Snow continued to drift down from the night sky, melting into the pavement of the quiet street just outside the café where Miyazaki and Jousuke had found themselves after the fireworks.
Miyazaki's lips trembled, not from the winter chill, but from the words that had just slipped past them—words she had never thought she could say so boldly.
"...I like you, Daikuhara-kun."
Her voice was firm, though her face was flushed a shade deeper than the scarf wrapped around his neck—the very scarf she had given him for Christmas.
The silence that followed seemed to stretch on forever. Jousuke's eyes widened slightly, caught between shock and disbelief. He parted his lips, ready to respond, but—
"W-wait!" Miyazaki suddenly blurted out, stepping closer. Her hand reached out and grabbed the sleeve of his coat, tugging lightly as if she were afraid he'd drift away with the snow. "P-please... don't say anything yet."
Her voice cracked, shy and nervous, but her body refused to let go. Instead, she leaned forward, pressing her forehead softly against his chest. The warmth of his body seeped into her, steadying her heartbeat, though it still raced uncontrollably.
"I-I don't think I can handle your answer right now." she whispered, clinging to him.
Jousuke blinked, stunned, but let her stay there. His breath made a small cloud of mist above her head as he looked down at her.
"Miyazaki-san..." he muttered softly.
"I need to explain..." she continued, squeezing the fabric of his sleeve tighter. "If I don't... if I don't tell you why I feel this way, I'll regret it forever."
Her voice trembled, but her grip was desperate. She had never been this forward in her entire life, not even with her closest friends. But with Jousuke, something inside her refused to stay silent anymore.
"I like you because..." She bit her lip, lifting her gaze just enough to meet his eyes for a moment before looking away again. "You're kind. You don't even realize how kind you are sometimes. You help without expecting anything in return. You listen... even when it seems like no one else is."
Her words spilled out, shaky but honest.
"I... I noticed how you always pay attention to the small things. The way you encourage Asa-kun, or how you laugh with Ryuusei-kun and Joutarou-kun, or even when you remember the tiniest details about me..." She pressed her cheek into his chest, her voice muffled but clear. "I can't stop thinking about those moments. About you."
Her hands slowly slid down from his sleeve until they held onto both of his hands, clutching them tightly as though she feared he might vanish if she let go.
"The truth is... I've been afraid. Afraid that you wouldn't see me the same way. Afraid that if I acted the way I truly felt… you'd pull away."
Her body trembled against him.
"But tonight... with the fireworks, with the scarf you wore… I couldn't keep quiet anymore."
Jousuke's heart thudded heavily in his chest. He wanted to speak, to reassure her, but every time he opened his mouth, Miyazaki only squeezed his hands tighter, refusing to let him cut in.
Then, after a long, shaky breath, Miyazaki pulled back slightly, just enough to look up at him. Her eyes glistened under the glow of the streetlamp.
"There's something else too..." Her voice grew quieter, though each word carried the weight of her heart. "I noticed it. Boutsuki-san's feelings. Sakurai-san's feelings. The way they look at you. The way they react when you're near them."
Her grip on his hands tightened further. "I see it. I see everything."
For a moment, her lips quivered, almost forming a small pout. "...It scares me sometimes. Because they're both amazing. Boutsuki-san is gentle... Sakurai-san is bold... and then there's me, fumbling, nervous, clinging like this."
She let out a shaky laugh, her eyes dropping. "But even knowing that... I can't stop how I feel. I don't want to stop."
When she looked back up, her cheeks were burning red. "So I'll say it again. I like you, Daikuhara-kun. More than I've ever liked anyone."
For the longest moment, Jousuke didn't move. The snow continued to fall around them, the world hushed in silence.
Finally, he let out a slow breath, his expression softening. "...Miyazaki-san."
Her heart leapt into her throat.
"...I know." he said gently.
Miyazaki blinked, stunned. "Y-you... know?"
He gave a small nod. "I noticed Boutsuki-san. I noticed Sakurai-san too. And..." He glanced down at her hands gripping his so tightly, "...I noticed you."
Her breath caught.
"I wasn't sure if I should say anything. Or if it was even right for me to acknowledge it. But... I could tell. From the way all of you looked at me. From the way you..." His lips curved slightly, almost shyly. "...the way you worry about me. The way you get nervous when I'm near. I noticed, Miyazaki-san."
Her entire body froze in surprise. Her hands, however, didn't let go—they squeezed tighter, trembling.
"...Y-you were aware... all this time?" she whispered, her voice breaking with shock.
Jousuke nodded again, though his expression turned slightly conflicted. "I didn't know what to do. I didn't want to hurt anyone. So... I thought it was better to stay quiet."
For a moment, Miyazaki could only stare at him, her lips parted, her mind struggling to catch up. The boy she had been so afraid of confessing to... had been aware of her feelings all along.
Her initial reaction was shock—but it quickly gave way to something else. Relief. And then, warmth.
Slowly, her lips curved into the softest smile she had ever worn. Her eyes welled up with tears, but not of sadness.
"...You noticed me." she whispered, her voice trembling but full of joy. "All this time... you noticed me."
Before Jousuke could react, Miyazaki wrapped her arms around him, hugging him tightly, burying her face against his chest again.
Her voice came out muffled but certain. "I don't care about anything else right now. I don't care about what tomorrow brings. Just... please let me stay like this a little longer."
Jousuke hesitated only a moment before resting his hand gently on her back.
The fireworks had ended. The streets were quiet. And under the falling snow, the two of them simply stood there—one clinging, the other holding, both hearts finally unmasked.