Confession

I should have confessed that day! Now I’m going crazy from not being able to talk to her!

Hayakawa Arashi sighed. On the last day of the Summer Festival, he had snuck his not yet to be lover, Tia, away from the winner’s post-interview of the Augmented Reality (AR) Interior Design Contest. Initially, they had expected to have time for each other, but neither of them did not expect that during the contest’s duration, Tia had spectacularly advanced all the way to the day of the finals, sweeping away first place. While this was something to be joyful over, the two had yet to spend any meaningful time together. 

So, the two sneaked out of the venue and had a thrilling date, enjoying the booths and the festival’s events—all while running and hiding from the people who needed Tia back, especially her family’s personal mentors who went crazy from her disappearance. 

And at the end of the date… seated under the blossom of the last fireworks… Arashi, who was too mesmerised by the display, was briefly kissed on the cheek. To Arashi, the sweet experience was so fleeting that he wasn’t sure if he had actually been kissed, or if that was just a figment of his imagination. 

As for asking the perpetrator herself?

!!??

“T-Tia did you just…”

“W-Why are you l-looking at me like that? Is there something on my face?”

“No, uhh, I think you just—”

“D-Did you think I just k-k-kissed y-you or something? Don’t misunderstand, I just bumped into you because your head was in the way.”

Arashi smirked and gave a low, slightly husky chuckle. “Tia, nobody said anything about a kiss.”

*Kyuuuu!*

Tia squealed out her signature cute sound effect. She pursed her lips. “Why do you keep staring at me like that!? Is it so fun to stare at my face? You can’t even see me in this darkness anyways!”

“Yeah, but I can imagine it.”

“Baka, stop being a fool and focus on the fireworks. Look, they’re almost over now.”

“You’re right, in this dark I can’t even see you clearly… but that just—makes me want to imagine you more."

“BAAKKAAAAAAAAAAAAAA”

Tia hid her face in her hands, screamed in embarrassment, and dove herself into Arashi’s chest. 

For Arashi, who looked back on the past, that may have been the perfect moment for him to tear apart her hands and whisper his love for her. It certainly would’ve served as a romantic way for the two of them to remember the day they would become a couple. 

But alas, he had missed the moment. 

Since that day, Arashi had found it difficult to talk with Tia. Rather, he hadn’t been able to have any conversation with her. She would always run away upon seeing him and due to the aftermath of running away from the venue, she had become busy.

Arashi, too, was embarrassed of that day because it could in some sense be taken as an indirect confession. So, he also found it difficult to approach Tia and would also subconsciously avoid her too. Well, the two at this point were quite aware of their feelings for each other, it was just a matter of admittance. 

Although not as much as Tia, Arashi was also somewhat of a tsundere.

Because the matter had gone on for over a week, Arashi decided to settle matters with his own hands.

Damn it! Why fuss if it isn’t romantic? Just confess your feelings the old standard way, so we can stop this awkwardness and progress our relationship for real.

Arashi placed his hand over his school locker. A wave of lines flashed, scanning him. After a faint beep, the locker opened.

As Arashi went through his school locker, he thought of sending a message or phoning her, but there was a chance she may ignore it, especially if it came from him. 

What a troublesome woman I have fallen for. 

Arashi took out a small holographic slate. It was a device used for quick visual tasks or communication such as writing or sketches. With this device, he would be able to leave a short anonymous message for Tia.

[If you don’t come to the rooftop tomorrow afterschool, you will regret it.]

This should do the trick.

After writing the message, he tucked the device under her school desk when nobody was watching. 

Arashi was someone who had gotten to know Tia well. If he didn’t word it like this, then Tia may not heed his words. He avoided going overboard and kept it simple to leave room for speculation. Why did he not leave something reminiscent of a love letter? —There were way too many people for Tia to reject before she would get her message, and she would probably not read it on the off chance she sees it.

***

It was the time of confrontation. 

Arashi gazed at Tia before him. Her arms were folded, her index finger twirled one of her locks of hair, as one of her feet was raised on her toes. In Arashi’s view, she appeared a little fidgety, but her crossed brows and unwavering eyes signified to him she was no longer planning to run away.

“...What do you want from me?” Tia asked.

“What do you think I want from you?”

“I-I don’t know…”

“You are still trying to act innocent. You know what you did.”

“Haah? What did I do? Is it not you who keeps coming to me?”

“That’s because you keep running away. Now, are you ready to take responsibility for your actions?”

“R-Responsibility?” she frowned in confusion.

This damn tsundere! She knows what she did that night, and yet she can still make a face like that. 

Arashi let out a sigh. He ruffled his loosened collar and walked with deliberate steps.

“You damn stalker!! What are you planning on doing? Why are you approaching me with those eyes again?” She took a few steps back in panic, but compared to Arashi’s confident strides it did nothing to stop the distance from shortening.

Tia found her legs as heavy as lead, but fortunately, for her, Arashi stopped his movements once they were about a leg apart from each other.

There was a moment of silence as their eyes locked with one another. 

Tia found herself unable to tear her gaze away from those piercing eyes, filled with something deep yet warm.

“Tia, I love you.”

??!!!

“Will you go out with me?”

…

……

………….

…………………

………………………

……………………………

“A-A-Are y-you you stuuuupiid!? How can I go out with a bad guy like you!? I-It’s disgusting! Baka! baka! baka!”

Arashi clicked his tongue and said nothing. 

Because he was looking down, the bangs of his forehead covered most of his expression, but Tia could feel the tension in the air thicken. She grasped on the hems of her skirt, sweating.

When he finally looked up, Tia saw the man who she had just rejected sporting a cold look. 

By the time she realised it, they had become so close, their faces inches away from touching. 

Then, he firmly cupped her chin with his coarse right hand.

“A..Ah…”

Tia wanted to speak, but the words were caught in her throat, barely able to let anything out.

“You can't run anymore,” he whispered.

If even heartfelt words could not get through this woman, then Arashi will show that actions spoke louder than words.

Arashi inclined his head so that his forehead touched against hers, messily burrowing into her hair as he closed his eyes.

“W-Wait N-Noo…”

Her plea fell on deaf ears. 

No longer could Tia’s words get through to him.

She could only close her eyes and accept her fate…

Bang!

The door to the rooftop swung wide open. Several girls came running in and looked at the scene and gasped. 

“Hayakawa Arashi! You fucking beast! You finally showed your beastly colours!!”

The sudden shout caused Arashi to stop and his eyes to shoot open. 

He swivelled himself to the girl pointing a kendo sword at him and growled. “Ikemoto… again… how many times do I have to tell you until you are satisfied? Tia doesn't hate me, and I’m not doing anything bad to her.”

“Don’t call her by her first name pervert! And no matter how anyone looks at it, you are obviously doing something bad!”

“Haah… Tia. Sorry, I'm sick of hiding our relationship anymore. How about we use this opportun—Tia…?”

When his eyes rested on Tia, his eyes widened in utter shock. 

Tia…

Tia was…

Tia was crying.

Footnote: Baka = idiot in Japanese.