Just a Anti-Hero

Hi there, thanks for asking first. I don't mind if you wish to translate my story. In fact, I'm surprised there are people who still read them. I haven't been really active in writing as of late. If I'm correct, the story you're talking about is "Secret" right? Although I can't be much help when it comes to translating, let me know how the project goes. I enjoy reading comments from the readers. Thanks for the support!

So…yeah. It’s been…a year??? Over a year??? That I have been gone and haven’t written anything for my stories. Anyway, no promises that I will get them back on track, but hey, who knows. I hope everyone had a good time during the holidays and wish you the best for the new year. Just gonna drop this here so you all know that I’m still alive (and yes, I do read all the comments I still get about writing my other stories). Thanks for your support!

-Xero

P.S – if anyone wants to talk about random stuff, I got a Tumblr and Discord account, just shoot me a message on here or on Tumblr

DISCLAMER: I DO NOT OWN LOVE LIVE CHARACTERS

My Princess – Ch. 20

Paring: Honoka x Umi

Rating: K

Notes: Requested by Guest

xXx

“If we are born again, in our next life, will you allow me to be by your side again?”

“…mi-chan…earth to Umi-chan? UMI-CHAN!” The loud shout in her ear startled Umi from her daze. Amber eyes widen in reflex, but quickly glared at the blue-eyed ginger who was currently pouting at her. She released her puffed cheeks and frowned, unhappy that Umi was not paying attention to her. “Geez, I’ve been calling you for a while now you know.”

“I apologize for not paying attention…but was it really necessary to yell in my ear Honoka?” Umi pointed out.

“Well, how else was I supposed to get your attention? You seemed like you were lost in Lala Land.” Honoka avoided eye contact, until suddenly, a wild idea popped in her mind. “I should have just kissed you!”

The ginger nodded to herself as if that was the most natural approach to get Umi’s attention. “That’s shameless!” Umi could feel her cheeks turning red. Honoka couldn’t help but grin at the reaction. Although her life was on the line, she could never help herself from not teasing her girlfriend. After all, Umi could never really stay mad at Honoka for long.

“Sooooo, whacha doing?” Curious blue eyes looked at Umi. They wanted answers for being ignored from earlier.

“You know how I was asked to write the play for our class right?” Umi received a nod from the ginger. Honoka was the one that gave the others the idea of using Umi’s writing. She knew Umi had always had a way with words. Umi had always been praised for her poems despite the other arguing that they were shameless. “Well, I’m stuck. I don’t know if I really want to end the story like how I did.”

Now that was something you don’t get to hear everyday from Umi. Because this was THE Sonoda Umi. Honoka had always believed that Umi could do anything. Well, sort of if you don’t count the many times Umi fainted from thinking about doing things that couples do.

“Honoka, are you even listening?”

“Huh?” The ginger gave a sheepish smile and rubbed the back of her head. “Hehe, oops.” Her response earned a small sigh from Umi.

“Why don’t I help you out then?” Blue eyes sparkled with anticipation. “Maybe, if you let me read what you have, I can give you some ideas!”

“That’s…” The blue haired girl blushed and mumbled the rest of response. “embarrassing…”

“Aw come on, it can’t be that bad.” Honoka was already looking though the other’s bag to find the manuscript. Despite the many refusals Umi was giving Honoka skimmed though the papers. Umi crawled into a fetal position and hid her face behind her hands.

Silence filled the orange colored classroom. The soft echoes other students practicing outside soon began to fade as the sun continued to set. Umi peeked from between her fingers to look at the other. To her surprise, Honoka was reading her script intently, which usually never happens because it would take just a few words before she fell asleep. Was her script that good? Or was it that bad? It wasn’t long before Honoka set down the pieces of papers followed by closing her eyes and crossing her arms.

“Is it that bad?” Umi couldn’t help but ask.

“What made you think of this kind of story?” Umi was stunned at the way Honoka was looking at her. The calmness in the other’s blue eyes gave her goosebumps, but behind that calmness, there was a hint of sadness. No, more like longing.

“Umi-chan?”

“A dream. I’m not sure when it started, but I would often dream of similar events. Almost as if it was me living in that story.” Umi smiled at Honoka. “Strange isn’t it.”

“I love you.” The sudden confession caused amber eyes to widen. Umi could feel her cheeks heat up as embarrassment filled her mind. Before Umi could give a proper response, Honoka stood up and hugged the taller girl. She hid her face in the crook of Umi’s neck and took in the other’s scent.

“Should I change the story?” At first, Umi was stunned, but quickly she wrapped her arms around Honoka to comfort her.

“No, because you wrote it…but it’s sad…” Honoka pulled away but kept her arms around Umi.

“Sorry.” The tender moment was interrupted by a sudden growl from Honoka, earning giggles from both girls. “Let’s go home, it’s getting late.”

“Umi-chan, I want to spend the night at your place tonight.”

“We still have school tomorrow Honoka.”

“Pleaseeeee~” The shorter girl pursed her lips and begged like a puppy. Eventually, Umi gave in and it was decided that she would spend the night at the Sonoda household.

xXx

“You look good Umi-chan.” Both of her childhood friends smiled while the said person attempted to control her hot cheeks.

“Why exactly am I playing as the knight again?”

“Because you know the character the best.” Honoka answered.

“And you look dashing in the outfit I made.” Kotori beamed while she did some extra checks to see if all the measurements fit Umi. All the blue haired girl could do was sigh because she knew that this was their plan from the very start. There was no way out of this because everyone in the class had already agreed to it. “Don’t worry, if you get cold feet Honoka-chan will help you out.”

Umi felt all the blood drain from her face. That’s right, being one of the main characters in her play meant that she would have to be on stage more than minor characters. Suddenly, Umi felt the world was spinning too fast for her.

“Ah…did ya have to remind her about that Kotori-chan? I think she’s broken.” The two wondered when would their childhood friend ever get over her shyness. Being one of the most popular second-years at their school, one would think that the girl would be used to having all eyes on her.

“Anyway, it’s time for our main heroine to try on her dress.” Kotori quickly changed the subject. Honoka then kinda knew how Umi was starting to feel whenever the taupe haired girl gave that certain smile of not letting her prey go.

It wasn’t long before everyone was preparing for the school festival. While their class did go through the play and practiced at school, Honoka decided to stay at Umi’s to get more practice in and, of course, try to get Umi to not die out of embarrassment.

On the day of their performance, the whole audience was full. Chattering from excitement filled the auditorium. As their classmates were running around to make sure everything was ready to go, Umi sat in the corner writing the character for ‘person’ and swallowing it to relieve her of stage fright. Honoka decided to peek around the curtains and saw their friends sitting in a small group together. The amount of people there gave her a rush of excitement, but it was quickly turned down some notches when she saw some other girls holding signs with Umi’s name. It wasn’t quite the secret that Umi had a fan club, and although Umi urged Honoka to not worry too much, it still made her a bit jealous that other people were looking at her girlfriend.

“Is everyone ready?” One of their classmates wanted to doublecheck with all the actresses before letting them have the stage.

“YEAH!” Everyone shouted to get their spirits up. If you listened hard enough, you could hear Umi weakly in the background.

Honoka took Umi’s hand and smiled. “It’ll be okay, you’ll do great as my knight.”

“Yeah.” Umi could only helplessly smile back at the girl with the bright personality.

xXx

Tears were streaming down the faces of many people sitting in the audience. Even those that where there for the practice runs for the script were crying even though they knew what was going to happen. The heated duel between the princess and her knight had everyone on the edge of their seats. Little did they expect the skilled knight to purposely lost the fight just to protect the princess one last time.

Umi gently caressed Honoka’s cheek and acted out the death of her character. When exactly did she forget out being watched by others? She forgot when she was so absorbed into Honoka’s acting. It was almost as if the ginger was the princess herself. The final scene was supposed to end with Honoka holding Umi in her arms and showing sorrow for her lost, but the words that were whispered into her ear resonated inside of her.

“If we are born again, in our next life, will you allow me to be by your side again?”

The curtains came down to end the play. Umi opened her eyes and found Honoka wiping away tears streaming down her face. Before Umi could ask if she was okay, the rest of her classmates came up to them to congratulate the success of the play and the story Umi had written for them. It wasn’t long before as large smile was plastered across Honoka’s face.

Afterwards, the students at Otonokizaka were enjoying their time of the after-festival. Umi had separated from her friends to go look for Honoka. Of course, before she left, some of them commented on her to be careful of not getting caught doing ‘naughty’ things, which obviously, ended up with Umi shouting at them for being indecent.

Umi walked around the school to see where the ginger had disappeared off to. Searching every possible place Honoka would go, Umi ended up on the school rooftop. There, Honoka was staring at the sky filled with stars that were hard to see accompanied by the bright moon.

“Honoka?” Umi walked up to the other, wondering what she was doing up here alone and not with the others.

“I’m sorry…” Umi was confused at first but was surprised to see Honoka holding back her tears when she turned around.

“Why are you apologizing? The play was a success, right?”

“I hurt you so much.” Honoka grabbed Umi’s shirt, clenching tightly at her abdomen, the area where Umi was stabbed. Umi stood there silently while the other did her best to hold back her sobs.

“You…remember now…don’t you?” Umi cautiously asked the question and earned a nod from the other. It wasn’t long before Honoka’s legs gave out that made Umi even more worried. But instead of panicking, she decided it was best to hold her close. “Thank you.”

“Why? Why are you thanking me when-” Honoka’s sentence was cut short when Umi pressed her lips against Honoka’s. The ginger was too shocked to comprehend what had just happened.

Did Umi really just kiss her? Was she dreaming? Heck, Honoka was even beginning to think that she died.