46 - First kiss

The atmosphere between us fell silent for a moment. I stared at my broken water bottle with a look of disbelief. Only one thought crossed my mind right now: I have to be careful.

Meanwhile, Yuichi's face was still burning red, even after some time had passed. Her hands trembled nervously.

"Yuichi..." I called softly.

"Huh..?"

"Nagi... I-is your t-thing still okay..? I feel like... I just threw it..." Yuichi stammered, still too afraid to open her eyes.

I-I couldn't answer!

"Nagi... Don't tell me... It’s broken..?" After a long silence, curiosity got the better of Yuichi, and she slowly dared to open her eyes, fearing that my thing had really been broken. She quickly turned to look at me with a worried expression.

However, her expression soon turned confused when she saw that I was completely fine.

"Nagi... Is your thing safe..?" Yuichi asked nervously.

I gave her a thumbs-up with my trembling hand. "I-it's safe... What you threw just now wasn’t my thing..."

Yuichi's face turned even redder as I revealed the truth. Instinctively, she started looking around for the thing she had thrown.

After searching for a while, her eyes locked onto my broken water bottle, right in the direction where she had thrown the thing she thought was my "thing."

"W-wa-water bottle..!?"

I scratched my head awkwardly and laughed nervously. "Heh... Heheh... Sorry, Yuichi. I think I went a bit overboard."

"Am I forgiven..?" I asked desperately, watching as Yuichi's expression darkened.

"Na... gi..."

I instinctively took a step back when Yuichi called my name in an intimidating tone.

My instincts screamed at me to run. If I didn’t escape now, even fate itself wouldn’t be able to save my thing from whatever doom awaited it.

Should I run now..?

I swallowed nervously.

No... I had to face this. After all, this was the path I had chosen— I had made an inappropriate joke that crossed the line!

If I ran, something even worse might happen.

So... It was better to settle everything now. This was my responsibility to apologize, and also the perfect time to prove that I was a MAN!

I gathered courage from both sides— my brain and my thing.

Using the combined power of both sources of bravery, I stepped forward, struggling to withstand the intimidating aura radiating from Yuichi.

I stood right in front of her, looking at her nervously before gently placing my hands on her shoulders. "Yuichi... We can talk this out, right? I have a future I want to achieve too, so please don’t break... mine... okay..?"

"Hm..? What are you even talking about, Nagi?" Yuichi raised her head, her eyes glowing red. "I don’t understand what you mean. What is it that you think I want to break?" I could faintly see a sinister smile hidden in the shadows of her face.

I quickly jumped back, making sure to put a few meters between us.

Impossible..! Her aura is too strong!

Yuichi might have said she didn’t know, but— you can’t hide that killing intent and that evil grin you just showed.

"L-look, how about I treat you to lunch for a whole week?" I desperately tried to negotiate.

"I don’t care." Yuichi took a step forward.

"A-AH!!! H-how about a full month..?"

Yuichi stared at me sharply. "I said I don’t care..."

"A YEAR!!!!"

"I don’t care about that..." Yuichi puffed out her cheeks angrily, clenching her fists tightly. "Nagi... You..." Tears started to form at the corners of her eyes.

"IDIOT!!!"

Yuichi prepared to charge at me with all her strength, but— at that exact moment, the clubroom door burst open from the outside, causing Yuichi to be pushed forward at full speed.

"Yui... chi...!!!"

Chu♡.

"YO!" A deep, familiar voice rang out. It seemed to be Kaito. "I heard from Chiharu that there was free lunch here, so I rushed over!"

Kaito... Chiharu... Lunch...?

No, that wasn’t the important thing right now.

Right now, Yuichi’s lips and mine were pressed together.

It felt as if time had stopped. The sensation on my lips was so soft and sweet, like the gentle taste of strawberries.

An indescribable feeling slowly flowed through me, pulling me into the warmth of the moment. Every second stretched endlessly as we both remained frozen in silence.

Our bodies were so close, and without realizing it, our hands were intertwined in a tender grip.

I looked at Yuichi’s face— her beauty only pulled me deeper into this kiss. Even though it wasn’t too strong, I could faintly smell the shampoo she used from this close.

My heart pounded so hard it felt like it was going to explode. My face burned, and a heat surged through my body, making me feel like I could pass out at any moment.

My entire body felt weak, as if all my strength had been drained in an instant. It was as if something was keeping me frozen in place, unable to move.

All these emotions flooded in so suddenly— I hadn’t even prepared myself for this.

My first kiss...

W-wait! That’s not the point!!

I mean, I liked it...

But... how was Yuichi feeling right now..? Was she feeling the same way?

With all my strength, I gently pushed Yuichi away, creating a thin bridge of saliva still connecting our lips.

I quickly wiped my mouth. Then, with my face still burning, I called her name nervously. "Y-Yuichi..!!!"

Yuichi’s eyes were blank, her body trembling. She lowered her head weakly, looking completely lost and unsure of what to do. Her face was bright red, like someone burning up with fever, revealing just how embarrassed she was.

"Aaaaaa...." Yuichi kept mumbling that single sound over and over again. Her expression showed that she still hadn’t fully processed what had just happened.

Realizing her current state, I turned my gaze toward the clubroom door. I saw Kaito standing there, completely frozen, his mouth wide open in shock.

"Kaito..! You better apologize to Yuichi after this.." I shot him a sharp glare, gritting my teeth with my face still flushed.

"A-AH! Yes, boss! Anything else? Like—"

"NO!" I quickly cut him off. "Get out! There’s no free lunch here!"

Kaito let out a long sigh before walking out, looking disappointed.

I turned my attention back to Yuichi. Her expression hadn’t changed— in fact, her face was even redder now.

"Yuichi... Are you okay?"

.....

....

...

Yuichi's pupils, which had been in disarray, slowly returned to their original position. She stared at me in shock, then quickly averted her gaze.

"Id-idiot..."

THUMP.

Crap. She’s too cute. I might just explode right here.

HOLY CRAP, HOLY CRAP, HOLY CRAP!!!

HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO ACT NORMAL AFTER WHAT JUST HAPPENED?!

AAAAARRRRRGGGGGHHHHH!!!!!

My first kiss… I just had my first kiss. And more than that… I had it with Yuichi… I… I feel like I could die in peace right now, as if I have no more regrets left in this world. Everything feels so beautiful. I have achieved enlightenment.

Inside my head, I was jumping around like a lunatic, but in front of Yuichi, I still maintained a normal expression. That was the power of my Face of Steel.

"Yuichi… I know this happened by accident. But still… it happened. So let me ask you."

"Aren’t you bothered that your first kiss… was with me..?" I asked nervously, looking at Yuichi with anticipation.

It was the first kiss for both of us. I wondered, what did Yuichi think about it..?

Yuichi reached her hand toward my face. Instinctively, I quickly shut my eyes, expecting a punch to land.

But instead of what I had imagined, Yuichi gently pulled my ear.

"I-it’s… I don’t mind… Besides, it was with you. So… I’m okay with it," Yuichi’s soft voice pierced right through my heart.

SO CUTE!!!!!

Damn… This is dangerous for my heart…

I swallowed hard, preparing myself to take it one step further.

Just as Chiharu had advised me… Moments like these are the perfect time to launch an attack on Yuichi!

Unrelenting domination— that was the technique Chiharu taught me. A technique to make Yuichi fall for me in an instant!

"Yuichi. So… You liked our kiss just now, didn’t you..?" I said, flashing her a wide but awkward smile.

Yuichi quickly pushed me away and got up from my lap. She struggled to stand because her legs were still shaking, but she managed to hide it well.

She glared at me sharply, then turned away in embarrassment.

"Hmph! Even if I didn’t mind the kiss… That doesn’t mean I l-liked it, you… stupid Nagi..!" she stammered. I could almost picture her expression right now.

I let out a relieved sigh. "Such a tsundere…" I muttered.

"Y-YES!"

I flinched at Yuichi’s sudden outburst.

"S-something wrong with that?! We’re both… tsunderes, right..?"

Eh… She heard that..?

"Since we’re the same, that makes us even! Okay?!" she continued boldly.

Oh, she’s not denying it..?

So Yuichi… indirectly admitted that she liked our kiss, huh..?

Yuichi turned her face slightly, glancing at me nervously for a moment. But when I tried to meet her gaze, she quickly looked away.

..?

"Nagi… I-I’m going now…" Yuichi muttered. She hastily stepped out of the clubroom.

"Ah… Take care…" I weakly waved my hand.

Now the atmosphere felt awkward…

Well…

I wasn’t sure whether to consider this little accident a “blessing” or “misfortune.” I didn’t even know if I should be mad at Kaito for causing it…

Maybe… If both Yuichi and I are okay with that kiss— then that’s enough to call it a “blessing”?

A blessing, huh…

I touched my lips softly.

There was still a faint taste of strawberry…

…

Sweet…

TO BE CONTINUED.