Chapter 158 - White Breath
(1)
Ring ring ring...
I wake up to the ringtone of my smartphone. Looking at the clock, it's only just past 9:00. I try to answer the phone, knowing it would be bad to wake Airi, but in doing so, I end up waking her since she's clinging to me.
When Airi wakes up, she shakes her head as if to say, "I want to stay like this a bit longer."
"I'm just answering the phone."
Saying that, I answer. It was a call from Makoto.
"Hey, Toya. Want to go skating today?"
"...Is your club activity okay?"
"I've been on break for ages. How about starting from noon?"
"Hold on a second."
I consult with Airi. After worrying for a while, Airi said, "I'll go."
"Alright, where are we meeting?"
"12:00 at the usual convenience store parking lot."
"Got it."
"See ya then."
By the time I finish the call, Airi has gotten out of bed and is choosing clothes to change into.
Since she seems to be struggling, I give her some advice: "The mountains get cold, so you should wear something as warm as possible."
"I know that, but..."
As usual, Airi seemed to be torn between a skirt or pants. I'll worry along with her.
Pants would be easier to move in, but... I imagined a cute fairy from a certain music unit gliding across the silver ice for the first time.
I can just support her so she doesn't fall. I've found my answer.
"Could you do me a favor?"
"What is it~?"
"I'd like you to wear a long skirt and a coat today. And a hat, if possible."
"It's rare for Toya-kun to make a request like that."
"...Is that a no?"
"If it's Toya-kun's request, I'll do it~"
Saying that, she began choosing her clothes.
"What about breakfast? I have time to make some now."
Airi asked me while changing.
"Hmm, we'll probably just buy something at the convenience store anyway, so it's fine."
"Won't Toya-kun be empty by the time we leave?"
"Well, it's not like I can't bear it."
"Alright~"
With that, Airi finished changing and began getting ready.
I changed during that time as well.
Once I finished changing and Airi was also ready, we had time to spare. We killed time talking while watching television.
(2)
Even when the appointed time arrived, Kanna and Makoto still didn't show up. I'm already used to those two's habit of being late.
In their place came Oshima-san and Kimoto-senpai, Kiritani-kun and Sashihara-san. According to them, they had recruited volunteers from Watanabe's group.
The others apparently couldn't come due to part-time jobs or other plans.
While we were finishing our shopping during the wait, Kanna and the others arrived.
"Sorry, sorry!"
"We're gonna go do some shopping too," Kanna and the others said as they entered the convenience store. Once they finished shopping, we departed.
Nothing happened on the way. It wasn't particularly crowded, and we smoothly exited the highway and climbed the mountain.
As usual, Makoto and Kiritani-kun sped ahead to be first, but Kimoto-senpai and I proceeded slowly in a line.
"Hey?"
Suddenly, Airi spoke to me.
"What's wrong?"
"Why did you say this outfit was good? I feel like skating is hard to move in if you're wearing a skirt..."
Just as I had requested, Airi had come wearing a black striped long skirt, a long coat, and a fur beret.
It certainly looked difficult to glide in. But...
"...Will you not get mad if I tell you?"
"Ugh... that way of putting it gives me a bad feeling... it's fine. You said yourself that you wouldn't keep secrets. Go ahead."
"There was a woman I admired."
"!?"
"I saw a video of that woman skating in that outfit. And I thought, ah, it would be nice to have a girlfriend like that."
Bonk
"You're boldly declaring your infidelity right in front of your girlfriend! I told you that you don't need that kind of nerve!"
"It's not like that."
I just wanted to be a little mean. It seems I went a bit too far, as Airi has tears welling up in her eyes.
"I said a woman I admired, right? It's the female vocalist of a certain music unit."
"Ah, that person... so that kind of person is Toya-kun's type."
"Of course, I like the songs too."
"Then, I'll sing for you at karaoke next time. Which song do you like?"
"Maybe a classic love song."
"The delicate ones, or the ones that repeat over and over?"
"Yes, yes, those!"
"Got it~"
Airi looked happy, humming to herself.
"I didn't know Toya-kun had things like that. I thought you had absolutely no interest in that sort of thing."
"I have preferences. But preferences and love are different, right?"
"That's true."
"Airi looks just as cute."
Though it's completely skewed by lover's bias.
"Thank you."
Those words seemed sufficient for Airi.
I wonder if fights would decrease if I said things like this normally? Maybe I should try to be conscious of it from now on.
Outdoor skating rink.
The first thing to do upon arrival is rent skates.
Then, change into the shoes.
I help Airi, who is struggling to put on her skates.
"It might be a bit tight, but bear with it."
"Mm."
I tie them a bit tight so she doesn't hurt her ankles, check that there's no looseness, and they're done.
There are various types of skates. Apparently, figure skates are best for beginners; for my part, I rented hockey skates. The jagged edges at the front are surprisingly in the way.
Now then, let's fill our stomachs with some ramen...
Squeeze
"Toya-kun, how do I stand in these?"
That's right, Airi was a beginner. When I hold out my hand, Airi grabs it. I lift her up slowly. Airi managed to stand.
"Can you walk?"
"Ah, I can walk surprisingly normally."
Alright, then let's go eat some ramen and hot dogs.
Bonk
"Where do you intend to go, leaving your fiancée behind? Toya-kun."
I take Airi's hand, walk her to a table, let her hold onto it, and ask her.
"What does Airi want to eat?"
"I ate at the convenience store earlier, so I don't need anything."
"Then, wait a moment."
I order ramen, a corn dog, and a hamburger, then return to the table with them.
"Airi, aren't you thirsty?"
"I wonder if they have tea?"
I go buy the tea Airi asked for and a juice for myself.
Once we finish eating, we move to the rink.
"There are a lot of people, so be careful."
I walk slowly while still holding hands with Airi.
Looking at the skating rink, I search for the other three.
Kanna is walking unsteadily while holding the railing, and Makoto is playing in the center of the rink, scraping the ice. There's always a guy like this... but that's not allowed, Makoto.
When a middle-aged man attracted to Kanna takes her hand to give her guidance, Makoto hurriedly returns to Kanna's side and finally begins instructing her, saying, "Kanna, it's okay to go slowly, first start with the posture of your feet..."
"Eita! First, let go of the railing!"
"D-don't ask the impossible."
Sashihara-san seems more accustomed to it.
"Yes, yes, at first walk little by little. You have good muscle tone, Kana."
"You think so?"
Kimoto-senpai was teaching Oshima-san kindly and thoroughly.
Just as we thought about skating, an announcement for rink maintenance played.
Ah, I should have eaten at this time. It's too late for regrets. Let's spend the time on something else.
Something we can do outside the rink... let's see.
"Airi, first I'll teach you how to stand. Bend your knees slightly, keep the blades straight, and open your feet at an angle of about 80 degrees."
"L-like this?"
"Yes, then make your stride about half the size of your own foot, keep your toes open, and try walking one step at a time, surely."
"I-it feels kind of unsightly, but is this okay?"
"Yes, when the rink opens, let's practice that first. Don't kick with your toes when you walk; it's okay to be bow-legged, just make sure to lift your feet and walk."
"Toya-kun's shoes don't have jagged edges, do they?"
"That's because of the type of shoe; they're in the way if they're there."
"Then maybe I should have gone with those too?"
"Figure skates are fine until you get used to it."
While I'm accompanying Airi's practice like that, the rink is released and people start skating one after another. Airi tries to go, but I stop her.
"Let's go in leisurely later."
"Oka~y."
Once the crowd at the entrance thins out a bit, I lead Airi onto the rink. First, I stand on the ice, face Airi, and hold out both hands.
"Grab my hands. Slowly, and don't forget the way of standing I told you earlier."
"U-uh, okay."
Airi stands on the ice.
"Kya!"
Airi's feet slide forward, and I firmly support her upper body, which is about to fall backward after being left behind.
"Calm down. If you feel like you're going to fall, bend your knees and lower your center of gravity. That will stop you."
"Mm."
"Can you stand?"
Airi gets up and takes the basic posture. Then she begins to walk one step at a time. It seems she's become quite capable of walking. Let's move to the next step.
"Try walking by shifting your center of gravity to the foot you step forward with. Don't let your posture collapse."
Airi begins to glide just as I said. She seems quick to learn the knack. She was soon able to glide naturally. Next step.
"Try letting go of your foot by pushing lightly with the back foot. I'll support you properly, so you don't have to be afraid."
"Mm."
When Airi lightly pushes the ice with the entire edge of her right foot, the left foot naturally begins to glide. Airi glides, swaying left and right. While keeping an eye on the surroundings, I slowly follow Airi.
"Yay~ I glided~"
Now for how to stop.
"Bring both feet together, lower your knees slightly, make your feet into an 'I' shape, put your center of gravity around the arch of your foot, and try pushing your heels outward."
"Ugh, this is hard... Kya!"
Airi cried out because I let go of her hands; in her panic, she couldn't quite manage the 'I' stop and charges toward me, so I catch her. Airi pats my chest bonk bonk.
"Toya-kun is mean~ letting go of my hands so suddenly."
"It won't be practice if I don't let go."
"Ugh..."
But she's become able to move forward. I guess I just need to teach her how to turn?
"Next is how to turn. You tilt your body inward and feel like you're putting your foot inside the axis foot... Airi, come here for a second."
I take Airi to the inside of the rink and show her an example.
Next, when I tell Airi to try it, she learns immediately. As expected, Airi is versatile.
"Toya-kun is good at teaching. I feel like I can already skate on my own."
"Don't say something so lonely."
"Hoe?"
"What are we having a skating date for?"
"Ah... that's true!"
Airi seemed to realize after looking around. What I wanted to do. Airi takes my hand and begins to glide slowly.
I glide alongside her slowly to match her pace.
Occasionally, speed demons rush past Airi at incredible speeds, and when Airi's posture collapses, I support her. I'm the one who made her wear this outfit. If possible, I want to keep her from falling.
The outer edge is dangerous because inexperienced people like Kanna and Kiritani-kun are skating, so once she gets used to it, it's still somewhat safer to lap the inner side.
As Airi gets used to it, she naturally gains speed. She's good at turning, but because she's good, her speed accelerates more and more.
"Toya-kun, I can't stop~... Kya!"
I wrap my arm around Airi's waist and hold her, spinning around, and finally, scraping the ice with the outer edge, I land Airi elegantly.
Applause leaks from the surrounding customers who were watching in awe.
I was actually afraid whether I could do it with hockey skates, but I managed.
Airi herself looked stunned, as if she didn't know what happened, but eventually, her cheeks flushed red and she looked down.
Is she getting a bit tired? I saw white breath. We took a break.
"Toya, you really can do anything, can't you?"
"I envy Airi. Airi, won't you trade Toya for Makoto?"
When Makoto and Kanna said that, Airi clung to me and answered, "No way~"
"I saw Makoto-kun, and you're not bad; you should just have him teach you."
"This guy is kind to other women, but he's merciless to me."
"They say strictness is also a form of kindness!"
"It's not that, I just don't understand the nerve of someone who comes with his girlfriend but gives kind guidance to other women right in front of her! Toya isn't like that."
Well, I just made sure Airi didn't have contact with others. Was Makoto different?
"Today, Toya-kun's eyes definitely won't wander to other women."
"Where does that confidence come from!?"
When Sashihara-san asked Airi, Airi answered with her chest puffed out.
"There's a secret plan in today's clothes! I came in an outfit that's Toya-kun's preference~"
"...Airi. Makoto and Toya really are different. I came in an outfit Makoto suggested, for what it's worth..."
For the record, Kanna's outfit was a mini skirt with leggings and a down jacket. Isn't she cold?
Makoto seems to be regretting something alone. What on earth happened?
"To think I'd lose to Toya's sense... It's true, I was turned on by Tosaka-san walking ploddingly in a long skirt. I thought gliding while shy in a mini skirt would also work, though."
"Makoto... You said you wanted to be stepped on by the heel. Shall I do that for you now?"
"Are you trying to kill me!"
Makoto... what are you trying to do?
"Outfits, huh... I'm envious just that her boyfriend chooses for her. Eita only says things like 'Anything looks good on you'."
Sashihara-san said that. Isn't that a good thing? Ah, was that a forbidden phrase...
"But it's fine because you're cute no matter what you wear!"
"I'm telling you to take at least a little interest in your girlfriend's clothes!"
"Kazu-san, do you have a preferred style of clothing?"
"If you're curious, shall we go buy clothes together next time? I thought it wasn't something a man should fuss over too much, though."
"I'll go with whatever Kazu-san wants."
"In that case, let me give you a present next time."
"Yes."
Oshima-san and Kimoto-senpai seem to be on good terms. The other couples probably get along despite their complaints. That's how it looked. I didn't feel envious of that. Because I have Airi.
"Toya-kun, let's skate a little more?"
When Airi said that, the others also said they wanted to skate.
"Toya... teach me."
"I'll teach Kanna!!"
"Eita, why don't you have Katagiri-kun teach you too?"
"If I take my eyes off Ai, Ai will get hit on!"
"Then, Kazu-san, shall we skate?"
"Yes, shall we skate a bit more?"
And so, the four couples leaped onto the rink.
(3)
Beep beep beep...
The alarm rings.
I stop it, raise my heavy body, and get out of bed.
Then, I operate my smartphone to make a call and finish changing before the ride arrives.
Shimizu-san, who was next to me, is still sleeping.
Due to the address, I was in a situation where I had to take the foolish action of having a shuttle service provided to work my part-time job.
As for changing, it's just changing into my usual jersey.
I tidy my hair just enough so there's no bedhead, and stare at the PC until the ride arrives.
There's no particularly big news. Nothing much is posted on SNS either.
The ride arrives. I lock the door and get into the white luxury car of the shuttle service.
Thinking that I must escape from this ridiculous situation, I decided to get my driver's license after the second semester ends.
As for the car, I decided to bow my head to my parents and buy a suitable used car.
When I arrive at my part-time job, I first change. When I finish changing and leave the locker room, Ichinose-san had just arrived.
"Good morning."
I hear Ichinose-san's energetic voice.
"Morning, you're energetic today too."
"Sakai-kun is the same as always... are you?"
"There's no way to change it, at this point."
When winter break began, the moving started.
I had the moving company carry my originally meager luggage, unpacked it, and that was the end.
As for home appliances, since they already existed in the new home, they were disposed of.
If I'm thrown away by Shimizu-san now, I'll end up wandering the streets.
The usual regulars didn't come today.
Ah, Nakajima-kun and Shimizu-san did come, though.
Katagiri-kun and the others are apparently going skating today.
Then, customers I don't usually see arrive.
Eguchi-san and Ishihara-kun.
"I'm sorry, it seems this has become a date spot."
"Didn't you go skating today?"
"Unfortunately, Isshy has a part-time job from the evening."
"It's tough for both of us when our boyfriends have part-time jobs."
"Indeed, don't you two go on dates or anything?"
Eguchi-san is direct. But recently, Shimizu-san has been very quiet.
"Sakai-kun is so absorbed in his part-time job that he's not in that state."
"Oh? Is that so?"
Eguchi-san's gaze turns toward me.
"Part-time jobs are important, but you have to cherish your girlfriend too."
Well, it's already become a fait accompli. I won't go out of my way to deny it, but...
"It's just that I can't quite find the timing to bring it up."
"Oh? So you do have the intention?"
"I don't mind whenever, you know?"
If you're glared at by these two, no matter how nimble an insect is, it cannot escape.
I feel like a defendant being forced to give testimony one after another.
"F-first dates are difficult, aren't they? Like, not having the courage to bring it up. I couldn't bring it up myself either."
Ishihara-kun is my only hope. But these two relentlessly prey on the weak.
"You still had such weak thoughts? I wonder if the training is still insufficient?"
When Eguchi-san said that, Ishihara-kun fell without a fight.
"I wonder if Sakai-kun also needs training?"
Eguchi-san's target turns toward me again. There is no escape route.
"T-then, how about this coming New Year's Eve? If you dislike being just the two of us, invite other people. There should be someone from Watanabe's group."
"We don't mind. We're both in the position of having weaklings for boyfriends, so we can support each other."
"...Yesterday's enemy is today's friend, as they say. It doesn't feel bad. Then, I think I'll take you up on that offer."
Ah, the two people I thought had the worst compatibility have teamed up.
No one can resist. Nakajima-kun, don't just pretend you haven't heard anything, help me. We're best friends, right? Since University, at least.
"That sounds interesting... Honoka, shall we join too?"
"If Ryuji-san says so, I don't mind."
Ah, it might have been better if he had just stayed quiet.
"Then, 23:00 on New Year's Eve at Harubi Shrine."
Once Eguchi-san decided, no one opposed. To be precise, there was no one in this place who could oppose.
"Ah, it's like a comedy show... but that's not allowed, is it?"
Four cold gazes pierce me.
Only Ishihara-kun looked at me with eyes of pity.
(4)
After finishing skating, we finished dinner at a family restaurant and disbanded.
White snow, illuminated by the town lights here and there, dances.
"It's not enough snow to pile up, so it's fine," Toya-kun was laughing.
"More than that, tomorrow will be tough. The muscle pain."
"I'll have Toya-kun massage me, so it's fine. Rather, isn't it tougher for Toya-kun?"
"No, for skating beginners, you use unnecessary strength, so you get muscle pain all over your body."
"Is Toya-kun used to it?"
"I've been doing it since a long time ago. This is a story from before I started dating Airi, though."
"I see."
Then Toya-kun was thinking about something. Looking closely, the car isn't heading toward the house. Where does he intend to go?
"Hey? Where are we heading?"
I tried asking Toya-kun, but Toya-kun says nothing. What's wrong?
"Airi, please listen without getting mad..."
"Wha~t?"
"I'm thinking of relaxing our bodies at a hot spring now."
"A hot spring?"
Why would that make me get mad?
"In a private family bath, I thought we could relax just the two of us..."
"That's fine. Rather, why would I get mad at that?"
If anything, I welcome it. Ah, but...
"I haven't prepared my bath set, so we have to go back once."
I mean, if you had told me from the start, I would have prepared it...
Then Toya-kun points to the back seat.
In the back, bath sets for me and Toya-kun were prepared.
Is this intended as a surprise?
But I haven't prepared a change of clothes?
When Toya-kun stops at a red light, he bows his head toward me.
"Sorry! I realized later and panicked, and there was no timing to say it... I chose and brought Airi's underwear myself!"
"...You saw them?"
"Yes..."
I began to giggle... and eventually, I was laughing out loud. Toya-kun is surprised.
It's okay. I'm just laughing because it's funny to imagine Toya-kun, who gets flustered just handing over laundry, rummaging through my things to choose underwear.
Of course, it's a little embarrassing, but it's too late for that now.
Well, I'd hate for him to see dirty ones, though.
"Then, I have to remember today's underwear."
"Eh?"
"Because today's underwear is Toya-kun's favorite, right?"
"Ah, it's not like I was staring at them that intently..."
"If you chose by intuition, then all the more so."
Toya-kun is stunned. The light turned green.
"Toya-kun, look ahead."
"Ah, right."
The car heads toward the public bath.
Entering the family bath, I check the luggage.
Indeed, the underwear was in there; I giggled.
These are my favorites.
You really put yourself in my feelings, didn't you. I'm happy.
When we get home, I'll give you a reward.
When we enter the bath, Toya-kun massages my shoulders and legs. Even though there's no need to care about it now, he's conscious of his gaze.
If you're that conscious, I'm the one who becomes embarrassed.
When I say I'll massage him next, Toya-kun says it's fine after we go home.
How unfair~
The snow changes from small grains to large grains.
"I wonder if it'll pile up tomorrow~?"
"It'll probably be fine."
Despite saying that, it's cold, so we enter the indoor bath early.
We warm up thoroughly and return home.
I gaze at the sky where snow dances.
Gifts from heaven scattered in the cold sky.
They sparkled like white jewels.