At last, Ichinose said it—she faced her own heart head-on.
The heart that had been shrinking slightly inward now expanded again. A thrill of breaking free of restraints coursed with each beat, spreading through her limbs and bones until her whole being was filled with an easy, unimpeded joy.
That faint sense of suffocation vanished without a trace—like stepping out of a steel city choked with industrial fumes into a pristine mountain forest untouched by man; the air turned instantly fresh and sweet, as if rinsing her body and soul clean.
Thinking back, from the very start, Ichinose had found it all so wondrous. When had she started paying attention to Yukio? From that love letter in the shoe lockers of the classroom building?
Or after she got played by him during the deserted-island exam?
Later, when her past dirt was circulating through the whole school, it was also Yukio-kun who soothed her, contacted her former manager and her family, and helped her receive their forgiveness.
From then on—inevitably, she must have fallen for Yukio-kun, right? And now, the feelings she'd covered up for who knew how long had finally been poured out.
But after basking in that clean, refreshing bliss for several seconds, Ichinose suddenly realized—wait, what did she just say? With a whoosh, she opened her eyes.
She could clearly see Yukio's face just a breath away. Their foreheads were still pressed together, tips of their noses nearly touching, and yet she could still make out the upward curve at the corner of his mouth.
That made Ichinose's cheeks catch fire. The temperature shot up fast, like a drop of red ink diffusing through a glass of water—spreading in a rush until her whole pretty face was flushed.
I said it? And Yukio-kun had heard it? How embarrassing!
"?" Feeling Ichinose's forehead heat up rapidly, Yukio couldn't help opening his eyes in curiosity. What was going on? Why was her forehead so hot?
Their gazes met at close range, so near that each could see a clear reflection of the other in the other's pupils.
Ichinose froze from head to toe, as if her soul were being drawn into Yukio's deep eyes—staring blankly, not knowing how to react.
Only the blush on her face burned hotter and hotter, because the distance was simply too close—so close that with the slightest purse of lips, the two of them could kiss just like that.
Yukio, too, was captivated by Ichinose. Without thinking, he slowly drew down the hand that had been gently rubbing the crown of her head.
His palm slid slowly past Ichinose's temple, skimmed that smooth cheek, and at last, with thumb and forefinger working together, he lightly held Ichinose's chin.
As if realizing what that chin-hold meant, Ichinose felt her ability to think completely fail. She was acting purely on the subconscious of her heart, unable to help herself as her eyelids drifted shut a second time.
She didn't even need his hand under her chin to lift—she had already, of her own accord, tilted her head up a little. Yukio said nothing more, and kissed her.
A short while later, Ichinose, a little woozy, backed up a few steps to open some distance, both hands instinctively cupping her cheeks. So this was what a kiss was really like—just as the books said—sweet, sweet… how magical.
"…" Yukio, on the other hand, felt a twinge of awkwardness. Do Sakura Island's candies really linger this much? He could still taste the sweetness from the one he'd just given Shiina.
Recalling the taste of the candy melting in Shiina's mouth, Yukio felt a bit embarrassed. He picked up the candy he had prepared and handed it to Ichinose again.
Ichinose drifted in a daze for a moment, the deep crimson on her face refusing to fade, still soaking in the sweetness of the kiss. Only when she saw the candy did she come back to herself.
Without thinking, she took it. When she fully cleared her head, she realized what that action meant: from now on, she would have to get along with Shiina and Ibuki—as sisters.
"Mm—Yukio-kun, that's sneaky." For once, Ichinose muttered such a line, yet she couldn't put the jar down, gazing at the candy with both hands turning it round and round, peeking at it again and again. "Giving me candy while I still hadn't come back to my senses…"
Yukio also found it novel. So Ichinose had this spoiled, cutesy side too? And it was showing this quickly.
But when he thought it over, it made perfect sense. Because of her family circumstances, Ichinose had had to be sensible from childhood—earning the trust of classmates at school and the affection of the old folks along the food street.
Yet behind a child who's sensible too soon, there is always the predicament of having no way to be spoiled. Otherwise, who would want to grow up so early?
Now that she had someone she could lean on, depend on, that little longing to be spoiled—buried deep for years—had just floated to the surface…
That sent ripples across the lake of Yukio's heart—small rings spreading outward—because this was a side of her that one shows only to the most intimate person.
Being able to see this never-before-seen, unique side of Ichinose gave Yukio a very particular sense of accomplishment.
He leaned in without thinking and teased her. "Then how about this—every White Day from next year on, I'll prepare two jars of candy for you."
"One to give you before you've come back to your senses, and one to give you after you have."
"~" Joy lit Ichinose's brows and eyes; the satisfaction and happiness in her gaze almost overflowed. She truly, truly liked this Yukio.
Then you can't go back on your word~
That was what Ichinose wanted to reply, but in the next second she swallowed it completely and didn't say it out loud.
No, no—saying that would be too greedy. She couldn't be like that. That wouldn't be good.
Realizing that acting spoiled like this wasn't right—that it might make her seem annoying and not very sensible—she shook her head and turned him down. "No need, one jar is plenty. What I said just now was wrong. Yukio-kun, don't take it to heart."
Perhaps feeling that wasn't enough, Ichinose added with a bright smile, "And look—sweets like candy aren't good for your teeth if you eat too much."
Yukio didn't press her to act spoiled more. The wish to be spoiled was lodged right there in Ichinose's heart, after all.
As long as they kept spending time together, he believed he'd see more and more of her adorable scenes in the days to come. There was no rush; the days ahead would be very, very long.
Thinking that, Yukio spoke from the heart: "Then, Honami—please take care of me from now on."
Ichinose understood what those words meant. She panicked a little; clutching the candy jar in her left hand, her right hand fluttered empty, flustered and happy all at once.
Only after hurriedly setting the jar on the conference table did she turn, flustered yet blissful, toward Yukio. "Mm! Me too, Yukio—please take care of me from now on~"
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