Alinea

"What is this?"

It's the second day of their trip, and the first day for the whole-day traditional Japanese art activities. All of them did Ikebana, sado and kimono dressing from morning 'til early evening. Each activity was instructed and observed by known experts in the field. To have attended the classes they did today outside under such tutelage would have been worth thousands and thousands of yen. To say that today's experience was very extraordinary and very educational was very true.

It was why Midori couldn't understand the cause of her schoolmates' ennui. She looked around, noting the low energy surrounding her – most especially the girls. They were all seated in the same hall where they had their meals, waiting for dinner to be served.

"What's what?" Rin, who seemed to be the only one who remained bubbly, asked back.

"That… and that…"Midori pointed at the girls' lethargic expressions and then at Koharu's blank stare.

Okada was sitting at the end next to Miharu now while Rin sat on the other to prevent them from squabbling again.

Following her finger, Rin understood what she meant and she laughed. "Well, the prince didn't show up at all today. So, many hearts are broken."

AH.

Since the kyudo demonstration yesterday, they had seen neither hide nor hair of the prince. It was announced this morning that their host had some work that cropped up and would be busy. Many were disappointed, but they continued to hope that at least Homura Ryuu would pop up to check up on them during the activities, but he never showed up.

"How about you? You're not heartbroken?" Midori teased Rin, and the girl grinned.

"Nah, I sail sh.i.p.s – not wreck them," she said as she leaned over to whisper to Ichihara so that only she could hear her. "I'm still shipping that archer prince with Ara-chan. I have a feeling that's him."

Midori's breath hitched as she stared wide-eyed at the dreamy Rin. The other's eyes sparkled like diamonds, as if she really, really believed what she said. This made her speak her thoughts, confessing her suspicions to the other girl.

"I think so too," Midori whispered back, and she didn't know how it was possible, but Rin's large eyes widened even more as she grabbed onto Midori's hand as if she were a lifeline.

"Spill, "Rin ordered her almost comically that Midori couldn't help but snort in laughter.

Ichihara leaned closer as she spoke to Rin's ear. "Last Friday the archer prince called Ara-chan on her phone. I didn't see him but of course, I talked to him so I recognize his voice. His voice was similar to the prince's."

"Oooooh – and then?"

"Then, he said he was at the school gates waiting for Ara-chan to come out. He came to pick her up. Koharu said she met the prince last Friday outside the school, right? So yesterday when I heard that, I had a suspicion it's him."

"Oooooh – it's soooo MOE!"

Rin looked like she's convulsing in happiness, and Midori couldn't help but get infected by her and smiled.

"Why are you guys noisy?" Miharu asked next to Midori, her face was curious.

Rin turned to her and wiggled her brows proudly. "My ship has sailed…"

The smug announcement made Midori lean forward on the chabudai to laugh silently. Rin really was crazy funny. Also, she now understood why Rin seemed to be a pushover at first. It's because she wasn't really interested in anything that's not part of her Moe. She's a total otaku!

===========

In his room, Homura Ryuu who had decided to hole up there while Mavara was acting up suddenly sneezed consecutively up to seven times. Normally, he wouldn't think anything about it, but since he just read something earlier…

His pair of blue orbs darted at the book resting on the chabudai. It was one of his important learning reads that Kazehaya Gin brought to him last week. The title read "Psychic Signs Someone Is Thinking of You". Needless to say, it contained different omens that indicated someone had you in their thoughts at the moment. A sudden sneezing attack was at the top of the list.

He smiled.

Like a little boy, he reached for his phone and lay back down on his futon as he furiously typed a message to a certain someone.

"Don't miss me too much. My nose will be clogged from sneezing."

He placed the phone back on the tatami at his side as he closed his eyes and placed the back of his hand on his face to cover it from the light. In a couple of minutes, his phone vibrated, indicating a message. Lifting his hand from his face, he opened one eye to squint at the phone as he took it and checked the contents.

"Why would you be sneezing?"

A low chuckle escaped his lips. Ara only asked about his sneeze but didn't deny the "missing him" part. His slender fingers swiped across his screen as he typed another message.

"Because you're thinking about me too much. We'll see each other on Thursday, you know," he replied.

This time, Ara didn't reply with her usual speed, but Ryuu was not worried. He had a feeling his fiancée was pouting at the moment, thinking about what to reply to him. When she did after a few minutes, he laughed.

"I'm not."

"Silly girl," he whispered as he clicked on her nickname on his phone to call: My Pretty Darling Princess.

Ara picked up almost immediately, and her greeting sounded like she had indeed been sulking a while ago.

"If it's not you, then who else can it be?" he drawled lazily, in his mind, a picture of her pouting face remained.

"Maybe your fangirls. I heard you have a lot,"Ara answered, sounding unhappy.

Ryuu was totally amused. One of her friends, either Rin or Midori must have informed her of what happened yesterday.

Koutaishidenka was not an oblivious prince and had always been aware of his effect on humans. Just a gaze from him could make almost all of them give in to whatever he wanted, much more when people found out who he was.

"Are you jealous?"

"Of course not!" Ara retorted with haste. "But you gained an annoying fan."

"Well it's your fault, you're not here to protect your boyfriend."

"Do you even need protecting?" Ara countered that made Ryuu laugh again.

"Okada,"Ryuu said afterwards.

"You knew?"

"Of course. I deliberately made her a 'fan' since Friday."

Yesterday's "demonstration" was actually a deliberate move on his part. He was teasing one particular nut-job like a devil, knowing how it would end up. It was also why last Friday, he didn't step out of Koharu's way and even let out his divine charms. She was hit with a full dosage when she slammed into his c.h.e.s.t.

"Y-you…"

Ara was quiet for a while after that stammer. Ryuu didn't know how he knew, but he could already imagine what she was thinking. "Are you worried about me?"

"Of course. You already know what she did to me. What if… What if she does something to you while she's there?"

Ryuu smiled. "I'm actually waiting for her to do something to me," he deadpanned.

"What?"

"If her attention's on me, your friend Midori will be safe from her. As for me, if she does something, I will deal with her. It's not difficult."

"What do you plan to do?"

"I'll feed her to my little pet."