After returning Cinderella’s... or rather Cindy’s shoe, she asked me for a way to repay me for what I did. That is why I decided to ask for a free drink. I only hope that I can save her like in Arian’s case.

The day was Tuesday, the date of our promise. After the lunch break started, I immediately placed my things back to my bag. I then stood up, only to find Cindy, already outside my classroom.

“Pixie, can you stay inside my pocket every time we’re with Cindy?” I asked to the fairy who was floating right beside me.

“I can but why?”

“I have a feeling that doing that will be the right choice every time we meet a princess starting now.”

“Then I’ll do that. Excuse me,” Pixie said and entered my breast pocket. After that, I grabbed my bag and jogged towards Cindy.

“H-Hi, Prince,” Cindy greeted me in a shy voice and squirmed right after.

“Hello. So let’s go?” I asked with my usual poker face.

“Yes,” she responded with a smile and both of us started our walk towards the cafeteria in silence. As we strolled while we passed different students, a certain fact came to my mind.

This situation... is indeed awkward. I need to end this silence by striking a conversation, right? But what the heck should I talk about anyway? I’m not even used in starting a conversation, to begin with. Anything should be fine. A topic... anything!

“S-so... have you decided on your drink?” Cindy asked in a nervous voice while looked down at our path.

“W-well... a can of lemonade is fine,” I answered, somehow able to said that in a relaxed tone.

“Okay,” she responded with a smile.

With that decided, we went towards the vending machine near the cafeteria. Then Cindy inserted some coins on the machine and a can of lemonade got dropped. She grabbed it and gave it to me.

“Thanks,” I replied and took it. After that, she once again looked down with a blushed face and squirmed.

“...”

“...”

I need to invite her for lunch or she’ll leave. Why am I even hesitating? I have to say it, right? I can do it!

“Uhmm... Cindy!” I called with a serious yet anxious look.

“Wh... what is it?” she asked, nervous.

“Can you... eat lunch with me?”

When she heard that, a big smile appeared on her face and replied, “Sure”.

I did it! She agreed to it! That’s nerve-wracking though.

“The truth is...” she muttered and showed me a yellow cloth bag. “I also made lunch for you as thanks for yesterday.”

“R-really?” I asked, astonished.

“Well, I always make my lunch every day to save money so I only made another extra,” she continued in a shy tone.

“...”

“Prince?” she called because of my sudden silence.

“Th-thanks...” I followed after I averted my gaze with slightly flushed cheeks.

She smiled and gave me a nod.

So with that, we immediately ascended the stairs to eat at the rooftop of the library. That place was open for students so some eat there during lunch break if the weather was not that hot. After we came to the place, she gave me a plastic container and we sat down on the nearest bench.

“Uhmm...” I mumbled because of the sudden question I want to ask her.

“Sorry... but this is the closest that I can take...” she said in an embarrassed expression.

“I... see...” I replied, still confused about her answer.

The bench we sat on was a four-seat bench. But for some reason, she sat at the farthest part. It made a decent amount of space between us.

I mean, I don’t have any friends to eat with now for reference but even I know that this is a little out of ordinary. Is she that scared of me? Anyway, what kind of lunch did she made for me?

I opened the container and became stunned. The left side contains the staple rice. The other side contains cordon bleu, omelets, and vegetables like lettuce and pickles. She arranged it in a beautiful way that you can see the amount of effort she gave.

“Uhmm...” Cindy said while faced at me, worried because I was only staring at the food.

What am I even doing? I need to hurry up and taste it.

After I gave my pleasantry for that food, I immediately took a bite of the cordon bleu and unconsciously whispered, “Delicious...”

“Really?” she reacted with a big smile.

“Y-yeah...” I agreed, a little shy. I then tasted the rest.

The cordon blue was cheesy and tasty at the same time even without the sauce that goes with it. As for the omelet, it had the perfect balance between sweetness and saltiness. And the vegetable goes quite well with those because of its proper seasonings. The lunch was definitely beyond delicious.

“I’m glad you like it,” she followed with a smile and started her lunch too.

“Prince... can I eat that too?” Pixie whispered, hungry in my breast pocket.

“Sorry. I’ll buy you one after this,” I replied and continued my meal.

“Look how happy you are. Now I’m jealous...” Pixie whispered to herself with a deep sigh.

After we finished our lunch, we descended the building with no conversation along the way.

“Hey Prince, you have to say something. If this keeps up, you won’t be able to meet her like this again,” Pixie whispered to me, still inside my pocket.

I know that at least. But... what am I supposed to say?

“Uhmm...” Cindy called.

‘Wh-what is it?” I asked, surprised by her sudden words.

“This is my classroom so...” she continued with a hesitant look.

It looks like we already arrived in front of her classroom before I knew it. So she’s the same year as me like I thought.

“Then... see you later,” I responded with a forced smile.

As a reply, Cindy gave me a smile and a nod. She then entered her room and Pixie flew up and looked at me with a disappointed expression.

“I can’t help it, you know. I’m not used to these kinds of things,” I defended in a whine.

“Well, at least you now know what class she belongs to,” Pixie said with a sigh and looked at the room.

After I heard that, all I could do was to make a deep sigh too. We then went to the cafeteria to buy Pixie a sandwich and walked back to my room after. Soon after, the class resumed and a couple of hours later, it was time to head back home once again. While I was preparing to go home, a certain event happened on Cindy’s side.

✿ Cindy’s Point-of-View ✿

“Cindy, the truth is I need to make some spaghetti for tonight so could you help me buy ingredients in the market?” Hanna asked me while she was still sitting on her seat.

“Sure,” I replied with a smile and stood up from my seat. Then both of us started our walk. We exited the school’s premises and advanced the road as the two of us talked to each other. But when we arrived near the bus stop, Hanna remembered something.

“Ah! I forgot my Math notebook on my desk!” Hanna shouted with an astounded face.

“We’ve got homework for today there, right?”

“Yeah. Don’t leave here. I’ll get it back in a jiffy so wait for me!” Hanna said and ran back to the school.

“Don’t leave here,” I repeated and stood aside in the pavement. I waited in silence.

♛ Prince’s Point-of-View ♛

After I exited the room, I went to Cindy’s classroom, only to find out that she already went home.

“What should we do now, Prince?” Pixie asked while as she flew next to me while I walked.

“I could go to Cindy’s house but what would I tell her if she asked me why I went there?” I followed and passed the school’s gate.

“Then I guess we’ll have to call this a day.”

“Yeah. I guess I should invite her to lunch tomorrow. That’s the only way I could talk to her again after all,” I said after we arrived at the bus stop.

“Prince... isn’t that... Cindy?” Pixie asked and pointed her wand towards a girl beside the pavement ahead of us.

“You’re right,” I agreed after I stopped on my tracks. That’s when I saw a girl walking with her puppy near Cindy. The puppy’s collar got removed for some reason and the puppy started running towards the road.

“Max!” the owner called, shocked at the sudden turn of events.

“Darn it!” I shouted and ran as fast as I can forward.

“Prince?” Pixie called and followed me.

That was when a car appeared, on the verge of running over the puppy.

Hey, that car isn’t even slowing down! He can’t see the puppy!

The puppy stopped on its tracks after it noticed the upcoming car. But before the car hit the puppy, the vehicle managed to turn right hard and avoid the animal. But in exchange, the car went straight towards Cindy.

“Cindy!” I screamed with widened eyes.

But instead of running away, Cindy only stood there, motionless with a shocked face. Before she got hit by the car, I managed to jump and push her aside. Both of us fell on the ground and avoided the car in the nick of time.

“Hey, are you two okay?” the driver of the car asked in panic after he got out of the vehicle. It looks like his car stopped before it hit the wall. Also, the car became covered with glitters.

Wait...

I immediately looked inside my breast pocket and there, I saw Pixie in a sleeping state.

It looks like you save us once again. Thanks, Pixie.

“Did you get hurt?” the driver continued to ask.

I then stood up and glared at the middle-aged driver.

“Where are you even looking? Can’t you at least observe the road while driving?” I shouted in anger to him. “Your reckless driving can decide the life and death of someone!”

“Eeek!” the driver reacted, completely scared. “I’m...very sorry!”

“Prince...” Cindy whispered, surprised from my reaction.

“Sorry, it’s also my fault too,” the owner of the dog apologized too after she came before us, her puppy on her arms. “His collar broke so he managed to get away from me.”

“I’m fine, Prince,” Cindy said to me and stood up. She patted away the dirt on her skirt and gave me a weak smile.

“Cindy...” I whispered with a worried expression.

“No one got hurt and that’s the important part,” Cindy said as she stared at everyone there.

“Are you sure? I can bring you to the hospital to be sure,” the driver offered, still worried.

“I’m fine but... Are you hurt, Prince?” Cindy asked me in a worried expression.

“No. I’m not,” I replied in a serious look.

“Then there’s no need to do that, Sir. I hope that next time, you’ll start to look on the road and drive with care,” Cindy followed with a smile. With that conclusion, both the driver and the owner of the puppy left.

“Cindy? Are you perhaps involved in that accident earlier?” a girl asked after she arrived before us.

“Hanna...” Cindy whispered with a slightly stunned expression. “Yes. But no one got hurt so all is well.”

“Are you sure? You’re not hurt?” Hanna asked, uneasy.

“Yes, you don’t need to worry,” Cindy replied with a forced smile.

“Who is this?” Hanna asked and looked at me. “He looks kinda familiar.”

“This is Prince. He’s an acquaintance of mine,” Cindy introduced. “So let’s go to the market now?”

“Market?” I repeated.

“Well, we have a plan to go there together but...” Hanna explained in a worried face and looked at Cindy. That’s when I noticed that Cindy’s legs were shaking.

“Hanna... right? Can you leave Cindy to me? She needs to get home now as soon as possible to rest,” I asked with a serious expression.

“I... I am fine, Prince. I promised to go with her so...” Cindy explained, still with a forced a smile.

“Then I’ll leave her to you, Prince,” Hanna said with a smile. “Cindy, I can do it myself after all so rest for today, okay?”

“But...” Cindy followed, still not convinced.

“Jeez, I’m fine... for real. See you tomorrow,” Hanna said cheerfully and walked away. Soon after, she disappeared from our sights.

“You need to go ride the bus, right? Let’s wait for one there at the bus stop,” I said and stepped forward. But before I could take another step, she tugged the hem of my shirt from the back. Because of that, I stopped like a statue and waited for her to speak.

“Thank you and.... sorry, Prince,” she whispered while her hand was shaking.

“We’re both fine... that’s what matters, right?”

Soon enough, tears dropped from her eyes.

“I thought... I will die there,” Cindy said in a distressed voice. I then faced her and grabbed her shaking hand. It was soft yet cold.

“Everything is fine now,” I said with a smile. After she saw my expression, more tears ran down on her cheeks so I put a hand on her head and placed her face on my chest. There, she continued her cry as she grabbed my shirt with both hands.

I know that this might be a given fact already but right now, it hit me that Cindy is just your typical girl. No matter how hard she tries to act tough, there are things that she can’t help but cry after.

“Sorry. I’ll be fine soon... so... so...”

“Yeah,” I responded with a smile and stroked her head.

This is what she needs. Even if we’re just acquaintances, I’m the only one who can hold her right now. That is why I won’t let her go... until she’s fine again. That’s the only thing I could offer as support.

After she calmed down, I took her home and went back to my house.

──◈─▣─♕─▣─◈──

The next day, Wednesday, I went to Cindy’s classroom to invite her for lunch. Unfortunately, it looks like I missed her. Left with no choice, I decided to call it a day and try tomorrow instead. But to my surprise, after the class, I found her outside my room with a nervous face.

“Prince, can I talk to you?”

“Well, sure,” I answered in a slightly stunned expression.

We went to the library’s rooftop. After our arrival, we stood face to face with around two meters of distance between us. Silence echoed throughout the place because the two of us were the only ones there. While the sun was halfway down the horizon, Cindy continued her squirm, still hesitant to say what she wanted to.

“Do you think she will confess her love to you after saving her yesterday?” Pixie whispered to me in excitement while inside my breast pocket.

I doubt that. This is not even your typical teen romantic comedy show, you know.

After a while, Cindy finally mustered up her courage. She looked at me with a serious expression.

“Prince...”

As for me, I only stood up straight there with a poker face.

“Please...” she continued.

“...”

“Make me a proper woman!” Cindy requested and bowed to me.

“...”

“...”

“Uhmm... Doesn’t that mean...” Pixie whispered with a sudden blush.

“What the heck?!” I shouted in a shocked look.

And on that day, a girl of my age requested me to make her a woman.