The Hallway
Damn it, I had to get out of there.
Shit—she knows I was lying. Shit. She looked so cute I had to stop myself from blurting out anything she wanted to hear.
Calm down. Calm down.
Wait—did I just ditch her?
I grab my head. Aaaah, I ruined it. Damn—wait. She hasn’t left yet. Maybe I can still salvage this.
Panic mode. I slam open the sliding door.
She jumps, staring right at me.
“Please excuse me for today. I really need to leave.”
I can’t look at her directly.
“Why?”
“Toilet.”
She brings a hand to her mouth, blushes.
“Take your time… Oh, and I’ll see you on Tuesday.”
I bow, then sprint out of there.
Toilet. Seriously, dude? Stupid brain—can’t you think up one decent excuse? Damn you.
I screech to a halt.
Tuesday afternoon—wait. What’s Tuesday afternoon?
What does she mean?
…
I made a date.
AAAAARGH, why me? Why!?
Wait. She said yes.
I fist pump into the air.
Then I notice I’m in the middle of the reception hall. Everyone is staring.
I look around, fist frozen mid-air. Slowly lower it. Smile nervously.
“I take it it went well,” someone says.
I turn. Shannon. Of all people.
Run.
I bolt.
The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.
“WAAAIT!”
I do not wait.
The Following Morning
Shannon
On my way to my morning meeting, I decide to stop by Roka’s room. I need to know how it went. I mean—who just runs off like that?
I’m a bit early. Perfect.
I knock gently and open the door.
“Excuuuse me. Coming in.”
Empty.
I start closing the door—
“Mmmmm…”
!?
Wait. Is she still in bed? No way.
I rush over.
“Princess Roka?”
I shake her gently.
“Leave me alone.”
HUH!?
“Okay—wait, what happened?”
She groans and drags the covers over her head.
“Nothing.”
“This isn’t nothing.”
I sigh and sit beside her.
“Roka, take your time. Talk to me.”
She slowly lowers the covers until her face peeks out. Eventually she sits up.
She puts a hand over her face.
“I blew it.”
I pause.
“You mean the interview?”
It can’t be… After that fist pump?
She nods.
She removes the covers fully and pats the bed beside her. I sit. She leans her head on my shoulder.
“I don’t understand. We started off awkward, but then things were going great. Then suddenly he stonewalls me. Then I think he lied, but I misunderstood. Then he lied again—for real this time—and ran away.”
“Girl. Details. Now.”
A bell rings.
Oh SHIT. I’m late!
I try to stand—she yanks me down.
“Okay okay! Ah— I know! Let’s go talk to your father. He might know what to do.”
She looks up at me. I don’t have time to think. No choice.
I grab her hand and pull her out the door.
The King’s Office
We arrive. She follows quietly like a lost puppy.
I kick open the door.
“AH! My king—good, you’re alone. We need to talk immediately.”
The king looks up. I step aside, revealing Roka behind me in her pajamas, shoulders slumped, eyes down.
“Roka!?”
I drag her inside. The king presses a switch; I close the door. The red privacy light clicks on outside.
I sit her down.
“What happened?” the king asks, brows tight.
“I blew the interview.”
He steeples his fingers.
“Tell me everything.”
She explains. Slowly. Painfully. Embarrassingly.
…
…
“Whew.”
The king exhales in relief.
Then he looks at me—and the temperature in the room drops.
“Shannon. Fetch Sir Kaijuu.”
Roka panics. The king raises a hand and she settles down again.
I look at the king’s face.
Oh no. I sprint out.
I pass confused ministers. Slam the door shut again.
I’m almost at Ryu’s room—ah, there he is, walking this way.
“SIR HERO!”
Before he can react, I grab his hand.
“This is an emergency. Come with me!”
He stumbles at first, then matches my pace easily.
…His level must be over 200 if he can keep up with me.
We arrive. The king is standing outside—he must have dismissed the ministers already.
“Sir Kaijuu,” the king begins, “forgive me, but I need to know something urgently. Firstly—how was the interview?”
He bends over, catching his breath. Gestures for a moment. Stands upright.
“I think it went fine. Why do you ask?”
“You see, my daughter has misunderstood some things. To clear them up, I would like to reveal the details of your betrayal to her. Would that be acceptable?”
He thinks.
“I mean… what’s done is done. I can’t change that now. And thank you for asking me first. I agree.”
“Good.”
The king enters the room. I move to follow—
He stops me with a hand on my shoulder.
Then closes the door.
…
A few minutes later, the king exits.
Then Roka comes out.
Roka and Sir Hero lock eyes.
“AAAH!”
She jumps back inside and I hear the door lock.
Her frantic breathing is audible through the door.
Ryu makes a face like Ah, I get it, shrugs, and walks off.
…
Wait.
What betrayal?
What happened?
Why is she suddenly okay?
I need DETAILS, girl!
I exhale, knock.
“He’s gone.”
Roka emerges—still red like a tomato.
I could ask… but she won’t answer.
She leaves.
AH! I’m late! Back to work!
I hurry inside and switch off the red light.
