A Pretty Girl Has Her First Kiss Stolen By an Equally Handsome Classmate - Episode 5: Epilogue

Saturday, February 25

The two of them walked along the beach.

Shizuku Mizuhara’s hair swayed in the sea breeze, and she looked so beautiful. Kaede Wakamatsu wrapped his arm around hers and held her hand in a lover’s grip. On their hands, they wore the matching rings they made together.

“Let’s sit here.”

Mizuhara sat down on a piece of driftwood lying on the sand.

“The waves are calm today. It’s nice.”

“Yeah, the wind isn’t too strong either. Easy to walk.”

Wakamatsu watched Mizuhara as she gazed out at the ocean, rubbing his back. She looked at him suspiciously when he didn’t sit beside her.

“Come on, Kaede, sit down already.”

“Well, uh, my back kinda hurts…”

“Sorry. I guess we were a little too rough.”

Mizuhara looked calmly out at the sea. Holding back the pain, Wakamatsu slowly sat down next to her.

“Shizuku, you really like ocean dates, huh?”

“Yeah, I do.”

He stared at her beautiful side profile. He could look at her forever.

“What about you, Kaede?”

Mizuhara turned to face him, and he gave her a gentle kiss.

Surprised, she opened her eyes wide, her face turning bright red. “Idiot,” she whispered.

That’s what she always said when she got shy.

“I like it too. When I was troubled, I used to come here and just stare at the sea.”

“Hehe, why’s that?”

“Someone once told me the waves would take all my worries away.”

Mizuhara stopped moving. Seeing the change in her, Wakamatsu asked, “What’s wrong?”

“Who… told you that?”

“Uh, I don’t know. Some lady I didn’t know. She had short hair, I think.”

“When? When did she say that?”

Mizuhara’s sudden reaction made Wakamatsu realize it was something serious.

“Hmm, it was a long time ago. Really long ago.”

“I see…”

“What’s up? Why do you ask?”

“My sister… she said the same thing.”

He tried to remember what the woman who spoke to him looked like back then. But no matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t remember much.

“Sorry, it was so long ago I really can’t remember.”

“It’s okay. Don’t worry about it.”

Next to him, Mizuhara looked a little sad. Wakamatsu gently took her free hand and held it tight.

Shizuku Mizuhara’s sister was still missing.

Until she came home, their “unusual life” wouldn’t return to “normal.” Even though over a year had passed since her disappearance, Mizuhara and her mom were still living in that “unusual” time.

“It’s okay. I’m here with you.”

—Even so.

Now, beside Shizuku Mizuhara was Kaede Wakamatsu.

He held her hand tightly, not wanting to let go. He hoped his feelings would reach her through that hand.

“Thank you for always supporting me.”

Mizuhara turned to him shyly.

The pain she used to carry in her face a year ago was gone.

“Actually, I got you a present.”

“What?! Really!?”

Mizuhara pulled out a cute little package with a red ribbon from her handbag.

It was small, palm-sized. She motioned for him to hold out his hands, and placed it gently in his palms.

“Can I open it now?”

Wakamatsu’s eyes sparkled with surprise. Mizuhara giggled at how happy he looked.

“Hehehe, of course.”

He untied the ribbon with his fingers and slowly pulled the gift out of the bag.

“Wow! What is this? It’s so cute!”

It was a flower-themed necklace.

The white flower design was beautiful and delicate, with colors that could match any outfit.

“Thank you, Shizuku! I’ll treasure it!”

Wakamatsu’s eyes shone even more as he thanked her. Mizuhara blushed and smiled, clearly happy too.

“I’m glad you like it.”

“I don’t just like it—I’m super happy!”

“Actually, I bought a matching one in pink for myself.”

Mizuhara took out another little package from her bag.

She opened it and showed a necklace just like his, but with a pink flower. It looked soft, cute, and very feminine.

“If you want, let’s wear them to school together.”

“Wow! I’m seriously so happy!”

He couldn’t hold back his joy anymore. Forgetting they were outside, Wakamatsu leaned in to kiss Mizuhara.

“Geez, stuff like that should wait until we’re home.”

Sensing what he was about to do, Mizuhara stopped him just in time. Wakamatsu pouted as he pulled back.

“I wanna go on a trip for our one-year anniversary.”

“We broke up for a bit, so it’s not a full year yet.”

“That doesn’t count! It totally still counts!”

“Unusual” things don’t easily return to “normal.”

Even so, one thing had changed: Kaede Wakamatsu was now by Mizuhara’s side, and she had friends who understood her situation.

Just that little change helped Mizuhara slowly move forward.

“I hope I can always stay next to you, Shizuku.”

Wakamatsu hugged her tightly with that wish in his heart.

“Hehehe, that sounded like a proposal.”

She laughed on his shoulder.

“I love you, Shizuku.”

“I love you too, Kaede. More than anything.”

Mizuhara wrapped her arms around his back.

“I’m really glad I brought those handouts that day.”

Wakamatsu remembered the first time he visited her apartment.

The Mizuhara from that day and the one in front of him now seemed like two different people, showing how much she had changed.

“…My life changed after my sister disappeared.”

“Yeah.”

“But now, I think it wasn’t all bad.”

Her eyes sparkled with light.

“Because thanks to my sister… you’re here with me now.”

Mizuhara gently pulled away and looked at the sea. There was no sadness in her eyes anymore.

“I was able to get through it because you stayed by my side.”

“Yeah.”

“I’m really happy right now.”

Mizuhara shyly kissed Wakamatsu’s hand. Not to be outdone, he kissed her matching ring in return.

“Stay with me forever, okay?”

Shizuku Mizuhara blushed and smiled shyly.

That smile showed she was ready to face the future—even without her sister.

The “unusual days” would still continue.

Even so, he wished for her heart to always be at peace. That he could stay by her side.

Kaede Wakamatsu wished for that with all his heart.

-The End-