Chapter 160 - A Six-Letter Message (1)
"Good morning, Toya-kun!"
I wake up to Airi's energetic voice. The clock had only just passed 8:00. I burrowed back into my futon.
Poke
"Your fiancée worked so hard to make breakfast, and you're just going to go back to sleep!"
My body reacts instinctively to the sound of the word "breakfast." However, today, the sleepiness was stronger. Perhaps that last sentence was unnecessary.
"I'll eat it later, so let me sleep a little more."
"But then it'll get cold!"
"I'll microwave it."
"Uuu... and I worked so hard to make it..."
This is bad; she's one step away from sulking. No, it might already be too late.
Regardless, if I leave her like this, it'll become an irreparable situation.
Wake up, me! I get up and hug Airi from behind as she tries to leave the room.
"Sorry, I'll eat it now. After all, it's breakfast from my cute bride. It would be a waste not to eat it while it's still hot."
I don't know if she reacted to "cute" or "bride," but for now, Airi's mood seems to have returned to normal.
"Do you really think so? Can you swear from your heart? Do you promise not to do the same thing again?"
I don't know if I can, but it's probably better to just honestly comply here. When I nod, the smile returns to Airi's face.
"Well then, let's eat."
Before that, I give her a reconciliation kiss. If I do this much, Airi's mood will improve, right?
"Hurry up, go, go!"
Airi pushes my back as if to hide her embarrassment. Her face remained turned downward.
Once we finished eating the ozoni, Airi tidied up as usual. I returned to my room as usual.
That said, even if I return to my room, games are strictly forbidden, and my studying is regulated by Airi.
As for things to do, I suppose there's just staring at the PC?
With no particularly fresh news, I browse a video site and laugh.
"Oh? You were awake?"
Airi returned to the room carrying two mugs.
When Airi placed them on the table, I left the PC as it was and sat in front of the table.
Airi sat next to me.
When I turned on the TV, a program was on—I couldn't tell if it was the usual wide show or the morning news.
Airi watched it, pressing her body against mine.
Perhaps it hit a nerve for her, as she watched intently, but I had absolutely no interest.
I might just have no interest in wide shows themselves. To be honest, I don't care about celebrity news.
Airi looked at me curiously.
"Toya-kun, isn't the program interesting?"
"It would be more accurate to say I'm not very interested. I don't have much interest in celebrity news and such."
"But before, you said you liked the female vocalist of 'Elt,' right? And it seems you have an actress you like, too."
Elt is the name of the music unit I previously had Airi dress up as.
"I do like her, but even if I hear that she got married or gave birth, I only think, 'Ah, I see.' Well, she's human, so she'll get married someday. I only think 'congratulations.' Airi, you wouldn't be that surprised even if an idol you like got married, right?"
"Well, I understand what you're trying to say, but it's better to watch a little, you know? I think it expands the topics of conversation."
"I'm just thinking that it doesn't matter because the thing I'm most absorbed in right now is right beside me. I'm more interested in looking at Airi's face."
Poke
"Geez... idiot!"
Her tone was angry, but her expression was infinitely gentle.
After that, Airi gave her impressions while watching TV, and I responded to them.
I killed time in the morning in that manner.
"You're probably tired of ozoni by now, right? Shall I make some ramen?"
When Airi said that, I nodded "yes." Airi went down to the kitchen.
When the delicious smell of miso ramen reached the room, I headed to the dining area.
Airi knows my preferences. An egg was properly included.
After I ate the ramen, Airi tidied the dishes.
While I was back in the room reading manga while watching TV, Airi, who had returned before I noticed, snatched the manga away.
"Manga is also forbidden!!"
Airi's face was smiling.
From the afternoon, I studied for a little bit.
I kept the TV on so that I wouldn't get too immersed.
After about two or three hours had passed, it was time to prepare for today's outing.
As expected, Airi was worrying about what clothes to wear. I tried making a request to her.
"Airi, I have a suggestion."
"Whaaat?"
"During winter, I think long skirts are fine."
"Why?"
"Because it's my preference. Airi wearing a long skirt and a long coat is very cute."
I wondered if it was right to push a man's desires onto a woman's clothing, but I tried asking just in case.
"Hmm, you're not interested in mini-skirts? Kanna said, 'Makoto's preference is to make me wear mini-skirts or short pants with black stockings.' Toya-kun, are you not interested in the beauty of my legs?"
I couldn't say, You're exposing them plenty right now, aren't you?
"In the summer, the fashion you're talking about is easier to move in, so I'll leave it to your preference, but in winter, we don't go to places where it's that hard to move. ...I'll be honest. I hate it when other people look at Airi with those kinds of eyes."
I'd never really cared before, but I tried saying it. It seemed to have an effect.
"If Toya-kun goes that far, I'll do it~. In that case, which do you like better, the red skirt or the black skirt from the other day?"
While helping Airi choose her outfit like that, I changed and finished my own preparations.
After Airi changed and put on makeup, we left the house and headed to the meeting place.
(2)
In front of the yakitori shop from the other day.
Everyone from Watanabe's group had gathered.
It seemed Watanabe-kun had made the reservation, and he guided us to our seats.
Once we sat down, everyone ordered drinks, which were then distributed.
Once everyone had their drinks, Watanabe-kun stood up.
"Well then, looking forward to working with everyone again this year!! Cheers!"
When Watanabe-kun gave his greeting, the banquet began.
Kanna and Airi were talking happily. I ate yakitori while listening to them. Sitting opposite me was Makoto.
"Did Toya choose Tosaka-san's outfit today, too?"
"If I'm asked to choose, I'll choose, right?"
"Hmm, I feel like I've gotten a sense of your preferences."
Well, it's not like it's a problem if he knows.
"I heard about Makoto's preferences from Airi, too. It seems you're still thinking about manic things, aren't you?"
"Ugh! Did Kanna tell Tosaka-san?"
"Well, probably."
Makoto leaned his face close to mine and spoke in a whisper.
"She stopped wearing mini-skirts after that."
"You brought that on yourself, didn't you?"
"She wears skinny pants often, but you know Kanna's figure, right? I mean, it's just irresistible..."
"What are you two men whispering about? Makoto."
Kanna was smiling; that smile was scary.
"What do you mean? It's just small talk, right, Toya?"
"Y-yeah. We were just talking about how Kanna looks good in anything."
I didn't lie.
"Toya-kun! You mustn't take Makoto-kun's words at face value!"
"Isn't that way of putting it a bit harsh, Tosaka-san?"
Makoto protested.
"But it's the truth. Toya-kun is finally taking an interest in me, so I'd be troubled if he started running toward strange hobbies."
"Toya showed interest in Airi? What's that? Now I'm interested. Let me hear it."
"Today, when we were choosing clothes, Toya-kun told me to wear clothes he liked. Because they're cute. Because he doesn't want other men looking at me with strange eyes. I was so happy."
"Now that you mention it, she said she fulfilled Toya's request the other day, too."
"Yes, he praised me, saying I was like an Ice Fairy~"
It seems alcohol is being secreted into Airi's brain today as well. I didn't go that far.
"Heh, Toya's finally learned how to speak. Maybe I picked the wrong partner to date after all..."
"D-don't say things like that, Kanna. I'll be hurt."
"It's because you say strange things! Even the other day..."
"The other day?"
When I asked back, Makoto hurriedly stopped her.
"Wah! Stop, stop that story!!"
Because Makoto made a fuss, he drew everyone's attention.
"What happened?" everyone asked.
"No... it's not such a good story..."
Kanna hesitated. Normally, Kanna would never have said it. But today's Kanna was different from usual.
"If you've gone that far, just tell us, Kanna. Another round, please," Mika-san said.
"True... it's already in the past, so I'll talk. I'll have another too!"
"Kanna, you shouldn't drink too much..."
"I'm granting your request today, so it's fine!"
"Request?"
I asked back again.
"Yeah, I was told I could drink as much as I wanted today in exchange for staying at a hotel where I can do nurse cosplay."
Makoto... you...
Makoto held his head in his hands.
"So, continuing from the previous story..."
Kanna began to tell it.
It seemed to be a story from after the first shrine visit of the year.
I don't know how he got his hands on it, but Makoto had prepared a high school uniform.
He had requested that she wear it during their play.
It was discovered during their second year of high school, but Kanna had an experience in her first year of middle school where her father pressed her for a physical relationship.
It seemed a flashback occurred when Makoto stripped Kanna's clothes off one by one while she was in the uniform.
Kanna trembling and frightened.
Makoto getting excited by such a Kanna.
But because Kanna was excessively frightened, he stopped halfway...
"Makoto-kun, you're the worst!"
When Airi said that, it sparked a succession of jeers.
"You pervert!"
"Tada-kun was that kind of person? The worst!"
"You didn't consider her feelings enough."
"Poor Otonashi-san."
"I wonder if some education is necessary?"
"...Pervert." And so on, mainly booing from the women.
The men, including myself, said nothing.
I simply couldn't keep up because it exceeded the scope of my imagination. I wonder if the other men were the same?
"You men, say something too!" Mika-san said.
"You're not thinking of doing the same thing, are you?" Eguchi-san glared, to which Watanabe-kun said, "Surely not that."
I wanted to take Makoto's side, but... no good words came to mind. Ah! Makoto, it's that.
"I wonder if there is a chestnut there?"
When I said that, I received the sharp gazes of the women all at once.
"N-no. He said something similar when he messed up before. It seems Makoto likes chestnuts..."
Poke
"Toya-kun, just shut up and eat this!"
Saying so, Airi piled food onto my plate.
"If you're going to put it that way, it's romance..." Makoto said.
"Either way is fine!" Mika-san said, half-angry.
"Our Eita starts to seem better by comparison..." Sashihara-san said, and all the women agreed.
"The next agenda is Tada-kun's perverted habits, then..." Watanabe-kun said.
"No, I'm also at fault. For dragging it out for so long..." Kanna spoke quietly.
"Kanna isn't at fault; rather, I can't believe he's asking for nurse clothes next after putting her through something so terrible," Airi said angrily.
"T-that's why I said she could drink as much as she wanted today..." Makoto tried to explain, but Airi denied it, saying, "That's not a reason!"
Well, is it wiser to say nothing?
Even so, if Makoto wanted uniforms, he should have just done it in high school... whether he makes her wear nurse clothes or not, he's just going to take them off anyway, so it's the same, right?
I sometimes don't understand what Makoto does. I wonder if I need to try putting myself in Makoto's shoes once?
Poke
"Toya-kun should only think about food today!"
I see, I should just eat.
Then, I'll take Airi up on her offer.
(3)
The fire flared up from Tada-kun's shocking statement.
Looking ahead, there was Shimizu-san, looking at Tada-kun with eyes as if she were despising an insect.
Katagiri-kun seemed to be Tada-kun's best friend, and he attempted to defend him, but far from succeeding, he poured oil on the fire and ended up with the worst result—fading out himself.
"I'm also at fault... I want to accept Makoto's requests, but I'm just too embarrassed."
Well, any normal woman would be embarrassed.
But Otonashi-san was more depressed than one could imagine from her usual self.
Well, it might be partly because she's drinking.
"Kanna! Kanna isn't at fault, the one at fault is Tada-kun. Tada-kun is the one at fault for taking advantage of Kanna's kindness and continuing with unreasonable requests! I doubt the nerves of someone who still tries to make her cosplay without learning his lesson," Sashihara-san said indignantly.
Well, as Katagiri-kun said, it's probably because there was romance in it.
Then, Shimizu-san stood up.
"Regardless, Katagiri-kun aside... isn't there also a problem with the men who aren't making a single criticism?"
Uwah, the fire has spread to us.
"Let's calm down, Shimizu-san, everyone's thoughts just haven't caught up yet," Watanabe-kun soothed.
"No, Akira is right! The men are just too sloppy!" Mika-san said.
"Mika, calm down too. Anyone would be bewildered if they were thrown into a world they've never experienced, right? That's the situation right now."
"Does Masashi want to experience it too?"
"It's not that kind of problem..."
Watanabe-kun also seemed to have his hands full soothing Kuze-san.
"Now that you mention it, I've heard it before. That all men are perverts to some extent."
That's a prejudice. Look, Kiritani-kun, say something.
"I-I'm different!"
No, I mean, I don't think it's a good idea to try and distance yourself from the situation alone.
"E-everyone, let's calm down. It's a story that's already finished."
A story that's already finished... that seemed to be the wrong thing to say.
"A finished story? Tada-kun is still making requests even now."
"For starters, Sakai-kun has a face like it has nothing to do with him, but this is a problem among comrades, right!? I think that's a problem."
Ah, I shouldn't have said anything. Even Ichinose-san has joined in.
Ishihara-kun is covering his ears. Ah, so that was an option.
Tada-kun, the person in question, seemed desperate to soothe the sobbing Otonashi-san.
I thought the target would be narrowed down to me, but it seems it ended up being a lively discussion among the women alone.
"First, we have to do something about Tada-kun's perverted habits. Katagiri-kun's desire for food was terrible, but this is a bigger problem," Sashihara-san said.
"It's okay... if I had been stronger, this wouldn't have happened..." Otonashi-san said while crying.
I think you should refrain from drinking any more.
"You're too naive, Kanna, that's why Tada-kun takes advantage. He needs fundamental treatment."
At that moment, Katagiri-kun suddenly began to speak.
"I was bewildered when French cutlery was suddenly lined up."
He really is a person who says things that make no sense, Katagiri-kun...
"So Toya-kun, just eat..."
"Keep going, Toya."
When Tosaka-san tried to stop him, Watanabe-kun encouraged Katagiri-kun to continue talking.
"I didn't even know how to use the napkin, and while I was wondering what to do, when the drinks were brought, Airi suddenly spread the napkin, folded it in half, and placed it on her lap. I silently did the same."
I don't think this is the time to talk about French cuisine manners.
"Whenever I enter a world I don't know, Airi always guides me. Conversely, when I see Airi bewildered, like when she's skating, I help her... I don't quite get it, but isn't that what it means for two people to support each other?"
"Listen, what about the feelings of Kanna, who was suddenly thrown into a world she didn't understand?"
"That's why we are where we are now, right?"
Katagiri-kun answered Sashihara-san's question without hesitation.
"For Makoto, too, Kanna's world is an unknown thing. In response to that, Kanna answered that she hated it. Makoto won't make the same mistake again. But he's in a state of groping, thinking, 'Maybe this will work?' After that, it's a problem between the two of them. How much they can compromise, or if he'll back down. Isn't that how two people build their own world?"
Everyone listened intently to Katagiri-kun's words.
"Sashihara-san, you've clashed with Kiritani-kun many times, right?"
"W-well, that's true, but..."
"Shimizu-san, you finally managed to break through Sakai-kun's shell of the heart, didn't you? By stepping out of your own shell and throwing yourself at him."
"How do you know that?"
Shimizu-san made a suspicious face.
"I can tell by looking."
Katagiri-kun, who can tell, is the amazing one.
"Even I fought with Airi many times in middle school. Even now, I occasionally hurt Airi. But Airi smiled and told me, 'My instruction manual needs constant updates, after all.' Makoto just has to make his own instruction manual for Kanna."
No one voiced an objection.
Everyone was convinced.
Tosaka-san looked down bashfully.
"My own instruction manual for Kanna, huh..."
Tada-kun muttered.
"Good luck, Tada-kun."
Watanabe-kun patted Tada-kun's shoulder.
"It seems the matter is settled, so let's refresh ourselves and cheers!"
"Customers, it's almost time for the last order."
As Kuze-san said, the staff came to announce the last order time.
"We'll continue at the after-party!"
When Watanabe-kun said that, everyone began chatting in a harmonious mood.
"Katagiri-kun is amazing, isn't he?"
Ishihara-kun, who was sitting next to me, whispered.
"He always pulls people into his own world like that to persuade them. He's been like that since high school."
When Ishihara-kun said that, Ishihara-kun and I both looked at Katagiri-kun.
There was Katagiri-kun, being fed by Tosaka-san.
I bet a lot happened before they became that kind of couple.
When one reaches that kind of state, how does the world look?
I felt a little bit of interest in the thing called a lover.
(4)
"Hey, Toya-kun."
There was no answer. He seemed to be asleep.
We had come to karaoke for the after-party.
The party course food was lined up there.
"...Can't eat anymore."
As if Toya-kun's sleep-talking indicated, Toya-kun ate as much as he could... and then slept.
"Being able to sleep at karaoke means you're either extremely tired or just dull, right?" Ai said. I can't deny it... though it's frustrating.
But Toya-kun isn't dull. He proved it just a while ago.
He solves any difficult problem in an instant.
Though he's off-base sometimes.
In those times, I'll support him.
"I'm really envious of Airi. Anyone would be envious of a boyfriend like this."
Kanna has a boyfriend like Makoto-kun, too. I'm envious. He's perfect as long as he doesn't have those little bad habits.
Toya-kun is the same. He'd be perfect if he could just get rid of his eating habits and lack of motivation. I let a small smile slip.
"It's probably something the two of them have cultivated together; I can tell by the way Tosaka-san looks at Toya."
Watanabe-kun said that. It took a huge amount of time, though. My fiancé, whom I feel a little proud of.
"This guy thinks of himself as a failing student, but that's absolutely not the case..."
Makoto-kun muttered with a sigh.
"Toya-kun is working hard now so that he doesn't think that. I gave him a penalty game."
"Penalty game? Now I'm interested. Is it something that unpleasant?"
When Emi said that, I nodded.
"He doesn't seem to want to say it much in front of people, though."
"Ah, this is so frustrating! What kind of magic-like penalty game changes Toya!"
Mika-san was losing her patience. I quietly explained to everyone.
"T-that's a penalty game?"
Kanna was surprised. I nodded. With just that, both Toya-kun and I can be happy. A message of only six letters.
"I see. Well, whatever. Let's leave Toya to Airi and let's get hyped."
When Mika-san said that, everyone began entering songs into their devices.
And while they got hyped, Toya-kun slept quietly as if it had nothing to do with him.
"Airi, you put in a song too."
When Mika-san said that, I sang a song I had decided to sing from the moment it was decided we'd go to karaoke.
It was a song about a broken heart, but a song whose melody Toya-kun had said he liked.
When I finished singing, Toya-kun, who should have been sleeping on my lap, had woken up.
"Sorry, did I wake you up?"
"No, I think there's a problem with me for sleeping even though I came to the after-party, and besides..."
"Besides?"
"Airi, you remembered. Thank you. You were good."
"Thank you."
Startled, I looked around to find the gazes of 14 people watching us.
"How steamy."
When Kanna said that, the voices of everyone teasing us followed.
I pressed down on the head of Toya-kun, who was hurriedly trying to get up.
"Since we're here, just relax."
"B-but isn't it a little embarrassing?"
"Is flirting with me embarrassing?"
When I said that, Toya-kun rested his head on my lap.
"Don't just flirt forever, Toya, you sing something too."
When Kanna said that, she handed the device to Toya-kun.
Toya-kun looked into my eyes.
I understand what he wants to say.
"It's okay."
Toya-kun entered a song title into the device. When the turn came, the two of us held microphones and sang a duet.
I'm proud of Toya-kun, who used to say it while blushing, but now can say he loves me without hesitation.
I don't need any reason for the feeling of loving Toya-kun.
It was a warm banquet on a night where pale pink snow danced and a cold wind blew.