"Sara-san... no, Sara-san!!"
"!? Y-Yes!!!"
Sara-san, likely shocked by the sudden, loud shout, stared at me with wide eyes.
She wasn't the only one; Natsumi-senpai and Hayato also looked like they couldn't hide their astonishment. Only Mayumi-san wore a knowing smile, not appearing surprised in the least.
Say it, Kazunari! Say it now!
"Before I met you, my life was a constant string of things I hated, and I honestly thought I would be alone forever. I convinced myself I was unhappy, I was cynical and bitter, and I just wallowed in my own resentment..."
Back then, I had claimed that Sara-san didn't believe in me, when the truth was that I was the one who didn't believe in her. It was a pathetic realization.
"That's why, when you told me that no matter what you heard about me, your opinion wouldn't change—that you would accept me for who I am—I felt I had finally found someone who truly believed in me. Falling in love with you after that... it was the simplest thing in the world."
Yes, I think I had already fallen for her even back then.
"But back then, you viewed me as your best friend. Of course, being seen that way made me happy, and I genuinely believed that if that was what you wanted from me, then staying as we were would be enough. I was just so happy that you were kind to me, and only to me."
The shock vanished from Sara-san’s face, replaced by a look of intense, focused sincerity as she gazed straight at me.
"The days I spent with you were filled with genuine happiness. Whether it was when I had a cold or when I was injured and you took care of me at my house, I was overwhelmed with joy, even if I felt guilty about it. I never imagined you would end up hearing my true feelings in a place like that."
Sara-san listened without breaking her gaze, but her eyes were starting to...
"Sara-san... was I able to make you fall in love with me? Did you feel the love I have for you? I know I’m a pathetic guy, and I wanted to at least show you a manly side of myself, but in the end, I relied on your kindness until the very last moment."
Now... it’s now.
Get it together!
"From an outside perspective, I’m sure people think I’m not a man worthy of you. But that doesn't matter. I want to be with you because I truly love you. I don't want to let you go, and I don't want any other man to even come near you. So!!"
Sara-san wiped away her tears, yet she never looked away.
I knew what I was about to say was arrogant, but I believed that Sara-san would accept it.
"Sara-san, the only man who gets to eat your home-cooked meals is me! The only man you stay close to, the only one you are kind to, the only one who gets to be by your side—I want that to be me! So, please... be my girlfriend. Become my Sara-san, and mine alone! If you'll have me, then ring that bell with—"
Thump!!
I never got to finish my sentence.
Sara-san didn't give me the chance to finish.
She lunged into my arms with such force that I had to stop speaking just to catch her and hold her tight.
"Yes... Yes... Kazunari-san, I have heard your words, and I accept them with all my heart. Thank you... for waiting for someone as foolish as me, who claimed not to understand love... for wanting me..."
Sara-san had felt the same way I did—that she was the one making me wait. We had both been waiting for each other, and both making each other wait.
"I love you... I truly, deeply love you... I finally, finally said it."
While shedding tears, Sara-san clung to me tightly. I embraced her back, gently stroking her hair. She nuzzled against me affectionately, seeking my warmth.
"...I truly adore you. If it brings you joy, Kazunari-san, I will do anything for you. For me, there is only you. You are the only one. From this moment on, everything I have is for you alone."
Having said her piece, she finally looked up at me. As I wiped away her tears with my thumb, she offered me a small, beautiful smile.
"Hehe... I have never felt this happy in my entire life. My 'firsts' are all being filled by you, Kazunari-san."
She seemed to have regained her composure, and a hint of her usual grace returned to her voice. I felt it was safe to continue what I had started.
"Sara-san, ring the bell with me."
"Yes... with pleasure."
When I reached out my hand, Sara-san took it and then immediately linked her arm through mine, looking up at me with a blissful smile. With our arms intertwined, we approached the gate and gripped the cord attached to the bell together.
"On three."
"Yes."
Clang... Clang... Clang...
The chime of the bell echoed across the quiet hilltop, adding its melody to the shimmering night view. With this, I had finally, truly conveyed my feelings to Sara-san.
"Kazunari-san... there are so many things I want to do for you. There is no limit to them. I am your Sara now, and only yours, so please... accept all of me, okay?"
She spoke with a slightly mischievous lilt. Then, she placed her hands on my shoulders and stood on her tiptoes.
Chu...
!!??
A soft, warm sensation pressed against my cheek. I looked at Sara-san in a daze, only to find her wearing a radiant, beaming smile.
"I love you... Kazunari-san."
And so, we went from a relationship that was nearly like lovers to becoming true lovers.