A Pretty Girl Has Her First Kiss Stolen By an Equally Handsome Classmate - Episode 4.6

Wakamatsu’s sports festival magic still hadn’t worn off.

Not just in the morning—during lunch, in between classes, and after school—fans kept crowding around Wakamatsu at all times. Mizuhara listened to the excited voices with a tired expression.

“Is it true Saito from Class 4 confessed to you?”

“Ah… yeah, I guess. How did you find out?”

“Saito posted a poem about getting rejected.”

Ariyoshi, who had recently cut her hair short, came to Wakamatsu to ask about it. It looked like Wakamatsu had captured the hearts of more than just the girls.

“Even Wada likes you, according to the rumors?”

“Well, that one… it wasn’t really a confession.”

With a curious look, Masuda joined in and teased her.

“Wakamatsu, maybe it’s time you got a boyfriend too!”

“Ugh, you guys are so annoying.”

Wakamatsu ended the love talk with a sigh.

“Anyway! I’m not into that stuff right now!”

Realizing she had been eavesdropping, Mizuhara quickly looked down in embarrassment. It shouldn’t matter who confessed to Wakamatsu or who she dated. Still, Mizuhara’s chest tightened painfully. Trying to hide her feelings, she placed a hand on her chest and took a slow, deep breath.

“Oh, Mizuhara.”

She passed by Mr. Yamabe in the hallway.

She was about to just greet him and walk past, but he stopped her. His voice seemed more serious than usual.

“How are things lately? Are you getting along with Wakamatsu?”

He probably asked because of the current situation.

“…So-so.”

“Mizuhara. If anything happens, you can always talk to me.”

“Yes, I’ll let you know if something comes up…”

Giving a vague answer, Mizuhara tried to move past the conversation.

She had never been the type to rely on others—especially not a teacher like Yamabe. She couldn’t even be honest with friends like Itohara or Noguchi.

“Well then, excuse me.”

She bowed her head and walked away, but Yamabe called out again from behind.

“Could you help with the map preparations?”

Mizuhara went to the social studies prep room. It was still dusty and dim inside, with antique-looking items on display. From the clutter, she searched for the world map she needed.

She stepped inside and was pulling out a two-meter-wide map when suddenly the light turned on.

“I’ll help. That map looks heavy.”

Startled, she looked toward the door and saw Wakamatsu standing there.

With the light behind her, Mizuhara couldn’t quite read her expression.

“Did Yamabe ask you to come?”

“No, I just saw you here on my way back from the courtyard.”

“Oh, I see,” Mizuhara replied curtly while pulling out the map. The movement stirred up dust, making her cough. Wakamatsu quickly stepped in and grabbed the map. Mizuhara remembered the time Wakamatsu helped her carry things during the sports festival.

“It’s fine. I can’t keep relying on you forever.”

“Haha, I’ll keep helping you forever.”

“…What’s that supposed to mean.”

Her strong classmate had basically taken the map away from her. Mizuhara brushed the dust off her uniform.

“Someone confessed to me just now.”

“…What?”

“A girl.”

Mizuhara froze at the sudden statement. Wakamatsu smiled and leaned the map against the wall, then closed the door to the room.

Wakamatsu, surprisingly smooth, locked the door behind her while still looking at Mizuhara.

“Hey, what are you doing?”

“You looked like you wanted to hear the rest.”

She was right.

It was embarrassing that Wakamatsu could see right through her.

“I turned her down properly.”

“…You didn’t have to.”

“Liar. You didn’t like hearing it.”

Wakamatsu smiled like a playful kid.

Was she joking or serious? It was hard to tell from that reply. Mizuhara wasn’t sure how much Wakamatsu, who was usually unaware of people’s feelings, understood her heart.

But Wakamatsu was also quick to understand things, and good at reading the room. That made it seem like she already knew how she wanted to treat Mizuhara Shizuku.

“Lately, even girls are confessing to me. It’s kinda hard.”

To hear the word “popular” come from Wakamatsu’s mouth—she must be getting so many love confessions that even she noticed.

“…It’s a good thing to be popular. No need to complain.”

“It is a problem. Because I like someone else.”

Wakamatsu said it so casually.

She had changed. The Wakamatsu who once broke up with her, and the one who met her at the beach on the last day of summer break, felt like two completely different people. In just a month, Wakamatsu had found her own answer. And now she was here to tell Mizuhara directly. That hadn’t changed.

“It’s you, Mizuhara.”

Her steady eyes held a burning emotion.

Mizuhara couldn’t handle that gaze. Sweat began to form from the tension.

“I told you before. I can’t date you, Wakamatsu.”

Even with such a blunt rejection, Wakamatsu didn’t seem fazed.

“Let’s talk more, Mizuhara.”

That line sounded familiar—she’d said something like that at the apartment before.

Just hearing it again brought back the happy feeling Mizuhara had back then. She had been happy—happy that Wakamatsu Kaede had said that to her.

“If we talk… will something change?”

“Yeah. I’ll be the one to change things.”

Wakamatsu’s eyes locked on Mizuhara and wouldn’t let go.

Her strong, sincere words tried to pull Mizuhara’s feelings forward.

“Well first, Mizuhara, you should cheer up!”

Wakamatsu said brightly as she unlocked and opened the door. She picked up the large map with both hands and stepped out into the hallway.

“You’ve been drinking only veggie juice lately.”

“…What?”

“What’s with that ‘I’m eating like normal’ nonsense?”

She must’ve been talking about that day in the nurse’s office. Mizuhara had been surviving on just vegetable juice during lunch recently. Had Wakamatsu really been watching?

“If you don’t eat, I won’t either.”

“…Please don’t do that.”

“Then eat something! I’m keeping an eye on you!”

Wakamatsu drew a big smile across her face and showed her teeth as she laughed.

Mizuhara Shizuku couldn’t deny it—Wakamatsu’s brightness was saving her.