Penguin Prince

Ranka's intimidating demeanor has earned her the dreaded nickname "Witch" among her fearful classmates. Meanwhile, her fellow student Murakami is adored by the girls as a "Prince." Ranka is therefore taken aback when she stumbles upon Murakami's mortifying secret: he carries a tiny penguin plushie with him at all times and becomes frantic if it is ever threatened. Through this shared secret, they each begin to glimpse the truths hidden behind the labels of "Witch" and "Prince." In the same class, a boy throws himself into every school activity with boundless energy, while a girl holds the top score in Japanese history. When they are both named class representatives, she—who has long harbored a secret crush on him—must now work alongside him daily. The constant proximity soon makes it impossible for her to keep her feelings hidden any longer. Pressured by her sister to cultivate more ladylike manners, a girl is enrolled in lessons on the proper Japanese tea ceremony. To her dismay, she learns her instructor is a boy infamous at school as a delinquent. Yet when he appears in a kimono, he carries himself with perfect grace, showing not a trace of his rebellious reputation. This continuation follows the couple from the previous story. Their new relationship is tested when the boy's first crush returns, stirring unease in his current girlfriend—especially once she learns that he had once confessed to this visitor. She soon discovers the girl had issued a challenge: if the boy could master the tea ceremony by her return, she might accept his feelings. Now he faces a choice—will he rise to the challenge and win over his first love, or will he reject the offer and remain with his present girlfriend? He has always been criticized for playing the piano with technical brilliance but no emotion—more machine than musician. One day, a girl happens upon him as he tearfully throws away his sheet music. Thinking the piece must be meaningful to him, she retrieves it, but he harshly rebuffs her for meddling. Regretting his reaction, he later apologizes, and she admits that in her search for the music, she lost an earring. He locates it with ease and shares with her his secret method for finding lost things.