Confessing

Feeling the weight that was leaning on me dissipate, I was suddenly pulled out from my thoughts.

"Asu, go into your classroom now~ Unfortunately, my own classroom is all the way down the hall." The violet-eyed girl had let go of my arm.

Unknowingly, we had already arrived in front of my classroom door.

So fast?

She's finally gonna leave now?

I inwardly sighed a breath of relief as my back once again straightened.

Etching a professional smile onto my face, I turned to face the Hall brat. "Please refrain from calling me—"

Before I could finish my sentence, Lancera suddenly leaned in, kissed my cheek with her arms wrapped around me.

Her body was warm, and I felt I could just melt into the hug—this was the first thing that came to mind.

But I quickly refuted that notion. H-How could I possibly feel that way?!

Who am I? Where am I? What am I doing?!

W-What is this?! A-A-A goodbye kiss?!

K-K-K-KISSSSSSSSS?!

My mind blanked out, and I could feel my temperature rising at an alarming pace.

This was the first time that Lancera ever kissed me.

Usually, she would just pull me into a bear hug before leaving, or nuzzling her head onto my shoulder—like a little kitten.

But she NEVER kissed me, in all the years that we've spent together. Never.

So why now?!

AND WHY IN FRONT OF SO MANY PEOPLE?!

I could hear the faint gasps and whispers around us, and my face reddened further—this time because of embarrassment.

But even before I could protest, the warm sensation was gone, replaced by a blast of cold air.

As if satisfied with herself, Lancera hopped away with her long, silky ink hair swishing behind her.

I opened my mouth, but… I couldn't find the right words to say.

Besides, she's already gone.

There was that strange feeling in my chest—it felt like I was yearning for that warm hug she gave just now.

Like I wasn't satisfied with such a short hug and such a small peck on the cheek.

I could still feel the soft and wet sensation where she kissed me, and I subconsciously reached up to touch it.

But before my hand could touch my face, I regained control of myself.

My legs trembled.

W-W-W-WHAT WAS I TRYING TO DO?!

I resisted the urge to curl up onto the floor and hide my face.

My already extremely red cheeks had officially turned into a shade of red deeper and brighter than a lobster.

W-W-Why do I have the nagging feeling t-t-that… I actually l-l-liked the kiss?!

Even though I've always told myself that my first kiss would be taken by the most handsome man in the world?!

Wait.

First kiss.

First kiss?

F-FIRST KISS?!

THAT HALL BRAT TOOK MY FIRST KISS.

How am I going to face my future husband?!

W-W-Will I will even be able to get married in this lifetime?!

God! Oh, great God!

Forgive me… Forgive me for my terrible sins.

*sob *sob

I shall now profess my sins.

Indeed, I had once called you a balding old chunnibyou…

(VA note: Chunnibyou is an often-derisive Japanese slang term for the embarrassing behavior of 13-to-14-year-olds. The term literally means "Middle [School] 2[nd Year] Syndrome" )

And indeed, I had also called you a fake conspiracy theory…

B-B-But I was young and stupid back then.

I didn't understand your greatness.

I didn't understand how your beard was the poofiest and well-groomed in the entire universe!

Oh, great God!

Your amiability rules the heavens… and I beg for forgiveness… and…