Alinea

The Cedar Palace or what more popularly known as The Homura House was opened to selected members of the public for the first time. Because of the rare occurrence, and once in a lifetime opportunity for most, accompanying the eighty students belonging to the two graduating classes on their trip were their respective homeroom advisers, and the school staff officials lead by the principal.

All in all, there were a hundred people. All of them were impeccably dressed, with the students wearing their best uniform saved for their graduation ceremony, and the staff, their best business attire.

The group was welcomed by a line of traditionally garbed servants and attendants. As soon as they alighted from their shuttle service, and stepped into the inner court, they were all entranced – not to say intimidated by the aesthetic of the humongous property.

Who wouldn't?

The place had a total disconnect from the outside world. Entering the premises was like entering an altogether different era. In spite of being old, the house was well maintained and well-lived. If it weren't for their own clothing and the huge modern parking space where they came from, they'd think they all had been transported to the past.

For enhanced learning experience, the school staff decided to really mix the students. Each team consisted of four people belonging to the same gender, as much as possible, since they would also share sleeping quarters. In their group, there were more girls than boys, and by some stroke of luck or ill luck in her case, Ichihara found herself in the same team as Koharu, Miharu, and Rin.

To say she felt a bit awkward was an understatement. After all, since Okada's tantrum when Ara refused to take Ichihara home that night, they had never talked again. It's a good thing Rin and Miharu were there to make the atmosphere lighter.

However, it was totally weird, because Koharu seemed to have amnesia, she forgot she hated her guts and had been treating Midori like they were friends for a long time since they met in the morning at the gym during their orientation. Ichihara had been dying to know what was wrong or what went right for Okada to be that nice suddenly.

Earlier when they were at the gym, Rin couldn't help but ask what's up with her since she's been all sparkly and friendly.

"Oh, nothing. I'm just in love," Okada Koharu suddenly declared that Ichihara accidentally bit her tongue.

In love?

Midori wondered if Koharu would finally come out and confess directly to Hiroaki. Her breath held as she waited for the conversation to start, and it did.

"Really?" With her eyes sparkling like diamonds, Rin leaned over, ready to interrogate the strangely blushing burikko.

The sight of her all coy and giggly made Midori want to bleach both her brain and eyes. Still, she prayed it wasn't Hiroaki – but of course, that would be wishful thinking, considering she'd been after her boyfriend for years.

"Well…"

Okada Koharu demurely started, her eyes fluttering as she let the excitement heighten before continuing to speak. "I don't know his name. I just literally bumped into him when I went home last Friday."

"What?"

Ha? Midori blanked out. It wasn't Hiroaki then? Koharu had a new guy she's obsessed about?

"Isn't that love at first sight?"Rin, the fan of romance looked totally dreamy as she clasped her hands together.

"I was not expecting it either. I was shocked,"Koharu giggled. "I ran into him, and he held me with his strong hands so I wouldn't fall on the ground."

By this time, Rin was squealing. "How does he look like?"

"He's very, very, very, handsome,"Koharu nodded; her eyes wide in amazement as she spoke. "He has longish black hair; he has an arresting face I couldn't describe. He was just simply beautiful. But it's his eyes that made my heart beat like crazy. They were pale blue like ice."

"Oh my God!" Rin and Miharu looked totally happy.

Midori, however, looked a bit doubtful. A guy like that existed? It sounded like a gaijin prince in some manga. Gaijin's a term they used with regards to foreigners. But, it might be also true since Tokyo had a lot of foreigners loitering about.

"Ah, but too bad, you didn't get his name! It would have been amazing,"Rin commented sadly.

"Don't worry Koharu-chan, if it's fated, then you'll definitely meet again. Just like Ara and her archer prince. Didn't they meet again because they're fated?" Miharu looked genuinely glad and Midori found out why.

"I'm glad you found someone you like. For a while, I thought you were the one in love with Sonoda-san but you kept insisting Ara-chan likes him."

Midori watched as Koharu faltered for a while before regaining her smile. "Of course not!" she declared in mock horror as she turned to Midori and gave her a reassuring smile. "Don't mind Miharu-chan, Midori-chan. It was just a misunderstanding," she said oh so sweetly.

"Er.. right..." Ichihara had no choice but to agree. She wondered if this development was good or not. With Okada, she was never going to be sure.

The four of them attended the orientation with the rest of the group. It was to enforce rules that would apply during the stay at the Cedar Palace. The staff didn't want any of the students to leave a bad impression on any of the people there. That was how they spent the whole morning. The students would normally complain, but since they're going to an amazing place for free, nobody objected to the strict protocol.

Now, around lunchtime, all eighty students and staff were led to a huge hall where dozens and dozens of chabudai with zabuton were lined up on the tatami. The place looked like a huge function hall where each person would have his own table and seat. In front was an elevated space where a better type of chabudai and elegant zabuton was placed. If they were in ancient times, the area in front would have been the place for the shogun.

"Please, have a seat," the attendants garbed in kimono ushered them towards the tables, and everyone was so excited. All in their own places, they waited in anticipation for what was coming.

"Oh my God, I wonder what we'll have..." Rin whispered in excitement.

They were told they'd have lunch here and based on the setup, it seemed they would have a full course kaiseki ryori – and she was right. As soon as she spoke, servants carrying trays and trays of colorful full course meal arrived.

The place was filled with gasps and crows of delight and appreciation from the students. After all, this was an entirely different experience for them. A basic kaiseki ryori course at a simple restaurant could cost around three thousand yen each. But the meal served to them could rival that of the most expensive traditional restaurants.

"I feel like I'm in a dream," Miharu said as she gazed lovingly at the aesthetically pleasing food on her small table.

"I can't believe this place is just a house. It feels like a palace where a handsome prince would live. I wonder what kind of people is the Homura Clan to afford such a place,"Rin uttered thoughtfully just as a commotion was heard at the entrance of the hall.

"What's going on?" they all wondered since all the school staff and the servants had stood up to do a respectful bow.

"I don't know," Midori answered just as they heard the word "Koutaishidenka" being whispered.

Koutaishidenka? Crown Prince?

Midori frowned, but the teachers asked the students to rise and do a bow, so they all followed.

Soon, a tall, young man of unearthly features, wearing an all-black kimono, entered the hall and signaled for everyone to sit down. He was unsmiling, but he didn't look displeased either as his pair of ice-blue eyes scanned everyone in the hall from his perch in front.

Midori was amazed. The person was aptly called Koutaishidenka, the way he carried himself. She was thinking this when she heard Koharu gasp, and all three of them looked at her.

"What's wrong?"Rin and Miharu asked as they steadied Koharu on her feet as her legs seemed to turn into jelly. But since she's frozen, they followed her gaze back to the gorgeous man in front with the unusual eyes.

Huh? Unusual eyes...

Koharu's initial shock then faded into utter happiness, her face smiling foolishly as she stared at the young man. "Oh My God Rin-chan, Miharu-chan – that's him! That's my prince…"