Chapter 122 - Rural Landscapes
(1)
The four of us had come to a computer shop.
Buying a manufacturer's pre-built PC is less ideal than one packed only with the necessary performance.
Airi and I already have computers.
However, mine is a desktop.
What I want is a laptop.
Airi came to buy the software necessary for creating reports.
Makoto, Kanna, and I were looking for PCs that came with that software.
The graphics card and such can be ordinary.
As long as the power supply is solid, it's fine.
Also, the memory and eMMC capacity.
It's surprisingly small.
I might need to buy USB memory sticks as well.
...Yeah, I've decided on this one.
The price is reasonable.
I'll have the software added as an option. I attempt to negotiate the price.
I managed to get a slight discount.
"I'm going with this one, but what about everyone else?"
"I'll leave it to Toya, you're the expert, right?"
"I'll take this one."
The specs aren't bad, and the design is nice, but...
"Kanna, I think the OS on that might not be compatible. The ones at school are probably the Windows type."
"Oh-ess?"
"It means it won't have compatibility with the school PCs."
"What, is it that complicated? Then I'll just take the same one as Toya."
And so, the three of us buy the same PC... then a problem arises.
"Uuu... if the three of you are getting it, then I'll take it too!"
And so, we bought four laptops.
We begin the setup at my house.
Airi knows how to do it, but Makoto and Kanna are beginners.
I explain the process to them carefully.
Kanna is slow to pick things up, and I end up lending a hand.
Perhaps that level of contact rubbed Airi the wrong way.
"Toya-kun, I don't understand this part~?"
She grabs my other arm.
"Where...?"
"This... how do you use it?"
"It's just ordinary word processing software. It's not difficult, is it?"
"But I don't get it~!"
At this rate, explaining spreadsheet software or presentation software is going to be a struggle.
"You can use the internet with this, right?"
Makoto asked abruptly.
"...Makoto, videos eat up capacity."
"I know that much, so I bought an external SSD!"
So you do have some knowledge, Makoto.
"With this, I won't be lonely on the nights I'm not with Kanna—ow!"
I'm already used to the interactions between these two.
"Uuu... it's so hard..."
Airi is struggling on her own.
"You don't have to rush, you can just learn slowly."
"...Toya-kun, teach me, okay?"
Even though I've never touched it myself.
"Toya, teach me too."
I didn't think I'd end up in a position to teach others.
I'll have to practice how to use it.
(2)
The local university campus.
We came for a visit.
We walked around looking at the library and the computer room.
We ate lunch at the student cafeteria.
"We'll be studying here starting next month, huh."
"Yeah."
"I'm starting to get nervous."
"Me too."
"..."
"What's wrong?"
"Your feelings don't seem to be in it."
"Ah, sorry. I'm just kind of nervous."
"Eh?"
I feel a sort of guilt.
Like I'm sneaking in.
"Acting all secretive like that will only make you more suspicious."
Airi says this and laughs.
"Hmm, do you want to take a little look?"
"At what?"
"The soccer practice."
Eh?
"Sorry, I just thought if you have even a little interest, it might be nice to enjoy watching it?"
"I'll pass. I appreciate the thought, but..."
I'm done being dragged into troublesome things.
"R-right. Sorry."
"It's not something for you to apologize for, Airi. Shall we head out soon?"
"Yeah."
"The university is quite large, isn't it?"
"You haven't gotten lost, have you?"
"Did you think I have no sense of direction?"
"That's not it, but you're my precious navigator."
"Yeah!"
Airi looks happy.
"Are you two freshmen?"
Technically, we haven't enrolled yet.
"You're Katagiri Toya-kun, right?"
People who remember my name and face at times like this are usually...
"Let's go, Airi."
"Wait, can't we just watch the practice for a little bit?"
"I'm sorry, but we don't have time."
"I wouldn't mind giving you the past exam questions for the first semester's lectures."
Ugh, that's actually a bit tempting.
"No cheating like that!"
So she says.
"Come visit again during the entrance ceremony."
Leaving that soccer official behind, we headed for the parking lot.
"Toya-kun, the day of the entrance ceremony seems like it'll be tough!"
Airi is laughing as if it's someone else's problem.
"Airi, you might be called for a miss contest or something."
"That wouldn't happen for a first-year."
That was half right and half wrong.
(3)
Since there was nothing in particular to do that day, I was looking at reference books with Airi.
Reference books for certifications that can be obtained in the faculty I'm entering.
If I can get them quickly, it's better to study early.
Thinking that, I was staring down the reference books with Airi.
...I don't understand the meaning of this at all.
I don't know if Airi understands or not, but she's immersed in it.
Just then, Mother knocked and entered the room.
"Toya, what are you doing?"
Mother said that as soon as she saw us.
"What do you mean 'what'? I'm studying."
Is there such a thing as getting scolded for studying?
...There was.
"Once you go to university, you'll be buried in study, so play while you still can."
Saying that, Mother took money out of her wallet.
I hurriedly stopped her.
"I've already received enough, so it's fine!"
"Aren't you studying at home because you have no money?"
"No, I'm just studying because I really have nothing to do."
Mother whispered in my ear.
"For Airi-chan's sake, you should go out and play."
Saying that, she forcibly handed me a Yukichi-san (T/N: 10,000 yen bill).
"...Alright. Thank you. But I'll do it tomorrow."
"Why don't you at least take her out for dinner today?"
She really seems to be telling me to go have fun.
"Alright."
"If you want, you don't even have to come home."
When a parent says that, it makes me feel a bit hesitant.
When Mother left the room, I spoke to Airi.
"So, as I said, shall we go somewhere?"
"Yeah, I'll go change. I'll prepare my overnight set too~"
Airi left the room saying that.
Just in case, I'll prepare mine too.
After putting Airi in the car, we stopped at a convenience store for now.
"Is there anywhere you want to go?"
I asked while searching for an inn on my smartphone.
By the way, it's currently just past noon.
"Toya-kun, first we need to fill our stomachs, right?"
"Shall we buy something at a fast food drive-thru?"
I drove the car to a fast food restaurant.
"Welcome. Please give us your order... eh!?"
It's Kanna's voice.
"Uh..."
After I gave the order, the amount was told to me.
"Please proceed carefully."
Kanna has gotten used to this.
Since we're at it, I drove toward the local interchange.
I've never taken this bypass before.
"Did you decide where to go?"
"I thought we'd go to the amusement park you used to go to."
I wonder if that was a bad choice?
"Yeah, you remembered."
Airi looks happy.
"You know, there was something I wanted to try. But I can't do it alone, and I thought it might be a nuisance to Toya-kun."
"What is it?"
"Riding a scream machine and clinging to Toya-kun while screaming 'Kyaa'♪"
"I wonder if I'll have that kind of leeway?"
"Uuu... Toya-kun is being mean again."
"I'm lying. I'll hold your hand properly."
"Yeah♪. What do we do after that?"
"I got a room. It's easy to book with a smartphone."
"Which inn?"
"I chose Yufuin."
"Hot springs♪"
"Yeah, I made it a ryokan."
"I'm looking forward to it."
Airi seems satisfied.
We headed to Beppu via the highway and from there climbed the mountain.
Perhaps because I have the beginner's mark, there are an unusual number of cars tailgating me.
I enter the climbing lane and give way.
Then, they overtake me all at once.
"Toya-kun is always going at his own pace."
Airi says this and laughs.
I'll take that in a positive sense.
"Ah, hmm, actually, never mind."
"What's wrong?"
"I wanted to go to Shidaka Lake, but I'll pass for today~"
"We can still stop by now, you know?"
"Today I'm going to enjoy the amusement park to the fullest~"
She was excited, saying that.
When we arrived at the amusement park, we bought free pass tickets.
When I handed one to Airi, she started preparing money.
I hurriedly stopped her.
"It's fine, I got money from Mother."
"I brought some too, so we're even."
"I'll just accept the sentiment."
Then Airi began to speak.
"Toya-kun, we aren't just at the stage of lovers who started dating yesterday or today, like Kanna and the others say, right? So please don't hesitate to accept. From now on, let's split things between the two of us?"
After worrying, I handed my wallet to Airi.
Airi is surprised.
"Then, you manage this from now on, Airi. I'll leave the money to you while we're on dates. That way, it'll be easier on my mind, right?"
"...Is that okay?"
I nodded.
"In that case, I will use it carefully."
Saying that, she puts the wallet in her bag.
While putting it away, Airi looked at the wallet and groaned "Hmm."
"What's wrong?"
"I thought about giving you a wallet as a Christmas present, but maybe it's better to buy you one sooner?"
"It's not particularly worn out."
"You're not a high schooler anymore, you know? I think a 'baribari' (T/N: refers to a business-like, professional style) wallet is a bit much."
"Ah, I see."
"Let's go pick out a wallet together next time♪"
Airi said this and smiled.
[Jupiter]
[Gravity]
[Sea God]
We rode at least three for now.
At first she was screaming 'Kyaa', but perhaps because I was next to her, she felt relieved and gradually got used to it.
"Let's ride [Jupiter] one more time?"
To think such words would come out of Airi's mouth...
After that, we rode various things: roller coasters, spinning rides, the giant swing, and so on.
As expected, she seemed to have a resistance to the haunted house.
It would be pitiful to force Airi, who hated it, to go.
I quietly changed it to the Ferris wheel.
"Airi, you're not motion sick, are you?"
"I'm fine, it was so much fun♪"
That's good.
"Then, we can come with Makoto and the others next time."
"Yeah."
When we got off the Ferris wheel, we had a commemorative photo taken.
"The photo will be developed immediately and handed over at the gate..."
That's what they told us.
Am I on display until I go pick it up!?
When I tried to go pick it up quickly, Airi pulled my sleeve.
"It's not an embarrassing photo to be seen, and besides, aren't you a little hungry?"
Airi has been kind lately.
We filled our stomachs at a hamburger shop inside the park.
Airi was modest, having only soft-serve ice cream.
After that, we rode [Jupiter] again and enjoyed ourselves fully.
Fun times fly by.
If we don't leave soon, we won't make it in time for check-in.
"Airi, shall we head out soon?"
Saying that, I pulled Airi's hand and headed for the gate.
"...Yes."
Airi said bashfully.
At the gate, the photo we took at the amusement park was posted.
We bought it and left the gate.
"That was fun."
"Yeah."
"Let's come again. With Makoto-kun and the others. I'm fine now♪"
Airi seems to have overcome the scream machines.
The number of places we can play has increased again.
(4)
In Yufuin.
A small ryokan located slightly away from the center.
After completing check-in, the okami-san told us, "Please make a reservation for the family bath."
Airi and I looked at each other.
"I'm fine," her face said.
I wrote our names for the night and the morning.
Entering the room, I put down my luggage and sprawled out in a star shape.
Airi immediately changed into a yukata.
"Toya-kun, don't just space out, you have to change too. You're taking a bath before dinner, right?"
That's right.
I immediately changed into a yukata, prepared towels and such, and headed for the hot spring.
"Wow, it's an open-air bath."
Rural landscapes spread around us, and a mountain range surrounded the area.
For better or worse, I no longer felt much resistance to taking a bath with Airi.
It feels like it's too late for that now.
"It's beautiful."
Airi seems satisfied.
I also said "Yeah" and soaked in the tub.
Airi sat next to me.
"Am I there?" she asked.
Of course you are.
Is it because my daily behavior is good?
The weather is usually good on the days we come to play.
The starry sky is beautiful.
"We should get out soon, or it'll be time for dinner."
Airi urged me, saying that.
We ate dinner.
This too was a feast.
"Good work today~"
Airi poured juice into my glass.
"Good work to you too, Airi."
I poured juice into Airi's glass.
"Are you two newlyweds?"
The okami-san spoke to us.
"No, we aren't married yet."
Airi hurriedly denied it.
'Yet'...
"Then, are you engaged?"
Well, it's like we're half-engaged.
The conversation is progressing regardless of my will.
"I haven't received a ring from him yet."
Airi answered bashfully.
I wonder about that way of answering.
"Which means... he told you in words?"
The okami-san is really pressing for details.
"He told me to wait."
Airi spoke happily.
"We're entering university this year."
I said it just in case.
"Ah, I see. It's just that you two are so close."
"Do we look like that?"
Airi looks happy.
"Regardless, the scenery of the hot spring here was wonderful."
My utmost resistance. I changed the subject.
"Yes, the morning bath is also lovely. The morning mist hangs so you can't see anything, but it's very beautiful."
"I'm looking forward to it♪"
"Well then, please enjoy your dinner slowly."
Saying that, the okami-san left.
"I wonder if we look like newlyweds~?"
There's no doubt Airi is in a newlywed mood.
"But isn't it subtle? We look older than our actual age..."
Poke
"In that case, you say 'we look mature'!"
Isn't the meaning the same?
"Besides, there are people who marry at 18."
"Airi, do you want to marry right now?"
"Hmm, we're already living a life like we're married. I don't think there's any need to rush~"
That's true.
"Ah, that's right!"
Airi's "Ah, that's right!" only gives me bad premonitions.
However, it seems it was different this time.
"I saw on the internet that we should decide which second foreign language to take, what are you going to do, Toya-kun?"
Ah, she intends to take the lectures together too.
What should I do?
I heard Korean is the easiest, but I'm not very interested in it.
"If it's okay with Toya-kun, I thought French would be nice."
If anything, I prefer German.
Well, I'll just go along with Airi.
"Whatever you like, Airi, is fine."
"Then, we'll have to buy electronic dictionaries too!"
Entering university costs quite a bit of money.
At night, we went to the convenience store and bought juice and snacks.
When we went to the convenience store, I suddenly saw something that caught my eye.
Lime Chu-hi, Lemon Squash Sour, Mediterranean Lemon, Grape Sour, Screwdriver.
All of them were things Mika-san and Kanna had ordered before.
Poke
"I've told you before, it's too early for Toya-kun!"
"Which means Airi knows what's inside?"
"...It's alcohol."
Ah, I see.
Is that why Kanna was so flustered?
"Then, the thing about going around the stalls in Hakata too?"
"I'm sure that's what it is."
I see.
Well, whatever.
I bought carbonated juice, regular juice, and snacks, and carried them to the register.
I left the payment to Airi.
"It might be childish, but shall we get excited with this tonight?"
"Yeah♪"
And so, we returned to the inn and talked while watching TV and snacking on juice and sweets.
(5)
I woke up early in the morning.
I looked at the clock.
Yeah, if I get ready, it'll be time for the bath.
Thinking that, I tried to wake Airi, but seeing her sleeping with peaceful breaths, I hesitated.
I want to attack her while her yukata is open.
There is no lie in that.
She is that attractive.
But I thought it would be pitiful to wake her up with that.
So I thought I'd go to the open-air bath alone.
However, Airi was clinging to me perfectly.
"Nn... Toya-kun? Where are you going?"
"No, it's time, so I thought I'd go to the open-air bath."
Airi sat up abruptly.
"I'm going too! What did we rent the private bath for?"
Saying that, Airi also entered the open-air bath.
"The morning mist really is beautiful."
A landscape like a haze enveloping the basin.
This certainly is beautiful.
"Once we go home today, university life begins, right?"
Yeah, there are more things to buy, and we'll probably be chased by preparations.
"I look forward to university life with you."
"Yeah, I look forward to it too."
Let me copy your reports.
I am here, you are here, and everyone is here.
Love goes nowhere.
Looking at the rural landscape, I thought about such things.
"Ah, Toya-kun is thinking something wonderful."
Airi said, peering into my face.
"Shall we head out soon?"
I said to Airi.
"Breakfast is waiting, after all."
If we're talking about ryokan staples, TKG (raw egg over rice) is a safe bet.
After eating breakfast and packing our luggage, we checked out.
I accepted Airi's proposal to explore Yufuin since we were here.
That said, it was still early.
After parking the car around Kinrin Lake...
We entered a cafe that was open from the morning.
The mist hanging over the surface of Kinrin Lake.
Geese floating elegantly.
Heh, it was this beautiful.
"Black tea for me."
"I'll have coffee, toast, and soft-serve ice cream..."
"Even though you just ate breakfast."
Airi had changed from before.
Previously, she would either get angry or make a sad face.
Lately, she smiles kindly.
Did something happen inside Airi?
In exchange, I'll grant Airi's requests to the maximum.
For example, wanting to ride a rickshaw.
Wanting to enter a shop.
What she wants to eat for lunch.
While doing various things, time passed in an instant.
"Shall we head back soon?"
When I, holding the souvenirs, said that, a bouncy voice replied, "Yeah♪"
We entered the highway from the Yufuin Interchange.
"Where shall we go next time?"
Airi asked in the car on the way back.
"If we're going far, it'll probably be the May holidays."
"Anywhere Toya-kun wants to go is fine."
She added that I've put up with her selfishness until now.
"Is a place with nothing in it okay?"
"A place with nothing in it is good?"
"It's a place where the night sky is incredibly beautiful."
"Heh~ where?"
"Kuju Kogen."
"I've heard of that too, it's fine. Ah, but..."
"What is it?"
"Before that, I want to go to Kusasenri."
Ah, that place where I missed out on eating the pickled mustard greens rice.
"Alright."
"Yay♪"
Airi is happy.
This is fine.
Airi is not going anywhere.
"I was happy. When you gave me your wallet, I thought 'Ah, I'm trusted'..."
"It was just that paying for things myself was a pain."
"Even so, it's fine."
Airi is happy over trivial things.
I am the same.
Toya and Airi, laughing while embraced by the wind.
And, as the morning sun shines, I think of the image of Airi sleeping in my arms.
Finally, university life begins.