78Disclaimer: I do not own My Teen Romantic Comedy SNAFU
A/N: Yahallo. It's been a while hasn't it.
pinkorangepurple the answer to your question is yes, yes I can and I have.
It has almost been two years which means it's time for this fic to get another update. With the world being in the state it is in right now, I had a lot more time spare time, hence this chapter coming out a little earlier than October as scheduled.
Please do review, PM, follow and fave. It honestly does help motivate me to write, even if it is after two years.
Last time:
"Do you three want to come with me to the palace" I repeated with more detail. If they come with me, maybe just maybe that normalcy won't end. I'll have something grounding me. Besides I know Komachi will enjoy their company.
After what seemed like a while, all three responded at the same time.
"Okay"
I smiled and turned around.
"Lead the way Major"
Present:
Hearing my command Major Atlee stood up, followed quickly by his two lieutenants. But instead of leading the way the Major stood where he was, with a look hesitation on his face.
"Forgive me your highness, I do not wish to question your orders but are you sure it is appropriate to allow these … these commoners to accompany you to the Imperial Palace". After saying that he bowed his head, to show that he was being subservient. Or perhaps it was for the purpose of making me think he was being respectful.
I narrowed my eyes at him, great my first challenge and it hasn't even been five minutes. I wish I could just go back to the way things were before, where I didn't have to worry about what other people thought of me. Unfortunately, now it will be one of the first things I have to consider before making any decisions.
The sad thing is I could see where the Major was coming from. It would indeed be suspicious for a prince to invite three commoners to the palace, especially three commoners of the opposite sex. Potentially scandalous even, well scandalous if you didn't have the media under your control. Luckily for me, the previous administration kept the media under their boots. So, I'm confident I can keep this under control as well. Besides the truth of the matter is that there is no scandal in the first place, so it should be fine.
Ugh, I can't believe I just wasted my precious monologue time to think about my image of all things. This is why I never wanted to return to my royal duties, it simply isn't who I am as a person. Plus, my image isn't the biggest problem that the Majors statement brought up. The biggest problem is that the Major made the statement in the first place. If I were Clovis or anyone else in the royal family, he wouldn't have questioned me. His statement shows me that he doesn't take me seriously and is willing to question my authority.
I need to nip this in the bud here and now, I can't have people questioning my leadership. It will only make this troublesome job even more troublesome and will probably lead to me having to work even harder than I need to.
"Are you sure you are not questioning my orders Major" I asked, keeping my voice calm and impassive.
His head lowered deeper, "I apologise your highness, I didn't mean -"
Before he could continue, I interrupted and calmly said, "Regardless my mind is made up, and these commoners as you eloquently put it will be allowed to accompany me. Is that clear Major"
Major Atlee, gulped, "Yes, Your Highness"
I looked back to see the other people in the room, the three Sobu students were frozen, it was as if they were transfixed by my interaction with the Major. I guess it's not that surprising, what I did just now was really out of character for me. The two lieutenants were still standing straight, but I could see a hint of fear in their eyes. Good it seems my performance worked.
"Good, now if you will, please lead the way Major"
"At once your highness" He bowed and started walking out of the room.
The rest of us followed him. When I crossed the boundaries of the service club I realised that this was truly the end of my school life and the beginning of my reign.
Outside School Grounds:
The Major led us to a motorcade, with a large white and gold bullet proof limousine at its centre. The limousine had two Britannian flags on its front and was surrounded by military motorcycles. I allowed Yukinoshita, Yuigahama and Isshiki to enter the limousine first.
While they were entering the limousine, I spared a quick glance to my surroundings. Luckily school had already ended and the only people still on campus were those students who had a club. Unfortunately, it looked like a good portion of them were outside looking at the scene that was being caused by this whole farce. I wouldn't be surprised if a rumour about me being some sort of Yakuza heir sprung up after this. Well that is if any of them even knew who I was.
I looked back at the limo and saw that all three of them had entered. As I approached the limo Major Atlee and his lieutenants standing beside the car saluted.
Tch, so long obscurity, hello infamy.
Inside Limousine:
The inside of the limousine was opulent to say the least. Gold lined the interior, the seats were more comfortable than any seat I had sat on while still pretending to be a commoner and the silk carpet that covered the floor had gold leaves sprinkled all over it.
My club-mates and the student council president looked around in marvel. I was initially surprised by Yukinoshita's reaction but then I realised despite her family's wealth this would still be well over their means.
I decided to look out the window and see the passing scenery of the land I would now rule. In a way it's ironic how someone who scorns society and its oppressive ways, will now be the one who has to lead it. All this because of the circumstances of my birth and nothing else, just simple luck. Heh, perhaps I can use this as an opportunity. An opportunity to pursue my own agenda, that is, the way of the loner. Tax breaks for those who stay at home, higher taxes for those popular raijuu's and most importantly making Max Coffee a human right. Hehe, as if. Besides if I did that those things the raijuu's would pretend to be loners just to get the benefits. That is simply unacceptable. Although, maybe the last point I brought up had some merit.
Before I could get lost in assessing the feasibility of my ingenious idea, I was interrupted by a certain student council president.
"Um… Ano, senpai, so what you said before was true?" I thought you were smarter than this Irohasu! If you keep this up then I might be forced to look after you for even longer. Curse my Onii-chan senses.
"Evidently" I responded, just because I was now the Viceroy didn't mean I had to stop using short, snappy, energy saving one-word answers. In fact, I think these would probably make me look better, since people would think I'm trying to maximise the time I have.
"So, say, hypothetically, if you get married would the person you get married to become a princess?" Ugh, what? Out of all the questions you had for me that was the one you chose to ask. Honestly, my foxy student council president was as sly as ever.
"Umm… I guess" I answered non-committedly. I don't even know if I have choice on the matter. But is seemed like my answer had satisfied Isshiki's questions as she looked away with what appeared to be a scheming smile on her face. Knowing her she is probably going to cause a whole lot of trouble for me, but I guess this is the price I have to pay for being greedy.
The conversion with Isshiki seemed to bring both Yukinoshita and Yuigahama out of their marvel induced stupor. They both looked at Isshiki with a frown on their faces and then Yukinoshita turned to look at me, her eye's downcast.
"Umm… Hikigaya-kun … Uh… I mean, your highness I would like to apologise …" before she could continue, I held my hand up to stop her. Ugh well this is a natural consequence of revealing to them my real position. It has the risk of changing our dynamic and it will almost certainly make them act more nervous around me. I briefly glance at Isshiki, well most of them that is.
"Please Yukinoshita, you don't need to be so formal with me" I smiled slightly at her, "after all I'm still the same Hikiloner-kun you know." I can't believe the time has come for me to actually call my self names. Ugh, if only I never answered that phone call.
Yukinoshita's eye's widened but it looked like it was more due to fear. She bowed her head, "I'm so-"
"No!" I raised my voice to stop her. She had nothing to apologise to me for. Everything we had done, all our interactions, everything in the service club was precious to me. All that time was precious to me. No one had anything to apologies to me for. If anything, I'm the one who had to apologies, I'm the one who caused all their worries and I'm the one who changed everything. Yukinoshita apologising for our past interactions would have made it seem like everything we had previously was something bad or something terrible. Which is something I will always refuse to accept.
"Hikki, Yukinon" Said Yuigahama, softly. Thank you Yuigahama. It looks like you understand what I mean. Well I suppose it's not that surprising she was always more socially adept than both Yukinoshita and I.
"Your High-" Yukinoshita started but I once interrupted.
"Please Yukinoshita" I said, she looked at me hesitantly.
"Please, I am the same person as I was before. Me being a prince doesn't change that. So, you can just refer to me as you always have, rude names and all" I stared at her pleadingly. I know this isn't what I'm supposed to do, but if I don't do this then there won't have been a point in asking them to come with me. I need some semblance of normalcy in the chaos that is going to be coming.
She sat silent, contemplating what I said.
"But it wouldn't be proper" she eventually replied.
I smiled and said, "Being proper has never been a concern of mine" Intentionally giving her bait, hoping she would latch on.
She smiled as well. "Well I suppose even I have to admit you are right in this case, your stares towards me could only be described as improper Hikipervert-kun"
Despite myself I smiled and half-heartedly quipped "Please I didn't think you were delusional Yukinoshita, my stares were only that of boredom"
"So, you admit to staring at me?" Ugh, Yukinoshita-1, Hikigaya-0. Just so you know, I let you win this time Yukinoshita. If I wasn't trying to make you feel better, I would have totally said something else. Believe it.
Normally I would have looked away but this time I smiled. Yukinoshita also smiled and giggled slightly. It looks things are back to normal or at least on their way to becoming normal again.
Yuigahama was also now smiling and decided to join in on our conversation.
"Hikki, can I still call you Hikki?" she asked with a smile. I didn't think you could be this sly Yuigahama. Taking advantage of the fact that I want people to treat me the same so that she could get me to confirm that was alright for her to use that awful nickname. Truly Yuigahama's social skills should be feared.
"I guess I can make an exception" her face went slightly red after hearing my response. Don't tell me she's getting sick. We're all in the same closed environment as her, if she gets sick then we all get sick. Yuigahama I know it's hard for you but in times like these you should be responsible and practise social distancing.
"Hmm…" she thought for a bit and then shyly said, "does that mean I'm the only one who can call you Hikki, Hikki?"
"Uh, yeah?" I answered confused. I don't think anyone but Yuigahama would even dare to address me so casually, so I guess that is a yes.
Hearing my response her smile grew larger.
Suddenly I felt the car come to a halt. I looked outside and saw that we had reached our destination. The Imperial Palace.
The door I was sitting next to was opened by a soldier I didn't recognise. Standing in front, waiting, was a woman wearing a black suit and skirt. She had black hair, tied in a ponytail.
It looks like it's time for me to be the Viceroy. After taking a deep breath to prepare myself, I stepped out and immediately the two I had mentioned earlier initiated the standard protocol. The soldier saluted and the woman bowed.
"Your highness, it is an honour to meet you. I am Isabelle Crowley your Press Secretary" she greeted, professionally. Press secretary so she's in charge on handling the media. Which means she's here to tell me what to do when it is inevitably time to
"It's pleasure to meet you Ms Crowley. I assume you are here to brief me on our media plan" I replied, it is important to make sure those working for me know, that I have knowledge on the enormous task that is going to befall on me.
"Yes, your highness. Ah, but first I would respectfully advice you change your dress your highness. Your current attire while appropriate for an educational facility, would not meet the expectations the people have for great individuals such as yourself. We need to make sure the media and the people see you as a prince and the rightful successor to Prince Clovis." Hmm, a whole load flattery mixed with subtle doses of the truth. As expected of someone who could rise up to be the Press Secretary to the Viceroy.
"Very well, I'll change. While I do that could you have some lead my companions to my office?"
"Of course, your highness" she replied with a bow as she quickly made her way inside to find someone to lead Yukinoshita, Yuigahama and Isshiki to my office.
I turned towards the three, all of whom had now exited the car.
"I need to go and handle all the details for the formal transfer of power, someone will come to show you to my office. Once I'm done, we can talk properly" I said.
They all nodded in response and I smiled at them. It was good that they were here, now I'll have something to keep me grounded and remind me of who the loner I truly am.
I turned around and started my journey into the palace. I guess it's time for me to be princely.
A/N: So, what do you think. How was this chapter?
It was a bit angsty in the middle. I tried to keep the angst as short as possible, but I felt that it was important to deal with the inevitable changes in the status quo. If anything I probably wrote it out too quickly and easily, it may have been better to flesh it out a bit more. What do you think?
Anyway, I hope this update brightened up someone's day, especially with everything happening in the world right now. I hope all of you stay safe and I'm sure we'll eventually get through of this.
NPwall
