Chapter 111 - 17 Years Old
(1)
"Oh, good morning, Toya-kun. You're here early for once. I'll go wake Airi-chan up."
"W-wait, Obasan!"
I called out to Airi-mama in a small voice.
I pressed my index finger to my lips, and she seemed to understand the meaning.
"It's all well and good to catch her off guard while she's sleeping, but don't you think you're a bit short on time?"
I didn't know how to respond to Airi-mama's comment, so I brushed it off with a dry laugh and quietly sneaked into Airi's room on the second floor.
I had done this once before, so I wondered if a second time was a good idea, but I couldn't think of any other surprises.
I decided to go through with it, figuring it was better than overthinking it and accidentally making her angry.
Today is October 5th.
It's Airi's birthday.
The birthday present is in my bag.
I hope she likes it.
I step into Airi's room.
Airi is sleeping, her breathing soft and steady.
I quietly turn off the alarm clock sitting beside her bed.
Airi's sleeping face looks so peaceful.
She's cute.
I want to pounce on her just like this.
And tell her, "I'm the present~"
...I'm just a pathetic boy.
I stopped because I felt I would definitely step on a landmine.
If it were Airi, she might instead say, "Then I won't hold back~" and pounce on me.
Instead, I capture her angel-like sleeping face in a photo.
Now, it's time to execute the plan.
I place my hand on Airi's shoulder.
My hand is shaking.
"Nn..."
Is she awake!?
Soft breathing...
Seems she's still out.
I'm nervous.
I'm always the one being played. For once, a little counterattack...
I kiss Airi.
You want to wake up to a prince's kiss, right?
Airi opens her eyes slightly.
Then, when she sees my face, her eyes snap wide open.
At first, Airi's hands tried to push my body away, but for some reason, they gripped me firmly.
And then, she enjoyed the duration of the kiss.
Having savored the kiss—which felt long yet short—Airi smiled brightly and spoke.
"Good morning."
"Good morning, Airi. Happy birthday."
"Birthday? ...Ah, so that's why Toya-kun is here. At first, I thought I was dreaming~"
"Here, this is your present."
I take the present out of my bag and hand it to Airi.
"Can I open it?" Airi asks.
When I nod, Airi breaks the seal.
Inside was a perfume from a certain brand.
"Yay! ...Ah, but."
But?
"I wonder if Toya-kun will notice if I wear this?"
It's okay, I've been properly checking Airi's scent lately.
"Thank you," she says, giving me a kiss in return.
"Now then... it doesn't seem to be a dream, so I guess I'll get ready..."
Saying that, Airi gets up and begins to change her clothes.
"Wait, Airi!! I'm leaving the room now."
However, this little devil in the form of a cute angel grabs me.
"It's fine if it's Toya-kun~"
It's not fine for me!
"You don't have to be shy at this point, right! Or... do you hate seeing me in my underwear that much?"
That voice is cheating, Airi.
Resigned, I sit down on the spot.
Airi changes her clothes unabashedly.
"Remember before, when Toya-kun was half-asleep and changed in front of me?"
"That was because I was half-asleep, right?"
"Some people might be shy... but I'm fine. Actually, I'm happy. I felt that we'd become close enough to trust each other that much."
I'm feeling incredibly awkward right now, though.
"I'm done~ shall we go downstairs?"
"Yeah."
"Ah, that's right."
Airi stopped in front of the door.
"Since it's my birthday today, maybe I'll make one request?"
Please make it within reasonable limits.
"Accompany me for dinner today."
"I've already looked for a restaurant with that intention?"
It seems we can get in this time even without a reservation.
"We're having a birthday party. At my house."
"I thought we could have a quiet meal just the two of us."
"We can do that even if it's not my birthday! I think Rie-chan is probably really fired up for this."
"If you say that's what you want, Airi, then that's fine."
"Yeah♪ We have to invite Makoto-kun and Kanna too... Ah, and..."
And?
"Prepare your overnight set."
Ah, so it's going to end up like that after all...
(2)
Pop pop!
As the light of the candles on the homemade birthday cake by Airi-mama was blown out, party poppers went off.
"And with this, Airi-chan joins the ranks of the adults~"
Come to think of it, I remembered the terrifying thing she said before.
I'm still 17... it should be fine.
"Airi, congratulations."
"Tosaka-san, congratulations."
Presents are handed to Airi from Kanna and Makoto.
"Thank you~"
Airi is happy.
"H-hum... you've grown so well... Airi."
"Good work to you too, Tosaka-san. Let's drink today."
Airi-papa is sharing drinks with my father.
"As for the future... I wonder if I can leave it to Katagiri-san? ..."
Huh?
"It's still too early; at the very least, not until after university graduation."
"I-I see..."
I think Airi-papa is the only parent who would let a 17-year-old boy shoulder his daughter's life.
"Airi-chan~ I've told you before~ from here on, you act on your own responsibility~ Mama and the others will just be cheering you on~"
"I know~ right, Toya-kun?"
I'm telling you, I'm still 17...
"Hmm..."
Airi is thinking about something.
When she's thinking like this, it's probably something not-so-great.
It's better not to touch upon it.
I focused on eating.
"Would it be too late to give it at Christmas? Or maybe New Year's..."
The food Airi-mama makes is truly delicious.
Makoto and I devour it one after another.
"I guess I'm the only one who can say it~"
"She's 18, so it should be fine now," Airi-papa says, attempting to pour wine into a glass.
No, I'm still 17.
"Maybe I'll give it as a present on Toya-kun's birthday~? Hey, what do you think, Toya-kun?"
Ah, she's throwing the conversation to me.
Should I pretend I can't hear?
It's not a good strategy to make Airi angry on her birthday.
For now, I'll just listen.
Though listening is also terrifying.
"What is it, Airi?"
"I mean~ the marriage registration. After all, Christmas or an anniversary would be better, right?"
I choked.
I knew she was thinking of something not-so-great.
"Oh, Toya. Don't tell me you've already proposed?"
Kanna bit onto the topic.
"There's no way I've already done that."
"A student marriage, huh~ I'm not very interested in that."
Yes, Mother, please say more.
"Toya isn't working yet, either."
Mother is reliable today.
"Wouldn't it be fine to just register the marriage? These two are already living a life practically identical to being married."
Father is the enemy. Well, he's drunk, so it can't be helped.
"The parents could even cover the cost of the ceremony, you know?"
"Father, I'll save up that much myself."
"T-that means you have the intention to marry."
I feel like I've been skillfully trapped.
"That just now was a proposal, right. It was, right?"
Airi, I haven't said "let's get married" a single time yet.
"Toya-kun, there's always the option of paying it back after you get a job~"
Airi-mama, I don't think that's the issue here...
"Toya, I'm not saying you two should become independent immediately. But it wouldn't hurt to leave a form of your love behind, would it?"
Isn't that exactly something that wouldn't be too late to do after becoming independent, Father?
"U-uu..."
Airi-papa is tearing up alone.
It's too early to be immersed in sentimentality.
"Toya, you've got it rough..."
Contrary to his words, Makoto is holding back laughter.
"Toya-kun, do you hate the idea of marrying me?"
Airi asks anxiously.
How many times do I have to say that voice and expression are cheating?
"I-is there some deficiency in my daughter..."
It's no use, nothing gets through to a drunk person.
It's troubling even if you glare at me that much.
"I'm still 17..."
"You'll be 18 by Christmas, right?"
Even Father.
I feel like I just took a back attack, which I heard existed in old RPGs.
The atmosphere won't settle unless I say something.
I never thought I'd end up saying a line like this at 17.
It would be more accurate to say I'm being forced to say it.
But Airi will probably feel more secure if I tell her properly.
Now I just have to pray that Airi's delusions don't run wild...
"When the time comes, I'll tell Airi properly. However, I'm still immature right now... so I want you to wait a little longer."
Yeah, that's not a line a high schooler should say.
I'm starting to feel embarrassed saying it.
However, it seems those around me didn't think so.
"It seems you've finally made up your mind, Toya."
No, Father. I said I'm still immature, right? Were you listening?
"A student marriage, huh. Well, there's the option of parental support. You don't intend to leave the house immediately, right?"
I don't intend to marry immediately either, Mother.
"Toya-kun, please don't make my daughter wait too long~. Women have a time limit for having children, you know~"
"N-no, not that far..."
Wait, does marriage = childbirth?
"H-hum... I leave my daughter in your hands."
Airi-papa grips my hand tight.
Now the atmosphere has completely become as if I've proposed.
"Toya, congratulations."
Kanna, what are the congratulations for? I only said "wait."
"Toya, if you play soccer, you can get married right away!"
What are you talking about, Makoto?
Amidst all this, Airi said nothing.
Everyone noticed the change in Airi.
Airi was crying alone.
"What's wrong!? Airi!"
Kanna calls out.
"I was just so happy to finally receive a proposal notice from Toya-kun that I couldn't help it."
A notice... there's no telling what will happen from here on.
"...Airi. Congratulations. Toya-kun, thank you. ...I've finally been able to fulfill my daughter's dream... she is my flawed daughter, but I leave her to you."
"Tosaka-san, let's leave the damp talk aside. Let's drink plenty tonight."
"H-hum..."
"Maya-san, let's drink too~"
"That's true~ it's a celebratory occasion, so since we're here~"
The parents seem to be completely wasted.
"Well, we'll be heading home soon..."
Kanna and Makoto say.
"I wish you'd stay longer. You're off tomorrow, right?"
When Airi says that, Kanna gently pats Airi's head.
"We have times when we want to spend the night just the two of us, too. Read the room."
Since that day, the problem seems to have been resolved.
I had heard the story from Makoto.
That it was "simply a misunderstanding of feelings."
"Well, I guess I'll head home soon too."
As I say that and take my things to go home...
"Toya-kun is staying overnight tonight!"
Saying that, Airi grabs my luggage and won't let go.
"You should stop your futile struggling by now," Kanna says.
"I'll hear the details from Kanna and then we'll hype it up, the talk of the penalty game. You're the one who suggested it, right? You have to fulfill it properly," Makoto says as if it were someone else's business.
Saying that, the two of them left.
"Shall we go upstairs too?" Airi urges.
"Go ahead and take a bath~" Airi-mama says.
"Oka~y, then. Toya-kun, shall we go in?"
In Airi's mind, it's probably already decided that we're going in together.
(3)
After taking a bath, we were relaxing and watching TV in Airi's room.
Airi was snuggling next to me, resting her head on my shoulder.
We were watching a drama.
A drama about 17-year-old boys and girls.
A drama where a childhood friend girl returns to the countryside and all sorts of things happen.
Since they were the same age, I thought it would be a story I could empathize with, but it wasn't really like that.
The worlds we live in are too different.
However, I liked the ED song.
Why not make memories where you won't cry anymore?
I wonder if I can make memories like that?
This year, I've already made Airi cry... have I.
That was an unavoidable incident, though.
In another two months, I'll be 18.
The period when responsibility and freedom are granted.
Will I be stepping into a different world again?
What kind of world is waiting?
For now, it's the university entrance exams.
Right...
But as Makoto says, it's not as if there isn't the option of turning pro in soccer and becoming a couple with Airi.
Though Airi already seems to feel as if we're married.
I suddenly look at Airi.
Airi is immersed in the drama.
Her dignified profile is also beautiful.
Footprints that won't disappear, youth that can't be erased.
This dream, this love, without missing the chance...!
I was searching on my smartphone.
...It's definitely not something I can buy with my allowance.
As I thought, it'll have to be after I become a working adult.
Four years from now...
I wonder if she'll wait for me for four years?
There is no certain guarantee.
I want a promise.
When I become an adult...
It's something I'm told often.
Like a strawberry that seems reachable but isn't.
Even if I think now is the chance, a cold reality awaits.
Depend on my parents?
I'm not at that age anymore.
A child, but not a child.
I want to separate from my parents, but I can't.
Frustrating, painful, agonizing.
In just another two months, I'll be 18.
Yet, what I can do doesn't change.
Is it okay to make her wait four years?
Will she lose interest in me?
Poke.
Airi is looking at me.
"Are you in the mood now?"
Airi was looking at me and smiling brightly.
Ah, she saw the smartphone screen.
"Sorry, it was open again."
"That's fine, just answer the question."
You already know, don't you?
You're asking even though you know, right?
While I was thinking about how to answer, Airi moved first.
Airi hugs me.
"I'll be waiting forever. Don't rush. I just wanted to confirm Toya-kun's feelings. It's okay now."
"...I'll definitely come and get you."
"Is that a proposal?"
Being told that made me snap out of it.
Airi is laughing.
"...Yes. I'll be waiting."
Wait a minute, take that back!
"What's wrong? Why are you panicking?"
Airi tilts her head.
"Pretend that didn't happen!"
"Why? Are you scared after all?"
"It's not that, I'll think of proper words..."
Airi laughs out loud.
Did I say something that deserves to be laughed at?
"I don't need cheesy words. Toya-kun's words just now really resonated in my heart. Simple is fine. Because I already belong to Toya-kun."
Airi buries her face in my chest.
"Thank you. For fulfilling my dream."
I couldn't see Airi's face, but I could tell it was wet with tears.
"I wonder if we can overcome them? The countless hardships in the future ahead."
"If it's the two of us, I'm sure we can laugh and turn the tables..."
As long as I have Airi, I don't need anything else.
I won't cry anymore, and I won't make her cry.
That's how I'll survive today.
(4)
"Phew..."
I was sighing while spinning a pen.
There's only a little time left until I can't be with Eita anymore...
Well, once we become university students, there'll be plenty of time to meet outside of school.
More than that, I'm worried about whether Eita will properly get into a Private University.
I've heard that if he takes it, he'll pass.
I wonder if he's thinking about what happens if he fails?
Will he be a ronin?
Even if he were a ronin, he'd probably just spend his time playing around.
Thinking about that, I suddenly felt a strong desire to hear his voice.
I try calling him.
"Hello?"
The sound of the TV is loud.
"Are you studying properly?"
"I-I am."
"Then fine."
"Do you need something?"
Is that how you talk when your girlfriend calls you?
"I don't particularly need anything."
"I see."
"If this is a bad time to call, I'll call back later."
"No, it's fine."
After that, we talked about trivial things for a while.
Though the sound of the TV bothered me.
I wonder how many dozens of times I've heard that single word, "I love you."
While I think it's persistent, there's a part of me that's happy.
I mean, you're in the living room, right?
Your parents can hear, right?
Exercise some self-restraint.
He's bad at talking, clumsy, and makes me anxious.
But he's an honest person who can say "I love you" straight.
He hasn't changed since we started dating.
That's what's cute about him.
"Shut up, old man! Be quiet!"
He's fighting with his parents.
It's probably about time.
"It sounds like you're clashing with your parents, so I'll hang up soon."
"Ah, it's fine. I'm totally okay."
"...Could you switch to your father for a moment?"
"?"
It seems Eita handed the smartphone to his father.
I've met Eita's parents when I stayed over.
"Eita is always causing you trouble..."
He's clearly in a bad mood.
"I'm sorry for calling for so long late at night. Was he in the middle of studying?"
"No, he doesn't study at all. It's a real problem."
"I see, I'm sorry for interrupting."
"No, my son is the one at fault, so please don't worry about it. More than that, my unworthy son..."
After listening to the father's talk for an eternity, I had Eita switch back.
"Eita... so it was a lie that you were studying."
"I-it wasn't a lie."
"I'm saying this because I'm worried, you know."
"I-I'm fine."
"Instead of crying in regret later, let's live today to the fullest."
"..."
Life has no end. Because it continues.
"You said it doesn't end, right?"
"Hmm?"
"Even if we go to different universities, it won't end, right?"
"Do you want it to end?"
I tried saying something a bit mean.
"No way!"
"Then stop worrying and stay focused with what you can do now!"
"Got it. I'll hang up now."
"Yeah, do your best."
The call ended there.
Truthfully, I want to hug Eita right now too.
That feeling is almost uncontrollable.
But today, tomorrow, and the day after tomorrow,
Because it doesn't end and continues, let's survive properly.
Rather than crying later.