https://ncode.syosetu.com/n9531ga/85/
Episode 2: Jealous Rose
In the past, I always thought that if girls hang out and laugh together, you could consider them to be good friends. That’s how it always looked like it worked with the boys. They laugh and mess around together a little bit, and all of the sudden they’re calling each other brothers. If ever there was someone they didn’t get along with, they’d act completely differently from how they act with their friends. It’s a really easy to understand idea.
However, I feel like everyone knows that it is impossible to tell how close two girls are, or whether they even really like each other for that matter, just by looking at them. It’s a huge pain.
Although it’s still on the level of being cute for now, I feel like that idea is coming out in full force between Saki and Ranko. Sure they smile at each other and belong to the same friend group, yet they’re able to just casually belittle one another….maybe that’s a little too harsh. They do however take regular opportunities to throw some veiled sarcasm at each other. I can understand if it stays at that level, and I can deal with it.
“But….really?”
“Something wrong, Yuri-chan?”
I started mumbling my thoughts out loud, drawing the attention of the girl sitting next to me, Saki. She had on her recognizable princess smile, something that to this day makes my heart flutter like a pair of butterfly wings when I see it.
“J-Just thinking this is a bit embarrassing.”
“Eh? Isn’t it customary for a princess to be seated next to a prince?”
“Yeah, sure, but….”
I couldn’t deny her words, especially when they came accompanied by her cutesy voice and adorable hand gestures. Cuteness can get you through a lot in life. At least, it can when it comes to me. The setting is a little silly, but in Saki’s mind, I’m meant to play the role of prince while she is my princess. It’s something I can live with. Rather, I actually really enjoy it.
“Then there’s nothing to worry about~”
“I mean, not exactly…..”
“Then what is the problem?”
Everything about Saki from her scent to the tone of her voice to each charming gesture she makes threatens to enrapture me, but I stay strong and focus on the matter at hand.
“Because there’s being next to someone, and then there’s being, right, there! Normally sitting right next to each other doesn’t mean sitting in the exact same chair!”
“I don’t recall that ever being a rule though?”1
“Then you’re remembering wrong!”
Saki was clearly acting ignorant on purpose and smiled simply without paying much worry to any of my complaints.
“The person next to you, is, me. Didn’t we promise to be friends and spend the rest of our lives together?”
“I don’t remember anything of the sort!”
Saki’s imagination has been making some large leaps lately. The very idea of someone being a ‘prince’ or ‘princess’ is inherently fantastical, so even jokes like this can be written off as some playful exaggeration—is the line of thinking I believe she’s trying to trick me with. The truth is that I’ve overheard more than one girl talk about our class’s “Sweet-Smiling Prince” and “Silver Princess”. …..Something I’m actually incredibly happy about if I’m honest.
But the problem is that Saki has started acting extremely clingy, like she’s trying to show me off. We’re right on the heels of yesterday, when a war of declaration between her and her love rival Ranko was made, and a decisive rift in their relationship formed.
The suspicious look I’ve noticed Ranko sending our way time and again is physically painful. And I’m afraid Saki is going to naturally build up some enemies the way she keeps proudly laughing out of her nose when she sees people looking at us. She’s the natural nemesis of anyone trying to build a harem.
For the record, school hasn’t ended, and we aren’t even on our lunch break. This is how she’s acting during the normal passing period between classes. Acting like this is only going to cause us stand out, yet when our other classmates do occasionally glance at us, the only thing I really ever hear them say is some variation of the words, “That’s sweet.” Isn’t everyone’s tolerance for yuri a little too high here? Or is this really just how all rich, all-girls schools are?
“I don’t know anything about any prince or princess, but will you stop trying to hog Yuriha? You’re being a hinderance.”
After grunting and sighing this whole time, Ranko finally stepped in. This girl tries so hard to be cool, but ever since she declared she would “act serious,” her image has been on a constant downhill trajectory…. I want her to become even more of a cool beauty.
“Now~ now~, it is a simple joke. Simple”
“You mean forcing Yuriha to go along with your whims?”
“Hm~, but we’re both enjoying this you know? Yuri-chan is the one who first brought up being a prince after all. Isn’t that right~?”
“Oh, yeah”
“Yuriha did….herself?”
“Yep. Yuri-chan just said as much didn’t she~?”
“I see…..”
Saki clung to my arm as Ranko looked down on us with a questioning look. Her overall presence felt like it exuded a touch of regret. She looked cool, but I wonder if she’s feeling jealous.
During this whole exchange, Honoka was standing a short distance away, unable to join in. Eventually she seemed to have sensed something, and after a passing, “I’m heading to the bathroom,” she took Yuzuriha out of the room. It’s gotta mean something if even Honoka doesn’t think she should get involved. The only question is whether that’s a good sign or a bad one.
However it was sign enough for Saki. As soon as the other girls were gone, Saki’s smile twisted and grew more provocative.
“Well, this is simply how it is. In the future, I hope you will avoid interfering just because you’re feeling jealous Ms. Ice Queen~”
“Ice….?”
“Isn’t it good~? You call yourself cool after all. You also try so hard to avoid showing your emotions. Doesn’t it fit~?”
“…..True. I did act like that until now, but….”
Ranko took a deep breath, and after composing herself, strongly stared back into Saki’s eyes.
“That won’t be true any longer. I’ll be more proactive from now on.”
“Oh my~. I’ll look forward to seeing what you try.”
“Hmph”
Ranko rose to her feet annoyed and then headed for the door.
“Ah, Saki…..excuse me.”
“Eh? Ah~”
I figured it would be for the best if I chased after Ranko rather than just sitting there and continue to do nothing. I gently pushed aside a reluctant Saki who was begging to be pampered more and joined Ranko before she could leave the room. I tried asking her where she was headed off to, but she was so caught off guard by me that she couldn’t give me anything more than a dumb, “Umm….” She really is a good, honest person at heart.
“Hmph….she’s the one who interrupted….you could at least comfort me a little….”
I’d like to think that it was just my imagination that Saki muttered something worrying behind me.
♠
“So you’re fine with all of ‘that’? It seems like it’d be annoying when it goes so far.”
“Not at all. Honestly, as long as Saki is having fun, I’m happy too.”
“I see”
It felt like Ranko had known exactly how I would’ve answered, so her response was short and cold. I could tell from her eyes though that she was feeling disappointed.
We had moved into an empty classroom next door to our own. We were just leaning against the wall in front of the door, but for some reason, this is just the spot people like to use when they’re looking to be alone for a minute.
“So Saki….um. When will she end this pseudo-couple play she is doing?”
“You mean the prince and princess thing? Hmm. As long as Saki is into it….I don’t think she’ll ever give up on it, even for just appearances sake.”
“That’s the same as saying it will carry on in perpetuity….”
Ranko frowned. She still looked cool, but her dissatisfaction was plain to see. I couldn’t stop myself from smiling at the sight of it though. It’s nice knowing at the very least that I was able to draw out her true feelings.
“Does our relationship bother you that much Ranko?”
On second thought, I probably shouldn’t have asked that. I’m not ready for her to confess to me yet. My intuition is telling me though that, for now at least, I can still get away with this much.
“W-Well, I can’t really explain it. I want us to get along, but for some reason, when I see the two of you so close, it bothers me…. I can’t think of….a logical way to describe it.”
Perhaps it’s a sign of the conflicting emotions swirling around in her. Her eyelashes lowered, and her voice was quiet and broken.
“But….”
Her soft-spoken voice echoed in the empty, dimly lit classroom. Her voice started, hesitated, stopped, and started again several times over before she was able to express her honest feelings.
“I hate it.”
The true feelings she stored deep in her heart.
Her expression was sincere. I could tell how seriously she was taking all of this. Which means things are going well. Jealousy deepens love. She just needs to desire me more and more.
Taking those feelings, I chose what I thought would be the best response.
“But it’s completely irrelevant to Ranko who I decide to play prince or princess with right?”
A cold statement of truth, as if I’m deliberately trying to provoke her.
That truth is the fact that Ranko has no say in any of my relationships—that would naturally change if she were to confess, but I’ve managed to avoid that development for now.
My words caused Ranko’s voice to fall.
“….irrelevant?”
Her eyes were filled with a mixture of anger and sadness. The rose who is always supposed to be calm and noble now stared at me with the cold flames of jealousy burning inside her.
“So it’s….unrelated to me?”
“Well yeah. That is, unless we’re bothering you.”
Thinking about my words for a second, Ranko’s eyes widened.
“I see….you’re right”
As if it were as easy as sheathing away a cold knife, Ranko was able to compose herself and return to her usual cool expression. And yet, deep inside her heart, a mixture of complex emotions continued to simmer.
My words might’ve been harsh, but she isn’t the type to be disheartened by something like that. However, I could tell that at least on some level, she wants to be more than just a friend with me. If I can keep going like this, I can shake up her feelings and prevent things from falling into a rut.
Ranko and Saki are both smart. They aren’t going to start an actual fight when they know how hard I’ve worked to make everyone get along. They must have at least vaguely sensed that I don’t want things to turn ugly. I can handle a cold war on the surface, but I want their passion for me to blaze in a civil one.
“Come on, let’s head back.”
“Ok.”
I held out my hand, and Ranko took it without any hesitation.
There was a slight tremble, yet the strength in her grip was so intense it hurt.
They’re making a pun here with Yuriha yelling “Mayoko” which means right beside, and Saki pretends she heard “Hiyoko” which is a baby chick. I didn’t even attempt to translate this joke.
Experimental Translations 