Hontō no Kokuhaku, Hajimari no Kisu – A True Confession, and the First Kiss

It was past 8 PM. The house was quiet again, but unlike the silence from earlier in the week, this time it didn't feel heavy. Just… uncertain. Ren sat alone in his room, the screen of his laptop glowing, though nothing had been typed in over an hour. He stared blankly, mind still looping through every moment of the last few days. The solo dates, the storm, Rika's breakdown, Haruka's distance, Yui's biting sadness, Mei's wordless presence — and Emi's unwavering warmth.

He exhaled. "How did this turn into something I'm scared to feel good about…"

His thoughts were cut off by a soft knock on the door.

"Come in," he said instinctively, not bothering to hide the weariness in his voice.

Emi stepped inside, clutching something behind her back. Her hair was still slightly damp from her earlier bath, and the way her bangs curved gently along her cheeks somehow made her look even more delicate.

"Sorry… Are you busy?" she asked.

Ren shook his head. "Just thinking."

She walked over slowly, then revealed what she was holding: a small handmade picture frame. Inside were printed photos, all of them moments Ren barely remembered — a group shot from last summer's fireworks festival, a sneaky candid of him dozing off during study group, a blurry but warm photo of everyone around the kotatsu in winter. They weren't posed. They were real.

"I made this. I… I didn't know when I'd give it to you," she said, voice quiet. "But I think now's the right time."

She placed it gently on his desk, brushing a finger along the wooden edge. "I've kept every photo that had all of us. But the ones I printed… they were always the ones with you at the center."

Ren didn't know what to say. He stared at the photos again, feeling a strange ache stir in his chest.

Emi turned slightly, not facing him directly. Her shoulders trembled a little, but her voice didn't.

"Ren, I'm in love with you."

That time, it hit him like a spark in the silence.

"I know I've said it before. But this time, I mean it without hiding anything. I love you. Not because I've known you the longest, or because we have the most memories. It's just… my heart moves when I'm with you. It's stupid, isn't it? I thought I could be okay with the others being closer, louder, bolder. But I'm not."

She turned toward the door.

"I'm not asking for anything. Not a kiss. Not an answer. I just needed to say it… before I broke again."

She reached for the doorknob.

Ren stood up.

"Wait."

Emi paused. He crossed the room in two steps and stood behind her.

"…Turn around."

She did, confused.

And he leaned in.

Their lips touched. Soft. Hesitant. But undeniably real.

It wasn't long. It didn't need to be.

Her eyes widened when he pulled back, her cheeks going a deep pink. "You… kissed me…?"

Ren nodded slowly. "I don't know when it started, but I realized tonight… a part of me's already chosen you."

Emi covered her mouth with both hands, eyes trembling.

She wasn't the type to scream or jump into his arms. She just nodded, slowly, quietly, as tears welled in her eyes.

"I… I was really scared, you know…" she whispered. "That I was going to lose to everyone else again."

"You didn't," Ren said.

He held her hand for a long time after that. Neither of them said anything more.

Outside the room, however, a quiet shadow stepped back from the door.

Yui had been coming to ask if Ren wanted tea.

She never knocked.