Chapter 114 - Sleepless Nights
(1)
The sudden ring of a smartphone notification.
I look at the clock.
Still 8 o'clock...
It's already winter break.
Let me sleep a bit more.
Who is it at this hour?
I get up and pick up my smartphone.
"Good morning!"
Makoto's energetic voice.
"What's wrong? At this early hour?"
"I'm in front of Kanna's house right now, but will you open the door?"
What on earth is he doing at this hour?
I open the front door lock without thinking.
The door swings open with force.
Makoto was standing there.
He looks somewhat depressed on his own.
"I see, so Kanna is a sweatpants person... Ah, but just being able to see Kanna right after waking up..."
The moment he said that, I felt my body heating up like an instant water heater.
Hair is messy, no makeup, and my clothes are just old, worn-out sweatpants.
Along with embarrassment, anger also wells up.
"...Your business is done, right? Go home, you pervert."
As I say that and try to close the door, Makoto quickly sticks his foot in.
"Whoa, wait a second! That's not all!"
"What are you going to do if you put your foot in a place like that and get injured again?"
"Just let me in! It's cold!"
Under the cold sky, has this total pervert been waiting for something like that?
It's not like this is a new occurrence, so it's fine.
I suppose this is just some kind of male romance, right?
"You're not going to start saying you want to see me change clothes live this time, are you?"
"Ugh! Am I allowed to see that too?"
Sigh, this man.
Fortunately, this perverted habit is apparently directed only at me.
I don't know if that's a good thing or a bad thing.
"Well, come in. It'll be a pain if you catch a cold."
Saying that, I let Makoto into the house.
This pervert thoroughly enjoyed watching me change clothes live, and even watched perfectly until the point where I put on makeup.
I don't even mind it anymore, but... does he not know the word "self-restraint" at all?
Having thoroughly enjoyed himself and reached satisfaction, Makoto takes a present out of his bag.
"Here, this. Today is Christmas Eve, right?"
"Thanks, can I open it?"
"Go ahead."
I open the wrapping paper of the present.
It was a slightly large blanket.
"I thought I'd like the two of us to wrap ourselves in this."
This guy's head turns quickly when it comes to things like that.
"Then, shall we use it tonight right away?"
As he says that, Makoto expresses his joy with his whole body.
"Thank you! Kanna! I thought of that and prepared an overnight set!"
He really is thorough.
"Ah, I have a present for you too."
I hand the present to Makoto.
Makoto says thanks and opens the present.
It was a pair of necklaces.
A double-ring necklace with a design that is easy to match with any fashion.
"Thanks! I'll be the one to present the rings for the fingers!"
Saying that, he put the necklace around his neck.
"You're off from your part-time job today, right?"
"Yeah..."
Because Makoto told me to take today and tomorrow off, I put in for leave.
"Then, shall we head out soon? Isn't this the first time for a Christmas date with Kanna?"
Now that he mentions it, that might be true.
(2)
"Good morning, Toya-kun."
Airi opened the door energetically.
The time is 11 o'clock.
She is carrying large luggage.
Ah, she intends to stay over, doesn't she?
I'm not surprised anymore.
"At the very least, you have to study in the morning, because we're going out in the afternoon, okay?"
Ah, that's right.
Today is Christmas Eve.
We have to at least go on a date.
Wait, this is bad! I have to make a restaurant reservation!
I forgot!
I hurriedly search for restaurants on my smartphone.
Then, Airi stopped me.
"What are you doing?"
Airi tilts her head.
"What do you mean, I'm making a reservation for tonight's restaurant..."
"...Is that necessary? Today is an overnight stay, right?"
...Somehow the conversation isn't clicking.
Perhaps Airi felt that too, as she asked me.
"Haven't you heard anything from Maya-san?"
From Mother?
I go down to the living room and ask Mother.
"Was there some kind of plan today?"
Then Mother answered.
"What do you mean? Didn't I tell you? Today you're staying at a hotel. You were so excited saying the fireworks were beautiful, so we talked about watching them from a place with a good view and reserved it a while ago."
Huh?
...My mouth hung open.
"That's how it is, so you get your things ready too."
Normally, a parent would stop me saying, "You're studying for entrance exams!" right!?
"Anyway, even if you're at home, tonight won't be a time for studying, right? Just stop your useless struggling already."
Saying that, Mother returns to the cooking.
I return to my room.
"Did you hear the story?"
Airi is smiling.
"Yeah, I heard."
"Then, let's get ready!"
I begin preparing.
Well, I heard the illuminations at that hotel are beautiful, and if Airi is satisfied, then I guess it's fine?
(3)
After finishing my morning preparations, just as I was about to go to Toya-kun's house, I was stopped by Rie-chan.
"Are your preparations for the overnight stay ready~?"
"They're ready~?"
So I don't need dinner tonight~.
Toya-kun probably hasn't prepared dinner again, has he?
Just being able to see the fireworks with Toya-kun makes me happy, so he doesn't have to worry about it, okay?
"We're leaving at 15:00 today, so make sure you're at Toya-kun's house~."
Huh?
"Leaving for where~?"
"Apparently Katagiri-san had reserved a hotel~. Ah, the rooms are properly divided into two~."
"H-Hotel!?"
"It seems like a thank-you for last year's New Year's Eve~. Get yourself ready~."
Toya-kun's house, huh~.
Rare things do happen~.
As usual, I enter Toya-kun's room and call out, "Good morning~."
As expected at this hour, he woke up honestly.
Toya-kun also seemed to have heard nothing.
When I told him we were staying tonight, he hurriedly went down to the living room.
And then he came back trudging.
Toya-kun, preparing for the overnight stay without saying anything.
Don't make that face.
It makes me anxious.
Do you dislike spending time with me that much?
That's not it, right?
You said we'd be together forever, right?
I hug Toya-kun from behind.
"Airi?"
"Do you dislike staying overnight with me that much?"
I ended up asking.
Will he hate me?
Lately, Toya-kun is very kind.
The way he looks at me is kind.
With such kind eyes, and a kind voice, you call out to me.
"There's no way that's the case, right? It's just, since our parents are together, I thought we wouldn't be able to flirt."
Saying that, Toya-kun laughs.
Toya-kun didn't hear properly, did he?
I told Toya-kun properly.
"They made the rooms separate," I said...
He's making a troubled face again.
What a troubled person.
It's too late for that now.
Don't be so troubled.
Let's spend tonight together too.
Stay by my side forever and ever.
Toya-kun's warmth is a winter present.
Look forward to it.
So for now, let's study until it's time!
(4)
We arrived at the hotel around evening.
After completing check-in, we go to the rooms.
Two people and four people... isn't the room assignment strange?
It's the doing of the parents who have completely overturned all my common sense. I won't worry about it now.
When Airi and I entered the room, we were surprised.
It's spacious!
The beds were twins, but as expected, Airi placed her luggage on one of the beds.
It's too late for that now, right.
I won't be surprised.
I check the window. I can see the sea.
But since we're here, there's also the option of seeing it from the hot spring.
Shall I ask Airi?
"Whatever Toya-kun likes♪"
Airi seems to be in a good mood.
For now, I'll go take a bath...
I spend time relaxedly in the open-air bath.
When I return to the room, Airi was asleep.
She has changed into a yukata.
The smartphone rings.
It's from my parents.
"You're watching the fireworks, right? Let's eat early."
I wake Airi.
I meet my parents at the front desk and head to the meal.
Crab! Meat! Ramen!
"You have to eat your vegetables properly too."
Saying that, Airi takes some vegetables.
I eat every single thing available.
Airi didn't eat much of the meal and was eating dessert.
"Airi, is it okay to eat dessert with something like that?"
"Toya-kun, don't you know? For a maiden, dessert goes into a separate stomach."
The parents were completely wasted.
"Toya-kun is already 18... and it seems he's made up his resolve... my role is already finished..."
"All that's left~ is for Airi-chan to give us a healthy grandchild~."
My parents said they didn't need grandchildren yet, but...
"Because the name of the daughter... was already decided a long time ago."
Even specifying the gender! Parents!
After eating, we return to the room, prepare a change of clothes, and go to the hot spring again.
I go the way of wearing a swimsuit for the mixed bath.
Yes, I can overlook the sea.
The cold is the downside, though.
But watching fireworks while in a hot spring.
It's an experience you can't often have.
I want to do it at least once.
The downside is that because they are too far, they only look small.
With this, I can't say we came to see the fireworks.
Sorry, Airi.
I look at Airi's profile.
She is narrowing her eyes, trying hard to see.
Behind us, a laser show is happening.
"It's beautiful, isn't it~."
I don't know if she's talking about the laser show or the fireworks, but Airi let out those words.
Would it have been better if I had given some kind of response?
By the time the fireworks ended, both of us were sufficiently warmed up.
On the way back, we walk down to the hotel while looking at the illuminations.
Airi is frolicking while taking photos.
"The station front is beautiful, but this way is even more amazing~."
Amidst the snow piling up here and there, Airi's frolicking is impressive.
Airi's cute smile, brightly illuminated in the darkness of the night.
I feel like I can say it now.
It's dark, my expression can't be seen, and the atmosphere of Christmas Eve will probably permit it.
I bring my face close to Airi's ear and say one thing.
"The illuminations and fireworks were beautiful, but the most beautiful one is Airi."
The moment I uttered that, as if Airi's switch had been turned off, Airi's movements stop.
And then she begins rebooting, and gazes at me as if she remembered.
"Toya-kun, are you cold?"
Huh?
"Are you so cold that you caught a cold?"
Ah, I shouldn't have done something that doesn't suit me.
"If you haven't caught a cold..."
Airi clings tightly to me.
"We have to take anti-cold measures!"
Airi's body is warm.
It might just be that I'm chilled, but it's warm.
It feels like she's warming me from the bottom of my heart.
"Shall we head back soon?"
Airi's body must have cooled down too.
It would be terrible if she caught a chill after the bath.
We returned to the room.
Upon returning to the room, we turn on the television.
A Christmas staple music program is on.
It's almost entirely artists I don't know, but that didn't matter.
Because I just wanted noise to distract from the atmosphere.
Because if I gazed at Airi, I felt like I'd get a strange feeling.
The time had passed 22 o'clock.
It's fine now, right?
Airi seems to think so.
Airi sits next to me and snuggles up to me.
Her chest is open, and I can see two pure white mountains standing side by side.
It seems there was almost no meaning in turning on the television.
Noticing that gaze, Airi says with a smile.
"Toya-kun, you pervert."
But she doesn't try to hide it.
Rather, she appeals as if to say, "Please, look as much as you like."
The mischievousness Airi shows occasionally.
As I try to return my gaze to the television, Airi's hand grabs my face.
"Do you dislike it?"
Tonight is Christmas Eve, you know?
Airi's expression seems to say that.
There's no way that's the case, right?
I've properly prepared as well.
I stand up and search through my luggage.
Did I fail?
There is only one way to reassure her, who looks as if she's thinking that.
I show the item I took out to Airi and head toward the bed.
A smile returns to Airi's expression.
As we enter the bed together, I pull Airi close.
Wait, before that.
I leave the bed once.
What's wrong? Do you dislike it after all?
Airi's expression changes busily.
And then she shows a relieved expression again.
I return to the bed carrying a drink I bought at the convenience store.
"My throat was a bit dry."
"...Can I have some too?"
We are partners who have exchanged deep kisses dozens of times already.
She won't mind something like an indirect kiss.
When I hand the plastic bottle to Airi, Airi takes a sip.
"It's okay to turn off the lights now, right?"
Airi asked that.
When I nod, Airi turns off the lights.
Naturally, she turns off the television too.
The two of us lie in a single bed, clinging to each other in the dim light.
Airi has her eyes closed.
Did she fall asleep?
There's no way, right? I know.
It's just that a mischievous spirit sprouted.
I close my eyes too.
Good night.
Poke
"Toya-kun, you meanie."
Saying that, Airi clings to me.
"I wonder if this is the last one for this year?"
Airi mutters.
"If Airi wishes, tomorrow too..."
Poke
"You really are a meanie."
Airi gets angry, puffing out her cheeks.
I pat the head of such a lovely Airi.
"Does Toya-kun dislike it?"
"There's no way that's the case."
"I'm glad..."
At that moment, the notification sound for a smartphone message.
"If you're free tomorrow, want to go hang out?"
It's from Makoto.
Ah, another Watanabe squad summons.
It seems one had come to Airi from Kanna as well.
"What will you do?"
Airi had a lonely look on her face.
Apparently, her intuition is sharp and clear on event days.
"I'm studying at home tomorrow, so I'll pass."
"What the, you're so cold~."
"You should spend time alone with Kanna too."
"We're alone right now. Are you doing it well?"
"I'm doing it, how about you..."
"After doing it... whoa!"
The messages cut off there.
What did you do, Makoto...
Airi starts laughing.
What's wrong?
Airi showed me her smartphone screen.
"Makoto might be blowing unnecessary things into Toya's ear, but don't let it bother you."
At that moment, I suddenly noticed.
Airi's smartphone background... I feel like I've seen it somewhere.
I try fiddling with the smartphone.
It was my sleeping face.
Hurriedly, Airi hides the smartphone.
To such an Airi, I show the home screen of my smartphone.
There, Airi's sleeping face was...
Airi tries to grab my smartphone, hurriedly trying to erase it.
"We're even, right?"
"Uuu..."
Airi makes a troubled face.
I'd definitely like to take a photo of that expression too, but she looks like she'll get seriously angry, so I'll stop.
"We did what we had to do, shall we sleep now?"
"Uuu..."
Do you dislike being made into a smartphone screen that much?
As I perform the operation of changing the background while showing the screen to Airi, Airi stopped me.
"That's fine... Just..."
"Just?"
"You won't get angry if I say it?"
"I think I'll probably be fine?"
"...I want to do it one more time."
Eh?
"Don't make me say it so many times! I'm only 18 too!"
Airi pats my chest poke poke.
It's okay, I have up to 108 sheets of those.
Poke
"You were thinking some strange line in your head again, weren't you! It showed on your face!"
If I were to say it in Makoto's style, would it be "Because there is romance there"?
I prefer marrons, though. (T/N: pun on "roman" (romance) and "marron" (chestnut) in Japanese)
Airi clings to me.
"Just for tonight, don't think about strange things and fill your head with me. Give your heart to me."
It's okay, Airi.
Because I'm always full of thoughts of Airi and food.
"Food is also forbidden tonight!"
I understand.
I intrude upon such an Airi's heart.
My heart is stolen by such an Airi's world, and I sway in Airi's eyes.
Because the fluttering snow wraps around the smile, I wish for eternity.
A fragment of Airi is buried deep within me.