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Shouko felt the soft breeze against her face on this bright and sunny morning. The birds were singing a lovely lullaby as she biked through this popular path through the woods.
Tadano's a little further ahead of her, his back facing towards her as he lightly panted after an hour or so of biking.
She was quite nervous when she invited him out here for summer break, but he accepted it with a smile that made her heartbeat go into a frenzy. Her list of things she wanted to do for this summer break was longer than last year's, especially with all the new friends she made so far. But unbeknownst to most of them, she made a second list in secret.
One that's exclusively for the things she wanted to do with her boyfriend.
She squealed a little bit inside.
She looks back up at Tadano's broad shoulders, and is so caught up appreciating the way the sunlight hits him, a beautiful golden shimmer across his hair, that she did not notice Tadano's warnings and the branch directly in front of her.
She collides head first, and starts falling unceremoniously to the ground. She can hear Tadano stopping his bicycle as he runs towards her, calling her name with a hint of worry in his voice.
Tadano took a look over at Shouko, trying to find any injuries, but luckily the softer dirt seemed to have cushioned her fall, and no scraped knees or elbows can be found. Though a small scratch was visible on her forehead, no doubt an injury left from the aforementioned tree.
"You need to be more careful Komi-san", Tadano says, as he starts to pull out disinfectant out of his fanny pack, and a bandage from his wallet
Shouko is glad that Tadano seems to always be prepared for any situation, but winces as the alcohol starts to sting at her injury.
As Tadano bandages up the wound, Shouko could still feel the prickling of her injury. That is, until she feels a soft pair of lips quickly peck her forehead.
Her head snaps towards Tadano, his face red as a tomato, "I - uh. I-I'm not sure why I did that. It's like that old saying! Kisses always make bruises feel better! Hah hah. Ah anyways, I'm not going to do it again.."
Komi just looks longingly back towards him, not unlike the way she did back in the second year's sports festival.
"I said I'm not going to do it again!"
—
"It's quite hot, isn't it, Komi-san?"
It really is. The summer sun is hitting them at full force today, making Shouko sweat almost as much as her friend, Ase, on a normal day.
She tries to subtly check her smell in case she stinks, before noticing the melody of an ice-cream truck's tune playing nearby.
Her excitement seemed to be visible, as Tadano looked at her and asked, "Well, let's get some then" pointing towards the vehicle.
Shouko pomfs at that.
Fun fun!
Tadano starts ordering for himself, but as he turns towards Shouko to ask for what she wants, she pulls at his sleeve. With a look of understanding and a small smile of encouragement, he moves towards the side as he and Shouko switch places.
"So what would it be, young lady?"
" … err.. um.. I-I… err… well- I w-would like t-to have the.. uh… strawberry- uhh"
"Ah, the Strawberry Short Cake Popsicle miss?"
Shouko vigorously nodded her head at that. She's slowly getting better, but talking to strangers is still a challenge.
After paying for the ice cream, the couple went back to sit on the bench in the serene park. She looked curiously at the chocolate-coated vanilla Tadano ordered and, well, she would be lying if she said she didn't want to try.
Feeling her gaze, Tadano looked and asked, "Ah, I guess I decided I didn't feel very adventurous today. Would you like to try?"
Another pomph as Tadano handed her the popsicle. She took a bite at it, and was surprised with the smooth and sweet taste.
"It's a bit plain, but I feel that there's never anything wrong with getting something you know you're comfortable with" as Tadano starts to continue on with the conversation, Shouko's head instead wanders off to a past conversation she had with Sasaki and Katou.
"An indirect kiss is when you eat from the same place another person did!"
W-wait.. was this what they would call an indirect kiss!?
She quickly hands back the sweet sweet popsicle back to Tadano. He looked at her with a look of curiosity, but was only met with an upward glance and small nibbles of her own popsicle.
If Shouko paid closer attention, she might have been able to notice Tadano screaming inside.
—
It shouldn't be like this.
It shouldn't be like this .
Shouko feels hurt, anger, and just an overwhelming sadness in her heart as she runs and runs. She doesn't even realize where she's going until she reaches for a doorknob and just runs into a room.
She just… sits there in the corner for who knows how long, cursing her cowardice at the whole situation. Just because she's more vocal now doesn't give her any right to lash out . She can hear quick footsteps heading her way, and the only thing she can do is hug herself closer into a ball.
Unfortunately, the door opens up anyways.
"Komi-san! Are you here?" Shouko can hear the extremely worried tone in his voice as he calls out for her.
It's silent for a while, other than his breathing and his soft footsteps.
"Komi-san, it's me. Tadano. Everything will be alright, won't you at least look at me?"
She almost doesn't, but his voice compels her to. Afterall, it's Tadano , and despite all her fears - all her worries and anxiety - she knows for certain that she will always be safe with him. His face is contorted in worry, but he looks at her with a loving and gentle smile anyways. His soft, soft hands caresses her cheek, and wipes away a tear. He pulls her in for a hug, and the pair stay like that for a while. His warm and strong embrace calms her and she takes in his familiar scent before Tadano pulls away.
But his eyes look up at her with a twinge of sadness, and he speaks up, "I heard what happened with Manbagi, but I wanted to hear the story directly from you if you're comfortable with it."
She stills a bit from that before she starts to shiver again.
"Ah! If you're not comfortable with it, then that's okay! B-" Tadano wasn't able to continue before Komi started shaking her head.
But her throat feels dry, and it's as if her mouth was sewn shut. She looks down to the floor, trying to reach for a notebook, before she realizes to her dismay that she left it back in her classroom along with the rest of her belongings.
But just before she starts panicking, she hears the familiar sound scratch scratch on the blackboard
She looks up and realizes
Oh
This is Classroom 1-1 .
Her boyfriend walks back towards her, and with a hand, pulls her to her feet and hands her a white chalk to write with.
It takes a moment, but once she starts writing, she just keeps on continuing on and on and on . Characters are far too big, and jotted down so quickly, that it's a far cry from her prim and proper, tidy and compact conversation notes in her notebooks.
She writes about the situation, how she doesn't even know where it went wrong, how furious Shouko was as she kept going and going.
But her thoughts, and consequently the things she writes start to derail. She feels like a coward, like an idiot who's bland and annoying and boring. How she does not deserve to have so many friends, and how she never feels like she's doing anything right.
She doesn't realize that she stopped writing until she's pulled into another embrace from behind.
She leans into the embrace, before Tadano delicately pulls her head to face him and wipe another tear off her cheeks, followed by a small yet gentle kiss right below her eye.
"Komi-san… don't you remember? If I were to include everyone for whom I would consider to be important to me, you would be my number 1. Always."
Shouko stops, before feeling her face warm up quickly.
"And, you don't hate Manbagi right?"
"N-no. I could never hate Rumiko.."
"And from what you've written, you regret everything that happened?"
"Yes", Shouko responded without a hint of hesitation.
"I'm sure she's the same way. Come on now, you know what to do"
Shouko takes a deep breath, and starts walking out the door with Tadano, thousands of different apologies already forming in her head for her best friend.
—
This year's Cultural Festival has finally come to an end. And everyone can only wait in bated breath for the mc to reveal the results.
"And the winner for this year's cultural festival is….."
Shouko and Tadano can only wait in anticipation.
"Class 3-1! Congratulations!!" The sound of poppers and confetti can be heard everywhere, and Najimi can be seen laughing and celebrating with many other of their classmates.
Shouko and Tadano continue to wait though.. but after a couple of moments, and as the music starts to play, the two of them finally release a breath of relief. Seems like for their final year, Najimi had surprisingly not done anything of note to disqualify their team from getting first spot.
Shouko looks at Tadano, before she remembers
Oh right.
He's crossdressing again.
By now, it feels like tradition to have Tadano crossdress for their final day of the cultural festival. Not that she's complaining. Afterall, well…
Shouko takes a peek at Tadano. This dress flowing down to his ankles like a princess, and pink hair flowing down his padded chest.
He looks so pretty .
"We have food prepared for everyone, and in accordance of the current temporary principal, we shall commence this year's Dance Party" Isagi's voice announces clear and true for all to hear.
Students from all around immediately start crowding around the tables laid with food, or into the middle of the room to dance.
Shouko looks back at Tadano, who's looking down at his garments. "A-ah, sorry Komi-san. I guess I'm going to be like this for this year as well…"
"I don't mind", Shouko says, perhaps a bit too quickly.
A brief silence permeates between the two of them, with Tadano looking away, face blushing all the way up to his ears.
"O-oh.. is that right.."
Cute
The song starts to change from the initial jazz to a more slower melody.
Tadano takes in a deep breath before slapping both of his cheeks, eyes suddenly serious, which briefly startles Shouko.
"I guess I should take this seriously huh, even if I am dressed like this", and he suddenly flashes her that beautiful and angelic gentle smile of his that can comfort and soothe her in the best and worst of times
Her heart starts to beat rapidly as Tadano takes one hand into his.
And with that smile of his, brings her knuckles to his lips.
"May I have this dance?"
Steam is surely steaming off her head by now, as Shouko can only nod, being led towards the area for them to finally have this dance together.
—
Shouko sat contently in the classroom, listening on and on as Najimi-chan chatters away with Yukapoyo.
So far, it's been a pretty good day. They received their marks for their mid semester exams, and to her absolute delight, Tadano managed to receive a mark far above average for all of his subjects! The hours he spent studying did no go to waste, and at this rate, their plans of going to the same university will not just be some far off dream.
And this is not even mentioning all the sneaking glances, private hand holds, and headpats when no one else was looking for her scoring 90+ in all subjects.
Yes, today has been a really good day.
"Heyy, Komi-san", Shouko perks up when she hears Najimi call out her name, "can you get something for me?"
"Y-yes Najimi-chan?" That look Najimi is giving her spells trouble, but she's been feeling great all day, and she doesn't think there's anything that can bring her down.
"Awesome! Then can you buy me a Standbakes' non-fat milk deep mocha deep cream frappucino with choco syrup, grande." Shouko just freezes at the request, "With a whole lot of whip cream."
"Hey, is that really l fine? lmao" Yukapoyo asks with an amused smile and a raised eyebrow.
"No no, of course it's okay! I asked the same thing back in year 1, so it shouldn't be too hard. Right Komi-san?" That's right, Najimi-chan did ask her for to do this back when they were still new friends. And she improved a lot since then!
"Heh, Komi still can't do something as simple as shopping. Why am I not surprised" Shouko can hear Shiina goading from behind.
Alright, that's it! She looks at Najimi-chan with a determined glint in her eyes.
"Alright! Thanks Komi-san!" Najimi-chan exclaims as a few bills of money is placed on Shouko's hands.
She starts heading out of the classroom, full of confidence and determination.
But
She's still not sure if she can do this alone. Luckily for her, she spots Tadano at the entrance of the classroom.
"Hey, Komi-sa- eh?" She doesn't give any explanation, as she just pulls Tadano to come along with her.
"Is it just me, or is Shoukotaso a lot more brazen with her PDA lately?" She can barely hear Yukapoyo's comment over Emoyama's screaming.
The trip to Standbakes was not very long, and along the way, Tadano quickly understood the situation.
"You'll be fine Komi-san. You've come a long way since Year 1 afterall" Tadano comments, as if he just knows that despite her actions and attitude back there, there's still that lingering doubt. A doubt that was quickly washed a way with that confident look of his, as if he knows that she can do this.
She pomfs at this, entering the establishment and ready with the order she's been replaying in her head over and over again.
"Welcome. What's your order?"
She looks at the barrista, and look over the menu. The order was not written, but she learnt from last time that she was meant to combine the options given together.
Her heartrate ticks up, and she looks behind her. Tadano only gives her a thumbs up and an encouraging smile.
That's all it took for her to stop her jittering.
She takes a deep breath, and points a finger to a part of the menu.
"I-I… I would like to order a non-fat milk deep mocha deep cream frappucino with choco syrup, grande. And a lot of whip cream please." Shouko says with nearly a single breath as she points to the corresponding items on the menu.
"Ah, a non-fat milk deep mocha deep cream frappucino with choco syrup, grande with lots of whip cream? Coming right up!"
It takes Shouko a while to register that… she did it.
She can hear Tadano's cheer as he walks up to her, and they receive the order from the barrista.
As she walks out the door with a smiling Tadano, she realized.
She did it.
She did it!
She actually ordered the drink! She can only look at Tadano with amazement, her eyes meeting his, and she can just feel how happy and proud he is of her.
Without even asking, she felt Tadano's hand on her head as he gives her favorite head pats.
"You did good Komi-san"
This… this felt nice.
But…. She felt like this wasn't enough. She wants to be spoiled just a bit more!
Feeling high from the euphoria, she looks up at Tadano, and looks to the side.
"Uh, Komi-san?"
She only responded with a finger pointing to her cheek.
Is she being too selfish? This… yes, this felt very embarrasing, but right now she does not care.
She can hear Tadano's confused and stuttering mutters, but she is adamant .
After a moment, Tadano takes a breath in and..
Shouko can feel his lips land on her left cheek.
…
Yes.
Today has been a really good day.
—
Shouko looks out through the window, the sun nearly blinding and the pink sakura leaves mesmerizing as she stands in the classroom where it all started. Graduation day is coming soon, and her little notebook that lists every single friend she has made in the past three years feel heavy in her hand.
A small smile decorates her face, as she muses of everything she experienced as a highschooler.
All of the 100 friends she has made, and of the fun activies and memories they made together.
She was not quite sure why she decided to visit this classroom after school has ended, but perhaps she was just feeling nostalgic today. So deep in her thoughts, she only just hears the sound of chalk on the rough surface of the blackboard. Scratch scratch .
She looks behind her alarmed, before she notices that it's Tadano. She looks curiously at what he's writing.
The weather's nice today, huh .
Her eyes widens at the simple remark, and with a smile, she takes a chalk to respond.
Yes. The Sakura petals look beautiful .
It felt so natural, as the two to-be alumnis start writing and having long conversations, with nothing but their words on the board to communicate with one another. This goes on for what felt like hours, and Shouko only relished in this feeling. It's as if she was transported back into the past, and she chokes a bit at the beautiful memory.
Komi-san did you achieve your dream?
The book of friends suddenly feel extremely heavy in her pocket, yet her chest feels calm and light.
Yes
I'm glad .
Shouko just looks at a smiling Tadano, and she feels like she's going to fall in love all over again.
So she speaks up.
"I could have never done this without you", and that is the absolute truth.
Because she could not. Without him, she could only imagine what the past three years would have been like. It probably would have been dull. No colour, and no friends. No trips to the beach, or courage test, or field trips, or dances.
No games, or birthday celebrations. Maybe she would not have learnt how to ice-skate or how to bike until way later.
She would not have been to learn how to speak up for herself, still a stuttering mess talking to anyone.
But that did not happen.
That did not happen, because of the boy in front of her, who learnt of her condition, and decided to reach out .
Shouko step forward towards her oh so very kind boyfriend, and there are so many things she wants to say.
Hundreds to thousands of thank yous would not be enough to show how much gratitude she owes him. How much she appreciates him. And Tadano only responded with that smile of his that can fuel her for a lifetime.
This comfortable silence settles between them, as the room starts to darken from the setting sun.
Tadano seems to have realized just how close the two of them are together, how she can feel his warm breath on her face. He begins to step backwards, with an apology and with the intention of walking home together. But Shouko did not give him the chance, leaning forward to grab her prize.
His lips felt warm against hers, and she can feel his hands wrap around her waist. She unconsciously wraps her own around his neck, and she sighs into the kiss.
Time feels frozen, and she can feel his heartbeat against her chest.
Along with everything that has happened in the past three years, this is another memory that she will never forget.
