For the rest of winter break, Satoshi and I stayed in Galar Academy for the holidays. My mother was disappointed that I didn't come home, but she understood when I explained that I wanted to stay with my new friends and my boyfriend. Satoshi and I began to still meet secretary by meeting at night when Jessie is asleep so that we can still be alone together.

Later, after the spring semester started, the two of us and May, Drew, and Dawn devised a plan to create a study group so that I can still help Satoshi with school work. Jessie was skeptical, but when Drew promised that he will keep an eye on us, she agreed on the condition that we studied in one of the school libraries so that we are seen in public. Thus, the five of us would study together in a library near the theater after rehearsal for Spectacular, Spectacular, and Satoshi had to spend time with Princess Miette. Satoshi, Dawn, and I started to become good friends with Drew and the green-haired host started to secretly grow close with May. The two of them never did anything in private because Drew still feared for his job, but May began to lower her defenses and believe that he does like her romantically.

It wasn't long after May, and I finished the secret song for Satoshi and me that I had completed the entire script. Thus, rehearsals became better organized with Sonia helping the cast with lines, music and choreography while Iris and the tech crew set up lights and sets. Harley and his people worked endlessly to make all of the costumes and figure out makeup for the entire crew. It was clear to us that underneath his frustrated and stressed demeanor during rehearsals, the flamboyant man was having the time of his life. As the semester went by, the show was becoming more complete and word about it was spreading throughout the entire school. Everyone in the art program was ecstatic with the play's growing popularity while Jessie and Princess Miette were relishing in the profit they were going to make from it.

As for Satoshi and me, our relationship was going stronger than ever. Despite having less time to spend together privately apart from secretly meeting at night, our love was burning bright without fail. We treasured our Christmas presents in secret as if a part of each other was still with us through them. And whenever Satoshi and Dawn were singing our secret song during rehearsal, Satoshi would glance at me and I would secretly sing back as a way of declaring our love for each other. We still didn't know what to do with our situation with the princess, but all in all, our plan to stay together was working and we couldn't be happier for it.

But for all of our joy, there was still trouble for me revolving around Calem. Despite being told not to by Jessie, he started taking advantage of the fact that we had to see each other constantly at rehearsal to keep pursuing me. Time after time, I would coldly reject him, and all of my friends would help, but he kept trying as if he simply needed need to keep rolling the dice until he got the right number. Worst of all, it was his stubborn obsession to obtain me for his wretched desires that things began to go wrong.

It was the last week of April, and the premiere of Spectacular, Spectacular was a week-and-a-half away. Everyone working on the show was both excited and nervous about how the show was going to turn out after spending so much of the school year to get it ready. Even Clemont was feeling less nervous with Bonnir's help. Having never seen the whole play from beginning to end yet, Princess Miette ordered a full rehearsal for her to watch before our first showing it to the public. Thus, shortly after school was over for the day, everyone went to the theater to get ready to perform for the princess. But as the hosts were putting on their costumes in their dressing room, Calem was acting agitated which Paul and Drew quickly noticed.

"Did you make a move on Serena again?" Drew asked.

Calem did nothing but look away from Drew coldly, which was all the green-haired host needed for an answer.

"When are you going to knock it off?" He asked. "She must have told you no a thousand times by now."

"I don't care how many times she has rejected me," Calem growled. "I must make her mine."

"Why?" Drew challenged. "There are literally dozens and dozens of beautiful girls in this school - many of which are your most loyal clients in the host club. Heck, I'm willing to bet most of them would throw themselves at you if you say the word. Why are you so persistent in getting with a virtuous girl who is not interested in any way?"

"Because she's the one I want," Calem snarled. "I will not give up on having her, least of all, while Satoshi keeps protecting her. That git has stolen many girls from me, and I will not let him take this one."

Paul let out an amused snort and said, "You might be a little too late with that, Calem."

Calem and Drew turned to the purple-haired host and the former asked, "What are you talking about?"

"Oh, nothing," Paul said with an uncaring shrug. "It just seems strange how Serena and Satoshi spend a lot of time alone together in the fall semester, and they've been glancing at each other a lot during rehearsals."

Drew's eyes widened in horror while Calem looked at Paul suspiciously.

"What are you saying?" Calem asked. "Is Serena with Satoshi?"

"I'm not saying anything," Paul said with a shrug. "I'm just thinking out loud."

Calem stared at Paul, who turned around and continued putting on his costume. Drew was still looking at the purple-haired host in horror before turning to Calem.

"Don't listen to him, Calem," he said. "Paul's just messing with you. Besides, we all know that Jessie promised Satoshi to Princess Miette. Why would Satoshi risk his chance to be with the princess just to supposedly be with Serena?"

"Maybe he thinks Serena is worth perusing no matter the obstacles just like Calem," Paul suggested. "Plus, it's likely that Satoshi thinks himself invincible at this point. After all, he's an illegitimate child of a wealthy family who has become beloved by countless girls as a host and is probably going to marry the princess herself and become the prince. What does he care about any danger when he wants to snog another pretty girl on the side?"

Calem looked down at the floor and thought hard before his suspicious look turned into a look of anger. He silently finished putting on his costume and stormed out of the room. Drew waited until the black-haired host was far away and gave Paul a hard glare.

"What was that?" He rebuked. "Jessie ordered us to tell anyone what we saw."

"I didn't tell Calem what we saw," Paul said in a matter-of-factly tone. "I merely gave him suggestions on what could be going on between the guy he hates and the girl he wants."

"But he could tell the princess about the two of them," Drew said. "Think of the problems that could cause on Satoshi and Serena, maybe even the show."

"I could care less about any of that," Paul said. "I'm only doing this stupid play because Jessie made us do it. Besides, if the princess decided to stop the show or something like that, then maybe Dawn will quit showing off her role as the lead female character."

Drew stared at Paul in disbelief and said, "I knew you have always been a cold person, Paul, but this cruel even for you."

Paul rudely scoffed and walked away, saying, "Save it for someone who cares, Drew."

Drew watched the purple-haired host exit the dressing room, still shocked with what just happened. It took a moment before he grabbed his backpack and took out his phone to text May about what just happened until the door burst open to reveal Jessie already in her costume.

"Drew, what are you doing?" She asked impatiently. "We need to be on stage in two minutes."

"Uh, yeah, I'll be right there," Drew said. "Just give me a moment to -"

"Now!" Jessie barked.

Intimidated by Jessie's demeanor, Drew quickly obeyed, putting his phone back in his backpack and followed her out of the room. As he reluctantly followed his boss, he tried to figure out a way that he could warn May, Dawn, Satoshi, and me about what Paul just did.

********************************************************************

Sadly, Drew wasn't able to warn us as Princess Miette watched everyone the entire show. He couldn't talk to Satoshi or Dawn since they were on stage most of the time and he had to be on stage for his role as one of the royal guards whenever they were off stage. Even after the first act ended, he couldn't speak to anyone because the princess wanted there to be no intermission, so everyone had to start act 2 right away.

But while Drew was unable to contact the rest of our friends or me, Calem took advantage of the fact that he wasn't needed on stage very often. During the second to last scene, he snuck off the stage and went to the front row seats in the auditorium where Princess Miette was watching the play. I was also watching the play a few rows behind with Sonia when I noticed Calem walking towards the princess. I wondered what he was doing there when he whispered something into the princess's ear. She turned to Calem with a bewildered look, and Calem acted like he accidentally said something before he walked away, heading back to backstage.

Princess Miette stared at where she last saw him before turning to Satoshi and Dawn, who were on stage and then turned her head to me. I quickly looked away from her, pretending to be watching the show, but I could feel her gaze on me. After several seconds, she turned back to face the stage, and I looked back at her, trying to figure out what Calem was telling her that would make her look so surprised. I considered for a moment that it might have to do with Satoshi and me, but I decided against it since Calem didn't know about us to my knowledge.

I soon put my curiosity in the back of my head as the cast moved on to the final scene. The entire cast was in front of a large set of the entrance to the prince's royal palace. Satoshi and Jessie are standing on center stage, facing each other while Clemont is standing in front of them in priest clothes. Calem is standing next to Jessie with an evil grin on his face, and Bonnie was standing next to him in her sitar costume with a wooden face. The rest of the cast were standing on opposite sides of the stage, facing Clemont, Jessie, and Satoshi. Dawn and Kenny, where in the crowd facing Satoshi as Clemont was chanting a prayer. Dawn was looking at Satoshi bitterly as the sitar player while Kenny stood beside her to be there for his friend.

After chanting the prayer, Clemont turned to Jessie and said, "Your Highness, do you take this man to be your lawfully wedded husband? Will you love and honor him in rich or poor, sickness or in health, for better or worse for as long as you both shall live?"

Jessie grinned and proudly said, "I will."

"No, she won't!" Bonnie shouted.

The crowd gasped and turned to the little girl dressed as the sitar.

"Silence!" Calem hissed.

"The maharani will never love the prince!" Bonnie shouted. "She lies when she says she will love him!"

"So what?" Jessie growled in annoyance. "I am the maharani, the most powerful person in the region, and the prince will want for nothing as my husband. Love has nothing to do with it."

"I only speak the truth!" Bonnie shouted. "If you have all the riches and power in the world and don't have love, you have nothing, but there is no greater blessing from The Lord than the ability to love!"

I smiled at Bonnie saying her last line as the crowd on stage looked around and whispered to each other. Dawn as the sitar player frowned and looked away from Satoshi's direction, still acting bitter over the prince's deception. But Satoshi as the prince looked down in shock, realizing his mistake and turned to Dawn. With a soft wave of his baton, Cilan signals the violinists, a guitarist, and May on the piano to begin playing soft music before Satoshi walked slowly walked past Jessie and Clemont and began to sing.

Never knew I could feel like this

Like I've never seen the sky before

I want to vanish inside your kiss

Every day I love you more and more

Everyone on stage except for Dawn acted confused as they watched Satoshi slowly walk over to her. The blue-haired girl's bitterness started to fade, and she slowly turned to Satoshi with a look of surprise.

"What is going on?" Jessie asked in irritation. "Why is he walking over to that pissant? I told him that I will have her killed if he didn't marry me."

"Because he can't stop himself from loving her," Bonnie answered. "The prince's love is so strong that he has accepted that he would rather risk both he and the sitar player being executed than live a lie where she believes he doesn't love her."

Dawn let out a gasp at Bonnie's words, and Satoshi gave her a warm smile as he took both her hands and continued singing.

Seasons may change, winter to spring

But I love you until the end of time

Come what may

Come what may

I will love you until my dying day

Dawn stared at Satoshi in awe before she gave him a heartfelt smile. Jessie and Calem looked at them dumbfounded while Kenny and the rest of the cast began to smile, touched by the prince's act of love. Satoshi then puts one of his hands on Dawn's waist and put her free hand on his shoulder, and they started to dance as they sang together

Suddenly the world seems such a perfect place

Suddenly it moves with such a perfect grace

Suddenly my life doesn't seem such a waste

It all revolves around you

And there's no mountain too high

No river too wide

Sing out this song I'll be there by your side

Storm clouds may gather

And stars may collide

But I love you until the end of time

Come what may

Come what may

I will love you

At this point, Jessie and Calem as the maharani and the vizier respectively, are furious that the couple they tried to tear apart are back together. Jessie let out a frustrated scream as she turned to Drew, Paul, and the other hosts dressed as the maharani's guards.

"Guards, arrest them at once!" She demanded. "I want the prince chained to the altar and that sitar player's head on a platter!"

But instead of obeying her command, the guards stared at the prince and the sitar player in awe, as if their moment of love put them under a spell. Jessie and Calem stared at the guards in shock as they realized the guards' fear and devotion to the maharani have disappeared. The guards walk past the two antagonists as the rest of the cast formed a half-circle around Dawn and Satoshi. The music grew louder, sounding triumphant, and Sonia and I smiled and joined the cast as they sang the rest of the song.

Come what may, (I will love you)

Come what may, (Yes, I will love you)

Come what may

I will love you until my dying day!

With the song over, the rehearsal was over. Sonia, me, and everyone on the stage were feeling proud of how the performance went. But our moment of happiness was crushed when the princess stood up from her seat and cleared her throat.

"I don't like this ending," she said bluntly.

Everyone turned to her confused except for Calem, who had a mischievous grin on his face.

"You don't like the ending?" Sonia asked, confused.

"Yes," Princess Miette said, turning around to look at Sonia and me. "Why would the prince chose the sitar player over the maharani? Once the prince is satisfied with the sitar player, he will discard her and rule his kingdom a womanless man. The maharani, on the other hand, is offering him a life of luxury, power, and pleasure for the rest of his life, and together they will rule their merged kingdom with utter surety. That's real love. I suggest that in the end, the prince chooses the maharani."

Sonia and I looked at Princess Miette flabbergasted, unable to believe she would suddenly say this after knowing the ending to the show the entire time we were creating it. I began to wonder if Calem somehow did learn about Satoshi and me, and what she's saying is coming from what she told her. Unaware of the possibility, Dawn and Bonnie stepped up to contradict the princess' comment.

"Forgive me, Your Majesty, but that isn't what the show is about," Dawn said.

"Yeah, that goes against the message of freedom, beauty, truth, and especially love," Bonnie said.

Princess Miette frowned and said with an annoyed growl, "I don't care about what you two think my play should be about! Why shouldn't the prince choose the maharani?!"

"Because he doesn't love you!" I shouted.

Suddenly, all eyes were on me. My eyes widened, and my mouth hung agape, shocked with what I just said. In all my frustration for the princess critiquing my ending, claiming that the show belongs to her and fear that she might know about my secret relationship, I unwittingly said those five words as if she was attacking Satoshi and my love for each other. Satoshi, Drew, Dawn, Bonnie, and May were looking at me horrified while Sonia, Cilan, Kenny, Octavia, Iris, and the rest of the cast and crew looked at me confused.

"I mean 'her.' He doesn't love her," I corrected. "And Dawn and Bonnie are right. All of that is what the show has always been about."

Princess Miette raised an eyebrow at me, unconvinced with my correction. It was too clear that I may as well have shouted out loud that Satoshi and I are dating behind her back. She kept staring at me suspiciously until she smirked and let out a light chuckle with her mouth closed.

"Fine. If that's the case, then let's do something about it," she said before turning to Sonia. "Sonia, we are going to change the ending where the prince chooses the maharani and I want the lovers' secret song completely stripped from the play. The ending will be ready by the night after tomorrow."

The cast and crew gasped and whispered among themselves over Princess Miette's command. Even Jessie was surprised by her sudden decision. I did nothing but stand in place helplessly while Sonia looked at the princess, horrified.

"T-t-t-the night after tomorrow?" She stuttered. "But Your Highness, the premiere is nine days from now. There's no way we can have a completely new ending ready by then."

"I'm not asking you, I'm telling you," Princess Miette said firmly. "I don't care how you do it, I want my ending ready by then."

Satoshi grew worried about what was happening at that very moment. He was watching Sonia try to protest without overstepping her bounds to the princess, and then he looked at me. He was afraid that if he didn't do something, Princess Miette might take things further and cancel the show altogether. He thought as quickly as possible how to save the show until he got an idea and put on his best condescending smirk.

"Oh, honestly, Sonia, have you no heart?" He said.

Everyone turned to him as he started walking off the stage and headed toward the princess.

"Honestly, it's obvious that poor Miette is offended by all of this defiance," he continued. "It's clear that Serena and her friends are letting their silly imaginations get the better of them."

I looked at my boyfriend, appalled by what he just said. I didn't know if he was being sincere or pretending to be disdainful toward my friends and me. Princess Miette looked at him skeptically until he wrapped his arm around her waist, pulled her towards him, and caressed her cheek, giving her a kittenish look. My heart ached at the sigh while the princess gasped and her cheeks heated up at Satoshi's actions.

"Now, I think we can come to an agreement about this matter," Satoshi said with a soothing voice. "Why don't we have a little supper later tonight and afterward, we can tell Sonia how we want the story to end?"

I wanted to shout out "no," at his suggestion, but I kept my mouth shut to avoid making another mistake. All eyes were on the princess, patiently waiting for her to answer the raven-haired host. Jessie grinned, thinking Satoshi was making his move to secure the princess's hand in marriage. Finally, after half a minute of losing herself in Satoshi's gaze, Princess Miette gave him a coquettish look and placed her hands on his chest.

"Very well," she said. "Shall we meet at your place?"

Satoshi nodded and said, "I will be waiting for you in the clock tower at 9 sharp."

"Mmmmm, I'll be counting the moments," the princess said.

With that, Satoshi gave her hand a kiss before he silently walked back upstage and exited from backstage to his dressing room. Princess Miette kept her lewd look at where my boyfriend left for a moment before turning to Sonia.

"Sonia, it appears I might change my mind and stick to the original ending," she said. "But just in case, I want everyone to plan ahead to create my ending to the letter. Understood?"

"Er, yes, Your Highness," Sonia replied nervously.

Satisfied with Sonia's answer, Princess Miette smirked and exited the auditorium. Once she was gone, Sonia and I looked at each other worriedly, and she sighed before turning to everyone on stage.

"Alright, you heard the princess," she said reluctantly. "Let's work on creating a new ending for her."

All the hosts apart from Drew groan in irritation, wanting to go home while the rest of the cast and crew were shouting words of protest. Sonia clapped her hands for silence, but it did not have the same effect as it would for Jessie. Sonia groaned and started walking over to the stage, heading toward Jessie to ask for help. I took advantage of the fact that no one was focusing on me to make my way backstage to Satoshi's dressing room. When I opened the door, he had just finished changing back into his school suit. He turned to me, hearing me come in and gave me a sad look while I closed the door behind me.

"I know what you're going to say," he said. "You don't want me with Princess Miette in the clock tower."

"You're right, I don't," I said. "And if I didn't know any better, you made it sound like you are going to kiss her on the mouth or worse."

Satoshi looked at me like I insulted him and asked, "What do you think I'm gonna sleep with her or something?"

"Well, even if you're not planning it, it darn well looked like she is," I grumbled.

Satoshi frowned and walked over to me, placing his hands on my shoulders.

"I promised you that I would tell you if I had to more than to flirt with her or anything like that," he said. "To that end, I swear to you that I have no intention of sleeping with her even if she ordered me to. But I will kiss her if I have to."

My eyes widened in shock, and I said, "No! I don't want you to!"

"I don't want to either, Serena, but this may be the only way," Satoshi said. "She could destroy everything. All of our hard work in creating the play for you and everyone in the art program could go to waste. And I'm doing this for us too."

"Us?!" I shouted in disbelief. "How could you be kissing another girl for us?!"

"Because that will lead her to think we aren't together," Satoshi explained. "And to do that, I need to convince Princess Miette that my fake feelings for her are real, and that will mean taking things further than mere flirting."

I opened my mouth to shoot his explanation down, but I stopped myself and sighed in defeat, admitting that this was my own fault, and this might be the only way to keep our secret. I let out a childish whine and pulled Satoshi into a possessive hug.

"It's not fair," I grumbled. "You're my boyfriend. You shouldn't be kissing anyone but me. Why can't that stiff-necked princess just stop pursuing you and leave us alone?"

Satoshi frowned and hugged me back. He petted the back of my head and kissed my crown as he held on to me.

"You're right, I am yours," he said calmly. "But I have to do this for us. I want to protect you from the princess, and if kissing her is what it takes to keep her from knowing about us, then that's what I will do. Besides, you said you wouldn't be jealous."

"I don't care what I said," I said, tightening my hold on my prince. "You can't kiss her. You just can't."

This time, Satoshi didn't reply to my protest. He simply held on to me as if his embrace was supposed to cheer me up. But then he realized what he needed to do and sang into my ear.

"Come what may."

At those three words, my stubborn demeanor softened. I dared to weaken my grip and pull my head back to look at Satoshi.

"Come what may?" I asked.

Satoshi gave me a small smile and softly sang, "Come what may. I will love you until my dying day."

I couldn't help but give a small smile at the way Satoshi was using our song to comfort me. He then leaned in to kiss me softly, caressing my cheek in the process. I didn't hesitate to kiss him back, feeling somewhat better from his reminder that he loves me. When we slowly part, Satoshi looked at me sadly with his hand still on my cheek.

"It will be alright," he said. "We're going to get through this, and we will end the play you want it to. I promise."

I nodded my head in understanding, and reluctantly said, "Okay."

Satoshi smiled and said, "I love you, Serena."

I looked at him with a sad, loving look and said, "I love you, Satoshi."

With that, he gave me another kiss before he let go of me and exited the dressing room. My arms were already itching to hold him again, and I wanted to chase after him and keep him in my sight until he had to meet the princess. But no matter how much I wanted to do that, I knew that I had to trust him with what he was going to do. After a couple minutes of staring at the door to the room, I sighed with my eyes started to water slightly and went back on stage.