"Kouta-kun," she started, her voice shaking slightly before she found her footing. "I didn't ask you here to talk about chores, or school, or anything like that." Kouta blinked, tilting his head. "Then what is it?"
Kouta took a step toward her, reaching out to gently take the thermos from her trembling hands and setting it on a nearby desk. Then, he took her hands in his. They were warm, steady, and grounding. "Kouta-kun," she started, her voice shaking slightly before
"Meika? I got your message. Is everything okay?" he asked, his voice laced with genuine concern. Then, he took her hands in his
As Kouta pulled her into a warm embrace, Meika finally let go. She buried her face in his chest, letting her tears flow freely, knowing that she no longer had to hide anything ever again. I got your message
The confession hung in the air, vibrating with raw, unfiltered emotion. Meika felt as if a massive weight had been lifted from her shoulders, replaced by a terrifying, exhilarating vulnerability. She looked at Kouta, bracing herself for rejection, for confusion, for anything. Instead, she saw a slow, soft smile spread across his face.
"You really are terrible at hiding things, you know," Kouta said softly, his thumb tracing light circles on the back of her hand. "I’ve known for a while. And I've been waiting for you to be ready to tell me."