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

“…”

Several seconds… tens of seconds of silence followed Riku’s confession. During that time, he never averted his gaze, and patiently waited for Shizuku’s response.

“S-stop joking… That’s not good… It’s not good…”

“Do you think I could say something like this as a joke?… I’m seriously in love with you, Shizuku.”

Riku’s expression was utterly serious. Since he had realized his feelings, he can confidently say he is serious. Having conveyed these feelings, there’s no way he can allow his confession to be taken as a joke.

“But it’s strange, isn’t it? Suddenly… like this…”

“To be honest, I planned to talk about various things before coming here… But you rushed ahead and didn’t let me do that.”

“Eh…”

“Like I said earlier, I didn’t have any trouble. I just wanted a place to confess my feelings.”

“Wha…!?”

Having said that, Riku took a deep breath. Without hesitating, he confronted Shizuku, who was fidgeting and letting her gaze wander.

“So I’ll say it one more time… I love you, Shizuku.”

“…!”

There’s no escape for Riku. Having conveyed his feelings, all he can do now is wait for Shizuku’s reply.

The embarrassment of confessing and the fear of hearing her answer. These two emotions mix together, leaving his mind unable to process anything.

“Riku-kun… Is it really… okay?”

“…?”

Having properly heard his confession, Shizuku lowered her eyes and spoke with a trembling voice, uttering meaningful words… and continued.

“If… we date, I’ll be a troublesome girlfriend… I have possessiveness, and I get jealous… If we start dating, those feelings will only grow stronger… Is that really… okay?”

“Is it okay you ask. That’s the same for me too.”

When entering a dating relationship… a special feeling different from friendship is born. It is the possessiveness that makes one think, “I don’t want anyone to take them away” and “I want to be with them forever.” And jealousy when seeing the other person getting along with someone of the opposite sex.

These are emotions that anyone can feel.

“I’m selfish… If you don’t make time for me, I’ll be in a bad mood…”

“…Well, making time to be together is a given.”

Once they enter a special relationship, it’s natural to make time for each other. Because Shizuku has no romantic experience, she cannot grasp the obvious.

“Besides… my idea of dating, because of my family background, has marriage in mind… okay?”

“Yeah, I know… But if we can maintain a good relationship, it will eventually lead to that.”

As Riku says, if they date and can maintain a good relationship, they will eventually consider marriage.

That’s why there’s no need to think deeply about it right now. No, it would be more accurate to say that they don’t have the luxury of thinking about it in their current situation.

“Honestly, I know I’m not good enough for Shizuku right now… But someday, I’ll definitely become a man who can support you.”

“Mou~… What do you plan to do by becoming even cooler than you are now…?”

Her voice was so small that no one could hear it.

“Eh?”

“It’s nothing…”

Shizuku shakes her head side to side, trying to somehow dissipate the heat accumulating in her cheeks. However, the fact that Riku confessed to her means that even if she releases the heat, it will just build up again. There was no end to it.

“Uhm, Shizuku. I know it’s strange to suddenly say this, but…”

“What is it?”

“Right here and now, I want to hear your answer to my confession.”

Riku stood still and stared intently at Shizuku, somehow managing to keep his trembling legs still.

“It’s not fair… only for yourself.”

“I-I’m sorry…”

“Then… will you listen to my request?”

“Your request?”

“Just sit on this bench one more time, that’s all…”

In response to Riku’s words, Shizuku presented this condition. A simple wish that anyone could fulfill.

She tapped the bench where Riku was sitting just moments ago, indicating the spot. At that moment, Shizuku’s face turned as red as a boiled octopus.

Riku probably couldn’t even imagine… what Shizuku was planning to do from this moment on.

“You’re not planning to run away when I sit down, are you?”

“I have no intention of doing that.”

“Is that true?”

“Yes…”

“If that’s the case, then that’s fine…”

There’s no way to move the conversation forward without listening to Shizuku’s request. Riku followed her instructions and sat back down on the bench.

And then, just as Riku turned to face Shizuku, it happened…

“I’m sorry… for being forceful.”

“Wha-!?”

Shizuku placed her right hand on Riku’s knee and the other on his shoulder, then stands up.

“Riku-kun… don’t move, okay?”

“What’s going on!?”

In a completely opposite position from before… But that’s not all. Shizuku puts her weight on Riku, who is sitting on the bench, immobilizing him.

The distance between them is only a hand’s length apart… Shizuku’s face is so red it looks like it might catch fire, but she showed no signs of backing off.

“Hey!?”

“Don’t you understand yet?… What I told you during ‘that time’…”

“What do you mean, ‘that time’!?”

“You’ll understand soon…”

“Wha-, wait…!”

There’s no stopping Shizuku now… She brought her face closer to Riku, who was immobilized.

Shizuku had made up her mind long ago. To put into action what she had said during “that time”…

“Ah…”

It was too late when Riku realized what Shizuku was trying to do.

“Ah-!”

“Mmm-!”

Shizuku forcefully pressed her pink lips against Riku’s. Not losing to Riku, who was trying to resist out of confusion, she put as much weight on him as possible. She kissed him so forcefully that he couldn’t even make a sound.

“Mmm… chu.”

“Mmm!?”

Having completely blocked Riku’s escape route, Shizuku continued to engage in a long, deep kiss until she could no longer breathe. She did this to convey that she would not let him go again.

“Chu~… Mmm~… chu~… mmm~.”

How many seconds did their kiss last? No one knew. But Shizuku kept pressing her lips against Riku’s, savoring the moment, making sure not to let go of the opportunity, and then slowly pulled away.

“…Riku…kun.”

“Haa, haa… Hey! What are you doing!?”

Riku, who had been holding his breath all this time, protested between gasps. In contrast, Shizuku had a dreamy and elated expression on her face.

“This is my answer… I told you I would be the first to take it, didn’t I?”

“…!”

At that moment, the scene from “that time” resurfaced in Riku’s mind.

[…I will be the one to take your lips and your heart first. Remember that.]

Shizuku’s words from when they promised to become a couple.

“Don’t forget that it was my first kiss…”

“Eh, ah…”

As Riku stammered, Shizuku increasingly revealed her true feelings, as if a door that had never been opened was finally opening.

“I wanted you to confess sooner… I’ve been waiting all this time…”

“That, I’m sorry…”

“Do you think I’ll forgive you?”

“Eh…”

“Baka..”

“Wha-!?”

Shizuku’s emotions were more intense than ever. She went in for a second forceful kiss, carried by her momentum.

However, Riku didn’t resist, only momentarily surprised. He closed his eyes and accepted her feelings until the kiss ended.

“Chu~.”

With that sound, the proof that their kiss had ended, Riku opened his eyes, only to see an unimaginable sight.

“…! Why… are you crying?”

“…Riku, kun…”

What entered Riku’s field of vision was Shizuku, smiling through her tears without sobbing.

Her tears flowed down her cheeks and fell to the ground, continuing to drop.

“I can’t stop… it’s just… I’m so happy… so happy…”

“Hey…”

“Riku…kun…”

The moment Shizuku called Riku’s name, her boyfriend’s name, she embraced him tightly as if leaping into his chest.

Shizuku’s slender, soft body was supported by Riku, and a sweet citrus scent enveloped them both.

“It finally… came true… finally…”

“Shizuku…”

“I’m sorry… the older me… is being… so spoiled…”

“Yeah…”

With those words, Riku hugged Shizuku tightly in return as he stood up from the bench. He wrapped his arms around Shizuku’s neck and waist, gently enclosing her.

“…Once you stop crying, let’s go home today.”

“It will… take some time…”

“It’s fine… I don’t want to let go right now either…”

“Yeah…”

Riku and Shizuku hugged each other, sharing their warmth, and let time pass.

They had talked once about the ideal height difference when hugging, which was 20cm, when they had shared an umbrella. Their height difference was exactly 20cm. Riku enveloped Shizuku, and Shizuku was enveloped by Riku, creating a perfect hug.

And then… after several minutes, even tens of minutes passed, Shizuku weakened her grip on Riku’s arms as if signaling it was time to let go.

“Are you okay now?”

“…Yes. If we do this any longer, I won’t be able to let go of you, Riku-kun…”

“I see…”

Hearing Shizuku’s wish, Riku stopped hugging her. Although her eyes were slightly bloodshot, no tears were flowing. She had stopped crying in Riku’s arms.

“Wow, it’s already this late…”

“Yeah…”

Looking at the clock in the park, it was almost 5:40 pm. It was enough time for both of them to head home.

“Then… shall we go?”

“Yeah…”

Riku offered his hand, and Shizuku nodded and grasped it.

Their fingers intertwined, not letting go of each other, squeezing tightly.

It was, without a doubt, the handholding of lovers.

“We really became a couple…”

“Couple…”

As they held each other’s hands and started to walk out of the park, Shizuku suddenly stopped.

“What’s wrong…?”