“…Wow, it’s beautiful.”
Looking out over the night view below, Yuzuru narrowed his eyes.
It might not have been worth a million dollars, but it easily felt like a hundred thousand—an undeniably beautiful scene.
“I didn’t know there was a place like this nearby.”
“I’m glad you like it.”
This was an observation deck a short distance from Yuzuru’s flat.
Today was the anniversary of his engagement with Arisa.
That said, celebrating every little occasion with presents or dining out would be exhausting for both of them.
But doing nothing at all didn’t feel right either.
So Arisa had found a place in advance—somewhere with a beautiful, romantic view.
“…Yuzuru-san.”
Arisa gently took his hand.
Then she leaned closer to him.
Yuzuru wrapped an arm around her shoulders.
“Arisa.”
“Yes.”
They looked at each other.
Reflected in each other’s eyes—was each other.
Slowly, their faces drew closer.
And then—
their lips met.
“…We did it.”
“Yes… we did.”
As the tension left her, Arisa leaned weakly against him.
Yuzuru gently supported her and guided her to sit on a nearby bench.
They sat close together.
Silence settled around them.
“…I’ve been worried.”
Arisa spoke softly.
“Worried?”
“…About whether you’ve been getting frustrated.”
“Frustrated? Me?”
Yuzuru tilted his head.
He couldn’t recall anything she’d done that would bother him.
Of course, small everyday things were different—but those had always been resolved on the spot.
“Well… um…”
“Yeah?”
“…About how we haven’t really kissed… properly.”
She said it with an awkward expression.
It was true—Arisa had been too shy for a proper kiss until now.
But they’d only been together for about two months.
And they were both still in high school.
“I don’t really know what’s ‘normal’ for couples… but I don’t think it’s that strange.”
Yuzuru had no point of reference—Arisa was his first girlfriend.
Still, nothing about it had felt off to him.
This is just how it is, he thought.
“I mean… I thought maybe guys would want that kind of thing more, or prefer girls who are more forward… I wondered if being too inexperienced might feel like a hassle…”
“…Did someone tell you that?”
The first names that came to mind were Ayaka and Chiharu.
But while they might tease, they weren’t the type to pressure Arisa into anything.
If anything, they’d probably tell her to report him if he ever tried something inappropriate.
Which meant…
“No… I read it online.”
Fidgeting with her hair, Arisa answered.
That did sound like something you’d find online.
“I don’t think that at all. You don’t need to force yourself.”
Then Yuzuru asked—
“…Were you forcing yourself just now?”
“No! I mean, I was nervous… but I wanted to, too… with you.”
Blushing, Arisa answered.
Yuzuru felt relieved.
At least she hadn’t been forcing herself.
“But… anything beyond this still feels a bit… scary.”
“Yeah. That’s fine. We’ll take it step by step.”
Yuzuru gently stroked her hair.
He meant it to reassure her—
but Arisa looked like she was about to cry.
“But… you were planning to, right?”
“…Planning what?”
“…Um…”
She hesitated, then said, face burning red—
“S-s-sex…”
Now it was Yuzuru’s turn to blush.
“N-no! I mean, it’s not like I don’t want to, but…”
He scratched his cheek.
He was a normal guy—it wasn’t like he had no interest.
But—
“I think it’s a bit early for us. I don’t think we should just go with the flow like that.”
He wanted their first time to matter.
At the very least, he didn’t want either of them to regret it.
“B-but… weren’t you expecting it? Since we’re staying together… that’s what it said online…”
“No… this time, I just wanted to enjoy being with you. Of course, it crossed my mind—but that’s all.”
He hadn’t planned for anything like that during this trip.
Just being under the same roof with her was enough—and it had been.
They had plenty of time ahead of them.
There was no need to rush.
“But… you had them in the medicine box.”
“…Medicine box?”
Yuzuru tilted his head—
and then suddenly remembered.
“Oh… that…”
“So you did want to… but you held back because of me… you were enduring it…”
“Wait—hold on. Let’s calm down first.”
Yuzuru took a breath, trying to steady both her and himself.
“…I didn’t buy those because I wanted to do anything.”
“…But you thought it might happen, didn’t you?”
“Yeah. But that wasn’t me—it was my mum.”
“…What?”
He explained honestly.
His mother had told him to prepare, just in case—so he bought them.
…Admitting to his girlfriend that his mum had told him to buy condoms felt deeply awkward.
“…So you didn’t buy them out of your own intention?”
“Well… I didn’t fully trust my self-control, so I got them just in case. So it wasn’t not my decision, but…”
“…But you didn’t buy them planning to use them?”
“Right. I wasn’t planning to.”
At that—
Arisa let out a deep sigh.
Then she covered her face.
“…I overthought it.”
Slowly, she lifted her head.
Even in the dim light, her face was visibly red.
“I jumped to conclusions… I’m really sorry.”
The anxiety from earlier was gone.
“No… I shouldn’t have left them out like that. I’m sorry for making you uneasy.”
“No, it’s my fault for looking in the first place…”
They both kept apologising.
Back and forth—I’m sorry, no, it’s my fault—
“Actually, it’s really my—”
Yuzuru stopped her with a finger against her lips.
Then gently lifted her chin.
“….”
Arisa closed her eyes.
Yuzuru tilted her chin slightly upward—
and pressed his lips to hers.
“…Kissing is still okay, right?”
“Yes… of course.”
She answered shyly, averting her gaze.
Yuzuru gently held her shoulders.
“…Yuzuru-san?”
Then he pulled her into a firm embrace—
and slowly, deliberately—
laid her down.
“Um—mm…”
He sealed her lips with his.
“I don’t want to rush things, and I don’t want to force you…”
He knew it might be unfair to say this.
But he said it anyway.
“…But someday, I want to love you… properly.”
Looking straight into her eyes, he spoke clearly.
Arisa’s eyes widened—
then darted shyly before settling back on his.
“…Me too… someday… I definitely want that too…”
She said it clearly.
Earnestly.
Yuzuru leaned in again.
Their lips met once more.
“Hey, Mum!! What are those people doing—”
“Shh! Don’t look!”
The two of them hurriedly sat upright.
