Chapter 102 - Flash of the Soul
(1)
I successfully made it to my third year, and since the April exams went well, I had been relaxing.
"Good morning, Toya-kun...!?"
As soon as Airi enters the room, I begin the Airi Check.
No dark circles under her eyes... today is fine.
Her makeup is light.
She's still in her school uniform.
I feel like her skirt has gotten slightly shorter, though I might just be imagining it.
Airi, you're on a bicycle, is that really okay?
"I said good morning~!"
She doesn't seem to be in a bad mood.
Though it looks like it's becoming slightly bad right now.
It's probably within a manageable range.
I mean, she'll probably do something, right?
You're telling me to answer if I know?
Yeah, I'm just wondering what I should say to her.
I felt that just saying "good morning" was somehow not enough.
A faint scent wafts over.
Ah, she's still using perfume.
Maybe I should give her some as a present again this year?
Something a bit more expensive.
"Muu~"
She's probably reaching her limit.
It's a pain later on if she starts crying.
Kanna is probably here too.
I can see myself getting scolded.
Kanna, huh.
It's not great that I rely solely on my parents.
Maybe I should get a part-time job?
But that would reduce my study time.
I'll get a job if I can get into university. And if I can't?
It would be terrible if both Airi and I had to be ronin.
I want to avoid that at all costs.
Probably because Airi didn't take the exams when I caught a cold and couldn't take the private school entrance exams during high school admissions, she's likely serious this time too.
Because I know that, I'm studying like my life depends on it right now.
...!?
Airi is biting my earlobe.
Yeah, my earlobes are a weak spot.
My train of thought was forcibly shut down.
"Good morning. You're in a good mood today."
"Good morning♪ I'm always in a good mood♪"
Yeah, I can tell by how excited you are.
Well, it's better than being in a bad mood.
"Shall we go?"
"Yeah♪"
Airi is truly in a good mood.
Is it just my imagination that I have a bad feeling about this?
Usually, this is when Airi starts saying something outrageous.
I'll try asking Mother while we're having breakfast.
"Did anything unusual happen?"
"Nothing at all."
"Any plans for the long weekend?"
"This year, it seems Tosaka-san is too preoccupied with Airi-chan's exam studies to think about that."
I see, that's good.
It looks like I can just spend my time studying normally.
"She mentioned she was going to have a training camp at the Tosaka residence."
I spat out my coffee.
"Why are you talking about this without me?"
"Would anything change if you were here?"
I simulated it.
...I don't think I can beat Airi's mother.
"That's how it is. You should stop your useless struggling already."
That's true, but shouldn't Mother try to stop her a little?
I basically understand why Airi is in such a good mood.
It's not that I'm in a bad mood myself.
Rather, for a healthy boy, this is a situation where you'd throw your hands up in joy, right?
But... will there be any exam studying... ?
"What are you brooding over at this late stage? Just do as you please."
Father says.
Isn't he worried about the exam studies?
Is there any point to the "training camp"?
"What about Airi's parents?"
The answer came back exactly as expected.
"Apparently they're on a week-long trip. I offered to let her stay at our place, but they said they'd rather leave the two of you alone."
There are so many things to question here.
Why are they going on a trip!?
When she says "let her stay at our place," she means letting her stay in my room again, right!?
And "leave the two of us alone"—are my parents in on this too!?
I'll say it again, it's not that I dislike Airi.
On the contrary, I love her.
If Airi wants it, I'm always... no, I should choose the time and place.
But, isn't the thrill of that kind of thing coming from doing it secretly behind your parents' backs?
If both sets of parents say, "Now then, anytime is fine, please do as you like," and we just go "Okay," doesn't that feel kind of underwhelming?
"I wonder what you're thinking about~?"
Airi approaches me excessively while I'm lost in thought.
"Anyway, we need to start getting ready soon or we'll be late."
Ah, is it that time already?
Let's hurry.
(2)
Even though we're in our third year, the class hasn't changed much.
The Watanabe group are all in the same class.
Their academic ability and target schools probably haven't changed much either.
While I'm leisurely eating my lunch during the break, the courtyard is unusually noisy.
I wonder what happened?
I peek from the classroom balcony.
Some kind of crowd has formed.
"Ah, Toya, you were spacing out and didn't hear."
Kanna explained.
Apparently, a TV crew is coming for an interview today.
It seems to be for some local program.
Does our high school have any "famous attractions"?
...I don't want to think about it, but.
The crowd moved.
They enter the building where my class is.
The sound of the commotion draws closer.
My bad feeling became a reality.
The reporter stopped at my class and said—
"Are Airi Tosaka-san and Kanna Otonashi-san in this class?"
"Eh?"
"That's me."
It seems neither of them knew the content of the interview.
The "famous attraction" of our high school: the fact that two beauties are in the same class.
Isn't that too pathetic?
There must be other things, like a female captain of the sumo club or a high school band or something.
I mean, I think the two of them are beauties, but still.
While those two were being interviewed, I had an intuitive bad feeling.
As I tried to stealthily slip out of the classroom, Airi firmly grabbed my arm.
"Where are you going~? Toya-kun?"
Airi, you're in the middle of a TV interview, right? Think about the time and place a little.
However, Airi let out a statement that went far beyond my expectations.
"This is my boyfriend that I'm so proud of~"
Wait... hold on...
The surrounding voices cheer her on.
The reporter points the microphone at me.
"What is your name?"
"He's Toya Katagiri-kun."
Airi answers for me.
"Do you do any club activities?"
"He doesn't~"
"Hmm~ What do you like about your girlfriend?"
You want me to say that now?
What kind of public execution program is this?
Airi's eyes are sparkling.
If I say something cliché like "her kindness" or "her beauty" at a time like this, Airi will surely be dissatisfied.
What should I say?
What would make Airi happy?
I try to think from Airi's perspective.
...It flashed.
It was a local program, right?
And it was a late-night program, right?
Not many people will be watching.
"...She's selfish, pouts easily, is jealous, and I have no idea what she's thinking. She's always causing me trouble."
"Pardon?"
The reporter makes a face that says what is this guy talking about? was he listening?
Airi also has an anxious expression.
But I continue.
"I love everything about a girlfriend like that. I intend to accept everything. There's also the fact that she's beautiful and smart, but..."
The reporter is stunned.
Recovering, they ask Airi the same question.
"What do you like about him?"
Airi seems to be pondering as well.
"I love everything about Toya-kun too, but... if I had to name a good point, he's great at basketball!"
Was it Airi's kindness that she didn't say soccer?
"Oh? But I believe Toya Katagiri-kun is... in soccer..."
"He's good at soccer too, but he loves basketball."
Airi pushes basketball excessively.
"Then, could we see a bit of basketball?"
When the reporter says that, everyone moves to the gymnasium.
Because it's a TV interview, a large number of students have crowded in.
They clear a half-court and prepare a ball.
"What are you going to show us~?"
The reporter asks.
If I just do a plain layup or a 3-pointer here, the gallery won't be satisfied.
In that case, there's only one choice.
"It's a surprise for the viewers."
While dribbling, I check the position for the jump.
When I showed a dunk on the street before, it made me realize I actually have quite a bit of jumping power.
Then, I might be able to do that.
I back up to the half-line and tell the reporter, "I'm going."
"Yes, go ahead...!?"
I probably blew the reporter's mind.
How will the viewers see the sight of me jumping from the free-throw line, spinning twice, and dunking?
By the way, the audience went silent for a moment.
Then, a great cheer erupted.
The reporter is speechless.
I wonder how they can still function as a reporter.
Ah, it'll probably be a huge uproar again starting tomorrow.
Not tomorrow, but starting today.
By the way, I was made to do soccer too.
Apparently, the program had prepared it in advance.
Nine panels set up on the goal line.
A game where you apparently shoot them down with the ball.
That thing they used to do on TV a long time ago.
When I knocked down four panels with the first kick, a cheer went up.
Is this really that difficult?
I knocked them all down in four kicks.
The pride of our high school closed with my special skills.
(3)
Kanna has gone to her part-time job.
Airi is still basking in the afterglow in my room.
Come to think of it, did she say this during street basketball?
"I wouldn't mind having sex right now."
Is she still in that mood?
"Airi, can I hold you now?"
"Pardon?"
Yeah, she was normal.
Sorry, just forget it.
Stop looking at me with those expectant eyes.
"You want to hold me?"
Stop saying that so happily, okay?
"N-no. It's just that you said it before, Airi..."
"If I tell you to hold me, will you?"
Absolutely do not say that.
I'm a healthy boy too, you know.
There are times when my reason flies away.
Poke.
The mechanical pencil in Airi's hand stabs into my hand.
"I told you we should concentrate on studying while we're studying, right?"
That was true.
But you also said this, right?
"When we flirt, we flirt with everything we've got♪"
I'm afraid of tonight...
"Even so, Toya-kun was so cool today."
The fact that she doesn't say "Why don't you do it more? It's a waste" is probably Airi's kindness.
...Or so it seems.
"'...I love everything about a girlfriend like that. I intend to accept everything'—at first I was embarrassed, but thinking about it now, I'm really happy. Being able to say things like that so smoothly is cool."
She was thinking about something completely different.
I hold my head in my hands.
I really blurted that out.
Someone told me to act on intuition, right?
I think that was absolutely wrong.
"I wonder if that will air on TV too~?"
Ah, that's right.
She said it would be broadcast at a later date.
Airi will definitely record it.
Probably, even without watching it, it's being played back in Airi's mind. Over and over again.
"It's being played back even now."
Airi peers into my face and smiles.
I'm surprised as Airi's face appears right in front of me.
"Weren't you going to concentrate on studying?"
"I'm finished~"
Airi points to the clock.
It was past 22:30.
I think that's still early for an exam student, but...
"Toya-kun invited me a little while ago, right? Now it's time to flirt~♪"
Saying that, Airi grabs my arm.
Rather than grabbing, she's embracing it, firmly against her chest.
I resign myself and hug Airi back.
It seems the switch in Airi's head has already flipped.
I push Airi down.
There is no resistance.
Airi surrendered to me.
It's not like we went all the way.
We just wanted to have skinship and be pampered like that.
Airi understands this too, and she hugs me and we softly exchange kisses.
And then, just like that, we close our eyes...
(4)
A certain Sunday late at night.
Airi, Kanna, and I were watching TV.
The program that was recorded the other day.
The matter with Airi was broadcast clearly.
The scenes of my basketball and soccer too.
Kanna bursts out laughing upon hearing my lines.
You don't have to laugh that much.
Airi is entranced.
If Kanna weren't here, I probably would have been pushed down.
As proof, she's firmly grabbing my arm and won't let go.
Sensing the atmosphere, Kanna says she'll go home as soon as the program ends.
"Well then, I'll walk you home."
"See you tomorrow then, Kanna."
Kanna and I are surprised.
Usually, she'd say, "I'm coming too~"
"Because Kanna already belongs to Makoto-kun, right? Then, there's no problem."
"W-well, that's true, but..."
"Toya-kun doesn't have the resourcefulness to two-time anyway."
Every now and then, she says things that really sting.
On the way home.
"You're really trusted, aren't you?"
"Seems so."
"Don't do anything to betray that trust."
"I won't."
"Your fans will probably increase again after seeing today's program."
That's not happening, right?
I don't think anyone would become a fan after seeing Airi's bold confession.
"Makoto is probably the same, right? Is Kanna okay? Unlike me, his resourcefulness... Ow!"
I was punched by Kanna.
That's dangerous while riding a bicycle.
"I trust Makoto just as much as Airi does. He has resourcefulness, but he's also sincere."
She's saying it as if I lack sincerity.
I'm devoted only to Airi right now too...
"If you think so, then think about Airi a bit more. I heard about the long weekend. Airi looked anxious, saying you seemed to dislike it."
Eh?
I didn't say a word about...
Seeing my surprised face, Kanna says.
"That's why she thinks you're not thinking about her. Because you enter your own world so quickly. Just live with the feeling of thinking only about Airi 24 hours a day."
24 hours is tough.
If she even appears in my dreams... even for me.
"It's a figure of speech. You were thinking about something erotic just now, weren't you?"
Even Kanna sees through everything.
"I get it."
"It seems nothing like middle school is happening... but don't you dare waver."
"That won't happen."
Still, even though I thought Airi was in my world, it's still not enough.
We arrived at Kanna's house.
There's no one around.
After seeing Kanna enter her house, I also head home.
The next day.
As expected, they were there.
Female students crowding the school gate, and members of the Soccer Club and Basketball Club.
"Katagiri-kun, shake hands~"
"Katagiri, we're counting on you as a ringer again this year! I've already asked Mickey and got you registered as a player!"
"Katagiri, why don't you go to the Inter-High with basketball this year!?"
The final year of high school has only just begun.