Akari abruptly sat upright.
"W-Wait!"
Her eyes widened as another possibility entered her mind.
'What if he only kissed me because he thought I was beautiful? Maybe it was just a spur-of-the-moment decision. Young men can be like that... Was it simply lust?'
She lowered her head, recalling the moment once more.
The way Noah had looked at her. The tenderness in his eyes. The feelings those eyes of his express before he leaned closer.
And the way he had closed those eyes, seemingly content to savour that moment with her.
Akari slowly shook her head.
"No..."
Her voice was quiet.
"He didn't kiss me simply because he was attracted to my appearance."
Her expression gradually turned dazed. One hand rested against her chest while the other gently touched her lips.
'Then... what was it?'
A question surfaced in her mind. 'Is this love?'
She blinked. 'Could it really be love?'
Her heart began beating faster just thinking about him.
'Does he... love me, too?'
