Chapter 21 - Family Trip
(1)The pool attached to the hotel in Beppu.
I came here with Airi's family.
We're cooling off under the scorching sun.
The story goes back to just before Obon.
It seems they didn't go back for Obon after all.
Apparently their daughter's studies take priority.
So, Obon should have been nothing but studying.
"Won't you study at home for a change?"
I took Airi up on her invitation and dropped by her house.
While being treated to dinner.
"But you never go out to play at all, do you~? Next year you won't be able to play at all, you know~"
Airi's mom said.
"That's right~, I want to go somewhere and play too~"
Airi agreed.
"No, we did go to the festival."
"No good, you have to enjoy it more!"
Airi's mom pushed hard.
"That's it, let's go to the pool~! Airi-chan bought a new swimsuit too~, since we have the chance~"
"Oh, I want to go to a resort hotel!"
Airi is enthusiastic.
"You need to refresh yourself once in a while, right? It's okay, isn't it, Toya-kun?"
"I didn't buy a swimsuit this year."
"Then let's go buy one tomorrow? I'll pick one out with you."
"If we're going to a resort hotel, why not stay overnight while we're at it~?"
"...Hmm."
Airi's dad seemed to be getting into it too. Is that okay, Father!?
"But we won't be able to get a reservation on such short notice. And it's expensive."
"Kids don't worry about that sort of thing. Right, let's stay in Yufuin! It should be open then."
"No, no..."
"Should we invite Toya-kun's family too~?"
"Wait..."
Airi's mom made a phone call.
"Hello~? Katagiri-san? Yes, this is Tosaka~. Actually~..."
And just like that, things were settled in a slipshod manner.
Miraculously, we managed to get a hotel reservation.
The only problem was that it was just one room.
There must be some adult circumstances behind that...
Is this okay? Is this really okay? Parents!
"I'm not worried about Toya-kun~"
"The parents are together too, so there's no problem, right?"
I protested, but it was shot down for the reasons above.
Just how much am I underestimated?
"Wow, it's so big~!!"
Airi immediately dives onto the bed.
"Toya-kun, let's sleep together!"
"You idiot! What are you saying in front of your parents!?"
"So it's okay if the parents aren't here?"
The room has two single beds and one double bed. Apparently they'll lay out futons in the Japanese-style room.
"You two sleep in the Japanese-style room."
Is that okay!? Airi's mom!
"Yay, just the two of us, let's have a pillow fight."
What's with this vibe.
Airi pulls on my arm, which can't quite keep up with this mood.
"Hey, let's go to the pool!"
I grab my bag and head to the pool with Airi.
The facilities here are spacious.
We move by free shuttle bus.
Then, in front of the pool, we receive towels and head to the changing rooms.
I put on the blue surf trunks I picked out with Airi and head to the pool.
There are all sorts of leisure equipment—that's the selling point here.
There are a lot of people.
Couples, families, groups of friends—all kinds.
As I'm staring at a woman in a bikini, my cheek gets pinched from behind.
"Where are you looking!?"
Airi, with her twin-tails, says this, angry.
Airi was wearing a pink bikini with frills.
Damn, she's too cute.
There's a strangely alluring quality to her too.
I can't look directly at her.
But if I keep this up, she'll complain again.
"It, it suits you."
"You're not even looking properly... You just said that casually."
"If you wear such a flashy swimsuit, I can't look at you properly."
"But you were looking at people in even flashier swimsuits."
If we start arguing here, we'll draw attention.
I give up and properly look at Airi.
It has frills, and I can't tell clearly, but it feels like the parts that should stick out stick out, and the parts that should be tucked in are tucked in.
As I thought, she's strangely alluring.
Still, she's still a middle schooler. I have to say her chest is still developing.
Though it would be a problem if she developed any more.
To put it simply, she had the body type I like.
Before I knew it, I was spacing out and staring at her.
"Don't look at me with those weird eyes."
She shyly hides her chest with both arms.
"You're the one who told me to look properly, Airi."
"That's true, but... So, how is it? Does it suit me?"
Airi asks, looking worried.
"Even without worrying, it suits you, and you're cute."
I think I've grown as a person, being able to say a line like this so smoothly.
"I'm glad~"
Saying that, Airi grabs my arm.
"Well then, let's play!"
I was taken by Airi and decided to play in the pool.
(2)
This pool has various facilities.
We played a bit, rested, played again...
When I noticed, it was past 5 PM.
"Should we head back soon?"
"Ehh, just a little longer."
"But it's almost closing time."
"Okaaay."
She looks dissatisfied, but Airi obediently complies.
After changing, we meet at the entrance.
"Well then, let's go!?"
Saying that, she grabs my arm.
We return to the room like that.
"Oh, Toya, you're back."
"Well then, let's hit the bath."
...Huh?
"Let's take a bath before dinner."
And so, we moved again.
Then, me, Dad, and Airi's dad, the three of us, soak in the rooftop open-air bath.
The view was spectacular.
Apparently you can see the sunrise in the morning.
I'll have to wake up early tomorrow morning.
After the bath, we return to the room, organize our luggage, and head to dinner.
Dinner is a buffet style, with Japanese, Western, and Chinese dishes all available.
I ate everything in sight.
"You sure eat a lot~"
Airi is impressed.
"Gotta eat when I can."
"You make it sound like we never feed you."
My mom calls me out on it.
"That's not what I meant. Oh, I'm going to get some ramen."
Saying that, I stand up.
"He really does eat a lot, that kid."
"...Hmm."
Dad and Airi's dad were already drunk.
After finishing dinner and returning to the room, Dad and Airi's dad were sleeping on the beds.
The moms are chatting about something while watching TV.
As I watch TV and send a message to Kanna on my phone, Airi tugs at the hem of my yukata.
"Want to go see the fountain show?"
"Huh?"
"It was on TV, right? Let's go see that."
I check the time.
We'll have to leave soon or we won't make it in time.
"Let's go."
"Yay, don't forget your swimsuit."
"We're going into the bath again!?"
"But since we're here..."
Reluctantly, I prepared my swimsuit.
"It's beautiful~"
It was just as Airi said.
The fountain was illuminated by multicolored lights, changing into various colors.
We watched from the outdoor hot spring facility.
The show ended in about 15 minutes, and after playing in the hot spring a bit, we returned to the room.
Our parents were already asleep.
I'm sleepy too.
There are two futons. Good.
I pack up my things and get into sleeping position.
"Are you going to sleep already?"
Airi comes closer.
She approaches me on all fours.
The lighting is minimal, so I couldn't really see inside her yukata, but it strangely bothered me.
"You're tired too, right? The parents are asleep, so we can't make too much noise."
"How boring."
She looks dissatisfied.
"Hey, are you awake?"
"I'm awake."
"Can I... sleep holding your hand?"
Saying that, Airi sticks her right hand out from under the futon.
Without a word, I grab it with my left hand.
"Thank you."
"It's fine."
"This was fun, wasn't it?"
"Yeah, it was."
"Let's come again in winter."
"I don't like the cold... And besides..."
"Besides?"
"In winter, there are tons of events, right? I want to spend them just the two of us."
"...!"
"...What would you do if I said that?"
Saying that, I look at Airi's face.
Airi remains silent.
Did I mess up?
"Sorry, sorry, forget I said that."
"...No."
"Huh?"
So she did hate it after all?
"I'll never forget it. Let's spend them together."
Airi is still looking away.
She doesn't say anything more.
I fell asleep without realizing it.
(3)
"I want to spend them just the two of us."
I was happy.
He probably said it on impulse or got carried away by the mood, but still.
I was happy.
I was so happy that tears came to my eyes, and I couldn't look at Toya-kun's face.
When I finally managed to look at Toya-kun's face, Toya-kun was asleep.
"Honestly!"
I tapped his head with my left hand.
There's no reaction at all.
He must have been really tired.
I remember the first time we held hands outside, back in our second year of middle school.
He looked embarrassed, didn't he?
After that, Toya-kun and I grew closer and closer.
There was the thing with Kanna, though.
But now, he's sleeping right next to me like this.
I wish the dawn would never come.
No, if tomorrow comes, there'll be something else.
Summer vacation is almost over, though.
Toya-kun said it.
"In winter, just the two of us."
I'm looking forward to winter.
There's no point thinking about it now, is there?
I want to spend my time happily like this.
Before dawn.
A little past 4:30.
I didn't sleep very well yesterday, so I was awake until past 1 AM.
I woke up because Toya-kun pulled my hand.
He has a "Oh no!" look on his face.
Where was he planning to go without telling me?
I interrogate Toya-kun.
"No, I was thinking of watching the sunrise from the open-air bath."
...Ugh.
"I don't think that's a very middle schooler-like idea."
"You think so?"
"Hey, Toya, if you're going, hurry up!"
"Oh, I'll pass after all."
"I see."
The fathers left the room.
"Is that okay?"
"It's fine... I'll sleep, like a middle schooler."
"No, since we're up anyway, let's talk."
"I woke you up by force, didn't I? Aren't you sleepy?"
"Nope, when I saw that head of yours, I laughed and woke right up."
Toya-kun's hair was a complete mess from bedhead.
"For real... I think there was a shower."
"Want to go in together?"
"Don't say stuff like that in front of the parents."
"Once we're back, it's back to studying, huh."
"At least let me forget about it while we're on this trip."
"I like it, though. Studying."
"Well, that's because Airi's smart."
"That's not it. It's because I can study with Toya-kun."
"..."
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing. Wait, aren't you forgetting about Kanna?"
"I love Kanna too."
"I see..."
Ah!
"We have to buy souvenirs for Kanna and the others."
"And for Makoto this time too."
"Let's pick them out together."
"Yeah..."
After that, we ate breakfast, picked out and bought souvenirs, checked out, and headed home.
"Well then, see you tonight, okay?"
"Yeah, I'll be waiting."
"If you're asleep... you know what'll happen, right?"
"I know. I'll be properly awake."
"Idiot!"
And then, I send a message to Kanna.
"I see. That's good."
It was a curt message.
Did something happen?