Kouta took a step toward her, reaching out to gently take the thermos from her trembling hands and setting it on a nearby desk. Then, he took her hands in his. They were warm, steady, and grounding.
"You really are terrible at hiding things, you know," Kouta said softly, his thumb tracing light circles on the back of her hand. "I’ve known for a while. And I've been waiting for you to be ready to tell me." Kouta took a step toward her, reaching out
"I knew," he confirmed, leaning in closer until she could smell the faint scent of laundry detergent on his uniform. "Because I feel the exact same way about you, Meika. I love you. All of you. Emotions and all." "You really are terrible at hiding things, you
As Kouta pulled her into a warm embrace, Meika finally let go. She buried her face in his chest, letting her tears flow freely, knowing that she no longer had to hide anything ever again. "Because I feel the exact same way about you, Meika
The confession hung in the air, vibrating with raw, unfiltered emotion. Meika felt as if a massive weight had been lifted from her shoulders, replaced by a terrifying, exhilarating vulnerability. She looked at Kouta, bracing herself for rejection, for confusion, for anything. Instead, she saw a slow, soft smile spread across his face.
Meika took a deep breath, feeling the familiar, frantic thumping of her heart against her ribs. She looked at him—really looked at him—and felt the wave of affection that she had tried so hard to suppress for months. It was overwhelming, terrifying, and absolutely beautiful. ⚡
Meika blinked, tears blurring her vision. "You... you knew?"