Chapter 185 - Leisurely Night
(1)
"Toya-kun, it's morning. You're going to eat breakfast, right?"
When I am woken up by Airi, I tidy myself up and have breakfast. After eating, I get ready, check out, and depart.
Airi looks happy.
Today, we plan to go to the theme park Airi wanted to visit.
Knowing it would be crowded, we left early.
But it seems everyone was thinking the same thing, as traffic jams had already begun.
Because Airi talking to me about wanting to go over there, or how she's looking forward to the hotel, serves as a substitute for the radio.
The traffic continued even after leaving the highway.
"Toya-kun, look at that."
Looking in the direction Airi points, the theme park comes into view.
"Is there anywhere you want to go, Toya-kun?"
When Airi asks me, I am at a loss as to how to respond.
If I had to say, since we didn't plan on going as far as Sasebo, maybe that I want to eat a Sasebo burger?
"Anywhere you want to go is fine with me, Airi."
That's probably the best way to answer.
"Toya-kun, you're not very interested, are you..."
The reaction seems lackluster.
"You granted my wishes yesterday, so today is Airi's day. Tomorrow, let's go around to various places together, okay?"
When I say that, Airi's mood returns to normal.
After parking in the lot, we go to the welcome gate and leave our luggage at the hotel reception.
After that, we stroll through the park.
Since Airi is now okay with attractions, there is plenty of time to play.
Before noon, Airi shows me the map she received at the welcome gate.
"For lunch, you can have whatever you like, Toya-kun."
Without hesitation, the Sasebo burger is the only choice.
I was impressed by its size. It all boils down to one word: Delicious!
"Toya-kun, you can eat my share too."
Looking over, Airi hasn't taken a single bite.
"Did you dislike it?"
"No. It's just hard to eat."
Looking at Airi's outfit, I realize.
She is wearing only a light-colored dress with a cardigan thrown over it.
If ketchup or meat juices splatter, they would stand out immediately.
Additionally, it's too big; Airi's small mouth cannot finish a bite in one go.
It was my mistake for being absorbed in my own enjoyment and not thinking about Airi.
"Sorry."
"It's okay. I'm not very hungry, and just watching Toya-kun eat made me feel full."
After eating Airi's portion of the burger, we leave the shop.
"You can eat pizza or pasta, right?"
I ask Airi while looking at the map on my smartphone.
"Toya-kun, you're still eating!?"
Airi is exasperated.
"It's better than something like ramen, right?"
"Yeah!"
Holding hands with Airi, I head toward a restaurant.
"Let's split the pizza."
Airi doesn't seem to have much of an appetite.
"Alright."
We choose one pizza and one pasta dish, then divide and eat them together.
"It's delicious♪"
Airi says as she eats.
Once finished, we stroll through the park again.
We also visited the souvenir shops.
Something called Rose Cider was being sold. There's no way I'm not buying that, right?
I bought several bottles.
Let's drink one at the hotel.
"Let me have a sip too."
When Airi says that, I answer, "Sure."
When it's fun, tension rises; when tension rises, it becomes even more fun.
We were elated, taking photos here and there.
Seeing me like that, Airi also looks happy.
The chain of enjoyment continued even into the night.
(2)
Upon arriving at Shimabara, I aim for the westernmost point of the Japanese mainland.
Relying on the navigation, I continue driving along unfamiliar roads.
Tracing the coastline, crossing mountains, I continue to proceed steadily northwest.
When I reach the destination, I take a photo and send it to the group.
The reaction from Katagiri-senpai and the others was fast.
"Eat a Sasebo burger!"
A reaction typical of Katagiri-senpai.
"We're in Nagasaki too," says Tosaka-senpai.
I see.
Here too, I encounter a traveler of life.
They seem to have a purpose.
Apparently, they are traveling with the goal of reaching the eastern, western, southern, and northern ends of Japan.
They've already been to the south. Next is the east, they say.
Compared to that, my journey is a tiny thing. But that's fine.
I already understand the purpose of the journey.
And I've learned the meaning of the journey.
All that's left is to return to my hometown.
When I go home, I will tell them.
The meaning of the journey.
And my purpose.
The light-pink phantom of you by my side is no longer there.
That day, holding a silver can bought at a convenience store, I made noise with my traveling companions.
The banquet continued until midnight.
I tried asking if their time was okay?
They said they quit their jobs and are traveling.
Time is infinite.
I felt envious.
But I couldn't imagine myself becoming like that.
Ultimately, I am myself, and others are others.
It's probably what they call the grass being greener on the other side.
No matter the situation, how much can I maintain being myself, how much can I assert it?
I was able to learn the meaning of that during the journey.
At that point, my journey might have ended.
But the path beyond still continues, something new is waiting, and we move, surely, surely.
It might not all be good things, but it's not all bad things either.
I'll knock on a new door. An endless journey searching for a larger version of myself.
The journey continues forever.
(3)
18:30. I was waiting in front of "Blue Bird."
Then, a white SUV stopped.
He appeared wearing a long cardigan, a white shirt, black skinny pants, and black canvas shoes.
As soon as he saw me, Nishimatsu said.
"Beautiful as always. You've dressed up for me, haven't you? I'm happy."
For the record, let me say. A blue jacket, a striped shirt, a gray skirt, and black and white sneakers.
It's a perfectly ordinary outfit. I'm not particularly dressing up.
"Sorry to keep you waiting. Now, please."
Saying so, Nishimatsu invites me to the passenger seat.
"The weather is nice today. It looks like it'll be the best day."
It's already night, so the weather doesn't matter, does it?
In Nishimatsu's car, we go to the tower hotel.
Apparently, he had reserved a restaurant on the top floor.
Apparently, he had reserved a course meal. When a chilled bottle of wine arrived, he poured it for me and we toasted.
"I'm glad I invited you today. It looks like it'll be a special night," or "The night view is even more beautiful because you are here," his lines, each one giving me goosebumps, continued.
The reason I accepted the invitation today was because I had too much free time, and I wanted to get him worked up.
The night view and all, it's not even that dark yet, is it?
Your vocabulary is quite poor, isn't it?
He might have been like this originally, but he becomes even more loquacious when alcohol enters him.
Though it's nothing but trivial talk.
This was before I started dating Zen-kun, but I was invited by other men.
For some reason, everyone chooses this restaurant.
I don't know the reason.
But now, I might understand.
They want to come here with someone special.
They want to enjoy such an exceptional night with Zen-kun.
Maybe everyone felt the same?
Or do they want to say, "Since I brought you to such a special place, you must understand, right?"
Nishimatsu's talk turned to the topic of Watanabe's group.
"Even though I can provide such a special night, other women don't understand."
Being mocked along with everyone else is the same as being mocked oneself.
Before I knew it, I had come to hold such a thought.
I've reached the limit of my patience.
It's about time I stop playing along with this farce.
"You came by car, but have you thought about the way back?"
"I've thought about it properly. I've taken a double room."
"I see. Then enjoy your night alone in that double room to the fullest."
Saying so, I stand up from my seat.
To the surprised Nishimatsu, I convey one word: "I'm going to make a phone call."
I call Kazami, call Zen-kun, and return to my seat.
"If I did something to offend you, I apologize. First, shall we toast once more?"
I don't know what we're toasting to, but I comply for now and gulp down the wine.
"Then, I'll tell you why I'm feeling bad."
"?"
"Since you pride yourself on being a doctor's son and wealthy, I thought you'd take me somewhere truly wonderful, but when I got here, it's just a tower hotel restaurant. It's a place even a commoner would think of. I thought you'd take me to a traditional ryotei or a delicious meat restaurant, but this is a disappointment in the worst way."
"Wh..."
Ignoring the flustered Nishimatsu, my verbal attack continues.
"Listen. A place like this only works when you come with someone you want to leave memories with. I don't think for a second that I want to make special memories with you. For your information, it seems Katagiri-kun and Tosaka-san have even been here."
"I wanted to make memories with you."
"You were mocking Watanabe's group, but it seems even that 'stupid' Watanabe's group understands what you're trying to do. I do too, of course."
Nishimatsu raises his eyebrows without saying anything.
"Oh right. Last night, Zen-kun invited me to a restaurant, a seaside restaurant. At this time of year, the sunset must be truly beautiful. The sea must be beautiful, right? More than anything, the filter of memories with Zen-kun will make it look even more beautiful."
"..."
Nishimatsu says nothing. I could only tell that the corners of his mouth were turned up.
Such a night will never come for you.
As if he were narrating that...
"I've said what I wanted to say. That's enough, right? I'm bored of playing along with this farce."
Saying so, I stand up again.
At that moment, my feet stumble. My head spins. Why, when I haven't drunk that much?
The answer was simple. He is a doctor's son. If he wanted to obtain something, he could probably obtain it regardless of the cost.
"It seems you've drunk far too much. I'll take care of you in the room."
He puts my arm around him and begins to walk.
If only I hadn't drunk that wine. But it's not as if I came without any preparation.
He lets me sit in a chair, settles the bill, and then carries me again.
Then, Kazami was waiting in front of the elevator.
"Good work. From here on, I will escort the young lady."
Saying so, Kazami takes me over.
"Who are you?"
When Nishimatsu asks, Kazami bows.
"Would it be sufficient to say I am the young lady's caretaker? Now, young lady, let us go. Sweet dreams to you as well, Nishimatsu-sama."
Leaving the stunned Nishimatsu behind, the elevator closes.
"Young lady, are you alright?"
"It seems I've been drugged... my consciousness is hazy."
"I was surprised when I was told to come to the front of the restaurant."
"That seems to have been the correct choice."
After that, I was sent home and entrusted to Zen-kun, and Kazami departed.
At that time, I had fallen completely asleep.
(4)
Before going on the trip, Toya-kun was worried.
French, Japanese, or Teppanyaki. Which one to choose?
It's been nothing but French lately, and Toya-kun doesn't seem interested in Japanese food, so maybe Teppanyaki?
I was convinced of that.
And in the morning, before I slept, Toya-kun was preparing.
Yesterday, I was so elated that I had no time to check Toya-kun's luggage.
So, when we arrived at the hotel and I tried to change clothes so that it would be okay if oil splattered, Toya-kun was rummaging through a bag.
He is taking out a jacket.
"Are you going out again?"
"No, apparently wearing a jacket is a condition."
"Eh?"
"Well, let's go eat."
"Yeah."
Classical music was being performed. The marriage of a dignified floor enveloped in beautiful melodies and top-tier French cuisine creates a moment of unsurpassed elegance.
Toya-kun chose French.
"It was Japanese yesterday. I can eat meat back home. You don't get to hear live classical music often, right?"
"..."
"I told you, didn't I? Today is Airi's turn to enjoy herself."
"Thank you."
"It's fine, it's not like I wasn't interested. Spending time like this with Airi isn't bad."
When we return to the room, hug me with all your might.
Toya-kun just said it, didn't he? That today is the night I enjoy myself.
Enjoying a dinner that felt like a different world far removed from daily life, we return to the room.
The room is, naturally, a double.
The Toya-kun who hated it so much feels like a distant past...
After taking a shower and changing, I leave the bathroom and dry my hair with a dryer.
During that time, Toya-kun is looking at his smartphone, his face stiffening.
"What's wrong?"
When I ask Toya-kun while drying my hair, he says, "No, Shimizu-san is..." and trails off.
I wonder what happened?
Once I finish drying my hair, I look at my smartphone too.
"Eh..."
I couldn't believe my eyes.
"I slept with Shimizu-san."
It's a message from Nishimatsu-kun. Everyone is in an uproar.
"What did you do with Shimizu-san!?"
While everyone is saying that, Nishimatsu-kun shows composure.
Then, someone sent a sentence.
"Lying is not allowed. I've heard the circumstances from Kazami-san. Akira-chan is sleeping next to me."
The sender is Yoshi-kyun. Sakai-kun's nickname.
Everyone starts laughing.
"Enjoy your night alone to the fullest."
The group teases him.
I lock eyes with Toya-kun and laugh.
That's right, it would be impossible with Shimizu-san.
After that, I was watching TV with Toya-kun.
When it became 22:00, Toya-kun turned off the TV.
What's wrong? Are you going to sleep already?
Ignoring my anxiety, Toya-kun also turns off the lights in the room.
Even though he said it was my day...
That anxiety was immediately blown away.
"Tomorrow morning is early, so let's sleep early, okay?"
Saying so, he hugs me and kisses me.
It's a signal asking, "Is it okay?"
It's okay.
I kiss Toya-kun, putting that meaning into it.
Toya-kun removes my gown and caresses me.
I also remove Toya-kun's gown and caress his whole body.
I wish it were like this every night...
No, it's okay because it's only occasionally.
But Toya-kun really seems to have become interested in romance.
Has he finally become ready to accept my love?
He is passionate tonight.
After we finish, I give Toya-kun a massage.
He was driving the whole time, after all.
"Airi, you must be tired from being in the passenger seat the whole time too, right?"
"Toya-kun looks so wonderful while driving that I never get tired of watching you."
When the massage ends, I try to sleep in Toya-kun's arms.
Then, Toya-kun lets out an "Ah" and leaves the bed.
What is it?
I sit up and look at Toya-kun.
What he took out of a paper bag was Rose Cider.
He pours it into glasses and hands one to me.
The two of us drink and look at each other's faces.
Both of us were smiling.
Toya-kun truly created a wonderful day for me.