Epilogue
Before I knew it, summer vacation had come to an end.
It was already September. According to the calendar, autumn had begun, but the heat still lingered.
However, at night, the breeze blowing through felt cooler. It seemed like pleasant days were finally on the way.
It was during this time, when the arrival of autumn could be felt, that the new school term began.
Because I’d lived so lazily during the break, the first day of classes was, as expected, a sleepy ordeal. I gave in to drowsiness a little and dozed off, but now that lessons were over, I felt relieved.
“Youhei-kun, listen to this. Onee-chan says she gained two kilos over the summer, so she’s going to try hard to diet this term.”
Of course, Hime was at school too.
Her cold had completely cleared up, and she was brimming with energy. After school, as usual, we stayed behind, spending time together leisurely.
“A diet, huh… Wonder if she’ll pull it off.”
“I doubt she can do it on her own. She’s such a sloth… Oh, by the way, thank you for the snacks you brought when you visited. Onee-chan ate about eighty percent of them, but I had some after I recovered. They were delicious.”
“Glad you liked them.”
…By the way, though it’s a bit late to mention, this was actually the first time I’d seen Hime since visiting her when she was sick.
It had only been a week since then.
I was relieved she’d recovered without any complications… Though, emotionally, I’d wanted to see her sooner.
But I couldn’t let Hime push herself, so there was no helping it.
(When should I confess?)
I was ready to tell her my feelings whenever the moment felt right.
But so far, there hadn’t been a single chance. We’d been in class all day, and even during breaks, other people were around, so it was only natural.
That said, it was after school now. We were alone—a perfect opportunity.
“…Hime?”
“Yes? What is it?”
She’d been gazing at me from the next seat and responded instantly when I called her name.
“Ehehe.”
With an innocent smile, she waited for my words.
(S-She’s so cute…!)
Her pure expression pierced my heart.
But now that it was time to confess, nerves crept in, and I hesitated.
“Uh, sorry. Never mind.”
“I see.”
My attitude was obviously unnatural.
Yet Hime didn’t seem to mind. She kept looking at me directly.
It was as if she was saying she was simply happy to be here with me.
The little things didn’t matter—just being together was enough. That feeling shone through her actions, and I suddenly felt shy.
Her love was unmistakable.
I could feel Hime’s emotions so clearly it almost hurt.
“…Youhei-kun?”
“Huh? Something up?”
“No, it’s nothing.”
“Nothing, huh?”
“Yes. I just wanted to say your name.”
As if returning the favor, she mirrored my earlier action.
Her playful behavior made me relax. Thanks to her, my tension melted away.
Being with her was, as always, so comfortable.
My heart calmed, and I felt happy. It let me return to my usual self, free from overthinking.
“…Oh, right. I brought snacks today too.”
I’d been so focused on when to confess that I’d completely forgotten.
It was the new term, and knowing I’d see Hime after a week apart, I’d brought snacks. I pulled a palm-sized box from my bag and placed it on the desk.
“Oh, bamboo shoot chocolates. It’s been a while.”
Yes, today’s snack was the bamboo shoot chocolates we’d had before.
I usually picked new treats to avoid repeats, but these caught my eye today.
“I remembered the first time we shared snacks together and couldn’t help buying them.”
“It was only a few months ago, but it feels so nostalgic.”
Yeah, it did feel nostalgic.
I think we had these chocolates back in June? It’s only been a little over three months.
But the time we’d spent together was so rich, it felt like ages ago.
“I’d love to have some. May I?”
“Of course. Eat as much as you want.”
“I’m so happy. Then… ahh~”
Hime closed her eyes and opened her mouth.
She was waiting. As usual, she expected me to feed her.
“Here you go.”
At first, feeding her like this used to embarrass me.
But now, I was completely used to it. I opened the snack packet, picked up a piece, and brought it to her mouth.
When I gently placed it on her little tongue, she closed her mouth with a snap.
Hime was eating the chocolate.
It felt like she was nibbling my fingers, ticklish but sweet. Watching her enjoy it so much, I didn’t feel like pulling away.
She looked so happy. It was only natural I didn’t want to interrupt.
“It’s so good… When you feed me, Youhei-kun, it tastes so sweet—like happiness itself.”
After finishing, she finally let my fingers go.
Her expression was completely relaxed. That soft, melty smile seemed to loosen my own emotions and logic.
So, it was unconscious.
“Hime—I love you.”
It was like my overflowing feelings had spilled into words.
Not a deliberate confession—it felt more like something that slipped out.
“I love you too, Youhei-kun.”
Maybe because I’d said it so naturally, her reaction wasn’t dramatic. She might’ve taken it as casual conversation, not a confession.
This was my last chance to back out.
I could still brush it off, pretend it wasn’t a confession, act like her confession never happened, and go back to our usual friendly days.
That wouldn’t be bad. It’d still be happy.
But I cared for her too much to be satisfied with that anymore.
“Not like I think you’re cute like a sister.”
I corrected myself clearly.
I put my feelings into words so she’d understand.
“I love you as a girl, Hime.”
I was ready.
I’d struggled with it for a while, but thanks to Sei-san, I’d realized my true feelings.
I loved Hime.
That was an undeniable truth.
“…Huh?”
Hime blinked, looking stunned.
Was she surprised? Confused?
Either way, she hadn’t processed it yet, so I took the chance to say everything.
“I’m sorry I couldn’t give you a proper answer before. You said I didn’t need to, but it’s been eating at me. I couldn’t sort out my feelings for you and lacked confidence. But now I know. I love you, Hime—not as a sister, but in a different way.”
In the end, I think I just wanted to tell her that.
That’s why I’d been so unsettled by not responding.
I regretted not saying I loved her when I did.
So, getting it out felt like a weight lifted.
“Being with you feels so right. Just talking is fun, and your smile heals me. I’d feel lonely without you in my life now—that’s how much I love you.”
If I only saw her as a sister, I wouldn’t feel this way.
Because I didn’t just want her to be happy—I wanted to make her happy. I was certain it wasn’t a familial feeling.
“So, yeah. That’s what I mean…”
I’d said everything I wanted to.
Of course, confessing didn’t mean our relationship had to change.
I wasn’t asking to date or be her boyfriend. I just wanted her to know we felt the same.
“Hime, let’s keep being close, okay?”
I straightened up and held out my hand, asking to stay friends.
But she didn’t take it.
“—Mmph!”
Not because she rejected me.
As if a handshake wasn’t enough, Hime threw herself into my arms.
“Whoa, H-Hime?”
I caught her in a hurry. Her momentum was stronger than expected, and I nearly fell off the chair but steadied myself.
Hime, unbothered, buried her face in my chest and whispered in a muffled voice.
“I’m so happy… From the bottom of my heart, so much I could cry.”
Confessing was embarrassing and awkward.
But seeing her this joyful made it worth it.
“…I’d rather see you smile, though. I love your smile.”
If I saw her cry, my heart would ache. Happy tears might be okay, but I’d prefer her smile.
When I said that, she rubbed her face against my chest… then slowly looked up.
“Ehehe.”
And she showed me her smile.
Innocent, pure, and lovely.
That smile stole my heart, making her even dearer… I hugged her back.
“Thank you, Hime.”
For loving me.
For choosing me.
For accepting someone as ordinary as me.
Hime had changed my life.
My days used to be calm but monotonous—nothing special, but not bad.
But with Hime, every day was filled with so much more happiness.
Meeting her was truly a blessing.
I felt it so deeply that gratitude spilled out unconsciously.
“—Ehe!”
My feelings must’ve reached her.
After I thanked her, her cheeks relaxed completely… and then she suddenly leaned closer.
Wondering what she was doing, I watched… and felt something soft and warm touch my cheek.
Could it be…?
“…Don’t tell Onee-chan, okay?”
Pulling back, Hime gave a mischievous grin.
That expression, different from her usual innocence, made my heart skip a beat.
“Y-Yeah, got it.”
I nodded, flustered, and she slowly pulled away.
“It’s a secret, okay?”
Her face was bright red as she said it.
She was embarrassed too. Seeing her shy, when she’s usually so composed, felt rare.
“Ahem! Youhei-kun… I look forward to being close too!”
After a small cough, she grabbed my hand.
She’d remembered we hadn’t shaken hands and responded earnestly.
(I really love her.)
Every gesture was so adorable.
To keep spending time with such a wonderful girl—it made me so happy.
“…Want more snacks?”
“Yes, please!”
And so, we started eating snacks again.
Even after confessing, our dynamic didn’t change. We chatted as usual, waiting for Sei-san.
But this time was more precious than anything.
And so, Hime and I became mutual in our feelings.
When we first met, I thought she was a genius prodigy who kept everyone at a distance.
But by chance, she warmed up to me, got attached, and even fell for me.
And I, for the first time, fell this deeply for someone.
I’m sure we’ll keep sharing happy times together.
Thinking about our future made me so excited—
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