Seiji was a quiet boy, never had much interest in anything but his music and sketches. He was always immersed in either the music room or the art room after school and his uncle’s studio on the weekends. Despite this, he had good friends and was a completely different person than the usual one he projects everywhere else when with them.

One day, his best friend, Aki, had an idea, loud and boisterous as ever. At fifteen, he never really did get to outgrow five.

“Let’s go to the palace!" he whispered this conspiringly to their small group of four. It was a cloudy summer day, no homework, no school, and absolutely nothing to do. "I heard there’s a foreign princess that’s staying with the royals. The guards say she's a gem!”

The boys nodded enthusiastically and began walking to the palace. Royal visitors were rare in their small sea kingdom and anyone seldom left the isle. A familiar voice called out to Seiji as he passed his father's store.

“Seiji, wait. Take these balloons, hand them out to kids. We made too many.” For what, Seiji didn't know but nodded anyway and took the balloons from his father.

He walked leisurely, almost lazy, until he caught up to his waiting friends. They were speculating about the foreign visitor, rumoured to be a rare beauty even among princesses, until they reached the palace. He tied the balloons to his wrist, all six bumping into each other in the breeze.

There, an old friend was stationed at the gate and let them pass. She gave each of them a bright smile as they walked passed her. Seiji hung around the back, silent yet observing, and softly returned the guard's smile. He got bored and after they tried to sneak past the garden, he started thinking of a new song.

While doing so, he came across a small yet comfortable looking house. There were two cats, black and white, lazing under an open window.

He smiled a small smile at the sight and left his eyes travel up until he met someone's gaze.

A girl—enchanting, beautiful, delicate—was staring at him.

(And he stared back.)

She wore a simple black gown with flowers in her pinkish-white hair. She had big green eyes, seeming both sad yet curious. Her blank expression didn’t change, yet her head tilted to the side a bit.

She was silent.

He was silent.

After a moment, she pointed to his balloons.

He quirked an eyebrow. Took a quick glance at his wrist. Looked back at her.

Her eyes seemed to ask him, may I have one?

He paused, then nodded. Removing three from his wrist, he held them out for her to take. Her eyes widened in surprise and looked panicked, almost as if saying, only one!

Yet she still reached out and took a balloon. He let go, thinking she took all three, and two balloons floated to the sky.

She looked at him, eyes sad and apologetic. “I’m sorry." she said. Her voice was quiet, as if she was scared to disturb the garden's quiet.

“It’s fine.” he replied, equally so.

A rustling of bushes and the girl’s eyes widened. She turned to him, whispered a “goodbye” that the wind carried, and went inside the house before Aki popped up from the shrubs.

“Where were you?” he asked, looking stern. "We were looking for you."

“Got lost.” Seiji muttered, eyeing the house before meeting Aki's eyes.

“The princess isn’t here yet, it seems." he sighed, then pouted. "Let’s just go back. Yui’ll help again.”

“Alright." Aki disappeared into the bushes.

Seiji turned to leave, but looked back at the balcony. The girl was outside again, staring at him again, but this time, holding the balloon’s string close to her chest.

Their eyes met and he paused.

Belatedly, he thought that this person might be the princess.

“Seiji?” Aki called from the other side of the shrub.

He broke eye contact.

“Coming,” and Seiji dove into the mass of greenery, not bothering to look back.

It was a shame, that he didn’t see the small smile to quirk her lips and the blush that dusted her cheeks.