Chapter 179 - Lost Rhythm
(1)
"Airi... would seconds be okay?"
I asked Airi timidly.
"...Sure."
With an expressionless face, Airi took my plate, scooped more rice, and poured curry over it.
"Here you go."
"Thanks."
The chicken curry that Mika-san said she made from a curry base was delicious.
I was impressed, thinking that she really is a professional.
Apparently, she possesses a special skill where she goes to various restaurants to eat and then copies the taste.
I think that's a wonderful special skill.
...Wait, this isn't the time to be impressed.
The men were eating lunch while cautiously gauging the moods of the women.
The cause was that we had been watching Makoto's DVD on the projector.
And we did so while the women were in the middle of doing the morning chores and taking a table manners lecture.
I don't think the table manners lecture had anything to do with it, but the women apparently had their thoughts on the matter.
Everyone except Hanayama-san, Niina-san, and Kinoshita-san was in a bad mood.
In the seat next to me, Makoto was eating while being showered with abuse from Kanna, who sat opposite him.
"This is bad..."
I think Watanabe-kun is right.
"Seconds."
"...How many bowls do you have to eat before you're satisfied?"
The usual "pokat" (T/N: sound of a light smack) was missing.
Even so, Airi served me more.
I thought I knew what to do at times like this. Though I wondered if what I was doing now was actually effective.
"This curry is delicious, but I want to eat the curry you make, my beloved Airi, when I get home."
I whispered this into Airi's ear as I took the curry plate.
Pokat.
"Uugh... you're hopeless, Toya-kun. Even if you say that, this is the last time."
"I didn't say it with that intention. Really."
"Is it really the last time? You've already eaten all the curry, Toya-kun."
Saying so, Airi began to eat the curry herself.
"It's frustrating, but I really can't beat Mika-san~"
"For me, Airi's curry is the best, so it can't be helped, right?"
"Thank you♪"
"Airi, that's Toya's tactic. Don't be deceived."
Kanna interjected from the side.
"Uugh... I know, but it makes me happy..."
"Kanna is tasty too, you know, Toya."
Makoto joined the conversation.
"You don't think the same trick that works on Airi will work on me, do you? You're the main culprit!!"
"Now, now, there's no need to get so worked up, right? Every man wants to taste it at least once. Right, Toya?"
Watanabe-kun threw the conversation to me. Even if he said that, actually, I wasn't very interested in the content...
But it's probably not about the content, right? When I think about whether I want to see it life-sized or not...
I looked at Airi. My eyes happened to meet Airi's.
"Hoe? What's wrong?"
Because Airi is here, I feel like it's fine... Even when I search video sites, before I know it, I'm looking for girls who look like Airi.
By the way, I haven't watched much since then. Because when I wake up in the middle of the night, Airi is awake and invites me to bed...
Pokat.
"I wonder what you were thinking about~ Toya-kun."
Airi was smiling brightly.
"Can I tell you?"
"Hoe?"
I whispered secretly into Airi's ear. Then, Airi's face flushed red.
Pokapokat.
"Think about the TPO!"
Her words sounded angry, but her face was wearing a bashful smile. It seemed her mood had improved. However, Kanna was relentless.
"You have problems too, Toya! Even though the woman you call your fiancée was in danger! Of all things, what were you thinking, chatting happily with another woman!"
"Calm down, Kanna. No one could have predicted that Nishimatsu-kun was lying in wait."
"You should have noticed that Nishimatsu wasn't there!"
I wasn't absorbed in it, but I didn't notice.
Maybe he wasn't there from the start.
"But it was a coincidence that Airi came to call us, right? As I thought, it's unpredictable."
"It's a matter of mental preparation! It's the day after yesterday! Why are you with Hanayama!"
"T-That's what I explained. I'm the one at fault."
"Ah, that's right! It's all Makoto's responsibility!"
At that moment, Hanayama-san spoke up as if she had a sudden inspiration.
"Makoto-kun~. Don't you think I'm better than a noisy woman like that?"
She seems to be someone who likes making situations complicated.
Kanna's mood became terribly bad.
"If Makoto wants to do that, then he can! Anyway, that woman is better than someone like me...!?"
This is bad; I mustn't let her say any more. If she does, it will be irreversible. I thought so and tried to stop her, but Makoto was faster.
Makoto stood up from his seat and kissed Kanna. For a moment, it looked as if Kanna's thoughts had stopped.
After finishing a kiss that felt long yet short, Makoto spoke to Kanna in a calm tone.
"Calm down, Kanna. If you say any more, I'll get seriously angry, okay? ...I apologize for watching in secret. But I've never once thought of you as bothersome. I pride myself on being the only one who understands your feelings."
Kanna seemed to have regained her composure or calmed down, but she ran off somewhere.
Makoto chased after her.
"It's just as Makoto-kun says. We aren't idiots either; we reflect on the fact that we were watching that while the women were diligently working. I want you to understand that."
Watanabe-kun said this and bowed his head.
Then, all the men stood up and bowed their heads.
"Hmm, I thought I could have gone for it with that timing just now~. Was it a failure?" Hanayama-san said.
"Yes, it seems it was a failure. Everyone's heads seem to have cooled down because of Makoto-kun's action," Eguchi-san replied.
"How boring~" Hanayama-san also left the dining hall.
"I won't call it atonement, but the men will do the cleaning. Women, please take it easy," Watanabe-kun said.
"That won't do~" Airi said.
The men all tilted their heads in confusion.
"We'll clean up together. I think there's meaning in doing it together while chatting~"
When Airi said that, the women agreed.
"That's true. It might be more fun to do it together."
When Eguchi-san said that, the women silently began to clear the dishes.
"Then, what should we do?"
"First, gather the dishes at the sink."
Under Mika-san's instructions, everyone began cleaning up.
Should I help too?
"Toya-kun is fine. You don't have to do anything unnecessary, so just watch from there."
Airi pressed down on my shoulder.
"But..."
"I'll give Toya-kun a penalty game after we go back, so it's okay."
Airi's penalty game, huh. I can vaguely guess what it is... It'll probably be a lovely penalty game anyway.
(2)
I didn't want to be in that place.
What was I about to say?
Just remembering it makes me shudder.
I can't be like this. Makoto will hate me.
After leaving the dining hall and walking a bit, Nishimatsu was standing there.
"You seemed quite agitated."
"What are you doing in a place like this?"
I intended to speak while pretending to be calm.
"Nothing in particular? I just don't like noisy places."
"The women are all still in the dining hall."
As I said that and tried to pass by, Nishimatsu grabbed my arm.
"Let go, unless you want to be blown away."
"It's useless to act so strong. I can see right through you. Your feelings..."
As Nishimatsu said that and pulled my arm, I was drawn to Nishimatsu's chest and his other hand wrapped around my waist.
"Right now, your heart is terribly disturbed... It seems I wasn't looking at you properly. You were a blind spot."
"If you don't let go, I'll call someone."
"You just said it yourself, didn't you? 'Everyone is in the dining hall.' No one will come anyway."
"Get away from Kanna!! While I can still remain calm."
I had forgotten that Makoto had chased after me.
If he saw me like this, Makoto would hate me.
I absolutely hate that.
I desperately tried to escape from Nishimatsu's arm.
"It's okay. I won't treat you like Tada-kun."
I'll treat you gently.
Saying so, Nishimatsu's face approached right before my eyes. Stop it...!
I instinctively closed my eyes.
...Huh? Nothing happened. On the contrary, my body, which had been restrained by Nishimatsu's arm, was released.
When I opened my eyes, there was Makoto, grabbing Nishimatsu by the collar and punching him with all his might, and Nishimatsu being blown away.
"Makoto!!"
I clung to Makoto.
"I..."
"I know, go to the dining hall first. I'll listen to the story later."
"...Understood."
When I arrived at the dining hall, everyone, who had been cleaning up harmoniously, looked at me.
"Makoto is...!!"
When I explained the situation, Toya tried to rush out immediately, but Airi stopped him.
"Toya-kun, stay by my side!"
"But Makoto is!"
"Toya must stay by Tosaka-san's side! Realize that you guys are the primary targets."
Watanabe said that and held Toya back. Then he glanced at Isshy.
"Isshy, it's your turn. Go!"
When Emi said that, Isshy rushed out from the kitchen.
"The rest of us... let's see, Manabe-kun, could you lend a hand?"
"Sure."
Taking Watanabe, Manabe, and Isshy—the three of them—with me, I returned to Makoto's side.
Upon returning, there was Nishimatsu standing as if triumphant, and Makoto collapsed against the wall.
"Makoto!!"
I rushed to Makoto's side; he was unconscious.
"No need to worry, he's just sleeping for a bit. Though you can't tell by looking at him, he's a doctor's son. He knows the vital points of the human body."
Watanabe and Manabe rushed to Makoto's side.
"There is no damage to the head. I didn't do anything that would be fatal."
Saying so, Nishimatsu looked down on us.
Watanabe shouted "Makoto-kun!" and Makoto twitched. He opened his eyes slightly and looked this way.
"Are you conscious!? Do you know who I am!? It's Watanabe!"
"...I'm okay, sorry for making you worry."
I pushed Watanabe aside and clung to Makoto.
"You idiot. Doing something reckless for someone like me! If something had happened to you..."
What would I do? Who would I rely on to live from now on?
"Everyone... if you lay a hand on that guy... you mustn't..."
What does that mean?
"Ah, you'd better not think about counterattacking me. I have a very influential legal advisor."
So that's the threat he used to keep Makoto from acting!? You scoundrel!
"If that's how the conversation is going, we aren't without means either, are we, Nishimatsu-kun?"
When I turned around, everyone had arrived, led by Emi.
"If you want to decide victory or defeat in court, I'll take you on. Isshy, do it."
"Stop it, Isshy. Eguchi-san, don't take the bait."
Watanabe said that and stood up, confronting Nishimatsu.
"That was a splendid cheap play. It seems you're the third-rate actor playing the thug."
"It was quite splendid, wasn't it? The role of being beaten by that thug fit perfectly too."
"No, the thug role is you..."
Eh?
Toya, who was supposed to stay away from Airi, suddenly appeared and punched Nishimatsu away with all his might.
Nishimatsu was blown away, spitting out blood.
"Toya... stop!"
"I just heard the reason. But that's not a reason not to punch this guy away."
If you want to sue, do as you please.
But that's meaningless.
I'll dispose of you right here.
...I!?
At that moment, I knew for the first time.
Toya is seriously pissed off.
"Katagiri-kun, there's no need to worry. We can handle one brat from a general hospital."
"If Emi is feeling that way, I'll help too."
Emi and Akira also seemed to be in that mood.
Watanabe was desperately calming them down.
"It wouldn't be interesting to win the game with an ending like this..."
"Watanabe-kun. Leave it to me."
When Airi said that, she gave Toya's head a pokat.
"Calm down, Toya-kun."
"...Can't you fight without a title?"
At least wait until you can stand on your own two feet before attacking.
Saying so, Toya took Airi and returned to the dining hall.
"Are you finally running out of leeway over there too?"
"Stop acting tough... I know. I know you're being pushed into a situation where you can no longer afford to care about appearances."
Generally speaking, which one of us started it?
When Watanabe said that, Nishimatsu distorted his face and then left.
Watanabe looked at Makoto and said, "It doesn't look like you were hit too badly... but just in case, Sashihara-san, could you check on him?"
"If that's the case... Shinjo!"
Shinjo-san, who had arrived unnoticed, checked Makoto's condition.
"There seem to be no external injuries... do you have any place that hurts terribly?"
"Nothing in particular, I can walk already."
Saying so, Makoto stood up.
"Well, let's all go back."
When he said that, everyone returned.
"Makoto, can you really walk?"
"If I say I can't walk, will Kanna give me a piggyback ride?"
Even though people are worried, this idiot...
But if he can make light jokes like that, he'll be fine.
Actually, I wouldn't have minded giving him a piggyback ride... though I'd rather just link arms, I'll endure it.
Just as I thought that, Makoto took my arm. When I looked at Makoto's face, he was smiling at me.
It had been a long time since I felt this happy.
(3)
After the cleaning was finished, everyone had a DVD viewing party.
A normal movie.
It was a talked-about Japanese film.
A story about someone who contracts an incurable disease, but is killed by a random attacker before they can live out the lifespan given to them by the doctor.
It wasn't moving enough to make one cry, but everyone was engrossed in the movie.
During this, the couples held hands so as not to lose their partners.
I was clinging to Toya-kun's arm.
I will never let go.
A special rule during the training camp period was imposed on the two of us, me and Toya-kun.
Stay together as much as possible.
Avoid being alone.
And do not have contact with that Nishimatsu-kun and Hanayama-san alone.
"Those two can't afford to care about appearances anymore either. They're almost there. Everyone, this is the critical moment. Let's do our best."
When Watanabe-kun said that, everyone nodded.
That Nishimatsu-kun and Hanayama-san were also watching the movie now.
They seemed to have their freedom taken away, but the two of them were trying to seduce anyone, regardless of who it was.
Though the main targets seemed to be me and Toya-kun.
Eventually, the movie ended.
"Now then, let's start preparing."
When Mika-san said that, everyone left the audiovisual room.
The two groups moved to separate locations.
The men prepared the BBQ. The women prepared the ingredients.
The reason for BBQ two days in a row was that they had bought ingredients for it.
I was separated from Toya-kun, but everyone around us protected us.
Thanks to that, those two didn't get a chance to speak to us.
And when the BBQ preparations were finished, everyone held drinks in their hands.
"Well, today was tough, but let's all enjoy tonight too!"
BBQ isn't just about grilled meat.
Mika-san put that into practice.
She grilled hamburgers that had been prepared in advance and even made meat gratin.
I took those and fed them to Toya-kun.
Even while I went to get the food, Toya-kun did not leave my side.
Always by my side.
Toya-kun put that into practice.
So, I gave him a slightly larger portion of meat.
Please eat the rice balls I made too.
When the two of them approached, everyone around us guarded us.
The two of them targeted different people, but since it was a known fact to everyone, everyone looked away.
"This is troublesome, it's not a game like this," Nishimatsu-kun said.
"I don't mind if you drop out," Watanabe-kun responded.
"Are you all that scared of us~? You just look like you're huddling together in fear~" Hanayama-san said.
"Don't make me say the same thing; if you're going to throw in the towel, throw it quickly and surrender," Eguchi-san replied.
While Toya-kun was looking at a silver can with interest...
Pokat.
"You only have to endure for another half year or so, okay?" I answered.
"Is Airi okay with that? ...You'll turn twenty first, you know?"
When Toya-kun asked, I answered with a smile.
"My dream is that my first time will be with Toya-kun, so it's fine!"
"I hope it lasts until then."
Before I knew it, Nishimatsu-kun had approached.
Toya-kun stepped in between me and Nishimatsu-kun.
"I'm telling you, it doesn't end today. I won't give up from now on either."
"Isn't it a contradiction to talk to other women and say you won't give up?"
"Did your eyes shift to other women and you became jealous?"
"How can you be so self-conscious? I can't understand it."
"If you want to understand, I'll teach you slowly."
"I'll pass."
Saying so, he walked away.
"I feel like I've found a clue to the solution for Hanayama-san, but I don't know about Nishimatsu-kun."
"That's probably Hanayama-san's tactic, Toya-kun, don't be deceived! I mean, I don't want you to end up with Hanayama-san."
"I know, Airi."
Toya-kun looked into my eyes.
What that meant... I, who can peek inside Toya-kun, understand.
I closed my eyes.
Under the starry sky. The silhouettes of two people overlap.
While being showered with teasing voices from around them, the two were immersed in the afterglow.