Chapter 121 - Things I Want to Do
(1)
"Toya-kun, this one suits you better!"
"No, that's way too flashy... I can't use that for job hunting."
"Ugh..."
Kanna and Airi are arguing.
They came to buy a suit for my entrance ceremony, and now they're arguing over the pattern of the tie.
The one Airi chose was a pink polka-dot style. The one Kanna chose was plain black.
I'll be buying another suit specifically for job hunting anyway, so it's fine, right?
I guess I'll have to get one made for the Coming-of-Age Ceremony too.
"But Kanna's is too plain. It looks like you're going to a funeral."
I think Makoto is right.
Makoto chose a blue striped pattern.
"Isn't this one good?"
"Ugh... it's frustrating, but it does look good on him."
"Since Makoto, a man, is saying it, it must be true."
Don't let women choose your ties. Did I read that somewhere?
"Will these five items be all?"
The clerk asks.
When I answer "Yes," they say, "Then, let me take your measurements..." and measure me with a tape measure.
"It will be ready shortly, so please wait a moment. If you could handle the payment first..."
"Wait a second!"
Airi calls out a stop.
"Toya-kun, since we're already here, you should buy some casual clothes too. They have a lot of variety here."
"Ah, true, Toya might actually need some."
Without listening to my opinion, they head toward the casual section.
Then, they spend about thirty minutes killing time, holding up various clothes one after another, debating this and that.
"Excuse me, your suit is ready..."
To that, a basket full of clothes packed by Airi and Kanna is added.
"Will that be all?"
"...Yes."
Airi and Kanna are whispering behind me.
"Didn't they go a bit overboard? Even if they're cheap, that's going to cost quite a bit."
"Ugh... Toya-kun, wait...?"
I take a black card out of my wallet.
"Excuse me, I'll pay by card."
"Yes, I'll take that."
Saying so, the clerk accepts the card and completes the transaction.
"Then, please sign here."
Once I sign the provided paper, the card is returned to me.
"Thank you very much."
I put the card back in my wallet.
The wallet was abnormally light.
Because it contained only a few bills and two cards.
"Is something wrong?"
I spoke, looking at the three of them, who were stunned.
"No, I was just wondering if it's okay for Toya, who doesn't even have a part-time job, to pay by card."
"Ah, I'll talk about that while we eat dinner."
Saying that, I left the men's clothing store.
The sun was beginning to set.
On the way back, we stopped at a family restaurant and placed our orders.
I got a drink from the drink bar and took my seat.
"I'm surprised you passed the screening."
"Well, there are cards for students."
"Ah, I have one too. I was told to use it carefully."
Airi shows her own card.
"But even if you can pay by card, it's no good if there's no money in the account, right? Is your allowance enough?"
"I'll talk about that now. Actually, I was thinking of only telling Airi. But it's not something that'll cause trouble if you two hear it too."
We've been close for six years, after all.
"...Did something happen?"
Sensing something, Airi says anxiously beside me.
I pat Airi's head and tell her, "It's okay."
"Wait wait wait wait, whenever you talk like that, it's always a heavy topic. We're outta here. Right, Kanna?"
"No, I'll listen. It's far more worrying to leave Airi and you two alone. You'll probably just start fighting with Airi again."
It's not really like that lately, is it?
Well, it might be more reassuring to have Kanna here.
I remove my hand from Airi's head and began the story.
The matter goes back to the day before we went on our trip.
(2)
"Well, I have to be up early tomorrow, so I'm going to bed. Goodnight."
"Wait, Toya."
Was I called by Father?
I wonder if something happened.
I sit down on the living room sofa.
Father placed a single document, a seal, a bankbook, and a cash card on the table.
"What is this?"
"It's a credit card application. I'm submitting it tomorrow, so fill it out now."
A credit card? I'm a student.
"Look closely at the account holder's name."
Mother also finished the cooking and sat down next to Father.
The account holder is... Masato Katagiri. It's Father's name.
"The credit limit is set low. Use it without worrying. Just don't lose it."
Father says with a laugh.
For now, I fill out the document as told.
But why all of a sudden?
And what about this bankbook and card?
"On the day you decided to go on a trip, I spoke with your mother. From here on, there will be car maintenance costs, socializing expenses... and travel costs like this time, right? It would be hard and painful for you to consult your mother every single time."
"I'll look for a part-time job once I enter university."
"Is that something you decided with Airi-chan?"
"No, I haven't talked to her yet."
But if I don't work, I should at least earn my own money for hanging out.
"...Toya. You've worked hard enough. Not just for your father and mother. You've endured the pressure from Airi-chan and the Tosaka family to get this far. From now on, you can live with your head held high."
"And what do this bankbook and card have to do with that?"
"I heard you were thinking about living alone?"
To be precise, while supporting a dependent.
"Airi-chan told you, didn't she? 'Since you'll be getting an allowance from your parents anyway, it's fine to stay as we are now.'"
"How do you know about that?"
"Airi-chan was worried. She was consulting your mother, saying 'I might have said something that puts a burden on him again.'"
Airi said such a thing.
"Your father and I thought it would be fine to send you an allowance. Your will to work a part-time job and become independent has reached us. That alone is enough."
"Toya is becoming a university student now, right? There isn't much more we can do for you. Besides, Airi-chan is supporting you."
I'm not planning on accepting her as my bride [just yet].
"Think of it as a substitute for an allowance. I'll regularly transfer pocket money into this account every month, so use it plannedly. If possible, use the credit card to have fun. That is the greatest support I can give."
"You don't have to think about paying us back. Think of the fact that you and Airi-chan become happy as the greatest way to repay us."
Mother and Father's talk continued.
"I've told the Tosakas too. Realize that you've already become that kind of couple."
"Have you never considered the possibility of breaking up during university life?"
"Looking at you and Airi-chan, I don't think that. No matter what difficulties lie ahead, you can stand at the front and carve a path. If you get lost, Airi-chan will push you from behind."
"If possible, you can use the card to buy an engagement ring."
"That's a no!"
I shouted.
"Only that, I want to earn the money myself and present it to Airi."
"With that spirit, you'll be fine. You'll use the credit card effectively. Tomorrow, take your father's credit card. It's compatible with ETC."
"Toya has been carrying everything alone until now. Rely on your parents a little."
"...Thank you."
Saying so, I gratefully accepted the card and bankbook.
"The only thing I'm making you shoulder isn't just the future of the Tosaka family, but the mortgage of this house too. It's a prior investment."
Father says with a laugh.
I couldn't lift my head.
"Toya, do your best."
Mother says gently.
No, I have to be more reliable.
By the way, after the trip ended, I received the card and checked the account.
A considerable amount was in there.
...I withdrew just a little.
(3)
"That's what happened... I'm jealous of you," Kanna says.
That's true, Kanna earns her own money to make her own allowance. I feel pathetic.
"Just so you know, when I'm on a date with Makoto, Makoto pays. I rely on Makoto too. Stop comparing me to Toya."
Saying so, she tries to soften the heavy atmosphere.
"I'm the same. Even if I want to work a part-time job with the allowance I get, I don't have time for a job because of soccer. I'm no different from you," Makoto laughs.
Airi is sinking alone.
"Did I say something unnecessary...?"
"Don't worry about it, apparently they were going to let me live alone and send an allowance anyway."
Airi just beat me to the punch.
And I just changed the excuse.
"I was told when I got my card too, 'Use it carefully. Cooperate and support each other with Toya-kun to live your lives. I told you, we mothers are just here to support you'..."
Silence falls.
The menus arrived long ago.
"It's no use getting all sentimental! Let's just eat. The food will get cold," Kanna says.
"Y-you're right," Airi says.
"But it's enviable. It's basically like you two have already been given permission to marry!" Makoto makes a fuss.
"It was already like that. You knew, right?" Kanna says.
"Then let's go out and play even more wildly!"
Makoto is trying to force the mood up.
But it's okay. By talking about it, some of my hesitation has vanished.
I put my arm around Airi's shoulder and say, "We've already played ahead of you."
Airi is surprised.
"You haven't played with me yet, have you!? I don't think the four of us will be able to meet again for a while..."
"Fine... so, where do you want to go?"
"Hmm, we're still high schoolers. Maybe that amusement park after all!"
"Which amusement park?"
"The one with [Jupiter]."
"That's rejected, Airi can't do scream-rides."
"If you say that, we can't go to any amusement park!"
"I-I'm fine. I'll just watch."
"Even if Airi is fine, I'm not. I want to make noise together."
"Ugh... then, should I endure it and ride?"
There's no need to endure it.
"There's a place I want to go," I suggest.
"Where?"
Makoto asks.
"The shopping mall in Hakata."
"Going all the way to Hakata for shopping!?"
"They have various events going on right now, and I haven't seen the cityscape of Hakata yet."
"If it's that, I'm okay too."
Airi became keen.
"Yeah, shopping in Hakata isn't bad."
"If the three of you say so..."
Makoto reluctantly agrees.
"Thank you," Airi whispers in a small voice.
It's fine, it's a fact that I wanted to go.
"What about the cars? Should we go separately?"
Airi said she preferred separately.
That Airi now has a troubled look on her face.
"Isn't separately fine?"
"OK, Toya, can you keep up with my driving?"
Makoto grins.
Are you planning to race?
Yours is a sports type, right?
"I'm starting to feel like it's better to leave the driving to Toya..."
Kanna lets out a sigh.
"Why?"
"Your driving has been too rough lately!"
"Kanna, you're the one who revs the engine on purpose and acts all great!"
"That's because if I don't step on it that much, the gears won't connect. Using the half-clutch damages it. Also, I'm not revving it that much! I just changed the muffler."
That's out of bounds, Kanna...
"Well, Makoto has Kanna with him, so he won't be reckless."
"I hope so..."
"You trusted my driving, right?"
"Is there some reason why we have to go separately?"
"W-well, we might take separate actions on the way back."
"Where are you planning to go?"
"W-well, love hotels, or love hotels, or city hotels... even Kanna wants to let out her voice fully once in a while... Ow!"
"Rejected! Toya, is it no good?"
"Ugh... I'm fine? Toya-kun."
Airi gave in; is this what they call female friendship?
This is troublesome, I have a connection with Makoto, so I can't just flatly refuse.
On the other hand, there's Kanna's worry.
Hmm...
Sorry, Makoto.
"Fine, I'll provide the car."
"As expected of Toya!"
"Toya, don't you two want to flirt alone?"
"I do."
I answer casually.
"Then..."
"But we'll flirt even if there are four of us anyway, right?"
"W-well, I guess so."
"But Kanna, be prepared..."
"W-what is it, Toya?"
"The inside of the car will be filled with the world of me and Airi, okay?"
"Huh?"
"T-Toya-kun!?"
Even Airi is surprised.
"Despite how I look, the two of us create an atmosphere. I think it'll be more intense than Kanna and Makoto when we went for the first shrine visit of the year."
"You noticed even though I was sleeping?"
"I heard it from Airi."
"...Sigh, I'll just put up with Makoto."
Kanna seems to have given up.
"Kanna, your true feelings are just as Makoto said, right? Airi makes loud noises at my house..."
Poke
Crack
The former was Airi and the latter was Kanna.
"Toya-kun, you idiot!"
"Don't say unnecessary things!"
It hurts...
I said this for Makoto's sake.
Be grateful.
(4)
We were meeting at a Convenience Store near the interchange.
As expected, Makoto and the others arrive late.
In the meantime, I do various shopping.
By the time the shopping is finished, Makoto and the others arrive.
"Sorry, sorry, I overslept."
"Sorry, I was sleeping. Ah, we're going to do some shopping too."
Saying so, the two enter the Convenience Store.
And once they finish shopping, they come out of the Convenience Store.
"Well, shall we go?"
And so, the two cars enter from the inbound direction.
"Thanks for yesterday."
Airi spoke while looking at the scenery.
"For what?"
"For turning down the amusement park. For saying let's go in two cars. I was happy."
"That's good."
I avoided getting beaten up for nothing.
"Ah, a waterfall~"
"Yeah, you said there was one."
"Wow, the view is great even during the day. I can see the sea."
Airi leans over toward the driver's seat.
That's dangerous.
At that moment, I noticed that Makoto, who is behind us, is using his turn signal.
Moving to the overtaking lane, Makoto accelerates all at once and passes us in an instant.
What should I do?
If I want to pass him back, I can, but the speed limit here is 80 km/h.
There's no reaction from the radar.
If I don't go, will Airi think I'm pathetic?
That's probably not the case.
Rather, it's better to ignore it.
"Poor Kanna, to drive so recklessly while she's in the car."
It seems I was correct.
"In that regard, Toya-kun is kind, driving safely."
I instinctively removed my left hand from the steering wheel.
Because Airi clung to my left hand.
"Let's not do that while driving. It's dangerous."
"Sorr-y~"
Airi sticks out her tongue, whether she's reflecting or not.
"By the way, Toya-kun."
"What?"
"I was thinking about why Toya-kun suddenly said he wanted to go to the shopping mall..."
Gulp!
"So, there are still things to buy, right? And I wanted to try driving on the urban expressway."
I'm not lying.
"Boo. I looked it up properly on the internet! You're aiming for that famous tonkotsu ramen shop!"
I'm completely exposed.
"I-if you don't want to, it's fine."
Airi shook her head.
"It's fine. I've decided that I'll go anywhere as long as I'm with Toya-kun. I've realized that just being able to go together makes me happy. So..."
So?
"Let's go to the amusement park just the two of us next time?"
"Eh?"
"If it's suddenly with Makoto-kun and the others, I'll probably be the only one screaming and crying, which is embarrassing, so consider this a rehearsal with Toya-kun."
"I see. The list of places to go has increased again."
"I think there are many things that are better to do while we're students."
"True..."
While we're students, huh.
Come to think of it, there were things I wanted to do before entering university.
"Airi, are you thinking about any circles?"
"Not at all."
"I think that's exactly the kind of thing you can do while you're a student..."
"Did Toya-kun have a specific circle in mind?"
"...Yakiniku Appreciation Club."
"...Is there any point in doing that as a circle?"
I'm the one who wants to know.
"Ah, you can't turn left there."
"I know."
I drove straight.
A message arrived on Airi's smartphone.
"Where are you?"
Airi replies while looking at the navigation.
"Just passed the Hinode JCT."
"Waiting at Yufudake PA."
"They're waiting at the PA ahead."
"Got it."
"You're slow, Toya!"
"You guys are just too fast."
"Sorry, this guy started saying some incomprehensible stuff like 'my foot won't leave the accelerator,'" Kanna says with a sigh.
Ah, he read the Devil's guide, didn't he?
In that case, he should have used more of a sports car.
For example, coming in Kanna's car.
"You thought I'd come in my car, didn't you? I absolutely cannot let this guy ride in mine!"
"Kanna, didn't you say you could hit 300 km/h?"
...They're a good couple, Kanna and the others.
After finishing the break, we start driving again.
"Toya-kun, please don't become like that."
It's Airi's request. I absolutely must listen.
"It's okay, this isn't that kind of car."
"Yeah!"
We approach the Tosu JCT.
"It's not here, okay? It's the next one, turn left."
The navigation guides us, so it's fine.
"Switching from Dazaifu Interchange to Fukuoka Expressway~"
The cute navigation announces.
"I know."
After that, I continue along the road following the cute voice of the navigation.
And then we arrived at the destination.
"Anime exhibition!"
"Clothes! Shoes!"
"I'm fine anywhere."
"I'm hungry, so maybe some ramen."
Result.
We split into two groups for free activity.
Was there any point in coming together?
"Well, shall we go, Toya-kun?"
Airi takes my hand and leads me.
The destination is... a ramen shop!?
She's a goddess, a goddess is right before my eyes.
"I'm a little hungry too, right?"
Ramen! Extra noodles! Extra chashu! Soft-boiled egg! Wood ear mushrooms and seaweed!
Strong flavor! Super rich! No garlic! No green onions! Double! Extra firm!!
"Hey, hey, Toya-kun."
Airi speaks to me after I've finished ordering.
"What is it?"
"I kept quiet because I wanted to come to the shopping mall, but..."
"?"
"This shop is also in our hometown, isn't it?"
What!
I hurriedly search on my smartphone.
It's true...
"Why did you keep quiet?"
"Because if I'd said something, you would have tried to go alone, right?"
"W-well, yeah."
Since Airi seems to dislike ramen.
"I told you I wanted to be with Toya-kun!"
I see...
After eating ramen, we walk around shopping.
Once we've finished shopping for everything, I send a message to Makoto.
Then, a message comes from Kanna.
"Go home ahead, we're staying overnight before returning."
Huh?
"Something came up. Sorry!"
"In that case, we'll join you."
"No, we can't drag Toya and the others into this."
I don't understand the meaning.
Airi seems to have noticed. She's giggling.
A call comes from Makoto.
"Hello?"
"Ah, sorry Toya! Kanna says she wants to go around the Hakata food stalls, so we're staying overnight."
"Food stalls!?"
Ramen came to mind.
There was that option!
Poke
"Toya-kun already ate ramen, didn't he?"
"But there are other things at the stalls, right?"
Otherwise, Kanna wouldn't say she wants to go around, right?
Poke
"It's still too early for Toya-kun!"
Saying so, she laughs.
I see, it's too early...
"Then, shall we go home first?"
"Yeah."
And so, we went home first.
It goes without saying that after this, Kanna was out of control in the night of Hakata.