Chapter 159 - All the Days
(1)
New Year's Eve.
The turning point of the year. A day to welcome the new year feeling refreshed by doing things like a big cleanup.
"Toya-kun, morning~"
When I hear Airi's energetic voice, I am forced to wake up.
My whole body hurts, as expected. It's screaming. Did I overwork myself too much yesterday?
"You promised~ that you'd help me today~"
Judging by her drawn-out voice, Airi seems fine; it's impressive since she doesn't usually exercise. I thought she'd be more like, "It hurts~"
"Ugh... well, that's!!"
Airi rips the duvet away with all her might. With that momentum, I even tumbled off the bed. Looking at me, barely able to stand up, Airi says with a satisfied look.
"You're awake. Breakfast is ready~"
Saying that, she leaves the room with a light step. Is there something good happening?
When I finally make it down to the dining area, the breakfast Airi made is waiting for me.
While eating it, I listen to Airi's words.
"Cleaning the ventilation fan, the bath, and the toilet... and if there's more, I'll ask you again"
"Don't you need to clean Airi's house?"
"Hmm, if there's room, maybe I'll ask you to~?"
Once breakfast is finished, I finish cleaning the bathroom and toilet while Airi tidies up the dishes. After that, I clean the ventilation fan; the grease stains just won't come off. When that's done, I go around wiping the windows. Meanwhile, Airi goes around vacuuming. I wipe down the stairs and everything... by the time it's finished, it's past noon.
For lunch, we buy fast food and eat it. I throw away the trash, and for now, I guess it's complete? Next is Airi's house...
"Toya-kun, let's get the cars clean?"
"Both of them?"
"Yep"
Airi and I go out to wash the cars, wiping both of them clean and cleaning the interiors.
"Thank you for your hard work this year"
While Airi is expressing her gratitude, I inspect Airi's car. The oil is low, and it's dirty. Since I'm at it, I might as well change the oil.
The mileage on my car is far higher, but because Airi had neglected the inspections, various defects were appearing in her car. The tires were fine. She doesn't push them too hard.
While changing the oil, I talk about the future with Airi while drinking juice inside the shop.
"I have some shopping to do at the mall..."
"That's fine, but what are you buying?"
"Ingredients for Osechi. It's better to have them, right? And mochi and things too"
"Ah, I see. Got it"
When the inspection is finished, we go to the shopping mall and buy what Airi wanted, then buy cleaning tools at the home center and go home. Airi starts cooking.
"Airi, lend me the house key"
"Hoe?"
"I'll clean the main areas of Airi's house"
"You don't have to, Toya-kun is having a hard time with muscle pain, right? Please relax"
"I'll relax once the cleaning is done"
"Then... you mustn't peek into any strange places, okay?"
Airi says this with a smile and hands over the key. Because I have a prior record, I had no choice but to nod "Yeah."
When I go to Airi's house, I clean the kitchen, the bathroom, and the toilet, and then I vacuum and wipe the window glass.
By the time it's finished, the sun was starting to set.
When I return to my own house, there's a delicious smell... it's hot pot.
"Good work~ I made Mizutaki for today"
After the two of us finish eating while picking at it, Airi tidies the dishes and I take a bath in the meantime. Once I'm in the bath, Airi takes her turn, healing the fatigue of the year.
Then, while watching TV in the room, around the time it passes 23:00, Airi goes to the kitchen and makes soba. After the two of us slurp and eat it, Airi turns to the cleanup.
"Shall we get ready for the first shrine visit soon?"
When Airi, who returned to the room, says that, I finish changing and head toward Harubi Shrine.
It wasn't that anyone took the lead, but the Watanabe group was mostly gathered.
"Hey, Toya, Tosaka-san, it's been a while. Have you been well?"
When Watanabe-kun calls out, I exchange greetings with everyone.
The year has already turned.
After finishing the greetings of "Happy New Year," I line up at the very end of the queue.
When I ask, "Airi, aren't you cold?" Airi replies, "I'm okay~"
It's human nature to want to eat when night stalls are lined up.
Poke
"Let's do it later♪"
So I can eat later, right? I've got your word now.
Once the prayer is finished, I take Airi's hand and line up at the night stalls.
While eating and going around to the next shop and eating again...
Poke
As expected.
"Shall we head home soon? I'm getting sleepy"
"Aren't you going to watch the first sunrise?"
"I'm a little tired. Do you want to see it, Toya-kun?"
"No, if Airi is tired, we'll go home"
"Sorry..."
I massage Airi's shoulders.
"Good work yesterday, I'm counting on you again from today"
"Yeah, I'm counting on you too"
And so we returned and slowly healed our fatigue.
(2)
When we arrive at Harubi Shrine, we merge with Ishihara-kun and others, and Nakajima-kun and others.
While the six of us are lined up talking, we also merge with Watanabe-kun and others, Tada-kun and others, and Kiritani-kun and others. Katagiri-kun and others also arrived.
"Everyone is thinking the same thing, huh" Watanabe-kun laughs.
"We're going to Usa Jingu tomorrow" Oshima-san and others had said in the group message.
After finishing the prayer, we draw omikuji. It was Daikichi. I tie it in the designated place.
"What are you doing after this?"
To Shimizu-san's question, if I were to answer "Naturally, I'm going home," a cold gaze would pierce me.
"M-maybe it would be good to go for a drive until the first sunrise?"
Well, since part-time jobs are off during the first three days, staying up late is fine.
"But I don't have a car... hahaha"
It was Shimizu-san who overturned such a favorable situation.
"Kazami, the first shrine visit is finished now... I'll leave the course after this to you... that's right, please find a superb spot for the first sunrise"
You're fast to act, Shimizu-san.
And so, we have a conversation while killing time in the transport car. However, for me, who leads a healthy life and doesn't usually stay up late, it was painful, or rather, there was a limit.
I felt like I'd fall asleep if I didn't keep talking, and if I were to fall asleep, I don't know what she'd say.
What on earth is waiting beyond overcoming such a harsh ordeal?
"Was it a nuisance?"
Please don't say it with that expression. That's unfair. If it were your fan club, they'd absolutely never be able to say it was a nuisance.
"Rather than a nuisance, I feel like since it's already happened, it can't be helped..."
I'm probably the only one who can give such an answer to the current Shimizu-san.
"I'm sorry. They often say that the things you truly want seem reachable if you stretch out your hand, yet remain out of reach. That's exactly how you are now"
If you understand that much, then why?
"But you see, that doesn't mean I can just give up. I want to obtain it no matter what. Because it's my first love..."
"I'm honored you'd say that. It will probably be a boast for my entire lifetime"
"Don't you want to boast more?"
Shimizu-san's expression was a serious gaze. Eyes that seemed to appeal. Eyes like a discarded puppy. Who could possibly push her away like that?
"As it is now is enough. Any more would be too precious for me to reach...!?"
She was clinging to my arm. I could tell her arm was trembling slightly. Even Shimizu-san gets nervous.
"Don't say it's enough, you can have more greed. You said it yourself, right? That it would be a boast. I'll grant you whatever it is you want to do"
Those eyes were not those of a wild beast. Showing this expression is probably a first in Shimizu-san's entire lifetime.
The car stopped at a family restaurant by the seaside that we had been to before. At this hour, this is probably one of the few shops open.
We enter the shop and place our order.
Taking a window seat and gazing at the sea, eventually the light of the rising sun appears.
For the first time, I might have been able to see her with the shell of the "young lady" that covers her removed.
That was a girl who was admirable, fragile, and seemed lonely.
"It's beautiful, isn't it"
"It is"
Looking back at myself for having removed that shell, I realized, ah, I've finally done it.
Shimizu-san's victory. Even so, it's fine. What can I do for her when I go home today?
A tiny heart awakened by kindness.
Two hearts touching for the first time.
Perhaps we have finally arrived at the thing called love.
I'll probably continue to be swung around by Shimizu-san from now on.
Even so, we were able to make the decision to step forward surely, one step at a time.
As if to bless us, the morning sun was shining.
(3)
"It's crowded as expected... are you okay?"
"Yes, I'm okay"
Kazu-san and I had come to Usa Jingu for the first shrine visit.
We came early in the morning, but as expected, it was crowded.
Kazu-san protects me while firmly holding my hand, walking according to my stride. He really is used to this.
Once the prayer was finished, we decided to go home.
It's crowded as always.
We use the highway to return quickly.
When we get home, I decide to grill mochi.
Meanwhile, Kazu-san is watching New Year's programs.
When I serve the grilled mochi, he says thank you and eats.
"I should have bought something. Sorry"
"It's fine. I have to enjoy the New Year's feeling even a little bit"
I didn't prepare Osechi... I'm sorry.
After that, the two of us watched TV. When evening came, I naturally got hungry. I prepare the ozoni.
"Kazu-san, how many mochi will you eat?"
"Then... three, please"
I make the ozoni and carry it to the table.
"I'll dig in"
When he says that and eats, he is happy, saying, "It's delicious, so this is the taste of Kana's ozoni, huh?" I'm glad.
While tidying the dishes, I say, "Kazu-san, you're staying over today, right? Take a bath first," and Kazu-san took a bath.
After taking a bath, the two of us spend time slowly watching TV. There is almost no conversation. It's not that the air is awkward, but rather, a gentle time is flowing.
"When does Kana's part-time job start?"
Suddenly, Kazu-san asked.
"From the 4th"
"I see, that's good. My club activities also start from the 4th"
"We can spend time relaxedly until the 3rd" Kazu-san says.
"Is there anywhere you want to go?" Kazu-san asked. That said, the 3rd is the New Year's party. I have to think about tomorrow's schedule.
But tomorrow will probably be crowded too. Maybe relaxing at home really is the best.
"I think I want to relax slowly at home?"
"I see... then, let's do that"
Saying that, Kazu-san watches TV again.
"Kazu-san, isn't there anywhere you want to go?"
When I ask, Kazu-san says with a slight smile.
"No, I think just idling like this isn't bad either, though I'd like to at least take you out for a meal?"
"If it's a meal, I'll make it?"
"Then Kana won't be able to relax, right?"
"Then, I'll take you up on your kind offer"
After a while, Kazu-san said.
"Idling like this really isn't bad. Because usually, I was definitely nervous. It's only in front of Kana that I can relax this much"
Being popular is hard.
"Is school life difficult?"
"It is difficult... After all, there's a version of myself that puts on airs in front of people... I wonder how easy it would be if I could just be as I am. That's why the time I spend with Kana is important"
Of course, I'm still maintaining a minimum level of nervousness, I replied with a laugh. It's okay, you know? Relax more.
Before I knew it, we were holding hands.
Our eyes meet.
New Year's Day. The beginning of the year. The beginning is crucial for everything. At that crucial time, we were spending it relaxedly.
It seems I'll be able to spend this year relaxedly.
(4)
"Toya-kun, wake up already"
When I wake up to Airi shaking my body, the clock has passed 10:00.
"You finally woke up~"
It seems Airi had been awake since much earlier. She should just relax during the New Year.
It seems she had been preparing ozoni since morning; we watch TV while eating ozoni and Osechi.
Once we finish eating the ozoni, Airi starts tidying up. When I show a semblance of helping for the time being, she says, "Toya-kun, just watch TV," and I'm pushed back into my room.
While I'm relaxing in the room, Airi comes in and sits neatly next to me.
We were watching New Year's specials. When it becomes noon, Airi heads to the kitchen again.
"Food is ready~"
When Airi says that, I head to the dining area. And it repeats.
While watching TV, I wait for Airi.
Airi brings juice and places it on the table.
Dinner was a similar feeling.
After dinner, I take a shower and wait for Airi's return.
When Airi enters the room, she dries her hair.
Shall we go somewhere tomorrow?
As expected, when I'm at home with Airi, I end up making Airi work. I want to let her relax during the New Year.
"Airi, is there anywhere you want to go tomorrow?"
"Maybe just the supermarket~"
Then there's no point.
"Want to go somewhere for fun? You want to stretch your wings a bit, right?"
"I'll stretch my wings on the 3rd and 5th, so I'm fine~"
Ah, that was right.
"Can't be helped, huh~"
Saying that, Airi takes out study tools and a laptop.
"It's a month away, so shall we start doing it seriously soon?"
"True..."
And so, I enter preparation for final exams with Airi. I also have to prepare reports and such.
I want to see various sceneries with Airi this year too.
Let's make memories for the two of us through spring, summer, autumn, and winter.
Always sharing all the joy, anger, grief, pleasure, and love between the two of us... I want to be by her side forever.
I think of Airi.
I hope this year is a happy one.