Chapter 31 – A Confession Under the Stars

The festival was over at last. The previously lively school grounds, where laughter and bustling activity filled the air, were now peaceful, lit only by the gentle light of the moonlight. Haruto and Nasaki strolled together, their pace slow and leisurely as they immersed themselves in the serene environment.

"Today was fun, wasn't it?" Nasaki said, her tone breezy and light. "I did not anticipate that things would proceed so well. The café was a hit, and even you made it through the register assignment." She looked at Haruto, smiling teasingly, her eyes glinting with mirth.

Haruto, though, was abnormally silent. His hands were stuffed into his pockets, and his eyes were fixed straight ahead, lost in reverie. Nasaki's words barely penetrated as his mind grappled with feelings he wasn't prepared to deal with.

"Haruto?" Nasaki leaned her head to one side, her smile dissipating as concern entered her tone.

"Hm?" He blinked, shaking himself out of his thoughts.

"You've been quiet ever since we left the café. Is everything okay?"

"Ah… no, it's nothing." Haruto smiled weakly, but it didn't quite make it to his eyes. "Just… tired, I guess."

Nasaki didn't press, but her eyes stayed on him for a moment longer before she looked forward. "If you say so."

They kept walking until they came to a secluded area alongside the rooftop, where the stars went on as far as they could see under the night sky. The soft wind caressed their skin with the faint noises of the excitement of the fading festival.

"Wow…" Nasaki breathed low, her eyes wide with amazement. "The stars are pretty tonight.

Haruto looked up, his eyes tracking hers. The sky was beautiful at night, the stars shining like bits of light. But even while he looked at it, his mind remained troubled.

Nasaki noticed his restlessness and edged closer, resting lightly against the railing. "Haruto," she said quietly, her voice more subdued now. "You don't need to keep everything inside, you know."

Haruto's body stiffened slightly. He hadn't expected her to read him so easily.

"I…" Nasaki paused, her eyes reflecting a mix of nervousness and determination. "There's something I've been wanting to say."

Haruto's heart skipped a beat as he turned to look at her.

"Haruto, I like you." Her voice was soft but unmistakably genuine. "I've come to like you quite a while now. Being with you, getting to see the way you slowly open up. it made me realize I don't want this to end."

Haruto's eyes went wide, his mind going suddenly empty. He hadn't thought she'd confess—at least, not yet.

"But…" Nasaki's voice trembled a little as she attempted to cover up her nervousness. "I don't want to make you feel awkward. I just… needed to be truthful with you."

There was silence between them. Haruto's thoughts ran wild, memories of his past surging back—moments of betrayal, disappointment, and loneliness. But then he remembered Nasaki. Her smile, her kindness, and her unshakeable presence. She was different.

Nasaki…" Haruto spoke at last, his tone barely audible.

"I… I don't know how to do this. I've always left people at a distance because that's easier for me. I'm afraid. afraid of hurting again."

Nasaki's expression softened, and her eyes brimmed with understanding.

"But." Haruto breathed, hesitating, making himself go on. "Around you. things are different. I feel. comfortable.

Nasaki's eyes went wide, her mouth slightly ajar as she awaited his next words.

"I like you too, Nasaki." The words finally escaped, as if they had been patiently waiting to be uttered. "I don't know if I can be the kind of person you need, but… I'll try."

For a moment, neither of them spoke. The weight of their confessions hung in the air, filling the silence with unspoken emotions.

Nasaki's lips curved into a soft smile, her eyes shimmering with warmth. "That's enough for me, Haruto."

They stood there under the stars, the tension between them dissolving into something far more profound. Nasaki reached out, her fingers lightly brushing against Haruto's hand.

"We can take things slow," she said softly. "I'm not going anywhere."

Haruto's fingers hesitated for a moment before intertwining with hers. A sense of calm washed over him, and for the first time in a long while, he felt… at peace.

"Okay," he murmured, his voice barely above a whisper.

Standing there, hand in hand, beneath the boundless stretch of the night sky, a solemn vow fell between them—one that whispered of new beginnings and a future they were both ready to discover.

And for Haruto, that was enough.