A Pretty Girl Has Her First Kiss Stolen By an Equally Handsome Classmate - Episode 4.5

Tuesday, September 27

I looked up at the words written on the blackboard and stood frozen in shock.

Wakamatsu, Ariyoshi, Masuda, Wakumura, and then… Mizuhara. For some reason, my name was written among the top girls in class, the ones everyone considered the popular group.

Mizuhara rubbed her eyes even though they weren’t itchy. No matter how many times she rubbed them, the letters didn’t change.

“This finishes the group selection!”

The class president wrapped things up, and the groupings for the school trip were finalized.

Just like Chisato Wakumura had said, I ended up in the same group as her. And with Kaede Wakamatsu too.

“Sorry, Shizuku.”

Itohara pressed her hands together apologetically.

Originally, Mizuhara was supposed to be in a group with Itohara and Noguchi, who she often spent time with.

But the group numbers didn’t work out evenly. Mizuhara, unable to handle the silence, volunteered to switch groups.

“Well, let’s get along, Mizuhara-san!”

Masuda, with her curly brown hair, gave her a friendly pat on the shoulder.

Mizuhara replied with a “Nice to meet you,” but inside, she was full of regret. She wished she hadn’t raised her hand. She felt like she drew the short straw.

“Okay everyone, return to your seats.”

Prompted by their homeroom teacher, Ms. Fuchigami, Mizuhara sat down in a daze. She immediately held her head in her hands.

What should I do?

She had barely ever spoken to Masuda or Ariyoshi. How was she supposed to act around them?

What kinds of small talk would work?

And then there was Kaede Wakamatsu. Mizuhara still didn’t know how to deal with her. The school trip next month was starting to feel more and more depressing.

The only one she could rely on was Chisato Wakumura, sitting beside her.

Her heavy feelings stayed with her all the way to lunch break.

“Sorry, Shizuku. Are you really okay?”

Itohara said with a mouthful of sweet bread as they sat on a bench in the courtyard.

Noguchi, sitting next to her, also looked worried.

“It’s okay. Really, I’m fine.”

Mizuhara answered kindly while sipping her vegetable juice.

She hated that she couldn’t be honest here too. But even if she was thinking “I don’t like this either,” she couldn’t say it out loud. Itohara and Noguchi were her friends. So why was she trying to keep up appearances in front of them?

“Haah…”

On the way back to the classroom, her head felt like a heavy cloud was hanging over it.

Her vision became hazy. Gradually, the sounds around her grew faint, and a ringing started in her ears. It was a sign of anemia.

“Sorry, go on ahead.”

She told her friends and headed to the nurse’s office.

The hallway felt longer than usual, and she realized her legs were unsteady. When she opened the door, she saw Ms. Sato sitting on a round stool, looking at some papers.

“Oh? Mizuhara-san, your face looks pale.”

“Sensei… my head… it…”

And there, Mizuhara Shizuku’s memory cut out.

When she woke up, she was lying on a bed surrounded by soft pink curtains.

The marbled ceiling and smell of medicine quickly reminded her that she was in the nurse’s office. Ms. Sato wasn’t around—she must have stepped out.

She heard students’ voices outside.

She checked her watch. It seemed like the fifth period was almost over. As she closed her eyes again, annoyed with her weak body, she heard the door slide open. It was probably Ms.

Sato returning. No point in going back to class this late—she decided to rest a bit more.

“Sensei—?”

The curtain rail moved, and light peeked through the gap.

“…Mizuhara?”

When she opened her eyes a little, she saw Kaede Wakamatsu peeking in through the curtain.

Seeing her in gym clothes reminded her that fifth period was P.E.

“Eh! Wait, wh-what happened?”

“…”

“Mizuhara, are you feeling sick?”

Wakamatsu pulled the curtain fully open and rushed to the bed.

Seeing her classmate kneel down beside her with such concern, Mizuhara couldn’t stay silent.

“It’s just anemia. Don’t worry.”

“Mizuhara, you’ve looked pale lately. Are you eating properly?”

“…Well, normally, I guess.”

Wakamatsu reached out from under the blanket and gently held Mizuhara’s hand.

“I was so worried when you didn’t reply…”

“…Reply?”

“I messaged you. I was worried, you know?”

Wakamatsu let out a deep sigh of relief.

“What about you? Did you get hurt during P.E.?”

“Look at this. Isn’t it bad?”

She showed Mizuhara her reddened middle finger.

“…A jammed finger?”

“Yeah! Ariyoshi, even though she’s in the volleyball club, hit me with a serious serve!”

Mizuhara imagined Ariyoshi—tall, with long arms and legs. Her serves must be intense.

“Is Ms. Sato not here?”

“Hmm, not sure…”

Mizuhara pulled off the blanket and sat up.

She let out a big sigh and looked down at her classmate sitting nearby.

“Instead of crouching, sit in the chair there.”

“Nope. I want to be next to you.”

“What kind of selfishness is that…”

Wakamatsu gave a mischievous grin.

“Then at least sit on the bed, not the floor.”

“Okay, here I come!”

She jumped up cheerfully and sat on the bed. The bed creaked from the movement, and Mizuhara’s body shifted.

“Mizuhara.”

“…What?”

“Can I hug you?”

Before Mizuhara could answer, Wakamatsu leaned forward and wrapped her arms around her back. She pulled her close, their bodies touching tightly.

The familiar sweet scent of Wakamatsu filled Mizuhara’s nose. She closed her eyes.

“I love you, Mizuhara.”

“…Even though you have so many other love interests.”

“I don’t care about that. I love you.”

She used to blush so much at first. But now, Wakamatsu stared at her with a serious look.

“I… I’m not good enough for someone like you.”

“I’m the one who decides that.”

Wakamatsu hugged tighter and buried her face in Mizuhara’s neck.

It tickled, it felt nostalgic. Mizuhara suddenly felt like crying.

“We broke up because…”

Still with her face buried, Wakamatsu brought up a surprising topic.

“Was it because you realized you couldn’t be a replacement for my sister?”

“…Yeah… that’s right.”

“Then you should’ve told me earlier.”

Wakamatsu slowly lifted her face from Mizuhara’s shoulder.

“Before guilt ate you up.”

She was right. Mizuhara couldn’t argue.

From the moment she noticed Wakamatsu’s feelings were changing, guilt had grown inside her. It was probably before their first weekend date.

“At least, don’t feel guilty toward me.”

“…That’s… hard for me.”

Even if she wasn’t thinking straight back then, she still used her classmate’s kindness.

She couldn’t forgive herself.

“It was all my fault.”

“Yeah… I figured.”

“I used your kindness, trying desperately to keep you close…”

Mizuhara held back her tears.

She told herself Wakamatsu’s feelings weren’t real.

But then Wakamatsu gently pulled her arm. When Mizuhara looked up, their eyes met—and Wakamatsu smiled softly.

“Because I want to believe in what’s here now.”

Those words pierced Mizuhara’s heart.

‘Maybe it started with a lie.’

‘But what we built wasn’t a lie.’

Wakamatsu is someone who lives with honesty.

She’d keep expressing her feelings like this, sincerely, always.

Mizuhara’s eyes welled up. She turned her head, refusing to face Wakamatsu. She didn’t want her to see her teary face. She buried it in her classmate’s shoulder.

“You’ve gotten skinny, Mizuhara.”

Wakamatsu hugged her tighter.

Their chests pressed together. She could feel their heartbeats align.

“…”

“You have to eat properly, okay?”

The door opened.

She thought it was Ms. Sato—but a bright, familiar voice rang out.

“Wakamatsu! You okay!?”

“Sorry about earlier!”

Masuda and Ariyoshi. It looked like they’d come to check on their friend.

“See you later.”

Wakamatsu tilted her head and gave a soft chuckle. Her shadow appeared behind the curtain.

Mizuhara almost reached out, but she stopped herself with all her strength.