A Story About a Handsome Girl Having Her First Kiss Stolen by an Equally Handsome Classmate - Episode 54

Tuesday, September 27

I look up at the words written on the blackboard and am stunned.

Wakamatsu, Ariyoshi, Masuda, Wakumura, and Mizuhara. For some reason, my name was among the top caste girls in my class.

Mizuhara rubs his eyes even though they are not itchy. No matter how many times he rubs his eyes, the list of letters remains the same.

“This concludes the group selection.”

The meeting was concluded by the class representative, and the group selection for the school trip was completed.

Just as Chisato Wakumura had said, I ended up in the same group as her. And also with Hanafuda Wakamatsu.

“I’m sorry, Shizuku.”

Itohara rubbed his hands together apologetically.

Mizuhara was initially in the same group as Itohara and Noguchi, with whom he often spent time.

However, the number of people in each group was no longer sufficient. Unable to bear the silence, Mizuhara volunteered to move within the group.

“Well, let’s get along, Mizuhara-san.”

Masuda, with his brown hair curled up, taps me on the shoulder.

I replied, “Nice to meet you,” but I still feel regretful. I shouldn’t have raised my hand. I even feel like I got the short end of the stick.

“Okay then, everyone, please return to your seats.”

Urged by his homeroom teacher, Mr. Fuchigami, Mizuhara sat down, stunned, but immediately put his head in his hands.

What should I do?

I have hardly spoken to Masuda or Ariyoshi. What kind of distance should I keep with them, and what kind of trivial things should we talk about to get through this?

On top of that, there’s Wakamatsu Kaede. I’m not sure how close I am to her. I’m starting to feel more and more depressed about next month’s school trip.

The only person he can rely on is Wakumura Chisato, who is sitting next to him.

Lunchtime came and went, and my mind still felt cloudy.

“I’m sorry, Shizuku. Are you sure you’re okay?”

Sitting on a bench in the courtyard, Itohara apologized while stuffing his face with a sweet bun. Noguchi, who was sitting next to him, also apologized.

“It’s fine, it’s fine.”

Mizuhara responded kindly while drinking her vegetable juice.

It’s probably a bad part of my personality that I can’t speak my true feelings in a place like this. But I can’t bring myself to say, “I don’t like it either.” Itohara and Noguchi are friends. So why do I try to save face in front of them?

“Haa…”

As I walked back to the classroom from the courtyard, I felt as if a heavy cloud was hanging over my head.

Mizuhara Shizuku’s vision turns gray. She gradually begins to hear sounds around her less clearly, and her ears begin to ring. These are symptoms of anemia.hazeHaze

“Sorry, I’m going ahead for a bit.”

Leaving my two friends behind, I head to the nurse’s office.

The hallway felt longer than usual, and I realized I didn’t have enough room to walk. When I opened the door, I found Professor Sato sitting in a round chair, staring at some documents.SuccessUncertain

“Oh? Mizuhara-san’s face looks pale.”

“Teacher, my head is a bit…”

There, Mizuhara Shizuku’s memory stopped for a moment.

When I woke up, I found myself lying in a bed surrounded by pale pink curtains.

The marbled ceiling and the smell of chemicals immediately reminded me that this was the nurse’s office. I couldn’t sense any sign of Dr. Sato, and it seemed he was away.

I can hear the students’ voices outside.

He checked the time on his watch. It seemed to be the end of the fifth period. As he closed his eyes again, feeling ashamed at his lack of ability, he heard the door open. It must have been Mr. Sato, who had been absent, who had returned. Returning to the classroom at the end of a class like this would only make him stand out unnecessarily. Mizuhara closed his eyes, deciding to sleep here for a while.

“Teacher-“

The curtain rail moved, and light poured in through the gaps.

“…Mizuhara?”

I opened my eyes slightly and saw Wakamatsu Kaede peering in through the curtains. Seeing her in her gym clothes, I remembered that the fifth period was P.E. class.

“Eh! Hey wh, what’s wrong?”

“…”

“Mizuhara, are you feeling unwell?”

She quickly threw open the curtains and ran over to the bed where Mizuhara was lying.

Mizuhara could no longer bear to see Wakamatsu crouching next to him on the bed with a worried look on his face, so he spoke up.

“Don’t worry, I’m anemic.”

“Mizuhara, you’ve been looking pale lately. Are you eating properly?”

“…Well, like everyone else.”

The classmate found Mizuhara’s hand under the towel blanket, bent down, and slowly squeezed it.

“Ha, there was no reply and I got worried…”

“……reply?”

“I sent you a message because I was worried.”

Wakamatsu let out a sigh of genuine relief.

“Where’s Wakamatsu? Did he get hurt during PE?”

“Look at this, isn’t it a bit terrible?”

Wakamatsu points his reddish middle finger in my direction.

“…A sprained finger?”

“That’s right! Even though Ariyoshi is on the volleyball team, he serves with all his might!”

Mizuhara thinks of her classmate Ariyoshi. She’s tall and has long limbs, so the ball she hits must be powerful.

“Is Professor Sato not here?”

“I wonder…”

Mizuhara lifted the towel blanket and sat up.

I took a deep breath and looked down at my classmate sitting near the bed.

“Don’t squat down. There’s a chair over there. Sit down.”

“Oh no, I want to be next to Mizuhara.”

“What a selfish thing to do…”

Wakamatsu gives a mischievous grin.

“Well then, at least sit on the bed.”

“Yes, please come in.”

As if she had been waiting for this, Wakamatsu stood up briskly and sat down on the bed. The bed creaked with her movements, and Mizuhara’s body moved as well.

“Suwon-“

“……what”

“Can I hug you?”

Without waiting for Mizuhara’s reply, Wakamatsu stretched his upper body towards her and wrapped his arms around Mizuhara Shizuku’s back. She then leaned in close, pressing her body against him.

The nostalgic, sweet scent of young pine tickled his nostrils, and Mizuhara closed his eyes.

“I love you, Mizuhara.”

“…Even though there are plenty of potential lovers.”

“I don’t need that. Because I love Mizuhara.”

Even though he was so red-faced at first, Wakamatsu looked at Mizuhara with a serious expression.

“I’m… not worthy of someone like Wakamatsu.”

“That’s something I decide.”

The hug tightened, and Wakamatsu buried his face in Mizuhara’s neck.

It was ticklish and nostalgic, and Mizuhara felt like crying uncontrollably.

“You broke up with me…”

With his face still buried, Wakamatsu began to bring up an unexpected topic.

“Because you realized you can’t replace your sister?”

“……I agree……”

“Then you should have said something sooner.”

Wakamatsu slowly lifts his face, which he had been rubbing against Mizuhara.

” Before you’re overcome with guilt, “HarshSmall

I was in no position when the truth was given in return.

That’s certainly true. From the time that Mizuhara began to sense the change in Wakamatsu’s feelings, a sense of guilt began to grow in her heart. When was that? At the very least, it must have been before their first holiday date.

“At least you won’t have to feel guilty about me.”

“…I don’t know anything about that.”

Even though I was in a bad mood, I cannot forgive myself for taking advantage of my classmate’s kindness.

“It all started with me .”

“I guess so.”

“I took advantage of Wakamatsu’s kindness and tried desperately to keep him…”

Mizuhara desperately tries to hold back her tears.

He tells himself that Wakamatsu’s feelings are also fiction.

“But,” Wakamatsu said, tugging on Mizuhara’s arm. When he looked up at the movement, his eyes met with Wakamatsu’s gentle smile.

“Because I want to believe in what’s here now.”

Those words pierced Mizuhara’s heart.

“Maybe it was a lie at the beginning.”

“What we’ve built up can’t have been lies.”

Wakamatsu is a wonderful person who lives an upright life.

I’m sure this person will continue to express his feelings so honestly in the future.

The corners of her eyes started to get hot. Shaking her head from side to side, Mizuhara rejected Wakamatsu. Not wanting to show her tearful face, she buried her face in her classmate’s shoulder.

“Mizuhara has lost weight.”

Wakamatsu strengthens his arms again.

Her chest was pressed against Mizuhara’s, and it felt as if their heartbeats were in sync.

“…”

“Eat it properly.”

There is the sound of a door opening.

Just as he thought it was Professor Sato this time, he heard a bright voice that rang in his ears. This voice was also familiar to Mizuhara.

“Wakamatsu! Are you safe?!”

“Sorry about earlier.”

Masuda and Ariyoshi. It seems like it’s time to pick up their classmates.

“See you later.”

Wakamatsu tilted her head, raised her eyebrows, and chuckled. Her shadow was cast on the curtain.

Mizuhara Shizuku desperately held back her hand that was about to reach out towards the shadow.