A Pretty Girl Has Her First Kiss Stolen By an Equally Handsome Classmate - Episode 4.16

Friday, October 21

I woke up because my throat was dry.

I tried to sit up, but my classmate sleeping beside me had her arms wrapped around me. I couldn’t get free. I twisted my body, trying to escape without waking her up.

“…No, don’t go.”

“Whoa!”

Still half-asleep, Wakamatsu pulled me back, and I stumbled, catching myself with my hands on her stomach.

“Gah,” Wakamatsu let out a squashed frog-like sound from her mouth.

Wakamatsu woke up from the weight of Mizuhara Shizuku’s body and shouted, “Wah!” as she sat up quickly. The sudden movement caused me to lose balance again, and I ended up on top of her.

“Wha—Mi-Mizuhara?”

Wakamatsu stared at me with wide eyes. In her eyes, I saw surprise—and maybe a little hope.

“Sorry, I just got thirsty.”

“Oh… that’s all?”

“Did you think I was going to hold you?”

Maybe she was embarrassed I saw through her thoughts. Wakamatsu covered her face with the blanket. It made her look shy and cute. I even started to think maybe I should give her what she wanted—just a little.

“Do you want me to touch you?”

“Of course…”

“How do you want me to touch you? And where?”

As I sipped some water to wet my throat, I asked her like I was interrogating her.

Wakamatsu blushed and got up from the bed, wrapping her arms around my stomach. She rubbed her head against my back.

“Mizuhara, you’re kind of mean, huh?”

“Maybe you’re just into that kind of thing, Wakamatsu.”

“I-I’m not…”

I turned around and kissed her forehead. Then I kissed the corner of her eyes softly.

Wakamatsu closed her eyes and smiled.

“…What time is it now?”

“It’s already pretty early.”

“Ahaha, then there’s not much time left.”

When I opened the curtain, it really did feel like morning.

“Maybe the sun will rise soon.”

“Oh! I want to see that.”

“Maybe we can see it from the balcony.”

When I opened the balcony door, a cool breeze brushed against my cheek.

I took a deep breath and let the fresh air fill my lungs. Wakamatsu, still in her sweatshirt, leaned on the railing too.

“Ahh, this feels amazing.”

She looks good no matter what she’s wearing.

“Hey, doesn’t it look like we can cross to the next balcony? Let’s wake up Masuda and the others.”

“No, just call them.”

“Oh, right!”

Wakamatsu called several times before sleepy Ariyoshi finally answered.

A few minutes later, Wakumura appeared, rubbing her eyes, followed by Masuda in flower-print pajamas and Ariyoshi looking fresh and awake.

“The sun’s already peeking out,”

Ariyoshi said as she stretched and looked up.

“Well, that’s your fault for not picking up.”

“Idiot! Let us sleep!”

Masuda scolded them, but she also looked like she was enjoying this special moment.

“You asked me something before, remember?”

Mizuhara stood next to Wakumura, who had her eyes closed, enjoying the morning air. They each leaned on opposite ends of the balcony divider.

“About Kaede?”

Wakumura quickly understood what I meant. I nodded.

“Is it okay if I try to take Kaede for myself?”

“I’ll spend more time with her and show her how I feel.”

“Someday, I’ll become the one she likes.”

Now I finally understood what she really meant.

Wakumura hadn’t been serious. She said those things to push me forward because I was hesitating.

It took me a long time to reach the answer that should’ve been obvious.

“Is it okay if I try to take Kaede for myself?”

She repeated those words again, but this time with a playful smile.

“No, I don’t want you to take her.”

I smiled back and answered her sincerely.

I gave Wakumura Chisato my honest feelings, without lies. She smiled in return, satisfied, and reached out to hug me across the balcony divider. It was a strange way to hug, but it felt right.

“Hehe, and why not?”

“Because I like Wakamatsu too.”

“Then take good care of those feelings.”

As my answer to her, I hugged Wakumura tightly.

Masuda laughed at our warm hug, while Ariyoshi watched us with kind eyes, as if she already understood what was going on.

“This trip was fun, Mizuhara.”

“Yeah… it really was.”

“Let’s keep filling our lives with more happy memories.”

Wakamatsu Kaede, shining in the morning sun, looked more beautiful than ever.

“Hey, what are you two talking about?”

Ariyoshi looked at us from a distance.

With that one question, all four people on the balcony turned to look at me.

I looked at Wakamatsu, as if asking for help, but she just smiled softly and stayed quiet.

Her eyes told me, “It’s okay now.”

“…Actually, I’ve been struggling with something for a long time—”

I talked a little about my sister.

Masuda, who cries easily, was the first to tear up. Ariyoshi stretched out her long arms and hugged me tightly. I didn’t know why, but it made my heart feel really clear.

“I’m on your side too, Mizuhara.”

“We’re all here for you, Shizuku-chan.”

Wakamatsu faced the wind, stretched her arms wide, and took big deep breaths.

“It’ll be okay. Let’s keep looking.”

Everyone nodded at Wakamatsu’s words.

I felt accepted, and tears welled up in my eyes. Wakamatsu noticed and gently wiped my tears with her fingertip.

“A mom is a mom. Shizuku Mizuhara is Shizuku Mizuhara.”

The way she said it was so refreshing.

Mizuhara Shizuku burned the image of that beautiful Wakamatsu Kaede into her memory.