Chapter 205 - Flowers Gentler Than Words
(1)
"Uuu..."
I was troubled.
I had to wake up to make breakfast. However, Toya-kun was clinging to me in his sleep, and if I woke up, I would wake Toya-kun too.
Today is Takemoto-kun's moving day. It had been decided that I would go to help.
Helping with a move is tiring, so I want to let him sleep as much as possible.
It is still summer vacation.
During the break, you should take a break from housework too.
Is it alright for me to take Maya-san up on her kind words?
Does Toya-kun know that, and is that why he's clinging to me like this?
If so, I'll let him sleep.
I also cling to Toya-kun and try to go back to sleep.
But then, I clearly heard Toya-kun talking in his sleep.
"I can't eat any more meat..."
Does he think of me as some kind of boneless ham?
Toya-kun chose the world of meat over the world with me.
Fine. If that's how it's going to be, I won't show any mercy.
I'll pull him back to reality.
The world of food is over. Pay attention to me.
I whispered into Toya-kun's ear.
"The food is all gone!"
Toya-kun wakes up.
"Ah, morning, Airi. You're up early today."
"Toya-kun, what were you dreaming about since this morning?"
"No, it's just that I couldn't forget the taste of Kobe beef..."
Poke
"Toya-kun, do you have no other memories from your travels?"
Like memories with me...
"I do."
"Like what?"
Toya-kun whispers in my ear.
"Dreams of the nights I spent with Airi."
"Uuu..."
It's good that he remembers, but is that really something he needs to say right now?
"I remember most of it. Lake Biwa was beautiful, wasn't it?"
"Yeah."
"So, what about it?"
Toya-kun asks, looking puzzled.
"I was happy that you were clinging to me since morning, but if you say 'I can't eat any more meat,' I think anyone would get angry."
"Is that so?"
"Yes."
Well, I think it's better than hearing another woman's name.
"Right then..."
Saying that, Toya-kun gets out of bed. Then he begins to change clothes.
"I'll go prepare breakfast."
As I say that and try to leave the room, Toya-kun hugs me.
"Weren't you told that housework is forbidden during the break?"
"But we were away on a trip."
"A break is a break, so you have to rest properly. Especially since you're going to help with the move today."
"There's still time, you know?"
"Just relax in the room until you're called, okay?"
"Then, I'm going to wash my face."
"Ah, I'm coming too."
It seems he intends to keep me under strict surveillance.
Once we finished getting ready and tried to return to the room, Maya-san told us "Breakfast is ready," so we ate as we were.
After that, we returned to the room and spent the time relaxing and watching TV.
I had Toya-kun return to the room first, and I brewed some coffee before returning myself.
When I return to the room, Toya-kun is watching TV.
I place the mugs on the table, change clothes, and sit next to Toya-kun.
Today is Saturday.
After watching a drama from 8 o'clock, there was a program that seemed to be about showcasing trivia.
Toya-kun doesn't seem very interested.
It's almost time.
I leave the house with Toya-kun.
We headed toward Takemoto-kun's house.
Takemoto-kun's house is an apartment near the University.
Everyone had already gathered.
Since all the cars couldn't park at once, we parked at a nearby Convenience Store and moved from there.
Without forgetting to do some shopping at the Convenience Store.
We move the luggage from Takemoto-kun's room to the truck bed.
Appliances, chests of drawers, cupboards, tables, and such are carried into Takemoto-kun's house.
Clothing and tools used for classes are taken to Hanayama-san's house.
Leaving the transport to the men, the women began cleaning the room.
I set to work cleaning the room.
With more than ten women, the cleaning was finished in no time, and we waited for the men to return.
In the meantime, we talked while drinking the juice we bought at the Convenience Store.
"Airi, tell us about the trip."
Since Ai asked that, I began to talk about the memories of the journey.
"Heh, Biwa-ichi (T/N: cycling around Lake Biwa), huh? I'm jealous~ I long for that kind of trip."
When Ai said that, I asked Ai.
"Ai, do you have any plans to go anywhere?"
"At most, going to an amusement park, in that guy's head. Other than that, going to a net cafe or playing games at home."
"Zen-kun is the same. He's immersed in part-time jobs, working as if he's forgotten about me."
"But Akira and Takashina-senpai are going to Karuizawa, right?"
"That's the only one."
"When living as a couple, you inevitably get tired from housework and can't manage that sort of thing."
"That's a fair point."
When Ai asked, Shimizu-san and Takashina-senpai answered.
While we all talked about what to do during the break and waited for the men to return...
The group that had gone to Hanayama-san's house returned.
We all said we'd go to Hanayama-san's house, but Takemoto-kun hasn't returned yet.
If Takemoto-kun doesn't return, we can't hand the keys to the manager.
"I'll wait, so it's fine."
I want to wait with Toya-kun anyway.
When I said that, the remaining members moved to Hanayama-san's house.
I waited for Takemoto-kun and the others to return while fiddling with my smartphone.
(2)
"How are you feeling right now?"
Katagiri-senpai spoke to me while driving.
"I want to know that too."
Watanabe-senpai, who was in the back seat, joined the conversation.
"I don't really feel it yet since we're still at the moving stage. Conversely, how about you senpais?"
"Hmm, I live with my parents so I can't really say, but it's not bad."
"True... well, I feel like it's not that different from the feeling of going to stay over. In our house, our schedules often clash."
Maybe we're the same in that we don't really feel it yet?
"Yeah, people often say things like 'I've lost my freedom' or 'I feel constrained,' but those things don't really happen much."
When Katagiri-senpai said that, Watanabe-senpai also nodded.
"...But maybe a little? I've come to be told 'pay attention to me~' quite often."
"Toya and Tosaka-san are special, after all."
When Katagiri-senpai spoke, Watanabe-senpai replied.
Saki will probably say it too. But I feel like that much is natural if you're living together.
We arrived at the house.
Katagiri-senpai drove the truck through the narrow roads around the house without any trouble.
Saki's father and Mother greeted us.
Together with Tada-senpai, Ishihara-senpai, and Hiyama-senpai, who had come in the following cars, we carried the luggage into the warehouse.
When we finished carrying, Mother had prepared barley tea.
"Thank you everyone."
When Mother said that, Watanabe-senpai replied, "Please don't worry about it."
"Yuma is truly blessed with friends," Saki's father said.
When the tea break ended, we began the journey home.
On the way back, we stopped at a gas station to refuel and returned the rental car.
Then, when I returned home, Tosaka-senpai was waiting.
When Tosaka-senpai handed me the house keys, I returned them to the landlord.
With this, it's goodbye to this house.
I looked at the house for a while and bowed my head.
"Well, shall we go?"
And so, I moved to my new dwelling.
(3)
"Well, we're heading home. Unpacking and such will still be a lot of work."
When Watanabe-senpai said that, everyone left.
Entering Saki's house... or is it my house now? I began opening the luggage placed in the loft.
Checking them one by one, I divided them into things I needed and things I didn't.
While I was immersed in that work for a while, Saki told me, "I'm going shopping, so take me along!"
There is a large supermarket in the neighborhood. We went shopping there.
I left the menu to her. I know she's not yet used to housework. I want to grasp what she can make.
She seems to be challenging herself to make nikujaga (meat and potato stew). Since there weren't even seasonings in stock, there was a considerable expense.
An exaggerated amount of shopping for nikujaga. Since it wouldn't all fit in one eco-bag, I bought shopping bags.
Once we returned home, I watched Saki's process of cooking.
She peeled the vegetables with a peeler with precarious movements.
Once the preparations for the nikujaga were done, next was the preparation of rice and miso soup.
While preparing, Saki looked at me.
"If you stare so much, it's distracting~, anyway, go finish unpacking."
I got scolded.
I went up to the loft and continued unpacking.
The delicious smell of nikujaga wafted over.
Inside were bowls and chopsticks as well.
When I brought those downstairs, she said, "Lend them to me, I'll wash them," and began washing.
Now just the toiletries...
Bedding and such... are not here.
Was this a prank by the Watanabe squad?
What should I do, the sleeping bags and such are in the warehouse.
It can't be helped, I'll go back to get them.
"Saki, there's no bedding, so I'll go back to the warehouse once to get it."
Saki glared at me... or rather, she looked at me with a lonely expression.
"Do you hate sleeping with me that much?"
"Ah, no... it's a single bed, so..."
"It's no problem if we sleep snuggled up."
Is this what it means to live together?
"More importantly, dinner is ready. ...Let's eat?"
Saying that, she placed the plate and bowl on the table.
I take a bite. It's surprisingly delicious.
Saki seemed surprised too. She praised herself, saying "It's delicious."
"See, I can do it if I try."
"That's true."
"You just laughed, didn't you!?"
"It's your imagination."
After that, we cleaned up, took baths, and watched TV.
When Saki came out of the bath, she brought a sparkling can and handed it to me.
Perhaps because she's absorbed in the TV, Saki's word count is extremely low.
I glance at Saki.
Is it my imagination, or is she nervous?
I wonder what happened?
"Yuma, is the unpacking finished?"
"It's mostly tidied up."
I didn't have that many belongings to begin with.
"Then, we can relax tonight."
"Yeah."
...
The conversation doesn't continue.
What should I do?
Should I say something to her?
"Saki... I love you."
"Of course you do. I'm not such a loose woman that I'd live with a man I don't love."
"I'll make you happy someday."
"..."
I'll spill overflowing words into Saki's heart.
While I was thinking that, Saki hugged me.
"You're so frustrating, I've already received enough words. Rather than words, I want the two of us to grow a precious flower in our hearts that is gentler."
The sky after the rain that Saki drew inside me, the precious flower she entrusted to me.
On Saturday night, I hold you and sleep until morning.
Within the night passing outside the window, the two of us without moving.
"Is Yuma anxious?"
"Eh?"
"About living together with me?"
"...I have a slight bit of anxiety. I've never done it before."
"...That's true."
"But I have just as much expectation."
"That's true."
"I'm looking forward to being with you from now on."
"This isn't a dream, right?"
"Yeah."
"Then, hold me all the way until morning. Make me feel that it's not a dream."
"Yeah, I understand."
Saki said nothing more.
Only a slight trembling vibration was transmitted through my arm.
Even though it's not the first time.
Saki, frightened like a rabbit.
There was no shadow of the princess at the University there.
There was only the figure of a girl trembling silently.
In my head, the pale-pink you is no longer there.
There is only a small princess trembling in my arms.
Thus, our life began.
(4)
I align the sights with the opponent's head.
My presence hasn't been noticed.
Taking them down one by one, I've moved my position.
One more and my killstreak will reach its maximum value.
And it was the exact moment I was about to take down that one person!
Someone... well, there's only one person, but they hug me from behind.
"A-Airi, not now!!"
"Boo! You're still continuing this without learning your lesson!"
Airi suddenly hugged me from behind, causing me to miss the shot, and since my position was discovered and Airi was hugging me, I couldn't operate the controls to escape.
I was taken down effortlessly.
"What are you doing, Toya!!"
I get scolded by Kiritani-kun, who was playing with me, but Airi snatches the headset from me and warns Kiritani-kun!
"Toya-kun is in his 'fun time' with me! Don't interfere!"
Saying that, Airi turns off the power to the game console.
"I've always told you that you shouldn't do that, right?"
I hug Airi and gently warn her, but Airi doesn't listen.
"I've told you to stop playing games where I'm not, but you just won't listen!"
Saying that, Airi begins operating her smartphone.
"Ai should tell him too! These two start gaming the moment you take your eyes off them!"
"Eita! You dragged Katagiri-kun into this again, didn't you!?"
"Toya said he was free, so I just said 'then let's do it'."
Kiritani-kun, saying unnecessary things again...
"Toya-kun..."
This is bad, I have to change the subject.
Why is it that women always get angry immediately when you're playing games?
"Airi, isn't there something Airi wants to do alone?"
"No!"
"Have you ever thought that you wanted to be alone?"
Why is it that humans say unnecessary things when they panic?
And those often become words that cannot be taken back.
"...Is Toya-kun bothered by me?"
Ah, this has become a more complicated situation than just making her angry. How should I handle this... it'll be bad if I don't say something.
"There's no way that's true, right? I don't think there's any husband who finds his wife a bother."
"Despite that, you're always doing various things while stealing people's eyes, aren't you?"
"Then, is it okay to do it when Airi is here?"
"...Jam splattering is not okay!"
She beat me to the punch.
"Toya-kun calls it jam, but it doesn't look like jam to me. Besides, shooting guns is violent."
"Airi, come to think of it, you hated war games and action games."
"Yeah, I don't like them much."
Airi takes the Blu-ray out of the game console and tries her best to break it.
It's a new release, though, toho.
I take the Blu-ray from Airi and break it using my knee.
"From now on, I'll have to check whenever Toya-kun buys a game."
It's okay, there are still free games left in the PC.
While I'm thinking that, Airi is staring at the desktop.
"Airi, what are you doing?"
"Since we're at it, I'm going to check everything inside the PC too... ah, you've saved erotic videos again."
Airi's censorship continued relentlessly, and all videos and FPS-related clients were uninstalled.
"If I don't do this periodically, Toya-kun seems like he'll just put them back in immediately!"
What a troublesome princess.
The princess's rampage doesn't stop yet.
Airi checks the rack where the games are kept thoroughly.
Airi picks up every single FPS and TPS game.
"I'll spare you from breaking them, so let's go sell them tomorrow? I'll buy clothes with that money~"
I don't think it'll be that much money, but Airi's mood is priceless.
"Ah, I'll tell Ai too."
Airi posts to the Watanabe squad again.
"You should make them stop playing games where blood spurts out, because they get absorbed and stop paying attention to you."
"Eita. I'm off tomorrow, so I'm going to go do some censorship."
"Are you serious, please stop!"
"Shut up! I finally understand why you haven't replied to the messages I've been sending for a while."
"You should check the contents of the PC too, Ai."
"Thanks, I'll do that, Airi."
Ah, tomorrow it'll be Kiritani-kun screaming.
Airi's censorship today is relentless.
She reaches for the final fortress, the smartphone.
"What's this... Ahh! You've put it in your smartphone too! Delete, delete!"
She should be satisfied after this. ...Of course she wasn't.
"Toya-kun, you had a handheld game console too, right? Bring out the software♪"
"I have one, by the way, today is Saturday, right?"
"Just bring out the software♪"
I hug Airi.
"I'm not letting you sleep until morning today..."
Poke
"Just bring them out!"
It can't be helped, so I bring them all out.
Airi checks them one by one.
"...You really did have them. Robot things... well, I'll let those slide. Let's go sell these tomorrow too."
At that moment, a devil's whisper came from the smartphone.
"Airi, since we're at it, it might be better to dispose of the game consoles. I'll let the PC slide. You wouldn't play games when it's just the two of you, right?"
Kanna... how could you...
"Hmm..."
Airi is troubled.
"Then, Toya-kun, let's make a promise?"
"About what?"
"How about this: if you play games when I'm not here or when I'm sleeping, the game consoles get disposed of?"
"Is it okay to do it when Airi is here?"
"Uuu... actually, I don't want you to do it, but I'm afraid that if I constrain you too much, you'll think I'm a hateful woman..."
"...I understand. I promise."
"Really!"
Airi finally smiled. How many sacrifices have I made to obtain this smile?
"I promise. It's not okay to do it when Airi isn't here, right?"
"Yeah!"
"Then, pinky swear."
I hold out the pinky of my left hand to Airi.
And I pinky swear with Airi.
Well, shall I start right away...
Poke
"You said earlier that you'd hold me until morning?"
"Ah, that was..."
"You said it, right?"
"Yes."
I get into bed with Airi and turn off the lights.
Then I hug Airi and close my eyes.
"Toya-kun, I'm sorry."
"What's wrong?"
"No... I just thought, now that I think about it, that I might be a bother to Toya-kun."
"...It's a cheap price to pay to see Airi's smile."
"Do you really think so?"
"Of course."
"I'm glad..."
While saying that, I fell asleep while somehow searching for a way to conquer Airi's hatred of FPS.