Chapter 17 - Kanna and Makoto
(1)
After school.
A breeze blows through the classroom.
I, one other person, and a few others remain in the classroom, talking.
Everyone is absorbed in their own conversations; no one notices us.
"Fine."
I said those words simply.
"Huh?"
What a vacant voice.
"Did you want me to say 'no'?"
"N-no, it's not that. ...Are you seriously okay with it?"
"I'm fine with it."
"Yes!"
The man in front of me shouted for joy.
Naturally, he drew the attention of those around us.
In the first place, why did he choose the classroom as the place for a confession?
Does he not care about the eyes of others?
The guy, wearing his Soccer Club uniform, continued to frolic.
I don't know why he chose me.
But for me, anyone would have been fine.
Well, not anyone.
I have a minimum standard.
"If we're done talking, let's go. Toya and the others are waiting."
"Ah, wait, wait, give me your phone number."
The man hurriedly took his smartphone out of his bag.
I gave him my number, and I registered his as well.
I entered the name.
【Tada Makoto】...
"Well, looking forward to this."
"Likewise."
As I tried to leave the classroom, he called out to my back.
"I'll call you when I get home!"
"Make it a message. I'll be at Toya's place."
"Why are you at Toya's place?"
"A study session with Airi and the three of us."
I wasn't lying.
"...Got it, I'll send a message."
Perhaps he's just that elated, but his voice is loud.
At this rate, it'll be found out immediately.
It's not like it's something I'd be troubled by if it were found out.
Rather, it might be better if it were.
However, I didn't feel like being the one to bring it up.
It wasn't that I disliked it, but I didn't feel particularly happy either.
(2)
The suspension ended, and it was the first day back at school.
"Toya-kun, wake up♡"
There are stories of princesses waking up to a prince's kiss, but I've never heard of the reverse.
Yet, such things do happen.
"％＄＃＆＠＊＋◇※▲∴÷；￥！”＃＄％＆’()＝◎～｜▽♪＞？＋＊‘P`={}_?>□●＠："
I bolted upright.
"Ah, you're awake."
Airi rejoiced nonchalantly.
I let my guard down; school started today.
"Airi, I didn't think you'd actually do it."
"It's better than hitting a frying pan, right?"
Airi said happily.
Does the word "shyness" not exist for Airi?
Looking at the clock, it was 7:25.
"...There are still five minutes left."
"Getting ready and stuff takes time, doesn't it? I'll go downstairs first."
Saying that, Airi left the room.
I got ready, went downstairs, and ate breakfast.
After eating, while I was in the washroom getting ready, the doorbell rang.
It was Kanna.
"Yo!"
"Oh? Good morning, Kanna-chan. Huh? Who is the boy with you?"
A boy?
I reacted instinctively to the faintly audible voice.
"Ah, this is Tada Makoto-kun, who I've started dating."
"Tada-kun... ah, Tada-kun. What a lovely boyfriend. You two suit each other."
"Thank you very much."
"It's been a while, ma'am."
Dating Makoto!?
This has to be some kind of prank, right?
"Well, you two, please come up. I think Toya will need a little more time."
"Excuse us."
"Excuse us."
I heard three sets of footsteps.
Apparently, it wasn't a lie that Makoto was here.
"Oh, Toya. Yo."
"Toya, yo."
"...Good morning."
Makoto really was here, next to Kanna.
This is a bad dream, right?
"Toya-kun, you should leave soon, or if you're late on the first day, Hasuke-sensei will get angry again."
Hasuke Happei. That's the name of the student guidance teacher.
"Toya! Don't cause any more trouble!"
My father's voice echoed from behind.
"I'll be fine."
Saying that, I left the house.
Ahead of where Airi and I walked side-by-side, Makoto and Kanna were walking while chatting happily.
"You look like you're having fun, Kanna."
"I guess so."
"You were surprised because it was sudden, right?"
"Yeah, since when have you been dating?"
"Wasn't it around last weekend? I got a notification via message."
"I see..."
I didn't get any notification.
Before I knew it, Kanna and the other had naturally linked arms.
"You're so lovey-dovey, Kanna..."
"Why?"
"Because I want Kanna to be happy too."
"I guess so..."
I hadn't noticed it myself, but perhaps she thought I looked dissatisfied.
Suddenly, Airi grabbed my arm.
Kanna's figure is overwhelmingly better. However, Airi's chest size seems to be superior.
The sensation of her breast was transmitted to my arm through the uniform.
"What's with you all of a sudden!?"
"We're going to be lovey-dovey too~!"
Airi looked happy. I, on the other hand, was panicking.
"If we're seen like this..."
"Is there someone who would be troubled if we were seen?"
Airi asked.
"No, but we'll look like a stupid couple, right?"
"Being a stupid couple is fine~"
Airi refused to let go of my arm out of sheer stubbornness.
Is she competing with Kanna and the other?
Distracted by Airi frolicking, I didn't notice at all.
Kanna, who occasionally glanced back behind her.
As soon as we arrived at school, Kanna slumped over her desk and slept.
It's good that she started studying, but there's no point if she sleeps during class...
Well, whatever.
While she was sleeping, I spoke to Makoto.
"What the hell happened?"
"About Kanna-san? Well, I confessed last week on a whim. Then she gave me an easy OK."
Well, in this school, there are probably fewer girls who would turn down a confession from Makoto.
"Why Kanna?"
"What do you mean why, she's a good girl. Toya, you're too greedy. Both Kanna-san and Tosaka-san."
"It's not like that."
"Then there's no problem. Let's all get along!"
Saying that, Makoto patted my shoulder.
I couldn't say anything.
Because it had been natural until now, I hadn't noticed.
From the outside, did it look like I was two-timing?
My gaze was fixed on Kanna.
And I didn't notice Airi's gloomy expression as she watched me.
On the way back, it was the three of us as usual.
Because Makoto had club activities.
I just watched Airi and Kanna chatting happily.
Airi went home first, and Kanna came to my house.
Then, after eating dinner, we started studying.
"Why did you keep it a secret?"
I asked Kanna.
"...It's not exactly something that needs reporting."
She seemed to have guessed what I was talking about.
"You told Airi but kept quiet with me?"
"It's a conversation that has nothing to do with Toya!"
Kanna's tone suddenly became harsh.
"Would anything change if I told Toya!? Would you be happy? Or would you stop me?"
I was bewildered by the unexpected question.
Which would it be...?
It's something I should be happy about, yet I can't honestly be happy.
"You go silent when it comes to the important parts. You coward!!"
"Airi said it. That she wants Kanna to be happy too."
"Airi has nothing to do with this! I'm talking about what you think. Well!?"
"I don't know..."
"Then don't butt in. I told you before, right? You just need to worry about Airi."
"W-what's wrong? It sounds like you're fighting."
Before I knew it, Airi had come into the room.
"It's nothing... come on, let's study."
Ping
Tap tap
Ping
Tap tap
Ping
"...Kanna. Let's stop messaging while we're studying."
Due to the sheer frequency, even Airi gave a warning.
"Oh, my bad, my bad. Makoto is quite diligent, isn't he?"
Saying that, Kanna tapped away and put her phone away.
"I see, has club finished already?"
"Seems like it."
"Is Makoto-kun going to college for soccer?"
"Seems so. Since it's a private school, it's not like we can go to the same high school."
"I see, that's lonely."
"Well, just because the schools are different doesn't mean he's going far away."
"It's a local high school."
"That's what he said."
They were getting excited talking about Makoto.
Somehow, it wasn't pleasant.
Around 9 PM, the doorbell rang.
"Oh, he really came. He really is diligent."
Kanna seemed to know who the visitor was.
I also had a vague inkling.
It was Makoto.
"Oh, Toya. It seems Kanna-san has been in your care. I'll be the one walking her home from today, so don't worry."
"Thanks, Makoto."
Kanna put on her shoes and looked at me.
"See you tomorrow, Toya."
Saying that, the two of them left.
Afterwards, Airi approached.
"...I should head home soon too."
"Eh, ah, I'll walk you."
"Yeah..."
(3)
A day in late May.
We had come to the park by the Nanase River.
Kanna wasn't here; it was just the two of us, me and Airi.
"Wow, beautiful."
Airi was captivated by the fantastical sight of fireflies dancing in the twilight.
It certainly was beautiful.
Many other couples and families had come as well.
"Hmm, I can't take a good picture."
Airi struggled, trying somehow to post it on SNS.
"Wouldn't it be faster to take a video?"
"That's true, but... wait, huh?"
Airi seemed to have noticed something.
"What is it?"
Airi pointed to one spot.
"That couple over there, aren't those Kanna and Tada-kun?"
I looked in the direction Airi was pointing.
It was hard to tell in the darkness, but that silhouette was undoubtedly Kanna.
"Hey, Kanna...!"
"Idiot, stop..."
"Oh, if it isn't Airi and Toya!"
Too late.
There wasn't really a need to stop me, but...
"Oh, Toya. Good evening. You're on a date too, huh?"
"Yeah."
Since he said "too," it meant they were on a date as well.
The four of us sat on a bench and talked.
"You two get along well."
Makoto muttered, looking at Airi and Kanna chatting excitedly.
"Yeah."
"Even when it's just the two of them, they mostly talk about Toya."
"Huh?"
"The person himself doesn't seem to notice, but it mostly becomes talk about Toya."
"Is that so..."
No, no, that's bad.
"I was surprised today because Kanna-san was the one who suggested 'let's go see the fireflies'... so this is why."
Makoto sounded somewhat lonely.
What should I say?
"Today was just a coincidence, right?"
"Do you really think so?"
Makoto asked back.
"Yeah."
Makoto sighed.
"Well, we've only been dating for a short time. It'll change eventually."
"I hope so."
To think the confident Makoto would be this discouraged...
"You're not acting like yourself. Pull yourself together!"
I intended to encourage Makoto as much as I could.
"I guess..."
In contrast to the frolicking Airi and Kanna, we were depressed.
"What's wrong, Makoto? You're not acting like yourself!"
Kanna seemed to have noticed Makoto's abnormality and spoke to him.
"It's nothing, Kanna-san."
"Is that so? Toya. You didn't whisper something weird into Makoto's ear, did you?"
"I didn't say anything."
"Then it's fine..."
"It's okay, Kanna-san. ...Shall we head home soon?"
Saying that, Makoto stood up.
"Eh? You're leaving already?"
"Staying up late on a first date isn't good. It's better to leave a little early. I'll walk you home."
"I'm fine. My mother is home late."
"Besides, it would be bad to get in the way of those two."
Saying that, Makoto glanced at us.
"I see... that's true..."
Kanna stood up too.
It was dark so I couldn't tell for sure, but she felt somehow lonely.
"Well, see ya."
Saying that, the two of them left.
I just stared at the two of them.
I didn't notice Airi looking at me anxiously.
"I talked a lot so my throat got dry. Let's go buy some drinks."
Saying that, Airi pulled my arm.
"True, was there a vending machine over there?"
"Yeah!"
Airi replied with a smile.
She seemed energetic.
Right now, I relied solely on Airi's brightness.
After a while, we also headed home.
We parted in front of Airi's house.
"Well, see you tomorrow."
"You can't just sleep just because it's a holiday."
"I'm no match for being woken up by a kiss."
"Do you dislike kisses?"
"Eh?"
In the next instant, Airi kissed me.
Then she hugged me.
"I hate it! I'm Toya-kun's girlfriend. I hate it if Toya-kun isn't looking only at me!"
"I am looking."
"Liar! What were you looking at today!?"
"Eh..."
"Same with Tada-kun. Nothing but talk about Kanna."
"That was because Makoto..."
I blamed Makoto, but it was true that I might have been thinking about Kanna the whole time.
"Sorry..."
"It's okay. I'm looking only at Toya-kun. I love only Toya-kun!"
"...I get it."
Saying that, I hugged Airi back.
"That's right, I did say it back then. 'I'm dating Airi.' My only girlfriend is Airi."
"Toya-kun..."
"Sorry, from now on I'll look only at Airi properly."
Saying that, this time I kissed Airi.
"Well, see you tomorrow. I'll be sleeping soundly."
"Geez... idiot!"
With a pouty face, Airi saw me off.
I'll stop thinking about Kanna.
I'm curious about Kanna, but I don't want to see Airi's sad face even more.
Kanna has Makoto...
For some reason, tears were welling up in my eyes.