Chapter 21 – “That Wasn’t in the Script

The applause rang through the gymnasium like thunder, echoing off the walls and bouncing off the cardboard towers that doubled as the royal castle. The cultural festival audience was on its feet, cheering wildly for Class 2-B’s performance of “The Princess and the Brave Prince.”

Backstage, however, Riko and Daichi were frozen, cheeks blazing crimson, unable to meet each other’s eyes. The “final scene” kiss—the one Daichi hadn’t been able to stop himself from turning real—replayed in their minds with cinematic clarity.

Riko’s hands shot out, shoving at Daichi’s chest. “That wasn’t in the script, idiot!” she shouted, her voice a mix of embarrassment and indignation.

Daichi blinked at her, voice calm but teasing. “I didn’t hear you complaining…”

Riko’s face heated even more. “I wasn’t complaining! I—ugh! You just… you just…” Her words died off as her mind betrayed her with images of his lips, the way his hands had held her, the unsteady heartbeat that somehow matched hers.

Mina, ever the opportunist, appeared at their side, holding her phone like a trophy. “Finally! Real romance on stage! I knew you two had it in you!”

Riko spun on her heel, pointing at Mina. “Mina! Shut up! Delete that video—NOW!”

“Too late,” Mina giggled, tapping her phone. “It’s already going viral among the class group chat. You two are trending, Princess and Prince!”

From the corner, Rei leaned against a stack of props, smirking and applauding slowly. “Bravo. Very bold, Daichi. Riko… you handled that quite well for a princess.”

Riko’s jaw nearly hit the floor. “Rei! Stop cheering him on! You’re supposed to be the rival!”

Rei’s smirk only widened. “A rival, yes. But also a fan of quality drama.”

Daichi groaned, rubbing the back of his neck. “I really didn’t mean for it to go that far…”

Riko’s arms crossed tightly over her chest. “You did! You totally did!” She avoided his eyes, which were wide and guilty.

The backstage chaos didn’t help. Classmates gossiped in whispers and giggles. Even the teachers were teasing now. The sports coach leaned over to a friend, shaking his head. “That’s the couple that really saves the kingdom, huh?”

Riko pressed a hand to her forehead. “I can’t… I can’t even look at anyone right now.”

Daichi sighed. “I’m sorry. I—”

Before he could finish, Riko’s lips twitched into a half-smile she tried desperately to hide. “Y-you’re ridiculous, you know that?” she muttered, though the warmth in her chest betrayed her words.

Daichi noticed the blush creeping onto her ears and the way her fingers nervously fiddled with her skirt. She… she’s not mad, not really, he realized. She’s… smiling, kind of.

Mina, sensing the subtle breakthrough, clapped her hands loudly. “Ooooh! Did you feel that, people? Real romance blossoming in Class 2-B!”

“MINA!” Riko groaned, wishing the floor would swallow her whole.

Meanwhile, Rei rolled his eyes and turned away, muttering, “Some things never change… but that was entertaining.”

Daichi stepped closer to Riko, hesitating. His voice was soft, almost vulnerable. “I… I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to make you embarrassed…”

Riko’s heart skipped. She wanted to scold him, to push him away—but a small part of her couldn’t stop the warmth spreading through her chest. “I… I didn’t hate it,” she admitted quietly, almost to herself.

Daichi blinked. His eyes softened. “You… didn’t?”

She shook her head, twisting a strand of hair nervously. “No… I mean… maybe I did. A little. But don’t let it go to your head.”

Daichi’s lips twitched into a small, genuine smile. “Noted. I’ll try not to let it—”

“You will let it go to your head!” Riko interrupted, elbowing him lightly. “That’s your problem, Prince Moriyama!”

He chuckled, a low sound that made Riko’s heart flutter even more. “Maybe it’s a problem I’m willing to keep.”

The room fell into a brief, comfortable silence, broken only by Mina whispering to her friends: “They’re so obvious. I can’t even handle this.”

Riko finally looked at Daichi, really looked at him. The boy she had called a friend, a teammate, even a nuisance at times—he was something more now. Her chest tightened with a realization she hadn’t been ready for: their friendship was turning into something more, something she wasn’t sure she could hide anymore.

Daichi, for his part, realized the same. The barriers between them had crumbled, and he had no idea how to rebuild them—or if he even wanted to.

Mina’s phone dinged with a notification, dragging them back to reality. Riko groaned. “Ugh. The world doesn’t have to know everything.”

Daichi laughed softly. “Nope. But… maybe they saw something we were too shy to admit ourselves.”

Riko swallowed, a faint smile tugging at her lips. “Yeah…”

Her gaze drifted to the now-empty stage, memories of the stolen kiss vivid in her mind. The walls that separated their playful teasing and growing feelings were gone.

There was no pretending anymore.

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> “There’s no pretending anymore… is there?”