Episode 116: Anytime

Kazunari-san’s been acting a little strange for a while now.

He’s spacing out, and even though he answers when I talk to him…

He’ll suddenly look straight at me like he wants to say something, his face turning a bit red… does he have something to tell me?

Judging by how he’s acting, it must be something important, right?

Something important enough to make his face turn red…

Ah…

Could it be… this might just be my own hopeful thinking, but is that it?

I still regret how thick-headed I was back then.

The more I think about it, the more I wonder why I couldn’t understand my own feelings.

Well, it’s all too late now anyway.

I love Kazunari-san.

To think a day would come where I’d feel that just being together makes me happy…

I know Kazunari-san cherishes me and puts me first.

I can’t help getting jealous when other women get close to him, but Kazunari-san accepts even that about me.

His smile, his kindness, the way he’s a bit mean sometimes, the way he’s such a spoiled baby… I love all of it.

Now, I can say with pride that I’m in love with Kazunari-san.

So… fufu… do your best, Kazunari-san!

The moment I thought about confessing if there was a chance, I started overthinking everything: when would the chance be, what should I say, and so on… even I think I’m acting suspicious.

Maybe Sara-senpai’s worried about it too, since she’s been peeking at me for a while now, her face turning a bit red, acting restless… I might feel a little bad for her.

「Sh, should we get some shaved ice?」

「!? Y, yes, that sounds good, let’s do that.」

Maybe it was because I suddenly spoke up, but Sara-senpai had a surprised reaction.

The meeting time’s getting close, and my anxiety is just building up.

My head was so full of the determination to confess that I didn’t remember the taste of the shaved ice or that it was time to meet up…

「What’s wrong, Takanashi-kun?」

Natsumi-senpai noticed something was up with me and called out.

In the end, I’ve reached the meeting time without finding a single chance. From here on, we’ll all watch the fireworks, then help clean up and head home.

In other words.

…There’s no more chance.

Since the schedule was tight this time, I told myself that if it didn’t work out, I should just create another opportunity without rushing…

But to be honest, I was really disappointed.

To make matters worse, that son from earlier brought his friends over near the meeting spot, and they started lingering around like they were all acquaintances.

It’s incredibly irritating hearing them talk about Sara-senpai and asking for introductions.

My irritation at myself, irritation at my surroundings, the bad timing… it was an unreasonable anger, and even though I knew it was wrong, I couldn’t help but get moody…

「…No, I’m fine.」

「Kazunari…」

Maybe Hayato sensed something, because he didn’t push for details.

「Kazunari-san… it’s okay, everything’s okay.」

「Sara-senpai…」

I don’t know what she was thinking, but Sara-senpai snuggled up to me, reached out her hand, and slowly stroked my head.

「Please calm down…」

Maybe she felt my bad mood, because Sara-senpai stroked my head more gently and slowly than usual. Her kindness made me happy, but at the same time, I felt pathetic.

Get it together, me! How long do I plan on showing Sara-senpai such a pathetic side!

I wasn’t originally planning to confess today anyway, so there’s no need to rush just because I made up my mind!

If today’s no good, I’ll just prepare a more suitable scene for a confession.

「I’m sorry, Sara-senpai. I showed you a pathetic side.」

「Oh, he’s back all of a sudden.」

I didn’t exactly have the energy to fire back at Natsumi-senpai’s quip, but…

「…Natsumi.」

For some reason, Sara-senpai glared at Natsumi-senpai.

「Eh? Eh? Did I do something to get yelled at?」

Natsumi-senpai looked like she didn’t really get it either.

Just then…

Boom!!

Boom!!

The fireworks started going off.

Fireworks, huh… when was the last time I saw them?

Yeah, I’ll just be satisfied today with being able to see the fireworks with Sara-senpai.

Everyone’s watching the fireworks, and Sara-senpai’s watching them too.

When I stole a glance at her side, I saw Sara-senpai’s beautiful profile lit up by the fireworks’ glow.

「They’re beautiful, aren’t they, Kazunari-san?」

Gazing up at the fireworks, Sara-senpai whispered her thoughts.

They’re beautiful… really beautiful.

「Yeah, they really are… and I…」

Without thinking, I forgot to look at the fireworks and just stared at Sara-senpai’s profile.

…Then, she suddenly turned toward me.

「Kazunari-san…?」

When our eyes met, she seemed to realize that the thing I called beautiful wasn’t the fireworks, and her face turned a bit red.

Then, looking a little shy, she closed the distance and stuck right to my side while linking her arm with mine.

W, wait…

「Kazunari-san, I don’t think you’re pathetic at all. Actually, you’re so cute… that I’m having a hard time holding back, you know?」

Apparently, she was holding back something earlier.

I wonder what on earth she was holding back…

「Please don’t rush. I’m ready anytime now.」

Ready anytime?

Does that mean…

「I’ll leave the place, the timing, and everything to you, Kazunari-san… so do your best, Kazunari-san!」

This is embarrassing!

This is pathetic!

In other words… she noticed that I was rushing to do something today.

If that’s the case, she obviously noticed the reason I was moody, too… a wave of embarrassment washed over me.

Sara-senpai picked up on the fact that I’d declared my intention to confess again, and she’s properly waiting for it.

「Sara-senpai…」

My pathetic side came full to the front.

「Honestly… when you make a face like that, Kazunari-san, I really won’t be able to hold back…」

Sara-senpai, her face turning even redder, wrapped both arms behind my head and pulled me toward her…

「…Um, could you guys save the rest for when you’re alone? I’m pretty much at my limit here…」

!?

I’d completely forgotten about our surroundings…

When I looked up, I saw Natsumi-senpai’s incredibly exasperated face and Hayato’s looking quite awkward.

Crap… I did it again.

Sara-senpai looked a bit disappointed as she let go and…

「I’ll be waiting…」

She told me just that one thing.

…As a side note, it seems we succeeded in silencing those annoying guys nearby.