Antonio stood in confusion and blinked, looking down at the two mochis in his hands. He beamed and started up another conversation. “Arthur?”
“Oui..” Francis sighed, finally letting the Spaniard hear his voice.
Antonio nodded, tilting his head at the other mochi. “Who are you, by the way? You don’t sound like anyone I know.”
Francis looked up, a bit surprised at the kindness so far. This is the longest he’s gone without getting hurt after meeting someone new. “I am Francis Bonnefoy, prince of France! I’m here on certain businesses and somehow got caught up with that magician…”
The Spaniard blinked, tilting his head the other way. “But… If you’re the prince, who was that at the party?”
“I do not know!” Francis cried. “But you have to believe me that I am the real prince!” He was taken back a bit when he was given a laugh as a reply.
“Don’t worry, amigo! I believe you~! Stranger things have happened at this school since Arthur transferred here, you know.”
“He’s right, you know.” Jenny said, glancing at the prince. She’s been around long enough to witness some pretty crazy stuff herself.
Francis nodded, believing the two. Alfred joined then once more, dragging a worn out boy behind him. “Found him!”
The boy had black hair and was quite short compared to the rest. He was holding his chest and breathing heavily to desperately regain his breath again. “I am not in any shape for this sort of work…” He panted. His accent made it obvious that he was Japanese.
“So Kiku! This is Jenny and prince-dude in the forms I was telling you about. Think you can help them?”
Francis made a face at the nickname his was given. ‘Prince-dude? Oui, I want to be treated like everyone else but that’s just an insult…!’
Antonio held out the two mochis as Kiku leaned close and inspected them. He looked surprised, but eventually getting used to it, himself, as well. “Well… I certainly didn’t believe you at first, Alfred but… this is quite tricky seeing it now.”
“Can you help us, Kiku…?” Jenny asked, giving him big pleading eyes.
Kiku sighed, straightening himself and folding his arms across his chest. “I’ve helped with fixing Arthur’s tricks before but I’m not so sure about this one if it turns into a chain reaction. This reminds me of that story, though… ah… princess and the frog?”
If Francis had his hands, he would have smacked himself. “Ah! Of course! With me being a prince, I have to kiss a princess! No wonder it didn’t work with you.”
“Oh, and I couldn’t pass for a princess?” Jenny replied, glaring at the other mochi.
“Q-Quoi?” Francis asked, sweating and regretting his words again. “I-I mean, I didn’t mean it like that…!”
“Well.” Kiku interjected before another argument broke out. “Maybe this time it’s different since… there aren’t really any princesses around. I think this might be a true love’s kiss sort of deal.”
“So I have to kiss my amour?” Francis asked, looking back at Kiku and escaping Jenny’s judging look.
“Exactly.”
Francis beamed. “That should be easy~!”
“Yeah right.” Jenny replied, quite bitterly again. “You may make girls fall in love with you, but you’ll never truly love one with all the going around you do.”
Francis stared at her, thoroughly shocked. But… perhaps she was right. He never has fallen for someone before. And he certainly hasn’t ever had someone tell him the truth like that before.
“You just…” Jenny turned away and looked down. “You’re frustrating for a prince. I thought they were supposed to be gentlemanly. Not… self-centered.” She hopped down to the ground out of Antonio’s hand. They watched her hop away, Alfred staying where he was since he knew it was safer to have Jenny be alone when she’s like this. He turned to Kiku and talked to him, walking inside the dorms once more. Antonio stood where he was, Francis still in his leftover hand.
“So, amigo!” Antonio beamed, trying to lighten the mood. “Who is your lucky chica~?”
Francis was still staring in the direction Jenny hopped away when he replied, slowing turning to Antonio as he replied. “I think mademoiselle Jenny is right, Antonio. I’ve never fallen for someone. I don’t have a ‘true love.’”
Antonio blinked and tilted his head, thinking. “Hm.” He broke out into a grin. “I don’t think it’s too late to change that, amigo~” He put down the mochi and faced him in the direction of Jenny. “Perhaps this can be your chance~?”
Francis looked up at Antonio in shock. He tried to deny but he paused when he felt an odd feeling that he never felt before. He turned back and nodded, hopping off after his mochi companion. If he wasn’t crazy yet, he sure was now for what he was doing. For once he was chasing a girl instead of a girl chasing him.
