The Prince and the Witch

          

        Suzuhara University – an elite school which exceeds the high expectations of an individual who prioritizes education as the most important thing in their life. And today, the students of the school, especially the English Club members are busy preparing for the upcoming English Month. The major highlight of the English Month is the competition between the Prince, Murakami Reito-kun and the Witch, who is ME! Apparently, the competition between us does not involve magic, swords, and stuff connected to that, instead we are going to compete in an English Essay Writing Contest. I, Teshigawara Ami, am the known English Club President who they say, looks like a witch. Well, I really don’t look like a witch; it is due to the fact that my eyes expose the ugly hearts that people hide deep between themselves. That’s quite an exaggeration, the truth is my eyes look like evil eyes but that doesn’t mean I am one. Suddenly, “Kyaa!!” I quickly cover my ears to this truly irritating sound. The door opens and enters Murakami Reito-kun, the Prince. Well, let me tell you something about him. He is the famous Perfect Prince of our University, he’s smart, rich, cool and on top of that, he is truly good-looking. He purely is the type that any girl would die for. Hmm.., I wonder why he is not my type. Still thinking, my EC subordinates approaches me and surprises me. “Ami-senpai” Miyu exclaims, “What are you thinking about? Please be focused on the upcoming contest and don’t think of other things. Don’t let the Prince win. Wait a minute, *gasps* Are you thinking of the Prince?” Shaking my head in disagreement, I reply “No way, he’s not my type. *smiles evilly* I don’t have such interest in perfect individuals, they must be incredibly boring. Why would I waste my time over a person who lacks excitement because they’re already perfect?” Glancing at my subordinates, I see them shivering, I must have been scary, huh?!! Laughing, I quickly state “I'm just joking!” One of them nervously laughs and says “Of course, you are Ami-senpai. Well then, we’ll be on our way now. We will be waiting for you at the EC room.” I wave at them as a sign of “see you later” and I head to the ConRoom “Conference Room”.  Waiting for the meeting to end, I just keep on recording what Professor Oiizumi says with my recorder, *yawns* Damn, this meeting is so boring. “Meeting is officially over” Professor yells and I immediately dashes towards the EC room. The EC is going to meet the Student Council to plan the events on the upcoming English Month. After a while, the meeting is over. After saying goodbye to them, I walk away from the room because I am planning to go home. Reaching the school gate, I find out that I have left my recorder and handouts in the ConRoom. Without hesitation, I quickly run towards the ConRoom. Opening the door, I see Murakami-kun on his knees, searching for something. He looks up, sees me, gazes, and shouts “Why are you here?” What a guy, shouting at me like that. Even though it is quite a shock for me to see the Prince on his knees, I still manage to utter “I left something.” After looking around, I spot my recorder, handout and as well as a stuffed penguin beside it. Approaching it, I wonder to myself who owns it. Then picking my recorder and handout as well as storing it in my bag, I inspect the stuffed penguin, pick it up, and squeeze it. It’s so soft and squishy. Abruptly, Murakami-kun stands, approaches me and says “Where did you find that?” He was huffing and panting. Staring at the stuffed penguin, I answer “I found it beside my recorder and handout, Aaah! *gasps* don’t tell me this is yours!” Murakami-kun bursts out crying while standing wobbly and he cries out to me, “Yes that is my precious thing. Please return it to me. *sniffs*” No freaking way, this is the prince?? The so-called Perfect Prince??!! Profusely rubbing the stuffed penguin, I tell him “So this is yours. *scorns* He pleads me, telling me to return it to him. “Please return, *sniffs* Kouro to me. I’ll pay you; I’ll even back out from the contest. Just please return him to me. *sobs*” Smiling cutely at him, I return the stuffed penguin and says “This is your most important treasure, right? Take more care of it.” Beaming with joy, he turns to me and asks “Please keep this a secret. The payment that you like?” I face him and I reply “Don’t worry, I won’t tell anyone and I won’t ask for a payment. It’s okay, Penguin Prince *smiles* it’s not bad to be imperfect.” Leaving the room, I smile to myself for I was able to find out something about the prince. Arriving at my house, I start to write my essay and the same time, prepares for my slumber. Looking back at the day that has passed, it’s nice to know that the Perfect Prince is not perfect as they say. He has a weakness, the stuffed penguin. What was it’s name again? Ah, it’s Kouro. *yawns* Goodnight, I'm so tired because so much happened today.

**~~ 8 hours has passed…. 6:00 a.m. ~~** *yawns* Oh man, it’s already time. I wonder what I’ll say if I’ll meet Murakami-kun today. *sighs* Well, let’s put that thought aside because I should be preparing for school.

**~~1 hour and 30 minutes has passed … 7:30 a.m. ~~** Arriving at the school, I quickly descend from the bus and run off to my class. After reaching my classroom, Miyu-sensei arrives and tells me that I should get my manuscript from the event committee. Well, I'm just going to get it on lunch break. I can find them at the ConRoom anyway.

**~~Lunch break~~** After eating, I look around for the event committee and see the Chairman and Vice-Chairman. Hurrying, I catch up with them and ask them about the manuscript. The Chairman tells me “We don’t have any copies left. It’s your fault you didn’t approach us earlier” Then it hit me like a hammer, most of the members of the event committee are also members of Murakami-kun’s fan club. No wonder they are doing this to me. Sensing that no matter what, I couldn’t get hold on my manuscript, I turned to leave. Suddenly, a hand reaches up from behind and holds me. Then a voice says “You can have my manuscript, Teshigawara-san. I already memorized the contents anyway.” Taking the manuscript and glancing at him, I stutter a word of thanks and See Ya! Murakami-kun leaves and I feel a menacing aura behind me. I dash away from them and I am thinking that I need to repay for the prince.

**~~The Next Day~~** I am bringing the complete volume of my favorite manga. I am planning to lend them to Murakami-kun, since he gave me his manuscript. Glancing around, I find him at the library and I approach him. “Murakami-kun, I am lending you this manga. This is my “Thank You” for giving me your manuscript.” He smiles at me and as I turn to leave, he asks me “Umm..Teshigawara-san, would you mind if I ask you out for lunch?” My heart jumps with joy as I say, “No, not at all.” As we were walking towards the school cafeteria, most of my subordinates see me and they whistle and clap as we walk by. I was blushing, I know and feel that I am blushing and it is quite embarrassing for me. While eating, we exchange phone numbers and gradually got closer to each other. He asks me if he could call me Ami-chan and I reply “You can, if you’ll let me call you Reito-kun.” He smiles and says “It’s a deal”

**~~4 days after~~** I don’t know why, but the 2 of us just find reasons to be together. Most of the time, I am hanging out with him and there is a feeling inside me yet I just couldn’t figure out what it is. Now, we are hanging out at our favorite hangout, the rooftop. While drinking iced coffee, he asks me “Have you finished your essay, Ami-chan?” I sigh “Yeah, I'm going to pass it today. How about you?” He lends Kouro to me and says “I already passed this morning. You know, Ami-chan, besides Kouro, you are my best friend. W/out Kouro, I can’t walk nor talk normally and with you, I can feel that I can be myself. I love the both of you.” My heart started thumping like crazy when he said I love the both of you. I nervously laughed and said “Of course, we’re friends. Isn’t that right, Kouro-kun? Piyo-piyo.” As I flap my arms I suddenly lose my balance and Murakami-kun saves me from falling. I thank him and I asked “Where’s Kouro?” As we slowly lower our head, we see Kouro-kun with the color of coffee. I apologize and picks up Kouro, “I'm sorry, I'm going to wash him.” Murakami-kun says “No, I would wash him.” but I already dashes out towards the comfort room. Washing Kouro-kun and drying him, I feel ecstatic when I remember the word I love the both of you. Even though it’s both of you, it still means he loves me but I know that he only sees me as a friend. Leaving the comfort room, I approach the ConRoom to pass my essay. Miyu-sensei says “Oh, Ami. You have written a great essay.” Smiling, I turned to leave when the Chairman and Vice-chairman bumps me. My bag falls off and all the things in it are scattering on the floor. I just sigh because I know, it’s on purpose. Then out of the blue “Kyaa!” the chairman exclaims. “This is a copy of Reito-sama’s essay. It was in Teshigawara’s bag. Don’t tell me, she cheated?” Squatting on the floor, I couldn’t move a muscle. I am in a state of shock; they glance at me with eyes that suspect me as a cheater. Suddenly the door opens and enters Murakami-kun, he says “I hear that you are telling that Ami-chan have a copy of my essay.” The Chairman leaps and glares at me, “Yeah, we got this from her bag.” Silently praying and hoping, I try to stop the tears from swelling in my eyes. Is this the end of my friendship with Murakami-kun? Murakami-kun reaches for me and holds me in front of them, “There is no way Ami could do that. I know her.” The Chairman gasps “But Reito-sama, we got it from her bag. Are you accusing that we are liars?” Miyu-sensei states “I don’t know what the hell is happening.” Angrily, Murakami-kun says “There is no way she could have copied or even got hold of my essay because as soon as I got to school, I passed it.” The Chairman and Vice Chairman cries and leaves. Miyu-sensei faces us, “Everything is all right now but you saw his manuscript, Ami.” Murakami-kun asks for both of our essays and when Miyu-sensei gives it to him, he rips it. I gasp as well as Miyu-sensei, she says “What are you doing?” Proudly, Murakami-kun explains “Since, there are problems occurring about our works, we will just write it again. In that case, there will be no doubts.” Miyu-sensei angrily shouts “Are you an idiot, the deadline is tomorrow.” Murakami-kun just smile as we turn to leave, “Don’t worry, Miyu-sensei, we surely will finish it. After all, we are the best candidates for this contest.” No one dares to contradict the prince. Reaching the rooftop, I grab him by his neck and shake him up and down, saying “What have you done? Do you think we have superpowers and we would be able to write another essay, huh?” He stares at me and says “Well, I thought that you believe in yourself Ami-chan. Besides think about it, we already made on so it would be much easier for us to write another, right?” I only nod as a sign of agreement. He hugs me and I suddenly realize “Ah! Murakami-kun, I forgot to return Kouro to you.” As I return Kouro to him, I tell him “If Kouro was with me all this time, how are you able to talk in front of the others like that? Glancing, I see him blush and I smile secretly because is blushing face is so cute. He takes Kouro from me and says “Well, I was desperate to show you my good side so I did it without thinking. Well, you surely saw my good side, huh?” I just stare at him and say out of the blue “Why do you want me to see your good side?” He scratches his head and tells me “Well, I guess it’s time to tell it all. It’s because *seriously* I fell in love with you, Ami.” I exclaim and laugh “Well, that was a nice joke, Murakami-kun. There is no way you could possibly fall in love with me.” To make me believe, Murakami-kun suddenly kisses me and says “There, you believe me now?” and he laughs when he sees me turn into deep-red. “I love you, Ami-chan.” I was stunned as he said, “Your face looks weird. Hey, do you want to be my girlfriend?” I don’t know how should I look, the sudden confession is too much for me but I am able to say, “Of course, Reito-kun. I love you, too.”

**~~The Next Day~~** “Are you nervous, Ami?” Reito-kun asks me. I mumble, “Well, a little bit.” He pats me and says “Don’t worry, Miyu-sensei said that your essay is very impressive. Well then, I’ll lend Kouro to you.” I exclaim “Eh?? I said I don’t need it.”  He pouts “But it’s really effective you know.” Laughing, I reply “It’s effective because it’s you. Moreover, if you lend it to me, what will you do?” He holds my hand and says “I'm okay because you’re with me, Ami-chan.” Smiling, I squeeze his hand and state; “I'm also okay because you’re with me, Reito-kun.” And while the little penguin watches over the love between the Prince and the Witch, it slowly grows into something precious.