Chapter 155 - Party!
(1)
"Fuwaaa~"
I let out a sound—whether it was a yawn or a sigh, I wasn't sure—as I gave my back a big stretch.
Since we had taken our time with a leisurely breakfast and relaxed until the very last minute before checkout, it had become quite close to the meeting time.
Today was the day when the entire "Watanabe Squad," our inner circle group, was gathered.
The meeting place was in front of the station.
Even though I was at the meeting spot, I didn't run into anyone.
After consulting with Airi, we decided to kill time at a coffee shop inside the station building.
From here, we could overlook the meeting place from inside the shop. I bought some coffee to wake myself up and waited with Airi.
Airi sat beside me, sipping chamomile while making small talk.
Tosaka Airi.
A slightly mysterious girl. To the world, she is a beautiful woman who is capable of everything and has excellent grades. But in reality, she is incredibly lonely and apparently becomes anxious if I'm not always by her side; she often troubles me by throwing cute tantrums.
However, if you view that selfishness through the filter of affection, it feels endearing. She is a huge spoiled brat.
"Oh? Were you two waiting here as well?"
Turning around, I saw a woman who had a certain "young lady" air about her, arriving with a short man following her lead.
"Ah, hello, Emi~"
Airi turned and greeted the woman. Eguchi-san smiled and returned the greeting to Airi.
"It's been a while. Katagiri-kun, how are you faring?"
"It's been a while. I'm enjoying myself."
They sat down beside us and observed the meeting place.
During that time, I chatted with Eguchi-san and her partner.
Apparently, they had also eaten at the hotel restaurant last night and stayed there.
They said the illuminations in Fukuoka were beautiful. Ishihara-kun tried his best to convey just how beautiful they were.
"Where did you two go, Katagiri-kun?"
While we were exchanging stories about our trips, I saw people gathering one after another.
Once I confirmed that, we left the shop and headed toward the meeting spot.
"Oh, Toya. Hello."
Watanabe-kun said as he noticed us.
With a total of sixteen people, it seemed that managing the group was quite a task.
"I've got the restaurant reserved, let's go quickly."
And so, we filed toward the eatery.
Looking at the blue lighting that is put up every year, we turned into a side street and entered a quiet road.
The shop was on the second floor of a multi-tenant building.
The venue for the Watanabe Squad's final banquet of the year was a reasonably priced shop that prided itself on its yakitori and various types of sashimi.
Everyone held a drink in their hand, waiting for Watanabe-kun's words.
"This year was tough, but let's have fun next year too."
As Watanabe-kun said that, we toasted. The banquet had begun.
The men each had their partners serve them portions onto small plates.
I picked out things Airi would likely like, put them on a small plate, and handed it to her.
"Here, Toya-kun."
What Airi had taken was mostly salad. There was no meat. None at all. I thought she would at least pick some sashimi, but there was none of that either.
"I'll eat the other stuff later anyway, right? If so, I have to eat vegetables first."
Food arrived one after another.
While we enjoyed chatting and eating, Watanabe-kun stood up.
"Let's get this over with while everyone is still sober. Did everyone bring their preparations?"
By "preparations," he likely meant the announcement written in the message group.
A gift exchange party. A gathering where each couple exchanges a gift they had chosen.
What Airi and I chose were matching mugs. We had bought them at our travel destination.
Airi took them out of her bag and handed them to the couple opposite us.
The couple opposite me was Shimizu-san.
I received a gift from Shimizu-san.
"Use it with care."
Sakai-kun's face was pale. Come to think of it, I experienced a similar situation with Makoto and the others.
For the record, Makoto and the others' gifts were adult toys.
"T-this kind of party has that kind of vibe, right?"
Makoto hurriedly tried to justify it. However, that wasn't necessary.
Everyone had brought nutritional supplements, stamina drinks... well, there were some that looked better, like two wine glasses.
And the thing Shimizu-san chose was...
Apparently, it was thin and felt almost as if one weren't wearing it.
Airi held the white box, her face turning red.
"It's that kind of vibe, right?"
I wonder where she acquired such knowledge.
As time passed, everyone moved seats to greet each other. I remained in my seat, eating relentlessly, while Airi kept watch over me.
Shimizu-san and her partner didn't move seats either. Perhaps she thought that even if she didn't move, someone would come to her.
But this wasn't a mixer or anything of the sort. It was just a gathering of inner circle friends. Everyone gathered and talked as people who got along well.
Being pushed into this situation might have been a first for Shimizu-san herself. After thinking while eating, I decided to bring up a topic.
"I saw the group chat. I heard you two started living together?"
"Yes, we're having a wonderful time."
Looking at Sakai-kun's face, I couldn't believe that for a second, but I played along and said, "I see."
"I heard that Katagiri-kun and his partner are halfway to living together as well."
"I'm still relying on my parents, so it's hard to call it living together. There are various things that bother me."
"That must be difficult..."
"Living together, huh."
I noticed that Airi was hung up on the words "living together." I patted Airi's head.
"We'll save that for the pleasure after we graduate from university. I intend to be independent by then."
When I said that, Airi's mood improved, and she clung to me.
"I envy being able to have that kind of skinship. He doesn't do anything for me."
Those words seemed to sound exceptionally loud. It wasn't just that it seemed so. Apparently, the people around us actually heard it.
"Sakai... by any chance... not yet?"
When Makoto said that, Sakai-kun remained silent. Here, silence meant affirmation.
"It's impossible that you're still 'not yet' after you've already started living together!"
When Makoto said that, it acted as a trigger, and jeers flew one after another.
Sakai-kun endured it silently, wearing a forced smile.
"Well, Sakai probably has his own reasons," Watanabe-kun tried to soothe him, but Airi looked at my face and groaned.
"What is it?"
When I asked Airi, she answered.
"I've said this before, but I wonder if there are a lot of herbivores in this group? Or rather, I realized there are people with absolutely no desire. Toya-kun doesn't invite me unless it's a special day."
I think bringing up my story here is a bad idea.
"Toya! You were like that too!?"
The fire spread to me.
"To-ya! You're not... by any chance...!?" Mika-san said.
"Surely that's not the case... are you making Airi feel lonely!?" Kanna asked.
"I-I'm not making her feel lonely... I think."
"I'm not lonely. When I'm in that mood, he lets me be spoiled enough."
Airi and I tried to explain, but Kanna and the others wouldn't back down.
"Airi, I think I've told you before, but that's just spoiling her," Kanna said.
"That's why I'm saying it's fine, because he's properly there for me when I feel lonely," Airi replied.
"If you're letting a woman feel lonely, you've already failed," Mika-san said.
I noticed that Watanabe-kun and Makoto looked strange; they were shaking their heads as if to say "good grief." Ah, I understood what was happening.
"I wonder if Katagiri-kun needs education too?" Eguchi-san laughed, and Mika-san went as far as to shout, "Actually, all the men should receive education once."
"What do you mean by education?" Kimoto-senpai asked, and Oshima-san explained, making him give a wry smile and say, "I see."
"Well, I'm sure Sakai-kun is just waiting for the right timing, like aiming for a special day... I think he's thinking about various things in his own way," I said, trying to bring the topic back.
"Are you saying there's a day more special than Christmas Eve?" Shimizu-san asked, and Ichinose-san shouted, "Sakai-kun, did you really do nothing even on Christmas Eve?"
"Well, it's not that I did nothing, but rather I couldn't... hahaha."
Sakai-kun could only give a wry smile. However, there was no way the women of the day would forgive him with just that.
"You said it before, didn't you!? That you'd go on a date on the 24th... you finished at the shop and came to pick up Shimizu-san, and yet you did nothing?"
Sorry, Sakai-kun, I can't defend you on that one.
"In a sense, it was a date. We exchanged presents. I met her parents too..."
I don't think there were any lies in what Sakai-kun said; as proof, Shimizu-san was nodding along. From what I heard, it sounded like things were going well. Then why was he so bewildered?
"What did you give for the gift exchange?"
Ichinose-san asked.
"Just a card case. She has a lot of cards. She can put her student ID in it and such."
Yes, I think that's normal. Sakai-kun probably thought about it and bought it. The words "gift exchange" and "met parents" bothered me; I felt a hesitation in him when he spoke those words.
Meeting parents is normally nerve-wracking. If he met them at her house, I don't think it would be strange if nothing happened.
I heard Shimizu-san was the daughter of a prestigious family. She probably lives in a larger house than Eguchi-san. Ah, if I steer the conversation that way, I might be able to help him.
"Sakai, what was Shimizu-san's house like?" Before I could act, Watanabe-kun moved. Did he also think it was bad to leave it as it was? However, the conversation didn't go as expected.
"I don't know. I've never been there," Sakai-kun answered as if it were natural.
"What do you mean you've never been there? Didn't you meet her parents?"
"I did."
"Then, did you meet them at your house?"
"Not my house, but well, I guess it's a house."
Sakai-kun's answers were somehow vague. As he continued to give such replies...
"Did you have dinner together at some shop or something?" I tried hard to divert the topic.
"No, I entertained my parents with my own home cooking."
Shimizu-san answered instead. Even so, she entertained her parents with home cooking?
"Ah, I don't understand anymore! Explain it properly!" Mika-san lost her patience.
"That's why I invited my parents to our house."
Shimizu-san answered nonchalantly. Hearing the words alone, it sounded normal, but was it just my imagination that I had a bad feeling?
"Isn't 'our house' Sakai-kun's house?" Eguchi-san asked a natural question. But...
"No, that would be too narrow to welcome them. I suppose you could call it our new nest of love."
"Does that mean you moved?"
"Not yet. I intend to finish it by the end of the year. I don't have much luggage, so I think I'll do it once winter break starts."
Christmas present, new nest of love, inviting parents, moving soon... I don't want to imagine it, I hope I'm wrong, but if I don't ask, I won't be able to eat.
"Shimizu-san, by any chance, your present was..."
I timidly asked Shimizu-san. It seems that the more you hope a premonition is wrong, the more accurate it is, and the answer I imagined was waiting for me.
"A house. I had been preparing a new home for him and me for a while."
Uwaaa...
Everyone who had been making a fuss until then fell silent. It was a statement with that much impact.
"A house... as in a detached house?"
Sashihara-san asked hesitantly. Shimizu-san nodded.
It was a single sentence that overturned the very foundation of the general theories we had been discussing. As proof, no one tried to open their mouth.
"Huh? What's wrong, everyone? Did I give such a strange present?"
She seemed to have no self-awareness. Because she had none, it was all the worse. Everyone was bewildered as to what words to use.
Sakai-kun's words and actions were all explained. No matter how much he had lost himself, it was a shocking statement that reclaimed everything in one go.
"Shimizu-san, just over a month since you started dating, that's a bit..."
Airi spoke with an ambiguous ending, implying that there might be a problem with Shimizu-san's actions.
"Oh? I read that some people start living together immediately after they start dating."
"If so, you'd prepare at least a house, right?" Shimizu-san said.
Everyone didn't know what to say; perhaps their heads couldn't keep up with a situation that overturned their respective common sense, and they remained silent.
However, this was a banquet. There were quite a few people who acted as if such things didn't matter.
"Why is it so quiet!? Isn't this a happy occasion! Let's get hyped!"
Kanna suddenly spoke up. Prompted by that, Mika-san also said, "That's right, today is a celebratory occasion, let's get really excited."
I had no idea what was celebratory. Airi seemed to feel the same. We looked at each other's faces.
Watanabe-kun also seemed to have given up on thinking and said, "Sakai, congratulations. Be happy!" and ordered a drink for Sakai-kun.
With that as the signal, everyone resumed the banquet.
"Sakai-kun, congratulations, be happy," everyone greeted him.
I had never felt so sorry for Sakai-kun.
As Airi and I watched the scene, Kanna gave me some incomprehensible encouragement: "Why the gloomy face? You might be frustrated that he beat you to it, but next is definitely your turn!"
In that way, a simple party transformed into a celebration of the future of those two.
At this rate, you might actually end up in a student marriage, Sakai-kun.
(2)
The Christmas party, which had transformed into a banquet of madness with a single word from Shimizu-san, entered the second party.
It was a party in a rented party room at the usual karaoke box.
Everyone was celebrating us of their own accord.
Only Katagiri-kun and his partner seemed to understand my feelings, so they didn't talk to me much.
Yes. I wanted to be left alone.
No matter how I tried to justify myself to these people now, it wouldn't get through. If anything, I might be ganged up on. In that case, wouldn't it be an option to drink the magic liquid and participate in this banquet of madness?
That's what I thought. Even if I hadn't thought it, I probably would have been made to. I participated in the banquet in a state of half-desperation.
I don't know how Shimizu-san took that. I just remember her asking "Are you okay?" with a worried look.
When she used worrying as an excuse to press her body against mine, the safety valve of reason that usually worked stopped functioning entirely, and I pushed her down.
I said something incomprehensible and pressed her for a kiss; although she resisted at first, she eventually closed her eyes and, while her body trembled slightly, tried to accept it.
Someone must have realized it was getting dangerous, as someone pulled me away from her.
My consciousness stopped there.
When I noticed, it was morning, and I was sleeping in the bed of the new home.
I thought about skipping the second period too, but noticing that the pickup car had arrived, I gave up, changed into my everyday clothes, grabbed my bag, and left the house.
Shimizu-san apparently had class from the first period and had already left.
Did I do something inadequate?
Worrying about that, I became anxious and sent a message to her, who was likely still in class.
"I am very sorry for the great inconvenience I caused yesterday."
The reply was instantaneous.
"I'm a little relieved to know that you are a man too. Don't worry about it," and so on...
As I thought, something happened.
I held my head. It ended as an attempt. I want to believe that.
After finishing class, I headed straight to my part-time job.
Ichinose-san had arrived first.
When Ichinose-san saw me, she averted her gaze and tried to leave the break room.
Reflexively, I grabbed Ichinose-san's arm.
Ichinose-san flinched.
"I-is something..."
Ichinose-san spoke to me in a thin voice.
"U-um. Did I do anything strange yesterday? I have no memory."
Ichinose-san was taken aback and then burst out laughing.
"It's better not to ask Shimizu-san about that. I think you'll be shocked if you do."
"Which means something did happen."
"Yes. But it's rare for Sakai-kun to do something like that, so I don't think you need to worry about it. I'm sure Shimizu-san is relieved too."
"If it's not an inconvenience, could you tell me? It's been bothering me since this morning..."
After thinking for a while, Ichinose-san said this:
"Strictly speaking, nothing happened. It was just that Sakai-kun pushed Shimizu-san down, and while everyone was pulling him away and holding him back, he was screaming, 'She's my fiancée, so it's none of your business! Let me do as I please!'"
I could feel my face turning red.
I said something like that, huh.
I've been completely caught in my own words.
"He knows himself that he lost control, so you don't have to worry. Well, I think that's exactly why true feelings come out."
That calling her my fiancée was my true feeling? I think it was nothing more than a temporary lapse in judgment. Wasn't it because of the magic drink?
"I wonder if things would have gone well if I had made him drink that when I was dating Sakai-kun?"
When I said that, Ichinose-san laughed and left the break room.
"What if," "if only"—the endings one must not think of when in love. If only I had done this then. If only I had said that. Thinking about it means nothing.
Rather than that, I'll think about what comes next. I'll accumulate experience for the next romance. I think it's better to be positive and think that way.
"Sakai-kun, a customer is here."
Ichinose-san is calling. When I left the break room, Katagiri-kun and Tosaka-san were waiting.
"G-good work yesterday."
Katagiri-kun's forced smile was extremely unnatural, and I could tell just by a glance.
Poke
Tosaka-san nudged Katagiri-kun.
"Were you okay today?"
Tosaka-san's smile was perfectly natural, but it made me feel something like a little devil.
"I felt terrible throughout the morning."
When I revealed this honestly, she said while laughing.
"Take good care of Shimizu-san."
With that, the two of them sat in the back seats.
After that, Shimizu-san came in.
Shimizu-san had a smile that was refreshing in its brightness.
Sitting at the counter, she said shortly, "The usual, please."
After that, as usual, Shimizu-san gazed at me as if appraising me.
When I handed her the tea, I said, "I was very rude yesterday."
Then she arched an eyebrow.
"I don't think you did anything rude at all, but do you have something in mind?"
"I'm sorry, I have no memory."
"I see, so you don't remember those words either..."
Shimizu-san lowered the tone of her voice slightly.
Ah, that was something I shouldn't have asked. That was something I shouldn't have said.
However, Shimizu-san's mood recovered quickly.
"Well, it's fine. Because I found out that you have at least a shred of those feelings. Next time, I'll make you say it while sober."
After that, she returned to the usual Shimizu-san.
The only different thing was...
"I'll wait for you until your work ends today. That'll save trouble, right?"
One thing I remembered. Winter break starts tomorrow. Once that happens, I have to move. I'll have to tell my parents too. Ah, what should I do about going back to my parents' house?
(3)
I was surprised yesterday.
To think that Sakai-kun would lose himself to that extent...
Sakai-kun suddenly pushing Shimizu-san down. We pulled him away.
"She's my fiancée, so it's none of your business! Let me do as I please!"
A shocking statement blurted out suddenly. Everyone was surprised. After that, he suddenly fell asleep as if his battery had run out.
"I've never seen Sakai like this... He must be bottling up a lot of things daily."
When Nakajima-kun said that, everyone nodded.
"...I'll be heading home first today. He's in this state."
Saying that, Shimizu-san immediately arranged for a ride by phone.
"Take good care of him," Emi said, to which Shimizu-san replied, "Yes, I'll be thorough."
Did those two become friends before I knew it?
Is this what they call sharing feelings?
There must have been something common between the two of them. I also understand Sakai-kun's position well, so I understand his current state of mind well.
For tonight alone, he probably couldn't go without drinking, right?
After that, those of us who remained enjoyed karaoke and had a great time until 7 in the morning.
It was my first time in my life staying up all night. I don't feel bad.
When I left the shop, the morning sun was dazzling; I felt refreshed.
"What will you do after this? There's still time before class. You too, right?"
"Yeah, I think the shops open at this hour are limited."
"You've become quite outspoken. I wonder if that courage is thanks to the training?"
I had an intuition that she was completely misunderstanding.
"I want to drink some coffee and clear my head a bit. I also want to take a shower."
"Then, a break will be fine, right?"
"No, I mean, today is a weekday."
"Is that okay?"
"...Yes."
I took a shower and drank coffee, but as expected, perhaps due to the sense of liberation, sleepiness attacked me.
I set the alarm for one hour before class and decided to take a short nap.
"Hey, Isshy."
Suddenly, Emi spoke to me.
"What is it?"
"Was it the same for you, Isshy? As it was for Sakai-kun."
I vaguely understood what Emi was trying to say. But I denied it.
"That's not the case. I mean, just think about it. I'm the one who chose Emi."
"But after that, you even showed signs of regretting it. Yes, just like the current Sakai-kun."
"It's your imagination. You read my love letter in the winter of our second year of high school, right? My feelings haven't changed from then."
"...You've grown. You're the first person to unravel my heart to this extent."
"Emi is the one who thinks of me. Emi herself is trying to be there for me. That alone is enough."
"Thank you. I love you, Isshy."
"I love you too, Emi."
First, the two of us held hands, then we faced each other, embraced, and fell asleep.
(4)
We were watching the interaction between Sakai-kun and Shimizu-san while drinking and eating at a cafe.
"Yesterday was surprising, wasn't it?"
"It was."
Though it seemed Shimizu-san was the most surprised.
"But the fact that he went that far means Sakai-kun likes Shimizu-san, right? He just hasn't noticed it."
"I wonder."
I could see a hint that he was saying it based on the mood, momentum, and half-desperation.
"I hope it goes well."
"Yeah."
"Toya-kun, are you listening to me properly?"
The cute fairy in front of me seemed a little sulky.
Well, the problems of those two can surely be solved by those two. Just as we did. For now, I'll settle the problem in front of me.
"I'm listening. It's about whether those two will work out, right?"
"Yeah, what do you think, Toya-kun?"
"I think it would be good if it works out, but I feel it's reached a realm where there's almost nothing more we can do. I think they just have to put their heads together and think about it."
"I wonder if I could at least give some advice~?"
"If they ask for advice, then you can give it. But watching over the situation is also important."
"I see~"
I don't know if Airi was convinced, but for now, she seemed to understand.
"Oh, you're early."
Kimoto-senpai and Oshima-san arrived.
The two of them sat opposite the table and each ordered.
It seemed Kimoto-senpai and the others had completely become regulars at this shop, as the ordering proceeded smoothly.
"Winter break starts tomorrow. Do you have any plans, Toya-kun?"
"No, I think I'll probably just be lounging around at home."
That said, if I don't take her somewhere, Airi will probably get enthusiastic again.
Is there any good way?
"We're thinking of taking it easy too. Though we have club activities."
"I have my part-time job, so I can't take it that easy."
Kimoto-senpai and Oshima-san seemed to have commitments, but they didn't seem to have any major plans.
That said, my parents and Airi's parents will probably go back to their hometowns. If so, lounging around at home without anyone saying anything would be relaxing, but it's obvious that Airi will get enthusiastic just because of that.
...I guess I have no choice but to go on another trip?
However, I don't have the luxury of traveling all year round. It might be good to take Airi and tour nearby areas, but everywhere will probably be crowded.
After agonizing, I decided to ask Airi directly. That's probably the fastest. If I think too much, I don't know what Airi will do to me again.
"Airi, what do you want to do during the long holiday?"
"Hoe?"
"Isn't there anything you want to do during the long holiday?"
"Spend time slowly with Toya-kun~"
"Can you really spend it slowly?"
"Eh?"
"Can you spend time leisurely with me?"
"Uuu... so that's how you're playing it."
Airi began to worry. She probably expected a busy daily routine of cooking, laundry, and cleaning. That would defeat the purpose of relaxing.
"I get it... I'll only do the absolute minimum. However, I have a condition too~"
"What is it?"
"Don't leave me behind."
"?"
"When you take your eyes off me, Toya-kun immediately enters the world of games or the world of study, so just for the long holiday, stay only in my world. Then I'll also be immersed in Toya-kun."
"I understand."
"Yay!"
"You two really get along well," Kimoto-senpai said.
"We're already lovey-dovey~" Airi said, grabbing my arm.
"We won't lose either. Right, Kazu-san?"
"That's right, we have to make sure we don't lose."
Even though the north wind is cold these days, warm air was drifting around us.