Chapter 112 - Letters of Autumn Leaves
(1)
November.
Autumn deepened, and the time came when the autumn leaves dyed the trees.
We were chased by preparations for the mock exams.
As for Makoto, he was a step ahead of us, taking the special sports recommendation entrance exams for private universities.
Two months left until the entrance exams.
It was the time when exam studying entered its critical phase.
"Good morning, Toya-kun~ It's finally starting to get cold, isn't it~"
I wake up sluggishly.
Perhaps because of the cold, my head is fuzzy, but the chill wakes me up all at once.
No way, I'm going back to sleep!
But there was no way Airi would allow that, and she holds me back as I try to wrap myself in the futon.
"Look, this is warm, right? Wake up, wake up"
"...Airi. Then how am I supposed to change clothes?"
"U-uu... I'll do it for you once I've changed"
Airi looks a little troubled. Every single gesture she makes is cute.
Airi changed right in front of me, so it's okay for me to change too, right?
Taking off my sleepwear and putting on my uniform, I gently hugged Airi, who was still feeling down.
"Yeah, it really is warm"
"Really! You can be warmed by affection!"
Airi's expression changes instantly and becomes bright.
Is she embarrassed?
Airi's body temperature is certainly high.
Her coat is off.
Did she catch a cold?
I try pressing my forehead against Airi's forehead.
She doesn't seem to have a fever.
I wonder if all girls are like this?
I feel a mysterious warmth.
"Hey, Toya-kun"
"What is it?"
Airi says she'll pull away from me.
"I want to stay like this forever... but we'll be late, you know?"
I looked at the clock.
This is bad.
I led Airi toward the dining room.
Airi's "bride training" seems to be continuing, and apparently, Airi is still the one making breakfast.
That said, it is breakfast.
It's just toast, plain omelets, salad, and soup.
"Is it delicious?" Airi asks.
At this point, the only people who could say it tastes bad would be the parent and child from a certain manga.
"It's delicious. You're really getting used to our home's taste"
"Yay. I'll make dinner for you on my days off too"
"Airi-chan, it really feels like you've become our daughter-in-law"
Mother says while washing the dishes.
"I'm still not there yet~ I have to firmly memorize the tastes Toya-kun prefers"
Letting her do the laundry, cooking, and even cleaning—is Mother already feeling like a mother-in-law?
Since that day, Airi's "bride training" has been escalating.
Though she does it while studying.
I wonder if Airi will collapse?
"Airi, there's a long way to go, so you don't have to rush so much"
"I told you I'm waiting. I have to be prepared so I can take it whenever"
"I think balancing it with studying will be difficult. Maybe make it only on your days off"
"That's true, so you can come and stay over on your days off"
Mother is saying something incredible quite casually.
"Airi-chan, is your exam studying going okay?"
Father was asking Airi.
"It's okay~ My mock exam results weren't bad either"
Since Airi isn't losing to the crowd in Class III, she'll probably be fine.
"In that case. The rest depends on Toya... How about you, Toya? Do you think you'll pass?"
"They told me it's fine during the three-party meeting, though"
Mother responded to the question.
"He'll be fine. Toya-kun has been so immersed when he's studying lately. No matter how much I tempt him, he doesn't even notice"
I don't think that's something to say in front of parents, Airi.
Once I finished breakfast, I headed to the washroom as if escaping.
After getting ready, I returned to the dining room.
"Airi, it's time to go"
"Yes~"
(2)
There are mock exams every weekend this month.
And at the end of the month, final tests are waiting.
"Studying as usual will be fine," Airi says, but lately, I haven't been studying properly on the weekends.
Even so, just as Airi said, the results weren't bad.
It's strange.
It looks like Kiritani-kun will also get into a private university.
Apparently, everyone in the so-called Watanabe group is at the passing line.
I wonder if they'll gather with the same members at university too?
Since Sashihara-san's campus is different, it won't be together.
"It looks like everyone can pass," Watanabe-kun says.
Despite that, Watanabe-kun has had a gloomy face lately.
Did something happen?
While I was hesitating whether it was okay to ask or not, Kanna asked instead.
"Watanabe, you've had a gloomy face lately, what's up?"
Watanabe-kun answers surprisingly simply.
"It's a bit of a thing with Mika..."
"Did something happen to Mika?"
"Yeah... it's a bit of a thing with her parents"
Was Mika-san quite wealthy?
I heard she lived on the upper floors of a high-rise apartment in the city.
"Well, it's a complicated relationship. That's part of why Mika is acting out. I've been worrying about it"
"Worrying... if it's okay with me, I'll listen"
I think it's better not to ask about things that are too intrusive.
"Well, it's okay to tell you guys"
Since he said "you guys," that means we're included too.
"Is a fast food place on the way back okay?"
"I can go straight to my part-time job from there, so I don't mind"
"I'm okay too," Airi also seems fully intent on listening.
"What about Toya?"
Watanabe-kun asked.
Listening is fine, but...
Pop
"A fast food place is fine, right?"
It seems she sees through everything.
(3)
"The big one, a Double Cheeseburger set, a Teriyaki, a Filet-O-Fish, and a Chicken Filet, with fries and Coke for the drinks..."
Pop
"Do you understand what you came here for, Toya-kun?"
"Airi, you said you'd accept my appetite..."
"I have the role of controlling that overflowing appetite of yours, Toya-kun!"
I never heard about such a role.
"Toya is already completely under Airi's thumb, huh"
"I've heard the story, Toya. I heard you gave Tosaka-san a proposal notice. Looks like you'll have a hard time"
I'm already having a hard time.
"So, what happened?"
I asked Watanabe-kun while crushing a Big Mac.
"Yeah, I'm thinking of living together with Mika after I graduate high school"
I choked.
"L-living together is sudden news!?"
"What will you do about living expenses?"
"I'll work a part-time job"
I felt a little bit of interest.
Because I had been thinking the same thing.
Living together with Airi.
Something I dreamed of just a little bit.
Can it be done with just part-time job wages?
"I probably won't be able to play around flashily, though"
"What happened? This is quite sudden..."
Kanna was asking Watanabe-kun.
"Both of her parents have affairs"
I almost spat out my Coke.
"...And then?"
Kanna is listening calmly.
Airi is staring blankly.
It seems her thoughts can't keep up.
This kind of Airi is rare.
"And, they're both spending all their time at their respective partners' houses. They've left Mika neglected. Apparently, they're paying for tuition and giving her living expenses, but both parents are often gone. Mika is the way she is, and I just can't leave her alone"
"I see..."
Kanna listened in silence.
"Is such a thing possible?"
I questioned.
"Mika's parents are like 'do whatever you want.' In fact, there's a feeling that they both think it's easier if the other isn't around. My parents have accepted it too"
"Which means..."
"Parental rights and all that don't matter, so as soon as Mika becomes independent, it'll be an immediate divorce"
"That's a difficult story,"
Airi lets out a single word.
To think she carried such complicated circumstances.
To think there was such a shadow behind that brightness.
"So every day, I go to Mika's house. Because I don't know what she'll do if she's alone"
"You're going through a lot... Mika too... Watanabe too..."
"I believe the time will come when it'll be rewarded"
"I see..."
Kanna fell silent after that.
A heavy atmosphere envelops us.
"Congratulations, Watanabe-kun"
I said that.
"Wait, Toya-kun, what are you saying!?"
Airi is surprised.
"Because, in the end, you two love each other and decided to live together, right? I think it should be celebrated"
Rather, I almost want to hold a small celebration feast.
"Toya, were you listening properly?"
Kanna seems a bit irritated.
But I continue.
"I'm envious of Watanabe-kun. I respect Watanabe-kun. Watanabe-kun, who decided the two of them would live together regardless of the circumstances. Watanabe-kun, who made the resolve to support Mika-san. I don't have the confidence to support Airi yet. I think when I can make that resolve someday, we'll live together"
"T-Toya-kun!?"
Airi is flustered.
"You were thinking that too?"
When Watanabe-kun says that, I nod.
"That's why, instead of sympathizing by saying 'how pitiful,' I'll encourage you by saying 'do your best.' Wishing that you'll move toward the light, even if only a little"
"Thanks"
"No, I'm the one who should thank you"
It was helpful.
I'm not yet mentally prepared to put it into action immediately, but I'll turn my hesitation into positive power.
Just placing my dreams upon the future...
(4)
"That's amazing, Watanabe-kun"
Airi spoke like that on the way home.
"Yeah, though it's probably because things are that desperate"
Still, it's amazing.
And it makes me realize how much I'm soaking in lukewarm water.
I don't even have the courage to take one step forward.
Pathetic.
I truly feel envious of Watanabe-kun.
He looks radiant.
What should I do?
Should I live together with Airi too?
I think it would be a painful life, but can I properly support her?
Should I consult my parents, or Airi first?
Pop
Ah, did she enter again?
"You were worrying about something trivial just now, weren't you?"
Saying that, Airi smiles brightly.
"You had that look on your face"
Is it trivial...?
"Look, why don't you try consulting me?"
"Hmm, is tonight at home okay?"
"It's okay, yay. You finally trusted me. Because you're always worrying alone and running wild, Toya-kun"
I thought I was better than Airi, whose delusions run wild.
"So, what's the consultation?"
Airi started the conversation while drinking her juice.
"Actually, when I go to university..."
"Do you want to work a part-time job and live together with me?"
What. I'm exposed.
"But, that's a Boo! Rie-chan and Father would probably support it. I think they'd give us financial aid too, but that's no different from now, right?"
"I'm saying this because I want to change that"
"I think you were mostly influenced by Watanabe-kun, but you don't have to rush that much. When we want to spend the night together, we can spend it together. Let's depend on our parents for now, okay? We can pay them back later"
My parents would probably support me too.
No, the moment they pay my tuition, it's the same as being supported.
I say I'm independent, but I'm not independent.
On the contrary, it would end up placing more of a burden on them.
"I'm sorry for being pathetic, Airi"
"You're not pathetic, you know? I've heard there are people who say they're standing on their own while having all their living expenses covered by their parents. The fact that you think you're pathetic means you're admirable, Toya-kun"
Airi says this and hugs me.
"I told you, didn't I? 'I'll wait forever'... don't rush. It's okay to go slowly"
Airi's voice is kind to the very end.
"Well, shall we study?"
Saying that, Airi returns to her usual position.
"Sorry for making you worry so much"
"In my heart, I'm already Toya-kun's bride. My role is to support Toya-kun~ Since I'll support Toya-kun, don't worry and move forward. As long as I have life, I swear to give my whole heart. I swear here to love, cherish, and remain faithful to Toya-kun, in good times and in bad, in richness and in poverty, in sickness and in health, until death do us part"
She really is in the mindset of a bride.
"I swear too"
The words came out naturally.
"Mm"
Airi nods with a full smile.
At that moment, my smartphone's ringtone sounded.
I look at the smartphone.
"Sorry, I passed the university a step early"
I tell Airi about it.
Airi lets out a cry of joy.
"Congratulations," I send in one word.
"Thanks," came the reply.
"Next it's our turn," Airi says with a bright smile.
That's right, next it's our turn.