"Chapter 124: The Moment of Truth"

Kirishima's lips gently brushed against mine, and I felt my heart skip a beat. The world around us melted away, leaving only the two of us, lost in the moment. I could feel my face growing hot as I tried to process what was happening. As Kirishima's kiss deepened, I found myself getting flustered, my mind racing with emotions. I didn't know how to react, but Kirishima's gentle touch and soothing presence calmed me down. He pulled back slightly, his eyes locked onto mine, and asked, "Are you okay, Vesper?" I nodded, trying to catch my breath, and replied, "Y-yeah, I'm fine." My voice was barely above a whisper, and I could feel my face burning with embarrassment. Mina, who had been quietly observing the scene, let out a happy giggle. I expected her to be jealous or upset, but instead, she seemed genuinely pleased for us. She walked over to me, a mischievous glint in her eye, and whispered in my ear, "I didn't really like him anyways." I was taken aback by her comment, but before I could respond, she continued, "But I'm glad you two are together. You deserve someone who actually cares about you, Vesper." Her words were laced with sincerity, and I felt a warmth in my heart towards my friend. Kirishima, still looking at me with concern, took my hand in his. "I'm glad I could kiss you, Vesper," he said, his voice filled with affection. "I was worried you might not feel the same way." I smiled, feeling a sense of relief wash over me. "I'm glad you did, Kirishima," I replied, my voice a little stronger now. Mina, happy to see us happy, grinned and said, "I'm going to leave you two lovebirds alone now. Enjoy your moment." With that, she skipped out of the room, leaving Kirishima and me alone. As the door closed behind her, Kirishima turned his attention back to me. "I'm really glad I got to do that, Vesper," he said, his eyes sparkling with happiness. I smiled, feeling my heart flutter in my chest. "Me too, Kirishima," I replied, my voice barely above a whisper. We stood there for a moment, lost in each other's eyes, the tension between us palpable. I knew that this was just the beginning of something special, and I couldn't wait to see what the future held for us.