A Story About a Handsome Girl Having Her First Kiss Stolen by an Equally Handsome Classmate - Episode 38

“Sorry”

Wakamatsu extended his arms to Mizuhara, who was shedding tears.

“What? What’s wrong? Did something happen?”

He sits up and looks into her face, but the tears just keep falling. Shaking, Mizuhara keeps apologizing to someone, “I’m sorry.” Unable to bear the sight of her like that, Wakamatsu puts on a nearby jacket and embraces her.

“Does anything hurt? Did something hurt?”

“…I’m sorry, I’m sorry, Wakamatsu.”

“Mizuhara, it’s okay, okay?”

In the dim light, it is not clear what Shizuku Mizuhara is doing. Wakamatsu reaches for the remote control, but she blocks him.

“Don’t put it on.”

He obediently returns his arm, which had been reaching out for the remote control, to Mizuhara’s back. He holds her in his arms, occasionally stroking her back to calm her down.

“I told you before that I’d be by your side when times get tough.”

“…Why are you so kind?”

“Eh, but…”

Wakamatsu takes a breath and then speaks.

“Because Suwon is special…”

Suddenly, Mizuhara Shizuku, who was holding him, stirred. She brought her face close to Wakamatsu’s shoulder and pressed her nose closely to his neck.

“My sister disappeared last August.”

At the sudden confession, Wakamatsu flinched. His heart pounded loudly.

The only sound I could hear was the air conditioner running in the room.

“…Is that the incident Mizuhara was talking about?”

“……yes”

“Oh, I see.”

Wakamatsu moves his hands around her back and gently taps her to calm her down.

It suddenly made sense that the calendar in this room was stuck in August.

“At first, I just didn’t know what to do.”

“I searched everywhere, I called relatives, and I went to the police.”

“But the second semester was fast approaching, and I just didn’t have enough time.”

Mizuhara was at a loss for words. She was probably slowly putting into words a memory she didn’t want to remember. Wakamatsu stroked her back and waited for her to speak.

“At first, I went to school regularly.”

“Yeah, I know.”

“But I’m tired of acting like I always do…”

Mizuhara laughs self-deprecatingly.

“…No, that’s not it. I just couldn’t forgive him.”

“I couldn’t forgive my classmates for acting like nothing happened.”

“I’m the only one who has had this happen and is having to go through this.”

Mizuhara sheds tears again.

“Yeah, I think so.”

“Before I knew it, I couldn’t get up in the morning, and I couldn’t go to school.”

“…I see.”

Wakamatsu felt ashamed of his past self.

“Mizuhara-san, if you’re feeling so energetic, why aren’t you coming to school?”

“Even if they look healthy, there are people who are mentally ill.”

Those words were true then.

“I read a lot of sad novels.”

“I thought that if I could emulate the process the characters go through, I might be able to get myself back on track.”

“But I couldn’t do it… I guess reality isn’t so sweet.”

On our first date, I remember talking about novels with her.

“Day after day, I wait for news from my sister.”

“I go out and look for my sister.”

“I’m waiting for my sister to find me and call out to me…”

On her first visit to the apartment, Mizuhara Shizuku was searching for something in the mail.

In the cafe, he liked to sit by the window and spent the whole time looking out the window.

When I called out to her at the drugstore, she looked disappointed.

“It’s been so hard on you, Mizuhara.”

“…The truth is, I know. It’s about time we put a stop to this.”

“Stop?”

“But it feels good… I…”

Wakamatsu gently stroked Mizuhara Shizuku’s back, as if to soothe her, her body trembling slightly.

The only thing that is moving forward is the desk clock that Wakamatsu had chosen, which is placed on the desk.

“…………”

Mizuhara pushed Wakamatsu away and got out of his arms. He wiped the tears that were falling with the sleeve of his dress and looked down. Wakamatsu could do nothing but wait for Mizuhara Shizuku.

“…Hey, Wakamatsu.”

She slowly lifts her head.

“Yeah?”

“Let’s go see the ocean one last time.”

Mizuhara got up from the bed and put on a thin hoodie.

The light is turned on, and her face is illuminated.

It felt like something had changed in Mizuhara Shizuku’s expression from earlier.