A Story About a Handsome Girl Having Her First Kiss Stolen by an Equally Handsome Classmate - Episode 69

November 27th (Sunday)

The second day of the cultural festival was drawing to an end.

Wakamatsu Kaede had been selected as a finalist in the beauty pageant grand prix and was awaiting the final selection.

“Want to come and watch it in the pageant courtyard?”

In the courtyard, there was a venue with a large stage. I had no desire to show my face amid such a crowd, even if Wakamatsu was performing.

“There are too many people.”

“I thought so. Well then, Class 3, watch from that window in the hallway.”

“Well, that’s fine.”

If you peek out from the corridor, you can see the courtyard. This is enough for Suwon.

“Okay! Then that’s a promise.”

“Ah… are you leaving already?”

Feeling a little reluctant to leave, I unconsciously grabbed Wakamatsu’s arm.

“Don’t make such a cute face.”

Wakamatsu leaned down and kissed Mizuhara on the cheek.

Had his feelings been so obvious that they were pointed out to him? His face grew hot as he was hit right on the mark. His classmates laughed at him as they went out into the hallway.

“Haa…”

With nothing in particular to do, I took deep breaths and closed my eyes.

As I sense the smell of winter and the change of seasons, a feeling of loneliness wells up within me. Not having her by my side only intensifies that loneliness.

“The final round of the Sakugaoka High School beauty pageant begins.”

An announcement was made over the school’s PA system, and the noise outside gradually grew louder. Looking into the courtyard, the area around the stage was overflowing with people. The spectators had also crowded onto the balcony on the first floor of the school building and seemed to be enjoying the final event of the cultural festival.

Following the host’s announcement, the finalists, each dressed in their costumes, take to the stage.

“Who will take home the Grand Prize?”

The host gets the crowd excited.

In previous years, the Grand Prix was divided into a girls’ division and a boys’ division, but starting this year, the Grand Prix was changed so that only the one with the most votes at the end would be the Grand Prix. The judges were the principal, the chairman of last year’s cultural festival organizing committee, and several members of the organizing committee. The Grand Prix was decided by the number of votes they received.

“Oh my, he’s popular…”

The finalists walk across the stage in order of their grade level.

Wakamatsu Kaede wears black-rimmed glasses and a blazer uniform. Taking various factors into consideration, all the girls are wearing pants.

When it was her turn, the cheers were so loud she wanted to cover her ears. Mizuhara’s heart ached as the girl who had been standing next to her just moments ago seemed to have slipped out of reach.

“Haaah…”

It became difficult for Mizuhara to watch the scene, so he closed his eyes.

I listened carefully to the moderator’s voice while feeling the chilly wind. All that was left was the announcement.

My thoughts turn to my sister somewhere.

Her older sister, Yu Mizuhara, also graduated from Sakugaoka High School. Where is she now, and what is she doing? What is she seeing and feeling?

“This year’s Grand Prix is–“

Sensing the atmosphere in the venue calming down, Mizuhara Shizuku opened her eyes.

“— Wakamatsu Hanafude from class 2-3!”

This one word caused the entire venue to erupt in excitement, more than it had all day.

To be honest, it was easy to imagine this happening.

Wakamatsu Kaede has a face that is not only popular with women, but also with men who call her “cute.” Since the Grand Prix was unified for both men and women, the judges’ votes probably went to her.

“Now, please say a few words as the Grand Prize winner!”

A staff member prepared a microphone in the center of the stage, and the host guided Wakamatsu.

She stood in the center without showing any sign of panic. With just that, cheers rose from the audience.

“I would like to take this opportunity to tell you all something.”

Wakamatsu’s clear voice carries well.

The entire venue fell silent to catch the voice of the Grand Prize winner. Mizuhara listened in the same way.

“I, Wakamatsu Hanafude–“

Suddenly, Wakamatsu raised his head, facing the spot where Mizuhara was in class 2-3.

“I’m dating someone special!”

A high-pitched cry that was indistinguishable between a scream and a cheer rose, and the boys made a huge commotion in their loud voices. She caused the biggest uproar at the school festival.

“Will that be within the school or at another school?”

The host excitedly asks questions in response to the excitement.

“It’s a secret. I want to keep it a secret, so I’d appreciate it if you wouldn’t pry into my details.”

“Oh!”

“So please cooperate.”

Wakamatsu bows deeply and walks off the stage.

“I won’t let Mizuhara feel that way.”

Is this what those words meant?

Mizuhara Shizuku stared blankly at the stage where Wakamatsu had disappeared. It seemed they were moving on to the section where students who had sadly missed out on the grand prize were giving their impressions. Mizuhara’s heart was pounding like crazy, and she couldn’t hear any of the voices. However, her love for Wakamatsu Hanafude was overflowing, and her desperate desire to see her was what drove her on.

“Mizuhara!”

came the voice of his beloved from the end of the hallway.

Wakamatsu Kaede runs towards us wearing the gorgeous beauty pageant outfit.

“…Wakamatsu!”

Mizuhara, too, ran towards her beloved classmate, driven by her emotions. Seeing Mizuhara like that, Wakamatsu stopped in his tracks and spread his arms wide. Urged by her, he simply jumped into her heart, driven by his emotions, without any thought for the impact it might have on her.

“Nice tackle!”

Wakamatsu laughs playfully.

“…Congratulations on your win.”

“Can I become the lover that Mizuhara can be proud of?”

“From the beginning, she’s been too good for me.”

Wakamatsu rummaged around and took something out of his trouser pocket. Still wearing his blazer, he got down on one knee and showed Mizuhara a small white box. The small object looked familiar.

“picture”

Wakamatsu opens the box from top to bottom. Inside is a memorable pair of rings that the two of them had made together.

“Mizuhara Shizuku-san”

Wakamatsu looks Mizuhara straight in the eyes and has a serious expression.

“I love you. Please go out with me again.”

This is the second confession. Mizuhara Shizuku now has no reason to reject this confession.

“……please”

Mizuhara Shizuku held out her right hand.

Understanding his intention, Wakamatsu Kaede put the ring on his ring finger, just like that day. She gave him a light kiss over the ring and smiled contentedly.

“It’s not about me. Mizuhara is the best.”

His beloved laughed brightly. Mizuhara loved her so much that he embraced her as she knelt on one knee.

“Why did you confess again…”

Mizuhara asked a question while stroking Wakamatsu’s head.

“I just wanted proof that we were back together.”

“Hehe, what’s that?”

I can’t help but laugh for childish reasons.

“I like young pine too.”

“Yeah”

“I love you… Stay by my side forever.”

A hug after a hallway confession.

Carried away by the atmosphere of the school festival, Mizuhara Shizuku embraced her beloved classmate with all her might.