A Pretty Girl Has Her First Kiss Stolen By an Equally Handsome Classmate - Episode 2.19

Friday, July 1st

The student council executive board was in its busiest season, preparing for next week’s class match.

Every day after school, they stayed until 7:30 PM—holding meetings, arranging staff shifts, creating manuals, and setting up the venue. This school event, in which all grade levels eagerly participated, required a lot of work. Not only on weekdays but also this weekend, they had to come in on both Saturday and Sunday to continue preparations.

Of course, this meant there was no time for a date with Shizuku Mizuhara.

As Wakamatsu stared at the borrowing request forms in the poorly air-conditioned clubroom, his phone suddenly rang. When he picked it up and looked at the screen, a familiar name appeared.

“Huh?! It’s Mizuhara!”

Forgetting that his fellow club members were around, Wakamatsu eagerly answered the call.

He hurried out of the cultural club building and into the courtyard.

“Sorry, is this a good time?”

“Totally! What’s up? Something happen?”

“Not really. You’re still at school, right?”

Her voice was calm, completely different from his excited tone.

“Yeah, I’m sitting on a bench in the courtyard right now.”

“Oh, perfect. Stay there for a bit.”

Before Wakamatsu could reply, the call ended.

As he sat there, sweating under the scorching sun, something ice-cold suddenly touched the back of his neck.

“Whoa!?”

Startled by the temperature difference, he jumped off the bench and tumbled onto the courtyard grass.

Behind him, he heard someone laughing, struggling to catch their breath.

He knew that voice all too well.

“Mizuhara! Come on, that was way too much! I totally wiped out!”

When he turned around to complain, he saw Shizuku Mizuhara still laughing, barely able to breathe.

“Seriously, Wakamatsu, you’re the best.”

“You’re laughing so hard you’re crying! Look, I scraped my knee, you know!”

“Ahaha, sorry, sorry.”

Even as she apologized, she couldn’t stop laughing.

Seeing her like that, Wakamatsu couldn’t help but start laughing too.

Mizuhara, still chuckling, sat down on the grass. The entire courtyard was covered in fresh greenery, filling the air with the scent of grass.

“Here, a little something for you.”

“What?! No way! Thanks, Mizuhara!”

“Hehe, you’ve been working hard, student council president.”

Wakamatsu looked at the ice pop she handed him. So that was what had cooled his neck earlier.

The heat had already started melting it, so he split it in two.

“Let’s eat together, on that bench.”

“Are you sure? Aren’t you super busy?”

“It’s fine, it’s fine! Let me take a little break!”

Mizuhara pulled out a handkerchief and gently wiped the sweat from Wakamatsu’s forehead.

Her hands were always cool, even in summer, and it felt nice.

“I heard a lot of people are volunteering just to help you out.”

“Huh? Never heard that before.”

“Well, you’re pretty oblivious. Figures you wouldn’t notice.”

Mizuhara sighed, looking exasperated.

Wakamatsu took a bite of the coffee-flavored ice pop, a taste he had loved since childhood.

Today, it tasted even better—like it was washing away all his exhaustion.

“Man, this is so good. Totally worth all the hard work.”

“Yeah, ice cream in summer is the best.”

“Thanks, Mizuhara.”

When he smiled at her, she smiled back, her face shining as brightly as the summer sun.

“I’m really glad I got to see you. I thought I wouldn’t be able to today.”

“Well… I wanted to see you too.”

Blushing slightly, Mizuhara glanced at him.

She looked so adorable that Wakamatsu felt like he might lose himself in the moment.

Trying to act natural, he slowly placed his hand over hers, resting on the bench.

She flinched slightly.

“What’s this, all of a sudden?”

“After the class match… wanna go on a date again?”

“Are you sure? We have finals coming up.”

Wakamatsu squeezed her hand a little tighter, still looking straight ahead.

“…I forgot about that.”

“But yeah, let’s go on a date.”

Mizuhara flipped her hand over, interlocking her fingers with his.

“I’ll be waiting.”

Then, she gently pulled her hand away.

As Wakamatsu stared at his now-empty hand, she patted him lightly on the head.

“Well, I’m heading home. Keep up the good work.”

Watching Mizuhara walk away, Wakamatsu took a deep breath of the summer air.

Just a little more to go. He told himself to hang in there.

Then, he turned back toward the cultural club building and sat down in front of his computer once again.