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“Uhm…. I assume you’re not going without a date, but… you’re not sure who you’ll be going with?”
K.S Miracle asked, holding a clipboard and a pen in her hands, as she looked at Daiichi Ruby to confirm.
Daichii pondered upon it for a brief, unnoticeable moment, then answered her.
“Yes. Once I’ve decided, I would like to register them as well.”
She.. didn’t have a specific partner in mind yet, but she was determined to find one that would get her the “best date” award. Definitely.
Without saying anything else, Miracle confirmed her choice as she readied the form, confirming that this was for participating in the Droite, writing down “Undecided” into the partner section, leaving the name empty for Daiichi to write herself.
“Gotcha～! The application period is pretty long, so as soon as you decide, please finish applying!”
Bamboo Memory added in, giving two thumbs up as she spoke, before putting them away and posing, putting a hand on her waist, leaving the other hanging.
“There’s no problem, so take your time to decide. Now, could you please write own your name here?”
Miracle showed her the form, as she handed the pen to Daiichi.
She nodded, elegantly taking the pen, as she swiftly wrote down her name, giving the pen back afterwards.
“Alright. Registration is complete. If you have any trouble, just let me know. ————I hope you’re able to make some wonderful memories.”
Wonderful memories.. Daiichi simply nodded, as she gracefully put her hands together.
“Thank you very much.”
As she left the classroom, having finished the registration, suddenly..
“Princess～～～!!”
A voice, loud and enthusiastic called out.
“Parfait time!!!!!!”
The voice continued, before finally reaching her side.. revealing itself to be Daitaku Helios, holding her fists near her chest excitedly. A girl.. she didn’t know how to feel about.
She was enthusiastic, cheerful, and.. she supposed she wasn’t exactly bad. And she was indeed persistent, having tried to court her.. around 100 times?
..Still... She couldn’t waste her time on something that wasn’t necessary. Even if..
“I’m sorry, but I already have plans for dinner. ——Good day.” Daiichi excused herself to leave, feeling the gaze of Daitaku Helios on her back as she walked away.
“Pien!! So cold!!”
She heard her cry out. It couldn’t be helped.. She had to follow her schedule. And she has to keep her reputation up..
“What is this, like, 100 rejections～～?? It’s fine tho～～～”
…She slowed down for a moment in her walk to leave. Maybe it’d be fine, she didn’t say any of those things this time.
Anyways. She also took count, huh? Very diligent…
“My lady is so mean～～～but so cute～～!!!”
..Ggh.. She shouldn’t have slowed down. Calling her cute..
Daiichi Ruby suppressed a rising heat from her cheeks, as she quickly left before she got any more chances to hear anything else.
Yet.. as she thought Daitaku was done for today, now near the Three Goddesses Fountain.. she heard her voice again, calling out.
“Princess Princess Princess～～～!!! Wait up!!”
She readied herself, calming her mind as she stopped, and turned back towards this horse girl that keeps complicating her life.. and thoughts.
“ ——Is there something I can help you with?”
What was it now..? It wasn’t about the “Parfait time”, was it? Daiichi thought to herself that she’d have to quickly reject her again, but unlike her expectation..
“Please be my date!!” Daitaku suddenly said, holding her hand out towards her.
Wh.. what? A.. date? No.. She- There’s no way she’d.. she’d suddenly ask her on a date like this, she must mean..
“...Are you referring to the Ligne Droite?”
“Yeah! You’re going right, Princess?! Please, dance with me!!”
..Indeed, she was referring to the Ligne Droite.. yes. Now, calm yourself.. Daiichi thought. Hah…..
A.. date with her for the Ligne Droite. That is..
“I must apologize for the inconvenience, but I will have to postpone my reply for now.”
Answering her now was.. too much. She couldn’t decide it so easily.
“I wish to be very careful in selecting my date, so please allow me time to consider.”
“Ehhh, you can’t decide now?! Why notttt??? I’m in shambles T-T”
Daitaku cried out, as Daiichi sighed in her mind.
“But it’ll be super cute tho?! Princess, I’mma show you! After this, you’ll definitely want to be my date!”
..Saying such things so casually..
“..Excuse me?”
“For real for real, I’mma go all out! I’ll make you fall in love with me, so just watch, alright?!”
She exclaimed, as she then waved at Daiichi as she left.
…Keep it down.. calm yourself, Daiichi Ruby..
“Operation • Lovey Dovey♡Princess! LET’S GOOOO～～～～!!”
This girl…Ah…..
Keeping another blush from appearing on her face, Daiichi Ruby silently leaves, unable to even say anything else as she recovers from this attack.
—-
“PRINCEEEEEESSS～～～～～!!!”
There she goes again, Daiichi thought.
“Let's have tea♡ and get closer♡ I still remember, y’know? How to drink tea proper～”
Daitaku says, the adoration and love in her voice is as clear as ever.. and that bothers Daiichi to no end, making her have to fight an internal battle every time.
She even presents a tea towards Daiichi, placed on a teacup holder. The effort is appreciated, but.. if she tells her, that’d just give her more fuel.
..Sigh.
“As I’ve told you many times, please discuss plans in advance. Now if you’ll excuse me, I have training to attend to.”
She bowed, as she walked away to leave.
“Instant rejection?! So painful!!”
..It.. it can’t be helped.
—-
Two knocks resound on her door.
“Ping～Pong! Are you there Princess?”
..What is she going to do this time for her so-called operation?
“Yes, can I help you with something..”
“Hi, my Lady, here’s your delivery of love!” She says, making a heart shape from her fingers.
It’s.. another attack, late at night.. Hooh..
“Hot dancing! It’s～all～my～～!”
She had a bad feeling about this.
Daitaku suddenly pulls out a rose, presenting a rose towards her as she exclaims, “Boundless Love ♡ Daiichi Ruby-tan♡”.
..Not good. I have to end this faster. She thought to herself, as Daiichi desperately kept up her face of neutrality. She wants to accept the rose, yet that ironically makes her more determined to keep herself steady.
“...Is that all? It’s almost time for the lights to go out. So it’s time to wrap things up-”
Panicked, Daitaku waves her hands around, then pulls out a microphone. “Woah, wait — wait, wait, give me a minute! I wrote some really lovely lyrics for you!”
Oh no. Daiichi feels she’s about to have a very hard time. One much more different than any other hard times she’s had before..
“Lovey, dovey, Princess～, love you my Princess! Hear my love delivery! Accept my love okay!”
I.. already know you love me, yet, every time you repeat it, ugh-
“You’re so dazzlingly pretty♡ Those red eyes are so dang kawaii♡ Come on its party time let’s bounce right on to a paradise with me!”
Okay, that’s enough, she can’t hold herself back for much longer, this is too much.. she has to go back in, now.
“It’s time for lights out, so please excuse me, Goodnight.”
She leaves quickly, desperately keeping her face together, going back inside her room, closing the door, and immediately covers her ears, as she goes into bed, looking at the wall.
I.. Ugh. No.. Calm down now. You can’t just make her your date. You have to pick the best one, so that you’ll get the best date award, just like Mother. Her beautiful performance.. I have to be just like her. I can’t just decide a date, just because I love-
…Hngh… No.. You’re just not used to such praise and love from someone like this, someone so passionate, enthusiastic, charming..
…Enough.. just stop thinking about her, and focus.. focus.
As Daiichi Ruby desperately held herself together, hidden as she was looking at the wall beside her bed, was a bright blush covering the entirety of her face, as if she would pour out steam from her ears if it was possible. An expression she could not allow anyone to see.
Perhaps, tonight was the biggest ordeal she had overcome in her life. She could handle responsibilities, challenges, and expectations, but apparently this was what stumped her the most.
And that night... she went to sleep later than usual, despite all her best efforts.