Actually, the Hungry Gyaru Who Eats a Lot Was Being Cheated On, so I Decided to Win Her Heart (And Stomach) From Her Jerk Boyfriend - 79

Chapter 79: When Our Feelings Reach Each Other

ーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーー

Joy, astonishment, confusion, relief. All kinds of emotions mixed together chaotically and overflowed at once as tears.

Her heart had been pounding loudly for a while now. She felt the rush of hot blood spreading through every corner of her body. She had been expecting this all along. She had sensed that this might happen. And yet, when it was actually put into words, her mind nearly went blank.

It’s not a lie… right?

As tears streamed down her face, Shizuku asked herself that question over and over again. She replayed the words Gakuto had just told her and looked back at him. His sharp, narrow eyes captured her directly without wavering in the slightest.

“…Me too—”

And then, in a trembling voice that seemed about to fade away, Shizuku said, “Me too… I love you, Suou-kun.”

With a gentle smile, she finally confessed the feelings she had kept locked in her heart all this time.

“I love how good you are at cooking, how you always eat a lot with me, the way you sometimes smile during those moments, how you usually step back and watch over me… But when it matters, you step forward without hesitation. I really, truly… I truly love you so much.”

The memory of the day she first exchanged words with Gakuto came rushing back. The memory of meeting him after being betrayed by the person she loved, after being thrown into the depths of despair, after standing drenched in pouring rain. If she had not met him back then, what would she have become by now?

As she reflected on the days she had spent with Gakuto, that thought suddenly crossed her mind. It was pointless to think about now, but she was certain, despite not having any real proof, that she could never be happier than she was at this moment.

“—I can’t even imagine a life without you anymore.”

She added that softly, resting her head against Gakuto’s left shoulder.

“That’s kind of an exaggeration—”

Gakuto started to say, then..

“…No, you’re right, Shizuku.”

He immediately corrected himself with a soft smile.

“I can’t imagine a life without you either. Eating together, going out like this sometimes… Even if nothing special ever happens, I want to stay by your side from here on out.”

“Suou-kun… Yeah, me too.”

She closed her eyes and leaned her full weight against him. His body stiffened for just a moment, but soon the extra tension melted away as he accepted her. Right after that, he shifted his body closer to her until they were pressed together.

“This position’s more comfortable, right?”

He said it as bluntly as ever, but when she looked up at him, his face was faintly flushed red. The moment she noticed, she felt an uncontrollable surge of happiness, and the corners of her lips naturally lifted.

Maybe that was why…

Shizuku found herself speaking again, almost without thinking.

“—Hey, Suou-kun.”

“What?”

“To tell you the truth… I’d gotten scared of telling someone I liked them. Even if I confessed and we started dating, I was afraid I’d just repeat the same thing that happened before. I kept worrying about it all by myself. That’s why I couldn’t tell you I loved you. And while I was hesitating, I started getting anxious that someone else might take you away… So earlier, I was really nervous.”

“…I see.”

Gakuto murmured in surprise, then let out a small laugh.

“It’s okay. Neither of the things you’re worried about is going to happen.”

He gently placed his left hand over Shizuku’s right.

Ah—

His palm was slightly larger than hers. She could feel his warmth through his rough fingers. Her heart skipped at the sudden contact.

“I’ll never make you go through something like that again. And I won’t ever be swayed by anyone but you, ever.”

His voice was firm. She knew from everything they had shared that these were not empty words, but the truth from his heart.

“…Yeah.”

She nodded softly and squeezed the hand that was covering hers. After grasping it a few times to confirm the sensation and making sure Gakuto hesitantly squeezed back, she gathered her courage and intertwined their fingers. In that instant, she felt her cheeks grow hot. Even though she had initiated it, she no longer had the composure to gauge his reaction and found herself lowering her gaze. Through their joined hands, she could feel Gakuto’s fluster as well.

A few seconds later, without a word, Gakuto did not untangle their fingers. Instead, he gently squeezed her hand again.

“—!”

A flood of emotions welled up once more, and a tear slipped down her cheek.

But unlike before, only that single tear fell. With a refreshed feeling, like the clear sky after the rain, Shizuku slowly looked up at Gakuto.

“Suou-kun.”

When she called out to him, his bright red face turned toward her.

I’m probably just as red.

She thought, smiling widely. This time, it was her turn to say it. Resolving not to run away anymore, she spoke her feelings once again.

“I love you so much, Suou-kun. Please go out with me.”

“Of course.”

He answered immediately and smiled back at her gently.

“Let’s take care of each other from now on, Shizuku. I promise… I’ll always cherish you.”

“Yeah, me too.”

She replied in a slightly buoyant voice, nodding once before leaning against him again. Their joined hands and their intertwined fingers remained tightly bound together, and for a long while, they did not let go.

ーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーー