Lovers Finally Become Spouses

"Ha~ good afternoon, Honami."

"Good afternoon, Makoto." x2

Yawning incessantly, Makoto grabbed his bento box and devoured it in an instant.

"Why is Makoto so sleepy?"

Feeling that her relationship with the two had grown much closer, Kei asked.

"You can blame Honami for what she did to me last night."

Makoto skillfully shifted the blame.

"Yes, it is entirely my fault."

Honami gracefully accepted the blame and pinned it on herself.

"I'm so envious of the relationship you two have."

Kei cast an envious look at Honami; if only she had a childhood friend like Makoto, too.

If that were the case, the one flirting with Makoto right now would surely be her, right?

"...As for that, I don't really know how to put it into words."

Makoto pondered his phrasing.

"Because of Honami's existence, I am who I am today—I suppose that's about it."

"Dummy Makoto, that's not what Kei was asking you!"

Honami chuckled and tapped Makoto's back with her small fist, her face filled with a smile called happiness.

"She was just sighing in admiration, not asking what kind of relationship we actually have!"

"Is that so?"

Makoto looked thoughtful. Having just heard "the relationship you two have," he couldn't help but wonder what kind of relationship he and Honami actually had now.

"Lovers" felt too simple, and "childhood friends" was a phrase he was tired of saying, so after much deliberation, he had said those words.

Honami raised her head.

Her eyes, clear as sapphires, were filled with the reflection of the man before her.

"Is it... okay now?"

"What?"

Makoto was momentarily confused. He stared blankly at Honami, whose eyes were brimming with affection, and for some reason, a warm feeling welled up in his heart.

"Just like this!"

Honami answered with action.

"Mmph...!"

Makoto instinctively widened his eyes, and countless thoughts scattered in that instant.

Feeling the sensation on his lips, he lost the ability to think about anything else.

All he could process now was the surprise of the moment itself.

So... this is what a kiss feels like?

The psychological pleasure far outweighed the physical experience.

Or rather, it was entirely a sensation of the soul.

Makoto reached out and wrapped his arms around Honami's ivory-delicate neck, hungrily seeking more.

Kei was stunned, watching from the side.

However, what she was thinking was: could she be included next time?

Please, hurry up!

The girl's feet felt as heavy as lead, so she simply stretched her neck forward, carefully studying the knowledge.

Knowledge, learned to the max!

However, since most of the process happened in her blind spot, she didn't gain enough practical knowledge.

One must practice to truly understand!

Kei fantasized about such a future.

After a long while, the kiss ended, and their lips parted.

Honami covered her already crimson cheeks; with someone else present, she wasn't as bold as she had imagined herself to be.

It was purely a heat-of-the-moment impulse, and she hadn't expected it to actually work.

She had received the response she had long awaited.

Right now, she was in a state of floating on air, completely unable to think about anything else, knowing only to cover her face with her hands.

A picture-perfect display of burying one's head in the sand.

"Thank you, Honami."

Makoto thanked Honami solemnly, grateful to her for taking the first kiss of his two lifetimes.

That's right, that was the reality of the situation.

If this was what Kushida had been trying to do last night, he would have been able to react in time.

Deep down, Honami was an irreplaceable existence to him.

"It's so embarrassing, let's hurry back!"

Honami didn't respond to Makoto's thanks; instead, she pulled out one hand and waved it, wanting to find some peace and quiet.

Her heart was pounding incessantly, and she felt as though the sound was clearer than it had ever been before.

Honami was absolutely certain this wasn't an illusion; her emotions at this very moment were stirred to an indescribable degree.

Makoto hadn't rejected her, and he had just been thanking her!

Goodness! It felt as if every wish she had ever made had been fulfilled, and she felt a little dizzy.

"Alright."

Turning to signal to Kei, Makoto embraced Honami and walked down from the rooftop.

The two walked very slowly because Honami never once opened her eyes, remaining nestled in Makoto's arms the entire time.

Makoto wasn't annoyed, either, slowly accompanying Honami step by step toward the next flight of stairs.

This life of his was truly a success...

Even though he had barely passed the halfway point of his life's journey, Makoto could already make such a judgment.

Because he had felt an emotion called happiness.

This was a special kind of happiness.

It was different from the happiness felt when one's taste buds were satisfied, and different from the happiness of obtaining something one had longed for.

It was unique, a happiness that belonged solely to him.

"Are you feeling better?"

Stopping at the entrance to the Class A classroom, ignoring the curious gazes cast their way by Sakayanagi and Kamuro, Makoto asked the beautiful girl in his arms.

"...Yeah."

A voice as soft as a mosquito's hum came from his chest, and Honami reluctantly pulled herself away from Makoto's embrace.

Now, no one should be able to question her feelings for Makoto anymore.

Being able to perform such an act with Makoto was no longer just the petty games of the previous month.

Yes, holding hands, linking arms, eating lunch together... such behaviors were not enough to make the voices of doubt disappear.

Words like "she's just keeping him as a spare," "this is all a strategy to stay in Class A," or "there are no real feelings involved" had been endless.

It was time for her to respond to that.

"Kiss me again, but this time, you have to be the one to initiate it."

Honami stood on her tiptoes, giggling as she whispered into Makoto's ear.

"Alright."

Still a brief reply, Makoto lowered his head and lightly pecked Honami's red lips.

"Is this okay?"

"This is enough."

Honami cupped Makoto's cheeks firmly.

"See you after school!"

"Yeah, see you after school."

Huh, how did it suddenly turn out like this?

I have no idea, it just ended up this way as I was writing.

What the hell.

Also, I'm wondering whether or not to transfer classes; I calculated that based on the upcoming developments, I have enough personal points.

(๑ŐдŐ)b☆d(ŐдŐ๑)