Chapter 145 - Trivial Matters
(1)
"Toya-kun, it's morning~ Breakfast time is going to end~"
I woke up with a start.
"Good morning, Toya-kun."
"...There's still time before breakfast, isn't there?"
"Are you going to go on a date with your fiancée without even taking a shower, Toya-kun?"
Ah, that's right. I was so tired yesterday that I fell asleep without showering.
Should I have gone in first?
But she might have started saying, "Let's go in together~"
Come to think of it, she hasn't said that lately.
"Hey, Airi."
"Yee-es?"
"Why have you stopped asking to take a bath together lately?"
"...I'll go in if you want to, but it's cramped here, you know?"
No, that's not what I meant...
"I'll say it when I want to go in together. But I figured since we sleep together anyway, it's fine if we aren't together all the time~"
"What about how you started sleeping in a different bed properly when the room had twins?"
"I thought since Toya-kun is tired, it might be better to let him sleep alone... was that bad?"
How should I answer at a time like this?
If I agree, she'll probably get angry and say, "I knew you preferred it separate!" and if I deny it, she'll say, "Then we'll be together"... is that really so bad?
"You don't have to be so considerate."
"Yay, then from now on I won't hold back about sleeping together."
"Give me a break with those cramped beds like on a ferry."
"I know that much~"
Airi says this while pouting. She really is cute.
"Well, I'm going to take a quick shower."
"Oka~y."
While washing off the sweat in the shower, I brush my teeth, shave, dry myself, and change clothes.
When I leave the shower room, Airi has already finished getting ready.
It was exactly breakfast time.
We leave the room.
Once breakfast time ends, we quickly pack our bags and complete the checkout procedures.
Leaving the hotel, I start the car engine and drive toward the theme park.
Apparently, taking the 5th Bay Coast Line is the shortest route.
A cute navigator tells me the way.
Well, that said, she's just looking at the navi and putting it into words.
Still, Airi is doing her best in her own way, so I'll listen gratefully.
After branching off at the North Port JCT, it's immediately after exiting at the end.
When we arrive at the parking lot, I think it might be too early, but it's already open.
After going to the hotel to have our luggage stored, we head straight for the theme park.
To the rest of the world, it's a weekday, but some people have taken time off by shifting their holidays.
That said, the wait times weren't that long.
Just because they weren't that long doesn't mean they were non-existent.
But when I'm with Airi, even the wait times feel enjoyable.
"I wonder what kind of attractions there are? I'm looking forward to it."
This place isn't just rides. There are show-like attractions. There are complete shows.
Since there are plenty of elements to enjoy even if Airi can't go on rides, that's probably why she came here when she was in middle school.
"Let's see, this one would be good for the timing next."
That said, Airi's visit was six years ago.
Various attractions have changed, so it should be fun.
Besides, she can ride the rides now, so she'll likely enjoy them.
Being able to go on a date like this with Airi makes me feel happy and joyful too.
"Hey, hey, which one are we going to next?"
I've thought it through properly.
I've chosen the attractions I recommend for Airi.
It looks like there's a night parade in the evening too, so I'm looking forward to it.
"Toya-kun..."
It says here whether to have meal times early or late.
Doing it early makes you rush, so let's take it leisurely later.
Quite a few couples have come here.
I wonder if there are mostly people around the same age as us?
I wonder if we're seen the same way?
"Toya-kun, you idiot!"
Poke
"W-what happened?"
"I can't believe you're ignoring your fiancée and staring at other women."
"Huh?"
"Don't 'huh' me! You're cruel, Toya-kun! And this was supposed to be a special date!"
Airi is misunderstanding something.
"Airi, I wasn't staring at women..."
"I don't want to hear any excuses!"
It was a trivial misunderstanding.
But the wait times were long, and Airi must have been irritated.
Still, she could at least listen to my side of the story!
"You don't have to say it like that!"
"What! Are you snapping back at me!?"
Airi's tone becomes harsh.
It's a hot day with lingering summer heat. Perhaps we were both irritated.
As Airi's voice gets louder, the people around us begin to stir.
"I wonder what's wrong with those people."
"Looks like they're having a fight."
"Looks like the boyfriend poked her."
I can hear those voices.
I became a little calm.
"Airi, let's calm down a bit."
"Are you trying to say I'm the one who's wrong?"
"It's not that..."
"I have a baby face anyway, and my style isn't as good as Kanna's, so you're just envious of the couples around us, right?"
"That's right... I'm envious of the other couples."
"...The worst."
"But you're misunderstanding. Calm down and look around you carefully."
When I say that, Airi begins looking at the surrounding couples.
"Nothing but lovely couples, a far cry from us."
"Then, a question for Airi. What do you think we need to do to look as lovely as the couples around us?"
"Eh?"
Airi makes a suspicious face.
"I was wrong too, I wasn't listening to you, Airi. I was thinking about something."
"So you do realize it."
"But I definitely wasn't staring at other women. Because Airi is cuter than any woman."
"Isn't that just your way of saying I have a baby face?"
"No, I didn't mean it in that sense. Your appearance is cute, but your gestures are cute. Every single one of them."
"..."
The look on Airi's face changes.
It seems she's in a slightly better mood.
"I thought hard about today's plan for Airi's sake. I've got the timing perfectly figured out."
Though I couldn't predict the wait times.
"What kind of gestures are cute?"
"Like when you suddenly hug me...!?"
No sooner had I said it than Airi hugged my arm.
"Is this okay?"
"Yeah, sorry. I should have listened to you properly, Airi."
"It's okay. Even though I'm a fiancée, I snap over trivial things. I did it without thinking... do you think I'm a pain?"
"Why would I think that?"
"Thank goodness~"
Airi's mood seems to have recovered.
But, really, you can't help but notice people with large breasts or people wearing white clothes where you can see their underwear. It's that irresistible male nature.
If I happen to look, I get poked by Airi.
"Toya-kun, how would you feel if I was looked at with those eyes by other men?"
If I answer "I wouldn't feel anything," she'll probably get upset again.
"...I wouldn't feel very good about it, I guess?"
"Exactly. Don't stare so much."
"But, let me say one thing."
"Whaaat?"
"Airi, you said yourself that you have a baby face, but that's not true. You're becoming a bit more mature."
It's probably because she's grown her hair out and dyed it.
She really feels like a university student.
"Toya-kun, if you talk like that in public, people will think we're a baka-couple."
No, I think we're already seen that way just by the fact that we're arm-in-arm.
"It's fine, everyone around us is pretty much the same."
"True!"
Airi's smile returned.
"Ah, it's our turn~"
After that, we enjoyed the attractions.
(2)
After that, we had lunch after going through several attractions.
We ate at a restaurant themed after a popular manga.
Staff cosplaying as popular characters appear and make the meal enjoyable.
Since it was for a limited time, we chose that place.
Even Airi, who doesn't read much manga, seemed to enjoy it.
After eating, we lined up for attractions again.
Most of them were attractions themed after a certain movie.
We prioritized the ones marked as "Recommended!"
By evening, the crowds mostly disappear.
It's a state where you can ride almost anything without a wait.
"Airi, aren't you tired?"
"I'm okay~"
After doing most of the ride attractions, we enjoy the show attractions.
I can't reveal the contents because they're a secret.
The staff lady was also fun.
It was written that the shark, the fire attraction, and Spider-Man are must-sees, so we went to those.
And then maybe the area of a certain mage.
We stroll around while shopping.
We had an early dinner.
After that, we go to the area of a certain mascot character.
We bought souvenirs.
We saw most of what we wanted to see.
I asked Airi, "What now?"
There's still a bit of time until the night show.
"I want to ride Spider-Man."
I granted Airi's wish.
The night show is about to start.
We waited while eating popcorn.
When the parade begins, everyone stands up to watch.
Since I knew the order of the floats, I stood toward the front.
When the parade ends, we just kill time until closing.
We stop by the souvenir shop one last time.
"Shall we head back soon?"
When I ask Airi, she shakes her head.
"There's still a little time left."
Is there somewhere else you want to go?
"Let's ride Spider-Man one last time?"
I decided to go along with Airi.
Airi seemed satisfied.
After that, we leave the theme park, move the car to the hotel parking lot, and check into the hotel.
I take a shower, turn on the TV, and vaguely watch the news.
With the excitement still lingering, I can't quite fall asleep.
Airi takes a shower and then uses the hairdryer.
"That was fun, wasn't it?"
"Yeah, but Airi, you've been here once before, right?"
"At that time, I was too scared for the ride types."
"Ah, I see."
"Let's come play again."
"Yeah..."
"...I wonder what you're looking for~?"
When Airi finishes with the hairdryer, she peeks at my smartphone.
I was looking for parking in Osaka.
Because it seems better to find a random parking lot and use public transportation.
If I'm getting off anyway, I want it to be near the destination.
...There are quite a few.
I can also take the Loop Line.
"Where do you want to go? Maid cafes are rejected."
"...Tsutenkaku."
"I see."
"Airi, is there anywhere you want to go?"
"Hmm... maybe a drive?"
"A drive?"
"Doesn't it seem interesting, like a maze?"
It's true that it was like that when we came.
It was far more complex and bizarre than Kitakyushu.
Well, we're heading back from Kobe anyway, so it's fine.
"Alright."
"Then, get some good rest today too."
Saying that, Airi turns off the TV and dims the lights.
When I get into bed with Airi, we embrace and sleep.
Airi must have been tired; she falls asleep immediately upon entering the bed.
I close my eyes too.
I can hear Airi's sweet breathing in her sleep.
Invited by that breathing, I also fall asleep.
Tomorrow, I will greet the morning with Airi again.
It's a trivial thing, but a very important thing.
It's easy to forget in the obviousness of daily life, but I remember occasionally.
That this too is a page of precious memories.
Airi had said it.
"Let's be together forever."
Now I can say it.
"I'll always be by your side"...
And so, a new memory was inscribed on a page of university life.
(3)
It was the worst from the morning.
There's not a single response even when I talk to him.
Is he irritated because the wait time is long?
I'm having fun, you know?
Even this time spent waiting.
Killing time by chatting with Toya-kun.
Just as I was thinking that, it was a truly trivial thing.
What Toya-kun was looking at was the woman of another couple.
Cruel, the worst.
I got angry.
The precious date is ruined.
"I was just looking because I felt envious of the other couples."
Toya-kun makes that excuse.
Aren't we envious?
"I wondered if other people see us that way."
Do you care that much about how others see you?
Then, let's just show them.
I grab Toya-kun's arm.
Even though he usually dislikes it.
Today, he links arms readily.
He really was just envious.
I wish he would have just said so if that was it.
If he wants to be envied that much, I'll flirt with him as much as he wants.
So, look only at me.
Just asking isn't enough, right?
I'll make it so.
Be prepared.
I'll make it so you can feel proud.
After that, it was fun.
I don't really understand the manga characters, but the food was delicious.
Attractions I experienced for the first time.
Fun.
I guided Toya-kun.
Toya-kun seemed to be having fun too.
After that, Toya-kun didn't glance at other women.
Listening to announcements, talking with me.
A world where no one exists except me and Toya-kun.
We ate dinner too.
There's still plenty of time until the night parade.
Toya-kun asked me what to do.
Why not kill time with attractions if we're at it?
It was fun no matter how many times we rode them.
The parade time begins.
It was beautiful.
I didn't take photos, though.
I'll keep it properly in the album of memories with Toya-kun.
The joyful feast comes to a close.
Returning to the hotel. Once we spend a night, all that's left is to go home.
Why do I think the end of a trip is so lonely?
But, I'm not lonely at all.
Because the journey of me and Toya-kun has only just begun.
(4)
I had a dream.
A parade of starlight.
Clowns and a marching band are parading.
A parade of moonlight.
Ghosts are dancing.
The party we were invited to tonight.
A man wearing a tattered robe says.
"Keep this love a secret."
That's impossible.
Because I'm going to brag about it to everyone.
Toya-kun took me to a mysterious party.
A Devil DJ, moonlight cocktails.
Toya-kun staring at the girl at the BAR.
Poke
I told you before, look only at me.
Then, not being shy regarding the public gaze, Toya-kun kissed me.
A parade of the moonlit night.
I hold hands with Toya-kun so we don't get separated in the crowd.
"I won't let go of this hand," Toya-kun told me.
Even if Toya-kun lets go, I'm the one holding on, so be prepared.
I guess preparation isn't necessary.
Hands held by the two of us. We will never let go...
The stars, the moon, and the sun.
Everyone welcomes us.
Ghosts, Devils, and spirits, everyone entertains us.
"Airi. It's morning."
When I wake from the dream, Toya-kun is awake.
"You had a happy sleeping face, what happened?"
Toya-kun asks.
"It was a happy dream. Toya-kun was there too."
"I see, that's good. I thought it was rare for Airi to oversleep."
Being told that, I look at the clock.
It's true, it's breakfast time.
I hurriedly change clothes.
I guess getting ready can wait until after breakfast.
Toya-kun is waiting, hungry.
I eat breakfast and finish getting ready.
Where shall we go today?
I sit in the passenger seat and fasten the seatbelt.
And so, the journey that never ends began again today.