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Ā
Episode 39: Silver Princess and Noble Rose
Leaving school grounds, we made our way down a hill dyed by the setting sun.
āWell then, bye byeāā
āByeā¦ā¦byeā¦ā¦.ā
āSee you later Yuzu, Honokaā
āGoodbye~ā
Each of us said our farewells as Honoka and Yuzurin split away from us. Ranko gave an especially large grin as she watched Honoka back away from us with her arms waving through the air.
āHonoka, youāre not going to get lost are you?ā
āIt ā is ā right ā over ā there! We can see the dorms from here!ā
āNo, I was just thinking if itās you, you might end up taking a detourā¦ā¦ā
āGood point.ā
āNonesense! Iām a good girl who heads straight home after school!ā
Honoka fumed at Ranko before heading off towards the dorm. Yuzuriha quickly scampered after her as she didā¦ā¦honestly though sheās the one Iām more worried aboutā¦ā¦
āYuzu, watch over Honoka to make sure she doesnāt get into any trouble.ā
āMmā
āEh!? Yuzurinās the one protecting meā!? Isnāt she just as danger-prone as I am though!?ā
āSoā¦..youāre admitting that you yourself often cause troubleā¦ā¦ā
āIn that case weāll just have to fold our arms together! Then neither of us will mess anything up!ā
āGood ideaā¦ā¦ā
Yuzuriha and Honoka went through their usual routine, crossing their arms like they were cross at some small animal and began stomping their feet in the direction of the dorms. So cuteā¦.. How lucky they are to be rooming togetherā¦ā¦ I wonder if I could maybeā¦ā¦
After seeing them off, the three of us continued on our way down the hill towards station below.
āOur club activities have finally begun~ā
I was considering what we should talk about, but Saki cut her way in without ever giving any kind of silence to settle between us.
āIndeed. It feels like it took a long time even though it hasnāt been that long at all.ā
āSchool started on Monday, and it is still only Thursday you know? I would say thatās pretty quick.ā
āSo itās only been three days. All things considered, youāve changed your attitude towards us quite a bit in that short amount of time Ranko.ā
āWellā¦ā¦I mean. Honoka is that kind of person.ā
Ranko might say Honoka is ālike thatā however without her natural cheerfulness and pushy behavior, I doubt any of us would really be friends together, so I donāt think she means it in any negative kind of way.
While I recalled those first few interactions we all had together, Saki wrapped her arms around one of Rankoās.
āWeāve become good friends together though, right Ranko~?ā
āY-Yeahā¦ā¦ā
Rankoās face turned a bright red after having somebody suddenly stick so close to her. Her expression made it clear that she didnāt know if she was supposed to pull herself away or not. Has she really opened her heart to us that much?
āSo slyā. I want to be good friends with Ranko too.ā
I moved to the other side of Ranko and grabbed her open arm. Is that rose perfume I smell? The Noble Rose. Yet that elegant and mature image of hers has flown away to parts unknown; replaced by her now restless and confused mess of an appearance. She looks kind of suspicious actually since she isnāt directing her attention to either her right or her left.
āWhat are you twoā¦ā¦ā
Naturally Ranko is perplexed. Her face was a mixture of sullenness and shock, but I think I see of tinge of sheepishness thrown in there as well. Is this what people refer to as gap moe? Whatever it is, it is making my heart squeeze like no other.Ā
The three of us continued down the hill towards the station just like that, with the two of us glued to the thirdās sides. It was the archetypal scene you often see in manga to display just how close a group of girls are together. Itās something Iāve never gotten to do before but always wanted to try.
Although, Iām also secretly keeping Saki in check. She didnāt do anything in the clubroom, but now that it is just the three of us, she is forcibly flirting with Ranko and embarrassing her. Is this what girls schools are like? My worries are only growing in number.Ā
āYou two went home together yesterday rightā? What did you talk about?ā
Seeing that nobody else was going to say anything, I asked something I was curious about. Is this how it is when Iām not around as well?
āWell~. Thatās what I thought weād do, but Ranran remembered she had something to do at home and called a taxi.ā
āIs that so?ā
My gaze shifted up towards Ranko.
āY-Yeah. Well, it was a family issueā¦ā¦.ā
She was stutteringā¦..you ran away from Saki didnāt you? Yeah, she definitely ran away. Her eyes are swimming around in her skull. To go so far as to order a taxi thoughā¦..
That being the case, I can rest easy though since it seems like nothing happened yesterday. If somebody were to move Rankoās heart before I can get close to her, it could put my entire yuri harem project in jeopardy.
So while Saki was clinging to Rankoās side, I decided to start flirting with her too. After we finally made it to the station while filling our time with sweet yuri yuri time, I asked Ranko about where she lived.
āDown this line, two stations from here.ā
āHoh. So not that far from school. Weāre one station further down.ā
āMeaning weāre pretty close togetherā
āAt that distance, couldnāt you walk home if you wanted to?ā
āWell yeah. But this area can be scary after the sun sets.ā
āIf youāre scared, I could walk with you~ā
Saki nestled up closer to Ranko and used her usual coaxing voice on her. I donāt like it. The cute Saki, is it wrong for me to be frustrated that sheās using her coaxing wiles on someone other than me? No, but, itās cuteā¦..but Iām irritatedā¦ā¦.but sheās cuteā¦ā¦
āI am no longer a child. I am a grown woman and more than capable of walking home by myself.ā
āStingy~ā
Sakiās pouting. Ranko was clearly at a loss for what to do with her pushing so hard.Ā
We waited for the train to arrive at the furthest platform. The conversation disappeared as soon as we stopped walking though, making it feel a little awkward between us.
But after a moment had passed with Saki staring at Rankoās face, she opened her mouth.
āRanran is cool, but now that Iām getting a good look, youāre cute too.ā
She then slowly extended out her hand. Placing her palm against Rankoās cheek, she then slowly raised her own face while continuing to stare at Rankoās.
Ignoring me as I watched from the side, the Silver Princess closed in on the Noble Rose.
Both of them are as beautiful as models, and the space around them became mixed warm shades of scarlet and indigo like a scene straight out of a love story. I watched with bated breath, not moving an inch so as to not disturb them.
They were staring into each otherās eyes. Although the distance between them was no longer shrinking, I still could not help but think they were about to kiss, and my heart became a swirling mess.
āStopā
I was so drawn in by the scene that Iām not sure how long it actually took, but eventually Ranko did pull away. I can say for sure that it was long enough that you couldnāt say she immediately refused her though.
āA~h. Meanie~ā
āā¦ā¦.meanie is a bit juvenile a word donāt you think?ā
āUuuā¦ā¦.ā
The princess released a strangely cute moan over Rankoās tsukkomi. I hear people use the word meanie quite often in anime, but itās considered juvenile? Iāll have to be careful not to use it anymore.
But now isnāt the time to be worrying about that. I didnāt not notice after all. Rankoās cheeks were dyed slightly red as Saki brought her face in close.
āHmmā¦ā¦..ā
Thisā¦ā¦isnāt funny. Itās true that they are both exceedingly beautiful and look great together, and I almost want to see them get together. It feels like Iām watching a real life example of my favorite yuri anime.
It is almost as if I have just witnessed the moment two people fell in love with each other. No, what if that is exactly what happened?
This isnāt anything like yesterday morning. Has my existence been completely erased from Sakiās heart? Or maybe I really have been full of myself, and she never thought of me that way to begin with.Ā
But I canāt dwell on the past. Sakiās number one will be me, and Rankoās number one will be me. I wonāt give up on my yuri harem. If sheās changed her mind, I just need to change it back.Ā
Once the train had arrived, Ranko got off two stations later. Stepping onto the platform at the next station, Saki and I passed through the ticket gate together. Sakiās smile was beaming and she looked beautiful, but it was a little painful listening to her talk.Ā
On our way back home until we separated, Saki continued to talk only about Ranko.