Chapter 221 - Your Eyes Gazing at Me
(1)
Today, I came to Usa Jingu with Toya-kun for the first shrine visit of the year.
As expected for New Year's Day, there were many people. A line had formed.
The way to the Jogu was far, and I proceeded while holding back Toya-kun, who kept trying to drift away from the line toward the food stalls.
That lasted until we passed through the Otorii.
After purifying our hands at the Chozuya and climbing the stairs and slopes—drawing a fortune slip along the way—we reached the Jogu and prayed at the three palaces.
Then, as we were heading back the way we came, I saw a familiar face.
It seemed they noticed us as well.
"If I recall, from Watanabe-han..."
"I'm Tosaka."
"I'm Katagiri. You're Tange-sensei, right?"
"Ah, that's right. Happy New Year."
"Are you about to offer your prayers?"
"Yes, Umi and the others have gone to buy charms and such."
I wonder if it's not just Umi-san?
"Shuji-chan, I got Great Blessing!"
"Oh? Aren't you Katagiri-senpai and the others? Happy New Year."
There were six of them: the Tange couple, Takemoto-kun, Hanayama-san, Shiina-san, and Niina-san.
"Where is Manabe-kun?"
"He has some business to attend to,"
Shiina-san answered.
I wonder what business?
He wouldn't have a part-time job on New Year's Day, right? Since Shiina-san is here.
I looked at Toya-kun's face. Toya-kun seemed to know.
"Toya-kun, do you know?"
"No, I don't."
"You have a face that looks like you know something..."
Then, Toya-kun whispered in my ear.
"I'll tell you later."
I nodded silently.
"Well, we're going to offer our prayers now."
"Yes, see you again at the New Year's party."
Toya-kun said this and saw Tange-sensei and the others off.
"So, Toya-kun, what happened with Manabe-kun?"
I asked Toya-kun.
"He's probably at that person Harada-san's place. I have no proof, though."
"Did you peek into Shiina-san's heart?"
"No, why?"
Then he sensed it by intuition. Toya-kun's intuition has become sharp too... but.
"I wonder why he doesn't notice my feelings~?"
Pout.
"Airi, did something happen?"
Toya-kun asked.
"Did something happen?" is not the right response, honestly.
I linked arms with Toya-kun.
"Let's go home quickly, okay?"
I pulled Toya-kun's arm.
"Wait! Did I do something to offend you?"
I didn't do anything~.
I gazed at the bewildered Toya-kun.
Toya-kun looked back at me.
Well? Did you notice?
A look of relief could be seen in Toya-kun's expression.
"Shall we go home quickly?"
"Yeah, and then training once we're back."
"Surely today is a day off."
"Then I'll at least do some jogging!"
On the way back, we stopped by the park, did some jogging, and then went home.
(2)
"It's because I love you."
Those words come back to me every time I see Shiina-san's face.
I was bewildered.
How should I respond? How should I answer?
Why did he come to love someone like me?
Please love someone else!
At that moment, I realized.
Is Manabe-kun feeling the same way?
Am I just troubling Manabe-kun?
"What's wrong? You've been acting strange for a while. It's dangerous if you don't look ahead while walking."
Shiina-san called out to me as I stood there blankly.
"I-It's nothing."
"If you're spaced out, you'll get separated. Come..."
Saying so, Shiina-san grabbed my hand.
"I-I'm fine!!"
I shouted and shook off that hand.
Noticing the voice, the other four asked, "What happened?"
"I-It's nothing. I'm sorry."
"It's this kind of crowd. It's better not to stray too far. It's okay, I'm not thinking of eating you up or anything."
Saying that, Shiina-san held out his hand.
"Niina-san, it's better to act together with Shiina-san."
When the oblivious Takemoto-kun said that, everyone nodded.
"It's just a hand, it's no big deal. You're not at an age to be shy, are you?"
Hanayama-san said.
Isn't it something to be shy about when the person who told you "I love you" grabs your hand?
Since everyone said so, I reluctantly held hands.
Shiina-san and I walked at the very back of the group.
Shiina-san muttered softly.
"You were thinking about Manabe-kun, weren't you?"
"Why would you... ah!"
I hurriedly closed my mouth.
"I can tell just by looking, at least when it comes to what you're thinking."
Shiina-san said and laughed.
After finishing the prayers, we returned to the parking lot.
"...Since when has it been?"
"Since when what?"
"Since when did you come to love me? Why me? For someone like Shiina-san, there are plenty of other good women..."
Then Shiina-san answered with a laugh.
"How would you feel if Manabe-kun said those words to you?"
Ah...
"I'm sorry."
"That's how it is."
When people fall in love, they end up looking only at that person to a helpless degree.
And then they notice.
The eyes of that person gazing at them.
What are that person's eyes seeing?
They are seeing something other than me.
And then I feel disappointment. I crave.
For them to look only at me...
"Um, I..."
"Because you love Manabe-kun... right? I think I've said this before, but you should struggle as much as you can. If you find that it's no use and you've been broken. I'll come and snatch Niina-san away."
"I'm sorry."
"It's not something to apologize for..."
"What should I do?"
"You'll have to find that answer yourself. At the very least, it's not something to ask me, right?"
Shiina-san said and laughed.
I stood alone in a wide, vast wasteland.
In a vast plain where I couldn't see a sign, let alone a destination, what should I do?
Inside the car, Shiina-san and Tange-sensei were talking about something.
I gazed blankly at the scenery.
While watching the flowing scenery, what I thought about was... Shiina-san?
I wonder why?
What he was talking about now, and what he was thinking.
I was simply thinking about only that.
"Niina-san."
"Yes."
I was called by Tange-sensei.
"Is everything going well with your junior college, Niina-san?"
"Yes, it's going well, but...?"
"If you have some free time, I'd like you to help out."
"?"
"It seems Shiina-san wants one assistant at his place."
Eh?
Shiina-san's place is Harada-san's architectural firm, right?
"I heard it's a proper part-time job and you'll get a salary. Why not try going? You can ask Manabe-kun to handle the transportation..."
"I'll go!"
Knowing Shiina-san, he probably has some intention, right?
"Thank you, that helps."
Shiina-san's face as he said that was smiling.
What lies behind that smile?
What are Shiina-san's eyes, reflected in the rearview mirror, seeing?
Whatever intentions he has, this is a good opportunity to witness the relationship between those two.
Now that it's come to this, I'll go as far as I can. I'll try going to the end of the world.
(3)
"Wake up, Zen-kun, it's already morning."
I woke up to Akira-chan's voice.
That was the usual.
What was different from usual was the bed, the room... and the house.
Seeing furnishings arranged differently than usual, my head panicked.
That's right. This is Akira-chan's parents' house.
I went to Akira-chan's parents' house last night, and when I tried to give my greetings...
I was told, "We'll talk in the morning, just go to sleep for today."
A vast garden and a solemn house, as if to say, Was there such a large piece of land in the city?
Putting on slippers and leaving the room, I followed behind Akira-chan.
Holding hands firmly.
Then we arrived at the large dining room and ate breakfast.
The table was huge.
Between me, Akira-chan, and Akira-chan's parents, there was space for a dozen or more people to sit.
Akira-chan and I had Bluetooth headsets equipped.
"Once breakfast is finished, come to the reception room."
When told that, both my hands trembled.
"There's no need to be nervous. You're the first person I've been told to let stay overnight at the house," Akira-chan said with a smile.
I wonder how many people could relax after being told that?
It wasn't our first meeting, but as expected, when it came time to actually utter those words, I was nervous.
After finishing the meal, I was guided by Akira-chan toward the reception room.
The reception room wasn't wide.
I say it wasn't wide because the other rooms were needlessly wide.
Burying my body in a leather sofa, I faced Akira-chan's parents.
"So, what is this talk about?"
Akira-chan's father started the conversation.
"U-Um..."
"I got engaged to Zen-kun. We came to give our greetings."
Wait, Akira-chan, you're going to say it first? What exactly is my position here?
"Hmm... then, shall we hear Zen-kun's opinion?"
Fathers have a needless amount of intimidation in times like this, don't they?
And fathers in houses like this have needlessly trained bodies, and even through their clothes, one can glimpse that trained physical beauty.
I wonder if it's just my imagination that it looks like lightning is emitting from that body?
"What is it? Are you not going to say anything?"
If there is such a thing as anger, it's probably being directed at me right now.
But if I just let time pass like this, Father's anger will only increase proportionally.
Whatever happens, happens!
"P-Please let me marry Akira-san!"
Saying so, I bowed my head.
It became deathly silent.
The one who broke the silence was, as expected, Father.
"Mother, I don't know how I should respond in a time like this..."
"That's true... I'm troubled as well."
The two were consulting.
"I saw it on TV. It says it's good to get alone with the father and squeeze the boyfriend's carotid artery. To confirm if he can protect the daughter? If he can face a blade pointed by the daughter's father."
Akira-chan, do you want your father to commit murder? Do you want to see your lover be strangled?
"I see... shall we try that...?"
Father stood up abruptly—wait a minute! You mustn't take it seriously.
"Father, you mustn't. If you do that to his thin neck, the neck bone will break."
I feel like the point of the conversation is fundamentally different, but for now, my life was saved by Mother.
"That's also true... then what shall we do?"
Akira-chan took a document out of the bag she brought.
"You just need to sign this."
The document she produced, as if to say I expected this might happen, was a marriage registration.
"U-Umu..."
"Akira, are you really okay with this?"
"I don't mind. That's why I said OK."
The parents signed.
Is it over once I just sign?
"What are you doing, it's meaningless if you don't fill it in."
Father held out a fountain pen.
While my hand holding the pen trembled, I managed to fill it in. Unfortunately, I didn't have my seal with me right now.
"Congratulations."
The parents clapped.
"Thank you," Akira-chan said in gratitude.
"By the way, regarding the reservation for the venue, when would be good?"
Huh?
"If it's now, we could probably make it by June, but do you want to do it sooner? I think doing it during spring break is also an option."
Eh?
"Have you finished the greetings to Zen-kun's parents, Akira?"
"No, not yet, Mother,"
Akira-chan answered.
"Then, finish it quickly. Regardless of the betrothal gifts, I want to at least have a face-to-face meeting."
"We're going there now."
Are you serious?
"I see, then. Be careful on your way."
"So, shall we go, Zen-kun?"
Akira-chan stood up abruptly and looked at me with a smug face.
After that, I met my parents for the first time, and watched as my parents' legs gave out from shock.
(4)
"Happy New Year."
I had come to Harada-san's house to give my greetings.
Harada-san appeared wearing pajamas with a cardigan thrown over them.
"...For now, please come in."
"Excuse me!"
When guided to the living room, Harada-san said "Wait a moment" and went to her room to change.
When Harada-san came out after changing, she made coffee for me.
"I think it's a bit much for a man to come to a woman living alone's house without an appointment."
I couldn't get an appointment!
"I thought a New Year's greeting would be fine."
"I see, thank you for going out of your way..."
Saying so, Harada-san sipped her coffee.
"President... were you working until late yesterday as well?"
"Yes, there was work I wanted to move forward with early in the new year... how did you know?"
You have dark circles under your eyes.
"I'll rest today... most of it is settled."
I had been waiting for those words.
"Then, today is an off day, right?"
"Yes... what is it?"
"How about a first shrine visit? To buy a charm for business prosperity."
"I'm not fond of places with many people..."
"So a shrine that's like a hidden spot is fine!?"
"Is there such a place?"
"There are quite a lot of shrines."
"Well then, shall we go?"
And so, I succeeded in leading the President out.
Upon arriving at the shrine, we offered prayers and bought a talisman at the shrine office.
"Since we're here, why don't we take a little detour?"
"...Was that your goal from the start?"
"No, it wasn't like that."
"Well, fine... I want a little change of pace."
The love-fulfillment charm I bought earlier seemed to have taken effect immediately.
"Hey, Manabe-kun?"
"Yes?"
"Do you have a desire to marry?"
God. Do you have to use your power that suddenly?
"Well, as much as an average person. But why?"
"I didn't have any..."
Eh? But you were married, right?
"I did it because Satoru-kun pushed me forcefully. Strangely, it wasn't a nuisance, though..."
I've heard that story from Tange-sensei. That Harada-san, Tange-sensei, and one other person had shared a room. That the two of them became a couple before they knew it. And...
"You never know when or where what will happen. My meeting with Satoru-kun was like that too..."
Saying so, Harada-san told me the circumstances of her deceased husband.
However, there was something I wondered about.
The car stopped at a roadside station along the coast.
"President... may I ask one thing?"
"What is it?"
Harada-san said while sitting on a bench and gazing at the sea.
"Why tell such a story to me...?"
Why bring it up now?
"Who knows, I wonder why? I told you, didn't I? You never know when or where what will happen."
Saying that, Harada-san fell silent again.
After gazing at the sea for a while, Harada-san stood up abruptly.
"Shall we head back soon?"
At that moment, the President's smartphone rang.
"Yes, this is Harada... eh? ...I understand. Manabe-kun is with me now, so I'll tell him."
After hanging up, Harada-san spoke.
"Was it Niina-san? I heard she'll be entering as Shiina-kun's assistant from the 4th."
"Eh?"
"She's your girlfriend, right? I'll leave the transportation to you."
"It's not like that!"
I denied it with all my might.
"You don't have to deny it so strongly. You're not at an age to be shy anymore, are you!?"
"It's really different, the one I love is..."
"The one you love is?"
The one I love is...
"The President!"
I said it. I said it in the heat of the moment. There's no turning back now.
It became silent again.
"Let's go back."
When Harada-san broke the silence and said that, she tried to get into the car.
I grabbed that slender arm.
"Manabe-kun...!?"
I was hugging Harada-san and kissing her.
This might be the last time, I might get slapped with all her might, but it's far better than having it treated as if it never happened now.
But she took neither of those options.
The two of us hugged each other and stood there without saying anything.
After a while, she was the one to pull away.
"That's enough, right? Let's go."
I got in the car and started it.
After eating dinner, I dropped Harada-san off at her house.
"I'm sorry about earlier."
"...Are you saying that earlier was just the heat of the moment?"
"It's not that! But..."
Harada-san's lips blocked my mouth.
"I know... well then, please get home safely."
Harada-san waved her hand and closed the door.
Was that the answer?
I feel like I've used up all my luck here.
I headed to the car with a light step.
Without knowing her subsequent actions...
"Is this okay, Satoru-kun? Am I living my life well...?"
I did not know the sight of her crying while looking at the photo of her former husband placed on the desk.
(5)
When I returned home, Airi was preparing ozoni.
As for the side dishes, there were still osechi remaining.
"It's ready~"
When Airi called, I paused my game and headed to the dining room.
After eating dinner, I took a shower and resumed the game.
Once the cleaning was finished, Airi returned to the room to get a change of clothes and headed for the bath.
In the meantime, I checked my smartphone.
Apparently, Sakai-kun went to give greetings to his parents.
Almost got killed?
I wonder what that means?
It seems Ishihara-kun was the same.
Is giving greetings to parents difficult?
Was it just that we were special?
"I wonder what you're worrying about~?"
Airi had returned before I noticed.
When I explained it to Airi, she also looked at her smartphone and laughed.
"Toya-kun doesn't need to worry. Rather, shouldn't you worry about opposition?"
"What do you mean?"
"I don't think 'Actually, I won't marry you after all' would work at this point."
I really don't want to imagine that.
After that, Airi listened to the radio while fiddling with her smartphone and laptop.
"Hmm, the year-end expenses are terrible~"
Since Airi said that, I peeked at Airi's laptop... wow, the food and drink expenses are amazing. But...
"Airi, wouldn't it be okay to separate the activities of Watanabe-han as entertainment expenses?"
"If you say that, the date expenses with Toya-kun are the same."
Ah, that's true.
"But it looks like you've been able to save. You should have enough for independence costs."
"I see."
In that case, she can become independent immediately after graduation.
"The rest depends on Toya-kun, right?"
"Eh?"
"Is Toya-kun going to become a pro?"
"I haven't decided yet, I think a corporate team might be fine too."
"You can decide however you like, Toya-kun."
"Yeah, I know."
When I finished the game, I turned off the TV.
"I'm tired today too, shall we go to sleep early?"
"You're going to sleep?"
Airi tilted her head and placed her index finger against her lips.
Regardless, I turned off the lights.
Airi looked at me while standing. She looked very lonely.
Regardless, I got into the futon.
Airi lay down next to me looking disappointed.
I suddenly hugged such an Airi.
"Toya-kun?"
"I'm not such a sage that I can sleep while you make a face like that."
Airi's face regained its brightness.
The clock was still at 22:00.
Around 24:00, when everything had fallen silent, a sudden explosive sound echoed.
Both of us woke up.
I looked outside.
Red taillamps were speeding past.
Both two-wheelers and automobiles.
"If they want to make that much noise, they should just go to the mountains!"
Airi was indignant.
I was more concerned about the sound of the noodle vendor's flute than that, though.
"I'm going for a short walk."
When I said that and tried to leave the room, Airi held me back.
"Your intention to go eat ramen or something is completely transparent!"
I was found out after all.
"Look, you're tired! Hurry up, sleep, sleep."
Airi invited me into the futon.
When I entered the futon, I held Airi.
Airi clung to me with satisfaction and fell asleep.
Tonight as well, I'm sure I'll be filled with dreams of Airi.