Chapter 144 - Selfishly
(1)
"Wow~ it's so beautiful~"
A wide panoramic view that stretched not only over Kobe, visible from the mountaintop, but all the way from Osaka to Wakayama.
The air was clean, and Airi seemed completely satisfied.
While Airi took photos and enjoyed the scenery, I flipped through a sightseeing guide I had bought at a convenience store at the foot of the mountain.
Then, something caught my eye.
This is perfect!
Knowing Airi, it was obvious she would eventually say, "I want to see the sheep~"
After seeing the sheep, it would be around 10:00 to 10:30.
The perfect time for a snack.
Today's schedule was mostly decided.
"What are you looking at?"
Airi peeked into the magazine.
I quickly hid it.
"I-it's nothing."
"Then show me."
"No, really, it's nothing."
"Just show me♪"
With no way to resist Airi's smile, I obediently handed the magazine to her.
Airi checked it page by page.
Please don't let her find it...
Though I'm going whether she finds it or not.
That's why I'm going out of my way to go to the sheep farm...
"Ah, sheep~"
Her interest shifted that way. That's a relief.
"Hmm?"
Oh no, did she find out?
Airi stopped flipping pages and stared intently at that page.
Then, she began operating the car's navigation system.
Searching for a destination... Ah, she completely found out.
When Airi finished her search, she stared at me.
I tried to bluff with a forced smile.
Would I have been forgiven if I had said something like, "You caught me~ well, it can't be helped~"?
"If you don't like it, Airi, I'll give up..."
"Eh?"
Airi's face clouded over for a moment.
"It's a bit heavy for a snack. And I feel like TKG isn't something you specifically have to eat in Kobe. Shall we just tour the Ijinkan instead?"
"...Did I look like that?"
Huh?
I looked at Airi's face. She looked somewhat sad. Uwah, it went in that direction.
"Airi, sorry! I was just a little concerned!"
"Yeah, I know. What makes me sad is... Toya-kun, who doesn't properly understand my heart."
Huh?
"I didn't say a single word about it being bad. I was thinking it would be nice if you took me to see the sheep..."
"Ah..."
Come to think of it, Airi hasn't said much about food lately. Though she still says things.
"Sorry..."
Airi grabbed my face.
"I told you to stop that habit of apologizing immediately! Also, look at my face more. That's why you can't understand my feelings."
"I understand..."
"Boo!! That's it, I'm giving you a punishment."
Is the dream of TKG crushed...? I shouldn't have said anything unnecessary.
"One for the habit of apologizing immediately. And another for not understanding my feelings!"
"I'll do anything..."
"You said anything. Then, I announce the punishment."
Airi's face was smiling.
"First is... you remember the punishment game, right? Do that now."
"I get it... I love you, Airi..."
By the time I said it for the tenth time, Airi's face was flushed.
"So, what's the other one?"
"Let's give Car-san a little break, okay? Since we'll have to work hard again tonight."
"What do you mean?"
"Park it down in the city... near the hotel. We'll take a taxi to the top, and then walk back down. There probably aren't many places to park the car anyway."
"That's the punishment game?"
"Toya-kun needs to walk a bit, and also, I've wanted to try a city-strolling date."
Ah, I just have to grant Airi's request.
"I understand."
"Ah, can I ask for one more thing?"
"Sure. What?"
"There's something I want to eat when we go to Chinatown..."
"Huh?"
Something she wants to eat coming from Airi's mouth... I wonder if it's sweets?
"There was one more, a shop I want to visit!"
"I got it. Then, we'll keep lunch light."
"Actually, I feel like TKG alone would be enough."
"Airi, you're not eating?"
"Hmm... you'll probably say ramen or something for dinner anyway. I have a lot of snacks, so I think I'm fine."
She had seen right through to dinner.
(2)
By the time business hours began, we had arrived at the farm.
With Northern European-style mansard barns, red brick silos, and grazing dairy cows and sheep, it was full of an Alpine atmosphere.
Airi looked happy playing with the sheep and cows.
I enjoyed watching that while eating soft-serve ice cream.
When Airi saw that, she said she wanted a bite too.
When I said, "Ah, go buy some," she said, "Just one bite is fine!"
Ah, I see. When I held out the soft-serve to Airi, she took one lick.
"It's delicious♪"
She really is a girl who can find joy in the smallest things.
"Airi, I'll take a photo of you with the sheep."
"Yay. But if we're doing it, Toya-kun too."
Saying that, she stopped a tourist and made a request.
After having the photo taken, we thanked them.
After that, we descended the mountain and entered a diner that looked ordinary at first glance.
However, this was the shop known only to those in the know where you could eat exquisite TKG using Ran-oh eggs from Oita!
Airi ordered too. I ordered the TKG set and kake udon, though.
Both of us praised it, saying "Delicious!"
I'm glad Airi was happy too.
After that, as Airi told me, I parked in a parking lot around Sannomiya Station, and we headed to Kitano-cho by taxi.
Since it seemed we could visit eight houses in two hours, we purchased the 8-House Premium Pass.
Starting with the Weathercock House, we strolled through eight houses.
We explored exactly as written in the guidebook.
All of them reproduced Western-style houses from the Meiji era and were very stylish places.
Airi seemed to like them too, taking photos one after another.
At the bronze statue in Kitano-cho Square, I took a photo with Airi.
At the British House, hats and cloaks were available for rent, allowing one to feel like a certain detective.
After visiting the eight houses, we went to the "shop she wanted to visit."
It was a concept store for a coffee shop.
A shop with an Ijinkan-style interior where eating and drinking were okay in any room.
We had a light snack there.
"See? It's a great shop, right?"
Airi seemed to have been here before.
Ah, back in second year of middle school.
"It was my dream to come here with Toya-kun someday~"
Airi said happily.
Then we strolled leisurely to Sannomiya Station.
We moved from Sannomiya Station to Motomachi Station by train and headed for Nankinmachi.
There, we ate the xiaolongbao that Airi had wanted to eat.
It was delicious... but hot!
Then we visited souvenir shops and ate the "Kakuni-man" (braised pork bun) that Kobe is known for.
It was melt-in-your-mouth and delicious.
I could go for another one of these!
Poke
"One is enough, right♪"
...Yes.
(3)
When we returned to Sannomiya Station, we took the car and checked into the hotel for now.
I had booked a double room.
It's too late for hesitation, right?
There was still time until night.
"What should we do?"
"Hmm~ it's still early for dinner. Shall we just relax and lounge?"
Saying that, Airi started watching TV.
Before I knew it, I had fallen asleep.
"Toya-kun, it's already night."
I was woken up by Airi.
"Well then, shall we go soon?"
"Yeah."
We took the car and headed for Mount Rokko.
When we arrived at the summit, I was lost for words.
They weren't kidding when they called it a million-dollar night view.
The night view from the observatory could be summed up in one word: beautiful.
After enjoying the scenery for about thirty minutes, we prepared to descend the mountain.
Now, what should we have for dinner.
I felt like someone might ask, "You came all the way to Kobe just for ramen?"
I searched on my smartphone...
As expected, when it comes to Kobe, it's meat.
Even if it's cheap, it's still Kobe beef. It costs a fair amount.
However, there is a saying that quantity is better than quality...
I'm torn...
"Let's eat it? I'll split the cost too."
"No, but..."
"I told you, didn't I? That it's for the two of us. If I can buy time with Toya-kun, it's cheap."
Told by Airi, I decided on a steakhouse.
As expected of brand beef.
They weren't kidding when they said it melts the moment it enters your mouth.
I smacked my lips at the deliciousness.
It really is possible for your stomach to be filled by pure deliciousness.
"I'm glad we came."
"Yeah."
"I was happy. Knowing Toya-kun, I thought ramen would be the only choice."
Well, that was half true.
"I realized you properly remembered what I said, that a meal with this kind of atmosphere would be okay."
Sorry, Airi. I had completely forgotten.
"You might not have remembered, but I felt that you were thinking about my feelings."
"Well, I might have thought that since I came all this way with Airi."
"That alone is enough."
"Don't say sad things like 'that alone'."
"Hoe?"
"Airi, you have too little greed. Saying 'this is enough' or 'I'm happy with just that'. Be more greedy, even if I might not be able to grant it."
"Hmm, I guess so~. Then..."
She has one ready immediately.
(4)
We visited as many Kobe night view spots as possible.
That was Airi's wish.
Guided by the cute GPS, we visited here and there exhaustively.
The last one we chose was Venus Bridge.
"Thank you for today."
Airi said and smiled.
That alone is worth a million dollars.
Airi's smile, which didn't lose to the night view.
I would do anything just to see that.
Sulking, getting angry, frolicking, rejoicing, crying, laughing.
Airi is a handful, but just looking at her makes me feel affection.
Keeping her in a good mood is hard work.
The process of making a manual for her is also fun.
You don't have to cling to me this much right now. It's okay.
Because I'm not going anywhere.
Once we get to the hotel, I'll let you be as spoiled as you want.
Every one of Airi's gestures keeps me from leaving.
The time I spend thinking of Airi changes me.
Your selfishness, your weakness, your tears—I will accept every single one of them.
I whispered softly to the moon reflected in the car window.
I won't let you regret anything...
I can't say it well, but I love you.
I want you to be by my side forever, just as you are.
The thing I searched for for so long is inside Airi.
"Airi, is there anything else you want me to do?"
"The punishment game is already over, you know?"
"Is it wrong for me to want to do something for you from the bottom of my heart?"
"Hmm. You're probably tired today, so it's okay. Tomorrow is even harder."
"I see. Then, shall we go back and sleep?"
"Yeah♪"
And so, we returned to the hotel and took our rest.
(5)
He was kind since this morning.
Though he's a troublemaker who immediately thinks only of food the moment I look away.
I've changed too, you know?
Look at me properly.
I tried being mean from this morning.
You still remembered the promise.
While being told, I started to feel embarrassed myself.
But Rie-chan said.
That this isn't the emotion of "embarrassment," but just "being happy and shy."
Strolling through Kobe with Toya-kun was fun.
There are shops that Toya-kun likes too.
I bought two mugs.
I'll leave them at Toya-kun's house.
Let's drink morning coffee together with these.
The words Toya-kun said to me.
"It's okay to be more selfish."
I can't, because I'm already being as selfish as possible.
"I want you to be by my side forever."
Toya-kun, you're fine just as you are.
Though there are times you sulk or trouble me.
Though there are times you make me angry or sad.
You are always protecting me.
"Don't look at anyone other than me."
That alone is enough.
That alone is satisfying.
It's true.
So there is no greater selfishness than this.
Recently, he finally shifted his interest from food to me.
That alone makes me happy.
"It's okay to be selfish."
I feel the same way.
If you insist, I'll say the maximum amount of selfishness.
"Let's be happy together."
Is this okay?
Will you protect me?
If it's Toya-kun, you'll protect me, right?
I'll say it because I thought it was okay.
I'm properly waiting.
For the promised ring from you.
When we return to the hotel, I take a shower.
"Toya-kun, go ahead~"
Wait, did Toya-kun fall asleep?
It would be pitiful to wake him, right?
I softly enter beside him.
Good work today.
See you tomorrow.
Car-san has a hard time tomorrow too.
Thank you for your hard work.
Sorry for making an unreasonable request at the end.
I'll wash you again when we get back.
Well then, see you.
Good night.