The Final Stage

I was in a room with a panoramic view of the Bay Bridge, accompanied by Toko-senpai.

It was a room at the Hotel Intercontinental Tokyo Bay.

Contrary to what I’d expected—or perhaps hoped—the room was a twin.
Toko-senpai and I were sitting on our respective beds, facing each other.

We’d known in advance that the “Best Couple” prize was a stay at this hotel.

This was the plan.

We’d rigged things so that, whatever rank “Toko-senpai and Kamokura’s couple” achieved, the tickets would end up in her hands.

Though from the start we’d predicted that Toko-senpai and Kamokura would take first place anyway.

Toko-senpai had been fiddling with her smartphone for a while.

My heart was pounding so hard it felt like it would burst.

I didn’t know how to describe it. It wasn’t exactly excitement—impatience came close, but that wasn’t it either. Anticipation? No. Whatever it was, my heart kept thumping so loudly I was sure Toko-senpai could hear it.

Calm down, Yu Isshiki. It’s not like you’re a virgin—why are you so nervous? I kept telling myself that.

But… from now on, with Toko-senpai—the one I’d admired since high school—how could I not be nervous?

“U-um, what should we do now?”

Unable to bear the silence any longer, I finally spoke up; Toko-senpai looked up.

“Let’s see. For now, we have no choice but to stay like this until 12:00.”

…Until 12:00…

I looked at the clock—two more hours.

But I supposed that was only natural. Even if she’d said she’d “spend the night” with me, barging in the moment we entered the room would leave no mood or decency.

And besides, it was Christmas Eve. I should try to build the atmosphere, even a little, until then—but I didn’t know the first thing about how to do that.

As silence grew painful again, I asked her a question.

“Um… was this really okay?”

Toko-senpai looked up from her phone once more.

“What was?”

“You know, about Kamokura-senpai, and us being here like this…”

I had no intention of forcing her to spend the night if it meant ignoring her feelings. The primary condition was that she wanted to. If Toko-senpai had any lingering doubts, I’d go home quietly.

“There was nothing to be done about Tetsuya. I had already decided I was going to break up with him regardless.”

But there was something that had been bothering me since the party, nagging at my chest.

“But Toko-senpai, you were hesitating at the end of the party, weren’t you? You even said, ‘Depending on Kamokura-senpai’s answer, I’ll tear the vouchers to shreds.’ Does that mean you still… felt something for Kamokura-senpai?”

She looked into my eyes and, with a sad smile, shook her head.

“That’s not it. But I did question whether I should push Tetsuya that far; I could imagine how much it would hurt him if I said, ‘I’m spending the night with you.’ My relationship with him wasn’t all bad—Tetsuya was kind, he always put me first, and we had happy memories, too.”

She paused.

“In the end, I think we just weren’t meant to be. Maybe we both wore masks for too long. Even without this, I think we’d have broken up eventually.”

Then she looked at my face and gave a bright smile.

“So, you don’t need to worry about it.”

“What about coming here with me?” I asked, hesitating.

“That’s fine too. From the moment I came up with this plan, I thought the one who’d end up with me would probably be Isshiki-kun.”

From that far back?

I looked at Toko-senpai, surprised.

“And the deciding factor was definitely that ‘Boso Peninsula Date’—because I felt you were looking at me, the real me.”

Hearing that, relief flooded me; a weight lifted from my shoulders.

“So, um… can I assume that Toko-senpai and I are… ‘dating’ from now on?”

It was the final, biggest question; I braced myself and asked. Toko-senpai looked surprised.

“Of course—that’s the intention, isn’t it? Otherwise everyone’ll think we just had a ‘one-night stand.’ I wouldn’t want that.”

“R-right, of course,” I stammered, laughing to hide my embarrassment.

But if that’s the case…

I straightened. “Toko-senpai, there’s something I absolutely have to say.”

“Eh?” she said, surprised. I took a deep breath, swallowed, and said it.

“Toko-senpai, I’ve admired you for a long time. During this whole incident you supported me when I was a mess, and you’ve always been charming.”

I watched her reaction; her eyes went wide.

“Now I can’t think of anyone but you. Toko-senpai—I love you. Please go out with me.”

I bowed my head and reached out my right hand.

She giggled softly.

“What is that? A bit late, isn’t it?”

My face burned.

“I-I’m sorry. I know it’s late. B-but I had to say it properly—it’s the most important thing.”

I didn’t want just a one-night thing with Toko-senpai; I wanted to truly date her.

Until now she had been an “unreachable flower” to me, but here I finally had the chance to be alone with her.

I wanted to be with her from now on. As I kept my head bowed, she spoke gently.

“That’s true. You hadn’t said those ‘important words’ yet, had you?”

For a moment she softly grasped my outstretched hand.

When I raised my head, she was smiling brightly.

“I knew you had feelings for me. I think it’s fine for me to go out with you.”

I felt an indescribable warmth from her hand.

“T-then, I look forward to being with you, Toko-senpai,” I stammered, embarrassed, scratching the back of my head.

“Yes. I look forward to being with you too, Yu-kun,” she said, squeezing my hand firmly.

“U-um, so with this…”

“Though I suppose, for now, you’re still on a ‘Boyfriend Learner’s Permit’?” she added with a slightly mischievous smile.