Chapter 200 - Ephemeral Feelings
(1)
"Airi, wake up?"
Uuun...
The room was still dark.
I looked at the clock. It had just passed 2:00.
"It's still the middle of the night, you know?"
When I said that, Toya-kun answered with a smile.
"Airi was the one who said no to doing it secretly."
Are we playing games at this hour?
Or are we going out?
Toya-kun responded to my questions with a kiss.
Toya-kun wrapped his arm around my back and unhooked my bra.
Then, he began undoing the buttons of my pajamas.
Eh? At this hour?
Tense from the surprise, confusion, and the suddenness of it all, I gazed at Toya-kun's face.
"Airi was the one who said she wanted attention."
That's true. ...But that's not what I meant.
As I let Toya-kun strip me of my clothes until I was completely naked, Toya-kun began to undress himself as well.
That day, we spent a passionate night.
"Airi. It's morning."
I was woken up by Toya-kun.
The clock had passed 10:00.
I was wearing my pajamas properly. But the sensation of something having been done remained.
"Toya-kun, did you do something to me last night?"
Toya-kun answered with a "Huh?". It seemed I had been dreaming.
Ephemeral like a dream... I suddenly felt lonely.
"What's wrong?"
Toya-kun said after hugging me. I told Toya-kun the contents of the dream. It was a bit embarrassing, but I spoke with the feeling that maybe it wasn't a dream.
As expected, it had only been a dream.
To my depressed self, he asked, "Did you want me to do it?"
Toya-kun occasionally becomes mean.
Poka poka
I hit Toya-kun's chest.
Toya-kun whispered in a small voice near my ear.
"Shall we stop by a hotel?"
"Uuu... I'll endure it today."
"I see."
The reason he didn't ask "Shall we do it tonight?" was because we would be on the ferry tonight.
Today was the day the trip started.
Toya-kun got out of bed and checked the luggage.
I also got out of bed and checked the contents of my bag.
After that, we changed clothes, ate the breakfast that had been prepared, and got ready.
If we left around 17:00, we were scheduled to make it in time.
"What do you want to do?"
Toya-kun asked.
In Toya-kun's mind, is he predicting the answer?
Since we are going out from the evening, there will be no outings.
Things to do inside the house—doing it in broad daylight, and moreover after we've already prepared to leave, that's not possible.
If so, the remaining option is...
I took the TV remote, turned on the television, and gazed at it.
I watched Toya-kun's reaction.
Toya-kun sat pressed tightly against my side and watched the TV in the same way.
I was the one surprised by the unexpected reaction.
I thought what Toya-kun wanted to do was probably games.
"Don't you want to play games?"
Was I being a bit mean?
"There's no meaning in doing it alone without Airi."
He said it would be meaningless if only Toya-kun's character's level went up.
I heard the sound of Maya-san coming up the stairs.
After knocking, Maya-san asked.
"It seems breakfast was late, but what about lunch?"
"I'll eat,"
Toya-kun said.
"Then, I'll prepare it, so come on down."
Saying so, Maya-san went down.
We also left the room.
After helping with the cleanup of lunch, I took barley tea and headed to Toya-kun's room.
Toya-kun was watching TV.
A laptop was open.
When I placed the barley tea on the table, I peeked at Toya-kun's laptop.
As I thought, he was playing a game.
To be precise, he might have just been watching, but to an amateur like me, it was an act equivalent to playing.
"You're doing it again without saying anything!"
When I said that, he made the excuse, "I was just watching."
"It's not that I'm reprimanding you for doing it, you know?"
"I know. That's why I was just checking the status while watching TV with Airi."
"While I was gone?"
"I don't do it when I'm with Airi."
"You don't understand! I've told you to stop doing things sneakily in secret, so why won't you understand!"
I sat hugging my knees and pretended to cry.
"That's why I had the laptop open openly, right?"
"If you want to play games, just do it! Don't worry about me."
"I told you before that it's meaningless without Airi."
"Liar! You did it while I wasn't here, so that's not even an excuse!"
Toya-kun operated the laptop with a "good grief" expression.
He closed the street stall, and while looking at a site, he scouted the stalls.
Then, after buying a certain item, he asked me to log in.
"Understand that I'm not in the mood for that right now!"
"I'll explain it to Airi, so it's fine, just connect."
It is rare for Toya-kun to force something.
Reluctantly, I opened my own laptop and logged into the game.
A trade request came from Toya-kun's character.
I clicked OK.
I was given an item and tens of millions of in-game currency.
"Do you intend to appease me with this?"
I won't fall for such a trick!
But Toya-kun shook his head.
"That's something we obtained together, just the two of us."
"?"
"I'm just selling a rare item we got while playing with Airi. If I don't, I won't be able to buy anything in this game."
"But what about Toya-kun's share?"
"Is there some problem with the wife keeping the profits?"
Toya-kun is silver-tongued at times like this.
I couldn't say anything back.
"Airi's character now has plenty of funds, so come here for a bit."
I followed Toya-kun's character. It was a church in the city called the Capital.
When Toya-kun spoke to a certain character, I also received an explanation from Toya-kun.
I received another item from Toya-kun's character.
There was something called a wedding dress.
Ah, so that's it?
When I did as Toya-kun said, my character transformed into a bride's appearance and Toya-kun's character transformed into a tuxedo appearance.
Something called a wedding ring appeared in the item slot.
"Since it's far off in reality, at least inside the game."
"Thank you."
The two of us returned to the usual spot in the desert city.
I was told to just leave it as is. I wonder why?
"You'll stay in that appearance for one hour... Since you can't play during that time, we'll kill time..."
I logged out.
"Airi. Time doesn't pass once you log out, you know?"
"It's okay. I want to stay in this appearance."
When I said that, Toya-kun also changed his character and opened the street stall again.
"Games are on hold for a while, then."
"I didn't intend to do it during the trip anyway."
I'll get angry if you do!
After that, while the two of us watched TV, Toya-kun killed time while occasionally looking at his laptop.
Then, as the departure time approached, Toya-kun also logged out and shut down the PC. We carried the luggage to the car.
The reason we left slightly early was that eating dinner on the ferry is expensive, so we ate dinner at a shop near the ferry terminal, and considering Toya-kun's stomach, we procured food and drinks at a convenience store.
After completing the boarding procedures, we waited for the time to board the ferry.
Then, after putting the car on the ferry, we moved to the passenger cabin.
Since it was the second time, I played a smartphone game with Toya-kun.
I had prepared a charger.
I felt the ship begin to move.
We've departed.
The journey of summer memories has begun.
(2)
"Happy birthday, Kanna."
When Makoto said that, he clinked his wine glass.
The two of us drank wine.
Today is my birthday.
Makoto had reserved a restaurant for me.
I've finally joined the adults. I feel that way.
After that, we enjoyed conversation while enjoying the food.
I was given earrings as a present from Makoto.
Diamond earrings from an overseas brand.
"Is it okay to receive something that looks this expensive?"
"It's fine, it's not something I bought by sponging off my parents."
"?"
"I had a late-night part-time job after club activities ended."
"!?"
"There are part-time jobs that pay better late at night."
"Why do you push yourself so hard!"
If you're studying, doing club activities, and even working a part-time job, there's no time to rest, right?
"And have you thought about how I would feel if something happened to you, Makoto? I wouldn't be happy at all."
"Kanna's twentieth birthday is an important event, right? I wanted to give a special present."
An engagement ring was too much, though, Makoto laughed.
"...Thank you. Sorry for being a nagging girlfriend."
"You're worrying about me, right? I'm grateful."
When we left the restaurant, I looked at the clock. It was still 20:00.
"Do you have a plan for after this?"
"I was thinking we could just go into some random bar?"
"Then, I'll leave it to you."
I ordered a Bitter Orange, and Makoto ordered an Italian Screwdriver.
I like beer-based drinks, and Makoto's reason was "the name sounds cool."
The two of us drank cocktails and conversed.
"What are we doing tonight?"
"Today is Sunday, so it's cheap, right? I'm thinking we should go to the usual place."
"...Are you going to make me do that again?"
"T-today, I'll leave it to Kanna. It's a day for Kanna, after all."
What this guy says is always suspicious.
"You said it's for me, right? Then I can state my demands, right?"
"A-ah. Of course. Is there a kind of play that Kanna prefers?"
Being able to have this kind of talk in a place like this without hesitation is Makoto's characteristic.
"Yeah, there is."
"What kind of thing is it?"
"Doing nothing?"
"Huh?"
"Doing nothing and just hugging each other while we sleep."
"We haven't met in a while, that's not possible..."
Because it's been a while, I want to purely enjoy the night with you. Leaving that kind of thing aside.
"A man doesn't go back on his word, right?"
When I pressed Makoto, he reluctantly agreed.
After staying at a hotel, the two of us drank canned beer.
When we finished drinking, we would take a bath... but oh well.
"Shall we enter together?"
"Is it okay?"
Makoto's expression changed instantly and became bright.
"I told you, 'I want to enjoy it by entering together'."
I had Makoto enter first, and then I took off my clothes and entered the bathroom.
As expected of the athletic type, the muscle tone is completely different.
"I'll wash your back," I said, and "Oh, thank you," Makoto said.
...Today is a service.
I took body soap in my hand, lathered it, applied it to my body, and then hugged Makoto.
Makoto turned around in surprise.
How must I look to Makoto right now?
"Kanna, that's a foul! Saying we'll do nothing tonight after that is torture!"
"...Maybe it's because I'm a bit drunk? I forgot."
After washing Makoto's back and rinsing with the shower, Makoto entered the bathtub and gazed at me.
I don't really want him to see me while I'm washing my body.
After washing my body, I entered the bathtub with Makoto.
Makoto was looking at a certain thing.
The mat and...
Gotsun.
That is honestly impossible.
"You haven't mistaken me for a sex worker or something, have you?"
"I haven't! If Kanna were that, no matter how much I worked part-time, it wouldn't be enough."
After leaving the bath, we drank another one. Post-bath drinks are delicious!
Makoto seemed absorbed in watching AVs.
I hugged Makoto and said in a spoiled voice.
"Who is more important, me or the AV actresses?"
"It's obviously Kanna. I mean, I've never compared the two. I've been saying it from before, but AVs and girlfriends are different things!"
Makoto spoke passionately. I don't care about Makoto's values.
"You'll keep your promise, right?"
"A-ah."
When the two of us got into bed, I hugged Makoto.
Makoto also hugged me gently.
It started with a kiss, and then...
"Is it okay?"
"I'm a bit drunk right now, so I'm in a mood where I can forgive anything."
Actually, it was good.
I wanted to do something as a thank you to Makoto, who had done so much for me.
How can I thank Makoto?
Will this be a thank you?
Is the sensation of me also drowning in pleasure called a thank you?
"Thank you, Makoto."
"Eh?"
"I look forward to being with you from now on too."
"Yeah... I look forward to it as well."
While spoiling myself with Makoto, I fell asleep this night.
(3)
When the engagement with Keisuke was decided, we started looking for a new home.
And we decided on a room in an apartment in the city.
It's an all-electric apartment.
After that, we bought the necessary things and the moving day arrived.
We had a company carry the things. And then we were unpacking.
As the two of us proceeded with unpacking while talking, I found a certain album.
Photos of Keisuke as a newborn.
Then, Keisuke's growth was recorded in order.
While looking at that, I remembered memories with Keisuke.
From newborn until elementary school, I was normally called "Big Sister".
After becoming a middle school student, perhaps he learned about the relationship with me, and he suddenly started calling me "Miyuki" without honorifics.
Even so, he still called me that as if he were shy. I laughed remembering it.
By the time he became a high school student, he had become a bit like the Keisuke of a short while ago.
A cycle of hitting on women indiscriminately, getting bored, and dumping them.
How was I looking at Keisuke back then?
I don't remember anymore. I don't even want to remember. Precisely because I didn't want to remember, I sealed the memories. I stopped the emotions.
I am grateful to the Watanabe squad. Because they awakened the emotions I had given up on in elementary school.
"Miyuki."
Keisuke is calling.
"The sun has already set, so shall we leave it at this for today?"
When I looked at the window, it had indeed become night.
"That's true..."
I closed the album, put it in the bookshelf, and stood up.
What shall we do for dinner? Of course, there are no ingredients. Even if there were, I haven't taken out the cooking utensils or tableware.
"Shall I go buy some bento?"
"I reserved a shop a while ago. It's the first night we'll spend together. Let's eat something delicious."
"I understand."
Saying so, we left the apartment and walked to the shop.
It was a ryotei.
"I was told, 'You choose a commonplace restaurant for a rich person, how disappointing,' so I was searching because I didn't want Miyuki to say the same thing to me."
For me, a family restaurant would be fine. With the current Keisuke.
Keisuke pours cold sake into my ochoko.
I drank it in one gulp, and he poured the next.
"Do you intend to make me drunk?"
"Don't increase your pace too much. It'll hit you later."
And so, time passed while we enjoyed the food and alcohol.
By the time the course was mostly finished, my face had turned red.
"Shall we go soon?"
When Keisuke stood up, I also tried to stand up.
There was no strength in my legs and hips. Keisuke wrapped his arm around my shoulder as I couldn't stand.
"See, I told you, right?"
"I'm sorry."
On the way back, while somehow walking staggeringly, we returned to our room in the apartment.
Keisuke laid me on the bed and went to take a shower.
Was this how Keisuke's method of taking someone down worked?
Is the target tonight me?
When Keisuke came out of the bath, he sat next to me.
He began watching TV with a long silver can in his hand.
Am I outside the target?
It's a bit sad.
How should I act spoiled at a time like this?
For now, I put strength into my upper body and wrapped my arms around Keisuke's waist.
Keisuke looked at me, patted my head, and said in a gentle voice.
"Rest slowly tonight. I want to tidy up the room during the break."
"Am I outside the target for Keisuke?"
Perhaps due to the momentum of the drunkenness, I was blabbing such things.
Keisuke did not break his gentle expression and said in a gentle voice.
"Even if I look like this, I intend to cherish Miyuki."
This is proof that I am being cherished, right?
Having heard that, perhaps I felt relieved and fell asleep.
(4)
"Uwa, it's quite heavy. Takemoto, are you okay over there?"
"I'm okay...!"
Manabe-kun and I were working a part-time job.
Tange-sensei's part-time job.
Organizing the equipment in the preparation room.
Carrying unnecessary things outside and taking them to the disposal site by car.
While driving, Manabe-kun spoke to me.
"How are things with Umi-chan lately?"
"We're normally just friends."
But I haven't met her since we went camping.
"Then, how are things with Hanayama-san?"
"...I think we're getting along well."
"Have you sorted out your feelings?"
"Yes, it seems I was able to do it properly."
"It seems?"
Manabe-kun asked back.
"It had ended long ago since I confessed and was rejected. After that, I was thinking about Hanayama-san."
"You switched over surprisingly fast."
"It seems that if you draw a clear line, you can do it easily."
"I see... though it seems there are people who aren't like that."
He's surely talking about Niina-san.
But that's...
"It might be my imagination, but is that only a problem with Niina-san?"
"What do you mean?"
"Isn't there a problem with Manabe-kun too?"
Manabe-kun said nothing. I continued further.
"Being halfway kind to Niina-san, but because the real favorite is someone else, you can't date Niina-san. Isn't that cruel?"
"..."
"From the outside, it looks like Manabe-kun is two-timing."
"...I was told something similar by the person at my part-time job."
Manabe-kun gave a bitter smile.
"What do you think I should do?"
"...I don't know. What does Manabe-kun think?"
"I'm wondering if pushing Niina-san away is also a kind of kindness."
"...That's true."
After that, upon arriving at the disposal site, we unloaded the things we brought from the truck and returned to the university.
At that time, my smartphone rang.
It was from Saki.
"Hello?"
"Don't 'hello' me! What are you doing on your day off!"
"I sent a message, though?"
"I saw it a while ago! Listen, it's fine to be diligent with your part-time job, but wouldn't it be okay to give me a little attention!?"
"Then, I'll go visit you after the part-time job is over."
"...Contact me when the part-time job is over."
"Got it."
The call ended.
"Takemoto has a girlfriend too. The Watanabe squad is mysterious."
"Why doesn't Manabe-kun try asking Watanabe-kun for help?"
"Even with Watanabe-senpai's power, there's probably nothing that can be done, right?"
I never thought the time would come when I'd actually consult Watanabe-senpai.
(5)
I woke up early in the morning again.
As before, I was on top and Airi was on the bottom.
After changing, I went down the ladder and looked at Airi.
When I opened the curtains, Airi was sleeping peacefully.
I'm still a bit sleepy.
I thought about going to breathe some outside air for a bit, but if I go without saying, Airi will get angry again.
It's a bit pitiful, but I'll wake Airi up.
I whispered in Airi's ear.
"Airi."
"Hm? Toya-kun? Good morning~..."
Airi still looked sleepy.
"I'm going to the deck to breathe some outside air, but if Airi is sleepy, you can keep sleeping."
"Outside~... I'm coming!"
Airi sat up abruptly and grabbed my arm.
"Wait a moment, okay?"
Saying so, Airi changed, looked in the washbasin mirror, and quickly ran a brush through her hair to tidy it.
"Now, shall we go?"
"Doesn't Airi look sleepy? Are you okay?"
"Yes, I can't let Toya-kun be alone!"
"Why?"
"Because I'd hate it if Toya-kun was taken by another woman."
Even though she knows that's not going to happen.
"Even if you say that, I won't know if you end up saying 'I fell asleep in the car' later."
"U-uuu... Toya-kun is saying mean things."
Saying so, I took the hand of the troubled Airi and left the room.
When we went out to the deck, the scent of the tide felt pleasant.
"Ah, Toya-kun, I can see land."
When Airi pointed in the direction the ship was heading, land was indeed visible.
Just as I thought Airi was leaning out while holding the railing to look in the direction of travel, she moved to the gunwale and peeked down.
"Uwaa, it's fast~"
I quietly sneaked up behind such an Airi and grabbed Airi's waist from behind.
"Kya!"
"If you frolic, you'll fall."
"Then hold onto me so I don't fall."
"Eh?"
Airi let go of the railing, closed her eyes, and spread both arms wide.
If you're going to do that, do it at the front, right?
While remembering a scene from an old movie, I held Airi firmly.
At that moment, a rumbling vibration was transmitted from Airi's lower abdomen.
Airi was looking down with a red face.
I know, it's the sound of internal organs moving, right?
However, Airi's face was saying it wasn't that.
"I didn't eat much last night, and dinner was early, so it seems I've become hungry... ehehe."
"So even Airi gets hungry."
"Uuu..."
"...Let's go back to the room, there should be some sandwiches left... and when we get to Kobe, shall we look for a fast food place?"
"Yes."
I returned to the room with Airi and we ate the sandwiches and such that we had bought at the convenience store.
After that, we packed our things and moved to the car.
Following the instructions of the guide, we moved the car.
When we left the ferry, light shone in.
We began to drive toward the direction where the light shone.