Finally hearing the words she had long awaited, Utaha wore a gentle, happy smile.
"Is that so? That's wonderful. My charm hasn't faded after all. It's just that Haizaki-kun is too good at pretending—controlling his expressions, his reactions, his emotions. I even thought you didn't have even the slightest bit of fondness for me."
Behind her smiling exterior, an urge to cry surfaced. The corners of her eyes felt sore, as if something was about to spill out.
It was just a simple sentence, something that could be heard anywhere—so why was her body reacting like this?
Was it because her long-standing efforts had finally been rewarded?
Because she had confirmed Haizaki's feelings for her?
Or because it was a mixture of both?
"I've always liked you."
"Really?"
"Really."
"Then why haven't you confessed to me yet?" She urged him with a shy smile. In truth, this was only her final attempt—she didn't hold much expectation.
Haizaki froze for a moment. He clenched his right hand until it turned pale, then finally relaxed it. He made up his mind.
"Utaha, I'll confess to you on April 4th. That day will be the first day of the second year since we realized the world had changed."
This promise of confession to her was also a promise to himself.
On that day, if Utaha accepted his confession, he would abandon all his worries and be with her, carry their love on his back, and continue moving forward, facing the catastrophic end of the world head-on.
He would create a gentle world where she could also live in peace.
If she rejected him, then… after he resolved the apocalyptic crisis, he would go find her again and pursue her with all his strength.
That… should be enough, right?
"However, Utaha might reject me then. After all, I've done many things that made you sad."
"Do you think that's possible?"
Utaha found it a little funny.
So Haizaki was also afraid of being rejected by her—he was a bit foolishly adorable.
There were only a little more than two months left before the beginning of their perfect love. It would arrive soon.
As for why Haizaki was so fixated on April 4th, a flicker of doubt passed through Utaha's mind, but most of her attention was focused on his confession.
"I don't know. It's just that if, on that day, Utaha were to reject me…"
"Impossible."
Utaha replied firmly.
Her wine-red eyes met Haizaki's as she leaned closer, her red lips pressing a kiss onto his cheek.
"That should be proof enough of my sincerity, right? I would absolutely never reject Haizaki-kun's confession—unless, in the remaining two months, you do something that makes me very, very angry."
As if to give Haizaki some confidence and courage, she continued,
"If a rejection really did happen, I can tell you clearly right now, Haizaki-kun—that would only be a moment of anger. It would absolutely not be my true feelings."
"Mm. It must be my fault," Haizaki said.
"Yes, it's definitely Haizaki-kun's fault."
Utaha nodded solemnly, then immediately changed her tone, her face breaking into a smile.
"So, do you want my forgiveness?"
"Yes."
"You can have it—but…" She pointed to her red lips. "First, kiss me."
Then, Utaha widened her eyes in surprise.
She had never expected Haizaki to be so decisive. Breaking from his usual behavior, he leaned in and kissed her directly.
After her initial shock, Utaha smiled, relaxed her body, and slowly closed her eyes.
One step closer to victory.
After a long while, their lips finally parted.
Utaha turned her gaze away, her face full of shyness as she pressed herself against Haizaki's chest, not daring to look at him.
Her face was burning hot, a blush covering her delicate features, her heart pounding fiercely.
Her first kiss had gone to Haizaki.
"Sleep. Have a good rest tonight."
"Mm…" She didn't hint at anything further, only responded softly.
"But… aren't you going to take it off?"
Utaha's fingers lingered on the buttons of Haizaki's shirt, unfastening them one by one.
"Tonight—we agreed. I'm staying here."
"Okay."
He nodded.
They slept holding each other, doing nothing more.
Haizaki wrapped his arms around the girl's waist and unconsciously took a breath. The scent was intoxicating.
The restlessness in his heart gradually calmed.
Feeling Utaha's warmth and presence in his arms, he buried his face in her long black hair and took a deep breath, the pleasant fragrance of shampoo filling his senses.
Meanwhile, the girl in his arms remained tense, allowing Haizaki to do as he pleased.
She was curious about what he would do.
Her wine-red eyes blinked, long lashes trembling, her gaze full of curiosity.
"Mm…"
Even with mental preparation, the sensation from the other person still triggered a reaction from the girl.
"Utaha…"
"Mm, I'm here."
At this moment, she felt more at ease than ever before.
She herself had never imagined that she and he would reach this point.
That long-lost sense of peace—over time, Utaha finally grew sleepy. Her breathing steadied, and her consciousness gradually faded.
Haizaki watched the girl's sleeping face, emotions of reluctance, pain, and resolve mingling within him, before he finally closed his eyes and fell asleep.
He needed to work even harder.
He had to keep the apocalypse away from the original world.
…
Morning came. Awakening from sleep, Haizaki shuddered, feeling utterly doomed.
He could control his body and handle most situations rationally.
But humans have physiological reactions that are not governed by conscious will.
If it were just a normal reaction, it wouldn't be a big deal—but this time, it was more serious.
In his sleep, perhaps because he had been holding the girl's soft body in reality, feeling her softness and elasticity, corresponding scenes had appeared in his dreams.
His body was out of control.
At this moment, Haizaki felt like dying.
He had no idea how to face Utaha.
"Morning… Haizaki-kun."
"M-Morning… good morning, Utaha."
Haizaki forced out a smile, his voice trembling slightly.
Utaha, just waking up with sleepy eyes, was still a bit confused, but Haizaki's unusual reaction caught her attention.
After thinking about it, she figured he was probably just not used to the two of them having slept together all night.
She herself felt the same.
She subconsciously shifted closer, resting her head against Haizaki's shoulder.
"Let's take today off."
The temperature in January was already below zero.
"Is that not okay?"
Seeing that Haizaki didn't respond, Utaha wrapped both hands around his arm and asked.
Just one day—there shouldn't be any problem, right?
But when Haizaki still didn't answer, she turned her body slightly. With that movement, she sensed something was off.
The smell…
She realized what had happened.
Their eyes met. Haizaki averted his gaze like someone who had done something wrong, and that completely confirmed it for her.
Th-this… Utaha's face burned intensely.
She never imagined something like this would happen.
Was her charm really that strong?
But this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. She revealed a sly smile.
Perhaps only such an expression could ease the intense embarrassment rising within her heart.
…
[T/N: Did this guy just bust a nut in his sleep while a girl is sleeping beside him?]