Lonely Me And The Lonely Caring Goddess - Chapter 196: Next Is…

Next Is…

Ah… she’s beautiful… truly beautiful.

The tears that I thought had finally stopped began to spill over once more.

When I pulled away from her lips and looked at Sara-san, she still had her eyes closed, tears streaming down her cheeks. Seeing her like that moved me so deeply that I trembled. The fact that this was also my first kiss only added to that indescribable emotion.

Slowly, Sara-san opened her eyes. Although tears still lingered at their corners, unlike before, her expression had softened into a peaceful smile.

“My dream… another dream has come true…”

“…Your dream?”

“Yes. My first kiss… Another one of my ‘firsts’… I gave it to you, Kazunari-san.”

Though she seemed overjoyed, there was also a dazed, dreamy look about her. Her gaze kept flitting back and forth between my eyes and my lips… and perhaps without realising it, she began touching her lips gently with her finger. That gesture, combined with her expression, radiated a sensual charm that made my heart race.

“Kazunari-san…”

“…Yes?”

“I’m glad… I didn’t ruin your feelings… I’m so glad… truly…”

“Sara-san…”

No man could ever endure such adorableness.

Why is Sara-san so impossibly cute… I couldn’t think of anything else to do. All that came to mind was to simply hold her tightly.

“Sara-san, I really wanted to buy you a present with my own earnings. I wanted to surprise you, to make you happy… But I never thought that would end up hurting you… I’m sor—”

“Kazunari-san.”

“…Yes?”

“Please don’t apologise. Right now… I am truly happy. This pendant you prepared for me, even injuring yourself in the process… it will be a treasure of mine for the rest of my life.”

“Sara-san…”

“Hehe… excuse me, I’ll step back for just a moment. Let me have a better look at this precious gift you’ve given me.”

Reluctantly pulling away from me, Sara-san gazed lovingly at the pendant, gently touching it with both hands.

But the moment I calmed down, embarrassment washed over me… I wondered what face I should make when I looked at her next. Overcome by emotion, our first kiss had turned into such an intense, mutual longing. Her tears of joy made me tear up as well. I wondered if it was normal for couples to have a first kiss like this… was it rare?

To be honest, I had secretly hoped that after giving her the present, if the mood was right, Sara-san would accept me… But I never imagined that I would end up pressuring her unexpectedly. Seeing how troubled she looked, I realised I couldn’t push her any further.

Still… it was precisely because of that, that I found her tears so endearing.

While touching the pendant lovingly, she seemed to realise that it could open.

“Ah… it’s a locket, isn’t it?”

“Yes. Right now it has a placeholder photo in it, but if you have a favourite picture, please put it inside.”

Without replying, she opened the locket and then froze.

“…Hehe………honestly… Kazunari-san…”

It seemed she liked the photo I had put in. I felt relieved. She kept staring at it intently… though I knew she would probably ask where it came from.

“Hehe… this… sniff… such a wonderful photo…”

……Ah.

“You’re so unfair… I’m so happy… sniff… this photo… this… this…”

“Sara-sa—”

Thud.

Before I could finish saying her name, I felt a light impact against my chest as she threw herself into me.

“…I… hic… Kazunari-san, you idiot… I love you… how much happier do you intend to make me…”

The always composed and mature Sara-san looked so incredibly cute today… almost like someone my age or even younger.

“Sniff… I’m so happy…”

“Me too.”

“I love you…”

“Yes. I love you too.”

“I adore you…”

“Sara-san…”

“…Mm.”

We stayed like that, holding each other until she calmed down… As the sun slowly set, our shadows stretched out, remaining as one the entire time.

***

Return Train Scene

The train ride home was relatively empty, but Sara-san refused to leave my side. Today, she was in full affectionate mode, leaning her body against my chest.

“Kazunari-san… thank you so much for today. This is the second happiest day of my life.”

“Eh, ah… is that so?”

I thought I had done everything I could to make today special, but… there was another day that made her just as happy?

“Hehe… you really are so dense. There’s only one other day that made me as happy as today, you know?”

Poke, poke.

I must have looked a little disappointed, because Sara-san poked my cheek with a mischievous smile.

So that happiest day… was also something to do with me. Wait… ah!

Seeing the realisation dawn on my face, Sara-san puffed out her cheeks slightly.

“The day you confessed to me… that was the happiest day of my life. So if you ever forget it… you’ll be in trouble.”

“I-I’m sorry. But… it’s the same for me too, you know? The day you became my girlfriend and today… they’re both the most precious to me.”

“…Yes. We’re the same. From now on as well, everything… together with you.”

As she smiled warmly, her left hand never once left the pendant hanging around her neck, perhaps unconsciously.

***

Outside the Station

Even after getting off the train and leaving the station, Sara-san never let go of my right arm. She seemed concerned about my hand, brushing the back of it gently with her other hand.

“When we get home, let’s take care of your right hand properly… Now that I think about it, you didn’t bandage it so I wouldn’t find out about your injury, right?”

“Uh… well…”

I knew she would realise. It was true, and I was prepared to be scolded when she found out.

“But… I just wanted to make you happy, Sara-san… For that, I’d do anything.”

“…That’s so unfair. When you say something so sweet, I… I can’t even scold you properly…”

“No, I didn’t mean to—”

She gave me a slightly troubled expression, gazing straight into my eyes.

“It hurt me, you know.”

“…I see.”

“Knowing you were hurt… and acting as if everything was fine… it was so painful for me.”

“…I’m sorry.”

“Words alone aren’t enough to forgive you.”

Her tone made it clear she wasn’t entirely serious, but it was the first time we had playful banter like this. The happiness bubbling inside me made me laugh unintentionally.

“Laughing… that’s mean.”

“I’m sorry. How can I earn your forgiveness?”

“…Later… one more time.”

I noticed her gaze shift to my lips, and a teasing feeling rose within me.

“…One more time?”

“…You know exactly what I mean… you’re so mean.”

I couldn’t hold back anymore. I silenced her with a kiss – just a brief, light touch, but it seemed to satisfy her as her mood instantly brightened.

“Hehe… for now, you’re forgiven.”

“Eh, for now?”

“Of course. Because…”

“…Because?”

“Next… it’s my turn.”

As she said this, her smile was so dazzlingly radiant that I couldn’t look away.

***

Bonus: Breaking the Mood Again

~ While Preparing for the Birthday Party ~

“Excuse me~”

When Yokokawa-kun unlocked the door, everyone filed into the room in order.

It wasn’t my first time entering Takanashi-kun’s room, but for everyone else, it was their first.

“E-Excuse me…”

Eririn seemed particularly nervous, unusually quiet.

“Wow… it’s my first time entering a boy’s room, but Takanashi-kun keeps it really tidy.”

“Well, that’s because he has a wife, obviously.”

Hanako-san immediately countered Toudou-san’s comment, and it was true – thanks to Sara, everything stayed organised.

“Even the kitchen is spotless. As expected of Satsukawa-senpai.”

Tachikawa-san, who was looking around the kitchen, murmured admiringly. She seemed to idolise Sara so much that everything was “as expected,” which was a bit amusing.

“Um… isn’t it rude to stare around someone else’s room so much?”

Eririn tried to scold everyone with common sense, but her own curiosity was obvious to everyone but herself.

“Now then, as his sister, I shall check if my dear brother owns anything indecent—”

“Hanako-san, please spare him. Kazunari doesn’t have anything like that.”

“Yeah, Kazunari is fine. Anyway, let’s start preparing. We can chat afterwards.”

Naturally, the guys rushed to Takanashi-kun’s defence. I didn’t think there would be anything suspicious in his room either, considering Sara spent so much time here.

“Um… everyone…”

““““““???””””””

Eririn called out timidly. What was it now?

“When you say ‘something indecent’… what exactly do you mean?”

““““““………””””””

Nobody answered her.

But the sight of Toudou-san’s bright red face said it all… and Eririn’s expression fell blank.