Episode 118: The Second Confession

「Sara-senpai… no, Sara-san!!」

「!? Y, yes!!!」

Sara-san, who was surely surprised by being called out so loudly all of a sudden, had an expression filled with shock.

It wasn’t just Sara-san; Natsumi-senpai and Hayato also couldn’t hide their surprise.

Only Mayumi-san was smiling, looking like she wasn’t particularly surprised though.

Say it this time, me!!

「Until I met you, my life was really just one bad thing after another, and I thought I’d be alone forever. So I convinced myself I was unhappy, took things in a cynical way, and just sulked on my own…」

Back then, while I was saying Sara-san didn’t believe in me, the reality was a pathetic story where I was the one who didn’t believe in her.

「So, when Sara-san told me that no matter what you heard, your opinion of me wouldn’t change and that you’d affirm who I am, I felt like I’d finally met someone who believed in me. Falling in love with a person like you is really such a simple story.」

That’s right, I think I’d already fallen for Sara-san back then.

「But back then, Sara-san thought of me as a best friend. Of course, being thought of that way made me happy, and I truly felt that if that’s what the precious Sara-san wanted from me, then staying that way was fine. It made me really happy that Sara-san was only kind to me, too.」

Sara-san’s shocked expression vanished, replaced by a serious one as she stared straight at me.

「The days with Sara-san were truly happy, and when you took care of me at my house when I had a cold or an injury, I was filled with joy even while feeling sorry. I never thought my true feelings would be heard by you in a situation like that.」

Sara-san listened without changing her expression… no, her eyes were a bit…

「Sara-san… was I able to make you fall in love? Were you able to feel love for me? I’m a pathetic man, and even though I wanted to show you a manly side at the very least, in the end, I relied on your kindness until the very end.」

From here… it starts from here.

Fire yourself up, me!

「From the outside, I’m sure people don’t think I’m a man who suits you. But that doesn’t matter, I want to be with you because I really love you, I don’t want to let you go, and I don’t want to let even the shadow of another man near you. So!!」

While Sara-san was wiping away tears, she kept looking at me.

I think what I’m about to say is a haughty line, but I believe Sara-san will accept it.

「Sara-san, I’m the only man you’ll make home-cooked meals for! The man you snuggle up to, the man you’re kind to, and the man who gets to be with you is me alone! So, I want you to be my girlfriend… I want you to become my Sara-san alone! If you’ll accept me, ring that bell with me…」

Thump!!

I couldn’t say it to the end.

That’s because Sara-san couldn’t listen until the end.

Because I had to catch Sara-san as she lunged into my arms, I couldn’t finish my sentence.

「Yes… Yes… I have certainly received your words, Kazunari-san. Thank you… for waiting for me when I was so thick-headed as to say I didn’t know love… for wanting me…」

Sara-san, just like me, felt like she had been making me wait.

We were both waiting for each other, and making each other wait…

「I adore you… I love you so much… I finally, finally was able to tell you.」

While she shed tears, I held Sara-san close as she clung to me and stroked her back.

Then, Sara-san started nuzzling against me like she was being pampered.

「…I truly love you. If it makes you happy, I want to do anything for you… I only have you, you are the only one for me. …From now on, I will only do everything for you.」

When she said that much, she finally looked up.

When I wiped away Sara-san’s tears with my fingers, she showed me a little smile.

「Fufu… this is the first time in my life I have felt this happy. My ‘firsts’ are all full of Kazunari-san, aren’t they?」

Apparently she’d calmed down, as a bit of composure returned to her words.

I wonder if it’s okay to continue the conversation…

「Sara-san, ring the bell with me.」

「Yes… I’d love to.」

When I reached out my hand, Sara-san gripped it and then linked her arm with mine, staring at me with a blissful smile.

We approached the gate with our arms linked and both of us gripped the rope attached to the bell.

「Here we go.」

「Yes.」

Clang… Clang… Clang…

The sound of the bell echoed across the quiet plateau, adding color to the night view.

With this, I… was finally able to tell Sara-san my feelings…

「Kazunari-san… there are so many things I want to do for you. There is no limit… Since I am your Sara alone, please accept all of it, okay?」

After saying that much in a slightly mischievous tone, just as I thought she’d put her hands on my shoulders and stood on her tiptoes.

Chu…

!!??

A soft sensation touched my cheek, and when I flusteredly looked at Sara-san, she was wearing a radiant smile.

「I love you… Kazunari-san.」

And so, we went from a relationship that was essentially like lovers to actually becoming real lovers…