Chapter 24: Second Confession

Second Confession

This is the ring workshop, and it seems we can make matching rings here.

Apparently they offer a paid service where they take photos of the couple making the rings, and then sell the ones they like after they're finished.

The ones we're making are silver matching rings, apparently 3mm wide. I'm not sure, but I guess I can assume they'll match Ryo's.

"It will look something like this when completed."

"Ohhh..."

"I see"

I was shown a photo of the finished product, and it was a shiny, beautiful silver ring.

I'm starting to look forward to it.

There was one other couple besides us making matching rings.

I listened to the steps and things to be careful of and started making it.

We ask questions when we don't understand something and move forward, but it's quite fun to work together to make the ring.

First, cut out what may look like a thick wire depending on how you look at it, to fit the length of the other person's finger.

Next, you bend it with something like pliers, which requires a fair amount of force, and you end up with something that looks like a wire bent into a distorted circle.

Next, we weld the joints together, but I'm still a little afraid of fire.

The ring is passed through a round iron rod and then hammered with a wooden mallet to form a perfect circle. At this point, it finally begins to look like a ring. This was quite fun; it's both exciting and fascinating to see the irregular circle turn into a perfect circle.

Next is the work of sanding and polishing it. It seems like this part will get especially dirty because there will be a lot of powder coming out. I borrowed an apron just in case, but I will probably get a little dirty.

This part is surprisingly tiring, but it's exciting to see the shine and beauty gradually appear.

Finally, polish it nicely with a cloth.

Especially since we were creating the matching's ring, we couldn't slack off and were serious until the end.

We also printed both of our names on it.

Ryo and I laughed and had a great time. It was so nice and heartfelt to see the ring I was giving to my partner become even more beautiful.

Finally, I was shown some photos of the paid service in action.

A shock runs through me.

---At that moment, I noticed, or was made to notice, the blonde girl in the photo looking genuinely happy and contented as she looked at the person she loved.

Had I been looking at Ryo with these eyes, with such a happy and contented look on my face, the way you would look at someone you love, no matter who you are or how you look at them?

I had no idea I had such an expression on my face, or that my eyes held such longing, and that they were directed at Ryo.

When I realized it, I understood everything.

I remember what I was told before, "If you didn't love him, you wouldn't do this," and now I truly understand.

That's exactly right, and the feeling I had back then, wanting him to be happy, is certainly present in friendship, but at the time, it was in the sense of a girl wanting the person she loved to be happy.

I just pretended not to see it, that it was just my body doing it on its own.

I thought that my uncontrollable desire to hug him was due to the sexual desires of my body, the female part of me, and that it wasn't something that my heart wanted. But I was wrong; it was a desire that came from both my mind and my body.

I used to think of the mind and body as separate entities, but that's not the case; they are both part of me.

In other words, I have been in love with Ryo with my whole body and soul for a long time now, I love him so much, I can't help it. It was only after being confronted with this that I finally, finally realized it.

If you think about it, it's obvious; would a girl want a hug that puts her completely intimate with someone she doesn't like, or would she want to have physical contact and play with them?

All of this was directed at her because she loved him from the bottom of her heart.

When I realized that, tears naturally welled up in my eyes.

"Ryo... I finally find it out, Ryo..."

That was all I could do, so I held back my tears and looked up at Ryo.

"What's wrong Rui? What did you find out?"

I wiped away my tears, pulled myself together, stood in front of Ryo, and said with a serious expression.

"Ryo, there's something I want to tell you now."

"---Wait, let me say it first."

"Eh?"

Ryo cleared his throat and looked determined and serious.

"Rui, I'll say it again, I love you and I want you to be my girlfriend."

I'd heard those words before, but I responded with completely different emotions than last time.

"--- I, no, I love Ryo too, I really do, I've always loved you, and I've finally realized it! So! Let me be your lover and make me your woman!"

"Yes, Rui is my woman! You're my everything! Finally, you're finally mine! We'll be together forever!"

We hugged each other tightly.

Both Ryo and I were filled with tears and completely forgot about what was going on around us.

Clap, clap, clap!

I heard some applause and remembered, yes, we were inside the store!

Ryo and I came to our senses and looked around, and saw the store clerk and another couple applauding us, with expressions of approval, yet a bit of amazement on their faces.

"T-Thank you."

That was all Ryo and I could say, and we felt very embarrassed.

"Please give me all of this."

Ryo said so.

After some interaction between the store clerk and Ryo, it seemed that some of the photos would become promotional materials for the store.

We immediately took out the matching rings from the box and put them on each other's ring fingers.

The moment Ryo put the ring on me, a huge wave of joy and emotion came over me, and tears started flowing again as I repeated Ryo's name.

Oh, just calling his name makes my heart feel so warm and happy.

When I put it on Ryo's right ring finger, he was so moved that he started crying again.

Just like that, we hugged each other again.

I was so emotional, I just wanted to kiss Ryo and give him an open hug as soon as possible.

But this is inside the store, so I have to be patient.

•

•

On the way home, Ryo and I held hands like lovers and checked our matching rings over and over again.

My face just started to grin.

"First, I have to tell my mother, and then Yamaguchi-san and the others."

"Eh? I understand Maya-san, but what you mean Tomoko-chan and the others?"

"Actually, this is a bit embarrassing to say, but it was Yamaguchi-san who suggested making today's matching ring."　

"Is that so?!"

"Those three were really rooting for Rui, and they kept saying they wanted you to realize your feelings for me soon, and they recommended that you'll definitely notice them there, so I'm going to reveal the truth, which is a bit embarrassing for me."

"Oh, so that happened? When did that happen? I'm so jealous."

"Stop it, I've been telling you this all along, I'm all about Rui.

The three of them like Rui as a friend and support you wholeheartedly, so I can trust the three of them and talk to them, and it's all because of you, Rui."

"You idiot, it's embarrassing to say something like that so casually."

"Rui is cute when she's embarrassed."

"...Oh dear."

"Rather than me telling Yamaguchi-san and the others, Rui should tell them. I think they'll be happier that way."

"Hmm, I get it, but I think Maya-san should be the priority"

"I'll talk to her alone, I'm sure mother will be happy."

"No, let me be with you in this."

We were holding hands like lovers on our usual way home, but today it felt special somehow.