I Won't Be Called a "Supporting Heroine" Anymore

During the second part, she was what you might call a "supporting heroine in a minor role”.

She occupied the same position as Azusa did in the first part.

However, it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that she displayed a rather pitiful appearance when compared to Azusa.

After all, she couldn't even confess her feelings... She saw Ryoma confessing to Mary, fell into self-pity, lost sight of herself, and to top it off, was ridiculed by Kotaro. But it was then that she mustered her determination.

Thanks to that, Kirari can stand here like this now.

"I've never put it into words, have I? But you understood how I felt about Ryu-kun, right? No matter how dense you are... surely you knew, right?"

"...I had a feeling."

Even though she said she liked him, Ryoma didn't seem taken aback.

However, he appeared surprised.

"You said I was disgusting, didn't you?"

"Yeah."

"Am I still treating you like an object?"

"It seems that way to me."

"Even so... you still like this kind of person?"

"Of course. If I didn't like you, I wouldn't talk to someone as awful as you, would I?"

She lightly patted Ryoma's shoulder with a calm smile.

Kirari was always like this, closer in proximity than other girls, and she often initiated physical contact, making her seem flirtatious.

So, even Ryoma, who was notoriously dense, noticed her feelings.

But he was surprised that she still liked him after all this time.

"...Normally, you'd stop liking me."

"…Right, you seem to understand your own quirks quite well. But, too bad... don't lump me in with other normal girls. Because I've decided to love you, I'll stick with these feelings until the end. I won't give up if I get rejected."

Even if the person she fell in love with turned out to be a mistake.

In that case, she could correct it.

Kirari would point out the mistake and fix it.

"I'll do everything I can... I'll definitely make you happy. And I won't be satisfied with just ordinary happiness. I'll get the greatest happiness with Ryu-kun, the one I love the most. For that, I can endure any pain."

--She made a promise.

A promise to her former friend.

To overcome pain and find happiness.

"So, Ryu-kun... I mean, Ryoma Ryuzaki. Wake up already!"

--Snap!

The sound that resonated was the dry noise of flesh meeting flesh.

It was similar to the sound when Kirari slapped Kotaro.

However, she was no longer weak enough to resort to violence.

The sound was made by her own hands.

In other words, she had clapped them together to make a sound.

As if awakening someone who was in a daze.

"Your first love is over. Being happy with the childhood friend you fell in love with for the first time - that dream will never come true. So, look at the reality."

And then...

"Look at me."

The explosion in the air created by her clapping was the explosion of Kirari's love.

"No matter how disgusting, how terrible, how distorted it may be, I love you, Ryu-kun. Accept that love properly."

...She couldn't even confess her feelings back then.

But now, Kirari wasn't as "miserable" as she was at that time.

"I want to see Ryu-kun’s life from a closer place than anyone else."

Firmly shaping her feelings.

Confronting the person she loved head-on.

That girl... couldn't be called a "sub-heroine" anymore.

Access 10 Chapters ahead of the Novelupdates release on our Patreon. <3