Chapter 105 - Under the Sunny Spot
(1)
Hmm...
Tomorrow is the last day of the long weekend.
I've spent all day studying today as well.
Wouldn't it be okay to go out and play for just one day?
That's what I was thinking.
I stole a glance at Airi.
She looks like she's enjoying her studies.
Airi's hair has grown out again.
Cutting it really was just a whim, then.
The words Airi said before...
"I wish you'd invite me on a date once in a while."
Has the time come to put that into practice?
That's what I wondered.
But this year, I'm an examinee.
Is it okay to be thinking about such carefree things?
Just for one day...
But where should I invite her?
The shopping mall again?
She seems to like enjoying casual shopping.
Part of me wants to grant that wish of hers, but...
Since it's a rare long weekend,
I want to take her somewhere different.
Why aren't my parents here at a time like this?
Wouldn't it be better to just enjoy ourselves without the parents?
When put that way, it does feel like the right move.
I think about it while spinning my pen.
Airi tilts her head and looks over at me.
No, I should at least pretend to be studying...
But it's probably too late for that.
She probably thinks I've retreated into my own world again.
Still, I've never been the one to invite her on a date.
Probably never.
Because I'm the type of person who thinks just lounging around at home is enough.
To be precise, going outside is a pain.
I could never say that, even if I were dying.
"Do you want to go somewhere tomorrow?"
Is that one sentence enough?
But what do I do if she asks, "Where?"
Do I confess, "I have no plan"?
It'll definitely fall through.
Hmm, where would be good...
"Hey~"
Airi pokes my hand with her mechanical pencil.
Either I'll make her anxious or make her angry.
Though it seems neither has happened lately.
Airi seems to be skilled at literally entering my world.
Does that mean she can see right through what I'm thinking now?
Airi put down her mechanical pencil.
Oh no, did I upset her?
"Put Airi first."
Everyone told me that.
Let me think.
I put down my mechanical pencil.
And then, silence.
Normally, one should assume she's become moody.
But this is Airi.
Lately, Airi has been very kind.
I want to do something for her.
But I can't think of what that "something" is.
"I don't really know... but I'm happy enough just as we are."
Saying that, Airi clings to my arm.
Is today's study mode over?
Happy enough just as we are.
I want to respond to her.
...
"Hey, Airi?"
"Yes..."
Airi is hugging my arm with her eyes closed.
"Do you want to go out and play somewhere tomorrow?"
"Where?"
I thought she would say that, but I was wrong.
"Really!? I'm so happy, then I have to get ready!"
With that, Airi leaves the room with a light step.
I didn't say where we were going.
Where does she intend to go?
After about an hour, she returned.
"The preliminary preparations are complete."
She's saying things I don't quite understand.
"Hey, Airi."
"Yeees?"
For now, she seems to be in a good mood.
"What were you doing?"
"I told you, preparations for tomorrow."
"Preparations for what?"
Airi is smiling to herself.
"You just said it without thinking of anything, didn't you?"
Lately, Airi's intuition is sharp.
She hit the nail on the head.
But it's not like Airi is in a bad mood...
"It's a good season, so there was something I wanted to try."
"What?"
"That's a surprise for tomorrow~"
The one who proposed it... was me, right?
Well, she's happy, so I guess it's fine.
I went to bed early that day.
(2)
"Yo!"
I waved my hand when Kanna returned.
"What are you doing?"
Kanna asked me as she stopped her bicycle.
"I was waiting for you to come home, Kanna."
"Are you off tomorrow?"
Club activities will give me at least one day off.
When I nodded, Kanna let me into the house.
"You're staying over, right? I'll make food, so go take a bath first."
Kanna said that and started cooking.
If I were to hug her from behind here, she'd point a kitchen knife at me.
But I want to hold her.
While I was agonizing over it, Kanna thrust out the knife and spoke.
"Stop thinking about unnecessary things and get in the bath already."
Feeling a danger to my life, I obediently headed for the bath.
I borrowed the bath, was treated to dinner, and now I'm relaxing in Kanna's room.
Kanna is in the bath now.
I cast aside distracting thoughts—like wanting to peek, or wanting to see the neatly organized underwear that must be tucked away in the dresser while I have the chance—and concentrate on the TV.
Unlike Toya, I am still a wholesome boy.
I do get horny in my own way.
Being in a girl's room makes me feel restless to some extent.
The only difference is that the object of this is only Kanna.
Since I can see nothing but an ending where I'm yelled at with "I'll blow you away!", I don't act on it.
However, as I happened to glance at the bed, it was there.
Kanna's panties.
Panties that looked a bit mature.
I picked them up unconsciously.
I wonder how something so small can fit.
Ah, there's elastic in them.
I try stretching them out—boing.
If I keep doing that, I'll be yelled at, huh?
Please tell me those things sooner.
Kanna, standing behind me, has a smile on her face, but I can see lightning bolts.
Thwack!
I took a direct hit with a fist to the head.
"You really don't know the word 'restraint' lately, do you!"
"Want to go to the park tomorrow?"
I suddenly brought it up.
"Why?"
"It's always the shopping mall or the station building, right? I thought we'd try some different stimulation for once. It's a perfect day for an outing."
"Honestly..."
Kanna said that, got up, and put on her clothes.
"What's up?"
"Prep for the lunch boxes. We'll need at least lunch, right?"
"We could just buy lunch boxes for that."
"Do you prefer a store-bought lunch over a handmade one from your girlfriend?"
"No, it's just that it feels like I've increased the amount of troublesome work."
"It's a rare proposal from Makoto. It's fine once in a while."
After a while, she returned.
"Are you finished already?"
"I said prep, didn't I? I'll finish them tomorrow morning."
"Then we'll have to wake up early tomorrow."
"It's not a school field trip. There's no need to wake up that early, right?"
Kanna said that with a smile.
"Well then, one more time..."
"Give some of that passion you have for your girlfriend to Toya, just a little bit."
"What? Are those two already in a rut?"
Well, I guess that happens after five years?
But Kanna shook her head.
"Far from cooling down, those two are getting more and more heated. However..."
Kanna explained.
Hearing that, I was clutching my stomach laughing.
"That guy, he still had it!"
"Apparently he's reproducing it faithfully... every time. I don't know if he's serious or an idiot, but Airi was troubled."
"Couldn't Tosaka-san just be the one to move?"
"Airi seems to have her own thoughts in her own way. Besides, she probably has a feeling of wanting the man to lead, right?"
I see~, for Tosaka-san, it's probably hard to move on her own.
She seems like the shy type.
"And she said, 'I'm happy just being connected with Toya-kun'... Airi is really acting like a girl, unlike me."
"Kanna is a girl too. I feel that occasionally. That gap is irresistible."
"Why does it sound so perverted when Makoto says it?"
"I intended to answer seriously, you know."
Kanna hugged me.
"Sorry... I'm not very good at being honest."
"That's Kanna's charm... the true face of Kanna that you only show to me. I don't think badly of it."
"Thanks."
Saying that, Kanna closed her eyes.
I hugged Kanna.
We fell asleep just like that.
(3)
A park along the river.
Bringing lunch boxes, a leisure sheet, and other things, we arrived.
We spread the leisure sheet in a suitable spot, and it was lunch time.
It would be bad if I were the only one eating, right?
I try asking Airi, "Want some of this?"
Even though Airi was the one who made it.
Airi silently opens her mouth.
...I put food into her mouth.
Because it's a long weekend, this park has a lot of people.
But I'm used to it now.
Next, Airi grabs a piece of rolled omelet and brings it to my mouth.
I silently open my mouth.
Chomp!
Airi's rolled omelet is delicious.
The taste of the dashi spreading in my mouth is very delicious.
After finishing the lunch, we played badminton, which we had prepared.
I return the shuttlecock to a place where it's easy for Airi to hit.
Airi doesn't fly it to such chaotic places either.
The rally continues.
Since we aren't having a serious match, this level is just right.
After moving for ten minutes, I break a sweat.
"Let's take a little break."
Since Airi said that, we take a break.
"I'll go buy some juice. What do you want?"
"Hmm, there's still some left in the water bottle."
The contents of the water bottle were a sports drink.
"Don't you want to drink some other juice?"
"Then, the same as Toya-kun is fine."
"Got it."
Saying that, I head toward the vending machine.
The same juice, huh.
Airi isn't the type of girl to worry about calories, but I wonder how she feels about strong carbonation?
For the record, I want a carbonated juice.
But would a lactic acid bacteria drink be the safe bet here?
Maybe I'll take the middle ground and go with a carbonated lactic acid bacteria drink.
...I'll buy both and let her choose the one she likes.
And so, I buy one of each and return to where Airi is.
She's talking with a man and a woman.
Are they friends?
When I got closer, it was Makoto and Kanna...
"Oh! It's Toya. Long time no see."
Makoto finds me and calls out.
"Hey, Makoto. Is club off today?"
I asked while handing the juice to Airi.
Airi is wondering which one to pick.
Makoto and the others spread a leisure sheet next to us and started eating their lunch.
"I'll take this one~"
Sandwiches, rolled omelet, cherry tomatoes, candied sweet potatoes, fried chicken, and broccoli, huh.
It looks quite delicious.
"Toya-kun, give me some juice."
For the record, Airi's lunch was rice balls, rolled omelet, fried chicken, spaghetti, and a dressed salad.
There were various rice balls, like yukari rice and seaweed rice.
"Don't look at other people's lunch boxes like they're so delicious!"
Airi whispers in my ear.
She seems to have entered again.
"I want this juice."
When I hand her the non-carbonated one, Airi starts gulping it down.
I whisper to Makoto.
"This time it really was a coincidence."
Hearing that, Makoto answers with a laugh.
"I know, since I'm the one who invited you."
Makoto is used to this kind of thing, isn't he.
Since we're at it, should I ask?
"Hey, Makoto."
"What?"
"At what timing do you invite someone on a date?"
"Huh?"
Makoto is stunned.
Did I ask something strange?
"I hope I'm wrong... but have you never invited Tosaka-san on a date?"
"I understand Christmas or birthdays, but I wonder what normal dates are like."
"Toya... are you serious?"
Smack!
I was slapped on the head from an unexpected direction.
"You huge idiot! Of course any time is fine!? Don't talk like a couple that just started dating yesterday or today! Airi is obviously expecting you to invite her!"
When Kanna said that, Airi let out a sigh.
"I thought you'd become a little more proactive at night, but you were still thinking about that? I told you that normal is fine, didn't I?"
B-but when I tried to invite her today, she suddenly said she wanted a picnic!
"I thought maybe normal wasn't enough."
Because if it were Makoto, he'd probably have the timing perfectly decided.
"Hmm, because it was this season, there was something I wanted to try once."
Airi sat back on the leisure sheet and patted her thighs.
"?"
"Lie down here."
Airi said that with a smile.
I lie down, having Airi give me a lap pillow.
"I wanted to try this once."
I've had a lap pillow before.
Ah, but this is the first time having one while feeling comfortable under the sunny spot...
"Is it comfortable?"
"..."
"Toya-kun?"
Before I could answer Airi's question, I had fallen asleep.
(4)
"Must be nice, that Toya guy. Kanna, I want you to do that for me too."
"Makoto... I hope you're saying that after looking at what I'm wearing?"
Kanna was wearing a mini skirt.
"N-no, I'm not worried about the clothes."
"You weren't thinking about trying to smell my crotch, or wondering if you could see my underwear, or something like that, right?"
"N-no way, there's no way! You're overthinking it."
Makoto-kun is breaking into a cold sweat.
"L-let's move along soon. It would be bad to disturb Toya and the others."
"Sorry."
"No, it's fine. Shall we go, Kanna?"
"See you later, Airi."
Saying that, Makoto-kun and the others departed.
"!?"
My heart leaped.
Toya-kun changed the direction of his head, looked at me, and is sleeping while wrapping his arm around my waist to hug me.
I hadn't imagined that far.
"Wait, Toya-kun..."
I tried to shake his body to wake him up, but I stopped.
I felt hesitant to wake Toya-kun, who was sleeping so comfortably.
Instead, I captured his sleeping face in a photo.
I'll use this as my wallpaper.
I was reading a web novel.
A romance novel.
One depicting a long-distance romance between high school students living in Kansai and Tohoku.
After about an hour, Toya-kun finally woke up.
Toya-kun jumped up and wiped his mouth.
It's okay, you didn't drool.
"Airi, sorr...!?"
Before he could finish, I blocked his mouth with my mouth.
"No apologizing without a reason."
"There is a reason. I fell asleep and left Airi alone... that's it."
"Toya-kun is sleeping on my lap under the sunny spot. I'm relaxing while looking at my smartphone. That's a very happy time."
"Come to think of it, where are Kanna and the others?"
"They went somewhere right after you fell asleep."
"I see..."
Toya-kun is searching for something on his smartphone.
Since he's absorbed in it, I peeked in.
Search: Date duration?
Poke
I nudge Toya-kun.
"Don't even search for things like that! And so boldly in front of your girlfriend."
"No, I just wondered if Airi was getting bored..."
"If you think so, shall we look around the park a bit?"
Saying that, I pack the leisure sheet and other things into the bag.
"I'll carry the luggage."
Since he said that, I took him up on his offer and had Toya-kun carry the bag.
"Ah!!"
Toya-kun raises his voice.
What's wrong?
"Airi... there's a restroom, are you sure you're okay without going?"
"Thank you, but I'm okay."
"I see..."
Even Toya-kun can be considerate like this.
After that, we strolled through the park, saw everything, and then went home.
The fathers and others are coming home tonight.
I was thinking that there's no sleepover today~, when...
"I'll do the cooking today~ Airi-chan and the others, please relax in your room~"
"Ah, but. I'm probably preparing at my place today."
Toya-kun starts getting ready to leave.
"It's okay~ I've already spoken to Maya-san and the others~"
At that moment, the doorbell rings with perfect timing.
"It looks like Maya-san is here~ Airi-chan. Could you go out for a moment~?"
Told by Rie-chan, I open the front door, and there is Maya-san.
"Here, Toya's uniform and a change of clothes. I'll leave him to you until today."
Nice, Rie-chan!
When I hand those to Toya-kun, Toya-kun stands there stunned.
"Do you hate spending time with me that much?"
Was I a little mean?
But it's the same every time, right?
I want him to be a little more distant.
"It's not that I hate it, but..."
After that, we ate dinner, took a bath, and studied in my room.
"Hey, Airi."
"Yeees?"
"You said it before, right? 'I want to cherish the excitement, like when we first met.'"
"Yeah, I'm still excited now♪"
Because Toya-kun is growing more and more.
Because he does happy things for me one after another.
My heart leaps in anticipation, wondering what's next.
"I see..."
"Is it different for Toya-kun?"
"Hmm, probably the same as Airi? I expect every day, wondering what she'll pull on me next. For example, the way she wakes me up in the morning."
He's raising the hurdle.
If he says things like that, I'll have to do something even more bold.
"What kind of waking up do you desire?"
"...Normally, if possible. Bold waking up... is fine for when I stay over on a day off."
Yes, then look forward to it.
"Thank you for today. For inviting me on a date."
"I've lost track of which one of us actually invited the other, though."
Toya-kun's words make me happy.
"Can I look forward to the next one too?"
I look up at Toya-kun.
When I beg like this, Toya-kun falls for it easily.
"I-I can't do things that are too out of the blue."
"Make sure you don't mess up the real thing, okay? Like during Christmas."
"I-I know."
That said, it's the exam season.
I don't want to trouble him by asking for too much.
For the time being, shall I be satisfied with dates at home?