"Hehe."
Ikuyo-san gently shook her head, eyes narrowing in a dreamy squint as a silly laugh bubbled from her lips. Pressed close to Haru's side, her gaze slowly filled with a lingering tenderness that refused to fade.
The way the boy in front of her had just surrendered and gone along with her wishes made Ikuyo's heart feel like it was steeped in caramel macchiato laced with honey syrup.
So Haru actually cared more about her feelings than she thought?
"Haru, have you ever been to karaoke with anyone else before?"
"You don't need to worry, I've only come with you so far, Ikuyo-san."
Haru half-closed his eyes as he reached up to gently comb through Ikuyo-san's soft red hair. Maybe it was because her feet didn't quite touch the ground while sitting on the couch, but her little legs, clad in polished shoes, swung lazily in the air.
The girl didn't resist his affectionate gesture in the slightest.
"So this was your first time, huh? Looks like I claimed it for myself!"
Clenching her small fists, she gave herself a quiet boost of confidence.
Haru rolled his eyes, clearly getting the message, and wisely chose not to comment on her loaded line.
From the moment they sat down, he'd stayed in the same position, letting Ikuyo-san lean against his shoulder. His neck was starting to get stiff, and he wanted to shift a little, but the second he moved even a few centimeters to the left, she immediately noticed.
Pouting, Ikuyo slid directly into his arms with a faint hint of displeasure. Only after wriggling into the warmest and coziest position she could find did she nod in contentment.
Haru raised his eyebrows and suddenly spoke.
"Come to think of it, I remember you secretly watching me a long time ago, didn't you?"
"Eh?! You noticed?!"
The red-haired girl, who had been so relaxed just moments ago, suddenly widened her eyes in alarm. Her parted lips made her look especially cute.
"It would've been hard not to. Your intentions were, let's just say, kind of obvious."
Haru's voice carried a slightly teasing undertone.
He recalled the time shortly after he got the simulator.
Back then, when she hadn't yet become a simulated partner, Ikuyo would occasionally steal glances his way. It became even more noticeable when she started practicing guitar with Anon. Even during study sessions, she'd find little excuses to get closer.
And after that, things got even more outrageous. Ikuyo-san had grown bold enough to try holding his hand.
"Y-yeah, that did happen…"
Blushing fiercely, she stammered her confession, her face full of flustered embarrassment from having her feelings so thoroughly exposed.
She had originally planned to keep her true intentions hidden until the final moment when everything would be decided. But every time they were alone together, she just couldn't hold back, and somehow, she'd always end up revealing everything too soon.
"Haru, when did you first notice it?"
"I started picking up on it a long time ago. I wasn't entirely sure back then, but after that time I visited Anon's house…"
His voice trailed off. Even without finishing the sentence, the implication was clear enough, and Ikuyo, now fully red-faced, brought both hands to her cheeks.
Her petite, delicate frame curled up, trembling from head to toe in a way that was almost comical.
So she had been completely exposed that early on?
With her head spinning, Ikuyo-san's eyes looked like twin swirling mosquito coils. Her heart was pounding fast, and she scrambled to change the subject.
"S-speaking of Anon-chan!"
"How did you even manage to talk Anon-chan into coming back? She really seemed dead set on leaving back then, but the moment you went after her, she actually just obediently went home!"
"I even asked her what happened, but she blushed and wouldn't say a single word…"
Of course she wouldn't.
Recalling the scene at the airport, a subtle expression flickered in Haru's eyes. Anyone who had seen a pink-haired girl clinging to a boy in public, crying and... well, doing more than just hugging, would probably find it impossible to keep a straight face.
Especially someone like Anon, who cared so much about appearances. Looking back on it now, she probably wanted to faint from embarrassment.
"I had to put in a lot of effort to get her to calm down and go home."
"But with Anon-chan, calming her down usually takes something even more intense than whatever fired her up in the first place, right?"
Ikuyo's lashes fluttered slightly as she looked into Haru's deep black eyes. Clever and perceptive, she wasn't some clueless romantic. She could easily guess what he had done to make someone like Anon, all fire and impulsive emotion, calm down so quickly.
He ditched their date just to go kiss another girl.
Well, that's teenage drama for you.
Haru let out a long breath, then said meaningfully, "Since you're so curious, want me to tell you exactly what I did?"
"Eh?!"
Ikuyo blinked blankly, then her cheeks instantly flushed with shock and shyness.
Haru suddenly wrapped his arm around her smooth, fragrant shoulder and pulled her into his chest. Her delicate frame was as light and soft as cotton, and without resisting at all, she ended up seated directly on his lap.
They were so close their breaths warmed each other's skin, and even though the moment lasted less than three seconds, Ikuyo felt her entire body turn to jelly.
A familiar, faint fragrance mixed with something more primal drifted into her nose. She tried to lower her eyes and look away, face glowing red, but his grip on her shoulders left her no escape.
Even though she'd tried to brace herself for this kind of dreamy moment, her mind went completely blank.
No, wait!
They couldn't kiss yet. Not now. She had to wait just a little longer!
"I, I give up!"
Swept away in an instant, Ikuyo raised her imaginary white flag, and only then did Haru chuckle and let go of her shoulders.
But even though the restraint was gone, she made no move to get off his lap.
Maybe she was afraid he'd misunderstand her feelings because of that sudden retreat. Fear crept into her chest, and her trembling gaze revealed her rising anxiety.
Before Haru could speak, she hurried to explain.
"Haru, it's not what you think!"
"I just need a little more time. Really, just a little longer!"
This moment, it had to come after her confession.
Ikuyo needed to pour out the feelings she had hidden away for so long, the love that had built up inside her like a volcano ready to erupt. She wanted to express all the regret and longing from that dream, to say everything she hadn't been able to say before.
The confession had to come from her.
"Of course I get it. Besides, do you really think I'm in more of a rush than you are?"
With a smile in his eyes, Haru gently ruffled Ikuyo's fiery red hair. His words made her blink as if pretending not to understand.
After all, she'd been the one who was constantly pushing forward, greedy for more affection. Anyone watching would say she was way more eager than Haru.
True enough. It wasn't like they hadn't kissed before.
At this point, both of them knew exactly how they felt. There was no reason to rush.
"So what if I'm in a hurry! I'm gonna be even more in a hurry later!"
Clenching her tiny fists, Ikuyo declared it with absolute seriousness, the contradiction between her solemn tone and ridiculous line creating an oddly charming scene.
Sure, kissing was important and all, but a little cuddling before the confession wouldn't hurt, right?
After all, Haru had said earlier that as long as it wasn't too much, it was fine. That meant unless she crossed a certain line, she could pretty much do whatever she wanted now, right?
Haru's face stiffened. It seemed he'd picked up on something just from the look in her eyes.
Truthfully, even earlier during their close moment, he was barely holding it together. Thankfully, Ikuyo hadn't noticed.
...
When you're completely focused on something, time always flies by faster than expected.
Blushing from ear to ear, Ikuyo held onto Haru's sleeve as they walked out of the KTV building. She had only planned to snuggle up a little, but somewhere along the line, she'd gotten a bit carried away.
They hadn't even sung much, and she didn't get a chance to show off the vocal skills she'd worked so hard to train.
By the time they left, her legs were so wobbly she could barely walk, and it was only by letting Haru hold her hand that she managed to make it out of the lobby.
Night had fallen.
Under the dim sky of Yokohama, where even the stars seemed sparse beside the pale moonlight, a boy with black, shoulder-length hair walked hand in hand with a girl whose hair blazed like fire. Each step they took seemed to make her heart beat faster.
Even more nervous than she had been before her first live show, Ikuyo bit her lip hard.
Her hand was sweating.
Maybe it was because the moment ahead felt too important. Her palm kept breaking into cold sweat, and as a girl, the last thing she wanted was for him to notice. But the second she even slightly loosened her grip, Haru was already pulling her hand back with practiced ease.
Still looking ahead, he said nothing as he laced their fingers together once more.
Their joined hands, like a connection between their hearts, tightened with his silent determination.
This time, she couldn't run.
Even though her pulse raced wildly, the warmth spreading from his hand slowly quieted the fear and anxiety inside her. She placed her free hand gently against her chest.
She didn't even need to look to know, her face must've been red as a tomato.
"There's a park up ahead. Want to sit for a while?"
After a long silence, Haru suddenly spoke, snapping her out of her spiraling thoughts.
"O-of course!"
Ikuyo responded immediately, then sneaked a glance at his expression from the corner of her eye.
His face was as beautiful as ever, so gentle, so composed. With his long black hair brushing his shoulders, he looked straight ahead without a single flicker of hesitation. From her angle, she could even glimpse the glint of metal near his earlobe.
And the moment that dreamy boy turned his head toward her, Ikuyo instinctively lowered her eyes. Shyness overwhelmed her, and she didn't dare look up.
"What's wrong? Did my handsomeness get to you?"
"Eh?! Who even says that about themselves?!"
Seeing the mischievous grin on Haru's face, Ikuyo couldn't help but laugh as she teased him.
"Don't lie. Didn't you admit not long ago that you'd been secretly staring at me for a while? Don't tell me the only reason you got close to me was... my face?"
"Of course not!"
Ikuyo shot back, full of righteous indignation.
But Haru's knowing little smile made her squirm. A faint twinge of guilt caused her fair fingertips to tremble slightly.
"W-well, at the start…"
So it was about that?
The corner of Haru's mouth twitched, but before he could say anything, Ikuyo jumped back in.
"But that's not how it is now. I'm going to prove it to you right away!"
This time, her eyes were sharp and full of resolve. There wasn't a trace of hesitation. Seeing her like that made a quiet smile tug at Haru's lips.
Unknowingly, the two had wandered into a familiar park. It was as if they were the only ones there. Beneath the dim night sky, just two weak streetlights cast a scattering of soft, star-like light.
The thin veil of clouds slowly drifted away above them, and silky moonlight poured gently over her. The silver glow softened the passionate red of her shoulder-length hair.
Her golden-green eyes, clear and bright as polished jade, stayed fixed on Haru's face. Overwhelmed with nervous anticipation, she took deep breaths to calm herself. Standing before her, Haru seemed to overlap more and more with the boy from her dream.
As if, in just one careless moment, he would whisper...
"There was a time when I hesitated about my own feelings. Deep down, maybe I had already noticed what you were hiding, what you wanted to say from your heart. But because of that hesitation, I couldn't respond to you then. And yet, even without a response, you still stood beside me with a smile."
"You said you wanted me to lean on you."
"But more than that, I want you to see me as someone you can trust, rely on, and entrust everything to. I want you to give your life to me."
"Ikuyo, I—"
Before he could finish, Ikuyo, face flushed, dashed toward him.
Without a word, she reached up and pressed her hand over his mouth, her eyes wide with urgency. "No, no, no! Haru, you're seriously too sneaky! How could you even think of saying it first…"
"You promised. You promised I'd be the one to say it!"
She had been preparing so carefully for this moment.
"I don't remember promising anything."
Haru blinked with an amused glint in his eye, making Ikuyo puff her cheeks in protest.
"Anyway, it has to be me!"
Her anxiety had been completely thrown off by Haru's surprise move, but now she took a deep breath and straightened her posture, eyes locked forward with purpose.
"I really hated... the version of myself who couldn't become anyone."
"To my family, my friends, my teachers, even strangers, I was always just playing the role of someone likeable. No matter how hard I tried to perform, I could never become that person. Even when I came close to people I admired, I still couldn't change how ordinary I was."
"But you never saw me that way."
"Even though I was so plain no matter how hard I tried, you stayed behind me, quietly pushing me forward. Every time I failed, you still supported me with all your heart. You, who shined brightest on stage, still smiled behind me without hesitation."
"If it weren't for you, I couldn't have become 'Ikuyo'."
The girl who was always cheerful and full of energy now lowered her eyes in quiet reflection.
Her always-vibrant gaze remained focused ahead. Her left hand, pressed over her heart, looked as if it were holding it still. As she spoke, her red ponytail swirled behind her like a trail of fire.
Her eyes, which had given strength and joy to so many, now burned with unwavering clarity.
"Haru, I can't be without you anymore."
No matter what came next, she had made up her mind.
"So you have to take responsibility..."
The moment those words left her lips, Haru took a step forward.
Her vivid red hair glowed under the moonlight. Whatever she was about to say was silenced by his kiss. Her small hand rested gently against his chest.
Without realizing it, she had risen on her toes. Her bright, passionate eyes were overtaken by a soft, gentle glow. Her trembling body soaked in the emotional intensity of the moment.
This time, she had said it.
A long moment passed.
Finally, Ikuyo pulled away, still blushing furiously. Her cherry blossom lips shimmered with the remnants of their kiss. If anything, this kiss had surpassed the last in intensity.
"So unfair... I wanted to be the one to initiate the kiss this time too."
"Oh come on, you already took the best parts. You want everything?"
Haru teased as he reached out and flicked her nose, and in response, Ikuyo nuzzled into his neck with a pout, murmuring softly:
"You knew I wanted to be the one to confess first, and you still tried to beat me to it."
"If I hadn't said it when I did, the mood back there wouldn't have let us say anything at all. Besides, the most important four words still haven't been said yet, right?"
Haru smirked, thinking back to how even after he tried to step away, she kept kissing him like she couldn't let go. Ikuyo just mumbled and said nothing.
"Haru, this time... really let me say it first, okay?"
"Seriously, you just want to take and take, huh?"
A moment of silence and then both of them burst into laughter.
Eye contact was the soul's kiss. Just by looking, they understood each other perfectly. Then, as if perfectly timed, they both said it together:
"I like you."