The pure white moonlight draped over the world like a gossamer bridal veil. Its silver glow spilled across the girl's silky golden hair as she widened her red eyes, staring blankly at the dark-haired boy not far away who wore a mischievous grin.
Ah, so that's how it is...
The thought rose unbidden in her mind. With her hands clasped behind her back, Nijika lightly pressed her cherry blossom lips together, her fingers rubbing at her flushed cheeks. Her face grew hotter and hotter, and she couldn't bring herself to lift her head.
"Ma… making miso soup, or something like that…"
"Of course I'd love that, as long as you don't mind me, Haru."
She wasn't sure if she'd heard him right.
Her heart pounded so fiercely she could hardly breathe. Nijika tried to mask her nerves with her usual lively playfulness, but her mind was already a mess, echoing over and over with the two sentences he had just spoken.
So happy, so happy, so happy…
The warmth flowing from her chest spread to every corner of her body. Even at the edge of the winter lake, where the air should have been biting with frost, Nijika felt nothing but heat.
Haru, meanwhile, could barely stop himself from laughing.
She had been scheming this whole time to get him to confess first, yet now that he had borrowed her own "subtle but obvious" way of speaking to confess, the one who had been confessed to was blushing so hard she could hardly stand.
Looks like the spirits tricked her this time.
"…"
After a moment of thought, Haru didn't say anything more.
Hmph, pretending to be a master by staying silent technique.
His black hair swayed in the breeze off the lake as he raised his brows and looked into the distance. The sudden silence made Nijika blink, and panic began to claw at her chest.
Eh? Wh-why isn't he saying anything all of a sudden?
Could it be that because I sounded so halfhearted just now, he thinks I don't actually like him?
Anxious beyond words, Nijika clenched the hem of her skirt with trembling hands, her breathing uneven. Fear and despair surged inside her.
"Haru, I—"
Just as she was about to explain, Haru finally turned his head. The usual unseriousness vanished from his face, replaced by a rare and unwavering seriousness. His black eyes were firm, his voice solemn.
"Nijika, I love you."
This time, he wasn't subtle.
The weight of his words fell like a hammer on her heart, shattering her panic, her insecurity, her hesitation, every chaotic thought.
Nijika hadn't expected him to hit her with such a direct strike. The words she'd meant to say stuck in her throat, unable to go up or down, her flustered face almost enough to make Haru laugh.
Oh no, I think I just laughed.
"Haru!"
Of course, Nijika noticed his poorly hidden smile. The clever angel immediately realized he was teasing her on purpose. Her embarrassment boiled over into indignation as she raised her little pink fists, puffing out her cheeks while pounding lightly at his chest.
The punches were no stronger than a massage, but Haru still pretended to dodge and beg for mercy.
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry! I won't do it again!"
"Hmph!"
Nijika huffed softly and quickly lowered her fists once he gave in. Without realizing it, she had nearly thrown herself against Haru's chest, yet, to her own amazement, she didn't feel the slightest hint of shyness.
All the unease and nervousness that had clung to her heart seemed to melt away with his confession.
"Really! You're always bullying me, Haru, and now you're even making fun of me like this…"
"Eh, that's not quite right."
Haru's expression grew serious again as he said firmly, "That 'I love you' I just said wasn't a joke. I would never make fun of something like this."
"…!"
Nijika's cheeks went scarlet in an instant.
She had grown so used to his usual unseriousness that his sudden sincerity left her completely at a loss.
Watching her lower her head, her whole face flushed red, Haru's lips curled with faint amusement. "I've already said exactly what I feel. Now it's your turn, Nijika. What's your answer?"
He arched his brows and watched her closely, eager to hear how the shy angel would respond.
But it seemed his expectations were about to be disappointed.
The blonde girl, her face so close it nearly brushed against his chest, slowly lifted her head. Her wine-red eyes burned like a flickering flame, brimming with deep affection and determination as she gazed intently at his face.
She drew a deep breath...
"I love you."
"For a long, long time now, I've been hopelessly in love with you… Even when I'm trying to sleep, all I can see in my head is you, Haru. No matter how much I try to hold back, I always end up sneaking glances at you, and even just your profile is enough for me to stare at for so, so long!"
Finally, the words were spoken.
The feelings that had been locked inside her for so long spilled out at last. It felt as though fireworks had bloomed in her chest, her heart glowing warmly as joy overflowed from within, unstoppable.
Haru had already gone this far, so how could she still allow herself to shrink back in shyness?
Her feelings, too, had to be said aloud with her own lips.
"…"
Her clear, shining eyes radiated pure emotion. The resolute words she spoke with her lifted chin carried such power that Haru, who had been eager to see her bashful side, suddenly felt the initiative slip from his hands.
So this is Nijika?
The angel was far too dazzling, and he could almost feel himself being carried straight to heaven.
And people are destined to go to heaven eventually. At this rate, he felt like his time was coming faster than expected.
His stiffness must have been obvious, because Nijika's ears, already burning red, peeked shyly from beneath her golden hair.
Still, she gathered her courage, slowly rose up on her tiptoes, and leaned toward his ear.
"Could you… hug me?"
Anyone who could resist that wouldn't be human.
And Haru wasn't about to resist.
Without a moment's hesitation, he spread his arms and pulled her gently into an embrace.
Her warmth and softness filled his arms. The lively, petite girl was so light it was as if she were made of cotton candy. Pressed against his chest, he could feel her heartbeat, while on his bare neck he sensed the uneven rhythm of her breath.
Nijika's gaze turned hazy. This impossible tenderness spread over her whole body, overwhelming her like a storm-tossed wave crashing down on a sailor at sea, leaving her dizzy and adrift.
It was the first true embrace they had ever shared.
Until now, Nijika had always kept a little distance, afraid that once she fell into this warmth, she would never have the heart to pull away.
And now, she realized she had been absolutely right.
Because once she tasted this warmth, she could never escape it again.
"L-let's, um… sit for a bit?"
Barely regaining her senses, Nijika raised her hand in a fluster, like a nervous student asking a question in class.
Her brain felt like it was going to short-circuit.
Just that one embrace had completely undone her, warm and comforting like a blanket on a winter morning, impossible to let go of. If she lingered any longer in his arms, she wasn't sure she'd ever be able to recover.
Haru found her flustered state amusing and smiled gently. "I think there are some benches nearby. Let's sit over there, yeah?"
"…Ah, y-yes!"
Blushing furiously, the blonde girl sat neatly on one side of the bench. Then, extending a pale hand, she patted the empty spot beside her. The motion was so earnest it nearly broke Haru's composure, and he couldn't hold back a laugh.
But the moment he laughed, Nijika grew even more flustered.
"Why are you laughing?"
"Sorry, sorry. It's just… you're too cute, Nijika."
Apologizing softly, Haru sat down beside her. Though they were only sitting together on a lakeside bench at night, the golden-haired girl sat as if in perfect posture, her little hands properly resting on her lap.
From Haru's point of view, the blonde girl sitting beside him had her collar slightly open, the soft line of her neck flowing into pale, delicate shoulders. The curve of her collarbone showed faintly beneath her skin, and the blush spreading across her cheeks carried an unexpectedly enticing charm.
"You keep calling me cute so easily. You must say that to other girls all the time, don't you?"
There was a faint trace of jealousy in her voice, though in truth it was only her way of hiding her embarrassment.
"As much as I want to say no, I doubt you'd believe me even if I did, right, Nijika?"
"…You're such a flirt."
She pouted and muttered her complaint, yet the atmosphere between them had shifted. Their conversation now felt different from before, free of the restraint she once carried. The barrier that had always lingered between them, thin yet unbroken, had finally shattered. Nijika no longer had to hide her heart.
"I'm really, really sorry!"
Faced with her playful scolding, Haru could only bow his head and press his hands together, apologizing with sincere regret.
"…But it's fine! I knew, and I still fell for you anyway, so I guess that's on me too."
Of course Nijika couldn't bear to see him blamed. Her words had only been to lighten the mood, and now she even took part of the responsibility herself.
Seeing this, Haru felt warmth fill his chest. Her kindness and thoughtfulness were engraved into her very being, always shining through no matter the moment. She was truly like an angel, and against such a Nijika, there was no way he could resist.
"Nijika, I love you."
"Eh? W-why would you suddenly…"
Caught off guard, her face turned crimson like a blazing sunset. Before she could react, she felt warmth spread across her hand. Looking down, she saw that Haru's black-haired figure had gently taken hold of it, his heat flowing into her palm.
In its own way, this was also their first time holding hands.
His hands are so big… and his fingers are so long…
The thought surfaced unbidden in her mind. Almost without realizing, she placed her other hand over his, sandwiching it between her own like a hamburger bun, then gave his fingertips a light squeeze.
Haru: …?
Wait, what was that supposed to be?
His bewildered look made Nijika realize what she was doing. Awareness struck her all at once, and her face flushed an even deeper red.
"I-it's nothing! I was just a little curious, wondering how your hands can move so fast on the keyboard, that's all…"
"Anyway, forget it! Just hurry and forget it already!"
She tried to slip back into her usual cheerful tone, as though she could bluff her way past it.
But she couldn't bring herself to meet his eyes. Instead, she stole timid glances at his profile with the corner of her gaze, only to fluster and turn away again like a frightened rabbit. Watching her small gestures, Haru couldn't help drawing in a sharp breath.
Wait, what's happening? His self-control couldn't really be this weak, could it?
Why was his gaze locking onto her automatically, unable to look away?
"Nijika, can I kiss you?"
"Eh? Ehh? Ehhh———!"
The sudden question left her completely undone. She covered her burning face with her hands, her white sneakers trembling nervously against the ground, stammering so much she couldn't form a proper answer.
After a moment's pause.
Her shy eyes lifted to meet his, and then she gave the faintest of nods.
"…!"
Haru fought to keep his own nerves under control. As Nijika's eyes fluttered closed in quiet consent, he lifted his hand, softly wrapped it around her shoulder, and bent toward her.
Her long lashes trembled, her face tilted upward in a mix of expectation and tension.
Haru did not leave her waiting. After only two seconds of hesitation, he sealed her lips with his own.
The soft, sweet sensation carried on their breaths. As their lips brushed and parted with faint sounds, Nijika's whole body went weak, her mind spinning as she surrendered to the wave of warmth engulfing her.
"…"
When at last they parted, silence hung heavy between them, filled with unspoken heat.
Nijika's face burned like fire. She pressed her lips together unconsciously, recalling the moment of her first kiss. Her wine-red eyes opened wide, clearly shaken to her core.
W-we really kissed?
She had only just become his girlfriend, and already she had held him, held hands with him, and now kissed him. Before this, even brushing fingertips would have left her flustered for ages. The tide of new emotions crashing over her now left her dizzy and breathless.
"I didn't think it would feel like that. I always thought…"
"Hm? What did you think, Nijika?"
Curious, Haru asked softly. Flustered, the angelic girl covered her face with both hands.
Her head, filled with images from shoujo manga, went blank. When she finally came back to herself, she could only stammer, "N-nothing! It's nothing, really! I was just a little surprised, that's all…"
There was no way she could admit that kissing felt far nicer than she had ever imagined.
Come to think of it, Kita-chan and Bocchi had probably tried this already, right? And with Ryo's personality, maybe she had too. But Nijika could never bring herself to ask. That was why she felt so clueless now.
After all, everything she knew came from manga.
And manga, as it turned out, was completely unreliable. The reality was so different from what she had pictured, and now her mind was hazy, her body without strength.
"Can I do it again?"
"Uuh…"
Her head buzzed at his words. She bit her lip, looked at the black-haired boy beside her with shy eyes, and after a brief hesitation, gave him a look that was both helpless and tender.
"Y-you really don't give me a choice."
Her mouth muttered complaints, but beneath her calm tone her heart was pounding wildly. A quiet joy swelled inside her, and she inched a little closer.
Bzzzz~
Her phone suddenly vibrated in her pocket, startling them both apart. Looking down, Nijika realized it was hers. The caller ID read
[Yamada Ryo].
Come to think of it, they hadn't gone back yet.
From the time they'd left to wander around until now, more than an hour must have slipped by without notice.
"Oh no, we lost track of time…"
"I-I'll message Ryo so she doesn't worry!"
Both of them reacted at once. The blonde girl, her face red as a beet, lowered her head and typed furiously, though her trembling fingers kept hitting the wrong keys.
So embarrassing.
She never thought she'd get so carried away. Even being interrupted left her heart sinking with disappointment, though of course she couldn't let him see that. Otherwise, wouldn't it make her look desperate?
Beside her, Haru cleared his throat and spoke gently, "Nijika, maybe we should head back."
"Y-you're right! Let's go right now!"
Nijika shot upright like a startled bamboo shoot. Her cheeks still scarlet, she leaned close to him, then slipped her hand into his as though it were nothing, tugging him along toward the inn.
Haru fell silent, almost dizzy with the thought.
Careful now, or he'd start imagining himself twirling hand in hand with an angel, walking straight into heaven.
"…"
Slowly, he shifted his grip, weaving his fingers with hers. The subtle change made Nijika's body jolt, but she offered no resistance. Instead, she only squeezed his hand more tightly in return.