After my entrance from the destroyed wooden ceiling, I faced the girl called Anjie.

“So you’re the girl who made my friend into your personal slave...” I whispered and closed my eyelids. Then, I removed my glasses and after I placed it inside my breast pocket, I opened my eyes.

*swoosh*

An intense surge of aura vibrated the air, and it made Anjie, Mel, and Dory fell from their knees in fear.

“Wh... what’s up... with this guy...” Anjie muttered and quivered out of fear.

After that, I walked towards Anjie. Every step of mine shook the ground.

“Try to get near any of us again and I’ll chase you until the depths of Hell,” I continued with a glare. “And don’t even consider letting me caught you. Because I’ll pluck every strand of your hair one by one, remove your nails and shove venomous insects to your mouth.”

“Eeeek!” Anjie reacted, and a puddle of liquid appeared on her crotch.

“B-Boss! Let’s get out of here!” both Dory and Mel reacted in a frightened look and carried Anjie away from the room.

It looks like my intimidation somehow worked. Thanks to Pixie’s realistic illusions, I showed up in the most epic way possible and even scare the heck out of them.

“Thanks, Pixie,” I whispered to Pixie wh was inside my breast pocket.

“You’re welcome but... it’s now congested here,” Pixie complained, with a forced smile as she hugged my glasses.

“Wh-what’s up with that? You’re scary!” Hanna reacted in a frightened face while she protected her body with her arms.

“I’m only kidding. Like I can do those cruel things in reality,” I retorted in a serious face and wore my glasses back.

When Hanna heard that, she let out a deep sigh and smiled after.

“Well, I’m happy that everything is fine now,” Hanna said and looked at Cindy who was standing near us. She was dumb-founded as she looked at the two of us. “Hey, Cindy? Are you fine there?”

“Cindy?” I called, worried.

“Maybe she got scared from those torture methods you mentioned earlier,” Hanna commented with an alarmed look.

“Don’t even joke about that!”

Then, tears welled up in Cindy’s eyes, and she jumped towards Hanna in a hug.

“Thank you, Hanna... and sorry for making you worry,” Cindy whispered. She buried her face in Hanna’s voluptuous chest and followed, “I’m glad that you’re my friend.”

“Hey, hey. I didn’t do much, you know. In fact, you’re the one who did pretty much everything. I’m very touched earlier when you slap that tall girl for my sake,” Hanna said with a smile and hugged Cindy back. “So thank you too, Cindy.”

After that exchange, both of them looked at each other and smiled.

“The two of you have something to talk about now, right?” Hanna asked to us.

“That’s...” Cindy reacted with a blushed face.

“That’s why I’ll now take my leave. See you tomorrow, Cindy,” Hanna said with a smirk and walked away.

“Thank you again, Hanna. See you tomorrow,” Cindy waved with a smile.

Then, before Hanna exited the door, she gave me a smile and a thumb up.

‘I’ll leave the rest to you.’ I think that’s what she meant from her sign.

With the two of us left alone in the room, we only stood up there in silence. Then, Cindy looked at me with a longing expression, tears welled up in her eyes once again. Unable to hold it any longer, she went before me and hugged me tightly.

“C-Cindy?” I reacted, stunned while my arms were up in the air, confused where to put them.

“I... missed you, Prince,” she followed in a sad tone.

What am I supposed to say at a time like this? I’m now lost for words! I bet she can even hear my rapid heartbeat!

“And... I’m so sorry for leaving you in the dark.”

After I perceived that, I immediately made a smile. I then placed an arm around her waist and a hand on the back of her head. The floral scent that I missed for days filled my senses. It made me relaxed in an instant.

“I’m sorry too... for being very nosy,” I replied and stroke her head gently.

Because of my response, she shook her head sideways.

“The truth is, I got scared of you hating me. Because I’ve turned into a bad girl,” she continued with a regretful smile.

“Jeez. Do you think I will hate you so because of that?”

“Now that I realized it... I think you won’t...” she replied and nuzzled lightly on my chest.

“But you did great there. You solved your problem on your own like what you’ve said to me,” I said with a smile.

“I don’t want to involve you... that’s all,” she continued, downcast.

“Well, after I saw how you fight that Anjie earlier, I realized that it was for the best to let you handle it. It’s because helping others and fulfilling promises is up to you. So your answer should’ve come from you, not me... and that’s what happened for real back then.”

“But I’m still happy that you showed up to help me. I think ‘that’ moment was when I needed your help for real,” Cindy muttered with a smile. “So thank you, Prince.”

“Well, I only want to help you as a friend. You can’t expect me to stand there and watch until everything is over, you know.”

“Then, I’ll remember that from now on.”

We drew away from each other and smiled.

“Can I... hold your hand until we reach the bus stop?” Cindy asked with a smile yet flushed cheeks.

“Sure,” I said and grabbed her hand gently.

After that, we walked forward while holding hands along the way.

──◈─▣─♕─▣─◈──

The next day, Friday, Cindy and I finally ate lunch together once again on the same bench at the library’s rooftop.

“This is very delicious~” I reacted in happiness as I chow down the fried chicken.

“I’m glad you like it,” Cindy said with a smile as she watched me eat after.

After we finished our food, we went to the topic of the Ball for tomorrow.

“Now that I remember it, I still don’t know the theme for the Ball this year,” I said to Cindy.

“Really?” Cindy reacted, a little surprised. “It’s ‘Fairy Tale’.”

“I see. My father has lots of weird clothes at home, so I’ll pick some random clothing to wear there. How about you? Do you have something to wear already?”

“Not yet. I guess we’ll buy our gowns with my sisters tonight,” Cindy replied with a smile.

“Wait... you have sisters?”

“Yes. They’re both studying here. My younger sister Anna is one year below me and my older sister Rizelle is one year above me.”

Rizelle... and Anna? You’re kidding me...

“Prince? Why are you making a very shocked face?” Cindy questioned me, clueless.

“So those two who confessed their feelings to you are both her sisters?” Pixie, who was inside my breast pocket, reacted in an astounded expression.

Not yet. Maybe they only share the same names.

“Is it perhaps the daughter of LLA Electronics Rizelle... and the chubby girl Anna?” I asked Cindy in nervousness.

“Yup. That’s them. Do you know them in person?”

So it’s them after all!

“Well... it’s because...” I muttered, confused about how to explain it to Cindy. “You see... I already met those two. I don’t know that they’re your sisters, though.”

“Really?” Cindy said with a smile. “How do you know them?”

So with that, I informed her about everything that happened to me when she got involved with Anjie and the others. I told her about the fact that Rizelle confessed to me and approached me every lunchtime. And also the fact that Anna confessed to me yesterday before I went to the old school building.

After Cindy learned the story, she looked at the sky with solemn eyes.

“I see. So they like you...”

Wait... this reaction...

“B-but... I’m planning to give them my answer this day, after the class,” I followed in a little nervous tone. “And I’m gonna reject the two of them.”

When she heard that, Cindy became baffled and immediately returned her look to me.

“But why?”

“What do you mean why?”

“I mean, Anna is cute and Rizelle is beautiful and even famous throughout our school.”

That’s right. Anna is... is she cute? I don’t know but as for Rizelle, she is very attractive and I’m sure lots of people will agree to that. But I don’t like them. After saving Arian, I thought I already know what liking someone means. But after meeting Cindy, I got confused once again. I like both Arian and Cindy. But what’s the difference between like and love? I shouldn’t think about it right now. The important part is...

“I have... someone I like already,” I confessed and looked straight into Cindy’s eyes.

“Huh?” she whispered, stunned. And after a few seconds, her eyes shone.

“Cindy?” I called after I saw her expression I didn’t expect she’ll make.

“You have someone you like? Who? Do I know her? Can you tell me who it is?” she asked in excitement.

Wait a minute! That’s not the reaction I’m expecting to see! Isn’t she supposed to blush and realize that she might be that person?

“It’s...” I muttered in nervousness.

“It’s...?” Cindy repeated, very excited to hear the next word.

“...a secret,” I continued and averted my gaze with a red face.

“Why? That’s unfair. You’re gonna keep it a secret from me?” she asked and pouted right after.

I can’t say it! I mean, what if she replied ‘but I only see you as a friend’ to me? It’s because of ‘that’ reaction of hers. Am I only disillusioning myself that she likes me too?

“But I won’t force you to say it. It’s an embarrassing topic, right?” Cindy followed with a warm smile.

“No,” I immediately interrupted with sudden seriousness, making Cindy a little surprised. “I will tell you who she is after the ball tomorrow.”

She then gave me a smile and answered, “I’ll be waiting then.”

──◈─▣─♕─▣─◈──

After the class, I went towards the library’s rooftop. As I ascended the stairs, I saw a cute, petite girl in our school’s uniform while she stood along the stairs. She was there with a proud smile, her hands placed on each side of her waist.

“I’ve been waiting for you, prince.”

“Uhmm... who are you?” I asked with a puzzled expression.

“At least remember me, idiot!” she retorted in anger. “Well, I can’t blame you. It’s because I am now different from my previous appearance.”

“That voice... don’t tell me...” I reacted, flabbergasted.

When she saw my reaction, she smirked and said, “So you finally remembered me.”

“Beatrice?” I asked and pointed a finger towards her.

“Who is that Beatrice? I don’t know anyone with that name! And that’s not my name, to begin with!” she yelled, her anger returning once again.

Well, I only spouted a random name there.

“Can you introduce yourself then? I can’t remember you, missy,” I suggested, still confused.

“I’m Anna! The girl that confessed to you!”

Anna...you mean...

“That fat girl?” I reacted in a shocked face.

“Don’t call me fat!”

“Well, sorry about that. I mean, you look so different now. Of course, I won’t recognize you,” I explained, still somewhat unconvinced. “But how come you became so thin in only one day? Are you sure you’re that Anna?”

“Don’t underestimate the power of money and science,” she answered with a proud smile.

So she became skinny for real. This girl is… crazy!

“I’ll give you my answer,” I said with sudden seriousness.

She then blushed and squirmed, her gaze not fixed to me anymore.

“D-don’t... look at me... that intensely...”

“I’m sorry, but I can’t date you,” I continued in a swift reply.

She snapped and retorted, “You liar! I already got skinny, right?”

“I’m not a liar! I said that I will only think about it, you know! And I considered it for real!”

“Forget it! I hate you after all!” she exclaimed in anger with tears welled up in her eyes. She descended the stairs and disappeared from my sight.

“So is ‘science’ some kind of magic?” Pixie asked in curiosity as she floated right next to me.

“Well, I guess it is now,” I replied and looked at my destination, around ten steps away from me. I then ascended the staircase and reached the door. I opened it and saw a beautiful girl in a school uniform. She was standing at the rooftop with her long hair being swayed by the zephyr.

“Rizelle...” I whispered and went before her.

She gave me a smile and said, “So... what’s your answer?”

The sound of the wind was the only one we could hear at the place. As I searched for the words that I should say, I finally steeled my resolve.

“I might have fallen for you if I haven’t met the girl that I already like,” I answered in seriousness. “So I can’t return your feelings anymore. Sorry.”

When Rizelle perceived my answer, she looked at me in silence for five seconds. Then, she gave me a sad smile, and her hair got swayed by the wind.

“So I got rejected,” she muttered with her eyes closed without a shed of tear. She only made her usual gentle smile.

After that, she walked away from me. But before she reached the exit door, she said, “Have fun with the girl you like in the ball tomorrow.”

Rizelle...

“Yeah,” I replied with a smile.