Chapter 139 - Listen to the Wind
(1)
Around the time the cicadas began to cry.
We had started preparing for the finals.
Days spent finding any spare time to frequent the library and scour for materials for our reports.
"Airi, what was this again?"
"Ah, that part was in the previous class..."
Saying so, Airi took out her notebook and explained.
"Toya-kun, how do I turn this into a graph again?"
When asked, I would explain it to Airi.
A relationship of mutual support continued.
We submitted our reports while attending classes.
To add to that, we also had to study for the final exams.
Since we were taking the maximum number of credits allowed, we were absolutely desperate.
Our place for taking a breather was already decided.
Clink clink.
"Yes, welcome. Ah, Katagiri-kun, welcome."
Ichinose-san said that and guided us to our seats.
"One iced coffee and one iced tea, please..."
"Huh? You don't want any food today either?"
Airi asked, looking puzzled.
"Yeah... I just don't have much of an appetite."
"No way!? Summer fatigue!?"
"Maybe..."
"That's no good, you have to eat properly! Toya-kun, you'll die!"
There is nothing that makes me happier than being told to eat by Airi, but I wonder why? I have no appetite.
"Did you get a fever from studying too hard?"
The master was laughing from the kitchen.
"No! Is that it...?"
She made that face again, like she was about to cry. Even if I don't want to, I have to make her smile.
"I'm okay. It's not your fault, Airi."
Saying so, I patted her head.
"Yeah..."
"Don't make that face. Your smile is the best nutrition for me."
"Is it?"
"Yeah."
"I understand!"
Saying so, Airi put on a forced smile.
She's overthinking it... It can't be helped; I'll take tonight off from studying.
"Sakai-kun, the check please."
"Eh? You're leaving already?"
"Yeah, something came up that I need to do."
"Did you have some errand?"
Airi asked.
"It just came up now."
Airi made a face that looked as if a question mark were floating above her head.
"Well, I'll come again."
"Yes, thank you very much~"
"Where are you going?"
"Going home."
I answered Airi's question instantly.
"Eh? But you said you had an errand..."
"Airi, you're staying over today too, right?"
"Yeah, I mean, it's almost like I've moved into Toya-kun's house..."
"That's good."
"?"
Because the question above Airi's head could be erased immediately once we got home.
(2)
Toya-kun has no appetite?
Has that ever happened before?
Is it because of a fever from studying?
Am I causing Toya-kun trouble again?
"That's not it," Toya-kun says.
But he has no energy.
It's my fault, isn't it?
It's because I made such an unreasonable timetable, isn't it?
"You should just take the classes you like, Airi."
But it's meaningless if Toya-kun collapses.
What should I do?
While I was worrying, Toya-kun said he had an errand and was going home.
When I asked where he was going, he said home.
In the end, he asked me, "Are you staying over today?"
When I answered "Yeah," he said, "That's good."
What is he planning to do?
The answer is always simple.
Once Toya-kun returned to his room, he changed into loungewear.
He's not going out today.
As usual, he lined up his laptop and materials on the table.
Just as I tried to start the laptop, Toya-kun closed the laptop with a snap.
Then he beckoned to me.
The moment after I sat down beside Toya-kun.
Toya-kun leaned on me.
It's been a while since I felt this feeling.
Because we've been too busy to relax until now.
Was this Toya-kun's errand?
Toya-kun turned on the TV.
A wide news program was on.
...Ah.
I stood up.
"What's wrong?"
Toya-kun asked.
"Wait a moment."
Saying so, I left the room. I have to prepare a dinner that will give Toya-kun his energy back.
After eating and taking a bath, we relaxed in Toya-kun's room again.
Studying is on break today.
When it became 21:00, an anime started.
A movie from a famous anime production company.
A story with a middle school girl as the protagonist who becomes interested in a boy borrowing the same book... that was the plot.
The story is interesting, but I love the songs that play in the work.
Listening to them makes tears come naturally.
Toya-kun was surprised and asked "Are you okay?" but I intended to smile brightly and say "I'm okay."
I decided to cheer up Toya-kun today, so what would happen if I cried and made him worry?
Get it together, me.
When the movie ended, I opened the laptop and started it up.
The conclusion of the day. I make an entry in my account book.
Food expenses have decreased drastically.
Is it because Toya-kun has had fewer snacks lately?
Toya-kun is blankly watching the news.
I use the remote to turn off the TV.
That's it for today. Let's sleep soundly!
(3)
I frequented the library on Saturdays and Sundays too.
Studying relentlessly.
During the lunch break, I went outside to breathe some air.
Then I ate my bento and returned to the library.
Thanks to that, the reports were mostly on track.
All that was left was to prepare for the presentations and study for the final exams.
While teaching Airi how to use the presentation software, I also created my own materials.
They were finished in about two weeks.
It went well.
It'll probably be fine.
Now it's just exam study.
Asking Airi. While solving the problem sets circulating within Watanabe's group...
Attending classes, and studying in the library during spare time.
And stopping by Blue Bird on the way back.
Lately, I've only been ordering iced coffee.
Everyone is worried.
I'm fine.
Because Airi heals me.
She's been very kind lately.
She's always kind, but she's even kinder now.
I'm fine.
Don't worry.
I've managed until now, haven't I?
I can get through this time too.
So let's keep smiling.
Then one day, a summons came from Watanabe's group.
I wonder what happened?
"Did the person who suggested it forget? Everyone's been gathering once a week, you know?"
Ah, that's right.
I was so busy with finals that I wasn't thinking about that.
Sorry.
(4)
That day was a holiday one week before the exams.
The place I was called to was the sea.
Apparently, they were having a BBQ at the sea.
Is that okay?
We have exams, you know?
But Airi said that we absolutely had to go on this day.
I understand.
When we arrived at the sea, Makoto and the others were preparing the BBQ.
For now, I went to the changing room and changed into swimwear.
The women were all in swimwear too. Though they all had hoodies thrown over them.
Is it necessary to change into swimwear to do a BBQ?
They'll probably play later, right? For my part, I went with the mood and the flow.
A few people are holding silver cans, but I won't mind.
We toasted and began grilling meat.
Soon, a wonderful scent enveloped the area.
I stuffed my cheeks with meat.
It's delicious.
Airi put vegetables on my plate, saying I have to eat vegetables too.
When the BBQ ended, everyone played in the sea.
I sat in a chair I brought in the shade of a tree and looked at a reference book.
Poke
"Forget about studying today!"
I was scolded by Airi.
It's a rare thing to be scolded for studying.
"Let's play with everyone?"
Airi's smile as she said that might have been because of the sunlight, but it was so dazzling.
The strength left my body.
Huh? What happened?
I'll rest a bit.
Good night.
(5)
"He must have been exhausted,"
Ai said.
"Yeah, he's been immersed in studying this whole time."
He was so absorbed he even forgot the weekly gathering.
"It's Toya's bad habit; once he's absorbed in one thing, he maintains that concentration indefinitely. And it doesn't break until his physical strength is spent, or until someone notices."
I think Watanabe-kun is right.
"He'll really collapse someday... well, he's already collapsed."
As Kanna said, Toya-kun had fallen asleep.
"Airi-chan has to control him, doesn't she?"
I think Emi is right. At this rate, I'm a failure as a wife.
"Sorry everyone. For making you worry."
"We all understand. It's not Tosaka-san's fault."
Watanabe-kun said that for me.
"What are you all doing? Come over here and play! Only Airi needs to be there. The rest of you are just in the way."
"Mika is right. Let's let Toya rest for now."
When Watanabe-kun said that, everyone headed toward the sea.
I took the reference book Toya-kun had been holding, sat in the chair, and kept watch over Toya-kun while reading.
"Huh? Was I asleep?"
"For about two hours."
Toya-kun woke up.
"Ah, I did it again."
"It's okay. Everyone is playing."
"Airi couldn't play, right? Sorry..."
"Try listening closely."
You can hear them, right? The sound of the waves, the sound of the wind, the sound of the insects. And the sounds of summer.
"...It was already summer."
"It is. Without us noticing."
"I didn't even notice that."
"Good work. I'm sorry."
"It's okay, I've rested enough."
"Even so, you can't overdo it anymore. From now on, I'll be watching you properly."
Because if Toya-kun overdoes it, I'll stop him.
He said I needed maintenance, but what's most needed right now is Toya-kun's maintenance.
"Once the tests are over, it's summer vacation."
"Let's go to various places again."
"We also promised to go to an amusement park with Makoto and the others."
"Let's go to the theme park in Osaka after the Obon season passes."
"That's right, it's a long break."
Toya-kun sat up.
What's wrong?
"Since we're here, let's play? It's rare to come to the sea with Airi. I haven't seen your swimwear figure lately either."
"If you're really interested, a pool is fine too, you know?"
"...I'll think about it."
Really?
I'm fine anytime, you know?
I'll be waiting.
"Well, shall we join them?"
"Yeah."
Saying so, we headed toward everyone.
(6)
"Good work today—!"
Everyone raised their cups filled with their respective drinks high.
Once I got tired, I got hungry.
I devoured the food as if making up for everything until now.
Poke
"We have time, so don't gobble it up like that!"
"I-I get it!"
"We gathered today for Toya's sake! Be grateful to everyone!"
Eh?
"Toya's been too stressed lately... we got worried. He didn't react to the group chat at all."
Ah, so I had just been in the chat this whole time.
"I'm envious that he'd even be absorbed in studying,"
Makoto muttered. Apparently, it's not such a good thing.
"I see, Makoto didn't know... Apparently, this guy is absorbed even when he's with Airi. They apparently share a world together."
Kanna told Makoto unnecessary things.
"Ah, that's a secret, Kanna!"
"Toya's into everything, huh. Come to think of it, did he say it? 'The moment I get in the car and start the engine, I feel like the car has become a part of me.'"
I did say that.
"Yeah, Toya, tell me. I want to share a world with Kanna too!"
"I don't want to share my world with you! You're probably only thinking about erotic things anyway."
"Kanna, you said you'd accept me!!"
Slap!
The wet towel Kanna threw hit its mark.
"If you say any more, you know what'll happen..."
It seems better to stop, Makoto.
"Well, Toya's problems will be solved by Tosaka-san, right?" Watanabe-kun said, and Airi smiled brightly.
"Yeah, controlling the husband is the wife's duty!"
In Airi's mind, we're already a married couple...
"Setting that aside, what about over there?"
In the direction Ishihara-kun pointed, Eguchi-san and Shimizu-san were...
"I don't care what you say, you who are satisfied bringing along a small fry."
"You, who was disillusioned even by that small fry, have no persuasiveness no matter what you say."
Wow, both of them are completely wasted.
Wait, do we not need to stop them?
"There's an optimal person to stop those two, right?" Watanabe-kun said.
"Please don't ask the impossible of me by telling me to stop them!" Ishihara-kun shouted.
"A-Are you involving me too?" Sakai-kun asked.
The three-hour banquet ended, and we dispersed.
"Well, Toya, be careful from now on," Makoto said, and he drove home with Kanna.
"To-ya, see ya!!" Mika-san waved and left.
"Shall we go home too?" I said to Airi, and Airi nodded with a smile.
In a time like this, is it okay to go straight home honestly?
Should I stop by somewhere?
If I'm going to do that sort of thing, it's fine at home too.
"Airi, after this..."
"We're going ho~me."
"...Yes."
When I took Airi and returned home, Mother's shout of "Therefore, I refuse!" echoed...
"What's wrong, Mother?"
"Ah, Toya, welcome back... actually..."
Mother said that and glanced toward Airi.
"Ah... I'll borrow the shower!"
Saying so, Airi went to the room.
"Actually, I got a call from your uncle, and he started saying 'I want Katsuya to come here during summer vacation.'"
"Eh?"
"Of course I refused. There's the matter of Airi-chan and..."
"Of course you'd refuse! Airi-chan is my son's precious fiancée!"
When Father shouted, there was a clatter from the stairs.
When the three of us turned around, Airi was standing there.
"I-I'm sorry. I didn't intend to listen..."
Airi's face was pale.
"Airi-chan, you don't have to worry. We'll firmly refuse. We are on Airi-chan's side."
"That's right, Airi-chan, our son is unreliable, but he's a boy who does it when it's time to do it."
"But if it becomes like it did with Kanna..."
I approached Airi and grabbed both her shoulders.
"It's okay, so you don't have to worry, go take a bath."
"Really? Toya-kun won't overdo it?"
"I won't, I won't do anything that would make Airi cry."
"Yeah."
Saying so, Airi headed for the bath.
She hadn't given up yet...
Ominous footsteps approached with a sound...