Makoto watched Kenchi unpack. They had been in the room for a week already, but his bags hadn't been touched until today. Every once in a while, he'd look up and smile at her, or raise an eyebrow. Sometimes he just turned right back to his work and muttered something. Finally, Makoto sighed.
"You're so quiet," she complained. "It's annoying."
Kenchi shrugged. "So you like the kind of person who won't shut up?" he questioned.
"I like the kind of person who listens when it's appropriate and talks when no one else is," Makoto explained. Kenchi nodded and stood. Then he crossed over to the bed Makoto was sitting on and sat beside her. Instinctually, Makoto inched away.
Kenchi chuckled. "Do you want me to talk, or listen?" Makoto blinked.
"Well...I don't know," she muttered. "Hey...before you knew anything about me, what gender did you think I was?"
Kenchi blinked in confusion. Then he laughed. "I guess I'm listening, huh?" he confirmed, still chuckling slightly. "Well, of course I always knew you were a girl."
Makoto blinked. "Oh. Even though I look like a boy?"
Kenchi cocked his head. "Hm. Looks like a girl to me."
"Really?" Makoto gasped. "I mean...my dad wanted me to be raised as a boy, so I was. When I sing...you saw, didn't you? Most of the people who cheered were girls. They call me a Prince, but all I really want..." She trailed off. Kenchi was smiling and shaking his head.
"You're self-conscious, huh? It's alright. As long as one person knows the truth, right?" he said.
Makoto blinked. "Here's the problem—they all know the truth."
Kenchi stared at her for a minute before he burst out laughing again. "That's just wrong," he exclaimed between peals of laughter. "They know you're a girl, but they're still in love with you, or..." He stopped talking and held up a finger.
Makoto blushed. "I mean, I don't mind it too much anymore...it's still annoying, but as long as I have any fans at all, I should be grateful, right?" she murmured.
Gradually, Kenchi stopped laughing. "I'm really sorry about that," he said, wiping tears from his eyes. "It's just that I know so many people...you know, my sister suffers the same fate? It's actually funny to watch. The difference is that no one knows she's actually a girl."
"Why not?"
"She won't tell them. And she won't let us tell them either."
"Why no—oh...I think I get it. That's really disturbing."
"You're telling me? I know that full well."
Makoto laughed. "I guess I'm lucky I have you at least," she said fondly.
Kenchi blushed ever so slightly. "Oh...I suppose, Miss Makoto."
Makoto blushed too. "Well, I mean...you're...a guy...and, you knew from the start...that makes me unbelievably happy, y'know?"
Kenchi nodded. "I understand. Is it hard? You know...being raised as a boy?"
Makoto slowly nodded back. "Um...yeah, it is. Well, I get teased pretty often, but that's the least of my troubles. I'm just tired of people getting it wrong. I mean, having female fans and female friends isn't all bad, but a guy liking me every once in a while would be nice too," she admitted.
Kenchi laid his hand on hers. "I know where you could find one of those," he said quietly. "Um...I should finish unpacking. It was nice talking—er, listening—to you, Miss Makoto."
Makoto blushed. "Y-yeah," she stammered. "Um...I'm gonna go...shower. Yes."
Kenchi nodded. "Um...have fun..."
Why can't I stop blushing? Makoto thought. Kenchi...
For the first time in a long time, probably ever, Makoto had achieved a male fan. And based on the day's instances, she had a feeling it would spread beyond that. But despite all her waiting, now that this person had finally come, Makoto had no idea what to do.
"Miss Makoto?"
Makoto turned towards the door. "Hm?" she called.
"You've been in there for at least 45 minutes," Kenchi's voice replied. "And, um...I have to go to the bathroom..."
Makoto blushed and giggled. "Sorry. I'll be out in a second." Quickly she turned the water off and stepped outside. Grabbing a towel, she wrapped it around her body tightly and rummaged for her clothes. "You can come in...wait, no, you can't. Just a minute." Where are my pants? And my shirt?
"I can come in?" Kenchi's voice confirmed.
"NO!" Makoto shouted, louder then she meant to. "I mean...I'm still not dressed. Don't come in."
"Hurry up..."
"I'm trying!"
Finally, Makoto's hands found fabric and she pulled her shirt up from behind the toilet. How did you get over there? What the heck...?
After finding the rest of her clothes, Makoto proceeded to put them on. Before she finished, someone banged on the door. "Hurry up already! It's been almost an hour!"
"I'm almost done!" Makoto insisted. "Ugh, fine. Hang on." She crawled back into the shower and closed the curtain, then sat curled on the floor. "OK. Come in."
"Are you coming out?" Kenchi asked.
"I'm not wearing pants yet. No, I'm not coming out. I'll just sit here behind the curtain with my eyes closed until..."
"No. That's awkward. I'll stand here and you wrap a towel around your legs and get out here," Kenchi ordered. Makoto sighed and wrapped the towel around her legs after rising to her feet. Then she stepped out from behind the curtain and walked to the door, clutching her blue jeans in one arm. When she opened the door, Kenchi caught her wrist and yanked her the rest of the way out, then flung himself past the door and slammed it shut. Makoto allowed herself a moment to catch her balance before she headed in-between the two beds to guard herself from both doors and finished dressing. Then she just sat there and sang softly to herself. She didn't realize how loud she'd gotten, or that her eyes were closed, until she heard Kenchi saying, "You're good."
Her eyes shot open and she looked at Kenchi. He was gazing down at her with his one exposed eye and smiling slightly. When she stopped singing, Kenchi's smile faded. "Don't stop," he pleaded. "Keep going."
Makoto nodded and picked up her song, Meisou Mind, where she'd left off. Kenchi's eyes closed and the smile returned to his face. When Makoto finished, Kenchi had her sing something else, and something else, until eventually a miniature concert was taking place in their room, complete with dances and even costumes at a few points. Kenchi made requests occasionally, and at the end of each song he'd cheer and hold up a makeshift "I love you Princess" sign.
It wasn't until the last song (she decided to do Cheering Letter again at the end) that Makoto saw the sign with clear eyes. It took her a moment to realize that Kenchi had added those two extra "Ss" to her usual title.
It took her even longer to realize that finally, in the eyes of just one boy, she was a princess.