LIKE SNOW [Novel EP2] (Patreon)

2: A Boy

After returning to the bathhouse, with his wits reconvened, he started to strip in front of Peony, who had been waiting around to apologize to him. While she rattled off everything she might have done to offend him, he was waiting for the inevitable “oh, you’re a man!”

However, Peony watched him get in the water and made no comment on his gender. Snow barked at her to leave him in peace. He steamed in the water for a bit, feeling embarrassed that he pulled such a stupid stunt.

Alone, he started to retrace what he could remember.

He was Yuki, a senior in high school. Definitely a man. And he definitely was not in this get up before he woke. He was not Snow White, who was a girl. He was a man.

This must be a weird dream. He recalled the pain in his hand from the rag. Okay, maybe it’s not a dream. Thinking logically, I must have somehow gotten transposed into the story of Snow White for one reason or another. There must have been a rift in space and time that I somehow had fallen through, and therefore I had caused a nick in the world’s space time continuum and managed to—

He had started to lose track of what he was trying to say.

I’m Snow White. And they still think I’m Snow White, the girl.

He frowned deeply.

“Of all stories.” He complained to no one in particular. “And of all the main characters.”

—

Snow White, Evil Queen, the Huntsman, the seven dwarves. Snow recounted the cast of characters as he swept the floor. While he was lost in thought, he had completely ignored the last character who was now gently approaching him.

He was drawn back into the world when the Prince offered him a flower, picked from a nearby garden.

“Ah—” Snow looked up. “The gardener was working really hard on those flowers.”

He heard a laugh, and looked up at the culprit. “Shall I tie it back to the bush?”

The Prince! Snow immediately jumped back. How did I forget about him!?

Snow promptly began to stutter out a response that the Prince could not understand, but he pretended to anyway. He nodded seriously. “Yes, I see, I will compensate the gardener with some of his choice buds.”

Snow cleared his throat. Oh god. I can’t even form a proper sentence. How am I going to deal with him? I can’t marry him! He may see me as a woman for the rest of our lives, and that’s great for him, but not for me! I don’t want to awkwardly pretend for the rest of my life.

“I still request you take this bloom, however.” The Prince placed the warm flower in his hands.

The broom clattered out of Snow’s grasp as he took on the bloom with both hands without a second thought.

The Prince chuckled.

Snow began to imagine the wedding.

The Prince was swaying him around in a lovely dance, and into the marital bedroom they went—

“Thank you very much!” He bowed quickly, grabbing the broom and furiously going back to work.

However, the Prince—light on his feet—danced into Snow’s view once more. Lowering his head slightly, he looked at him curiously.

“What is your name?”

Snow cleared his throat again. “Erm—I’m Yu—Snow White.”

The Prince smiled. “Snow?”

Yuki felt himself blush. It was just one word. He glanced away yet again. “Snow… Snow is fine.”

He could feel the Prince’s stare on him, so he quickly turned away. This is the natural response for Snow White. You’re completely normal, Yuki. I mean, if Snow White couldn’t resist the Prince, then neither could you.

“It was a pleasure to meet you, Snow.” The Prince took his hand, still clutching the flower. “I hope I will see you again. For now, I must go.”

“Yes—Sir Prince—” Yuki pursed his lips in embarrassment. What the heck is a ‘sir prince,’ Yuki?

The Prince laughed, looking down at him, lingering for a second. He then went away like the spring breeze, teasing the new buds still slightly frozen from the snow.