Chapter 106 - A Place to Belong
(1)
The prefectural general tournament opening ceremony.
Everyone had gathered at the stadium on this day.
Even buying a juice was a struggle.
I left Airi and the others in their seats to go buy some.
As soon as I did, I was surrounded by female students.
"Wow, it's the person who was on TV!"
"He does the Air Walk at that height!?"
"I mean, he was a hot topic in soccer last year!"
It was like this.
I thought that if I were with Airi and the others, it would be troublesome because I'd be surrounded by male students, so I came to buy them alone, but it seemed the result was the same.
Wait, this isn't the time to be thinking about that.
If Airi sees me like this...
"I wonder what you're doing, Toya-kun?"
She's watching, as expected. It's a cliché.
Airi approaches, leading a large group of men.
She pushes through the women to get to me,
creating a chaotic state where men and women are all mixed together.
"It looks like you bought your juice."
She said, looking at the drinks I was holding.
"Well, shall we go back?"
"Shall we go back?" my foot.
If she links arms with me so ostentatiously...
"Who is that woman? She's seriously annoying."
"Isn't that her!? The one who said she wouldn't let her boyfriend play soccer."
"She was on TV too. Saying he's her boyfriend to be proud of..."
"Why is she with such a plain guy?"
"I'm several times better than him."
"Just because he can do a bit of sports doesn't make him special."
We were being insulted to our hearts' content.
And then, our path was blocked.
Both the boys and girls said in unison.
"I'd be kinder than him, you know?"
"I think I'd be better, don't you?"
Airi says a single thing.
"Toya-kun is far better than people who try to catch someone else's partner just to put them down, and I have no intention of losing to people who flirt just because they saw him on TV once. Right, Toya-kun?"
"Right?" my foot.
After pouring gasoline—not just oil—on the fire, she leaves it to me at the end?
Look, the aura of anger is flaring up.
If I say something, the atmosphere feels like it will explode all at once.
That said, if I don't say something, this situation isn't going to settle down.
"Toya-kun?"
Airi looks at me anxiously.
Move as I feel. I guess.
I put the plastic bottles and cans in my pockets.
Holding only one in my hand.
Then, I grabbed Airi's hand and charged into the crowd.
"Sorry, please let us through."
I push through while protecting Airi.
Then, a well-built man blocked the way.
I looked up and saw it was a couple I knew well.
"Watanabe-kun and Mika-san?"
"Yo, Toya. Mika said she absolutely wanted to see you."
"Toya-kun?"
When Airi asked back, Watanabe-kun nodded.
"Yo, Toya. Long time no see!"
Mika-san greets me.
"I saw you on TV. You're amazing, despite how you look."
Mika-san says this and pats my shoulder.
"Wa, Watanabe-kun, if it's about that, we can talk slowly later..."
I say this and look behind me.
"True, then..."
Before Watanabe-kun can say anything, Mika-san—who is standing between us and the hangers-on—
"You're all so annoying, swarming around like goldfish poop!! Get lost already! You want a beating!?"
she yells.
Due to the intensity of Mika-san's fury, and perhaps because Watanabe-kun was standing behind her, the hangers-on dispersed.
"Thank you, you saved me."
I thank Mika-san and Watanabe-kun.
"I don't need thanks, so give me an autograph!"
Saying that, Mika-san takes out her student ID and a pen.
I write my name in the memo section of the student ID.
"Toya-kun needs to practice writing his autograph too."
Airi says this and laughs.
"Well, see you later then."
With that, Mika-san leaves.
Later?
"Makoto is with us too, right? Let's go to a family restaurant after the opening ceremony."
"Is Makoto okay? Doesn't he have practice or something...?"
"I asked Kanna-san. She said 'Today is fine.' Even though the match is tomorrow."
"Ah, Toya-kun, let's go back too, I have to give the juice to Kanna."
I'm rushed by Airi.
Ah, that's right.
The three of us returned to our respective high school seats.
(2)
"Toya, absolutely do not play this year!"
That's the first thing Makoto says.
"Rest assured, I won't play even if I'm begged."
I've had enough of what happened last year.
In fact, this year too, I was asked by my homeroom teacher, the advisor, my classmate Umeki-kun, and my junior Sakura-san.
"Wouldn't it be okay to play just one match?" Mizuta-sensei says.
I went through hell in that one match.
This year, in addition to the Soccer Club, I was asked by the Basketball Club.
I refused, using final exams as the reason.
"Well, if you put it that way, I won't force you... but as I've said before, for someone like you, advancing to university through soccer is possible, you know?"
"I've already decided on the university I want to go to..."
"I see... so you haven't changed."
Partly because entrance exams are coming up next year, no one forced me.
Except maybe Sakura-san, who wouldn't back down easily.
There were people curious about which university I intended to go to, though.
"Alright, if Toya isn't playing, we can make it to the Inter-High this year!"
Makoto is happy.
It seems there were no leg injuries or such this time.
"Tosaka-san and the others are going to the same university, right?"
When Makoto asks, Airi and Kanna nod.
"We intend to go to the local university too."
Eguchi-san says.
Since she said "we," does that mean Ishihara-kun is too?
"I intended to as well... but what about Eita and Sashihara-san?"
"I intend to go to the Medical School side, but Eita..."
What happened to Kiritani-kun?
"I got an E rank on the last mock exam. I plan to take a safety school... but it's no good!"
"...That's how it is."
"So basically, the Watanabe group is going to the local university. I thought Isshi and the others would be different."
"I didn't have the courage to leave my hometown..."
"I intended to match Isshi."
Ishihara-kun has it rough too.
"Well, it seems most of us are going to the local university, so let's hope for acceptance on the first try..."
When Watanabe-kun says this, everyone clinks their glasses filled with soft drinks.
(3)
It seems the Ida High Soccer Club has secured a spot in the Inter-High.
Kanna was happy.
A message had arrived for me too.
"Thank you for not playing!" it said.
With the prefectural general tournament over, the immediate goals are final exams and the subsequent mock exams.
...Or so it should be, but I have to plan the next date soon.
I wonder if a normal one would be fine this time?
But "normal" is difficult.
According to the internet, inviting her to lunch is good, but in my case, that would probably be a fail.
I can see her getting angry, saying "All you think about is eating!"
"You two didn't just start dating yesterday or today, so any time is fine!" Kanna had said.
"Airi, shall we date tomorrow?" "Where to?" "..." I can see it happening.
What's good? What would make Airi happy?
"Toya-kun, that part is wrong."
The destination is either the station building or the shopping mall; it's becoming a rut.
Ah, we haven't been to a movie lately.
I'll look it up.
I take out my smartphone and search.
Poke
"I wonder what you intend by touching your smartphone while studying?"
I was scolded by Airi.
That's right, we were studying.
"Sorry, I was just looking up movies."
I confess honestly.
Hiding it uselessly only makes it troublesome later.
"A movie? Ah, I see."
Airi seems to have caught on.
However, she seems to be considerate of Kanna and doesn't cling to me.
"Hmm, it's right before tests, so let's concentrate on the tests, okay?"
"...You're right."
Apparently, not just the location, but the opportunity itself has been taken away.
Why is the timing always so bad?
After that, I concentrated on studying.
Or rather, I was immersed in it.
"Toya. I'm going home soon."
To the point where I didn't even hear Kanna's voice.
Smack!
Kanna's way of correcting me is also relentless.
"Planning another date with Airi again, huh? You were daydreaming even while studying."
Did something happen?
"Finish up with the studying and immerse yourself in Airi next."
Kanna says this and leaves the room.
Airi has been quiet for a while.
Her mechanical pencil remains stopped, and she's staring at me.
When our eyes meet, she hurriedly drops her gaze to her notebook.
Did something happen while I was immersed?
"Airi, did something happen?"
Asking straight out is fine once in a while.
"N-nothing happened? Maybe I should go home soon too?"
"Eh, but it's only 9 PM...?"
"Ah, that's true... then maybe I'll stay a bit longer?"
Something definitely happened.
She doesn't seem like she'll answer if I ask normally.
What should I do?
...Airi does it all the time, so maybe it's fine?
I press myself close to Airi's side.
"T-Toya-kun, it's still study time!"
That doesn't matter.
I put my arm around Airi's shoulder and gently pull her close.
"It might be because I was immersed in studying, but you seem a bit strange. What's wrong?"
"...Let's study now! I'll tell you later..."
Airi says this and drops her gaze to the notebook again.
Is she angry? Or does she not feel anything?
I don't think I did anything to spoil her mood.
What happened during the time I was immersed?
Well, fine.
Since she says she'll tell me later.
I immersed myself in studying again.
"Toya-kun."
I was called by Airi and snapped back to reality.
The clock has passed 11 PM.
"Sorry! Airi, I got carried away again!"
Airi shakes her head.
"Can I make a phone call?"
"...You can, but to whom?"
I had nothing but a bad feeling.
And it was correct.
"Hello, Rie-chan? I'm coming to pick up my uniform now... yeah, it's late today, so I'm staying over at Toya-kun's house~"
After finishing the call, Airi tells me "I'll be right back" and leaves the room.
I shall say no more...
(4)
Toya-kun has entered his own world again.
What's different from usual is that he's not thinking about something, but is simply immersed in studying.
I wonder what it feels like to enter the world of studying?
I felt like I wanted to peek in a little, but since I said "Let's concentrate on studying!", I can't disturb him.
Kanna is here too, so I can't enter forcefully.
At that moment, Kanna spoke up.
"Right now, Toya isn't listening to us at all, is he?"
"I think he's probably not listening."
"...How has it been since then? Has Toya changed?"
"...What has?"
"...I mean that! That! You were complaining that it's always the same pattern, right?"
I guessed what she meant. But...
"I told you, right? I'm happy just because Toya-kun is my partner."
"Don't you want to immerse yourself in a happier feeling?"
Ugh... when put that way, maybe so.
"Is there a way to do that?"
I tried showing him other DVDs, but as soon as he realized it was an imitation of the DVD, it didn't change much.
"I think it's possible if you use Toya's ability."
"?"
"Make him immerse himself in Airi while you're doing it. So that he thinks of nothing but Airi."
"Surely, Toya-kun isn't skilled enough to think about other things while doing it."
"But he's not immersing himself either, right? He's probably just immersed in the act itself and isn't thinking about Airi."
Ugh... when put that way, it might be true.
But how am I supposed to enter Toya-kun's world?
"Airi has to work hard too. Let him know that I'm here. That his partner is me. Not some actress in a DVD."
"If there were such a method, I would have done it long ago..."
"Toya is kind, so he probably doesn't demand things from Airi. He tries to handle it on his own. Even though it's essentially a joint effort..."
"?"
"Listen..."
Kanna whispers in my ear.
Hearing that, my face turned bright red.
My whole body is hot.
It's embarrassing.
"That's impossible! I've never done it... it said it was difficult on the DVD."
"Airi just needs to think only of Toya too. You watched closely before, right? Just imitate it. How can you make Toya happy? I told you, it's a joint effort."
"...Won't I be seen as a loose woman?"
"Try putting yourself in Toya's shoes. Do you think Toya would think such a thing?"
I close my eyes and think about it.
That... probably wouldn't happen?
"Well, why not try it tonight? I'll come a bit late."
"Tests are next week! I don't have time for that."
"Who was it that said 'If you study normally, you won't panic during test periods'?"
Kanna says this and grins.
"Well, I'm going home now. Enjoy yourselves~"
Kanna says this and smacks Toya-kun on the head.
Toya-kun seems to have returned from his own world.
After Kanna left, I was lost in thought.
Am I really doing it tonight?
I'm not prepared for various things.
I'm not mentally prepared yet either.
While I was thinking about that, Toya-kun pressed himself close to my side.
We're studying right now, you know?
Though I'm not in a state to study either.
If he does that... I'll get in the mood.
Toya-kun pulls me close and says
"It might be because I was immersed in studying, but you seem a bit strange. What's wrong?"
No, it's not your fault.
Toya-kun's world, which I can understand by touching him.
Only I was there.
You're thinking only of me right now, aren't you?
...I've decided.
"...Let's study now! I'll tell you later..."
Toya-kun entered his own world again.
He's become able to enter his own world even while studying.
Then, during the act, you'll be able to think only of me, right?
My resolve is made.
Around the time it passed 11 PM.
I spoke to Toya-kun.
Toya-kun apologizes with a single "Sorry."
"Can I make a phone call?"
"...You can, but to whom?"
I silently call Rie-chan.
Telling her I'm coming to pick up a change of clothes and such.
Toya-kun is taken aback.
Don't make that face.
Toya-kun is the one who put me in the mood!
I'll make you take responsibility.
After returning home and preparing my things, I went back to Toya-kun's house.
Maya-san asked me, "It's before tests, right? Is it okay?"
"With the current Toya-kun, it's okay even if we let loose a little," I answered.
Leaving behind a head-tilting Maya-san, I returned to Toya-kun's room.
Toya-kun is hiding something under his pillow.
"I'm back~"
Toya-kun panics.
You're still faithfully executing what Makoto-kun told you, aren't you.
But it won't be like that tonight.
Be prepared.
I met you, someone I can be proud to love.
There are people who cannot understand each other even if they do their best, but you were different.
Don't forget, even if I'm lonely, I won't lose.
The reason I became able to be proud of myself is surely from that day I met you.
(5)
Airi was more proactive than usual.
Airi caresses me with all her might.
So I responded with all my might too.
Without being swayed by a single DVD.
Airi's voice is louder than ever.
Airi's breathing is rougher than ever.
I was the same, my breathing being rough.
Airi's confession began after the act ended.
I listened intently.
What an endlessly lovely woman she is.
What an endlessly kind person she is.
After listening to the end, I held Airi again.
The clock had passed 1 AM.
"We should sleep soon or we'll oversleep tomorrow, right?"
"I'll wake you up with a kiss..."
If you do it now, I'll have to wake up now, right?
Airi clings to me.
"Yeah, as I thought, my place to belong is here."
I hold Airi gently.
"Then, I guess my place to belong is here too?"
"That's right~"
Airi whispers in my ear.
"We'll be together forever from now on. Because my place to belong is inside your heart."
Saying that, Airi fell asleep.
I'm the same.
I am proud of Airi too.
I fell asleep in the same place as Airi.