The results were posted on the school bulletin board the next morning, drawing a crowd of students eager to see how they had done. Kazuki and Shizuka joined the crowd, pushing their way forward until they could see the grades clearly displayed.
"Let's see…" Kazuki muttered, scanning the list until his eyes found Shizuka's name.
"Ah! I passed!" Shizuka nearly squealed, her eyes lighting up with excitement as she saw her score. Sure, her grades were pretty average, but that was still a huge improvement for her, especially given how much she'd struggled. Her eyes sparkled as she turned to Kazuki, her grin as bright as the morning sun.
Kazuki couldn't help but smile at her enthusiasm. "See? I told you that you could do it. You worked hard, Shizuka. I'm really proud of you."
She beamed, almost bouncing on the spot with happiness. "And look at you, Rank 1 as always! Not that I'm surprised. You're amazing, Kazuki."
Kazuki shrugged, feeling a bit embarrassed by her praise. "It's nothing special. But I think *you* deserve the real praise here. This is a big accomplishment for you, isn't it?"
Shizuka nodded eagerly, barely able to contain herself. "It is! And you know what this calls for, right?"
Kazuki looked at her, unsure what she meant but sensing her playful energy. "Um… a celebration?"
"Exactly! And there's only one thing I want as a reward," she declared, looking up at him with a glint in her eyes. "A kiss."
Kazuki's cheeks turned a light shade of pink, and he cleared his throat, looking around awkwardly. "A… kiss?"
"Just a little one," she said, her voice soft but teasing, tilting her head up toward him with a hopeful smile. "I mean, I worked really hard, and you *did* say I deserved praise…"
Kazuki felt his heart skip a beat. Shizuka had always been bold, but this was new territory for him. He felt the warmth in his cheeks deepen as he looked down at her, seeing the eager, expectant look in her eyes.
After a moment of hesitation, he reached out, placing a gentle hand on her head. "How about this instead?" he said, giving her a soft, affectionate pat on the head.
Shizuka's cheeks immediately flushed, her eyes widening as she looked up at him, clearly surprised. Kazuki chuckled, finding her reaction incredibly endearing. "I'm proud of you, Shizuka," he said quietly, his voice warm. "You did great."
For a second, Shizuka was speechless, her face bright red as she looked down, suddenly bashful. She hadn't expected such a simple, gentle gesture to make her heart race, but here she was, feeling like she might melt from a single headpat.
"T-thank you, Kazuki," she murmured, a shy smile tugging at her lips as she looked up at him. Her heart felt light, and her cheeks were still warm as she realized how much that small gesture meant to her.
They stood there for a moment, caught in a comfortable silence, both feeling a quiet happiness. Shizuka's hand drifted to the spot where his hand had rested, and she couldn't help but smile to herself, feeling as if she'd just received the best reward she could ask for.
As they walked away together, Shizuka's heart still fluttered from the small but sincere gesture. She might have wanted a kiss, but somehow, that headpat made her feel even closer to him.