that could turn my life around back then.

But before I could answer him, the classroom door slid open.

The chatter immediately died down.

Every student turned their heads as the familiar figure of Saori stepped inside, her injuries still faintly noticeable. Bandages wrapped around her fingers, and a small bruise still lingered on her cheek.

There was a split second of silence—then:

“Saori!”

A few girls rushed toward her, relief and concern flashing in their eyes. Akito was already on his feet, grinning wide.

“You’re finally back!” he beamed, clapping her shoulder. “Took you long enough.”

Saori winced slightly at the contact but rolled her eyes. “It’s not like I wanted to be gone, idiot.”

After them, Saori's gaze wandered, probably searching for me.

She smiled as she met mine, and I gave a small nod in return.

“Welcome back.” I whispered.

Maybe she won't hear it, but it doesn't matter anymore.

The classroom was already in chaos even in the presence of our female homeroom teacher, Yumi-san. She teaches history.

A lenient person, as expected from a guidance council member. And that's why the classroom loved her so much, because they can feel her humanity, unlike Inoue-san who's a LUNA Sentinel.

But before anyone could launch into further rumble, a voice cuts in.

“Uhum,” Yumi-san clears her throat. “Okay class, settle down.”

The loud hustle died down immediately. Noticing this, she continued.

“I’m glad that we welcomed back our dear Saori-chan with warmth.” she muttered, gesturing towards Saori. “But before we begin our class, I have another announcement.”

The students slowly returned to their seats, the tension of exams momentarily forgotten.

Yumi-san clasped her hands together.

“We have a transfer student.”

A wave of shock rippled through the room.

“Eh?!” Akito exclaims, mouth left agape.

Murmurs of mixed opinions resonated in the room.

“A transfer student? But it’s already near the end of the first term!”

“Who the hell transfers this late? Final exams are coming!”

I turned to the windows, opening my arithmetic book again.

Butterflies crept into my stomach, but I dismissed the feeling.

I have plenty of options back then, but this seems to be the best course of action I can take.

“Come in, Miyamoto-kun.”

The room fell into an expectant hush.

Then—

She stepped inside. I lifted my glance.

In the door, there's a beauty unlike anything they’d ever seen.

That familiar soft pink hair cascading down like silk, the delicate features and her warm eyes that scanned the room.

She carried herself with an elegant air, yet there was something unreadable about her—like she didn’t entirely belong.

She was more than this. A different level.

The class erupted.

“Whoa!”

“She’s gorgeous!”

“Wait, wait, I need to make sure I’m breathing right now—”

More and more praises piled up, making Yumi-san chuckle.

“Right, right, Class 3-2 has always been like this.” she remarks. “I hope you can find the best seat, Miyamoto-kun. This classroom surely had their likings on you.”

Akito, however, wasn’t looking at the girl.

He was looking at me.

And what he saw made his jaw drop.

“What?” I questioned with a frown.

He clicks his tongue, elated. “You don't even seem surprised at all.”

Because I wasn’t surprised at all.

“Am I supposed to be?”

“Man,” he pauses, rubbing the back of his head. “Did you already learn of this transfer?”

I nod, my lips breaking into a smile.

“Because that's a friend of mine from the States.”

Hearing that, Akito froze. Maybe his interest wasn't on Saori’s return anymore.

It was about our new classmate and her relationship with me.

“Eh?”

His face was perfectly normal, until it twisted in surprise.

“What the heck!” he exclaims, turning the classroom to our position.

I sighed in resignation, putting down the book and turning to the girl standing at the front of the class.

Our eyes met, and she offered that familiar smile that I returned with mine.

Because there, standing before everyone—

Was Ayase.