Chapter 120 - The Same Sky
(1)
When I woke up in the morning, I tried to quietly slip out of bed.
However, Airi had a firm grip on my sleeve.
"Mm...? Where are you going, Toya-kun?"
"N-no, I was just thinking of taking a morning bath?"
"Then I'll go too~"
Saying that, Airi grabbed her towel and other things and left the room.
"See you later, then."
"Yeah."
With that, I went into the bath, relaxed, and then stepped out.
It seemed Airi had showered quickly.
She was waiting at the exit.
"You should have taken your time."
"I'm always making you wait, so just this once."
Saying so, she grabbed my arm.
We returned to the room, packed our things, changed, and went to the restaurant for breakfast.
After eating breakfast, we went back to the room and relaxed while watching the morning news.
Yeah, nothing particularly interesting.
Still, Kagoshima really does have more channels.
Airi was putting on her makeup.
As the checkout time approached, Airi said, "Sorry to keep you waiting~" and hugged me from behind.
"Shall we head out soon?"
When I asked, Airi nodded.
We left the room, settled the bill at the front desk, and left the hotel.
Today was the journey to Kumamoto.
I had learned yesterday that the local roads were better for getting to Kagoshima city.
From there, we would take the highway to Kumamoto city and check into our lodging.
Naturally, lunch would be ramen.
I considered Tappyen, but here, it has to be Kumamoto ramen.
(2)
The weather was great, just like yesterday.
We proceeded as if retracing the path we came yesterday.
Yesterday it was the sunset, but today it was the morning.
The scenery was completely different.
I found myself captivated by the view.
"Please, look ahead while you drive."
It's okay, Airi, I'm checking the front in my own way.
As proof, I'm keeping a proper following distance, right?
By the time we entered Kagoshima city, it was almost noon, but I endured it and took the highway to Kumamoto.
After exiting at the Kumamoto interchange, we drove toward Aso.
On the way, we stopped at a ramen shop.
"Ramen again?"
She seemed a bit reluctant, but she didn't seem truly disgusted.
I insisted on eating ramen.
By the way, tomorrow I'm eating Kurume ramen.
I ordered the black rich chashu, and Airi ordered the red light version.
I bought the tickets from the vending machine and handed them to the staff.
Noodles firm.
Delicious!
Naturally, I ordered a refill.
I had bought the ticket in advance.
As expected, Airi had some left over, so I took it.
Even the light version is quite tasty.
After filling our stomachs, I drove the car toward Aso.
This time, I didn't forget to refuel in advance.
We climbed the mountain and entered a zoo.
It was a zoo famous for having many bears.
A famous zoo that had even been featured on television.
I bought feed, and as I tried to throw it toward the bears, a bear stood up and begged.
"I won't be fooled by such feed-kuma~"
Airi said, playing happily.
Where did she learn that phrase?
I heard we could see a chimpanzee show, but I decided against it.
Because it was crowded.
Time was also tight.
We couldn't afford to be too leisurely.
"I wanted to go to Kusasenri."
"Let's come back during Golden Week next time."
"Yeah!"
Airi seemed to be in a good mood today.
Maybe this will work...!
"Airi, aren't you a little peckish?"
"Hoe?"
"Let's go into that shop."
Poke
"If it's takana rice, then next time when we go to Kusasenri."
So that's how it is...
Leaving the national road from Aso, we headed toward Daikanbo.
It felt like we were completely returning to my hometown.
But I wanted to see it once.
By the time we arrived, it had become a bit dim, but it was still a superb view.
We walked to the observation deck.
"It's lovely."
"It is."
"Let's come again."
Next time, we'll explore Kumamoto thoroughly.
After leaving Daikanbo, we headed to today's lodging, Kurokawa Onsen.
We made it just in time for the check-in deadline.
Apparently, there are four private baths.
Airi and I looked at each other.
...We aren't in a relationship where we'd be shy at this point.
We entered together.
I'm glad I chose this.
Airi washed my back.
I washed her back too.
And then we both soaked in the hot spring.
It feels so good~
While I was fully enjoying it, Airi looked dissatisfied.
"Are you enjoying yourself all alone while such a beauty is right next to you?"
Do you call yourself a beauty? Though it's not wrong.
"Airi, can you read my feelings right now?"
...Airi blushed shyly.
"...You could just put it into words."
"I love you."
"Yeah!"
Snuggling close, we immersed ourselves in our time as a couple for a while.
Dinner was lavish.
I had the aperitif changed to a soft drink, as expected.
Above all, the horse sashimi!
Thick slices, thin slices, and futaego!
It melted on the tongue and was delicious.
Furthermore, Ajisai beef and red chicken kuwayaki.
Since we could eat in our room, we were able to eat leisurely.
Airi also seemed very satisfied, but as expected, she left some over, so I ate it for her.
Oh, we did the "say ahh" thing too.
After the meal was cleared, the futons were laid out.
They laid out two, but I slid the futons together, including the mattresses.
...It was pointless.
Because Airi crawled into my futon anyway.
Airi gave me a massage.
...Just for today, it's fine, right.
I turned up the volume of the TV.
Airi looked blankly.
I took that out of the bag.
Airi seemed to notice.
I lay on my back in the futon and closed my eyes.
The TV volume was meaningless.
Airi was stifling her voice.
"Let's come again."
Airi whispered.
Maybe a Kumamoto stroll during Golden Week?
I'll have to save up money.
Maybe I'll get a part-time job...
"Next time, it's okay to go without ramen, right?"
Yeah, next time I'll have Tappyen.
Ah, but I want to eat takana rice too.
"It's over tomorrow, huh~"
"We can just come back."
"Yeah."
Saying that, Airi hugged me and fell asleep.
I can't watch TV in this position.
I guess I'll sleep too.
(3)
I wake up in the morning.
Toya-kun is still sleeping.
It was our first trip just the two of us, and it was fun.
And it ends today.
"We can just come back."
Yeah, there were still so many places we hadn't seen.
You're also interested in authentic Sanuki udon, right?
It's okay, as long as it's with Toya-kun, I'll go anywhere.
That's why we'll be together forever.
The smartphone alarm goes off.
Toya-kun wakes up.
"Good morning."
"Ah, Airi, good morning. What time is it?"
"It's only seven."
"Maybe I'll go take a bath?"
"I'll go too~"
After taking a bath and returning to the room, the futons had been cleared, and breakfast was prepared on the table.
After eating that, the nakai-san came in and cleared it away.
"Well, it'll take time today, so shall we leave a bit early?"
"Yeah."
Leaving a full hour before the checkout time, we drove toward Route 210.
Once on Route 210, we reached Hita and from there raced toward Kurume.
It's a mountain road, but when I'm with Toya-kun, everything is fun.
The car continued to run, forgetting the time.
We stopped at a Convenience Store along the way to buy juice and such.
When we reached Kurume, Toya-kun struggled with the navigation.
What's wrong?
All that's left is to get on the highway, right?
...Apparently, he wants to eat Kurume ramen for lunch.
How can he not get tired of it?
Toya-kun really loves ramen.
"Which do you like more, me or ramen?"
I tried being a little mean.
"It's obviously Airi, right?"
What was that "obviously" for?
Well, I won't worry about it.
It happened to be lunchtime.
Wood ear mushrooms, green onions, and chashu adorned the noodles.
The soup had the richness characteristic of tonkotsu and matched the noodles.
It's delicious, but I can't eat it all.
Toya-kun will eat it, so it's fine.
Toya-kun had one refill and ate my portion.
He can really fit a lot in.
After that, we headed from the Kurume interchange to Tosu... and then toward Kokura.
Toya-kun said he likes the scenery of the city.
At the Kitakyushu JCT, we switched to the Higashi-Kyushu Expressway.
Now it was just a matter of driving toward home.
The trip went by in a flash.
But we were able to leave plenty of memories.
We took a break at a PA along the way.
"I'm going to go all the way from here to the Beppu SA in one go."
Toya-kun emphasized.
Then I have to buy various things.
Maybe I'll buy some for Kanna and the others?
Once the shopping was finished, the car started driving toward home.
I feel somewhat sentimental.
I played a CD of a female J-POP singer.
A song that seemed to announce the end of the journey.
We finally arrived.
But this isn't an end.
From here, something new begins again.
I look forward to being with you from now on, Toya-kun.
For now, good job today.
(4)
We stopped at the Beppu SA for a little break.
The sun had set.
Now might be a good time.
"Airi, come here."
I called Airi and headed toward the observation deck.
Yeah, I wasn't wrong.
Makoto had said it.
That the night view from here was superb.
The daytime scenery is good, but.
The night is also quite beautiful.
"I'm glad I came."
Airi let those words slip.
How much fatigue is healed by those few words.
"There are no PAs from here until we get home..."
When I told Airi that, she headed to the restroom.
In the meantime, I bought juice.
I skipped over it, but I remember thinking that Miyazaki ramen is also delicious.
Also, I want to try the meat udon at the Kiyama SA.
For now, it's what to eat tonight.
Airi is a light eater, so that hamburger shop is out...
Shall we just go to a family restaurant to be safe?
"Sorry to keep you waiting~"
"Airi, do you want to eat dinner somewhere before we go?"
"Yeah, that's fine, but I'm not that hungry?"
"Shall we just go to a family restaurant to be safe?"
"If it's that, then it's fine."
"Well, shall we go?"
"Yeah!"
At the family restaurant, we ordered the usual menu.
"Toya-kun, since you're in the car, you'll exercise even less and really gain weight, you know?"
It's fine, I'm not exercising that much even now, right?
Is it okay for you, Airi?
Just pasta and a parfait.
"I'm not exercising either, so I have to be careful."
Saying so, Airi stuck out her tongue and laughed.
After finishing dinner, we went home.
I dropped Airi off in front of her house.
"Well, see you tomorrow."
"Yeah."
Saying that, Airi went into her house.
I parked the car in my garage and went home.
Then, I heard Mother's shouting voice.
"That's why! I cannot just give out someone else's phone number without permission!"
Click!
"I'm home~ what's wrong? Shouting so loudly."
"Ah, Toya, welcome home. How was the trip?"
"It was fun. Ah, here are the souvenirs and the card."
"Here. Toya, did something happen between Katsuya-kun and Airi-chan?"
"Katsuya?"
I looked at Mother suspiciously.
"Katsuya-kun has been calling persistently. Saying, 'Tell me Airi-chan's home number'..."
Damn. I forgot to tell my parents!
"Mother, you absolutely must not tell him!"
"I know that. He didn't seem like a very good person. And he has nothing to do with Airi-chan. Above all, isn't it polite to ask the person directly?"
I explained the circumstances to Mother.
Mother's face became grim.
"Such a thing... we can't let him come back to our hometown anymore."
"Mother, just leave him alone! If Toya is Airi-chan's boyfriend, he'll protect her properly."
Father raised his voice.
"I know."
Should I tell Airi about this?
No, it's probably better not to.
It would only make her anxious.
"Toya, how was the trip?"
I was telling Father and the others stories about the trip.