Although She's a Beautiful Student Council President Who Maintains Her Coolness Towards Everyone, She Wants to Act Spoiled and Lovesick Around Him, Who is Misunderstood by Everyone as a Delinquent - Chapter 38: Confession To You.

“Fufu, it’s been a while since we’ve talked in this park, hasn’t it?”

“…Yeah, I guess so.”

Shizuku and Riku visited the neighborhood park and sat down on a bench.

This place has been here for years. It’s a small park with just a few playthings like swings, slides, and monkey bars.

It’s evening now, almost night. There was no one else in the park but Riku and Shizuku.

“I remember… This is where you saved me. I won’t forget a place with such memories.”

“I wish you wouldn’t bring that up… It’s embarrassing.”

“You shouldn’t be embarrassed. Facing several opponents all by yourself was cool, no matter how anyone looks at it.”

Back in elementary school, Shizuku’s not childlike, polite speech made her a target of bullying. The bullying escalated as time went on, happening not only at school but also during her commute.

Riku happened to witness the bullying at this park and resolved it by fighting multiple people.

Even though he knew that using violence wasn’t the right solution, Riku felt no guilt. He couldn’t think of any other way to stop the bullying.

“Y-you know… Shizuku, you’ve become more open about things. You’re not the type to say ‘cool,’ are you?”

“…It’s because you already know that I like you, right? There’s no point in hiding it anymore.”

“W-well, maybe…”

Shizuku expressed all her feelings. As her words suggested, there was no need to hide her affection. Rather, she needs to keep conveying her feelings like this.

“…You still don’t know, do you? Why I became the student council president.”

“Come to think of it, I never heard about it… Well, you wanted to improve the school, right?”

“Half right.”

“Then, what’s the other half?”

“…I wanted you to see how much I’ve grown.”

“W-what’s that about…?”

It’s not surprising that Riku doesn’t understand. He hasn’t heard the full story yet.

“By becoming the student council president, I can stand in front of the students. I wanted you to see me there. Thanks to you saving me, I was able to become who I am now… That’s why.”

“F-for that reason…?”

“You might not get it… but”

Shizuku deliberately cut off her words, placed her hand on top of Riku’s, and met his gaze.

“…I’ve always… been thinking about you. There’s no way I could keep showing you an immature side of me. I’m your senior and older than you, after all.”

“Eh… W-wait a minute…! ‘Always’… What!?”

Riku’s voice grew louder, not only because Shizuku has placed her hand on his, but also because of her unexpected words.

Shizuku, who glanced at Riku, had no smile on her face but wore a serious expression as she made an even bolder confession.

“I… I’ve loved you since the time you saved me. I’ve been thinking about you for years now… My first love. That’s why I don’t want anyone else to have you. I know it’s selfish of me.”

Shizuku chuckled and, looking somewhat relieved, removed her hand from Riku’s.

For her, there could be no greater confession. She’s likely shared everything she’s been hiding.

Seeing Shizuku like this, Riku felt compelled to express his gratitude from that time. It’s because she’s shared her feelings so boldly that this switch has been flipped.

“You know… I have something I’ve never thanked you for.”

“What’s that?”

As Riku assumed a more formal tone while scratching his forehead, Shizuku smiled gently.

“I… When my parents went to heaven, I was really down, remember?”

“…Yes.”

Seeming to understand Riku’s feelings, Shizuku simply nods in agreement, not saying anything more.

“If you hadn’t been there for me during that time, I wouldn’t be who I am now… I’m sure I would’ve stopped going to school and fallen behind in my studies.”

“…”

“You came to see me every day when I was completely withdrawn, stayed by my side, taught me, and encouraged me… Thank you.”

“All I could do back then was something like that…”

“But thanks to that, I’m here now… So really, thank you.”

Riku placed both hands on his knees and bowed deeply. At this moment, he could finally express his gratitude from years ago.

What Shizuku did seems simple, but it was a difficult task.

Encouraging someone who’s shut themselves off requires accurately understanding their feelings; otherwise, you’ll only deepen their emotional wounds.

Back then, if Riku had been in Shizuku’s place, he probably wouldn’t have been able to heal those wounds. It might have been something only Shizuku could do.

“W-what’s this all of a sudden…? You’re throwing me off…”

“Hey, hey, you don’t have to look away.”

Huffing, Shizuku turns her face away in a seemingly bad mood, but it’s just her way of hiding her embarrassment. Her cheeks, as white as snow, were tinged with a faint pink.

“…Anyway, I still haven’t heard about your problem. That’s why we came here, right?”

Still not facing him directly, she smoothly changes the subject.

“…Can I say it now?”

“I’m here to listen to your worries. Hurry up and tell me.”

“O-okay…”

As soon as he says this, Riku’s voice trembles with tension. But he has the courage to speak up.

He was prepared for this from the moment they arrived at the park.

“Alright, I’ll say it… but…”

Riku slowly stands up from the bench and faces Shizuku.

…Standing in this position, he can see her profile even if she turns her face away. It prevents her from having an escape route.

It was at that moment. A void was born, as if waiting for Riku’s words.

The breeze stopped, the insects stopped chirping, and there were no cars passing by. Complete silence enveloped the two of them, and Riku swallowed his saliva nervously.

“…Shizuku.”

“W-what…?”

The moment he called her name, their gazes intertwined.

If he’s going to say it, now’s the time.

“I’ve realized it. My feelings…”

His heart races with tension, feeling as if it might burst out of his chest.

His breath became labored.

His body stiffened.

His thoughts can’t catch up.

But only the next words remained in his mind.

With a trembling mouth, he opened it and for the first time, conveyed his feelings.