Chapter 201 - The Call of Summer
(1)
After getting off the boat, we first look for a fast food restaurant that is open at this hour.
After finishing breakfast there, we enter the Hanshin Expressway and go straight into the Meishin Expressway.
It takes a little over an hour to reach Kyoto.
I had researched that park-and-ride is the basic way to get around Kyoto.
I intended to park in an open parking lot around Kyoto Station and walk through the city, but... it's hot.
Unable to bear it, I duck into a random cafe for the time being to kill some time.
While drinking something at the cafe, I look up the visiting hours for the famous spots Airi wanted to go to... and I'm surprised.
They're already open.
Relying on the smartphone navigation, we take a bus and visit various places.
By the time we finish seeing one spot, it's time for the next place to open.
We went along seeing things in that manner.
While walking, we saw a maiko walking by.
As I'm staring, thinking, Wow, she's beautiful, Airi gets angry with me.
After that, I was desperate to get back into Airi's good graces.
We entered a souvenir shop.
Folding fans are being sold.
I don't have any particular use for one, but I bought one for some reason.
Since it's almost noon, we decide to have lunch somewhere.
Apparently there's a famous soba shop nearby, so we headed there.
Airi ordered tempura soba, and I ordered tempura soba and... a chicken and egg bowl.
This is actually me holding back, because I know Airi will leave some behind.
As expected, Airi left some.
I'll make sure to eat it all.
Once the stomach is full, the mood improves.
Airi's mood had improved as well.
Maybe she was just pouting a little to begin with.
"I bet if you put on makeup, Airi, you wouldn't lose to any maiko," I whisper, and Airi's cheeks flush as she becomes very happy.
After that, I just have to walk arm-in-arm as Airi requested.
Airi wanted to go to a souvenir shop, but when I say that since they're perishables it might be better to avoid them, Airi puts up her index finger and shakes it left and right, saying I just don't get it.
Apparently, they can ship directly from the local area to home.
After that, the place Airi wanted to visit most, Seimei Shrine.
They say it's Kyoto's strongest power spot.
Airi touches several of the sacred objects and prays.
I also bought a traffic safety charm.
Airi says, "Since we're here, shall we get a fortune told? I heard they're very accurate."
So, we had our fortunes told.
The results were good.
It said that from now on, we can spend stable days without any incidents.
They also offer to tell fortunes for things like love luck, and that too was said to go peacefully.
However, I was told that it's better to marry sooner rather than later.
I don't know if it's actually accurate, but if Airi is happy, it's probably accurate.
After that, when we return to Kyoto Station, Airi starts acting fidgety.
"Want to stop by the station?"
"Uuu... that's fine, but..."
"What's wrong?"
"There's a shop I absolutely want to stop by."
"That's fine."
"Really?"
"Where do you want to go?"
"It's inside the station..."
Following Airi, we arrive at a matcha specialty store.
Without hesitation, Airi chooses a matcha parfait. I... choose an Uji float and warabi-mochi. The reason was that it seemed like an interesting combination for some reason.
Airi seems very satisfied. A smile spills over.
As for me... was it mediocre? Part of it is that I'm not fond of matcha-based desserts to begin with, and although I was served hojicha later, the bad aftertaste wouldn't disappear.
"Toya-kun, did you dislike it?"
Seeing Airi make a face like that, I can't just not eat it, right?
"Sorry, I noticed you weren't fond of it, so it was hard to bring up..."
"Eating it with Airi will become a memory. I'm sure a time will come when we can laugh and talk about it together."
"That's true!"
After that, I move the car to the hotel parking lot and check in.
It was decided that we'd eat dinner out.
Then Airi said
"There's a place I want to go... but since you let me have snacks, Toya-kun's choice is fine."
She probably thought I wanted Kyoto ramen, right?
"Anything is fine?"
"Y-yeah..."
"Then, the place Airi wants to go."
"...Is that okay?"
"It's fine. It's rare for Airi to request food."
"Then, shall we go back to Kyoto Station?"
"I don't mind."
The place she mentioned was a shop for hamo and yuba.
When we order a course meal, the dishes come out one after another.
"Why did you choose this shop?"
I asked Airi.
"Because since we've come all the way to Kyoto, we have to eat something that feels like it!"
Honestly, hamo aside, I don't like yuba very much. But I ate it while trying not to let it show on my face as much as possible.
There was no need to hide it.
Looking at Airi's smile, this much is nothing.
After finishing dinner, we return to the hotel room.
We take showers in turns and watch TV.
"Tomorrow, you can eat whatever Toya-kun likes!"
I got the seal of approval from Airi.
I wonder what I should eat tomorrow?
I search on my smartphone.
For breakfast, a convenience store is fine.
"Hey, you have an early start tomorrow too, right? Let's go to sleep?"
"True."
When the lights go down, we sleep while hugging each other.
Goodnight.
(2)
"Phew~ it's over~"
Eita takes a breath.
"I'll go get some drinks, do you want some too?"
"A-ah, thanks."
I take juice from the refrigerator in Eita's room and pour it into a glass.
I had come to Eita's house on Sunday night.
My PvP debut.
While being directed this way and that by Eita, I busily operated my character.
Apparently, we won the match.
Or rather, it would be more correct to say we were able to take a few forts.
After that, I applied for expenses and received money.
"Ai, you're good. For a beginner, you did great."
I was praised by Eita.
Maybe my mood was elevated because I won my first PvP match.
After that, we were having a review session, and when they found out I was a woman, everyone spoke kind words to me.
Things like "Your voice is cute," words that had nothing to do with the game.
When Eita says "She's my girlfriend!", laughter is heard saying "Eita actually had a girlfriend."
How many women would not feel good being called "my girlfriend"?
"I'm hungry, shall we go eat some beef bowls?"
When Eita says that, I answer "Sure."
Even after arriving at the beef bowl shop, Eita talked about nothing but the game.
I decided to change the subject.
"Come to think of it, Katagiri-kun and the others said they were going on a trip starting today."
"Now that you mention it, they weren't here today."
"So, where are you taking me, Eita?"
"U-uhm..."
Eita was troubled.
He probably hadn't thought about anything for the most part. If I hadn't brought up the topic, he probably had no intention of taking me anywhere.
"Ah, that's right. There was a place I've wanted to go once."
"Where?"
"The Tsurumi ropeway."
"Why?"
"I've wanted to ride it with a girlfriend once."
As with before, it seems I was recognized as his girlfriend for the time being.
Since there was no particular reason to refuse, I answered "Sure."
But a day won't last with just that, right?
"Let's go to an amusement park after that."
When I suggest this to Eita, he answers "Sure!"
When we return to Eita's house, it's already late that day, so we sleep.
Waking up at 9 the next day, I wake Eita.
I toast the bread I bought and line it up on the table with coffee and fried eggs.
"Thanks. Let's eat."
After eating, Eita told me "It's delicious."
After cleaning up and getting ready, we went to the ropeway in Eita's car.
Taking the ropeway, we reach the top of the mountain.
The scenery is beautiful. We take photos on top of the observation deck.
After that, we go around the walking course and descend again.
Then we move to the amusement park, eat lunch, and play through the attractions.
After playing through them, we go around the souvenir shops and do some shopping.
Eita's eyes seemed to be drawn to tokusatsu toys.
I stopped him.
There's no end to it once you start buying these kinds of things.
It would just result in Eita's room being cluttered again.
Why do men want these kinds of things when they won't even use them anyway? It's not like they're children.
On the way back, we go to a pasta specialty store and eat dinner.
Eita is fiddling with his smartphone.
"What are you doing?"
"Ah, you should join too, Ai. It's quite convenient."
The app Eita is using is a voice chat tool that also links with a PC. It's like a messaging thing.
Apparently, it's the voice app Eita uses during PvP matches. They say there's a smartphone version too.
I installed it as Eita told me to, but I feel somewhat lonely.
Is this guy's head full of game stuff even during a date?
In these cases, it's more effective to involve those around him.
"What the hell are you doing during a date?"
I posted that comment.
"Eita, that's not okay!" and Eita is bombarded.
It seems it was a Guild where few people thought the game was more important than reality.
Eita apologized with a single "Sorry."
"For that reason, I'm going to provide a little service to my girlfriend," Eita declares and puts away his smartphone.
"By the way, Ai, are you free tomorrow?"
"My part-time job starts in the evening, but..."
"Then, stay over tonight. Let's play until the evening?"
"I don't mind, but what are we going to do for fun?"
"Hmm... shall we go see a movie?"
Considering the time, that's probably the best move.
Well, knowing Eita, he'll probably say he's free tomorrow because of maintenance?
It seems his head revolves around the game as the center.
"Sure."
Eita apparently had a movie he wanted to see, the second part of a tokusatsu kaiju animation movie.
Well, it's better than playing games at home all day.
From that day, I made it so my part-time job days off were on Tuesdays.
Returning home, Eita immediately heads for the PC.
Weren't you going to provide service to your girlfriend?
"I'll borrow the shower first."
Saying that, I take a shower.
When I get out of the shower, it's Eita's turn.
While Eita is in, I also peek at the PC.
I'm not playing the game. I'm just browsing blogs and such.
While doing that, Eita returns.
Eita heads for the PC again.
I let out a sigh. I close the laptop and watch TV.
While drinking a chu-hi I bought at the convenience store.
For some reason, Eita takes a can of beer from the refrigerator and starts drinking.
"Is the game okay?"
"Sorry, I just end up doing it whenever I'm free."
"Are you free even though I'm here?"
"Then, Ai, give me some attention."
I'm the one who wants attention.
And so, the two of us watch TV while drinking.
Eita's reactions stopped.
He was asleep. Honestly...
"You'll catch a cold if you sleep in a place like that."
I somehow lead Eita to the bed.
For some reason, Eita pulls me into the bed.
"Eita?"
"Tomorrow is a holiday, so tonight is fine, right?"
Eita was the one who said we're going to see a movie tomorrow, you know?
"We're not staying up too late, okay?"
Saying that, I slept with Eita.
It was a small occurrence on a late summer night.
(3)
Late August.
Cafe Blue Bird.
That day, I had my part-time job from the morning.
From the morning, Akira-chan was the only customer.
Around early afternoon, the door bell rings clink-clank.
Nishimatsu-kun and the others entered.
"The usual."
Saying that, they take their seats at a table.
"Is the moving finished?"
Akira-chan was asking Nishimatsu-kun.
"It's mostly tidied up, so we came for a breather. What about the others?"
"Everyone seems busy."
I answered Nishimatsu-kun's question.
"It is summer vacation, after all~"
"As for me, since Zen-kun is working his part-time job, it's like this. Aren't you two going out?"
Akira-chan was asking.
"We're thinking about it now. It'll be easier and there will be fewer people after September starts, right?"
Takashina-senpai answered.
"Sakai-kun, why don't you take some consecutive holidays? It's a precious summer vacation."
When the Master says that, Ichinose-san also agrees.
"That's right. Sakai-kun, as always, lacks far too much consideration for his girlfriend."
"It's fine, I'm used to it already. Despite how it looks, he's kind at home."
"Is that so?"
"Yes, he's become kinder recently."
"Ichinose-san, aren't you having Nakajima-kun take you somewhere?"
When I ask Ichinose-san, Ichinose-san answers happily.
"He's doing club activities, so it's hard to set a schedule, but we're taking a 3-day weekend next week; it's a trip to Nagasaki."
"That's nice."
I brush it off lightly.
"Consecutive holidays... you can take them?"
Akira-chan bites onto the topic.
"You can. Though it's troublesome if both of you are off at the same time."
The Master says.
"I see, then maybe I'll have them take some."
Akira-chan says.
"When can you take them?"
"In September, I've already taken consecutive holidays in the middle of the month."
Because of the Watanabe group's schedule.
"Then... how about the end of the month?"
"Is there somewhere you want to go?"
"There's a villa in Karuizawa. I'm thinking of going there."
"K-Karuizawa!?"
"Oh? Are you dissatisfied?"
"N-no way!?"
"Then, it's decided. Master, is that okay?"
"I don't mind. Sakai, have a good time."
Then, Takashina-senpai speaks up.
"Keisuke, shall we go to Karuizawa too?"
"Sounds good, shall we try going for the first time in a while?"
And so, the September schedule was mostly filled.
As for me, I was supposed to work my part-time job and earn money, but...
Well, if Akira-chan is happy, then that's fine.
(4)
"Yuma! It's morning!"
I wake up to Saki's voice.
Saki is doing something in the kitchen. She's probably making breakfast.
While I'm washing my face in the bathroom, Saki calls out, "Breakfast is ready~"
When I sit at the table, what's served is burnt toast, crisply burnt ham and eggs, and coffee.
I didn't know what kind of expression to make.
While I'm wearing a bewildered expression, Saki says.
"I-I'm still practicing, so... it didn't go well."
I bite into the toast in silence.
The taste of garlic is intense.
But I don't mention that.
"It's delicious... Katagiri-kun said 'There is no seasoning superior to affection.' I've firmly received Saki's affection."
"I'll practice a bit more next time."
"That's true."
Since she's a princess, it's not strange if there are things she's not good at. She hasn't done them until now.
However...
"It's a mistake to think that garlic toast is just spreading garlic paste and toasting it."
"Eh? Is that so?"
I still have room in my stomach, and it's faster to put it into practice.
I head to the kitchen; the tools and ingredients are here...
I put butter and olive oil in a heat-resistant container and microwave it for a few seconds to melt the butter.
I put a small amount of garlic paste into the melted butter and mix it.
I spread the garlic butter on the bread with a spoon and toast the bread.
Saki watched that process intently.
I offer the toasted bread, saying "Try eating this." Saki takes a bite and is surprised.
"Yuma, you can cook! I feel like an idiot alone..."
"Well, I lived alone, so I can do this much."
"Even when I lived alone, I couldn't do it at all."
Saki gets depressed saying that.
"The important thing is having the feeling of wanting to cook for yourself. After that, if you practice while looking at recipes, you'll become able to do it."
"Yuma, teach me, that thing called recipes."
"I understand, I'll visit Saki's house as much as possible."
"There's a better way, though?"
"What?"
"Why don't we live together?"
Cohabitation.
"Wouldn't that have various disadvantages...?"
"You won't know until you try, right? I'm working a part-time job too, and I'll persuade my parents."
"Are you thinking about what happens if we break up?"
"Does Yuma want to break up with me?"
"...It's not that. But you'll lose your own time, you know?"
"If it's with Yuma, that's fine!"
I thought for a bit. Saki seems serious. In that case, the sooner the better.
"Saki, can you contact your parents now?"
"Eh?"
"I have to talk to Saki's parents."
"I understand."
And so, Saki calls her parents.
"They say come right now."
I braced myself; I'll probably be scolded once.
On the way to Saki's house, I bought a box of sweets.
Saki's house was a detached house in a luxury residential area.
Saki unlocked the lock, opened the door, and called out "I'm home~", and her parents came.
After finishing the greetings and being led to the living room, I offer the box of sweets.
"From now on, when you come, you don't need things like this," I was told in one sentence.
From now on...?
Leaving the bewildered me aside, the conversation proceeded.
What will we do about the place to live? Is the living cost okay? Saki has never done housework, is that okay?
Saki explains each one.
I don't know what I should say.
"You said Takemoto-kun, right?"
The conversation was suddenly turned to me.
"What do you think? Do you have the confidence to get along well with Saki from now on?"
I didn't have confidence. But Katagiri-senpai said "Don't waver, even if you lack confidence, your girlfriend will support you"...
"I feel that if it's the two of us, we can get along well."
The parents were silent.
And then they spoke.
"Our daughter is popular, but," they said, "you're the first man she's ever brought home. I wondered what kind of person you were, and you seem sincere, so you'll probably supplement Saki's shortcomings. Very well. Finish moving during the holidays. Father will continue to provide Saki's living expenses as before."
I thought I would absolutely be opposed... I was caught off guard.
The strength leaves my whole body.
"Hahaha, it seems you were nervous. I'll leave Saki in your care from now on."
That day's dinner was treated by Saki's parents.
After sending Saki home, I return home.
And then I explain to my own parents by phone.
"I've decided to live together... so you don't have to worry," and so on.
"Come home sometime," my parents told me.
"I'll bring my girlfriend," I said.
Moving, huh. I have to pack my things...
I tell the Watanabe group about it.
"When are you moving? I'll help," everyone told me.
I'll put the home appliances and such in my parents' warehouse.
I started organizing my belongings alone.
It was for a short time, but living alone was fun.
Life with Saki, I wonder how it will be?
Summer is about to end.
Summer is calling.
But I don't look back.
Summer is calling, saying it's not over yet.
The rest of the holidays will be tough.
I give a bitter smile alone.
But I was looking forward to the new life.
(5)
"Toya-kun, it's morning."
Airi wakes me up.
Today's plan is the tour around Lake Biwa that Airi requested.
Even if we don't prepare that early, Lake Biwa won't run away.
It doesn't take that long from Kyoto to Shiga, so it's fine.
Even though I explain that to Airi.
"Aren't you hungry?"
Being told that, I've become hungry.
Shall we check out early and stop by a fast food restaurant?
But I don't really like morning menus.
Shall we make it a cafe?
I start preparing and changing; Airi has already changed and is doing her makeup.
When preparation finished, it was 8 o'clock.
After finishing the check-out, we moved to a cafe.
While eating breakfast, I check my smartphone.
The Watanabe group's group chat was lively.
I wonder what it is?
I trace the logs.
Apparently, Takemoto-kun and Hanayama-san are starting to live together.
Airi seemed to be looking at the same logs.
She was surprised.
Apparently, they'll start moving soon.
Am I panicking?
No, not particularly.
I've long since gotten used to it.
I'm just surprised. Because I didn't think the two of them, who I thought were impossible no matter how you looked at it, would reach cohabitation this quickly.
I wonder how they persuaded their parents? Was it easy because Takemoto-kun is working a part-time job?
While I'm thinking deeply, Airi misunderstands and says to me.
"Toya-kun, did you say it? 'There's no need to rush'... or are you submitting a marriage registration?"
"It's not that, I was just surprised."
"I see~"
Airi's voice sounds a bit disappointed.
"Shall we live together too?"
Airi shakes her head.
"It's fine after Toya-kun becomes independent."
"True."
After finishing breakfast, we leave the shop.
I set the navigation to Shiga for now.
Apparently, we'll arrive in about 30 minutes.
"Well, shall we go?"
"Yeah."
And so, today's journey begins.