Chapter 168 - After the Cherry Blossoms
(1)
April
A rain of flowers falling against a blue sky.
Classes finally start next week.
Course registration is already finished. It looks like I'll be fighting for my life again this year.
If that's what Airi wants, I want to make it happen for her. ...But please, spare me by the fourth year.
I've set up a flower-viewing party for today, before the first semester begins.
The cherry blossoms in the park should be in full bloom by now. Airi has been making lunch boxes since this morning.
She should be here soon, right?
Maybe I should change my clothes before then.
Getting out of bed, I pick out some clothes from the closet.
Once I'm finished changing, I gaze at my PC until Airi arrives.
Heh, that celebrity was drinking with a minor, huh.
I hear honey traps like that are common these days, so one has to be careful. Being a celebrity is tough.
"Good morning, Toya-kun. Breakfast is ready~"
Come to think of it, Makoto sent me another different search term.
I'll take a look while Airi isn't here; I have a general idea of the content, though.
I'm a man too, so it's not like I have absolutely no interest in that sort of thing.
Since I have Airi, I'm not desperately starving for it, and Airi does most things for me if I ask.
Well, not to Makoto's level... but she does a fair share.
"You're up already today~. What are you looking at?"
Whoa, no filters? Is this site okay... I just picked one randomly, but looking closely, this woman looks like Airi.
But... she's somehow different from Airi. I wonder if she's okay doing things like that.
Does she not care about the smell or the taste...? By the way, it would be bad if Airi heard, so I'm wearing headphones.
"Toya-kun, do you want to do something like this? I mean, what have you been looking at since morning?"
Poke poke poke poke
Ow!
Turning around, Airi was standing there with a terrifying smile.
"Your fiancée is working hard to make breakfast, and you're just enjoying yourself, aren't you!"
"Ah, no. Sorry! I was just curious about a search term Makoto sent me."
"Boo! That's not an excuse!"
Uwah, it looks like I messed up first thing in the morning.
Airi is angry. Moreover, she's terribly angry.
Is it my own fault? It can't be helped, right? If there's an actress who looks like your girlfriend, you're going to look, right? Even if the tag said "amateur."
"I'm happy that Toya-kun has an interest in women, but you don't need to be interested in things like this!"
"B-but, you see. This actress somehow looks like Airi."
I offer an excuse that isn't an excuse. When humans panic, they tend to pile up mistakes...
"...Toya-kun, are you going to demand things like this from me?"
"Ah, no. Not that, I just thought she was a beautiful actress who looked like Airi."
"...Hmm. Toya-kun, do you remember the promise? 'It's okay to watch if we're together'..."
"...Eh!?"
Ignoring my shock, Airi clicks the play button and pulls out the headphone jack.
Then, that voice blares through the room at high volume.
"The voice sounds similar too, right? To Airi..."
Why did I say something so unnecessary... I thought to myself that it was a stupid comment.
"Toya-kun... I can't do something like this... it's just too embarrassing."
"No, I wasn't watching it because I want you to do it, Airi."
Rather, it's precisely because it's an unrealistic situation that I probably couldn't get her to do that my interest is piqued.
...Not that I'm seriously explaining it. For now, I have to lower the volume.
"Toya! What are you two doing since first thing in the morning!?"
Mother came upstairs. Airi clings to Mother, crying.
"Maya-san, Toya-kun is being cruel!"
Airi, that phrasing is misleading; I was just watching a video since morning, I didn't do anything to Airi.
As Airi explains the situation to Mother, Mother glares at me with the face of a demon.
"Toya... you child..."
Mother's shouting echoed throughout the entire breakfast.
(2)
The Watanabe group said to gather at the riverside park in the evening.
It takes about 30 minutes to get to the park.
I decided to leave the house in time.
I kill time after eating lunch.
Airi is silently watching TV while totaling the data for her allowance book.
She hasn't spoken a word to me since the incident this morning.
I didn't know how to talk to her.
Sitting next to Airi, I put my arm around her shoulder and try asking, "How was last month?"
However, Airi brushes my hand away, moves slightly to the side, and gives a curt reply, "Nothing, same as always."
She's quite angry. At times like this, it's no time for clumsy tricks; I got on my knees and apologized, "I'm sorry!"
However, Airi continues her work with a cold attitude. I have to appeal more.
"I'm sorry about this morning! It was just a momentary impulse. While I was searching a bit, there was a girl who looked like Airi, and I thought she was amazing, and then I accidentally immersed myself in that world as usual..."
Did she react to the word "immersed"?
Airi's hands, which had been working, stop dead. Why do I keep saying such unnecessary things? I don't understand how to handle Airi at all.
"It was a world enjoyable enough to immerse yourself in..."
Airi's freezing voice, which I haven't heard in a long time.
"Ah..."
By the time I realized, it was already too late. Airi looks at me. Then, she hugs me.
I wonder why, but I felt a very sad world. What's sad? Does she really think watching those kinds of videos is a form of emotional cheating?
"Toya-kun, are you properly peering into my heart? Are you properly looking at me? Come inside like you always do, don't be afraid."
I am properly inside Airi's heart. A literal hellscape where a blizzard of sadness and flames of anger are mixed...
Huh? Inside that, a door leading to a space emitting a particularly strong chill is open.
Taking a plunge and entering, a girl is sitting there, crying sadly.
What happened? Are you really sad? I'm sorry, Airi.
For making you feel pain... However, the girl shakes her head.
"I'm sad because I think Toya-kun will abandon me. I'm angry at myself for not being able to meet Toya-kun's demands..."
Airi's slender arms hugging me are trembling. Airi?
"I was happy that Toya-kun took an interest in women for the first time, and became absorbed just because she looked like me. ...But I'm too embarrassed to respond. I became anxious that Toya-kun might go to other girls. I was frustrated and impatient with myself for not being able to grant Toya-kun's detailed wishes... and so I was just sulking."
"No, it's not like I'm demanding the same things from Airi, you know?"
"That's not it. I know Toya-kun is kind, so it wouldn't be like that. My feelings were unstable... I'm the one who should say sorry."
The strength in Airi's hugging arms increases.
"I don't want it to be anyone but me. I want to be the only one doing those things! But I can't do it. Toya-kun, don't go elsewhere!"
She was worrying about that. I thought she was angry, but she was trembling with anxiety, and she was irritated with herself for being unable to take a step toward a solution. Thinking that I might give up on her...
I gently hug Airi, who is still sobbing and trembling.
"I'm sorry. For making you anxious. But you don't have to worry. I'll always be by your side."
"I'm the one who should apologize."
"Airi, can I say one thing?"
"What?"
"You've got it wrong. It's true I was absorbed because she looked like Airi. But I don't want Airi to do the same things... Because just the fact that the partner is Airi makes me feel much better. I don't think anyone, no matter how much technique they have, could reproduce that."
Airi listened intently to my words.
"There is no seasoning that surpasses affection. Isn't it the same? I don't think there's any pleasure that surpasses love."
"..."
"I love you, Airi. Until now, and forever from now on."
Heat returns to Airi's chilled body. A very warm emotion. A gentle world is revived.
"Toya-kun, thank you. ...I love you too."
Looking at Airi's face, she had become smiling. Though the area around her eyes remained red and swollen.
"I'll do my best too, properly... though I've never seen Airi's..."
Poke
"Idiot!"
Airi's face as she said that was very gentle.
Makoto... I feel like I understand a little bit of the romance Makoto talks about. But, I don't need it. Because there's no need to obtain it by throwing away the angel in front of me.
Actually, Makoto is probably the same, right? He knows there's no need to obtain it by throwing away Kanna, right? Tell that to Kanna. Just six letters will do.
(3)
When the time came, Toya-kun and I left the house. In a very happy mood.
I was blue all morning, but Toya-kun changed that.
It seems I'm not that much of an honor student either. It's not like I can handle everything. There are things I can't do. There are things I can't do even if I try my best.
I kept it a secret from Toya-kun, but I've started to feel like I could do it if Toya-kun asked.
But Toya-kun tells me that as I am now is fine.
He accepted me just as I am.
I'm sorry, Toya-kun.
Once I gain a little more courage, let's jump into a new world together.
"Airi, I'm looking forward to it..."
Eh!? Don't tell me it's tonight?
"The flower-viewing."
...Well, that's just Toya-kun, isn't it.
"You're probably looking forward to the lunch boxes more than the cherry blossoms anyway, right?"
"I heard Mika-san's cooking is amazing. I wonder what kind of feast will come out?"
Right after saying he has no interest in other women, he says that? Or does he want to say food is different? But Toya-kun said it, didn't he? That there is no seasoning that surpasses affection.
Poke
"I wonder which you're more interested in, my lunch box or others, Toya-kun?"
"It's obviously Airi. However..."
Poke
"However what?"
"...It's nothing."
I don't feel like I can beat a professional, but as someone who has mastered the taste Toya-kun prefers, I can't lose.
...Just kidding?
Even if I were inferior, I believe Toya-kun would choose my cooking.
Watanabe-kun and the others had secured the flower-viewing spot.
When I found Watanabe-kun and the others, I called out to them.
Watanabe-kun and the others responded to us.
The last to arrive were Kanna and Makoto-kun.
When eight women gather, the food just keeps lining up. As expected, Mika-san's cooking stood out the most.
Toya-kun is actually staring at it.
Did you already forget what I said earlier?
Poke
"Toya-kun, there are plenty of lunch boxes, okay♪"
"No, the other people's too..."
"There are plenty, okay♪"
"...Yes."
"Toya, I don't think it can beat Airi's lunch box, but I've got a bit of confidence too, you know?"
"Toya, try mine too."
As Mika-san and Kanna started speaking, Toya-kun began receiving shares from everyone, including me.
It's a huge amount... Can he eat it all? He'll probably eat it all~ this person...
"Everyone, did you pour the drinks~? We've entered the new school year, so let's get along!! Cheers!"
When Watanabe-kun said that, everyone said "Cheers," and the banquet began.
"Watanabe-kun, do you have any leads on getting a newcomer?"
When Sashihara-san said that, Watanabe-kun shook his head.
"I think it's a bit much to increase any further, and I don't have any particular connections."
"Not connections, but I've heard rumors."
"Ho? What kind of rumors?"
"Apparently, a great new star appeared at this year's entrance ceremony too, and she's being adored by everyone and called 'Princess,' apparently."
"Which campus?"
"I believe she was with Watanabe-kun and the others. She said she was in the Faculty of Science and Engineering."
"I've heard that story too. I heard the recruitment battle has already started."
While Sashihara-san and Watanabe-kun were talking, Kimoto-senpai from the same Faculty of Science and Engineering spoke.
"But if it's that kind of story, I heard there's one in the Medical School too,"
Honoka says.
"What kind of rumor?"
"He's a man, but he's incredibly rich, smart, and good-looking... however, he's a huge womanizer, apparently."
The men stir at Honoka's story.
"Absolutely no welcoming for that guy!"
When Makoto-kun said that, Kanna agreed.
"I'm done with those kinds of guys too! Ai, Honoka, you understand, right?"
"We understand."
I don't mind, though, because there's no way there's anyone who surpasses Toya-kun.
That Toya-kun is desperately eating the feast presented in front of him and isn't listening to the conversation at all, though.
"I'm interested, that womanizer guy... I'm shivering thinking about how I'll educate him."
Emi... were you that kind of person?
"I-I think it's better to stop~..."
"What? Do you think I'll be done in by him, do I look like that kind of low-life woman to you?"
"N-no. It's fine."
When Emi spoke, Ishihara-kun fell silent.
"I don't hear stories like that at our university. Kiritani-kun, have you heard?"
"I heard a woman who's a huge man-eater entered. Our circle is also rushing to recruit her."
Is that so, aren't Kanna and Makoto-kun worried?
I asked Kanna.
"No matter how much they're captivated by Makoto's looks, they'll run away once they know his true nature."
Kanna says decisively.
Makoto-kun's hobby... ah!
"Makoto-kun! Stop blowing strange things into Toya-kun's ear!! I had a hard time because of that today!"
I raise my voice. Just how much of a painful experience it was...
"Eh?"
Makoto-kun's expression looks like he's asking what happened.
"Airi, did Makoto do something again?"
"That story is already settled, so it's fine! Ugah!"
Mika-san stuffs food into the mouth of Toya-kun, who was stopping me.
"Something happened, right? Tell us, Airi."
When Mika-san tells me, I talk about what happened this morning.
"Ma-ko-to~ you idiot!!"
Makoto-kun holds his head.
"Toya, think about the timing of when you watch..."
"Makoto! That's not the issue!! You idiot!! Airi, I'm sorry."
Kanna apologizes to me.
"Even so, isn't there a problem with Toya too? Does a normal person watch that in front of their girlfriend? Moreover, an actress who looks exactly like Airi? What is he thinking?" Mika-san says.
"I thought Toya would be fine... but I didn't think it would come to this," Kanna says.
"Hahaha, it means Toya is a man too," Watanabe-kun laughs.
"He said he apologized properly for that matter," if Toya-kun says that, "That's not the issue! What you did is practically cheating!" Kanna gets angry.
"Kanna, you wouldn't say anything even if Makoto watched, right?" if Toya-kun says that, "Makoto would absolutely never watch in front of me! Have you ever thought about Airi's feelings when she saw her boyfriend absorbed in an actress who looks just like her performing perverted actions?" Kanna spoke on her behalf.
"In a sense, he's more severe than Tada-kun," Ai says.
"Do the other men watch those things too?" when Kana asks, the men fall silent.
"They do watch, huh..." Emi mutters with a sigh.
"I don't watch!" Sakai-kun desperately defends himself.
"Having absolutely no interest is also a problem," Shimizu-san says.
"In that sense, Katagiri-kun's actions are correct in a way, right? Because he was just watching out of longing for something he can't do, right?" Honoka says.
Yes, I can understand Toya-kun's actions. I'm also happy somewhere that the thing Toya-kun, who had no interest until now, showed interest in was an actress who looks just like me.
"I can't quite accept that the men have been silent for a while now. Are you condoning Katagiri-kun's actions?" when Emi asks, everyone denies it, saying that's not it.
"This incident was just that Toya's timing was bad, but watching those kinds of videos itself isn't a bad thing, right? It's natural for a man," Watanabe-kun says.
"Tosaka-san didn't reject the act of watching videos itself, right?"
"Yeah."
"It's rare for Toya to miss the timing like that."
"I mean, why did Toya get interested in that sort of thing? He only had interest in food," Mika-san voiced the question everyone was thinking.
"That's..."
"That's?"
Everyone focuses on Toya-kun.
"I was curious about what other people do. Because I was told before, 'If it's one pattern, Airi will get bored of you'..."
Sighs leak from everyone at Toya-kun's excuse.
"Listen, Toya. It's all acting, you know? It's not necessarily what they're actually doing," Makoto-kun explains.
"That's why I searched with the amateur tag! First of all, the one who told me to watch and study was Makoto!"
"Toya, do you think an amateur would do that in front of a rolling camera? First of all, have you ever heard Tosaka-san make a voice like that... ow!"
When Kanna lightly hit Makoto-kun's head, she spoke to Toya-kun.
"Toya. When we had a girls' night recently, Airi was bragging about you. She said she's satisfied with the current Toya, that she's happy. That's how it is. Being as you are now is fine."
Then, Toya-kun said something absurd.
"I've heard Airi make that kind of voice..."
Poke
"Let's just say there are still many things for Toya to study," Watanabe-kun steps in to summarize.
That's true. Though he doesn't need to study unnecessary things.
"True, Toya still doesn't know how to drink alcohol. Here, drink this..."
"Mika! If you make Toya drink now, we'll be dragged into it too!"
"Che, how boring."
"Airi."
"What is it?"
"The lunch box is gone."
Ah!! When did that happen!
This is what happens when I take my eyes off him for a moment.
"Toya, there's still some left here, it'll just rot if you leave it, so eat up, eat up."
Mika-san is feeding Toya-kun.
Around the time Toya-kun's stomach was filled, the flower banquet was also coming to an end.
(4)
"Hey, Airi?"
"Yee-es?"
Airi, sitting in the passenger seat, answered brightly.
"Is it true that you're happy with the current situation?"
"Hoe?"
"No, I mean... things at night..."
Poke
"Hmm, do I have to explain it so it's easy for Toya-kun to understand?"
"If possible, I'd appreciate it if you did."
"Uuu... it's incredibly embarrassing to say, so no asking back, okay? Also, don't laugh."
"Yeah."
Airi was silent for a while after that.
When the car stopped at a signal, Airi whispered in my ear.
Airi's face was bright red.
Airi said one thing to me.
"I try to suppress making those kinds of voices as much as possible, but when I absolutely can't hold it back, they come out."
So that was it.
"So Toya-kun doesn't have to worry. But..."
"But?"
"If Toya-kun... says he wants me to do it with my mouth or something, I'll do at least that much for you..."
I was at a loss for words. ...What should I say in response?
"I don't think I can do it that well, but I'll practice."
"Practice? With whom?"
Poke
"With Toya-kun, obviously! Idiot!"
That's right, I was just being a little mean.
"Ah, but..."
"But?"
"Someone said I should do it like licking soft-serve ice cream."
I imagined the scene of Airi licking soft-serve ice cream.
White cream attached around her mouth, and it was just like...
Poke
"You were thinking strange things again!"
"Airi."
"Yee-es?"
"Shall we try it tonight?"
Will I be hit...? Huh, it's not coming?
Glancing next to me, there was Airi, fidgeting and looking embarrassed.
"Because I belong to Toya-kun..."
"Eh?"
"You can do it whenever Toya-kun wants!"
Airi is hiding her face.
It was her utmost expression of will.
"If Airi is going to do that for me, I have to give something back too."
"Eh?"
"I'm thinking I'll... lick Airi's too."
"!?"
"Is it called 69?"
"That's not giving something back! It just makes me embarrassed. Besides, where did you learn a word like that?"
"Which means, Airi knows the meaning, right?"
"Uuu... I don't know if Toya-kun is kind or mean."
Did I go a bit too far?
Looking at the embarrassed Airi, I end up being too mischievous.
"...Just being gentle with me is enough."
"?"
"I can feel Toya-kun's kindness, and I'm satisfied with just that!"
I gently pat the head of the Airi who said that. Airi looks entranced and leans her body against me. I'm driving, you know.
"It's still red~"
Just like that, we returned home and enjoyed a banquet for just the two of us after the cherry blossoms.