Chapter 143 - Summer Phantom
(1)
"Toya. Make sure you actually get on the ferry."
"I already reserved the tickets, Father."
"Toya. Even if the long weekend is over, it's the city, so there will be a lot of cars. Be careful."
I know, Mother. You don't have to tell me every time; I'm not doing anything reckless.
"Airi... be careful."
"Airi-chan~ You must definitely see the night view of Kobe~"
"Oka~y."
Airi-mama doesn't seem worried at all.
Airi is quite carefree as well.
One day, I was relaxing while watching the high school baseball finals.
Airi was cleaning the room.
Someone knocks. It's probably Mother. I was right.
"You're working Airi-chan hard again while you just lounge around..."
"Airi, take a little break."
"I'm only cleaning this room~"
"...And that's how it is."
"...Go out and have some fun somewhere."
Mother says it lightly, but there's nowhere like that to go for fun.
"Hey, the long weekend is over, so why don't we go to Osaka?"
"Osaka?"
Airi nodded.
"I've always wanted to go once with Toya-kun. The night view of Kobe and the theme parks in Osaka. I'm okay with the rides now."
"That's a good idea, Toya, you should go. If you're going anyway, a boat trip would be nice."
The two of us worked out the details.
I wanted to spend it relaxing, but if we stay home, Airi will just work. I guess it can't be helped.
When we arrived at the ferry terminal, we began the boarding procedures.
When the time came, we loaded the car onto the ferry and parked it according to the crew's instructions.
Carrying our luggage, we went up to the deck and headed for the cabin.
It was a bunk bed.
Airi took the bottom and I took the top.
I took the top because I thought Airi would have a hard time getting her luggage up top.
Since it was a narrow bed, I didn't actually suggest we sleep together.
After placing the luggage on the bed, I went outside.
"Ah, the ship has started moving~"
As Airi said, the ship slowly left the shore.
Once I confirmed it had started moving, I immediately headed for the restaurant.
Now then, what should I eat~?
"Here, I saved some things that look like they'd be Toya-kun's favorite."
"No, I'll choose for myself..."
"I saved them."
...I accepted them in silence, and Airi went to choose her own portion.
After ordering the food, I headed to the bath.
The view is great.
After savoring it thoroughly, I returned to the room and waited for Airi to return.
...She's slow.
She must be taking her time.
I killed time while watching TV.
Eventually, Airi returned.
"The bath was so lovely~. Also~ I met some people who are traveling."
"?"
"They're university fourth-years. They said they're touring all of Japan. Because they won't be able to take such a long vacation again."
"Alone?"
"No, with her boyfriend. That's so nice~, something like that."
"I guess so."
"We hit it off in the bath. They said they're on the promenade. The Seto Inland Sea is beautiful. Toya-kun, let's go too!"
Pulled along by Airi, I headed for the promenade.
(2)
"Ah, Sayaka-san~"
When Airi called out the name loudly, a woman with a bob cut and a brown-haired man with an undercut turned around.
Both were tanned and dark-skinned.
The man with the undercut was apparently named Shuta.
The four of us sat on a sofa and began talking.
"Are you two on a trip as well?"
The man with the undercut spoke to us.
"Yes, just to let Airi... get some rest."
"Not 'her'! I'm his fiancée!"
Airi said this and pouted.
"Hahaha, I see. Actually, we're the same."
"Eh?"
Is there someone in the same situation?
"He proposed to me last Christmas, saying let's get married after graduation."
Sayaka-san said this bashfully.
"Where did you two come from?"
When Airi asked, Shuta-san answered.
"Okinawa. We're on our way to Kansai after going around Kyushu from Okinawa."
Ah, Okinawa. It's somehow just as I imagined.
Touring all of Japan, huh, that's kind of nice. I wish we could do that too.
"Actually, taking a boat from Kagoshima would have been fine, but she said she wanted to go to the hot springs in Oita."
"Saying things like that is nice, isn't it?"
"You two should try going sometime. It's good to get it done by your third year. Job hunting is tough."
"Shuta-san, did you get a job offer?"
When Airi asked, Shuta-san answered with a laugh.
"Yeah, it's a local company, but yeah. I've got one for now."
So he's touring Japan in his fourth year...
"Our university isn't the kind of place that gives out that many assignments during summer break, so as long as I turn in my graduation thesis, everything else is OK."
"Why are Airi-chan and her companion heading to Kansai?"
I answered.
"It's really just for a change of pace. I just listened to her wish."
"Oh my, it's exactly as Airi-chan said."
Sayaka-san laughed as she said that.
"Well, it's better to keep her in a good mood. Things tend to go more smoothly that way."
Shuta-san laughed as he said that.
"Shuta, I can hear you."
"Ah, I'm not saying anything bad that you shouldn't hear."
"Oh, is that so?"
"That's right. I just said it's always ladies first."
"It didn't sound like that to me."
Listening to that exchange, I felt envious of their world.
"How many years have you two been dating?"
Airi, haven't your questions been too direct for a while now?
"I think I've liked him since elementary school. I was the one who confessed. But he's serious, despite how he looks. He turned me down once. He said, 'I'm in no position for that because of my studies'... Even so, I didn't give up and kept pushing... He finally accepted me in the summer of my second year of middle school."
Sayaka-san is a pushy person. I could somehow imagine it. The sight of a bewildered Shuta-san.
"That's nice, I only finally got to hear his true feelings on Christmas of my second year of middle school."
Airi said this, sounding truly envious.
"We might be similar. I feel like his personality might be similar too."
Saying that, Sayaka-san looked at me.
No, I don't have the image of being popular like Shuta-san at all, nor was I serious...
"You're belittling yourself right now, aren't you? That's the part that's exactly the same."
Am I being seen through? Our personalities really must be similar.
"He must have noticed it too. Even if he can't take it for himself. But just having a girlfriend is enough to brag about to people. It means he can live with his head held high."
It's just as Shuta-san says. That must be something to be proud of.
"But it's so nice, being together for over ten years."
Airi said enviously.
Then Sayaka-san answered.
"But Airi-chan, you've noticed it too, right? After one year comes three. After three comes five. After five comes ten, and an unwavering bond is born."
"Yes, Sayaka-san, how do you convey that to Shuta-san?"
"Hmm, I guess I tell him my feelings on every yearly anniversary. 'I'm plenty happy. So live with your head held high'..."
"It's hard to get them to realize that an ordinary day is happiness, isn't it?"
"I understand that feeling."
"What do you two plan to do after leaving Kobe Port?"
Shuta-san asked.
He probably wanted to change the subject. I felt the same, so I took the bait.
"I think we'll sleep in the car until the shops open."
"You should use a net cafe. You can rest comfortably in the reclining seats."
I see, a net cafe. That's another option.
"Where are Sayaka-san and her companion going?"
"We're going to Kyoto. We plan to stay there for one night. We want to look around at the temples and such."
"That's so nice~"
Touring all of Japan, it certainly is something to admire. I wonder if we should try it too?
"I hope you have a good trip."
"Thank you, I hope you two have a good trip as well."
"Thank you very much."
After talking for several hours, Sayaka-san spoke up.
"Shuta, it's about time to sleep. Tomorrow is early too..."
"That's true, well then, see you. Have a good trip."
Saying that, the two of them left.
"They were good people."
"Yeah."
"We're early tomorrow morning too, so let's sleep, okay?"
"Yeah."
Saying that, we returned to the cabin.
(3)
The observation deck at midnight.
I came here to see the Seto Ohashi Bridge.
Many people other than me have come to see it.
I capture it in a photo.
I'll tell Airi when she wakes up in the morning.
What will she do?
Will she be frustrated?
Will she get angry?
I'll be seeing the Akashi Kaikyo Bridge in the early morning, so I should sleep soon.
Just as I thought that, I encountered a mysterious woman.
Blue eyes and a yellow dress.
She was there under the midnight moon.
Even though it's summer, the night is chilly.
Aren't you cold in that outfit?
"Aren't you cold?"
I spoke to her.
She shook her head.
"What is your name?"
"...Natsumi."
"I see, I'm called Toya. Are you alone?"
Natsumi-san nodded.
"What are you doing alone?"
"Continuing my journey."
"Until where?"
"I don't know."
It seems she is continuing a journey without a destination.
"When does that journey end?"
"I can end it at any time, but there is no end."
"I see... be careful."
Saying that, she left.
Poke
"Hey! Isn't it too cruel to be out here alone?"
When I looked back, Airi was standing there.
"Ah, Airi. This is Natsumi-san..."
"There's nobody here though?"
"Eh?"
When I looked back, her figure was gone?
Huh?
"Until a moment ago, there was definitely a woman..."
"Hmm... and..."
Airi pinches my cheek.
"Why were you talking to that woman?"
"Because she was a mysterious woman."
"You're traveling with your fiancée, you don't need the courage to hit on other girls!"
"It wasn't like that."
She really was a mysterious woman.
That night, I had a dream.
A pure white room.
Natsumi-san looked at me, then opened the next door and headed to the next room.
I hesitated whether to follow after her.
I didn't know what was waiting beyond the door.
Anxiety clung to me.
Is it okay to follow her?
Someone pushes my back.
When I looked back, Airi was standing there.
"Shall we go?" Airi says.
I took the plunge and opened the door.
Again, Natsumi-san headed for the next door.
It continued endlessly.
Pure white rooms, black doors.
Nothing else could be seen.
I ran through, trying to catch up to her.
But no matter how much time passed, I couldn't catch up.
A journey without end, continuing forever.
Poke
When I woke up, Airi, who had climbed the ladder, was standing there.
"Morning, it's almost time, okay?"
I was dazed.
"What will you do? Stop watching?"
"No, I'll go. Let's go."
And we headed for the observation deck.
(4)
The Akashi Kaikyo Bridge visible with the sunrise was exceptional.
It was very beautiful and large.
That girl was no longer visible. Instead, Airi was taking photos beside me.
Beyond the horizon where the sky and sea blended, land was already visible.
Ah
She was standing at the tip of the deck.
She was gazing at the ship's destination, just as we were.
Poke
"You're entering your own world again~"
I explain to Airi, who is puffing out her cheeks.
"Look, over there, the girl from yesterday is..."
"Nobody's there... Toya-kun, aren't you tired? Shouldn't you rest a bit?"
Airi says worriedly.
When I looked at the place where she had been once more, nobody was there.
I searched the area, but she was gone.
"Take care."
A voice was heard from behind.
Startled, I looked back.
"What's wrong?"
Airi is looking at me curiously.
"...No, it's nothing."
Yes, there was nothing.
What I saw was merely a summer phantom.
Probably something hinting at our future.
I don't understand anything, my own self (T/N: possible typo in source — original reads "confidence") knocking on our next door.
There is nothing to worry about.
If it's the two of us, no matter what kind of room awaits, we can make it beautiful.
Yes, she is my future self.
"Toya-kun, are you okay? You haven't been possessed by something strange, have you?"
"I'm fine. More importantly, I'm hungry. Shall we eat?"
"Yeah."
Saying that, we headed for the restaurant.
When we ate, we met Shuta-san and the others again.
We ate together.
At that time, I spoke about what I had experienced.
"I see, that might be exactly what Toya-kun is thinking."
Shuta-san said that.
"Well, enjoy your good trip."
When Sayaka-san said that, I answered, "Thank you."
After finishing the meal, we returned to the cabin and packed our luggage.
Once finished packing, we looked at the observation deck again.
The quay was getting closer.
"Please prepare to disembark..."
An announcement like that played.
We returned to the room, took our luggage, and headed for the car.
"What are we doing first when we arrive in Kobe?"
Airi asked.
"Let's see, maybe go into a shop somewhere and kill time?"
"If Toya-kun is okay with it, there's a place I want to go."
"Where is it?"
"Mount Rokko."
"Wouldn't it be better to go there at night..."
"I heard it's beautiful in the morning too!"
"Well, we're free anyway, shall we try going?"
"Yay~"
I pat the head of the rejoicing Airi. When I do this, Airi's mood surprisingly improves.
Watching Airi acting playful, I think.
If I'm with Airi, I'm not afraid of anything.
No matter how dark the room, she will change it to rainbow colors in an instant.
If Airi pushes my back, there is nothing to fear.
I only need to walk forward.
If I get tired, I'll lean on Airi.
She will surely heal my fatigue.
A signal is given by the guide.
We left the ship and drove the car.
The morning sun was dazzling, and the blue sky welcomed us.