Chapter 42: I’m Sorry, Yukinoshita
After Yukinoshita's sudden appearance, Kawasaki was at a complete loss.
Thinking back to how she accidentally kissed Hachiman just moments ago, she felt an overwhelming wave of self-reproach. She had no idea how to bring it up with Yukinoshita.
"Yuki... Yukinoshita..."
"Hm? What's wrong?"
Yukinoshita's gentle smile unsettled Kawasaki even more. That already suffocating guilt in her heart seemed to multiply under such kindness.
Kawasaki avoided her gaze. "N-nothing. Yukinoshita, you should go to the restroom first. After that... I'll tell you something important."
"Alright."
Yukinoshita cast a curious glance at Kawasaki before heading into the women's restroom.
The moment she was out of sight, Kawasaki took a deep breath and slapped her cheeks lightly, trying to calm her frazzled nerves.
---
Inside the restroom, by pure coincidence, Yukinoshita chose the same stall Kawasaki had just used.
As she sat down, Yukinoshita murmured to herself, "Well, after all that, it seems Kawasaki needs some comforting now more than ever."
Being the observant person she was, Yukinoshita had pieced things together.
Kawasaki had only stormed into the men's restroom to stop Hachiman and Sawamura from doing something inappropriate. Unfortunately, she ended up becoming a victim herself, accidentally sharing a kiss with Hachiman.
It was her first kiss, after all.
And yet, it had been stolen by her boyfriend.
Honestly, while Yukinoshita was initially pleased to earn some points from Kawasaki's actions, upon further thought, guilt began to creep in.
Those points came at the expense of Kawasaki's good intentions. She had suffered because she was trying to do the right thing. How could that not tug at one's heartstrings?
Worse still, the points now felt... tainted.
As these thoughts swirled, Yukinoshita subconsciously pressed her legs together ever so slightly.
Sigh.
In the end, it was her own carelessness that had led to this outcome. If only she had been more cautious and ensured Kawasaki wasn't nearby when Hachiman and Sawamura had their "moment," none of this would have happened.
"Next time Hachiman interacts with other girls, I'll need to be much more careful to avoid any mishaps," Yukinoshita muttered, pulling some tissues from the dispenser.
With that resolved, she finished up, adjusted her clothes, and hurried out of the restroom.
---
Outside, Kawasaki was waiting nervously near the sink.
"Sorry for keeping you waiting, Kawasaki. I didn't mean to take so—"
"I'm... I'm so sorry, Yukinoshita!"
Before Yukinoshita could finish her sentence, Kawasaki blurted out an apology, her face flushed crimson.
"Huh?"
Yukinoshita froze in confusion.
Wait... wasn't I the one who should apologize here?
Kawasaki, face red and voice trembling, struggled to explain herself. "Yukinoshita... just now, I-I accidentally touched... Hachiman's..."
"...Touched what exactly?"
"His... his body!" Kawasaki stammered, her entire body trembling as her voice quavered.
"...His body?"
Yukinoshita raised an eyebrow, a vague unease creeping into her mind.
After a few seconds of hesitation, she gently took Kawasaki's shaking hand in hers, her tone soft and reassuring. "Kawasaki, there's no need to be so nervous. Just tell me everything."
"Yukinoshita, I..."
Kawasaki was momentarily stunned by Yukinoshita's warmth. Her heart felt a fleeting comfort, but the guilt weighing on her grew heavier.
Haltingly, Kawasaki explained everything. How she had rushed into the men's restroom to stop Hachiman and Sawamura, and the "incident" that had ensued. Of course, she didn't dare to mention the kiss directly, instead vaguely referring to it as accidentally "touching" Hachiman's body.
When she finished, Kawasaki lowered her head, her voice filled with remorse. "In any case... I'm so, so sorry, Yukinoshita! If I hadn't misunderstood Hachiman and Sawamura, none of this would've happened. It's all my fault, it's all my—"
Child, you didn't misunderstand. Those two were absolutely about to kiss.
Yukinoshita, listening to Kawasaki's tearful apology, felt her heart ache even more. Her impression of Kawasaki, already good, soared even higher.
She had merely accidentally kissed Hachiman, yet instead of lamenting her own lost first kiss, she was apologizing to me?
Sigh...
What a sweet, honest girl. How could I let this happen to her?
Without thinking, Yukinoshita stepped forward and gently pulled Kawasaki into a hug.
"It's alright, Kawasaki. It's really alright. I don't mind at all."
Thrown off by the unexpected embrace, Kawasaki stammered, "B-but I'm a girl! How can a girl so casually touch someone else's boyfriend? Especially when you're my friend! I—"
Seeing her panic, Yukinoshita smiled softly and lightly patted Kawasaki's back, as though soothing a kitten.
"It's truly okay, Kawasaki. Even if you accidentally kissed Hachiman, I wouldn't mind. I trust your character completely, so please don't beat yourself up about this anymore. Chin up, alright?"
"Wh-what?"
Kawasaki gawked at her, stunned. Did she just say she wouldn't mind even if I kissed him?
Her mind reeled. She looked up at Yukinoshita, the picture of composure, and couldn't help but wonder, Yukinoshita... are you an angel?
Letting go of Kawasaki, Yukinoshita took a deep breath and spoke earnestly. "Honestly, if anyone should apologize, it's me."
"Wait, what? Why would you apologize to me?"
"Think about it," Yukinoshita replied, her expression serious. "You've probably never had any physical contact with a boy before. Yet today, because of my careless boyfriend, you had to endure this. I'm deeply sorry for that, Kawasaki. Hachiman had no right to sully your innocence like that. I'll make sure to discipline him properly."
Kawasaki, overwhelmed by Yukinoshita's sincerity, felt her guilt surge anew. "No, no, please don't blame Hachiman! I... I didn't really mind it that much. It was my fault to begin with—please, don't make things hard for him!"
Kawasaki, you're just too good for this world. Yukinoshita sighed inwardly, her heart softening even more for the girl in front of her.
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