Her Royal Highness's Perspective

I, Ao Kizuki, was currently working part-time at this convenience store. A daughter of a large conglomerate, and known as the School's Princess, you might wonder why I was here.

The reason was simple. My parents wanted me to experience independence. So, here I was, working and living in my own apartment nearby. It wasn't something I hated, though. This kind of experience was quite nice.

Still, I wouldn't deny the exhaustion. It was incredibly tiring. After school, I had a shift at the convenience store at least five times a week. It was only part-time, so the schedule was demanding.

I chose this specific store because I was certain no one from my school would ever see me here. I had thoroughly investigated both this place and my apartment. Confident in my findings, I picked this location, believing it offered complete anonymity.

I still didn't want my schoolmates to know I was working. Not because I was embarrassed to be a rich girl working a job. I could just easily explain my parents' reasoning. But if they found out, this place would definitely become famous because of me. I couldn't even bear to imagine my friends and admirers flocking here in a convenience store because of me. 

I'm not being too confident about myself, that's just how famous I am. The Sakurasawa High School is that big and has that much many students.

Until now, I had worked without encountering any problems, nor had I run into any classmates or anyone from my school. But then... the unexpected happened. I guess... I miscalculated everything?

There he was, standing in front of me. Not just someone from my school, but my classmate.

His name was Yoshino Hoshikawa, an average high school student, definitely. Yet, despite being just average, he possessed a kind face. Sometimes I thought he might be fun to be with, but he always kept to himself, sitting in the corner of the room near the window, always alone.

We had never really interacted. Or had we?

Yes, there was one time. I had borrowed a pencil from him. That was our only interaction. That's how far apart our worlds had been until this moment. I saw no possibility of us ever talking in the future, or anything that would lead to it. Though I'm an optimistic girl, I did wish he would open up to the class sometimes. He was someone I was curious about, precisely because he was always so quiet.

But now... here he was, in front of the counter where I worked.

「Wha—What are you doing here... Kizuki-san?」 He asked, clearly curious about why I was working.

Shocked by the situation, I replied,「Eh...? Hoshikawa-kun... right?」

「Yup, Hoshikawa here.」

「Eh?」

「Hmm?」

Ehh? What was going on? I miscalculated, right? Right?!

Then... I exploded.「Ehhhhhhh??!!!」

Had I really made a mistake? Had I miscalculated?!

Anxious, I hurriedly checked out the book he handed me. I wanted to talk to him afterward, but... he ran away right after paying!

Ughhhh... Why was this happening?!

I was sure there was a high possibility that everyone at school would know I was working by tomorrow. I was definitely done for.

Of course, I couldn't let that happen. With newfound determination, I decided to go to school tomorrow much earlier than usual.

The next day came. I don't think I even slept, my mind racing with what to do. But fixing my problem now was more important. I was quite tired, but I absolutely needed to go early so I could wait for Hoshikawa-kun and talk to him.

I quickly prepared myself. Brushed my teeth, put on my uniform, and ate breakfast. I did it all in a short span. I had no time to waste. I absolutely couldn't let him tell anyone about it.

Afterward, I ran toward the school as if my life depended on it.

Not long after, I arrived. It was quite a nice morning, I'd say. Not many students yet. The perfect time for talking to him.

But after an hour, he still wasn't there. I thought maybe he was already in the classroom... Then, I thought it was over. Maybe he had spread the news to my classmates, and soon, perhaps the whole school.

I was ready to walk to the classroom when... my eyes noticed someone. It was him, coming from the gate. To reassure myself it was really him, I squinted my eyes, wondering if it was Hoshikawa-kun or if I was just hallucinating.

But... thank goodness, it really was Hoshikawa-kun!

Not long after, he noticed me too. That was my best opportunity to talk to him. However...

「Ao! There you are! You're quite early today, aren't you?」My best friend, Kiyo, along with some other friends, greeted me.

「Yeah, Kiyo...」I was dispirited. I couldn't just run to him now and talk. They'd be suspicious.

Concerned, Kiyo asked,「What's up with you? Not feeling well? You have big eye bags right now.」

To deny her guesses, I replied cheerfully, trying to disguise myself.「No, what are you saying, Kiyo? Hahahaha... I just did something last night, so I didn't get enough sleep. I'm fine, really, so don't worry.」

「Well, if you say so! Let's go then!」

There, the opportunity to talk to Hoshikawa-kun was gone... But I still hadn't given up on talking to him and making sure he wouldn't share it with others.

With that, the moment we entered the classroom, my eyes were on Hoshikawa-kun most of the time, making sure he wouldn't do anything. Thankfully, nothing happened yet.

But then lunch break came. Hoshikawa-kun, as if avoiding me, rushed toward the classroom door and was nowhere to be found.

「What's wrong with Hoshikawa-kun? Is he alright?」My friend Kiyo said. It was understandable she'd be surprised when someone ran like that. It's not like someone was going to kill him, right?

I just laughed at my friend's remark, barely suppressing the urge to also run and find him as fast as possible. Another opportunity was gone... Haaahhh....

But I still thought this was a great day. Up until this lunch break, there was no news about me working. I decided then that I would definitely talk to him after class...

However... Class ended, and he ran away again! From me, I was sure!

To catch up to him, I said my goodbyes to my friends as quickly as possible.

「Guys, and Kiyo! Sorry, I won't be going with you today either! I have something else to do, so, yeah, I'll definitely make it up to you guys!」I clasped my hands together in apology.

After that, I exited the classroom and walked until I reached the school gate. The moment I reached the gate, I ran as fast as I could, doing my best to find him. There, just as I anticipated, at the intersection I always saw on my way to work, he was there. He was surely on his usual path, looking tired as if he had run a whole mile from school.

To make sure he wouldn't run again, I grabbed his shoulder as tightly as I could. Though I was sure I wasn't grabbing him tightly enough to prevent his escape, I was tired from all that running.

Shocked that someone was holding his shoulder, he screamed.

「KYAAAAA!!!!」

「Hahh... Hahhh... Whe-where... do you think you're going, huh?」

I took a deep breath and looked into his eyes to say the words I wanted to say.

「I just want to talk to you, okay?! You've been making me chase you since earlier, I'm so tired! Haaah....」

To confirm my motive, he asked,「You... just want to talk to me?」

「Yeah, don't worry, I don't have a shift at the convenience store today. That's why... Hoshikawa-kun...」

「Yes? Kizuki-san?!」

I took a deep breath and...

「Let me talk to you about what you saw yesterday!」

Then, he answered in a hilarious way...「Yes, will do, Kizuki-sama!」

Why "Kizuki-sama"? He was quite funny... Hahahaha.

But at least I had him now. That's all that mattered at this moment.

After that, we talked in a family restaurant, where I was absolutely sure no one I knew would see us. I was determined to talk to him about everything: why I was working, my circumstances, and that I wanted him not to tell others about it.

And then... it was easily settled.

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

But of course, I didn't know him well, so I asked something that might have been hurtful.

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

With a shocked face, he shook his head in disagreement and replied,「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?」

I guess my initial thought about him was right after all.

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

After that... he asked me something hilarious again...

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

HAHAHAHA. What was with him? He'd been hilarious since earlier. He was too tense.

To reassure him, I just said,「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.」

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

Oh yeah, I had been squinting my eyes earlier this morning... I should tell him about it.

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

「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.」

He really was a funny guy. That was my opinion of him. He wasn't a boring person to be with, I could say.

Not long after, he asked me why I was working and all that, and of course, I answered him, telling him about my current circumstances and why I was working. It was to be expected that he would ask. After I told him all of it, he said something I guess I didn't like...

「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.」

There, I flicked him. He was quite the insensitive guy, I thought.

Afterward, he apologized to me, and soon, we reached the conclusion of our conversation.

To end our interaction, he said,「Well then, I shall take my leave now, Kizuki-san.」

Though, as he turned to leave, I tugged the hem of his blazer. I definitely wasn't letting go of this chance to know more about him.

There, I told him to wait and took my phone from my bag. I opened the app called "Lime" and presented him my contact information.

「Won't you exchange contacts with me?」I said.

Confused, Hoshikawa-kun seemed hesitant for a moment, but in the end, he took out his phone from his pocket and presented his contact information in his Lime.

We successfully exchanged contacts with each other at last. I guess that was that then!

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

「Yeah... See ya.」

I waved my hand to him as if to say goodbye before I eventually sat down again to stay for some time.

It was quite funny that we had an interaction this way. But I guess it wasn't wrong to create an opportunity to talk to him now.

And from there, a possibility I had been hoping for opened up the chance for me to talk to Hoshikawa-kun, whom I thought I'd never talk to.

And also... here, it began. The sudden change in both our lives, a turn neither of us expected. The sudden change that would bring a surprising story in the near future for both of us.