Epilogue

Still feeling somewhat dazed, I returned home.

I took a bath in a stupor, and did my routine stretches simply because my body remembered them. After that, I was prompted to sit at the dining table and ate dinner.

I didn’t really taste the food, but I must have been hungry, because before I knew it, I had finished my meal.

“…Thank you for the meal. I’m going to bed now.”

“Oh, really? Yuka, you’ve been acting a little strange since you got home. Did something happen?”

“N-No, no, I’m not strange at all. Well, good night!”

After taking my dishes to the sink, I returned to my room as if escaping from my mother. I walked quickly down the hall and into my room.

I slammed the door shut behind me──and dove onto my bed.

“Haaaah…!“

I hugged my futon with all my might. Only now did I realize that my heart was still pounding so loudly.

If I close my eyes, I can remember it instantly. Masato-san’s surprised expression. The face of the person I love, filling my entire vision.

Seeing Masato-san blushing from embarrassment for the first time, I felt something I couldn’t put into words, a thrill that ran down my spine.

I hugged him with all my might, and then…

I brought my index finger to my lips. It’s still there… the feeling of Masato-san’s lips. I once saw somewhere that a first kiss tastes like lemon… but I didn’t have the time to think about lemons or anything like that. I just wanted to feel everything about the Onii-santher I love so much who was right in front of me.

“It was so nice…”

Even thinking back on it now, I feel like all the feelings I had been holding back just exploded, and I was just savoring Masato-san.

Of course, no matter how much I savored him, I wasn’t satisfied, but I couldn’t just keep him pinned down on the basketball court forever… It was a shame. I wanted to stay like that a little longer.

I turned over onto my back and stretched out like a starfish. But even then, my feelings wouldn’t settle down.

“I love him… I love him so much…”

When I whispered it to myself, my body grew hot. I can feel my own heart strongly yearning for Masato-san.

As if to direct my feelings at the absent Masato-san, I hugged my futon tightly again. I know it won’t satisfy me, but if I don’t, there’s nowhere for these overflowing feelings to go.

I took a deep breath to calm myself down.

I don’t think I’ll ever forget today for the rest of my life. That’s how important, wonderful, and perfect of a day it was for me.

I’m also happy about my favorite sport, basketball. I had been secretly practicing to beat Masato-san, and I’m so happy I was able to achieve that.

Of course, I only won because it was a one-shot match. My skills and experience are still far from Masato-san’s.

But, I think that in order to break free from being seen as a ‘little sister’, winning against Masato-san in basketball was a necessary first step. To stand beside him, I can’t just be someone who is always being taught. The time to confess my feelings to Masato-san was when I won against him in basketball.

That’s what I had decided, so I was really, really happy today…

And above all, I was able to see that side of Masato-san.

“Ngh…!“

I couldn’t help but bury my face in my futon.

Even thinking about it now, I could feel a shiver run down my spine. Ah, he’s so wonderful, and handsome, and yet… he can also make such a cute expression, Masato-san. As I thought, there’s no one else like him in the world.

After kissing him so much today, I know. Once you’ve tasted something so sweet, and a little bit naughty, you can’t go back.

──Hey, my beloved Masato-san.

I’m in trouble. Because, no matter how I think about it.

From now on, whenever we meet… I have no confidence that I’ll be able to hold back.