{My and Yamaguchi-kun’s New Year’s Resolution _ part 1}

“I think you’re my prince on a white horse, Yamaguchi-kun.”

In the midst of the bustling crowd, Yamaguchi-kun reached out and grabbed my elbow, saying, “You’ll get lost,” with a gentle pull.

It made me so happy that I confessed my thoughts to him, but Yamaguchi-kun looked taken aback.

“Huh?!”

He raised his voice in surprise, so I repeated myself.

“Like I said, you’re my prince on a white horse, Yamaguchi-kun.”

“Yeah, I heard you, but… why? And why now?”

“Well, you grabbed my elbow earlier. That made me realize it.”

The line of people heading for the first shrine visit of the year was so long it filled the narrow path completely.

I was trying my best not to bump into anyone or get separated from Yamaguchi-kun, but every now and then, I’d bump shoulders or step on someone’s foot.

Whenever I tried to avoid people, I’d almost get lost in the crowd, and each time, Yamaguchi-kun would pull me back to his side.

“That’s because you were spacing out, Satou-san,” Yamaguchi-kun said, sounding exasperated.

“Everyone around us is too busy to pay attention, so if you lose focus, you’ll get lost.”

He then lowered his face into the fur of his mod coat and muttered to himself, but still loud enough for me to hear.

“Calling me a prince just because of that… Satou-san, you’re being a bit dramatic.”

“Do you think so? I was happy.”

I wasn’t intentionally spacing out, but when there are so many people around, it’s hard to even move properly. I know I’m clumsy and slow, though.

That’s why being beside Yamaguchi-kun made me feel safe.

It made me genuinely happy that he was looking out for me so I wouldn’t get lost.

“And besides, this is the Year of the Horse.”

The crowd moved forward slowly, step by step, filling the narrow path. As I took another step alongside Yamaguchi-kun, I continued.

“So, calling you my prince on a white horse felt just right.”

“…Satou-san, you do say some really unexpected things,” Yamaguchi-kun sighed.

His white breath spread into the chilly air and disappeared.

“But I wasn’t a prince; I was just a mouse,” he said with a shrug, bringing up an old memory.

He was talking about the play we performed back in high school during the cultural festival. Yamaguchi-kun played the role of a mouse who got transformed by magic, not a prince.

“But you would make a great prince, Yamaguchi-kun.”

That’s what I believe.

Even if he had been chosen to play the prince, I think he would’ve played it brilliantly. He ended up being a mouse due to a lottery, so whether it suited him or not wasn’t a consideration—Yamaguchi-kun performed his role with all his heart. And that, too, was truly impressive.

Though it seems Yamaguchi-kun himself has no interest in being a prince.

Once again, he lowered his head and groaned.

“We’re not in high school anymore… I really don’t think we should be talking like this.”

“Did I sound childish?” I asked.

“Yeah, pretty much. Using the word ‘prince’ at our age… it’s kind of embarrassing.”

After he nodded emphatically, Yamaguchi-kun looked up at the sky.

The New Year’s sky was clear and bright, not a cloud in sight, and the blue stretched out dazzlingly.

“Then again, I suppose, with your childish way of thinking, it doesn’t seem so out of place,” Yamaguchi-kun added.

Hearing his words, I couldn’t help but let a shy smile spread across my lips.

Yes, both Yamaguchi-kun and I are no longer high school students.

But still, everyone I meet keeps saying, “You haven’t changed at all!” Though I’m a working adult now, I do wonder if I should start acting more mature. But trying to act more grown-up feels a bit embarrassing, and I can’t help but think it wouldn’t suit me.

Yamaguchi-kun, now a university student, has become even more fashionable than in high school. He looks much cooler now, so much more mature than when he used to wear the black school uniform from East High School. Sometimes, he even seems older than me.

But the reason I want to call him my prince isn’t that he’s more grown-up now.

I’ve always felt that way, even before I fell for him—long before, in fact. Yamaguchi-kun has always seemed like the ideal person to me. He was good at studies, sports, and everything else; he had many friends, and he was always kind to me, even though I was just a classmate. Compared to my clumsy self, who struggles with everything, he felt like he was from a different world altogether.

But then suddenly,

“…Oh!”

I suddenly remembered something and couldn’t help but exclaim.

Yamaguchi-kun looked at me curiously.

“What is it now? Did you think of something weird again?”

“N-no, it’s nothing.”

I hurriedly shook my head.

What I remembered wasn’t something weird. It was actually something very important.