A Story About a Handsome Girl Having Her First Kiss Stolen by an Equally Handsome Classmate - Episode 45

“-Because I love you.”

Wakamatsu’s heart leaps with excitement.

Not knowing what to say in response, Wakamatsu was unable to move, just staring at Wakumura.

Wakumura looks around the classroom. There is no one else in the classroom except for them.

“I can’t help but follow the person I like with my eyes.”

She laughs embarrassedly.

The wind blew through her hair, making the ends sway softly.

“…Then, Wakumura also feels the same about Mizuhara…”

“No, that’s not it.”

Wakumura gently holds Wakamatsu’s hand.

She brought her hand up to her lip-smeared lips and planted a kiss.

“I like you, Hanakaede-chan.”

Wakamatsu was frozen in place and unable to do anything at the sudden confession.

Only the spot where Wakumura’s lips had touched was tingling with heat.

“I’ve been watching you, Hanakaede-chan, this whole time.”

“I fell in love with you at first sight in the first grade, and I was so happy to be in the same class as you.”

“We became good friends and I started to like him more and more…”

She holds Wakamatsu’s hand tightly in both hers and confesses her feelings. Noticing that her hands are shaking, Wakamatsu clenches hers with his other hand.

“…I’m sorry. I didn’t know anything about this until now.”

“It’s okay, no need to apologize.”

“But what you say is insensitive…”

Wakamatsu remembers the words he said to her.

Insensitive and callous. Those words must have been enough to hurt her. She must have been in pain. She must have felt a tightness in her chest. I felt so sorry and inadequate that I nearly cried.

“It’s okay, I don’t want you to know this feeling.”

Wakumura Chisato laughs weakly.

All Wakamatsu can do is hold his classmate’s hand tightly and apologize.

“Don’t apologize, look up.”

“but……”

“If you apologize, I’ll just get more upset.”

Hearing her voice sound as if she was about to burst into tears, Wakamatsu instinctively raised his head. It’s not that he wants to hurt her.

“I want to be the only one to protect my love.”

“picture……”

“I want to affirm them. I want to praise them for their hard work.”

Wakamatsu is silent.

“If Hanakaede apologizes to me, I’ll have to deny these feelings to myself, right?”

Wakumura Chisato’s words hit Wakamatsu with great weight.

She must have been admonishing him that if Wakamatsu were to apologize to her here and now, it would end up hurting Wakumura instead.

“I will continue to cherish this feeling.”

“……Yeah”

“This feeling is wonderful, so beautiful, and so solid.”

Her strong will was apparent in her determined tone. Her large, round eyes focused straight on Wakamatsu.

“I want you to cherish how Hanakaede feels right now.”

“My feelings…”

“You already know that, don’t you?”

Wakumura places his palm on Wakamatsu’s chest.

My heart pounding, I reach out to understand Wakamatsu’s true intentions.

“If something is born from a lie, does that mean those feelings become lies too?”

After a moment, Wakamatsu spoke.

“No. These feelings aren’t a lie.”

Satisfied with the answer, she flashes her biggest smile of the day.

Why is she trying to support Wakamatsu so much, even though she must be going through a lot of pain and suffering herself? Wakamatsu’s heart aches. Feeling pathetic for not being able to return what she’s received, he begins to feel unsure of what to do.

“……Why”

“I like it, so I can’t help it.”

Perhaps understanding Wakamatsu’s feelings, she interrupted him.

“I’ll be on your side no matter what.”

“That goes for both as a friend and as someone I like. I’ll support you and be on your side.”

“Well, I guess I’d be happy if something went wrong.”evilWicked

She stuck out her tongue and blushed playfully.

Those last words were probably a joke, a white lie to lighten the mood.

“So, just take your time and look forward.”

“……Yeah”

“I’ll look forward to it.”

Wakumura sits down on the shelf and stretches.

In the sunlight streaming into the classroom, Wakumura Chisato looked radiant. Her straightforward figure was so dazzling that Wakamatsu instinctively closed his eyes.

“This is the best encouragement I can give you right now.”

Both of his cheeks are pinched by Wakumura.

“My love may be over now. But it’s different for you, Hanakaede.”

“I guess so.”

“I’ve been watching you two, so I know something.”

Wakamatsu Hanae closed her eyes and remembered the days she spent with Mizuhara Shizuku.

I remember her painful words, her monologue, and her begging for forgiveness.

He reflects on everything he’s built with Mizuhara Shizuku, explores her true intentions, and comes to his conclusion.

This is probably what Wakamatsu needs to do now.

I felt like I was ready for that, and I had a lot of important friends who supported me. Among them, Chisato Wakumura was by my side. For some reason, that was very reassuring.

Professor Yamabe, Professor Sato, Masuda, Ariyoshi, and now Chisato Wakumura, who is here with us.

Wakamatsu catches his breath.

What kind of person was the Mizuhara Shizuku I knew? Were those words true?

Who was he apologizing to, and what was he apologizing for?

What on earth were those tears?

I recall the day we said goodbye.

— Before I knew it, Wakamatsu’s conclusion seemed to be right in front of me.