My new Neighbor's an Idol!?

New Year's Resolution 5

Fortunately, Youna had been able to make it to the store without much worry. Unfortunately, the snow got a lot worse during her trip here and while she was picking out some supplies. The conditions made her feel things were way too unsafe to attempt the return and judging by Ishi's near death experience, she was right.

So the girl had chosen to stick around here to remain safe. She had planned on calling her parents and Ishi that she'd be here for the foreseeable future, However when she attempted to call them, her service dropped. Most likely caused by the harsh weather, which explained why he was unable to contact her while he was waiting for her return.

"I'm sorry I made you worry." Youna hung her head down as she sat besides the cases of drinks purchased for the party.

"It's fine." He sat down besides her. Since they weren't going to be going anywhere anytime soon, there was no other place for him to be at. "I'm just happy you're safe."

"I'll just leave the two of you alone." The lone store employee left them as he headed into the break room. Ishi was about to ask if they could stay in that room, but went against it as this man seemed to be like everyone else. People who really want to push him into a relationship with some girl.

Well, it would be a little rude to just call Youna, 'some girl', to him. The truth was that she was one of his closest friends and someone he had grown acquainted to over the past few years of high school.

"You go way too easy on me." She continued speaking now that they were alone. "What I did was a little silly. I just wanted to be someone more reliable."

"Was that what you wished for?" He asked.

"N-no." Still, she didn't want to admit to him the truth about what her true wish was. "It's got nothing to do with what I prayed for." Though a piece of it was related. Youna knew she needed to overcome that hurdle of finally being able to speak out her true feelings for him. In order to do that, she needed to be able to take on challenges and be a little more bold.

"I see. Well, don't worry too hard on being dependable." He assured her. "We all know you do your best, so don't be afraid to let everyone around you pick up some slack." Admittedly, he wasn't the type to seek out help himself, so it was a little hypocritical. Though Ishi certainly would come to her aid if she asked.

"But..." She hesitated on her words for a moment. Slowly, the girl quietly slid her hands right over the top of his. "I don't want to be a burden on you."

"Where's this coming from?" He asked, taking note of her body language. She had already been a little bold before, it wasn't as if that moment during the festival was lost on him.

"You always complain about dealing with teenage nonsense." She explained to him. That boy certainly did exactly that many times throughout the years. "B-but, half of that is because you're always coming to bail me out. So just admit it. Just admit that you hate me."

"I'll definitely never do that." He leaned his head closer to hers. "I don't understand where this is coming from?" Youna was crying now as her voice broke. It was tough enough to try and expand upon her feelings for him. All of the emotions of these past few years were coming to a head.

"I..." What was there to say? She searched into her mind for the answer, but all she got was the advice he gave onto her. That she should be more open to her feelings and that she needed to work to make her wish a reality. "I really... I'm in love with you." Finally, out came her wish. Youna, shaking from all the stress in her body, had finally confessed to her long time crush.

"Y-you do?" For a moment, he was taken aback. This was something that he had never expected coming out of her. Sure, she was always conscious around him, but that just seemed to be her usual shyness.