章 35: Yuto and Suzune.

"I… I'd like to talk to you about something," she began, her voice as soft as the night wind, yet laced with a nervous tremor. Her fingers lightly fidgeted with the hem of her jacket, and Yuto noticed the slight tremble in her hands. She took a step closer, her eyes never leaving his, the smile on her lips both shy and hopeful.

It was rare for Suzune to act this shy.

The night air felt charged with anticipation, the silence between them heavy and expectant. Yuto's heart quickened as he watched her, sensing that whatever she was about to say would change everything. The distant sounds of the campus seemed to fade away, leaving just the two of them beneath the vast, starry sky.

"I… I want to talk to you about something," she said, her voice soft but filled with urgency.

Yuto studied her for a moment, sensing the weight of her words. He took a deep breath, then nodded. "Let's go to the beach."

Suzune blinked in surprise. "The beach?"

Yuto offered her a gentle smile. "It's quiet there. We can talk without any interruptions."

She hesitated for only a moment before nodding, her heart fluttering with both anticipation and nerves. Together, they walked in silence, the path lit only by the faint glow of the stars and the distant sound of waves growing louder with each step.

When they reached the beach, the ocean stretched out before them, vast and endless under the night sky. The sand was cool beneath their feet, and the rhythmic crash of the waves filled the air with a soothing melody. Yuto stopped near the water's edge, turning to face Suzune.

She looked up at him, her eyes reflecting the moonlight, and felt the words she had rehearsed a thousand times catch in her throat. Her mind was a mess right now. Yuto removed his shoes as his bare feet touched the wet sand. "Would you like to join?" he asked.

A small smile tugged at Suzune's lips as she followed suit, slipping off her shoes and stepping into the cold, calming water. The sensation of the sea against her skin was grounding, and as she lifted her gaze, the full moon bathed the ocean in its silver glow, creating a path of shimmering light on the surface.

"Hey, Yuto…" she began, her voice soft, almost swallowed by the sound of the waves.

"Yeah?" he replied, his own eyes drawn to the breathtaking moon above.

"Would you let me be a little girlish tonight?"

Yuto's eyes widened slightly in surprise, but then he grinned, his usual playful energy softened by the tranquility of the moment. "Of course."

Suzune's lips curled into a rare, genuine smile, one that reflected the sea's stillness. "The moon is so beautiful tonight…" she whispered, her voice carrying the weight of her unsaid emotions.

Before Yuto could respond, a sudden warmth spread through him as he felt her hand slip into his, her fingers gently interlocking with his own. He glanced down at their hands, then back up, meeting her eyes for a brief, electric moment. Suzune held his gaze, her eyes shimmering like the moonlit ocean before she smiled again—this time, a smile just for him.

Normally, Yuto would've cracked a joke, something like, "Your smile is too beautiful for my mortal eyes to handle." But tonight was different. Instead, he simply smiled back, tightening his grip on her hand as he turned his eyes to the moon, the cool breeze of the sea brushing against his face.

"It really is beautiful," he murmured, his voice quiet but full of meaning.

Yuto and Suzune held hands in silence for what felt like an eternity, both lost in the quiet beauty of the moonlit night. The sound of the waves and the gentle breeze were all they needed—until Suzune's voice broke the stillness.

"Y-Yuto… I have something to tell you," she stammered, her face flushed as she turned to meet his gaze, her dark eyes locking onto his.

Yuto, equally flushed, swallowed hard, feeling the sudden shift in the air. He remained silent, his eyes searching hers, heart pounding.

Suzune glanced away, fidgeting as she held onto her shoulder, her body swaying slightly from side to side. "When the school year started… I found you really annoying, and all I wanted was for you to disappear."

Yuto's expression faltered, his brow furrowing. 'There it is...' he thought with a sigh, already sensing Suzune's prickly nature cutting through the moment. But as she continued, something in her tone softened.

"But," she hesitated, her voice trembling as she looked back at him, "as the months passed, you became… less of a pest. You became something…"

Yuto held his breath, his thoughts racing. Her words lingered in the air, his heart drumming in his chest. "Could this really be it?" he wondered, hope and dread battling in his mind.

"…Someone I began to care about," Suzune finally confessed, her eyes wide, vulnerable. "Someone I… began to endear."

Yuto's brain felt like it was overheating, his pulse pounding in his ears. He barely registered her words, already spiraling into his own thoughts. "Is this really happening?" But just as quickly, a dark thought crept in, making his stomach twist. His face didn't change, but there was a heaviness in his eyes as he looked at Suzune, his excitement dampened by a gnawing doubt.

Before he could respond, Suzune stepped closer, wrapping her arms around him in a sudden, tight embrace. Yuto stood still, feeling her body press against his, her warmth almost too much to bear.

"One time, when you were bothering me like always, I had this… terrifying thought," Suzune whispered against his chest. Her grip tightened. "What if you stopped standing by my side?"

Yuto listened quietly, his face impassive, though his mind was spinning. He felt something wet against his chest—a subtle, warm sensation that made his heart sink. "She's crying…" he realized. Suzune, who never let her emotions slip, was crying.

But he didn't see her tears. He only felt them.

"I never want to feel that way again," Suzune's voice cracked, her face buried deeper into his chest. She clung to him, her words laden with a raw vulnerability he'd never seen in her before.

Yuto stood frozen, his mind wandering to the quiet, whispered words she had said earlier. "Act a bit girlish…" His lips twisted into a grim line, though only for a second, before Suzune loosened her hold and pulled back to look at him.

Her eyes, glistening with unshed tears, were fixed on his. "Yuto… will you stay by my side forever?"

The wind gently tousled her hair as she stood there, waiting, her heart laid bare. For a brief moment, Yuto's face stiffened, his thoughts swirling with a storm of emotions. Then, slowly, he forced a grin, one that didn't quite reach his eyes.

A single tear escaped from his eye, trailing down his cheek as he gently pushed Suzune away.

"No."