I Confessed My Sexual Preferences to My Online Game Best Friend, and the Person Who Showed Up at the Offline Meetup Was the Cute Girl from My Class - 62-63

Chapter 62: A Midsummer Night’s Story

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Kazuma’s POV

Saturday, 4:00 PM.

The sky, just declared free from the rainy season, was a mesmerizing blue, and the heat shimmer danced on the asphalt. I stood in front of the full-length mirror in my room, adjusting the final details of my outfit. I chose the thin navy shirt Rin (Haru) had complimented me on the other day. Paired with it were the slightly mature black pants I had bought just for today.

Alright… if I keep fussing, I’ll just overdo it.

I took several deep breaths, but the air felt hot in my lungs, and my heart refused to calm down. Today wasn’t about picking a present for Ichinose-san, nor was there any “study session” excuse. It was simply a night I had decided, on my own, to spend with one girl, Rin Shinozome. Tonight, it’d be just the two of us.

As I stepped out of my room and began to descend the stairs, my little sister Futaba, arms crossed, was waiting at the living room entrance.

“…Hmm. That shirt again, huh, Onii? You really like it, don’t you?”

Her gaze was sharp, cold as always. Normally, I’d brush her off with a “shut up, pest” and escape, but today… Today I was different from yesterday’s me.

“…I like it. Because she said it looks good on me.”

“―!?”

Futaba froze, eyes wide. I stopped and looked straight into my sister’s eyes.

“…Futaba. Remember when I told you ‘it’s about a friend’ before?”

“…Ah… yeah. That stupid Onii’s… no, that stupid friend story, right?”

“…That was me. And the person is exactly who you said… It’s Rin Shinozome.”

Silence. The cicadas’ voices sounded unnaturally loud. Futaba gripped her phone, lips trembling in shock. I took a step forward and continued.

“…I like her. Rin Shinozome. And today… I’m going to properly ask her to be by my side as a man. I’m going… I’m going, Futaba.”

…

…………

“….”

Futaba lowered her head, her long ponytail trembling slightly with her shoulders. Her ears flushed bright red in an instant, and in a tiny, almost mosquito-like voice, she murmured.

“…Looks like… I don’t need to call the cops.”

“…Huh?”

“…Go already! You stupid Onii! If you make Rin-san sad  or don’t even say ‘you look beautiful,’… I’ll physically destroy all your game data!!”

Without looking up, Futaba shoved me back with all her strength.

“…Futaba… thanks.”

“Shut up!! Go already!! …And don’t keep Rin-san waiting, got it?”

Her awkward, clumsy cheer rang in my ears. I felt it at my back as I swung open the front door. Hot wind brushed my face. My heart was still racing, but my steps felt lighter. I abandoned the safe cage of “best friends.” I discarded the fake name “Kazu.”

For the first time, as Kazuma Sato, I ran toward the place where she awaited.

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Rin’s POV

“Rin, are you ready?”

My mother’s voice came as the door opened. I stopped fiddling with the knot of my obi in front of the mirror and turned around.

“Wow… Rin… You’re really beautiful. As expected of my daughter.”

She gazed at me, breathless. The reflection in the mirror wasn’t the school’s “Rin Shinozome,” nor the voice-changing, toughened “Haru.” It was the yukata with purple morning glories Kazu had told me over video chat he’d “be mesmerized by.” My hair was up, slightly grown-up, with the sparkling hairpin we’d picked together in the most prominent spot.

“…Does it look weird? Too childish?”

“Not at all… That boy, Kazu… He really has a good eye. He sees what makes Rin special.”

I had only told my mother that I was going to the festival with Kazu. Nothing more. She seemed to understand and didn’t pry further.

“…Hehe… I know, right?”

I smiled boldly at my reflection as Haru, though my fingers clutching the drawstring pouch trembled slightly. Three years ago, when I heard Kazu’s voice through the screen, I couldn’t have imagined a future where I’d wear a yukata and walk beside him. Kazu had said he liked my “inner self.”

“No matter how pretty you get, you’re still Haru,” he’d said.

…That had made me happier than anything else. But today…

(…Kazu. Not as Haru. …As Rin Shinozome. …I’ll captivate your eyes.)

The promise on the rooftop.

“As someone special to Kazuma Sato… I want you beside me, just the two of us.”

The wall of “best friends” in my heart shattered that day. I still couldn’t say “I love you” without blushing. But I wanted him to see my closest, happiest smile. I wanted him to notice me as a girl. That desire was my ultimate “buff” tonight.

“…Alright. I’m going, Mom.”

“Yes, Rin… go ahead and be as selfish as you want.”

“…Hehe… Mom, what’s that? I don’t need to be told, I already plan to!”

I left home wrapped in a magical thrill. 

The meeting spot at the station In the crowd, a boy fidgeted, checking his watch anxiously. Navy shirt. Hair slightly styled. Eyes honest, awkward, and completely focused on who he was looking for.

(Found you.)

My most important knight in the world. I took a deep breath once, letting my uncontrollable racing heart wash over my back. I put on the brightest, happiest smile of a girl in love.

“Sorry to keep you waiting, Kazu!”

My voice echoed through the midsummer evening. Kazu slowly turned toward me.

At that moment…

His eyes widened, and time seemed to pause in a stunned silence.

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Chapter 63: Best Friend Graduation Ceremony

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Nothing else existed in my eyes but the girl standing before me. The navy yukata with the vivid purple morning glories drawn across it. Her black hair, styled a little more maturely than her usual half-up, and the pale nape of her neck peeking out from beneath it. And the hair ornament, modestly yet unmistakably shining on her profile.

“……!”

I forgot how to breathe. At school, Shinonome-san was always the flawless “angel.” But here, now, she was a girl who had prepared her “strongest outfit” just for me.

“…Nihihi. Hey, Kazu… you’ve had your mouth open this whole time, you know?”

Rin teased me in her usual partner-like tone, her cheeks faintly flushed. That single line finally pulled my awareness back to reality.

“…Sorry. It’s just… it suits you too much.”

“……!!”

This time, it was Rin who lowered her gaze, her face bright red. She gripped the drawstring of her kinchaku tightly, whispering almost inaudibly.

“…Idiot… It’s because you said you’d be mesmerized that I had to try my best, obviously.”

“…Yeah. …Thanks, Haru.”

We began walking without either of us saying anything further. The sloped road to the festival grounds was already crowded with families in yukata, couples, and excited students. The space between Rin and me was just the width of a fist. With each step, the clatter of her geta on the asphalt created a pleasant rhythm.

“…Hey, Kazu… there’s no one from school here, right?”

Rin glanced around cautiously. Well, with so many people, it wouldn’t be strange if we ran into one or two acquaintances. And with such an overwhelmingly beautiful girl beside me, it was impossible not to attract attention.

“…There might be, but you look so beautiful… If someone notices, it’s not my fault.”

“…Nihihi. …You’ve gotten good at saying the right things, partner.”

Rin seemed slightly pleased by my words and subtly closed the gap between us. Passing through the large torii gate at the entrance, we stepped into another world. The red lanterns of the stalls, the savory scent of grilled sauce, the music of festival drums. And an enormous wave of people, making it nearly impossible to move forward.

“Wah…!? …Wow…”

Rin staggered slightly, pressed by the crowd. She hastily tugged at my sleeve with her fingertips. Her hand trembled more than ever before.

(No good… just the sleeve won’t be enough to protect her.)

I abandoned the last shred of reason I had as “Sato-kun.” The promise on the rooftop.

『Stay beside me, just the two of us, as Sato Kazuma’s special someone.』

I wouldn’t lie to that.

“…Haru… let me hold your hand.”

“Eh…? …Ah…”

I took her right hand, the delicate fingers she had timidly offered, and gently wrapped it in my palm—firmly, but without breaking her.

“—!!”

Rin’s body jerked slightly. Hot. Her palm radiated heat far beyond what I had imagined. When I intertwined my fingers with hers, forming what could be called a “lovers’ hold,” she paused her breath for a brief moment.

“…If we get separated, it’d be troublesome, right?”

“…Yeah… right… it’d be troublesome.”

Rin didn’t look up, but she squeezed my hand back so hard it almost hurt.

『Best friend.』

『Partner.』

Those words were now a complete “lie” at this moment. Our hands, joined as if to convince each other, communicated something far from friendship—something raw, desperate… a heat that screamed, “I don’t want to give you to anyone else.”

We stopped speaking entirely. Using only the noise around us as background music, we adjusted our pace to each other, letting the warmth of our joined hands guide us through the crowd.

“…Kazu… don’t let go, okay?”

Rin’s voice whispered by my ear. She suddenly felt so close to me. sWhen had we gotten this close? Amid the festival chaos, her husky voice reached only me.

“…I won’t let go… Even if you say you don’t want me to hold your hand.”

“…Nihihi… Stupid Kazuma. …There’s no way I’d mind.”

Rin pressed herself closer to my arm and stepped forward. I could feel the line of her supple body through the yukata.

Three years ago. We had laughed over a grainy video call, our voices full of static. I wanted to tell my past self:『the partner you entrusted your life to is now this hot, this small, and wants you so badly.』

“…Ah, Kazu! That stall over there has candied apples!”

“Shall we get one?”

“One? …Are we going to share it between us?”

“…If you want to.”

“…Nihihi… agreed!”

Without ever letting go of each other’s hands, we were drawn into the brightly lit line of festival stalls. The school’s “Shinonome-san” and “Sato-kun,” those boring names, had been completely erased by the midsummer night wind. Now, only “Kazu” and “Haru,” who needed each other, existed here.

This was our “Best Friend Graduation Ceremony.”

The heat of these joined hands melted our hearts completely. Every single minute, every single second, accelerating without pause.

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