Beyond The Bad End - Chapter 4

Chapter 4

Haru’s POV

‘I love you, Haru-kun. I really want to go to the same high school as you, but I know it is not possible. That’s why I am very anxious about going to a different high school than you. I don’t want Haru-kun to flirt with another girl. I can’t stand the thought of Haru-kun becoming another girl’s lover.’

While I was stunned by Maki’s sudden confession, she continues to talk.

‘I don’t know what do you think of me, Haru-kun. But still, will you be my lover? I hope that even if you don’t like me now, you will start to like me bit by bit. Please go out with me, Haru-kun.’

Maki is looking at me with a restless expression on her face.

At least I managed to answer her confession.

‘Eh…umm…yeah, okay.’

‘Really!?’

‘Yeah.’

‘I’m really happy.’

Then, Maki began to cry.

I was still stunned by Maki’s sudden confession. Seeing her cry, I panicked and handed a box of tissues to her.

I couldn’t think of anything until Maki stopped crying. By the time she finally stopped crying, I finally could take a breath. I took a sip of my already cold coffee.

‘Even though we have started dating, I don’t know if we can spend much time with each other until the entrance exam is over…’

‘Yeah, I know. Let’s study hard until the exam is over.’

And so, we became lovers. However, at that time I was too embarrassed to express my own feelings to Maki.

Even though we had became lovers, our relationship still remained the same.

During winter break, we studied from morning until night every day preparing our entrance exam. When the third semester started, on weekdays we always studied in my room after school, and on weekends I usually helped out at the restaurant during the daytime, and studied with Maki at night again.

I didn’t say anything to my family about my relationship with Maki, but Maki seemed to have told Saki-san about it.

Then, Saki-san told my mother about it, and eventually my whole family knew that we started dating.

Maki had always been treated like a family at my house. My grandparents and parents were so happy that we finally started dating.

‘I have to live long enough to see Haru-kun and Maki-chan’s wedding.’

My grandmother said so, I know that was her way of expressing her fondness to us.

‘Thank you for everything, Haru-kun. Please continue to take a good care of Maki.’

Saki-san thanked me over and over again.

Then, march came and the high school entrance exam was held.

I got into the best public school in the prefecture.

Meanwhile, Maki got into a different public high school than me.

After the exam ended, I continued to help out at the store like I always did, because I had nothing to do, I help out on weekdays as well.

Maki always had lunch and dinner with us.

I was really happy when Maki told me that the food I cooked was delicious, but at the same time, I felt embarrassed because my family were also eating with us. I only could response her with a simple ‘I see’.

Although we didn’t do anything that’s ‘couple-like’, but on the way back home from our graduation ceremony, we walked home together, holding hands.

On our way home, we stopped by the neighbourhood park in the cold. We sat on a bench, holding hands and talked about our precious memories of playing there when we were children.

‘We used to play in this park when we were still in grade school.’

‘Yeah, there are not a lot places we can play around here.’

‘Haru-kun was a very energetic boy back then, wasn’t he?’

‘I was just trying to show you this place. I wanted to tell you that you can play here without a single care in the world.’

‘Fufufu, this place is really nostalgic. Meeting Haru-kun is always something I look forward to. I even wondered what kind of clothes I should wear when I meet you all the time.’

‘Is that so.’

Then, Maki leaned her body against mine while still holding hands and rested her head on my shoulder.

‘Fufufu.’

Maki giggled softly.

‘Meeting you is always something I look forward too, Maki.’

‘Is that so?’

‘Yeah. I always enjoy being with you, Maki.’

‘Even now, as lovers?’

‘Yeah.’

‘Then, does that mean you like me?’

‘…I have love you for a long time, I have always love you, Maki.’

‘Eh, really?’

‘Yeah.’

I told Maki my feelings for the first time out loud, I started feeling so embarrassed that I quickly got up and said,

‘Mom and aunt Saki is waiting for us, let’s go home.’

As Maki stood up, she hugged me tightly and kissed me on the cheek.

‘Uwaa!?’

‘Ehehe, I love you, Haru-kun.’

I was really surprised at her sudden kiss, on the other hand, Maki’s expression seemed really happy, she looked like a child who has successfully pulled off a prank.