The happiness of answering Yuki-kunâs call and hearing his voice in my ear was short-lived, and I realized to my dismay the position I was in.
âActually, I was told by Souta himself today. Kanae has someone she loves, so donât hang around her too muchâ¦â
The moment I heard that, my whole body froze.
Iâve never told anyone about my true feelings for Yuki-kun, nor about my misunderstanding of Souta-kun until now. And yetâ¦
Ughâ¦Who is this âperson I likeâ that Souta-kun refers toâ¦?
Iâve been in a situation where Iâve been interrupted this morning, and I feel bitter and unreasonably angry towards Souta-kun.
No, but Souta-kun doesnât know whatâs going on, and I think heâs saying it for the best.
Besides, in the first place, all I have to do is tell him that I like him, that Iâm sorry for rejecting him, and that I want to go out with him.
In my head, Iâm already imagining a future where Iâm married to Yuki-kun and have a child, but in reality, Iâm disgusted with myself for being so spineless.
And then, as if to push me over the edge.
âIâm really sorry⦠but it was because I did something unnecessary, like confessing to Kanae, that I ended up in a situation where Souta had to warn meâ¦â
There was an unconcealable pain in every word, and Yukiâs voice, as he tried to hide his feelings and make up for it, made my chest tighten up, and at the same time, I wanted to disappear because of the unworthiness of making the person I love say such a thing.
The image of Yuki, covered in scars and clenching her teeth, came to my mind as the blood drained from my head, and I found myself bursting into tears.
No more, no moreâ¦
âYuki-kun⦠I have something to tell youâ¦â
No thoughts, no nothing, just desperate words.
âPlease listen to me⦠Pleaseâ¦â
With a trembling voice and a terribly pathetic plea, I decided to ask him to listen to my feelings.
Thereâs no time to lose. I want to go to Yuki-kun as soon as possible. Yuki-kun, Yuki-kun, Yuki-kunâ!
I ran out of the student council room and headed for Yuki-kunâs place.
On the way, I met Souta-kun by chance and he gave me a great pep talk⦠Maybe Souta-kun has been pushing me since this morning.
Thank you, Souta-kunâ¦
I call out the name of the person I love, thanking the boy I grew up with for his incomprehensible and clumsy kindness.
âYuki-kun!â
I hugged Yuki-kun, who was waiting for me just outside the school gate.
âWhoa! Kanae?â
Yuki-kun was surprised and tried to pull his body away, but I would never let him go.
I press my whole body against Yukiâs and wrap my arms around him, hugging him tightly.
After doing this, my face and head, as well as my entire body, are already burning hot, and my heart is racing like it never has before.
âYuki-kun, please⦠listen to meâ¦â
I hugged Yuki-kun, and only turned my face upward to say.
âI love you, Yuki-kun⦠I love youâ¦!â
My voice was shaking and I stammered, which was very uncoolâ¦
âEh⦠But Kanae said that Souta is⦠and Souta is also⦠about Kanae.â
Yuki muttered in confusion.
âUgh⦠Iâm sorry⦠After Yuki confessed his feelings to me, I thought about it a lot⦠I even talked to my mom about it⦠And then I realized my true feelingsâ¦â
Yuki-kun said, âWhat, to Aunt? âHe was curious about that part, but I was too busy telling him how I feltâ¦
âWith Souta-kun I donât feel anything⦠I get very jealous when Yuki-kun is talking to other girls⦠And then I get worried that other girls will take youâ¦â
Then Yuki-kun said in a panic.
âNo, no, no, no! Not like this!â
I thought to myself, âThatâs not true!â
âIn addition, Souta-kun sent me here⦠to tell Yuki-kun my honest feelings, and Souta-kun assured me that Yuki-kun would definitely respondâ¦â
Then, Yuki seemed to be unexpected and was very confused.
âOh, reallyâ¦? Well, Iâm sorry⦠what can I sayâ¦?â
I know it doesnât mean the same thing, but the moment Yuki said âIâm sorryâ to me, I felt like I was being filled with a dark despair and even felt my consciousness receding.
My body trembled with fear of being rejected, and I desperately clung to Yuki-kun.
âYuki-kun⦠now that Iâve done this⦠Iâm afraid you wonât like me, butâ¦â
My vision was shaky and my voice was completely nasal, such a pathetic confessionâ¦
âI love you⦠please⦠go out with me, pleaseâ¦!â
I canât lower my head because Iâm stuck to him, so I press my forehead against Yuki-kunâs chest plate.
Uh ⦠scary, scary, scary-the reply is scary, and the arm that hugs Yuki-kun gets stronger.
Yuki-kun did such an amazing thing, so firmlyâ¦
In this situation, I fell in love with Yuki-kun againâif he rejects me, Iâll cry⦠and dieâ¦
And from the way he was breathing, I could tell that Yuki-kun was trying to open his mouth.
âOh, wait⦠no, no, Yuki-kun⦠donât reject me⦠Iâm sorry, Iâm sorry⦠please forgive meâ¦. please forgive meâ¦â
My tears are already ragged and my nose is soggy⦠What Iâm saying is so pathetic, I think most people would be turned off.
But Yuki-kunâ
âNo, no, no, no, no, no! I canât reject you. Iâve always loved Kanae⦠Even after I was rejected, I couldnât give up and wanted to get revenge! âOh, no, Iâm not talking about that now⦠Anyway! Iâm so happy!â
Then, Yuki-kun said with a new look.
âI like you too Kanae! Thank you very much!â
And then Yuki bowed his head, causing me to shrivel up in his embrace.
I laughed while crying because it made me feel funny.
Then, for the first time in two days, I was alone with Yuki-kun on the way home. But Iâm walking home with a completely different ending and mindset than I had two days ago.
Like Azaka-senpai, Rinka-chan, and Chris-chan did with Souta-kun every morning, I take Yuki-kun by the arm and hug him.
Iâm stunned at my own naivety for already feeling happy after such a desperate and pathetic confession, but I want to think that it was worth the traumatic embarrassment.
âHey Kanaeâ¦â
Then Yukiâs low voice comes out with the most mysterious expression of the day.
The low voice that seems to hold me down makes my hips tremble and my stomach gets warmer, and at the same time, I feel the negative fear of what Iâm being told.
âWhat is it?â
With a strange mixture of nervousness and excitement, I asked back with caution.
âHow far did you consult with⦠auntâ¦?â
Eh, That?
After a pause, I couldnât help but blurt out.
âHmm, hmm, letâs go ask her directly now.â
I also have something to report to my mother, who has been pushing me a lot.
âI got a boyfriend today!â
âI said with a smug look on my face!