Prologue
The White Rose Princess.
That was the nickname of Yuki Arisugawa.
When I first heard it, I thought it was quite a good choice. It was the perfect combination to represent her appearance and personality.
She was half-Polish, inheriting her beauty from her mother. Her hair was a silvery white, like threads of pure silver. Her sapphire-like eyes were framed by long lashes, and her flawless, porcelain-white skin bore not a single blemish.
With the refined features of Eastern Europeans combined with the baby-faced charm unique to the Japanese, she looked like a life-sized doll.
Her face exuded a dignified air, yet her petite stature created an endearing gap that stirred a protective instinct in others.
If you asked a magic mirror who was the fairest of them all, her name might just be the answer.
And just like that, men were drawn to her, gathering around her like bees to nectar.
---
"Arisugawa-san, wanna catch a movie with me sometime?"
During a break, a boy from another class approached her, holding a movie flyer.
"Who are you?"
"Segawa. We sat next to each other during the elective class last time, remember?"
With a casual grin, Segawa placed the flyer on her desk.
"Going alone is kinda depressing, so I'm looking for someone to go with. How about it?"
The flyer was for a romance movie rumored to be a tearjerker.
"I can work around your schedule, so is there a day that works for you?"
Not bad, I thought. By asking for her availability, he was making it harder for her to refuse—a tactic used by those well-versed in flirting.
However—
"I'm not interested."
Without even sparing him a glance, she rejected him flatly.
"Ah, so you're not into romance movies. What kind of movies do you like, Arisugawa-san? Tell me!"
Undeterred, Segawa tried to keep the conversation going, relying on his sociable nature.
"My apologies. It seems I wasn't clear enough."
For the first time, she looked him in the eye, her voice calm but firm.
"When I said I’m not interested, I wasn’t talking about the movie. I meant you."
The sound of something metaphorically shattering echoed in the air as Segawa's face twisted in disbelief.
It was probably the first time he’d been so thoroughly rejected in his life.
"R-right… got it."
Mumbling, he trudged away, his steps unsteady.
Her mercilessness, her sharp tongue—that was her thorn. Anyone who approached her with ulterior motives was cut down like that.
She was like a pristine white veil, untouched and untouchable. Beautiful as Snow White, but with the thorns of a rose.
That was why she was called the White Rose Princess.
"Well, there goes another casualty."
"Think anyone in this school can actually win her over?"
The boys who had watched the whole exchange shook their heads, their gazes filled with pity for Segawa.
"Someone who can win her over, huh…"
I stood up from my seat and walked over to her.
"Hey, Arisugawa. About that movie—"
"! Come with me!"
Before I could finish, she stood up abruptly, grabbed my arm, and dragged me out of the classroom.
She didn’t stop until we reached the stairwell leading to the rooftop, a place with little foot traffic.
"What do you think you’re doing?" she demanded, irritation clear in her voice.
"What do you mean?"
"Don’t play dumb. You promised you wouldn’t tell anyone we went to see that movie together!"
"I know. I wasn’t going to tell anyone."
"Then what was that just now? There were people around!"
"Oh, that. I was just going to ask if you signed off on the student council request for the movie club’s DVD player repair."
"Th-the movie club…"
Her face turned bright red. It seemed she realized her misunderstanding.
"W-well, you should’ve said so sooner. Don’t make it so confusing."
"Sure, sure. Keeping our friendship a secret from the class, right?"
"Make sure you’re careful! I don’t want any weird rumors spreading."
"I wouldn’t mind, though."
"I mind!"
Pouting like a child, she stuck out her lips, making me chuckle.
She had a side to her that only I knew.
The secret of the White Rose Princess—the cool and unapproachable girl who was actually a bit clumsy and scatterbrained once you got to know her.
I knew her favorite food. What kind of movies she liked.
Her favorite animal. Her type in a partner.
And I also knew that her modest figure was destined to develop significantly in the future.
Why did I know so much about her?
It’s simple.
Because someday, she’s going to be my wife.
