101. Confession
“When will you come?”
Mint tilted her head.
Should I go to the hospital…? Not really wanting to go there. But I’ll wait; waiting is something I’m used to anyway. There’s nothing else to do.
Though, my schedule did get a bit thrown off…
“Hey, footsteps.”
Mint perked up her ears. Someone was walking towards the research lab. Is it Teacher? It sounds like them. Mint stared at the lab door.
I opened the lab door.
BAM! With a loud noise, something darted out and clung to me tightly. I stumbled back a little while still being held.
Even though I couldn’t see her face, I immediately knew it was Mint from the shampoo scent. Mint hugged me tightly and pushed me backwards.
“Hello.”
“It took you long enough.”
“There were quite a few patients today.”
“Hmm… That could happen.”
I managed to pry Mint off as much as possible. She looped her arm around mine and started walking out of the lab, pulling me along.
“Why are you doing that?”
“Hmm? Just because.”
Mint let go briefly then stopped walking. I moved beside her.
“Hehe…”
“I worry sometimes.”
“About what?”
“The princess seems kind of… airheaded lately, don’t you think?”
The princess glanced sideways at me with an unconcerned smile, as if to say it wasn’t worth worrying about.
“But isn’t it fine for kids to be like that?”
“Yeah, probably.”
“As long as she’s not hurting anyone else.”
“Understood.”
Mint probably isn’t hurting anyone. Hopefully. She gestured for me to follow. I nodded.
“Let’s walk a bit.”
“Yes.”
Mint seemed exceptionally cheerful today. Her usual anxiousness was nowhere to be found.
“I have something I want to show you at the Academy. There’s a herb greenhouse underground, right?”
“Ah, but your breathing isn’t good. You shouldn’t go into places like underground gardens.”
“No, I’ll be fine.”
“Really?”
Soon we arrived at the infamous underground garden. The door looked locked, but when Mint flicked her finger, it opened instantly.
Creeeak.
I went in first and held the door open. We entered the underground garden. It wasn’t spectacularly beautiful, just quietly pretty. Various flower trees and bioluminescent mushrooms grew here and there.
“Cute, right?”
“Not bad.”
Mint sat down on the garden bench.
“But am I cuter?”
“Of course.”
“Sit down too, Teacher. Don’t you have something to say?”
“Oh, yes.”
The princess, looking excited, swung her feet while sitting then suddenly leaned on me.
“I had something I wanted to say.”
“Yes.”
“Come closer.”
“Eh…”
I stayed still. Mint looked up and made eye contact with me.
“Who’s the prettiest person in the world?”
“The princess is the prettiest.”
Mint slowly blinked.
While holding onto me with both arms, I tried to move to break free, but Mint showed no signs of letting go this time.
Unlike usual, I can’t push Mint away. It’ll be hard just to get my arms out.
“I have something to say.”
“Yes.”
“I love you.”
With that, Mint grabbed me tightly again and leaned on me, looking up at me expectantly.
I opened my mouth then closed it again. What should I say to Mint…
“Princess. I’m not going anywhere, so please let go first and calm down before we talk.”
“Why? Are you rejecting me?”
“That’s not what I mean.”
“Then… answer first?”
“Why?”
“Huh?”
She had a confused expression.
“Princess. I understand your feelings, but why me specifically? And why now? Please reconsider carefully. I won’t run away.”
The princess shook her head.
“But I don’t want to?”
Mint smiled wryly.
It was a slightly mocking smile, as if amused by my foolish words, though it didn’t seem malicious.
“Princess. I-”
Mint put a finger over my lips.
“Hey, you big dummy. You’re too complicated. This doesn’t work, that doesn’t work, your head must be full of all these standards you apply to everything you know, the world, everything?”
“I don’t know.”
“I’m simpler than you. I like people who stay with me when I’m having a tough time. I like people who spend time with me. I like people who tell me the truth and listen to me. And that’s you.”
Mint was resolute.
“Princess, please think about it more.”
“Answer now.”
Sometimes things don’t go according to plan.
There were patients to help. I understood her wish for me to stay near the palace, to stay nearby. But I never thought those feelings would be romantic ones toward Mint.
“I like the princess too.”
“See!”
Mint let out a death cry then rubbed her cheek against my face. She draped one arm around my neck and pressed close.
After hearing my answer, Mint gripped my hand so tightly it hurt. I awkwardly patted her back with one hand.
Mint swung her feet.
“Why were you so surprised, Teacher? I always thought you were pretending to be clueless while secretly building walls around yourself.”
I shook my head. That’s not true.
“No way.”
“Then what is it?”
I had to think carefully. I didn’t want to upset Mint by saying the wrong thing.
“I thought it was the feeling you’d have for a pet dog. A temporary emotion due to lack of life experience, unfamiliarity with gauging distance, actions done out of comfort.”
“Hmm, wrong!”
That’s right. I completely misjudged.
I sighed inwardly. Mint got closer again then blew into my ear, making me flinch involuntarily.
“You won’t run away, right?”
“Yes.”
The princess grabbed me painfully tight.
“This is too nice, what should I do?”
“I’ll do my best.”
I stroked Mint’s hair.
I wrapped my other arm around her waist. As my hand rested on her waist, the princess adjusted her position and hugged me tightly.
“One request.”
“What is it?”
My hair fell into my eyes. Mint was repeatedly kissing my cheek. There was no escape, no way to avoid it.
“Kiss me.”
I took the hand that was stroking her hair, parted her hair to hold her nape, and looked her in the eye again.
“What are you doing?”
I closed my eyes and slowly kissed Mint, who was waiting for me. As soon as I got close, Mint’s tongue touched my lips.
Even though my eyes were closed, I could feel the princess’s eyelashes brushing against my face. Mint grabbed the back of my head and continued the kiss.
Mint was clumsy. She seemed to not know what to do because she liked it too much.
After a long time, the princess finally let me go.
Mint stepped back to a distance where she could look me in the eye again, and the silver saliva thread connecting our lips broke.
“Ah… Teacher, stealing the princess’s first kiss. Such a grave sin. Shouldn’t you die?”
She had a playful expression.
“Don’t kill me please.”
“Hmm. Maybe if you serve diligently.”
I nodded.
“Do that again, whatever that was.”
“What exactly?”
I didn’t know what she meant, but Mint was still staring at me with bright eyes, from an impossibly close distance.
“That thing.”
“Oh, Princess is the cutest in the world.”
Mint tilted her head.
“Ah, right. Teacher, calling me ‘Princess’ feels too stiff. Isn’t there another word?”
“Mint is the cutest person in the world.”
“Hmm… Yeah, that’s better than calling me Princess.”
Mint quieted down while hugging me. The princess cuddled in my arms felt soft and warm. I could hear her gentle snores.
The princess seemed much calmer than before.
Still holding hands with me, intertwining her fingers while gripping tightly, still leaning on me, but…
“Teacher.”
“Yes.”
“Are you sure this is okay? It’s not like you’re reluctantly or pityingly accepting me, right?”
“You worry too much. No, I’m not.”
“Don’t pretend not to know later, okay? Can you hug me and stroke my head every day?”
“Yes.”
I was curious about Mint’s thoughts.
“By the way, are you planning to keep this a secret?”
“No way.”
“Ah.”
The princess’s answer was short. As if asking why I even asked such a question. Like the one asking was strange.
“Even if we don’t put up posters, we should make it obvious somehow. If I do that, maybe the stray cats who have their eyes on you will decrease by at least one, right?”
“Is that really something to worry about…”
“Yeah, there should only be one or two.”
Since she says so… There’s nothing more to argue about. Mint’s decision seemed firm this time. I just nodded.
“Starting today, we’re lovers, right?”
