"Under the lights of the festival"
The school festival was coming to an end. Fireworks exploded high in the night sky, illuminating the faces of the students who were still enjoying the last night of celebration. Couples walked hand in hand, while others said goodbye to their last year with laughter and excitement.
But for Nino Nakano, the festive atmosphere failed to calm her racing heart.
Fuutarou had arranged to meet her at the fountain in the backyard, a place away from the hustle and bustle. From the moment she read his message, her chest filled with nerves and anxiety. She had been waiting for this moment for a long time, wanting it more than anything in the world… and yet, now that he was here, a bitter feeling invaded her.
When she arrived, she found him standing, with his hands in his pockets and his gaze calm but firm. Nino swallowed and slowly advanced, stopping a few steps away from him.
“You came,” he said in his usual calm tone.
“Yes…” his voice sounded lower than he expected.
The silence between them stretched out. Fuutarou seemed to be waiting for him to speak first, but Nino could barely find the words. Finally, he clenched his fists and took a deep breath before looking up.
Nino gritted his teeth, feeling a lump in his chest.
“I don’t understand…” his voice began to shake. “From the first day we met, I treated you horribly. I refused to accept you as our tutor, I insulted you, I despised you, I humiliated you every chance I got. I even kicked you out of our house without caring what happened to you!”
He paused and closed his eyes tightly, as if reliving those memories hurt him.
“And not only that… do you remember when I slapped you at school, in front of everyone?” Her voice cracked. “I was so stupid… I didn’t even care what you were saying. I just let my emotions get the better of me and reacted like a complete idiot.”
Tears began to build up in her eyes, but she didn’t stop.
“I also drugged you… not once, but twice. First at home, when I didn’t want you to go to the inn with us, and then at the hotel, when I found out you were “Kintaro” and I felt so humiliated and furious that I didn’t think about what I was doing.”
Fuutarou remained silent, listening to her patiently.
“How can you look me in the face and say you choose me after all that?” She whispered desperately. “I don’t deserve it! I was cruel, unfair… I don’t understand how you can forgive me.”
Nino lowered her head, feeling the pain in her chest suffocating her.
“Yotsuba was the best choice… She was the girl you met in Kyoto, the one who was always by your side, the one who supported you without hesitation. I was just a burden to you.”
For a moment, all that could be heard were the sounds of the festival in the distance.
Finally, Fuutarou sighed and stepped forward.
“I went to see Yotsuba before coming here,” he said calmly.
Nino’s eyes widened in surprise.
“Yes,” he nodded. “I wanted to thank her for everything she did for me. Because without her, I might not have moved on. But I also went to reject her.”
Nino looked at him, unable to believe what she was hearing.
Fuutarou gave a slight smile.
“Because the person I love is you, Nino.”
The tears she had been holding back finally fell down her cheeks.
“Despite everything I did to you…?”
“Yes,” he stated without hesitation. “I’m not going to lie, we didn’t get along at first. But over time, I saw a different Nino… a Nino who cared about others, who tried hard to show her feelings, who had the courage to confess her love to me without fear.”
He moved closer to her, taking her hands in his.
“You changed, Nino. You’re no longer the same person who despised me in the past. And I don’t need you to punish yourself for what you did. I chose you because you’re you.”
Nino felt his chest burst with emotion. His lip trembled as the tears continued to fall.
“There’s no one else I’d rather be with.”
Without a second thought, Nino threw herself into his arms and hugged him tightly, sobbing against his chest.
“I love you, Fuutarou…!” she whispered through her tears.
He hugged her back, resting his forehead against hers.
The fireworks lit up the sky, reflecting in their eyes as the rest of the world faded away around them.
After so many mistakes, doubts, and tears… finally, Nino was the chosen one.
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