Chapter 6: Too Obvious

The princess ran to her friend, Lady Noi.

Noi may have been the same age as the princess, but the lady had vast wisdom on things that the princess had long forgotten because of Venita's curse.

Princess Sunako had long forgotten what it felt like to be in love, but now the feeling—though she did not recognize it—had returned.

The princess knocked on the lady's door and was allowed inside by Lady Noi's mother…

Elsewhere, the black knight—the prince—was having the exact same dilemma. He had never been in love himself. Every moment he closed his eyes, he could see her…

Venita stared at the image of both the black knight and the princess. She snarled and stalked away. "There has to be a way to stop him," she muttered to herself.

"But, my lady," a fairy said, "Not even King Kira could stop the black knight; nor could Lady Misa."

Misa was the maiden that was captivated by the King.

Venita glared at the fairy who cowered before her gaze. Venita sat on her throne, tapping her perfect nails against the arm rest of the chair. "That is true," she said. "But then what to do?"

"Why not strike the princess again?" the fairy suggested.

"That would be the ideal," Venita said.

An idea struck the witch and she stood. Without a word, she swept past the fairy and descended down into the catacombs of her palace where her workshop was.

Sunako sat on Noi's bed, hugging her knees.

Noi stared at her hands, which were folded on her lap. "It sounds to me," Noi said, "that your crush escalated to unrequited love."

Sunako looked up at Noi. "But that's impossible," she said. "Is it?"

"No, it isn't," Noi said. "You're describing things that I sometimes feel when I'm near Takenaga-kun or even when I'm not. When you're near him, you feel happy, you sometimes can't stop smiling and you're looking forward to spending time with him, right?"

Sunako nodded.

"And when you're away from him, you sometimes feel empty?"

Again, Sunako nodded. "It feels like a hole in my chest," Sunako said. "And yet, when I'm near him, sometimes I realize how fast my heart is beating. But I'm not in love."

"Yes, you are," Noi said.

"But I can't fall in love again!"

"Why not?"

Sunako looked away.

"Oh…you're scared of rejection again?"

"It really hurt the first time. And he's a teacher. He could get in trouble."

"But didn't you say that teaching was just a hobby of his?"

"Yes. He got a license for it, but it's just a hobby. He has a better paying job—you should have seen his car."

Noi rolled her eyes. "Well, I'll go with you, but only to support you afterwards if it turns for the worst," she said, grabbing the new school directory. Noi stood and took Sunako's hand. "Let's go find his place."

Venita gathered her ingredients together and began to concoct a new spell.

The fairy came down. "Lady Venita! Lady Venita!"

"What?"

"It's bad! Very bad," The fairy chirped. "You have to come upstairs—to the Mirror, the Mirror!"

Venita set her ingredients back on the table and ran upstairs, back to the Mirror.

Sunako looked behind her at Noi who gave her a thumbs' up.

Sunako felt adrenaline rush through her body. She was shaking all over. She gathered her courage and knocked on the door.

An old man answered. "May I help you?"

"I…I'm looking for my teacher. I think he lives here."

"Of course, come in," the man stood aside. "I'll let him know you're here, Nakahara-san."

Sunako stepped inside and was taken to a living room. She took a seat. Her heart was pounding madly. She was certain she was going to be hurt again.

"Nakahara-chan."

Sunako jumped and looked behind her.

Sensei came up and sat next to her on a different couch. "Are you alright?"

"I…I…"

He waited patiently, staring at her. Sunako looked at her hands.

"I'm sorry, Sensei, I guess I'm just a foolish little girl to you, but…but I…"

"I love you, too," he said. Sunako looked up.

"How did—"

"You're readable," he said. "I could tell the moment I saw you sitting there."

Sunako bit her lip and looked away.

Sensei moved to sit next to her and cupped her chin, gently forcing her to look at him.

"I'm—" Sunako's words caught in her throat when he kissed her.

Sunako's eyes widened, her heart pounded quickly, and heat rose inside her.

No…I'm not going to get a nosebleed, she urged. I don't want to pass out. Not when I'm with him…not when I'm with Sensei…

Though she still felt warm, she had indeed stopped herself from getting a nosebleed.

Venita approached the Mirror. "Tell me what's happened," she demanded.

"To tell would not be enough, but to show thee would increase thy ire against their love." None the less, an image appeared. The black knight had the princess in his arms, kissing her lips in a sweet, chaste kiss. Venita's rage boiled. "Thy spell is broken," the mirror said. The image vanished, "Commends to true love's kiss."

"True love's kiss?" Venita growled, "True love's kiss?!"

She slammed her fist into the Mirror with enough force to shatter any old, regular mirror. Yet the Mirror did not break.

"Vent your ire elsewhere dear lady," the Mirror said. "I only speak the truth which only rarely may remedy."

Venita screamed and strode away. "I WILL KILL THAT PRINCESS WITH MY OWN HANDS IF I MUST, BUT SHE WILL DIE!!!"

Sunako left the house and approached Noi, who looked fearful—as though expecting Sunako to come out in tears.

"How'd it go?" Noi asked.

Sunako blushed and touched her lips. They were still burning from his touch.

Noi's mouth dropped. "He kissed you?"

Sunako nodded.

"How'd it feel? I mean, Kyouhei kissed you before, but every time, you passed out with a nosebleed."

"I almost did get one," Sunako said, "Almost. I had to focus all my will power not to get one."

"But how did it feel being kissed like him?"

Sunako gave it some thought, "Like flying. I felt like I was flying after I had stopped thinking about getting a nosebleed. It sort of vanished from my mind after a minute."

"Did you kiss him back?"

Sunako nodded.

"Then why do you look sad?"

"Because I don't know what's going to happen next?"

"You never do," Noi said, hugging Sunako. "But you'll be alright."

"But…"

"But nothing," Noi said. "You still have a whole group of friends that will support you if anything goes wrong. Come on, let's go get some ice cream."