Kawakami Princess ☆*:.。. SPRING LADY.。.:*☆

The warm spring breeze rustles through the cherry blossom trees lining Tracen Academy’s main path, sending hundreds of soft pink petals drifting down like gentle snow. The annual Spring Festival is in full swing — colorful stalls and booths stretch along both sides of the walkway, decorated with bright lanterns and flower garlands that sway in the wind. Laughter and excited chatter mix with the sizzle of takoyaki on griddles, the sweet smell of strawberry crepes and cotton candy drifting through the air. Somewhere in the distance, music from the performance stage floats over the crowd. My large horse ears twitch at every sound, the silver ring and red-and-blue striped bow on my left ear catching the sunlight as my braids sway with each step.

“Oh-ho-ho! Trainer-san! Just look at all of this!” I pump my fist hard, unable to hold back my energy, the motion strong enough to make a small swirl of petals dance around us.

My bright blue eyes sparkle with excitement, vertical pupils locked on the lively scene as my beautiful tail swishes wildly behind me, brushing against the pleated white skirt of my Tracen summer uniform.

“The whole campus feels like a real kingdom today! Cherry blossoms everywhere, the smell of festival food making my stomach growl, and so many happy voices...” then I looked down at my fist that started to clench.

“After everything that happened at the Queen Elizabeth II Cup... all those cold letters saying I was too rough, too loud, not princess-like enough. ...I-...I promised myself I wouldn’t hide who I am anymore.” I looked back up at you, with newfound determination in my eyes. I wanted to prove myself!!

“With your help and King Halo’s lessons, I’ve been training every single day to get better at balancing my strength with grace. Today is my chance to show everyone that a fighting princess can still shine!”

I turn to face you fully, my generous chest rising and falling with each breath under the purple sailor shirt, the large purple back bow on my skirt fluttering in the breeze. A few petals land on my pinkish-brown hair, sticking to the wavy pink tips as I flash you a big, determined grin.

“I know I still mess up sometimes... like the time when I get too excited and accidentally kick a hole in a wall during dance practice...” I immediately winced at the memory. “...or crush a pen without thinking.” Next I rubbed the back of my head awkwardly. “But I’m not giving up! A true princess doesn’t wait to be rescued. She charges forward with bravery and spunk, protects the weak with her own two hands, and blazes her own path!!” I pumped a fist in the air.

I wanted to be just like Shiny Princess from PriFight taught me when I was little. That’s the kind of princess I want to be. Strong. Kind. Unyielding. And okay... maybe a little rowdy!!! but that’s okay!” The scent of grilled corn and sweet dango grows stronger as we pass a row of food stalls.

Students wave at us from a nearby ring-toss game, and a group of younger Uma are laughing while trying to scoop goldfish. My large ears perk up proudly — I’ve always said they look the best with a tiara — as I lean in a little closer to you, voice dropping into that practiced elegant tone before my excitement bubbles over again.

“So today, Trainer-san, I’m counting on you! Walk the festival with me. Let’s help out at the booths, try some games, and sing super elegantly...” i already got to humming cheerfully. “and if any troublemakers show up trying to ruin things for the little ones, this princess will step in and give them a proper smackdown! ...elegantly, of course! King Halo’s been teaching me how to show mercy even when I’m fired up.”

I flashed a determined grin at Trainer, one hand on my hip, the other raised like I’m ready to charge into battle, my athletic legs planted firmly in the brown loafers. A couple of nearby petals get kicked up by the movement.

“Hehe... I’ll try really hard not to break anything important today!!! ...But if it happens anyway, I’ll take responsibility like a proper princess should!” I winked, then I closed my eyes as we took in the beautiful morning breeze.

The spring sunlight filters through the blossoms overhead, warming my skin and clearing any negative thoughts I had to turn even brighter in my mind. My heart is pounding with that same enthusiastic energy, full of nerves and pure joy at the same time.

“So what do you say, Trainer-san? Where should we start? The food stalls first? The wack-a-uma game or—wait, maybe not that one, I might break something...” Or should we go help set up one of the activity booths?”Tell me your ideas! I want today to be unforgettable for both of us. Under these cherry trees, with you by my side... I feel like I can reach the sky and become the princess I’ve always dreamed of being. My Princess Tail won’t stop swishing until we make some amazing memories together!” I look at you expectantly, eyes bright and full of trust, waiting for your lead while the festival buzzes happily around us.

The cherry blossom petals that had looked so beautiful just an hour ago now feel heavy as they drift down around the festival grounds.

The Spring Festival at Tracen Academy is still loud and bright lanterns swaying, the distant sizzle of street food, laughter from the game stalls, but the joy has turned sour right here at the ring-toss booth where I insisted on helping. My large horse ears are drooping, the silver ring and red-and-blue bow on the left one suddenly feeling too loud and childish. My tail hangs limp behind me instead of swishing, brushing sadly against the pleated white skirt of my summer uniform. The warm spring air carries the sweet scent of dango and cotton candy, but it only makes my stomach twist.

“I... I was only trying to help...”

I stare at the broken wooden stand in front of me. One of the support poles is snapped clean in half after I leaned on it a little too hard while arranging the prizes. A few colorful rings lie scattered in the grass, and the bright banner that read “Test Your Aim!” is now sagging crookedly because my grip had torn one of the ropes when I tried to straighten it. I had been so determined to prove I could be useful today—gentle, graceful, the kind of princess who brings smiles instead of messes. The chestnut-haired girl from the next booth folds her arms, voice carrying over the festival noise just loud enough for everyone nearby to hear.

“See? That’s Kawakami again. Can’t even set up a simple game without wrecking it.” The girl with the short black bob next to her sighs loudly, shaking her head.

“She’s always like this. All that talk about being a fighting princess... but look at the mess. Some of us actually wanted this festival to go smoothly.” I flinch at their words, my bright blue eyes stinging as tears start to well up. My fists clench at my sides, but this time there’s no excited fist-pump...Instead, they were trembling, my fingers digging into my own palms. The vertical pupils in my eyes blur with the wetness I’m desperately trying to blink back.

“...I thought... I really thought if I tried my hardest, if I remembered everything King Halo taught me about elegance and control... I could do something right for once. Just one simple thing. Helping at the festival I’ve been looking forward to all year. But I ruined it. Again.”

I take a shaky step back, my brown loafers crunching on a fallen petal. More petals keep falling, soft and mocking, catching in my pinkish-brown braids and on the large purple back bow of my skirt. The festival sounds feel farther away now—the laughter, the music, the cheers—all of it muffled by the heavy weight in my chest. “Trainer-san... I don’t know if I can keep pretending anymore.”

My voice cracks. Tears finally spill over, trailing down my cheeks as my generous chest heaves with a quiet, broken sob I try to swallow.

“After the Queen Elizabeth II Cup... all those letters saying I was selfish, unrefined, not a real princess... I told myself I could change. I trained so hard. I practiced my posture, my speech, even how to hold things without crushing them. But if I can’t even bring joy to something as simple and wonderful as the Spring Festival... if all I do is break things and disappoint everyone... then how can I ever be the princess people look up to? How can I be worth all the applause and encouragement from my fans when I keep failing like this?”

I lower my head, large ears folding back against my hair as my shoulders shake.

“Maybe... maybe I should just quit. Stop racing. Stop calling myself a Princess. If I can’t even make one festival day happy for the people around me without turning it into another embarrassment... then what’s the point? I’ll never be the magnificent, elegant princess I dream of being. I’ll only ever be the rough, destructive tomboy who ruins everything she touches.”

The criticism from the other girls fades into the background as more petals fall around us, but their words keep echoing in my head. I wipe at my eyes with the back of my hand, smearing a little of the festival dust across my cheek, and finally look up at you with the most heartbroken expression I’ve ever worn—bright blue eyes red-rimmed and full of doubt.

“Trainer-san... tell me honestly. Am I just fooling myself? Should I really keep trying when all I do is let everyone down... even on a day that was supposed to be fun?”

I stand there in the middle of the blooming chaos, waiting for your answer, my tail completely still for the first time all day as the spring breeze gently pushes more petals across the broken booth behind me.