CH 39

“And the way you feel about Tsuzuri-kun! Do not mix my love for Tsuzuri-kun with your love for him!”

When I heard Kotoha’s thoughts, I stiffened for a while.

I was dimly, or almost certainly, convinced that she had feelings for me, though.

At the same time, a thought took over my mind.

I knew I had been pretending not to notice.

I was just trapped in my past trauma and afraid to face her.

When I was made aware of it, I just stood there dumbfounded. After all, I had only been running away.

But that silence suddenly comes to an end.

“It’s all over now!”

My consciousness was dragged back to reality by Ichijo’s deep hatred-filled cry.

At the same time. I have a bad premonition. Why is she screaming? That calm and cunning freshman representative, Asuka Ichijo.

I turned my attention back to them.

She was swinging a blade at Kotoha.

Kotoha just gazed at it in amazement, deep fear and despair etched in her face.

“Hey! What the hell are you doing!”

I hurriedly stepped in between them to stop her. I was trying to save Kotoha and to not let it all end up in a situation like this.

“Tsuzuri-kun”

In the nick of time, or perhaps because of my appearance, the situation suddenly changed.

At my shout, Ichijo retracts his blade and is stunned. More than that…

“Kotoha! Are you okay?”

I hurriedly approached Kotoha to see if she was hurt.

“Are you hurt or anything?”

I ask.

“I, I’m fine.”

Kotoha replied, seeming to have regained her composure. I was a little relieved. Well, that’s that.

I look at Ichijo, the one who started it all.

“Sasaki-san, since when?”

She said impatiently as if the madness she had just experienced had vanished.

“More importantly, what were you going to do with that blade?. Just stay calm. As Kotoha said, it’s a crime. Do you really think you can save yourself with just a poor cover-up?”

As soon as I said that, her face paled.

Why couldn’t she see it with her superior brain?

This was crossing the line. It was a criminal act that was nearly impossible to cover up.

It is often said that love is blind, and this was the moment when I realized it for the first time.

I don’t know if she had been driven mad by love or not. That doesn’t matter now.

“Sa, Sasaki-san! No, it’s not! This is a misunderstanding!”

Impatient with my words, Ichijo is just trying to make excuses.

There was no apology to Kotoha. All she seemed to be thinking about was her own self-preservation.

I was not sure if this was the right attitude to take at this point in the situation.

“What is it?”

Irritated by this, I replied in a stern tone. Hearing this, Ichijo replied,

“This is … well …”

She must be desperately trying to come up with an excuse. Her gaze wandered as she was pondering something.

“Huh, that’s enough.”

It is useless to listen to her talk like that. I thought so, and I cut off the conversation.

However, it seemed that she had no intention of giving up.

“Well, wait! I mean, why are you in such an unpopular place. Perhaps you’ve been following us from the beginning!”

She said something like that.

“Exactly.”

It’s obvious. When I answered in such a matter-of-fact manner, it was a complete turnaround. She screams with a sad expression on her face.

“Why! Why are you so… about her! Sasaki-san loves Shirayuki-san with all her heart”

I think I hear that. Have they looked at us properly up until now? We are definitely in love with each other.

She forcefully intervenes without understanding anything, and to top it off, she hurt Kotoha over and over again.

I was at my limit. The anger I had been suppressing until now erupted like wildfire.

“Of course!”

I shouted. In a fit of rage.

‘That’s why I’m here! Because she is important to me because I love her! To protect her! To save her!”

I shouted. With all my heart.

“That’s…”

Ichijo stiffens at my anger. His appearance seems to be in some kind of shock.

“Don’t be silly! Don’t try to come between us half-heartedly!”

And it also provoked my anger. How far is she willing to go?

For a while, there was silence among all three of us.

I was the one who opened my mouth again.

“I’ll keep quiet about this. I won’t tell the school either, so your reputation won’t be affected. Don’t worry.”

Hearing this, Ichijo looked a little relieved.

If I snitch on this, Ichijo’s trust will fall to the ground. Ichijo’s big title as representative of the new students would no longer be valid. She must be quite afraid of that situation. That’s why…

“In return, do not harm Kotoha. No, never go near her again! If you try even the slightest bit of strange action, consider your life over at that moment!”

When she heard this, she seemed surprised at my statement for a while. I’m still a little wary of what she might say in response, but…

There was no further action from her.

“…….”

Her shoulders slumped and she left the scene without uttering a word.

Finally, I felt that one of the several disasters had come to an end.

Then…

After a short silence, I open my mouth.

“Kotoha, I’m sorry. I’m late.”

“Mouu. You’re late. If you were watching, I wish you would have come earlier.

Kotoha replied in a trembling voice. Surely, the fear had not yet left her. That was the feeling.

Once the exchange was over, another long period of silence ensued. Neither Kotoha nor I knew what to say in this atmosphere.

How many minutes had passed? Kotoha opened her mouth as if she had made up her mind.

“Tsuzuri-kun, I’m….! I, I….!”

Her eyes are moist and she is trying to tell me something. The figure reflected in the sunset is—.

It was the look of a maiden in love, like something you might see in a coming-of-age anime or TV drama.

I knew what it was.

“Calm down, Kotoha.”

So I thought, not now. Not yet, I told my “timid” self.

“Can you wait just a little longer?”

The answer I squeezed out was too pathetic. Was she disappointed? I felt a little uneasy.

“…Yes.”

She accepts me like that. But this is not good enough. I can’t keep spoiling her.

“I’m close to… becoming someone worthy of standing beside you”

I’m almost there. That’s why…

“Tsuzuri-kun”

The words did not continue. Because Kotoha interrupted my words with a tone of voice that had an enveloping warmth.

“…What is it?’

Suddenly, I was surprised. My heart beats loudly, wondering what she is going to say.

But the next moment…

“Tsuzuri-kun, you’re already good enough. You’re too good for me, you know?”

My doubts were shattered to pieces. Kotoha answered with a big smile on her face.

“……!”

The answer almost made me cry. She was so pure and kind in every way.

“Ko, Kotoha…”

I should probably tell her how I feel too. I decided to do so and tried to talk to her.

“Come on! Tsuzuri-kun, we’re going to have dinner soon!”

My resolve was blown away by Kotoha. Kotoha switched emotions at a ridiculously fast pace.

“Kotoha, hey!”

You could say it was a mood-breaker, I raise my voice in protest, but she runs off at full speed.

It probably took a lot of courage to utter that line, judging from her usual behavior. Kotoha’s face should be as red as an apple by now.

“Well, whatever.”

I and Kotoha were just being ourselves.

I thought we created a good atmosphere, but it didn’t tighten up at the end of the night.

It was sweet, tender, and fun. The one and only irreplaceable relationship in this world.

That’s what we are.

Will we be able to find the happiness that lies ahead?

Will we be able to overcome all the hardships together?

If I were to ask this question at dusk, when the sun and the moon coexist, I would not get an answer.

I resolve once again.

I will surely achieve happiness with Kotoha.