"-and then we realize that the kid was fooling us all along, the tape was tied to a branch of a tree this whole time. The director was fuming. We had wasted an entire day on that incident," she said, walking a few steps ahead of him. They had just gotten out of the sushi restaurant. The food and atmosphere was really good. They had fun. She needed to thank Hayami more properly.
Maybe I'll try getting Fuji Hiroshi's autograph. I know she likes him, even if she denies it.
Now here they were, walking in the nearby park. There was hardly anyone besides the two of them. Like Hayami said, it was quiet and peaceful.
It was the perfect time to confess.
Except it wasn't. Yukimura Akari was rambling. Rambling about the most insignificant things and trying to get her heart to calm down.
Stop stalling!
I'm not! The mood just isn't right.
Sure
Great, now she was arguing with herself.
Just get over with it. It's like pulling a bandaid. Do it Akari!
She clenched her sweaty palms.
"Nagisa... I have something to tell you. Something I should have told you a long time ago."
She waited for him to respond. But he didn' turned around.
"Nagisa?"
He jumped.
"Sorry, I zoned out a little," he said shaking his head slightly. "It's just that hairstyle. It makes me feel that we're back in middle school."
He smiled, a slightly sad smile.
"Of course,things aren't the same. You've grown taller."
She knew that it wasn't just that,but decided not to dig deeper into the subject. If he wants to talk about it, he'll use a more direct approach. She trusted him to tell her things at his own pace.
"Anyway, what was it that you wanted to say, Kayano?"
Ah, what was it that she wanted to say?
"Um...oh that... it's...Nagisa, we'll always be friends right?"
"Yeah,why?"
"No matter what I say now,that won't change, right?"
"It shouldn't. What's wrong Kayano?"
"You won't hate me, right?"
Nagisa stared at the fidgety girl in front of him. 'Her wavelenght is all messed up' he realized. 'She's really nervous.'
And so,like he had done with his students so many times,he leaned forward and touched her shoulder.
"Kayano, it's alright. It's going to be fine. You're really important to me, a friend I really care about like Sugino,Karma and the rest. So no matter what happens, I won't hate you. So what's bothering you?
Oh wait,don't tell me you're the sister of one of my old students seeking revenge?
I didn't do anything, I'm innocent!"
She let out a shaky laugh.
"No, I'm saving that for later. It's just…"
She grabbed his collar, and pulled him forward. She pressed her lips against his cheek. She felt him stiffen slightly and pulled back.
"I like- no love. I love you, Nagisa. Not platonically, but romantically."
/
AUTHOR'S NOTE
So...what is Nagisa going to say?