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The Jade Princess spared a glance at the clock on the nearest wall. The current time seemed to be just past 12 AM, and the last of the lights inside the palace turned off. Once it was completely silent aside from the clock and the occasional cricket, she opened her bedroom’s window and silently hopped out, remembering to close it without making any noise. She, in her sleepwear, a jacket and shoes, slipped into the top of another nearby building and made sure that nobody was following her before sliding down and crouching onto the hard ground.
With the hood of her jacket pulled over her face, hiding all of her features, she quickly paced to a very familiar white building and entered.
The building itself was nothing special: a mostly silent restaurant with few staff members and barely anyone inside, considering it was midnight at that point. Looking to her right, she saw someone, features hidden by the hat they were wearing, and placed herself down next to them. Slightly pulling her own hood back, she glanced to her side when she felt the weight of the one next to her. Joining their hands together, they waited for one of the waiters to come and serve them.
It had taken exactly two minutes, it wasnt like she was counting, for a worker to come up to them and ask them for their order. Pointing to the two meals they always asked for, she spoke up, reminding the staff that she wants the food to-go.
It took much longer this time for anyone to come back, but the both of them busied themselves by staying close to eachother, neither of them actually speaking. It wasn't necessary anyways. If anyone found out that the Jade Princess was out and about at such a late time, she would be scolded endlessly by Hutchins or even her parents.
She could feel the other's eyes on her, but she didn't dare to look back. It felt far too intimate, instead placing her head on their shoulder, feeling them grip her hand and intertwine her fingers with theirs. She looked towards her other side and saw that the waiter was coming towards them with bags, presumably filled with their order while the one next to her stood up. Bowing, they took the bags out of the staff’s hands and had Harumi pay for the meal.
Going back to their side, she grabbed one of the bags and gestured for them to follow her, hearing their own footsteps just behind hers. Following the familiar routine, they reached a small open area, a grass field not far from the building and sat down with the bags in front of them, the person next to her taking off their hat and placing it on the grass.
Vania hummed in content and once again linked her and Harumi’s hands together once she opened both of their meals, the other girl with her hood down aswell. It wasn't a big meal, just enough for the both of them to feel somewhat full. Harumi had ordered her normal bowl of noodles, small enough to almost fit in her hands, whilst Vania had chosen the cheesecake they often shared together.
Beginning to eat her meal, Harumi quickly gazed at Vania who was still unmoving and decided to offer her some of her noodles, which she gladly accepted and let the white-haired girl feed her. Quickly finishing the bowl, she placed it off to the side and shifted as close to Vania as she could, sitting in silence watching the stars as the taller girl hummed a tune she did not know of.
For this night, their statuses did not matter, neither did the tasks they needed to do in the morning to help their respective kingdoms. For tonight, they were just Harumi and Vania, two girls in love with eachother, two girls who enjoyed their company. They did not need to speak to know that they both greatly enjoy their occasional outings like these, finding the other waiting for them in the restaurant at almost the exact same time. They wished they could see eachother more often, be able to bask in their presence without them having to sneak out of their homes at night.
Harumi knew it was wishful thinking; The Jade Princess needs to marry someone that can help her family, someone who isn't Vania. Whoever her parents want her to marry, she will accept without her feelings getting in the way.
But Harumi wants to be with Vania and Vania only. She once hoped that she could tell her adoptive parents that, but she knows better now. Knows that will never be possible, knows that they will disapprove.
The Jade Princess fulfills her parent's every wish. Harumi does not.
Jumping in surprise, she finds that she was falling asleep in the blonde girl’s arms, the cheesecake already finished and both empty plates sitting over eachother on the floor. She notes that Vania hadn't attempted to wake her at all, and so she relaxes back in her arms despite a voice in the back of her head telling her that she should get going back to her kingdom now.
The other girl merely shifts so Harumi isn't awkwardly sitting while still leaning her weight on her, placing her face on the shorter girl’s head. Harumi can feel her smile. She curls her arms around her, not wanting to go yet.
Once tonight ends, she must go back to being the Jade Princess, a perfect lady who will eventually inherit her parent’s rule over the palace. Strangely enough, Harumi still wants to stay close to Vania. She does not want to go back.
She knows she feels the same, but the princess of Shintaro must lead her kingdom aswell. Reluctantly, the blonde lady pulls back, cupping the other’s cheek and kissing her forehead gently. They must now go back to their duties and to their respective kingdoms. They both know that this is not the last night they will have together, but they treat it like it is anyways.
One day, she hopes the Princess of Shintaro can be free, aswell. Maybe one day, they can be free of their duties. Somewhere in her mind, she knows that will never happen.
The Jade Princess does not wish on hopeless things. She is a perfect, kind girl who’s only interest is protecting her kingdom.
Harumi wishes on anything, even if it is impossible and hopeless for her. She does not care for her kingdom. Her parents are not her parents, and they never have been to her.
Vania stands up and smiles brightly at one last time, with those loving eyes. Harumi hesitated, but she gives a smaller one back once she gets up aswell. She pulls her hood over her head at the same time Vania placed her hat on her head, and they go on their respective ways for now.
And so, Harumi and Vania fall asleep, and The Jade Princess and The Princess of Shintaro wake up.
Next time they meet at night, Harumi plans to buy flowers for Vania.