The Lone Princess and the Donkey’s Dash

The new seating arrangement was set by the left-side window. Shiori, Meiyu, and Yueko formed the front block, Yueko on the left, Shiori in the middle, and Meiyu on the right.

Directly behind them sat the boys. Reikou on the left, Ryuuto in the middle, and Kiyoshi on the right.

“Kami-sama (O God) why am I stuck between these two monsters?” Ryuuto whispered in despair.

“Did you say something, Ryuuto-san?” Kiyoshi asked, dropping a heavy, muscular hand onto Ryuuto’s shoulder.

“H-Hiee! Nothing! Just talking to myself!”

Just then, Yinglan-sensei reentered the room and nodded. “Good. Now, take out your homework from yesterday.”

“WHAT?! WHAT HOMEWORK?!”

Reikou panicked. ‘It must have been assigned when Ryuuto and I were standing in the hallway!’ He turned to Ryuuto, his eyes narrowing into a terrifying, "Donkey-Kick" glare. “Did you... do it?”

“U-Un. I did,” Ryuuto squeaked, trembling.

“HOW?! WHEN?!” Reikou loomed over him like a ringmaster.

“Shiori-chan told me!” Ryuuto grabbed Kiyoshi’s sleeve. “Kiyoshi-san, save me from this dangerous man!”

“Oi, oi, Reikou-san, cool down,” Kiyoshi laughed. “Baby Ryuuto-chan is scared!”

Reikou clutched his head and slumped onto his desk in total defeat.

“Shion-kun,” Yinglan-sensei demanded. “Where is your work?”

“S-Sir... the truth is... I forgot.”

“Hmm... don’t worry, my dear student,” Yinglan-sensei said in an unnervingly sweet voice. “You’ll simply stay after school and finish it. You aren’t allowed to leave until every page is complete. Waka-teru-na? (You understand, right?)”

“But—!”

“No ‘buts’!”

AFTER SCHOOL

The final bell rang with a mocking Ding-Dong-Dang-Dong. Students rushed toward the gates, their laughter fading into the distance. Reikou sat alone in the silent classroom.

“Okay, bye-bye,” Meiyu said softly as she stood up.

“Bye, Reikou-kun! See you tomorrow!” Yueko teased, waving as she walked out with Meiyu.

“I feel truly sad for you,” Ryuuto added.

“Me too,” Shiori sighed. “Good luck!”

“I have to get to the pitch for practice. Big match coming up!” Kiyoshi flashed his high-wattage, toothy grin and a thumbs-up. “Ganbatte!”

Reikou watched them leave, his soul practically exiting his body. ‘Tch. They’re just saying that. It’s just the formality of being friends,’ he thought bitterly. He rested his cheek on his hand and began to write.

Vibrate Vibrate

His phone buzzed. A message from Yueko?

FROM: Yueko-san

SUBJECT: EMERGENCY!!

Reikou! After we left, I overheard some boys talking about revenge on Meiyu-chan. It’s that guy who proposed to her! He might try something... I think she’s in danger! I saw one of his friends following her toward the playground near the street! HURRY!

Reikou’s blood ran cold. ‘That boy, Shiun Zhenya... he warned her after the slap!’

“Wait... where is Akihiro-san? Is she alone?!” There was no time to think. He bolted toward the door.

The Donkey-Sprint

“I don’t care about the homework! I’M COMING, MEIYU-SAN!!”

He roared as he sprinted down the hallway. Yinglan-sensei was just coming around the corner to check on him when a blur of school uniform blasted past him.

“SHION-SAN?! WHERE ARE YOU GOING?!”

Reikou didn’t even look back. He reached the school gate, but it was already locked for the evening. Without breaking stride, he planted a foot on the brick and vaulted over the 2-meter wall in one fluid, desperate motion.

Yinglan-sensei watched from the window, stunned. “Nani...?! He’s so fast! Wait... he’s late every day... has he been training his legs this whole time just to run to school?!”

On a quiet street near the park, Meiyu Sazanami walked peacefully. For the first time, she felt free.

‘Akihiro-san was called away for a last-minute emergency meeting regarding the Q3 reports,’ she thought. ‘This is the only time I haven't been under surveillance. I just wanted five minutes of a normal life...’

“Oi! Meiyu!”

She froze. She turned to see three boys blocking her path, led by a dark-eyed Shiun Zhenya.

“What are you doing here, Shiun-kun?” she asked, her voice maintaining its icy mask.

“You made a mistake, princess. You humiliated me in front of everyone. That’s a crisis for my family's image,” Shiun spat, stepping closer. “Now, I’m going to return the favor.”

Meiyu gripped her bag strap, her knuckles white. “Don’t be foolish. My security monitors this area.”

Shiun laughed, a nasty, jagged sound. “Your handler isn’t here. You’re alone, aren't you? We made sure of that.”

Meiyu’s heart hammered against her ribs. He was right. For the first time in her life, the "Wall of Rules" was gone and so was her protection.

[End of Chapter 7]