Himemiya Chikane looked curiously at the screen of her mobile phone. It wasn't that she actually needed to see the message from Kurusugawa Himeko again; the words were short and easily comprehensible. She just didn't understand why her girlfriend wanted her to do what she'd asked.

Chikane-chan, could you pick me up at Cafe Milano at 4:15 and please be at your most princessy?

She had a pretty good idea what Himeko meant by "princessy"; it was second nature for Chikane to play up being the heiress of the absurdly wealthy, thousand-year-old Himemiya family. Usually, though, Himeko didn't like it when Chikane did that. The lifetimes they'd shared together had taught Himeko that "Miya-sama" was a pose, a veneer Chikane used to push away human contact. Himeko always liked to draw out "Chikane-chan" instead, to encourage Chikane to relax and share her genuine feelings. She'd been elated when they'd met again in this life and she'd found that Chikane had a group of close, true friends she was willing to let down her guard with.

So why the request?

Still, it was easy to comply with.

It was 4:14 when Matsuzaka, the Himemiya family chauffeur, steered the vintage Bentley limousine into a parking space directly in front of the cafe. Despite its fancy name, it was actually a sweet-shop popular with the girls in town, specializing in pastries, coffee, and Italian ices. The Bentley was Matsuzaka's baby; while he efficiently drove Chikane's parents in the more modern limousines and luxury sedans they used in the ordinary course of living, he exulted in any excuse to drive the fifty-year-old luxury piece. When Chikane had requested it—if Himeko wants "princessy," that's what she'll get!—she'd seen the thrill of happiness in his eyes at once.

While she waited for Matsuzaka to come around and open the door, she scanned the streetside tables out in front of the cafe. On a sunny spring afternoon, many people had chosen to sit outside, and her sun was among them: a cute girl wearing a simple white sundress with a silver ribbon in her reddish-blonde hair. As always, Chikane's heart melted upon seeing Himeko again, and her breath seemed to catch in her throat.

But who was the other girl, the one at Himeko's table, with the short brown hair, that Himeko was talking so animatedly with?

~X X X~

"So then Kana-chin tripped over the hose and when she hit the ground her bag opened and about six volumes of whatever yaoi pornfest she's reading now spilled out. So Abe, being Abe, goes off on how shameful it is to have such interests and how being a fujoshi would shame Kana-chin's family, and so on...and then Hajime-kun just up and slapped Abe right across the face! Then he started chewing her out about how Kana-chin was a good person and only a shallow, ignorant loser would judge someone based on their hobbies."

"That's so sweet!" Himeko said.

"Then he helped her pick up her books and things and left Kana-chin all starry-eyed for the rest of the day. So after school she met him at his shoe locker and confessed to him, and now they're dating. It's like one of those 'I've got a fujoshi girlfriend!' manga, except she hasn't tried shipping Hajime-kun with any of his friends yet. So you're not the only one who's had some luck in love—hey, whoa, check that out!"

The brunette was reacting to the Bentley limousine that had glided into place right in front of the cafe like something out of Hollywood or foreign royalty. The uniformed chauffeur came around and opened the door, then assisted his passenger out. Chikane, Himeko saw, had that fixed expression of gentle serenity on her face, and was wearing a sapphire-blue dress with a knee-length skirt and trailing black sash that must have been a designer original that cost a small fortune.

A waitress hastened forward at once, recognizing Chikane and assuming the car and her manner meant Serious Business.

"Himemiya-ojousama, it is an honor to have you here. May I find you a table?"

"No, thank you, as I will be joining Kurusugawa-san; however, if you would be so kind as to bring me an iced lemonade?"

"At once, ojousama!"

Chikane walked in stately fashion between the cafe tables. Even though the people of Mahoroba all knew her fairly well, she still seemed to be exuding a magnetism that caused heads to turn and eyes to follow her path. One young man passing by even added a comic touch by walking head-on into a light pole and nearly falling over, he was so busy watching her.

The brunette grabbed Himeko's arm.

"Himecchi, she's coming towards us!" she exclaimed.

In another moment, Chikane arrived at the girls' table.

"Good afternoon, Himeko," she said, using a ladylike gokigenyou. "Would you introduce me to your friend?"

The seated girls rose.

"Of course. Chikane-chan, this is Matsuri Hana-chan, one of my friends from when I lived in Chiba. Her family is taking a weekend trip in the area, so she came up to Mahoroba to see me. Hana-chan, this is Himemiya Chikane-chan..."

"It's a pleasure to make the acquaintance of one of Himeko's friends," Chikane said.

"I'm honored to meet you, Himemiya-san," Hana babbled, actually stunned into bowing deeply over Chikane's hand.

"...my girlfriend," Himeko finished up, then burst into giggles.

Hana's eyes went wide as saucers and her jaw sagged open. Her head swiveled back and forth between Himeko and Chikane (who was now grinning, understanding Himeko's message at last). "She's...you...you mean...her and..." she babbled, the summed it up with, "Holy frag, Himecchi."

"You should see your face, Hana-chan!" Himeko choked out amongst the laughter.

"So this is why you wanted me to play up the whole 'Himemiya princess' display?" Chikane asked, also chuckling.

"Mmn! I just couldn't resist showing you off!" She leaned up and gave Chikane a quick peck on the lips. "Um, I know we'd planned to go to karaoke tonight with Arisu-chan, Arrow-chan, and Saya-chan, but since she can only be in Mahoroba for one day, can Hana-chan come too?"

"Of course. The more the merrier, with a karaoke party."

"Oh, excellent," Hana said, rubbing her hands together and grinning evilly. "I admit, you got me good, Himecchi, but when my turn comes to pick your song, my revenge will be complete."

"Hmmm, perhaps we should compare notes, Matsuri-san?" Chikane said, smiling. "Did you know that the karaoke club has costumes?"

"Oh, really?"

"You guys!" Himeko wailed, but her smile completely gave her away.

~X X X~

Guide to Gratuitous Japanese:

-chin: No, that's not a typo, just a cutesy version of the more common "-chan."

fujoshi: Literally "rotten girl," meaning a female otaku, especially one who's into yaoi/BL (this was the original meaning exclusively, but now has been extended to include a broader spectrum of otaku, not just BL fans).