A Pretty Girl Has Her First Kiss Stolen By an Equally Handsome Classmate - Episode 1.6

Friday, December 24th

This was the first time Wakamatsu felt nervous pressing the doorbell of Room 605.

The chime rang twice, followed by Mizuhara’s confused voice: “Huh?”

What would Mizuhara think of Wakamatsu showing up like this again?

“Uh, Mizuhara—I brought the printouts!”

Feeling a bit awkward, Wakamatsu called out through the intercom.

“Why did you come again?”

“…Because I want to talk to you.”

Honestly, Wakamatsu still couldn’t fully understand the deeper meaning behind Mr. Yamabe’s words.

Even so, she had come to Mizuhara’s apartment because, at the very least, she interpreted the teacher’s words as, “You and Mizuhara can still fix things.”

As she waited at the entrance, the central door opened, and Shizuku Mizuhara stepped out.

“Good job on the test,” Wakamatsu said briefly, handing her the printouts.

Mizuhara took them with a polite “Thanks,” but she didn’t look even slightly “apologetic” like Mr. Yamabe had claimed.

Had the teacher been lying?

Then suddenly, Mizuhara spoke.

“About last time…”

She hesitated, then forced out her next words.

“I got my hopes up for no reason, then got disappointed all on my own. I’m sorry.”

Her voice was strained.

Without even glancing at Wakamatsu, she turned away, heading back toward the elevator hall.

Mizuhara always wanted to leave as quickly as possible, only speaking when necessary.

She never showed the friendliness or cheerfulness she used to have in the classroom.

Was being around Wakamatsu really that unbearable?

“Do you want me to ask someone else to bring the printouts? Like Komazawa or Yamaguchi?”

Before she realized it, the words had already left Wakamatsu’s mouth.

Mizuhara stopped in her tracks.

“You don’t need to think about what’s best or what’s expected.”

That’s what Mr. Yamabe had told her.

But at this moment, those words had completely slipped from Wakamatsu’s mind.

“No. No way.”

Mizuhara turned around with a look of pure disgust.

Had Wakamatsu been wrong? Was she not actually close with Komazawa and Yamaguchi?

Seeing Wakamatsu’s confusion, Mizuhara continued.

“For me, interacting with people is really exhausting.”

“Huh?”

“I try my hardest to talk to different people so I don’t end up alone. I carefully watch everything I say and do. Even when I don’t feel like it, I force myself to act cheerful around my friends. And at night, I lie awake, replaying everything in my head and picking apart my mistakes.”

Her voice was flat, but her face was twisted in pain as she spoke.

“People like you, Wakamatsu—you don’t understand, do you?”

It was true.

Mizuhara had a completely different way of thinking.

For Wakamatsu, meeting and talking to people was refreshing.

She had never once felt “drained” from socializing, like Mizuhara described.

“…So, school isn’t fun for you?”

“It is. Being with my friends is fun. But it’s exhausting. And eventually, that exhaustion became too much.”

She paused for a moment before adding,
“See? You don’t understand.”

Admitting “Yeah, I don’t” felt frustrating.

But the truth was, she really didn’t.

Seeing Wakamatsu’s reaction, Mizuhara ended the conversation.

For her, spending time like this was nothing but painful.

Maybe that’s why she always left in a hurry.

Wakamatsu had thought talking would help her understand.

But even after hearing Mizuhara’s thoughts, she still didn’t get it.

Mizuhara let out a sigh, looking up at the ceiling.

Even though they were inside the entrance hall, her breath was visible in the cold air.

“So don’t send Komazawa or Yamaguchi.”

With a glare, Mizuhara turned and left.

Wakamatsu had stepped right onto a landmine.

Another complete failure.

Maybe she shouldn’t visit Mizuhara’s place anymore.

She just couldn’t understand Mizuhara’s feelings.

Maybe she was the wrong person for this after all.