A/N: Hi dearest readers~ This chapter is based on my least favorite chapter of Nisekoi, if you've guessed right and still haven't read that part yet then spoiler alert! For some reason, the piano arrangement of I will by Chelsy really goes well when reading this chapter so I suggest you listening to it for more drama! Hahaha! This chapter is not so long as my other chapters though, but I hope you enjoy reading!

"Your Imperial Highness, we needs must hurry!"

"They can wait, Mr. Tanaka," I muttered, distracted by my task at hand.

I looked at my assistant at the corner of the mirror as I straightened my tie. He was a man in his late fifties, assigned to me by the Imperial Household as he was assigned to my father when he was still young. I knew him ever since I could walk, and ever since then, I can never remember a moment when he was not by my side. He attends to my affairs and teaches me everything that I should know to become a good ruler someday.

And that would include, marriage arrangements. I didn't want to go to any more of this nonsensical meetings, but this one I'm attending is something that the Imperial Household strictly imposed on me. I'm not allowed to refuse them.

"B-But this meeting is crucial for the future of this country!"

I sighed as I turned to face the kindly old man. Placing both of my hands on his shoulders, I reassured him, "Don't worry Mr. Tanaka. They've waited for this opportunity for at least 17 years, they can wait for a few minutes more."

Mr. Tanaka's brows were still creased with worry, but he nodded. If it were just any other family, Mr. Tanaka would've just shook his balding head at me and leave me alone. The family that I'm meeting now has been consorts to the Imperial Throne since the beginning of the Heian period, so it's not wise for me to just ignore this tradition. It is Mr. Tanaka's responsibility to make sure I do attend this very important gathering.

I gave him a quick smile as I checked my phone for any messages. I emailed Onodera earlier to ask how everybody was doing and she usually replies immediately. My eyes lit up when her name appeared on my phone.

Chitoge-chan suddenly stopped coming to school and Yui-sensei told us she went back to America! Ichijou-kun and I flew to America to bring her back but her mother told us that she ran away again, and this time to Tenku Plateau! Everybody is going to take her home! We hope we'll be able to return with Chitoge-chan back with us.

"Mr. Tanaka, how many hours does it take to fly to Tenku Plateau?"

Mr. Tanaka raised his bushy brows and replied, "About an hour if we take our fastest jet."

"I'm going."

"B-B-B-But what about the engagement m-m-meeting?"

I took off the tie that I so meticulously made earlier and threw it on the couch. "Send my deepest apologies to the Fujiwara family. There won't be a meeting today."

"B-But!"

I threw a serious look at the shivering old assistant. When he met my gaze, he bowed profusely and wiped the sweat that trickled down his temples. "Y-Yes, Your Highness. The jet will be leaving in 15 minutes."

There won't be a meeting today nor any other day from this moment on. I have made my decision. I will seize control of my own destiny.

.-+-.

My eyes bored through the impenetrable glass of the private jet and onto the wide fields of the quiet province below. 30 minutes have passed and we are about to descend to a little town that was closest to Tenka Plateau. Somewhere down below were my friends. I sighed as I rest my cheek on the back of my hand. If what the reports the others told me are true, this is the place where that damned promise was made. I chuckled as I prepared for landing. And this was the place, where everything comes to an end. I'm sure, deep down in my heart, I am certain, that today's the day they will finally stop telling lies.

The Chrysanthemum Seal took a few attention of some bystanders and they crowded on the people who left the plane first. Luckily for me, I slipped out even before they could notice. I asked the local people if they have seen foreigners who just arrived today, and they informed me that there was indeed a group of teenagers who split up in search for a blonde girl that also came in just a day ago. I thanked the townsfolk and immediately walked around further into the open fields.

After walking for a little while, I saw Shuu and Miyamoto who were deep in conversation. So, Miyamoto also took this opportunity, huh. Those two are polar opposites, but they certainly looked good together. I'm glad that Miyamoto had finally admitted to herself that she has growing feelings for Shuu. I smiled at them as I went on without saying hello. I walked for another few meters and I chanced upon Tsugumi and a silver-haired guy—who was always stalking Kirisaki—engaged in a heated battle, so I left them alone as well. I wouldn't want to unnecessarily injure myself. By the looks of Tsugumi, she wanted to prove something to this guy.

20 minutes into the plateau and I decided to take a short break so I sat myself under the shade of a huge rock. The heat was getting to me and my legs ached for walking around all day. I grinned proudly at myself as I watch the clouds pass by. To think I've cancelled an important engagement meeting and used an Imperial private jet just so I can go to this place. A few years ago these actions would be unthinkable. I would be at cram school right now, studying or taking mock tests for the college entrance examinations. Or maybe I would be at the engagement meeting with the family of my future wife.

I am a prince. I was born and bred for different things. The moment I breathed into this life, my destiny was not mine.

But, here I am now. Miles from school, from the engagement… Miles from everything that I am.

And it was all because I fell in love with a girl.

"Ichijou-kun. You're my first love. I like you. And I always have."

My eyes widened. I felt my heart stop functioning. Time seemed to have suspended as well, the moment her gentle, tender voice rang clear across the fields. There was a moment of silence.

"I'm sorry. At a time like this…"

They're here? Who knew I had come so far… So, it's really happening. Onodera finally confessed to the guy she liked for many years. The shy Onodera… My Onodera… I'm happy and proud that she gathered enough courage to face her fears and confront the wall that's been towering over her for the past few years at last… but… It's still painful. Knowing that the girl you like confess to the guy who equally likes her…

However, if I could see Onodera's smile again, nothing really matters, I guess. I… I feel like my chest is crushing my lungs. I can't breathe… My hands are shaking… I closed my eyes as I grabbed my chest. Breathe…

"Why is Ichijou-kun crying?"

Huh? Raku is… Are those tears of happiness? I want to know. I slowly peeked from the rock I was hiding from but when I saw Onodera's brown hair wave in the wind, I immediately returned to my original position. I can't see. No, I don't want to be seen. I shouldn't be here in the first place. But, more importantly, there's a feeling of dread inside me that's eating at my gut, making me feel nauseous. Those tears… Could they be ones of regret? Is he crying because he just realized how Onodera had tried hard to repeatedly show her feelings for him after all these years? If I'm correct, then it could only mean one thing…

"I like you too Onodera. I've always, always liked you. Since Junior High. All along… I liked you Onodera."

Ah. There it is. I can feel it in his voice. Remorse. Shame. Pain. It was all there. I curled my hands into fists. My fingers dug so deep into my palms that I thought blood could flow from them. Don't do it, Raku. Don't you dare do this to her. She's loved you all her life! It was always you whom she watched with her hopeful brown eyes. I don't care if she doesn't choose me. But, please! Don't do this… If you do this… She… Onodera… Onodera will be broken.

"Okay, thank you. I knew just now. I'm really happy. Really… But, not anymore, right? There's someone else in Ichijou-kun's heart right?"

Onodera. My cringing heart almost leapt from my chest as those words registered in my head. She understands. She knows what he meant but she still… Onodera… You've grown strong. Even if you loved him all this time, you're still willing to let him go. I'm so proud of you, Onodera.

"Yeah."

"I see. Here, take this. I remembered who the girl of Ichijou-kun's promise is, but I think I'm not suited to hold on to this anymore… Even I don't remember what was inside it but I'll leave it up to you to decide what to do with it. Now, go. I'm sure she's waiting."

"Okay, I'll be back. Onodera, thanks."

With this, everything is finally over. It may be painful from the start, but from now on, Onodera's going to be okay. She'll be able to breathe freely. She'll face the morrow with a smile on her face. Onodera is strong. I've witnessed that strength now, and I'll continue to watch over her. It has ended, at last.

"Kosaki. Ah~ Found you, found you at last, Kosaki." Ah! Miyamoto and Shuu has already caught up. They must've not noticed me hiding behind this rock. Thank goodness. It would be awkward if they did. "Eh? You're alone? What about Ichijou-kun? Did you find Chitoge-chan? Kosaki?"

"Well, Ichijou-kun went to meet Chitoge-chan."

I froze when I heard her voice broke at the end of her sentence.

"You…"

"It's strange. It's not so sad… as I imagined. I thought I'd cry much more. I don't really understand my own feelings." My heart began pounding as I stood from where I sat and walked away from the boulder to stand, facing the girl I love. "Ruri-chan, what kind of expression am I wearing now?"

The moment I saw her face, everything blacked out. Thousands of thoughts and feelings raced across my head in frightening speeds, making me unable to think coherently. My body had acquired a mind of its own, a mind that acted out based on pure instinct, on the raw emotion that's overwhelming me. My consciousness slipped into the darkness as I trudged forward. I think Shuu stopped me, but my arm forcefully pushed him away. I can hear muted, incomprehensible shouts calling me, urging me to stop as I moved forward. Only forward. There was nothing in front of me, but my body knew it had to go forward. To reach that certain person. That person…

"STOP OWADA-KUN!" I can feel someone tugging on the sleeve of my shirt. "Please… just stop…"

Ah. I lost it. When I saw her grief-stricken face filled with tears, I lost every control I had, every anger that has piled up inside me because of their stupid situation. This… This is not me. I chuckled bitterly as I covered my face with my right hand. What's this? Tears… Ah, I cried. For the first time in a long while tears showed up in my face again.

"Two years ago, Spring, April 1…"

"Eh?"

I removed my fingers from my face and watched the clouds pass by as I reminisced.

"That was the day was when we first met… You probably don't remember. I bought candied sweet potatoes and I came upon the old playground where nobody visits in forever… and you were there." When she dropped her grip from my sleeve, I breathed hard. The refreshing cool breeze took all of the anger, the frustration, the loneliness, the pain, all of it, away from me and flung them far, far away. "It's unusual to see different kinds of animals gather at one specific location, especially when some of them are natural enemies; but, I think they see something in you that just brings them together regardless of their nature. Ever since that day, I never forgot about you. I almost regularly visit your store to buy sweets. I follow you and your friends in festivals. I visit your school when there are events. I never approach you though because I was nobody. I just continued to watch you on the sidelines. I know it's creepy, and it did come to my mind how pathetic I must be, but I can't stop myself from being closer to you."

"What a time to confess huh?" An awkward laugh came out of my lips as words from my heart just overflowed. What am I saying? Here I was, about to beat the living daylights out of the guy she has loved for years and then in the next moment, I'm confessing all my pent up feelings about her. It was a good thing she stopped me, because I wouldn't be able to forgive myself if I hurt my friend, no matter how severe an asshole he is. Now, with my mind cleared, I just wanted to say the truth. Confess the fact that was so deeply rooted in my being. "We've only known each other for a short time, but I'll never forget you. I don't have any kind of special locket and key, but I'll never leave you. I don't want to make promises because they always seem to be broken, so I'll just try my hardest to be a person that can be worthy of you. I… I want to stay by your side… always."

"I won't force you into anything right now. I understand that it's not easy to forget someone you've loved all your life," I said softly as I turned towards her with a gentle smile. She looked up at me, traces of her tears shone brightly against the sunbeams that enveloped us like a halo. I boldly wiped off the tear drops that glistened on her chin and stared deeply into her hazelnut orbs. "I'll come back to you after I pass my college entrance examinations, and I hope, even if it's a little chance, that you consider me then."

When I see her nod, I smiled at her again, patted her head and walked past by her to help Shuu stand up. I apologized and he seemed to take it well.

Thoughts were still racing my mind as I walked back to our private jet up until I dropped on my bed, exhausted. Who knows what will happen from here on out, but I now have a clear goal in my mind. I have to pass my college entrance exams and make Onodera fall in love with me. The first part is relatively easy, but as for the second one…

Heh. No matter. Since Raku has made his decision, there's no reason for me to hold back anymore. I can be very persistent. Now, more so because I can finally state my intentions out in the open.

I'll find my way to her heart. Because this is, after all, true love.