That morning felt different from usual.
Sunlight slowly streamed through the bedroom window, illuminating Yuzuki’s face as she lay on the bed.
Her eyes gradually opened, but her expression immediately changed when she realized something—she was on the bed, not where she remembered being last night.
The memory came rushing back.
Before she knew it, tears began falling from her eyes.
Her sobs were quiet, but they were enough to wake Kiyotaka, who was sleeping beside her.
He quickly opened his eyes and saw Yuzuki lowering her head as she cried.
“Yuzuki-chan… what’s wrong?” he asked gently.
Yuzuki tried to hold back her tears, but her emotions had already overflowed.
“I… I had a dream,” she said between sobs.
“I dreamed that you… left me. Because there was another girl who was better than me…”
Kiyotaka fell silent for a moment before immediately moving closer and embracing her.
“I would never leave you,” he said firmly.
Yuzuki slowly shook her head.
“That’s a lie…”
Kiyotaka took a deep breath, then held her shoulders and looked directly into her eyes.
“You are the Queen I need. Not the most perfect girl in the world, but the one who’s perfect for me.”
Those words gradually calmed Yuzuki’s tears.
She looked at him with eyes still wet from crying.
“Sorry… I guess I was worrying too much…”
Silence filled the room for a moment.
Yet deep inside Yuzuki’s heart, the question still remained.
Am I really worthy of standing beside him…?
As if he could read her thoughts, Kiyotaka spoke again, his voice firmer than before.
“I’ll always stay with you. Because you’re the best Queen I’ve chosen.”
At last, Yuzuki smiled faintly.
“Thank you…”
She quickly got out of bed and left the room, trying to distract herself by preparing breakfast.
Meanwhile, Kiyotaka simply let out a sigh before getting ready himself.
On the way to school, things returned to normal.
Nagumo and Fumino were still arguing, as if they could never truly get along.
Their differences always turned into small quarrels, yet somehow they continued walking together.
Meanwhile, Ryen and Arisui seemed to be enjoying their time at school.
Their high school days were almost over, and they chose to treasure every remaining moment.
The moment Kiyotaka and Yuzuki arrived at school, the atmosphere changed.
Everyone’s eyes turned toward Kiyotaka.
“King.”
Yuzuki, walking beside him, remained silent.
Around them, several girls began whispering, while others openly approached him.
That feeling surfaced once again.
Jealousy.
Inside the Student Council room, things were no less lively.
Nagumo immediately decided to use the reward he had been promised.
“I want to make peace with Fumino as soon as possible.”
Kiyotaka nodded.
“Alright.”
However, Fumino wasn’t about to lose.
“Then until we reconcile, you and Yuzuki will handle the Student Council positions.”
Kiyotaka accepted that request as well.
Before anyone could say anything else, Kuze suddenly entered with a serious expression.
“I want to use my reward too. Help me confess my feelings.”
The situation suddenly became strange.
Kiyotaka raised an eyebrow.
“To who?”
“Yuna.”
Kiyotaka began analyzing the situation.
After asking a few simple questions, a small smile appeared on his face.
“She likes you too.”
Kuze froze.
“Go see her now. Behind the school.”
Without hesitation, Kuze immediately ran off.
Not long after, they actually witnessed Kuze and Yuna meeting… and confessing their feelings to each other.
Yuzuki turned toward Kiyotaka.
“How… did you know?”
Kiyotaka answered casually.
“I paid attention.”
A while later, Manabu arrived with an unusual request.
“I want my waifu to become real.”
Kiyotaka stared at him blankly.
“Try getting admitted to a hospital first.”
In the end, Manabu settled for asking Kiyotaka to buy him a character body pillow instead.
Everyone seemed happy with their own affairs.
Yuzuki.
She had started avoiding eye contact with Kiyotaka.
Noticing this, Kiyotaka approached her and gently took her hand.
“I won’t leave you, Princess.”
Yuzuki fell silent.
Then a small smile slowly returned to her face.
“Alright, Kiyotaka-kun.”
During lunch break, Kiyotaka was called behind the school.
A girl confessed her feelings to him.
But without hesitation, he rejected her.
“I already have a girlfriend.”
His heart was certain.
And so was his choice.
Not long afterward, Yuzuki arrived.
She looked at him silently before speaking.
“So… you really can be trusted.”
But she wasn’t finished.
“If you were in Aizen’s position… what would you do?”
Kiyotaka answered without hesitation.
“I might sacrifice you temporarily… but I would never truly hurt you. Because I would never allow myself to end up in that position.”
Yuzuki smiled.
Yet one final fear still lingered within her.
“I’m afraid… that you’ll use me.”
Kiyotaka looked at her seriously.
“I won’t manipulate you. Because we both know the truth—I like you, and you like me.”
He stepped a little closer.
“Understand, my Queen?”
For the first time that day, Yuzuki smiled wholeheartedly.
The jealousy that had troubled her all day finally disappeared.
“Come on,” she said softly.
“Let’s go back to the Student Council room.”
Kiyotaka nodded and walked beside her.
This time, not as a King.
But as someone… who chose to remain by his Queen’s side.