A Pretty Girl Has Her First Kiss Stolen By an Equally Handsome Classmate - Episode 3.6

“—Because I like you.”

Wakamatsu’s heart skipped a beat.

She didn’t know how to respond. She could only stare at Wakumura, frozen in place.

Wakumura glanced around the classroom. They were the only ones left.

“When you like someone, you can’t help but follow them with your eyes.”

She smiled shyly. The wind blew through the open window, making her soft curls sway.

“…Then, does that mean you also like Mizuhara…?”

“No, that’s not it.”

Wakumura gently took Wakamatsu’s hand.

She brought it to her lips, lightly pressing a kiss against it.

“I like you, Kaede.”

The sudden confession left Wakamatsu completely frozen.

The spot where Wakumura’s lips had touched her hand felt warm, almost burning.

“I’ve been watching you for a long time.”

“I fell for you at first sight in our first year, and I was so happy when we ended up in the same class.”

“As we got closer, I just kept liking you more and more…”

She wrapped both hands around Wakamatsu’s, holding them tightly. Her hands were trembling.

Noticing this, Wakamatsu squeezed them gently in return.

“…I’m sorry. I never realized any of this.”

“You don’t have to apologize.”

“But I’ve said so many careless things to you…”

Wakamatsu recalled all the things she had said to Wakumura.

She had been oblivious, insensitive. Her words must have hurt. Wakumura had probably felt like her heart was being squeezed. The thought made Wakamatsu feel terrible, bringing tears to her eyes.

“It’s okay. I never needed you to know.”

Wakumura gave a weak smile.

Wakamatsu could only hold her classmate’s hand and apologize.

“Don’t apologize. Look at me.”

“But…”

“If you apologize, it’ll just make things harder for me.”

Hearing the sadness in her voice, Wakamatsu instinctively lifted her gaze. She never wanted to hurt Wakumura.

“I want to be the one to protect my own feelings.”

“…Huh?”

“I want to acknowledge them. I want to tell myself I did my best.”

Wakamatsu remained silent.

“If you apologize, I’ll have to deny these feelings myself, won’t I?”

Wakumura’s words carried weight.

Apologizing wouldn’t fix things. If anything, it would hurt Wakumura even more. That’s what she was trying to say.

“I’ll continue to cherish these feelings.”

“…Yeah.”

“They’re precious, beautiful, and undeniable.”

Her voice was steady, filled with determination. Her large, round eyes locked onto Wakamatsu’s.

“I want you to cherish your own feelings too, Kaede.”

“My feelings…?”

“You already know, don’t you?”

Wakumura placed a hand on Wakamatsu’s chest.

Her heart pounded loudly, as if reaching out for the truth.

“If your feelings started from a lie, does that make them a lie too?”

After a brief pause, Wakamatsu spoke.

“No… These feelings aren’t a lie.”

Satisfied with the answer, Wakumura gave her biggest smile of the day.

She had to be hurting too. Yet, here she was, supporting Wakamatsu.

Why?

Why was she giving so much when Wakamatsu couldn’t give anything back?

“…Why?”

“Because I like you. I can’t help it.”

As if sensing Wakamatsu’s inner conflict, Wakumura cut her off.

“I’ll always be on your side, no matter what.”

“As a friend, as someone who likes you—I’ll support you and stand by you.”

“Well… I won’t lie, part of me is hoping for a little more than that.”

She stuck her tongue out playfully, grinning mischievously.

That last part was probably a joke. A gentle lie, meant to lighten the mood.

“So, take your time and move forward.”

“…Okay.”

“I will too.”

Wakumura hopped down from the shelf and stretched.

Standing in the sunlight streaming through the classroom window, she seemed to glow.

She was so radiant, Wakamatsu had to close her eyes for a moment.

“This is the biggest encouragement I can give you right now.”

Wakumura cupped Wakamatsu’s cheeks.

“My feelings might end here, but yours won’t, right?”

“…I don’t know.”

“I’ve been watching you two for a while. I think I do.”

Wakamatsu Kaede closed her eyes and thought back to her time with Mizuhara Shizuku.

She remembered Shizuku’s painful words, her quiet confessions, her desperate pleas for forgiveness.

She thought about everything they had built together, searching for the truth in Shizuku’s heart.

And finally, she came to her own conclusion.

This was what she needed to do now.

She felt ready.

And she had so many important friends by her side.

Among them, Wakumura Chisato.

Just knowing that made her feel incredibly strong.

There was also Yabe-sensei, Sato-sensei, Masuda, Ariyoshi…

And, of course, Wakumura Chisato, standing right here with her.

Wakamatsu took a deep breath.

What kind of person was Mizuhara Shizuku, really?

Were her words back then truly sincere?

Who had she been apologizing to?

What were those tears for?

She thought back to the day Shizuku had said goodbye.

—And Wakamatsu realized.

Her answer was already right in front of her.