"Ha~ Good afternoon, Honami."
"Good afternoon, Makoto." x2
Yawning incessantly, Makoto grabbed his lunchbox and devoured it in an instant.
"Why are you so sleepy, Makoto?"
Kei asked, feeling that she'd grown much closer to the two of them.
"It's all because of what Honami did to me last night."
Makoto neatly passed the blame.
"Yes, it's all my fault."
Honami neatly accepted the blame and put it on herself.
"I'm so jealous of your relationship."
Kei cast an envious look at Honami. If only she had a childhood friend like Makoto.
Then she'd be the one flirting with Makoto right now, wouldn't she?
"...I'm not sure how to explain it, exactly."
Makoto considered his words.
"Because Honami exists, I can be who I am now. That's probably the best way to put it."
"Silly Makoto, that's not what Kei was asking!"
Honami chuckled and lightly punched Makoto in the back with her little fist, a blissful smile on her face.
"She was just sighing wistfully. She wasn't asking what kind of relationship we have!"
"Oh, is that so?"
Makoto gave it some thought. When he'd heard "your relationship," he couldn't help wondering what kind of relationship he and Honami had now.
Calling them lovers felt too simple, and he'd already grown tired of calling them childhood friends. After thinking it over, he'd said what he had.
Honami lifted her head.
Her clear sapphire-blue eyes were filled with the reflection of the man before her.
"Can I now?"
"What?"
Makoto was momentarily confused. He gazed blankly at Honami, whose eyes were full of affection, and for some reason felt a warm sensation rise in his heart.
"This!"
Honami answered with action.
"Mm...!"
Makoto's eyes instinctively widened, and countless thoughts scattered in every direction.
Feeling the touch of her lips, he lost the ability to think about anything else in an instant.
The only thing he could think about now was this unexpected moment.
So... this was what kissing felt like?
The pleasure in his heart far exceeded what he actually felt physically.
Actually, it was all an emotional experience.
Makoto wrapped one arm around Honami's ivory-smooth neck and, lost in the moment, asked for more.
Kei was completely dumbfounded.
But what she was thinking was: Could she join them next time?
Come on, hurry up!
The girl's legs felt as heavy as lead, so she simply stretched her neck forward and carefully studied the lesson.
Time to learn everything!
But since most of it happened where she couldn't see, she didn't get enough practical knowledge.
You can't truly understand something without trying it yourself!
Kei imagined that future.
After a long while, the kiss ended and their lips parted.
Honami covered her now-bright-red cheeks. She wasn't as bold as she'd imagined she'd be with someone else around.
She'd just acted on impulse and never expected it to work.
She'd gotten the response she'd been waiting for.
Now she was floating on air, unable to think about anything else. All she could do was hide her face with her hands.
She looked just like someone who couldn't see the mountain for the trees.
"Thank you, Honami."
Makoto solemnly thanked Honami, grateful that she'd taken his first kiss across two lifetimes.
That was right. That was exactly what had happened.
If this was what Kushida had wanted to do last night, he would definitely have realized what was going on.
In his heart, Honami was irreplaceable.
"This is so embarrassing. Let's hurry back!"
Honami didn't respond to Makoto's thanks. Instead, she pulled one hand away and waved it about, wanting a moment to collect herself.
Her heart kept pounding, and its beat seemed clearer than ever before.
Honami was sure it wasn't her imagination. At that very moment, she was so excited she could hardly bear it.
Makoto hadn't turned her down. He'd even thanked her just now!
Oh my gosh! It felt like every wish had come true, and she was getting a little dizzy.
"Okay."
Makoto glanced over at Kei, then carried Honami in his arms as they left the rooftop.
They walked very slowly because Honami never opened her eyes. She just nestled against Makoto the whole way.
Makoto didn't mind. He accompanied Honami at her pace, taking one step at a time down to the next landing.
This life really had been a success...
Though he'd lived less than half of it, Makoto could already make that judgment.
Because he'd felt an emotion called happiness.
This was a special kind of happiness.
It was different from the happiness of savoring delicious food, and different from the happiness of getting something he'd long wanted.
It was unique, a happiness that belonged to him alone.
"Feeling better?"
They stopped at the door to Class A's classroom. Ignoring the curious looks Sakayanagi and Kamuro were giving them, Makoto asked the girl in his arms.
"...Mm."
A voice as faint as a mosquito's came from against his chest. Honami reluctantly pulled away from Makoto's embrace.
Now surely no one would question her feelings for Makoto again.
What she'd done with Makoto went far beyond the little games they'd played over the past month.
Yes, holding hands, linking arms, eating lunch together... none of those things had been enough to silence the doubters.
Comments like "She's just keeping him on the hook," "It's all a strategy to stay in Class A," and "She doesn't really have feelings for him" had been endless.
It was time for her to respond to them.
"Kiss me again. This time, you have to make the first move."
Honami rose onto her toes and giggled into Makoto's ear.
"Okay."
His answer was just as brief as before. Makoto lowered his head and lightly pecked Honami on her red lips.
"Is this okay?"
"That's perfect."
Honami cupped Makoto's face with both hands.
"See you after school!"
"Yeah, see you after school."
Huh? How'd things suddenly turn out like this?
I have no idea. It just ended up this way as I was writing.
Unbelievable.
Also, I'm wondering whether I should switch classes. I did the math, and I'll have enough personal points for what's coming up.
(๑ŐдŐ)b☆d(ŐдŐ๑)
Before you continue