BHSAF 138: Sleepover 13

　He returns to his room, retrieves the present he had hidden in the closet, and returns to Yui.

"Ah, Yu-kun."

　Yui gazes happily at Yuu when he returns. The box he is holding is wrapped and slightly larger than the paperback book. She glances at it. Staring at it so blatantly would be indecent, as if she is asking for a present, but she can't help but be curious about a present from someone she likes. It's as if we can see into Yuu's inner thoughts.

"Sorry, it took a while because I had it stored away in the back."

"No. It's fun to wait with excitement."

"...It seems like the bar is higher. Yui is an actress, so she's probably seen some good stuff, but I don't have that kind of experience, and I don't have any sense."

"You don't need to worry about it so much... I'd be happy even if it was just a pebble I picked up on the side of the road as a present for Yu-kun."

"That's true... it feels like they don't have any expectations of me, and that's annoying."

"Ah, that's why..."

"Haha, I was just kidding, Yui... here you go."

　Give Yui a present.

"Thanks, Yu-kun. Can I open this now?"

"It's embarrassing, but...yeah, it's fine. But if possible, I'd like you to look happy even if you're not that happy."

"Don't worry about that, Yu-kun."

　Yu's anxious expression is adorable, and with a smile on his face, he carefully unwraps the gift box, as if it were part of the gift itself.

"………………ah"

　When Yui unwrapped the wrapping paper, what caught her eye was this.

　It was a manga that Yu had used as a way to get closer to Yui when they first met. It was a volume in the middle of that story. --A limited edition of that story.

"This brings back memories...? Wait, was this the picture on the cover...?"

"I think Yui remembers the regular version."

"Ah...I see. Now that I think about it, I heard that a limited edition was going to be released and I wanted to buy it, but it was too expensive so I couldn't buy it..."

　It was about four or five times the price of the regular version, a price that they could still afford as high school students now, but it was a price that Yu and Yui could not afford at the time when they were young.

"Nowadays it's a premium item, so it was really hard to get a new one."

"...I'm happy, thank you Yu-kun."

　I was happy that Yu remembered this manga and chose it as a gift.

"…………"

　He opens the shrink wrap and takes out the book inside, as well as the box that comes only with the limited edition, which is the same size.

"This is the necklace the heroine is wearing, right?"

"Yeah"

　The limited edition comes with a replica of the necklace given to the heroine by the main character midway through the story. Although it is a small item that appears in the manga, the artist is originally a designer of necklaces and rings, and this experience is fully utilized.

　It is rumored that the necklace that comes with this limited edition was also supervised by the artist himself.

"Hey Yu-kun. Can you put this on me?"

"Okay."

　In the story, the protagonist wears it when giving it to the heroine as a gift.

　Remembering that scene, Yu puts the necklace Yui had taken out around her neck.

"Hmm...♡"

　She picked up the necklace and looked at it with delight.

"I thought it might be better to get a more sturdy, branded necklace. But this manga is a memorable one for me... I thought it might convey the bond between me and Yui-chan... Sorry, that sounds kind of cheesy."

"No... I'm really happy. These things have no price. I said at the beginning that even a pebble on the side of the road would make me happy. Also, I can really feel your feelings, so I'm really happy. This is your present..."

"I see... then that's good."

　Yuu, who had been nervous about giving a present to the person he liked for the first time, breathes a sigh of relief.

"Hey, Yu-kun. Do you remember those words?"

"That word...?"

"The line that the main character said when he confessed his love to the heroine in this manga."

"Ah, yes. I remember, but... eh, maybe?"

　Yui stares at me as if expecting something. I understand what she means, but I just feel embarrassed.

"No...?"

"......I understand."

　Yui shines brightly, like a proof illuminating the dark night.

"...Then let's put our hands together."

　Yuu sits down next to Yui and, recreating the original scene, intertwines their fingers in front of their chests.

"Just like the stars twinkling in the night sky, my melted heart will never let go. Even if my hand lets go――……"

　He was not sure if he had said it properly, word for word. Still, Yuu tried to speak it as close to the original as possible.

"Mmmm... hmmmm♡ Yu-kun♡♡♡ ...... Hmm, hmm...♡"

　Yui looked truly happy as she kissed Yu while still holding his hand.

"Thank you, Yu-kun ♡♡♡ I'm so glad I met you, Yu-kun ♡ When I was with Takkun, I never felt this way... Yu-kun is the only one for me after all ♡♡"

"Me too, Yui. Yui is all I have."

"I did it..."

　They continued to stare at each other for a while, occasionally kissing, and by the time Yui had returned to her normal self, Yu and Yui left the house side by side to go to a nearby supermarket to buy groceries.