She Will Be Loved

[Fuukami I. Iryna]

Ahaha, Haru-chan is really getting into this. She responds to my surprise attack right away. It's really satisfying to see this side of her, when she decides not to be Little Miss Perfect and just go with the flow. We keep launching water attacks at each other, enjoying ourselves to the fullest. If she can be like this on the trip, it will be great.

This is like we are primary school kids again. Playing around without a care in the world. Haru-chan's smile really is something to behold. A symbol of her genuine cuteness. Seeing her like that makes me want to give her a tight hug like what I usually do to my cat plushies. Even though she's more like a trained guard dog in terms of personality: always dutiful and loyal, and only enjoys herself when being requested to.

While trying to dodge Haruka's strikes, I manage to get another comment in:

"You said you only wore a kimono on certain occasions. *splash* That's even better, *splash* as the moment you wear it *splash* is definitely something to look forward to, *splash* right?"

Yes, definitely. People like to see something they can't regularly. It's common sense. Like seeing a lunar eclipse or a colorful aurora, or seeing someone you know in ceremonial outfits. Rarity truly has a strange appeal, which has enticed humans since ancient times.

I decide to swim away from Haru-chan a little bit, after the adrenaline rush has subsided. I laughed so much during our little battle that I forgot to breathe. I decide to float with my face looking at the night sky.

"We won't wear our yukatas during our trip, but you have to wear yours when going to the summer festivals, get it? I will enjoy dressing you up when the time comes. Maybe we can invite those two to come along, too."

I really look forward to those festivals, just so that I can wear a lovely yukata. The light fabric, and the lovely colors, I love them. It is a nice change of image, too. Also, I can have Haru-chan as my own dress-up doll.

But enough about our appearances, and it will be quite some time until the summer festivals, so let's change the topic.

"Haru-chan, what do you like to do when we get to Okinawa? I initially intended to simply enjoy the scenery and play in the sea, but do you have something in mind?"

[Fuukami Haruka]

Alright, Iryna! You're going to get creamed Haruka-style! My eyes blazed with the sweet fire of ambition and victory! I knew I would win this splash fight for once and for all (even though Oneechan has a physique waaaaay more fit than my own). I was always very competitive when I was having fun. And I almost never ever gave up. It's not like me to do so, and I don't plan on doing that anytime soon.

I didn't care if it was childish; I did what I could to win to the best of my ability. I splashed and splashed and splashed with abandon. Iryna would be the victim of many ambushes as well as direct confrontation, despite how lovely she looked, wet and slick like a seal--the moonlight illuminated her radiance and the droplets of water and sweat on her.

When she commented, I replied with all candor, but my heart was truly in the folly we enjoyed.

"I suppose you're right-*splash*-though I assume you'd look much prettier than me. *splash* You've always been the beauty queen of our family. A common elegance does much more good than something so fleeting and subtle." I shrugged and splashed her again.

To be honest, common and simple beauties were more helpful. Like nature, which managed to be strange and mysterious and alluring all at the same time while providing the natural resources we rely on this very day. And since ancient times, we sang of its glory.

Now there were better examples out there too, but I couldn't think of any. I was too busy recovering from the splash battle that ended. I nearly laughed as hard as Iryna-neechan but I did my best to avoid sounding like an artillery gun.

I frowned. "Yes, we'll be wearing them then but what are we going to do about Obon this year if we bring the two of them? Usually, only our family comes along with us. Would they disapprove of us bringing them (should they accept)? Also, when will we choose the yukatas?"

I thought that the summer festivals were splendid, filled with so much color. The food was delicious: the taiyaki and takoyaki, the candy apples and the other junk food I did not need. But more importantly, I loved the games. I knew that even just thinking about it made my cheeks flush scarlet and my eyes brighten with excitement.

As always, I got excited as a child about many trivial things that occurred farther than I could wait. Not only that, it was about appearances too! But I was a girl, and that was to be expected every now and then.

"Oh, um, I guess I'll try and get a tan?" I laughed. I was just kidding. She knew I didn't care about those kinds of things. "Tell you what--I'll go make a brilliant schematic of a project consisting of a Powerpoint and Excel sheet after I organize a schedule for all of us once everyone informs me of what they plan to do. And then I'll just go with the flow. But you'll probably object and say it's really boring-which it is, but I think it's totally worth it."

I took a breath, realizing I got carried away with my ranting. "Or I can do the totally stupid thing," I said, wrinkling my nose in disdain, "where I do nothing but pack up and see what I can do before just winging it."

Either way, I'll do my best to make sure he loves you. Or if he doesn't, I'll soften the impact. I promise, Iryna.

[Fuukami I. Iryna]

Not summer vacation yet and already thinking about Obon. Always trying to plan ahead, that girl.

"Well, it's not like anything is set in stone. Besides, the summer festivals are local, so it's not like those guys have to tag along from the get-go. On the other hand, it's not just that festival alone. The local shrine will also have one. We have plenty of time until then to choose our yukatas. So no need to hurry."

Then, Haru-chan just say something only her will say. Yes, she wants to make a thorough schedule of what we should do on the trip. I couldn't help but chuckle. Haru-chan just like to be perfect in every way.

"Haru-chan, with that skin of yours, it may be hard for you to get a tan, you know? You can do that schematic or whatever if you like, even though there's no need to go that far. We are going there to relax, right? This is not some kind of school project. Planning too much will make you inflexible and lost when something unexpected comes up. I just want to find out what's in store for us first, then go along with it. Still, there are things that I really want to do there, like snorkeling. Coral reefs are one of Okinawa's specialties, after all."

Then, an earlier remark from Haru-chan makes me think. Guess we are back to this topic.

Beauty queen of my family? Me? I am well aware of my good looks, but I cannot bring myself to accept that title. Just look at Mama, for instance. Despite already being in early forties, her looks are still exceptional for a woman her age, just like a movie star. Her pink silky hair is one of the things I inherited from her, besides figure skating skills. Despite being a Westerner, she has a certain kind of elegance that can please any Japanese person, just like that British actress Audrey Hepburn, who has a huge Japanese fanbase. On the other hand, I only have my lolita looks for my own attractiveness, so I'm not really fit to be called a "queen". "Princess", more like. Yes, I'm still a little princess who lives in a big fancy castle (this estate), whose parents are a beautiful, kind queen, and a dutiful king who tries to both ensure his family's well being and his kingdom's stability.

Hence, I decide to let Haru-chan know my thoughts:

"Nah, Haru-chan. I'm not a 'beauty queen' like you said. You were just exaggerating. I still think my mother deserves that title way more than I do. And there's your mother, too. I heard from her and Grandpa that your father was totally crazy about her since junior high. I don't know if I can have that kind of mature beauty like those two. I'm still just a 'princess'."

Then a light bulb lights up in my head.

"Oh, then if I am a princess, then that makes you one too, Haru-chan. You are my cousin, a daughter of my Papa's brother, and you are lovely. You even played one, remember?"

I know that we are not primary school kids anymore, but teasing each other like this feels so satisfying, just like that water fight. With appropriate clothing, Haru-chan will definitely look like a princess. She used to play Snow White when she was in sixth grade, after all, as she already has "skin white as snow", and "hair as black as wood in a window frame", and some lipstick borrowed from Mama was used to compensate the "red as blood" part. That play was quite a success, with her receiving most of the praise. Yes, it sounds surprising when the girl in question is my ice cold cousin who's currently in the same pool with me, but she really managed to express all of Snow White's emotions, and actually practiced playing dead diligently. When she puts her mind into something, she will succeed no matter what it takes, which makes me really envy her.

[Fuukami Haruka]

It's not even bath time yet I can already hear the affectionate, mildly disdainful, and soft voice of my darling cousin as she chides me.

After listening, I pondered thoughtfully about what Oneechan said. Once again, she brings up a good, if not fundamental, piece of information. While I might have intelligence and organization down pat, it is always she who is the one with common sense and wisdom. "You're right. We have a lot to plan for then--or, um, if you don't want me to plsan anything, that's OK too." I blinked, having caught myself. Old habits certainly died hard.

Quite frankly, I love making schedules and doing schoolwork. Being able to do all of that plus more boosts my confidence and gives me the rare sensation of feeling in control of my life for once. Of course, this is far from a good stress reliever. In fact, it's the opposite. But it's better thn crying every single time I trip and make myself a mess when I fail at Gym. Not showing my emotions keeps me safe for sure.

"I know, I know. I'm just the perfect Snow White." I snorted, trying to get out the water out of my nose quite ungracefully. Iryna-neechan, woudn't mind, would she? Losing my balance slightly and face planting into the water is even worse, humiliating me only further. Once I recovered, memories of the third grade flooded my mind. It was my appearance that only won me the role. Unfortunately, aesthetic appeal has grown to be too important if you engaged into competitive things like that with several rivals doing everything they can to get the boon--in this case, role--to the point it mimics the Olympics in terms of desperation and vigor.

Hearing her criticize my love of scheduling, I analyzed her point. For the most part, she was right. There was only so much that could accordingly to my plan without running astray and hopefully not awry. It seems that Iryna liked the second, riskier alternative. Eventually, I would have to crawl out of my shell, the safety zone, so to speak. Better then than never. Regardless, deciding to do that felt uncomfortable, like I felt weird inside my own body. The discomfort manifested as a clenching, disagreeable silence on my part.

"Alright, Iryna-neechan, I won't plan a thing. Happy now?" I sighed, my tone coated in resignation similar to child acknowledging he wasn't allowed to eat dessert tonight after not eating his vegetables. I tried a mock grain just to be safe, to prove my nonexistent reluctance. My eyes fixated themselves onto her. "Snorkeling sounds just swell though! I do hope we have the equipment, or else it might not happen.".

I gave a smug smirk as I thought I found her stupefied by my flattery. I wanted her to know how striking she simply was. Never a mind reader, I couldn't quite get what she was thinking. Without a doubt though, I was sure it was interesting. But if Iryna disagreed, I believed I could refute her easily. Just because her looks were delicate, docile, cutesy and all of the Lolita package, I knew she was going to be a sexy knockout when she was older. With two parents that were chic and refined while possessing graceful pulchritude and rugged handsomeness, it simply wasn't possible for her to not have a divine-like attractiveness once she was older.

Of course, as one progressively ages, they're not like what they were at their very peak. This applied to Iryna's parents too but at a much slower rate than usual. I still bet the teachers forget the two of them are married, or at least, wish they weren't. The same happens to my parents as well. They don't have a warm, inviting aura like how Yuusaku-ojisan and Maria-obasan do. Mother and Father are always together, perfectly synchronized. Black suits contrast against ther pale skin, and they can only be described as cool. They definitely have poise in what they do but they're better known for their awe-striking polite but cold and calculating disposition. I myself am very stunned too. The only time they warm up, though, is with family.

I'm pretty sure that now my look was not as smug as it once was before. Instead, it's rather confused, with one black brow raised high.

As I sat there quietly, I felt compelled to save my response till the very end of her spiel. When the words registered in my head, I desired greatly to applaud Iryna for how astute she was. In this atmosphere, that would be too odd. However, it could not be denied that it was the brains she inherited from her mother that made her so striking and individual--in a good way, hands down. "Even if you can only be a princess now, you still have what it takes to be the queen: assertion, know-how, and power. You just need to wait, and I know you'll blossom into something ever so lovely, even more regal than you could ever imagine. And Oneechan, you inherited much more than your mother's beauty.

"As for Mother, I do agree she was gorgeous, and she still is. But unlike you and Maria-obasan, I don't know if I'll ever live up to her. I'm not fussed, though, as long as I can keep on telling you about how amazing you look--even without comparing you to Obasan."

I winked at her, hoping to elicit at least the subtlest of reactions, whatever they may be.

So she's still going with that princess motif then, hmm? Very well then! "If that is so, who would be your prince, eh~?" I chuckled with a playful grin on my face. "Here's a nice little history lesson for you: Most princesses married into their noble titles! I forget since when they first included girls born into royalty, but that's besides the point! Either way, I would not be a good princess! (Maybe a priestess or a nun, but you may say that's too drab!) Remember in the fourth grade when I tried to get the role of Princess Kaguya? You know that went quite out of line then."

The satisfaction of us teasing each other is evidently infectious, as are smiles and laughter, Iryna looks like a princess for sure, and surely enough, she'd be crowned queen soon. Since she is part Russian, I know that like her mother's people, Oneechan will grow strong and tall. I may be a princess too, but symbolic is the missing ruby red lips. I cannot be the princess without it.

The lipstick, graciously lent to me by Maria, is pretty and bold. I am decent looking but I am yet to truly beautify, and I don't quite yet have the confidence to be a brazen lass deserving of some gentleman's love. Certainly, I have confidence for everything else, but time will tell whether this intriguing and mysterious void is filled. And maybe, just maybe only then will I need to seek help from those who I need and love and care for. Whatever way the wind blows, success is on the way. I'm sure of that, at least.

[Fuukami I. Iryna]

Ah, now Haru-chan pouts like a little boy whose parents just told him that he won't have his favorite toy immediately when saying she won't plan anything. I like the stoic Haru-chan, I like the flustered Haru-chan, but the pouting Haru-chan has her own cuteness as well. Now I can't help pampering her a little bit.

"Alright, alright. You want to make yourself useful? Then you can do one thing for me. Find out all things we can do once we get to Okinawa, okay? This should be a piece of cake, for a dedicated researcher like you. About the equipment for snorkeling, I heard there should be lots of places where we can rent them."

This should cheer her up, I guess. Reading through books and finding information are part of her favorite pastimes, after all.

Now Haru-chan's really flattering me. I'm still glad that she sees me as a beauty with lots of potential, though. She just likes to put me on a pedestal, I guess. However, how far can I grow from this body? My muscles have grown, but not my bones, apparently. I wonder if Ayumu's into athletic girls and whether he likes tall ones...

W-What if he prefers taller girls? What should I do? Now my head is a mess again and I can see stars in my eyes. I decide to do the backstroke for a while around the pool, just to calm myself down. Now I'm not sure how I can see him face-to-face again, now that Haru-chan has made me "see him in a new light". Pretend nothing happened and act like usual?

And then Haru-chan has to mention my... "prince". That was really careless of me. Her statement triggers a dream that I had not too long ago. I was sitting on the back of a brown horse, running through the forest. A bunch of scary-looking people, also on horseback, are chasing after me. Then a person in armor and a royal blue cape, riding a white horse comes out of nowhere, quickly dispatching the bad guys. He approaches me, ask me if I'm hurt, then takes off his helmet to reveal his platinum-colored hair. God, why did he look so... drop-dead gorgeous when wearing that outfit, and his hair fit too well with that horse? Why did my savior had to be... him? About a few seconds after that "prince" showed himself, I woke up. Yes, I know that dream sounds clichéd. And yet, he just had to pop up there of all places. I turn away to hide my blush, cross my arms and reply to Haru-chan in a tone that might be attributed to a prideful princess commonly seen in fiction:

"Hmph, I can choose whoever I want to be my prince, anytime I want."

Haru-chan keeps saying that she cannot be a good princess. Can't she, now. I know you are suitable to be one, just like me. It's her turn now to be embarrassed.

"Okay, about that Kaguya-hime role, you just tried a little bit too hard, in my opinion, but you had her cunning mind. On the other hand, you looked just like a natural when being Snow White. So graceful and innocent. I think the boys in that play really liked you. Especially when you sang '♪Someday My Prince Will Come♪'." I sing that title out loud. "Sounds just like you were waiting for a prince to come to you for real. I like the way you went with the flow like that."

Yes, even though she's more like The Snow Queen than anyone else, I'm sure that someday Haru-chan can find her own "prince".

[Fuukami Haruka]

I can't help but think that Iryna's patronizing me a little, but do I mind? Not in the slightest, honestly. I actually kind of enjoy being taken care of and all of that. It makes me feel like a child for once, though I'm not supposed to act like one since I'm already a freshman in highschool now. Middle school and elementary school have long since been over, but it feels like then, I didn't really have a childhood.

Yay! Iryna gave me something else to do other than watch the History channel and study homework! "I'll definitely do something wonderful," I promised. I had the most wonderful idea where I could create just a lovely itinerary once I was done with my research. I could plan a route and plot it on a map and show everyone, and maybe I could do a flexible schedule that would be absolutely well coordinated to make the trip more enjoyable~

Reading and discovering upon new knowledge are both very fundamental parts of what I perceive as "having fun" though I've learned to also favor the Internet as well.

I'm really lucky to have Oneechan as my cousin and closest friend. She's even a sort of role model to me in many ways. If only she was more honest to herself, but it seems Iryna has been going in this direction since I gently nudged her towards that pathway, but I don't want her to be uncomfortable or sad or anything if he rejects her. I know what boys are like when they like other girls. If Mizukami appears to be overwhelmed by her or if she can't make him laugh easily, that might come to be true.

To be honest, I think that girls like Iryna were his type physically, considering his height--it's average as far as I'm concerned. But the "tsundere" type seems to make him Iryna's subordinate and slave--or shall I say sidekick?--so it makes me wonder whether he wants to date a girl much more dere-dere than her. Though Iryna-neechan can be very dere-dere and loving from what I've seen.

For a moment, Iryna looked so thoughtful, it was cute. When she's deep in thought, she's very cute, and her playful dialogue serves not to do anything but accentuate it very subtly. I was quite lucky today to be in her audience. Iryna had the dreamy eyes, far away look thing going on. Surely, she must be thinking of a dream! I gasped. She was thinking about her prince! My, oh, my! Now, this was quite a rare thing! I let the conversation fall into silence, hoping to observe her further with all due concentration. There were some things one could not afford to miss. I felt too young to think about princes though. So far, I didn't even know if I wanted one. I was a strong girl; I didn't need no man to protect me. Just because I looked fragile didn't mean that I could send a guy flying after he annoyed me by being so irresponsible enough to not finish the paperwork assigned to him! Huh... That was so specific. It must have happened before, but then, I heard my Oneechan's wonderful voice.

"That's true. I do hope you choose wisely. I won't let a bumbling idiot be your prince unless if we totally shape him up!"

Ohhh booooy. It's time for Iryna's payback now. Honestly though, she flustered me a lot before so I'm just going to pretend to blush now since I've faced worse from her. I covered my face up with my hands to try and come up with something convincing.

"Oneechan!" I exclaimed. That should be good for now.

"Why, thank you! If I do say so, you would be wonderful in a production of Swan Lake. If you ever performed in something like that, I'd definitely be there for you. Plus it seems like it'd be your natural territory. And innocent? Innocent? I am not innocent, and you know that. You have seen my mischievous side many times before. If anything, I'm more like Tinker Bell. I'm not waiting for my prince; I'm destroying all the girls in my way!" I laughed evilly, showing that I was joking.

Snow Queen, huh? Honey, that was a fair try, but you gotta do better than that! Maybe a princess a little more evil.

[Fuukami I. Iryna]

Huh? Looks like I didn't strike a nerve as expected. Haru-chan seems more obstinate than I thought. And yet, she still tried to entertain me. That girl.

Then she complains about me using the word innocent. Aw, come on. I was complimenting your acting skills back then, for God's sake.

"Sure, Haru-chan, you are not innocent. Not anymore. But Snow White is supposed to be naïve, right? Nobody who knows you enough would have thought you could pull that off so convincingly. About Tinker Bell, you have to be a little more energetic, and... you sure you can handle keeling over when somebody says he does not believe in your existence?"

I let out a giggle. Glad I managed to find a retort in just a matter of seconds. Gotta stay on the offensive here.

Then Haru-chan mentioned Swan Lake, of all things. She knows fully well that I love Tchaikovsky's works. I have been familiarized with his classic ballets since my time in Russia. Those training sessions helped me get used to figure skating much faster than expected, and has given me inspirations for my performances.

A long time ago, I came across a recording of former Ukrainian figure skater Oksana Baiul's performance in the Winter Olympics. She chose Swan Lake for her routine. From the moment she started, I was mesmerized. Those movement of hers were simply sublime and smooth, which prevented me from taking my eyes of the screen. Baiul eventually won the gold medal. Well, that occasion is not the sole reason for me taking up figure skating, but provided a big push nonetheless. Some time later I found out that Baiul was seriously injured in a training session before the event, and had to be injected anesthetics for her performance, which made me admire her even more (Mama is still my number one idol though), and strengthen my resolve to be an accomplished figure skater.

Speaking about Swan Lake, it's like another fairy tale about a prince and a princess. The prince fell in love at first sight with the princess who had been cursed into a swan (alongside many other people) by an evil sorcerer. In the end, they decided to die together, and all the other cursed swans return to normal thanks to the power of their love, which broke the spell. It seems rather tragic to me, though, since they cannot be together on the face of the earth. That explains the magical yet somber melody many people can recognize upon hearing it. Still, I actually prefer scenarios where nobody has to die (at least the good guys) for the sake of resolving conflicts.

"Thanks, Haru-chan, when I decide to use Swan Lake in a competition, you will be the first to know."

Even though Ride Of The Valkyries (by Richard Wagner, though) and Sleeping Beauty are my favorite choices, Swan Lake can be a great option as well, since I'm already very familiar with it and used it quite often in my personal training.

Haru-chan says she will brush away any girl who tries to stop her. That's a positive, albeit a little bit aggressive approach. I know I'm not the one to talk, though, since that's pretty much my motto when skating, too, and there's one girl I haven't managed to surpass. Yet.

"Okay, looks like it will take a special prince in order to be with a princess like you, I guess. Still, maybe there is a prince who will be interested in who you are. When that time comes, let me know about it, okay, Haru-chan?"

Still, I really wonder if there is any kind of guy out there who can be a match for Haru-chan. He may not necessarily be a dashing prince from a faraway kingdom, but may be closer than we think.

[Fuukami Haruka]

I love talking with Iryna; she always has the energy to keep on going and play this game of verbal ping-pong. Bedtime was approaching though. If we didn't stop, our parents could arrive before we even brush our teeth.

If Oneechan wanted me to be more proud of my acting ability then boast I will. It wasn't the most natural of things but I could try it at the very least.

"I don't think I'm naive about the more important things in life but you're right that I can give off a pretty good innocent impression of it. And I need to build up my stamina like you do but I do not keel over for dumb boys who don't believe me. They are just a bunch of sparrows who couldn't possibly understand how an amazing eagle soars high."

How is that for a retort, Iryna? Did you feel my words just emanating of percussive egotism? I hoped I was a good enough actress for her now.

The two of us had always admired Tchaikovsky's works. I loved him for the rich culture and past behind his music and her for the beautiful and graceful ballet movements he had composed. In him, we found an elegance we could share with each other. In a sense, his music united our family even a little bit more.

Like Iryna, I was interested in Swan Lake, especially the ballet music Tchaikovsky provided and composed in 1875, as a commission from a man named Vladmir Petrovich Begichev, the intendant of the Russian Imperial Theaters in Moscow. Like the Nutcracker, it wasn't very popular in its first year. Conductors, dancers and audiences alike thought the music was too complicated. The choreography, by Julius Reisinger, was boring and uninspiring. I doubted Iryna would have even tried to skate with that as her skating routine. Either way, not much is known about the original production. No notes, instructions, or techniques were written down. Everything that is known about the first Swan Lake is from memos and various correspondence. There isn't that much of it, though. Anyway, Iryna's skating routine currently was based on the better known revisions done by Petipa and Ivanova, ironically the same name of the family that my aunt and cousin are from, made later after Tchaikovsky's death.

Tchaikovsky has been known to have almost complete control over the play's production, he and his colleagues having agreed that "the swan represented womanhood in all its purity"; however, its influences come from even Ancient Greek mythology, where swans flew around in circles as Apollo, the god of the sun, poetry, medicine, prophecy, archery, hunting and music, was born. Legends of swan maidens were available in many folklore from The Tales of the Thousand and One Nights, Sweet Mikhail Ivanovich the Rover, and The Legend of the Children of Lir. Dancing or skating Swan Lake has been known for its difficulty because of one exceptionally talented ballerina by the name of Pierina Legani. If I said so myself, she was almost as good as my redheaded cousin herself. Every girl playing Odette was compared to her because Pierina performed 32 fouettes, a fast whipping turn on one foot that ballerinas and skaters alike hated for its challenging technique. Because of its difficulty emotionally and technically, performing the Swan Lake has given young maidens a lot of prestige.

"You better tell me when you do perform it at a competition. It's quite a big deal actually; I'm not sure you know just how big it could be."

That's why, my dear cousin, you can't be hasty about it. The reason why your mother makes you practice using Swan Lake a lot in your practices is because she wants to get you ready for doing it for real on the ice rink, I think. But you need to be comfortable.

And I will do my best to achieve my own goals too. Maybe I could even go overseas to southern France to try and look for fossils. Boys aren't really on my mind. Sure, I'd push any girls in my way but I don't think I'd have to worry about Iryna. She wouldn't stop me from my archaeology digs nor would I have any passing interest in Mizukami, a boy who doesn't seem to pay that much attention to Iryna. At least not enough to show he's interested, but I'll give him a chance with her and a benefit of the doubt. If he doesn't deserve it, then he gets the boot. It was simple enough.

"Okay, looks like it will take a special prince in order to be with a princess like you, I guess. Still, maybe there is a prince who will be interested in who you are. When that time comes, let me know about it, okay, Haru-chan?"

Finally, she got it. "Yeah, it will take someone with enough of a death wish or with guts as strong as steel. I do like someone with manners though. A boy that could put up with me is so hard to find though. They couldn't possibly be in this school, but if I find someone, I'll tell you."

Honestly, the both of us are so inexperienced about love. I don't know if Iryna is ready yet -- or if I'm ready yet -- to even consider love. What if things don't turn out the way we want them to? I could only hope they ended up for the best, however uncertain they may be.

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~END~

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