"I'm in love with you, Miyoko."
She freezes for a moment.
"Um..Ah..."
"Not just my best friend but I love you as a woman."
Finally...I've been able to face my true feelings.
"Mina."
Tears streaming from her face, she nods to me.
Stifling her sobs again and again...
"I'm in love with you too."
"I really am, Mina!"
She wraps her arms around me.
I also wrap my arms around her and squeeze her tightly.
(I...don't want to let her go...)
Thinking back, it is puzzling... To believe I had thought we would be better off as friends.
(I would be so lonesome, I wouldn't be able to bear it...)
She hugged me tightly in response.
"Mina...it hurts."
"Oh! S-sorry. A-are you alright?"
"Yeah...I'm fine. Just a little surprised."
"Hehe...what's the matter, Mina?"
"You don't have to embrace me so tightly, I'm not going anywhere."
She wraps her arms around me, once again, and embraces me.
Her embrace is more gentle, warmer, and engulfing than my own.
"Hey, Mina..."
"Mh?"
"I...love you..."
"Don't suddenly disappear again..."
"I won't, Miyoko..."
"Mina!"
"Let's be together from now on!"
"Of course, Miyoko..."
"Mina..."
And so, as if to confirm our happiness, we hold each other tightly for as long as we can.
L5*!