Short Story | Sara, the Princess Who Wishes for "Normal"

Morning begins at a set time.
The lady-in-waiting quietly opens the door and draws the curtains.

The light falling into the garden is uniform regardless of the season,
and it illuminates my room the same way every day.

"Princess Sara, here is your schedule for today."

On the schedule presented to me are worship, ceremonies, meetings, photo sessions, and—receptions for foreign dignitaries.
The words are lined up neatly without a single gap.

I nod and begin to get ready.

My hair is styled, I am dressed in my attire, and I stand before the mirror.
What is reflected there is a figure groomed to be "Princess Sara."

The worship hall is always quiet.
The air is taut, and a tension hangs in the room as if one must not make a single sound with their footsteps.

I perform the prescribed movements at the prescribed angles and at the prescribed speed.
I bow my head deeply and slowly return to my posture.

No matter how many times I repeat that series of movements, they never become my own.
When the ceremony ends, the chamberlain bows deeply.

"Thank you for your hard work, Princess Sara."
I return the smile.

When I return to the waiting room, the lady-in-waiting adjusts my attire.
The me in the mirror had the same expression as before.

After finishing my morning official duties, a meeting with officials from the Agency for Cultural Affairs is next.
When I enter the venue, heads bow in unison.

"Princess Sara, we are truly honored by your presence today."

I return the prescribed words.
The inflection of my voice and my expression are all adjusted to the "correct form."

I take my seat, receive the explanation, nod, and state the necessary words.
The conversation proceeds smoothly.

When the meeting ends, deep bows follow once again.
I smile and quietly leave the venue.

In the afternoon, preparations for the diplomatic reception begin.

In the waiting room, the interpreter, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs representative, and the chamberlain line up, and the final confirmation of the flow and movements is conducted.

"Princess Sara, please wait until the other party offers their hand before shaking it."
"Please use these three sentences for your remarks."

"Your position is a little to the right of the red mark... Yes, right there."
I follow the instructions and move slowly.

Before long, the foreign dignitaries arrive.
The doors open, and flashes go off all at once.

I offer a smile, speak the prescribed words, and shake hands.
The sound of the reporters' shutters rings out incessantly.

In the center of it all, I continue to stand as "Princess Sara."
When the brief meeting ends, the dignitaries bow deeply and leave the room.

That scene will surely be on the news soon.

Diplomacy is a place where I am always required to be the symbol of the nation.
I bow my head quietly and return to the waiting room.

In the evening, the ceremony itself begins.

As I enter the venue, gazes gather on me all at once.
I walk slowly toward the podium.

The lights are bright, and my vision blurs into white.
Even so, I maintain my smile.

When I wave, applause erupts from the audience.
I deepen my smile just a little to match the sound.

Flashes go off repeatedly.
Each time, I maintain my face as "Princess Sara."

When the ceremony ends, the attendant bows deeply again.
"Your conduct was wonderful again today."

I smile.

When I return to the waiting room, it is completely dark outside.
I take off my costume, let down my hair, and stand in front of the mirror.

Reflected there is me, having played "Princess Sara" all day long.
I let out a soft breath.

Not deep, not shallow, just a breath.
Another day of my "public" life has ended.

I seem to have left my "private" day somewhere behind.

The school hallway is always a little quiet.
When I walk, the air around me tightens slightly.

My classmates naturally clear a path for me.
"Good morning, Princess Sara."

When I sit at my desk, the girl next to me laughs softly and says,
"Princess Sara, you look kind of sleepy today."

(I wonder when it started. I have been living while wearing the mask of "Princess Sara".)
The moment I thought that, a quiet ache throbbed deep in my chest.

The afternoon was filled with official duties at the Imperial Palace.
Today was a check of the flow for an event taking place next month.

The ladies-in-waiting and Imperial Household Agency staff proceeded with their explanations in a matter-of-fact tone.

"Princess Sara, on the day, please proceed down this corridor and bow at this position."

"Please keep your stride slightly shorter than usual. So that the hem of your garment does not become disheveled."

I nodded and walked as instructed.
Even though I was just walking, I was required to walk as "Princess Sara".

The light streaming through the corridor windows cast long shadows on the floor.

Next was a check of the movements for the commemorative tree planting.
"Princess Sara, please hold the shovel at this angle."
"Keep your smile restrained. With a calm expression."

I moved as I was told.
The scent of the soil and the sound of the wind felt somehow far away.

When I returned to the waiting room, the midday news was playing on the television.
"Today, Princess Sara attended preparations for an event within the Imperial Palace—"

On the screen, I was repeating the prescribed movements with perfect posture.
(...Is that me?)

"Sara" is nowhere to be found.

The lady-in-waiting says quietly,
"Princess Sara, you were magnificent today as well."

I smile.
"Thank you. ...I'm going to go get some fresh air for a bit."

But deep in my chest, a small voice was whispering.
(I want to be ordinary.)

A voice that reaches no one.
A voice that no one hears.

I tucked that voice away, deep inside my chest.

As I left the school gate,
a woman walking toward me suddenly stopped.

She looked at me and her eyes widened.
"Huh... Sara?"

Her voice was a mixture of surprise, nostalgia, and a hint of hesitation.

The lady-in-waiting immediately stepped forward.
"Excuse me, but please address her as 'Lady Sara'."

At that moment, she looked at the lady-in-waiting, then at me, and slowly shook her head.
"I knew it... it is Sara, isn't it! Do you remember me?"

That way of addressing me was so natural, so nostalgic, and it made me so uncontrollably happy that my chest tightened.

The lady-in-waiting gasped.
"How many times must I tell you—"

Sara interrupted.
"...It's fine, it's okay."

The lady-in-waiting hesitated for a moment, but said nothing more.

Asking if I remembered was a foolish question.
"It's been a while... Mayu."

Mayu smiled slightly and continued.
"I'm so happy. You remembered me."

There was no way I could forget.
The only friend who called me "Sara" back in middle school.

Mayu stared intently at my face.
"You look... more grown up. But you're still the same Sara."

The way she said that gently touched the depths of my heart.

"You too, Mayu. Did you grow taller?"
"I did. And I cut my hair, too. I cut it back to the length you said you liked."

"...You remembered that?"
"Of course. We're friends, after all."

"Friends."
I never realized that word could be so warm.

Mayu continued.
"I went to a public high school in the city. I'm in the basketball club now. I'm still bad at it, but it's fun."

"So you kept playing basketball."
"Yeah. I remember being so happy when you passed the ball to me in P.E."

I couldn't help but laugh.
"That did happen, didn't it?"
"I want to play basketball with you again. Are you in any clubs, Sara?"

We were just Sara and Mayu, as we were back then.
The trivial, yet irreplaceable conversation continued.

After a while, Mayu lowered her gaze just a little.

"Lately, Sara... when I see you on TV, it feels like you've gone somewhere so far away. You look tired, and it seems like your work is really tough."

I lost my words.
Mayu continued.

"But, meeting you like this today... you were still just Sara. That makes me... so happy."

A warm feeling spread deep in my chest.

My lady-in-waiting spoke up discreetly.
"Princess Sara, it is almost time..."

Mayu took out her smartphone, saying, "One last thing."
"Hey Sara, let's exchange contact info."

The lady-in-waiting reacted immediately.
"Princess Sara, such a thing is--"

I looked at the lady-in-waiting and shook my head quietly.
The lady-in-waiting swallowed her words and stepped back.

I took out my smartphone and held out my contact information.
Mayu operated it as if she were used to it, and the exchange was complete.

Mayu peered at the screen and gave a soft laugh.
"...'dish'? Because you're 'Sara', so it's 'dish' [Sara/Dish]?

I felt a little embarrassed, but I smiled.
"...See you later, Mayu."

Mayu smiled and waved.
"See you later, Sara."

That one phrase truly stirred the "me" inside of me.

Mayu gave a soft laugh.
"I'll message you again. Let's talk properly next time."
"Yeah. Thank you... Mayu."

The evening breeze blew through.
The voice calling me "Sara" remained in my ears for a long time.

Since that event, I have been exchanging messages with Mayu almost every day.
"How was club practice today?"

"How about you, Sara? Are you tired from your official duties?"
"Let's play basketball again. Next time, let's do 3-on-3."

Mayu's words were all unadorned, straightforward, and soaked right into the depths of my heart.

Mayu treats me as "Sara".
Such a simple, ordinary thing made me exceptionally happy.

At night, while lying in bed, I reread the last message Mayu sent me.

"Sara, want to play basketball tomorrow?"

A smile spread across my face naturally.
(...I want to go)

I slowly typed out a reply.
"I'll go. Where are we playing?"

The next day.
After school, as I left the school gate, my lady-in-waiting said quietly.

"Princess Sara, where are you headed today...?"
"I'm going to hang out with Mayu for a little bit."

The lady-in-waiting lowered her eyes as if hesitant for a moment, but then gave a small nod.
"...Please take care."

There was a faint scent of freedom mixed into those words.

When I arrived at the park court, Mayu waved her hand enthusiastically.
"Sara! Over here!"

Next to her, a few of Mayu's friends had gathered.
Everyone was dressed as if they had just come from club activities, and the scent of sweat mingled with the evening breeze.

Mayu gave my back a light push.
"Let me introduce you. This is my friend, Sara! Call her Sara."

At that moment, one of the girls widened her eyes.
"Wait, could it be... aren't you that 'Princess Sara'...?'"

Mayu said immediately.
"No way. Here, she's just 'Sara.' She's a high school girl just like us. She's got a knack for basketball, but she might be a little out of shape."

The friends looked at each other and immediately laughed.

"I see. Well then... nice to meet you, Sara!"
"Don't collapse on us halfway through, Sara."
"You're tall, so you'll definitely be an asset!"

Mayu handed me the ball.
"Sara, here we go."

The pass landed in my chest. A nostalgic sensation.
I took a small breath.

As the game began, the sound of the wind and the bouncing of the ball echoed.

At first, I was awkward.
But Mayu said with a smile,

"Nice one, Sara!"
"You can go for a shot right there!"

Those words reached straight to the bottom of my heart.
Before I knew it, "I" was smiling.

From the bottom of my heart.

I've used more energy than usual, and I'm truly exhausted now.
Sweat trickles down my forehead, my breathing is ragged, and my legs feel heavy.

It has been a long time since I felt this kind of fatigue.
But I couldn't help but feel happy about it.

Hanging out with friends, playing basketball, calling each other by name.
Such ordinary things felt like a long time ago.

During a break, Mayu sits down next to me.
"Sara, you look like you're having fun."
"...Yeah. I'm having a lot of fun."

Mayu smiles and hands me a plastic bottle.

"Let's do this again. I'll invite some stronger players next time."
"Yeah. I'll practice for next time."

The twilight light faintly illuminated the lines on the court.

On the way home.
My lady-in-waiting was waiting a little distance away.

I look up at the sky.
The version of me that is "Princess Sara" is also necessary.

But—
I don't have to throw away "Sara."

The evening breeze gently brushed against my cheeks.
Beyond that breeze, Mayu's smile came to mind.

Thanks to Mayu, I have reclaimed "Sara."
The "Princess Sara" version of me and the "Sara" version of me—it's fine for both to be me.

With that pride in my heart, I began to walk slowly.
I felt like I could breathe as "Sara" tomorrow, too.