Crossing Paths, Traumatized, and Yet… - Chapter 48

Summer vacation was over and a new semester began.

Since then, Daiki had been trying to make plans every day.

He had been forcing himself to make plans to avoid seeing Wakaba on weekends, but she would contact him, so he would only return her calls at night and at the very least, talk to her.

Sasaki had told him not to bother her, so he had been avoiding her for a long time.

Daiki was depressed because he had assumed that Wakaba had confessed her feelings to him.

At the end of October, the cultural festival would be held and preparations for the festival would begin.

He decided to stay with his father most of the time from the end of September so that he could help him prepare for the festival without going home on weekends.

Wakaba was also depressed because she could only contact Daiki at night.

The new semester started without her being able to see Daiki.

She and Ren were in the same class, so she could see him when she went to school, but she still could not get in touch with Daiki.

She talked with Ren at school and exchanged messages with him more and more often after she returned home.

These things got together and in the end, it was October before she could see Daiki.

In October, both of them were busy because of the cultural festival.

Daiki said he hardly comes home and prepares for the festival.

So she hardly had time to see Daiki.

In October, preparations for the festival started.

Daiki’s class decided to have a bake sale, so they discussed what to serve and decided on takoyaki.

The majority vote was taken because takoyaki would be popular with everyone.

The image of the classroom and the preparation of ingredients were decided, and Daiki was put in charge of takoyaki grilling.

He was busy preparing the ingredients and practicing the cooking, but Daiki, who was not involved in club activities, helped redecorate the classroom.

Since Shion was also not involved in club activities, she helped out with him.

Talking with Shion helped to distract him.

Daiki was able to take the lead in the preparations, which was good for him because he didn’t have to spend time on his own, so he was busy preparing for the festival.

Wakaba and her friends invited him to their school festival the week before Daiki’s high school, but he turned them down because he had a lot of preparation work to do.

Wakaba said she was going to play the leading role on the stage.

He wanted to see the show, but his heart was aching again when he thought that Shiraishi would probably play the lead role.

Wakaba also started to prepare for the festival.

Wakaba’s class decided to put on a stage performance.

The script was a love story, and Wakaba and Ren were the main actors.

Wakaba wanted to work behind the scenes, but the pressure from everyone was too much for her.

Everyone in the class was smiling wickedly as things went as they had planned.

They practiced on days when there were no club activities and during lunch breaks.

At first, she was embarrassed, but gradually she got used to acting and was able to get into the role.

Ren was also struggling to keep up with the acting.

The week of the festival was coming up next week, they stayed up all night practicing.

Everyone else’s performances were getting better, and the sense of unity in the class was growing.

Wakaba and Ren also practiced together.

When they were practicing, she was able to get into the role and was not conscious of Ren, but when they finished practicing, she suddenly felt embarrassed.

Since they were playing the role of lovers, they had many opportunities to touch each other.

There was no kissing scene, but there was a scene in which they hugged each other.

Of course she was embarrassed.

She wanted to invite Daiki to the festival, but she was not able to get in touch with him much.

When she talked to Chika about it, she said

“Wouldn’t it be easier to get in touch with him if you tell him you’re going to play the heroine?”

So she decided to send a message to Daiki, forgetting about the scene where she and Ren hug each other.

However, Daiki refused to go because he was busy preparing for the school festival the week after Wakaba’s school festival.

She was disappointed, but there was nothing she could do.

The day of the festival arrived.

On the day of the festival, Wakaba and her classmates were busy from the morning with preparations and final rehearsals.

Wakaba’s class was the third to arrive at the festival, so they finished the rehearsal early and began to change into their costumes.

Everyone was nervous, but their expressions showed no sign of nervousness.

Wakaba looked so beautiful after changing into her costume.

Ren was also looking at her with a blush on his face.

Everyone changed into their costumes and went offstage.

“Everyone is going to be fine

If you do as you’ve practiced, you’ll do fine!”

Ren told everyone.

Everyone’s faces were filled with motivation.

“Ren-kun, you’re amazing,”

Wakaba was impressed, but she felt she had to say something as well.

“Let’s make happy memories together!”

She said nothing more than.

From there, everyone started talking to each other and the atmosphere in the class improved dramatically.

When it was Wakaba’s class’s turn to speak.

Everyone was nervous, but did their best to perform.

Backstage staff also took their jobs very seriously.

The final scene came.

It was the scene where Wakaba and Ren hugged each other.

This is the most exciting part of the play.

She was able to say my lines perfectly, and Ren hugged her tighter than in rehearsal during the hugging scene.

Wakaba, who was also playing her part, hugged him back.

The play ended without incident.

Everyone lined up, bowed for the last time, and walked offstage.

The performance was better than the rehearsal, so everyone gathered around Wakaba and Ren and shared their joy.

Afterwards, they returned to the classroom and changed out of their costumes.

After changing out of her costume, Wakaba felt embarrassed again.

She remembered the scene when they hugged each other.

Chika did not miss it.

“You and Shiraishi-kun hugged each other tighter than in practice.”

She said with a grin.

Unable to say anything, her face turned bright red.

“Shiraishi and Wakaba would be a good match for each other.”

She said.

She had been playing a role with him and her mood was rising.

“That’s not true”

Wakaba denied it.

“Really? Everyone thinks so!”

She told her.

At that time, Ren came to Wakaba and Chika.

“I want to talk to you after the festival.”

He told Wakaba.

Even Wakaba thought it was a confession of love.

She did not know what to do, but Chika said,

“We will take responsibility and bring it to you.”

And then, after the festival was over, she decided to listen to what Ren had to say.

Until the festival was over, Wakaba and her friends would go around to the booths and other places.

She told Chika.

I’m sure it’s a confession.”

But Wakaba thought so too, so she couldn’t say anything.

During the rest of the festival, she could not enjoy the festival and thought only about it.

After the festival was over, Chika urged her to go to Ren’s place.

A message was sent to Ren and they were to return together on their way home.

On the way home, she was so nervous that she didn’t know what he had said, but he told her about what he had done since he had come to the park.

“I love you, Wakaba.

Please go out with me!”

Ren confessed straightforwardly.

Wakaba had expected this, but she did not expect him to say so clearly.

Wakaba tried to tell him how she felt, but before she could answer, he said, “

“I don’t think it would be good if I told you suddenly.

You don’t have to answer right now.

I want you to take your time and give me your answer.

Thank you for listening to me today.

See you at school!”

And then he ran back home.

Wakaba did not know what to do and could not answer him, so she sent him off.

Wakaba also decided to go home and thought about it as she walked.

As she walked home, she gradually got closer and closer to her house and passed in front of Daiki’s house.

The thought of Daiki suddenly came to her mind.

“I wondered what I would do if Daiki confessed his feelings to me…?”

Having been confessed to by Ren, she thought of what she would do if Daiki confessed to her.

Wakaba shook her head and reminded herself that now she had to think about how she would respond to Ren’s confession.

Before she knew it, she was in front of her house.

When she arrived at her house, she thought about how she should respond, but she couldn’t quite put it all together.