CH 97

Leaving the riverside, they walked along a dimly lit side street and climbed a gentle slope. After a while, they arrived at an open space.

It was a spectacular spot for those who knew it, but from the looks of it, there were no people around.

Sitting on a decrepit bench, he looked up at the night sky through the trees.

The fireworks had already gone off.

Leaving a roar behind, glittering sparks danced around the night sky.

Red, blue, yellow, green, orange, purple, and even pink. The jet-black sea was filled with flowers of extreme colors.

“It’s beautiful.”

“It certainly is.”

They laughed at each other’s bland impressions.

The ephemeral glow, as bright as the starlight, was burned into their eyes and would not leave.

That was what he thought while looking at Fuyuka’s profile.

“It’s such a strange feeling.”

Fuyuka suddenly opened her mouth.

Asahi tilted his head and a small smile appeared on the person next to him.

“That I’m enjoying summer right now with you, Asahi-kun.”

A year ago, the expression on Fuyuka’s face was the exact opposite.

The cold gaze that seemed to shun anybody covered her frozen heart with thick layers of ice.

She always kept her distance from everyone, never spoke to anyone beyond what was necessary, and always maintained a straight face. A lady that was as cold as ice.

“There’s certainly a great difference from when we first met.”

“That’s…it would help if you don’t remind me of it so much.”

“No, I’ll never forget it.”

“No, please erase it from your memory.”

How could I forget?

The story I began with her, a story about ice.

Then the two of them reminisced.

It all started when Fuyuka collapsed with a high fever.

Unable to abandon the girl who refused his help, Asahi nursed her with his kindness.

Afterwards, Fuyuka decided to tutor him as a thank you.

It resulted in them having dinner together, and their relationship was supposed to end there.

Before the ball tournament, Fuyuka injured her wrist.

It was easy to imagine how difficult it was to live alone and not be able to use your dominant arm.

And as usual, Asahi meddled in.

He suggested that he could cook dinner for her instead while she healed from her injuries.

Surprisingly, Fuyuka agreed to it.

The relationship between the two of them continued with a mysterious connection.

The big change came after the ball tournament.

Asahi, who wanted her to mentor him in his study, and Fuyuka, who wanted to be taught how to cook.

As a result of the mutual interests of both parties, the two entered into a mutually supportive relationship.

They cooked together, studied together, and sometimes went out together.

Christmas, New Year’s, amusement parks.

Fuyuka was always next to him

And the weather was rough that day.

Fuyuka was absent from school, and the cold snow fell incessantly.

It was obvious that something happened to her.

So once again, Asahi extended his warm palm.

Fuyuka accepted it without exchanging a word.

The story that was told was of a painful and difficult past.

Fuyuka said.

I don’t want anybody to leave me again.

Asahi said.

I’m not going anywhere.

And thus, the “Ice Lady” disappeared.

Once we identified our feelings for each other, everything felt new.

It was not a smooth road.

We certainly took the long way.

The fingertips of the hands on the bench touched each other.

It separated again, and touched once again.

Eventually, Asahi’s large palm covered Fuyuka’s small hand.

“I’m a coward, so I avoided socializing. But then you reached out to me, Asahi-kun. I accepted your hand and made many friends. I’m really incredibly happy.”

One by one, the words were spoken in the colorful night sky.

“That’s why I was afraid. I was afraid that we would drift apart again. I was helplessly afraid that our relationship would fall apart.”

He wondered what her eyes looking into the distance were thinking about.

“But you said you wouldn’t go anywhere, Asahi-kun.”

The sad expression on her face changed, and the radiant smile on her face made Asahi’s heart rumble.

“I’ll always be here for you. In the present and even in the future. I want to be next to you, that’s what I think.”

Somebody once said.

That a confession was a confirmation process.

He thought back to the days they spent together and imagined the days to come.

Whether or not their partner was there in the future.

Kagami Asahi had Himuro Fuyuka.

And Himuro Fuyuka had Kagami Asahi.

They were aware of each other’s feelings.

Therefore, they had to do it.

How much easier it would be if they could remain friends.

And just continuing their current relationship might be enough.

But still they wanted to go beyond that.

They couldn’t help but feel their heart screaming to be more than friends.

People called that feeling love, and love made people blind.

Still, a handful of people who kept their eyes forward would find happiness.

“Fuyuka.” “Asahi-kun.”

The voices calling their beloved’s name overlapped.

Their gazes crossed, and both of them couldn’t help but laugh.

They couldn’t hear the fireworks.

Their heads were filled with the sound of their own pulsating heartbeat.

There were many words that they couldn’t convey before.

“I love you.”

Love was spun in the world of just two people.

“I want you to go out with me.”

Asahi poured his gaze straight on.

Fuyuka also returned his gaze head on.

They didn’t look away from each other.

“I told you that my answer is already decided.”

The palm of one hand overlapped the palm of the other.

“I love you, Asahi-kun. I love you. I’m madly in love with you.”

Her eyes reflected the person she loved the most.

A person who she genuinely loved.

“Please go out with me.”

Neither of them answered.

There was no need for words, as long as their feelings were mutual.

Asahi and Fuyuka slowly closed the distance between them.

Just for this moment, they closed their eyes.

Gently, their lips met.

“I love you, Fuyuka.”

“I love you too, Asahi-kun.”

They kissed again, as if to confirm their feelings.

The embarrassed smile on Fuyuka’s face was the cutest thing in the world.