The Circumstance of the School's Princess, Ao Kizuki

「Well, sit down now… Just relax.」

As she spoke, I took the seat across from her. But... Relax? I didn't think that was possible. I was nervous as hell, my mind racing, trying to decipher what was going on in her head. Here I was, in a family restaurant, with Ao Kizuki, the School's Princess. She’d dragged me here after chasing me down, all for a talk… about yesterday.

My only hope was that she wouldn't try to silence me for discovering her secret: that she was working part-time at that convenience store.

「What's up? You seem to be looking so pale? Are you okay?」

How the hell am I going to be okay when I have no idea what you're thinking?!

Of course, I kept that thought to myself. 「Haha… You're imagining things. I'm okay…」

「Well, you don't need to worry, it's not like I'm going to take your life.」

I desperately hoped she meant that.

「So yeah, let me start. About you seeing me working yesterday.」

「Yeah?」 I nodded, prompting her to continue.

「Well… the reason I wanted to talk to you, I'll be straight with you. I'm not planning to let anyone know I'm working part-time. So… Hoshikawa-kun… I want you to keep it a secret between the both of us.」

「Oh… I see. Well, that's settled then. Don't worry, if you say so, no one will know about it. Rest assured.」

It wasn't like our classmates would believe me anyway if I told them. That was my sad reality as a background character. *sobs*

「Really? You won't ask for anything? Some things…? You won't blackmail me?!」

What was this girl even talking about? Why would I blackmail someone like her, the daughter of a major conglomerate? I mean, I could, but I'm just not that kind of person.

I shook my hands in disagreement. 「That's impossible, don't think of me that way, Kizuki-san. Despite just being a background character, I'm quite a nice and kind person, you know?」

「Sorry for suspecting you like that, Hoshikawa-kun.」

It was fine. She didn't know anything about me, so her feelings were valid. At least now she knew who I really was.

「But you won't kill me now, right, Kizuki-san?」

「Fufu… Why the hell would I kill you? I'm not that kind of person, even if I am a rich girl. You're quite funny.」

There she was, laughing at my remark. Like, why wouldn't I suspect you when you were glaring at me like you were ready to take my life?!

「It's because the moment I arrived at school, you were glaring like you were ready to take my life though?!」

「AHAHAHAH, you're funny… I never intended to glare at you like that. Sorry then. HAHAHAHAHA.」

She was sorry, but still laughing? Quite rude. But I guess that's just part of her outgoing nature, one of the aspects that made her so well-known at our school.

「Well… never mind that, Kizuki-san… I'm just glad you only wanted to say that. That reassures me as well.」

「Yeah… I'm glad you're reassured now that I'm not going to kill you.」

But still, one question lingered in my mind. Maybe, as a part of me keeping this secret, I could ask her why she was working.

So, I asked. 「Before we end this, Kizuki-san… May I ask the reason why you're working? Sorry for asking.」

「Well, don't worry. I expected you'd be curious. So, don't worry, I'll tell you.」

Then, she explained her circumstances. Her family hadn't gone bankrupt. It was simply that her parents wanted her to work to experience what it felt like to be independent. In fact, she was also currently living alone in an apartment. She even mentioned that she chose that specific convenience store because, according to her research, no one from our school usually went in that direction.

「But yeah, I didn't expect you to be there, Hoshikawa-kun. You could say, I miscalculated.」

「Does that mean you need to find a new workplace now?」

「No. I mean, you're the only one who knows, and you said you'd be keeping it to yourself, so I'll leave it at that.」

That seemed fair. It would be quite a hassle if she had to find another workplace just because of me.

「And there, that's the circumstance I'm currently in. I don't hate it though. I love it. I feel like I'm an adult now.」

I could relate. I was living alone too, and it was nice. I wasn't working, but I also felt like an adult. Of course, in reality, we were still far from being adults. We were still in our second year of high school.

「Well, that's good to hear, Kizuki-san. I thought someone like you would hate it.」

「That's a wrong thought there, Hoshikawa-kun! Just because I was born into a wealthy family doesn't mean I hate living the same way as an average citizen.」

Then, a flick to my forehead.

「Ouch! What was that for, Kizuki-san?!」

「Because you insulted me. Don't do that again, Hoshikawa-kun! Hmph.」

That was a mistake. I knew it. So I apologized. 「Sorry, Kizuki-san.」

「Well, that's fine. As long as you won't do that again.」

With that, my worries vanished, and her worries about her job seemed to vanish too. We had reached a conclusion.

I guess it was time for me to leave. There was nothing else to do. This would be a one-time interaction. Definitely. That was the gap between us. So yeah, this ends here.

「Well then, I shall take my leave now, Kizuki-san.」

As I turned to leave, she tugged at the hem of my blazer. 「Wait a minute, Hoshikawa-kun.」

What does she mean, 'wait'?

I turned back. She pulled out her phone from her bag and…

「Won't you exchange contacts with me?」

Me? Exchanging contacts with the princess? That's news. 

Did I deserve to have her contact now? Whatever. Surely, she just wanted to make sure I wouldn't spread the news about her working. It wasn't like we'd talk at school after this.

So, I took out my phone, opened the app called Lime, and we exchanged contacts.

「That's settled then! Well then, thank you for your time, Hoshikawa-kun. See you at school!」

「Yeah… See ya.」

I waved as I turned to leave and headed home.

But, 'see you at school,' huh?

There's no way I'd be talking to her at school the next time we saw each other. That was just impossible. I knew it. That was being realistic.

But yeah... even though I said that... I never knew that the interaction we had today will act as the biggest stone toward our new story together in the near future. A new story, neither I, nor she, expected.