Hoshi no Ouji-Sama (Prince of the Stars)

Chapter 4 - Rotating Axis

It's 12 pm. I get woken up by Sui, of course.

"There's literally no excuse for you not to go to town. The library's open, you're doing alright, and it's a beautiful day out! Not like the last part matters, you'll go out in the rain, but it's a great day!"

I sat up, and looked at Sui.

"I guess I'll go with you, besides, I have things to do."

She jumped up and down a bit, excited that I'm finally getting out of the house. She grabbed my arm and tried pulling me out of bed, before I slightly resisted.

"Hey, I'm getting up!"

Esther stops by to remind me about waking up early, but walks in on Sui launching a pillow directly at me. Sui realizes someone's watching, and turns around before the pillow hit me.

"Oh hey there Es."

"Well, seems like you two are lively today. Not that that's a bad thing-"

We all kind of stare at each other, before Es breaks the awkward silence.

"So, Sui, you should give Kin a minute. He has to get ready after all."

"Fiiiiiiiiiine." Sui gives up, and walks out.

I get on my best outfit. Long sleeved polo shirt, jeans, boots, gloves, and as usual, a cape. I don't know why, but I really like them. I get ready pretty fast, but Es stops me.

"Your hair is an absolute mess."

I didn't even pay attention to it, but I looked in the mirror, and she was right. It was one hell of a mess. Though light and fluffy, it was sticking out everywhere. I quickly get it in order, and rearrange myself in the mirror before deciding I was ready. I grabbed 2 books, and went outside, waiting for Sui.

After 4 minutes, she finally comes out, and we walk into town. I, of course, head to the library in the middle of town. Running in, I go to my usual spot, the non-fiction section. I looked around, and saw a book on weather, and went to reach for it, but was stopped when I accidentally bumped into someone reaching for it as well. I looked to my side, and saw Taiyou.

I stumbled back, surprised. She seemed to do the same, as we both weren't expecting each other to be here.

"Oh, hey.. Kinsei." This was a first. She seemed to be hiding a bit of embarrassment, and I, for once, was the braver one.

But that's a lie. We were both embarrassed. I just like making myself sound cooler in my head.

"Hey there." God, I'm so idiotic sometimes. I could've said literally anything else-

"So, seems like we're both into this, huh?"

My thought process stops. I don't know really what to do, but I reply anyways.

"Yeah, guess so."

Awkward silence. I'm too scared to look her in the face, since I didn't want to show any signs, but being myself, I ignored all the warning signs. I look up and see her smiling as usual. I begin to bring out a smile from myself, and we both sit down at the nearest table.

She puts the book down, and says she'll be right back. That gives me time to reflect on what the hell to do.

It's weird, but when I'm around her, I don't make the best decisions. I quickly make wrong choices, more than right. I really, really want to know why. It might be something to do with love, but I don't want it to be. I don't. When I think about it more, it might as well be love. But, I don't know if she feels the same way back. She might, she might not. That makes it harder. I suppose I could tell by her behaviour, but she's almost always bright, so that complicates things. I picked up a pencil, and examined it to distract myself from these wild thoughts. I began to tap it on the table, tapping to the rhythm of my shaken heart.

"I'm back!"

"Oh, I wasn't expecting you to be back so soon."

"I didn't have to much, y'know."

"Ah."

As she sits down, I scoot closer to her. She looks over, and I avert my gaze. She lets off a small grin, and does the same. Before we knew, our shoulders were touching. I gained a warm feeling, one that lasted, and it was beautiful. I unwillingly leaned on her, and we ended up reading together. Unlike last night, we kept up with each other, and finished the book. Only after finishing, did I realize what I had been doing the entire time. I quickly readjusted myself, sitting up like I should.

"Sorry about that, Tai-"

"It's alright! Besides, you're adorable when you do it!"

I stare for a bit, my chest pounding harder than before.

"Y'know, we should spend more time together like that. I like it when you're around me."

I let another side of me slip, and I begin grinning like an idiot.

"Please! I'd love to!" I pull her into a hug, and we stay like that for a while. We begin to walk out, and she takes a grip on my hand, and isn't letting go. Maybe this isn't bad, after all. I'm letting a true me loose, and that's all I truly wanted.

We walk around town for a bit, chatting about various things, being ourselves.

For once, I didn't feel distant. I didn't feel horrible that I could never talk to her.

She twirled me around, so I was facing her. I was taken aback, but didn't care.

"Do you have anything you wanna say right now?"

"Why would you ask me now?"

"I have a feeling you're gonna say something incredibly important." Premonitions. I usually hate them, but today's seems to be a good one.

"Well, I was-"

"Tell me!"

I hesistated at first. I didn't want to say now, really. But, it's kind of too late to turn back.

"I-" Why can't I get it out? Now, when I need to, I can't, but I can recite it over and over other times! After a bit of struggling, I get the rest out. "-like you."

Taiyou grasped me in a hug, and we twirled around for a while.

"I wasn't expecting that! I thought you were going to say something else.. but I'm glad I didn't have to say it."

'I'm glad I didn't have to say it.' Was she planning to do the same?

"Well-"

"Shush. You've already spoken enough, silly! I don't need an explanation for anything!"

I let out another grin.

"I have to be on my way now. Sorry."

"It's alright! I'll see you tomorrow, itoshii!"

I pause. Itoshii? I know what it means, but I wouldn't expect someone like Taiyou to call me itoshii.

"See you tomorrow... itoshii."

I stumble on back home, where Sui is waiting. To my surprise, she recounts me at the library, saying she was 'secretly spying on me'. I tell her it's creepy, but she passes it off as a joke.

"Anyways, you're such a dork when you're around her. It's really weird seeing you like that."

"Ah, I didn't realize."

"Well, you go do your thing." With that, I leave to the attic, where my makeshift library is. I notice an empty shelf, and put the weather book there.

It's not that lonely there, since it has the memories of us two. That's what counts.