A Story About a Handsome Girl Having Her First Kiss Stolen by an Equally Handsome Classmate - Episode 42

August 9 (Tuesday)

“Oh, I’ve reached my limit.”

After finishing his morning summer classes, Wakamatsu collapsed face down on his desk.

I’ve reached my limit. After hearing Masuda’s talk, I started to focus on my summer tutoring. Of course, I listened to the tutoring seriously, and when I got home, I opened my notebook and poured myself into the three subjects of Japanese, math, and English. For Japanese, I studied classical Japanese and Chinese; for English, I studied vocabulary and long-form reading comprehension; and for math, I used a chart-style workbook. If I did that, I would never have any spare time.

–But still, Mizuhara Shizuku pops into my head.

“Wakamatsu, do you want to go somewhere on the way home?”

“Oh, I’m fine today.”

“Haha, you’ve been doing that every day lately.”

Masuda and Ariyoshi laugh and hit Wakamatsu on the head before leaving the classroom. Wakamatsu still doesn’t move.

I had no idea my body was this heavy. I moved my head towards the outside of the window and closed my eyes.

“What should I do from the second semester onwards…”

Fortunately or unfortunately, Mizuhara Shizuku is absent from summer classes.

I was relieved that I didn’t have to face her so close in the classroom. Still, I knew we would have to meet again in the same classroom in the second semester.

The cicadas’ chirps are piercing, and sweat begins to trickle down my body.

Just as the discomfort brought me to consciousness, I heard a voice from above.

“Hana Kaede-chan, has anything happened recently?”

“Wakumura… you’re still there.”

“Hehe, we were always in the same classroom.”

Just as I was about to open my eyes, a hand covered my vision.

As I flinched at the unintentional movement of my hand, I heard Wakumura’s voice say, “It’s okay.”

“What’s wrong, Wakumura?”

“Close your eyes and try breathing slowly. It seems like you were having a nightmare just now.”

I wonder if he was dreaming about Mizuhara.

As prompted by Wakumura, Wakamatsu consciously and slowly takes in air and exhales it repeatedly.

My body doesn’t seem to be happy about taking in this humid air.

“Breathing is important because I get nervous easily.”

“Really?”

“Yeah, it’s like he’s going to flip right over before Bud’s game.”

Wakamatsu was a little surprised because he had always had the image of Wakumura as someone who exuded a calm demeanor, yet was composed and composed.

“Hey, what happened? Hanakaede has been in pain since last week.”

“…Nothing.”

“Ah! Liar.”

I feel a tap on my shoulder.

Wakamatsu laughs at the lukewarm criticism, which is different from that of Masuda and Ariyoshi.

In addition to the friendly atmosphere, Wakamatsu is gradually drawn into her pace. Hiding his face from her, Wakamatsu begins to speak.

“The person I liked dumped me.”

Wakumura seemed taken aback for a moment, but then gently replied, “That’s right.”

“That was a terrible story, and I was a substitute.”

“Replacement?”

“…to replace that person, that important person. I’ve had that intention from the beginning…”

As I spoke, tears welled up in my eyes again. So that Wakumura wouldn’t notice, I gently wiped them away with my arm, which I was using as a pillow.

“Do you still like that person, Hanakaede-chan?”

“Well, I wonder what will happen.”

Wakumura’s hand, which had been touching Wakamatsu’s shoulder, gently moved to his head.

Gently stroking Wakamatsu’s head, she murmured, “Love is difficult, isn’t it?”

“Now that I think of it, what about that person Wakumura was talking about?”

“picture!?”

“You know, earlier at the diner. There was someone she wanted to chase.”

When I turned my gaze towards Wakumura, my eyes met hers, her cheeks flushed redder than usual.

“Is that the person Wakumura likes?”

“Well, yeah, yes.”

“I’m sure Wakumura’s feelings are much better than mine.”

I let out a big sigh. I remember the face of the young woman in love that I saw in Wakumura’s restaurant.

“There is no superiority or inferiority. These feelings are not something that can be dismissed with such things.”

Wakumura retorted in an extremely serious voice.

“Mine was a love that started with a lie, everything.”

“Were those feelings a lie? If they were born from a lie, do those feelings also become lies?”

“I don’t understand.” Wakamatsu holds his head in his hands.

“Well, when someone says something like that, it makes you feel like your feelings are all a lie.”

“You can’t lie about your feelings, because it’s you.”

“But I don’t know.”

The tone of his voice became stronger. I felt as if something was starting to go wild in my head again.

“There are so many times when I lose sight of it and don’t understand, but love is…”

“I should know better than anyone who I like.”

Who do I like?

Wakamatsu closed his eyes once more. Who do I think of? I…

No. Whenever I try to remember her, those words come back to me.

Wakamatsu is once again plagued by a headache.

“No good…”

I raised my pale face, and my eyes met with Wakumura Chisato, who still had her hand on my shoulder.

“Okay, Hanakaede!”

Wakumura rolls up his sleeves and puts his arms around Wakamatsu’s neck.

Wakamatsu’s eyes widened in surprise at Wakumura making such a bold gesture.

“I’ve got a great idea.”

“Eh, what…?”

Her suggestion was surprising.