Chapter 234 - Gentle Illusion
(1)
"Toya-kun, it's morning."
Woken by Airi's gentle words, I opened my eyes to find her clinging to me desperately.
Ah, that's right.
"Shall we get up?"
When I stroked Airi's head and said that, she nodded with a smile, sat up, and began to change.
I got up and began to change as well.
"You two are getting along so well as a couple today, too."
An elderly couple jogging nearby said to us.
"Yes, good morning."
Perhaps feeling pleased at being called a couple, Airi answered energetically.
After running for about an hour, we returned home, stretched, and took showers.
During that time, Airi began preparing breakfast.
By the time I had showered and changed, the preparations were complete, and we all ate breakfast together.
"Toya, do you still intend not to have a wedding ceremony?"
Mother asked.
"I've already discussed that properly with Airi."
"Just knowing that Toya-kun is willing to marry me is enough."
A proposal doesn't really have any meaning anymore, does it?
Well, I want to do it properly as a matter of closure, though.
"Well, there's the matter of Ako, too. I don't really want to approve of a student marriage, but everyone around you has already gotten married, haven't they? Don't you feel bad for Airi-chan?"
"I think Toya's feelings are admirable. But when you think about Tosaka-san and the others..."
"Toya-kun told me that if I waited three years, he would propose. Isn't that basically the same as a proposal? I was so happy just with that that I even told Rie-chan. And then she said congratulations."
My parents' opinions and Airi's opinion.
They seem out of sync, yet they're in sync.
"You're already capable enough of being independent, aren't you? If you want to do it, you can. Is there a reason you don't want to marry Airi-chan?"
Don't ask that kind of question, Father. It'll make Airi anxious.
"Airi is such a good girl that she's almost too good for me. It's just that I've decided to concentrate on basketball for now."
"Then, will you marry her once basketball is over?"
"I told you, once I get a job."
"I think balancing job hunting and club activities will be tough, though."
"If I can't get a job, I'll take basketball tryouts."
Besides, I have a secret plan for employment.
There's no problem.
"Well, if Airi-chan says it's fine, I won't complain."
"I'm already plenty happy right now."
Once Airi said that, the conversation ended.
As the talk finished, I returned to my room.
While I was watching TV, Airi came back.
Sipping the coffee she brought, I watched TV.
As I was watching, Airi spoke to me.
"Hey, Toya-kun?"
"What is it?"
"Who do you think will be the first?"
"The first what?"
"To have children~"
I almost spat out my coffee.
"S-surely no one is making them yet, right?"
"I wonder~? Since Mika-san is working at Watanabe-kun's place, I think they're economically advantaged~"
"If that Mika-san gets pregnant, the household finances will become difficult, right? Plus, there's childcare."
"Is Toya-kun planning to leave the childcare to his wife?"
"I mean, I'll help with what I can. But things like breastfeeding are impossible for a father."
"I see~ that's true."
Airi looked troubled. Finding that appearance cute, I decided to play along with her conversation.
"Maybe Sakai-kun or Ishihara-kun are in an environment where they could make them if they wanted to? Economically, too."
"Ah, I guess so~"
It seemed Airi's problem was solved. However, one after another, she certainly thinks of a lot.
"Around when do you want them, Toya-kun?"
"Huh?"
"Rie-chan said it. She said, 'Take it slow as a couple for two or three years after getting married~'. But I want to hear Toya-kun's opinion too."
"Anytime is fine."
"What's with that 'I don't care' vibe? This concerns your future too, Toya-kun."
"Why?"
"Women have a limit for their first birth, you know? If you calculate backward from there, it's better to marry sooner."
"Are you impatient, Airi?"
"I'm still fine. I made a promise with Toya-kun... ah."
"Even so, you can't quit going pro just because of your marriage to me!"
"That's not happening, so it's fine."
"Then it's okay."
A message came from Sakura-san.
Apparently, the gym is already open.
"Airi, shall we go soon?"
"...Eh?"
"What's wrong, Airi?"
Airi's behavior was somehow strange. She was looking at her smartphone and seemed lost in thought.
"It's nothing. Just something I was curious about."
"Curious about? What happened?"
I tried to peek at Airi's smartphone, but she hid it.
"I said it's nothing."
It's not good to pry too much into a woman's privacy.
"Shall we go soon?"
"Yeees."
I left the house carrying the luggage, and Airi accompanied me.
(2)
When I leave the house in the morning, I first go to pick up Tasuku at his house.
When I call Tasuku, he comes out immediately.
"I always feel bad. You can stop already, you know? My shoulder is healed and it's within walking distance."
"What would you do if it rained? Unless Tasuku buys a car."
"It's no problem if I just walk with an umbrella, right? It's not that far."
"Do you regret that I became your girlfriend? Being stuck with me all day."
"No such thing."
Then it's fine...
After parking the car, I go to the administration building. I complete the procedures and receive the key to the gym.
While walking to the gym, I send messages to everyone in the Basketball Club.
During that time, it's just time for the two of us, Tasuku and me.
Tasuku says nothing, walking in silence.
Then, upon entering the gym, I go into the changing room.
Standing alone on the court, everyone's play comes to mind.
The most vivid memory is Katagiri-senpai's play.
I wonder what it feels like to be able to fly that high and for that long?
It was the same when it was soccer.
I wonder what Katagiri-senpai sees in those eyes that create miracle-like passes.
Tosaka-senpai says she can share the world with Katagiri-senpai.
What kind of wonderful world are the two of them seeing?
I want to try sharing the world with Tasuku too.
But when I think about Tasuku, only anxieties come up.
Does he think I'm naggy? Am I making him carry strange expectations? Is he disappointed in me?
I wanted to ask him directly, but I know the answer.
The gentle figure of Tasuku laughing and saying, "No such thing," reflects in my eyes.
"What's wrong, spacing out?"
Tasuku, having finished changing, was standing behind me.
"N-no. You've already come."
"Yeah."
"Then, please start with stretching."
I watch Tasuku as he stretches.
Looking at Tasuku like that, I accidentally put it into words.
"Hey, Tasuku..."
"Heeey! Oh? Did I interrupt the atmosphere between you two?"
Toma-senpai arrived.
After that, everyone else came. Katagiri-senpai is slightly late because his house is far.
"No such thing. Stop worrying about useless things and hurry up and stretch."
When Tasuku said that, everyone began stretching.
Once stretching was finished, it was the usual menu.
Around that time, Katagiri-senpai arrived.
"Yo."
As everyone greeted him, Katagiri-senpai started stretching late.
Then he joined the practice halfway through.
After a while, the girls' basketball team arrived.
The girls' team also began practicing.
Around the time individual practice ended, the girls' team coach arrived.
By the way, the boys' team coach hasn't come once since spring break started.
Unable to just watch, the girls' team coach also provides guidance for the boys' team.
"Toya! Don't let your guard down just because it's practice. Defend properly! You could have made that cut just now!"
"Kyota! You have to go for the rebound more aggressively! If you're going to use the height difference as an excuse, I'll swap the regular with a first-year!"
"Sota! Where are you looking! Having a wide field of vision is fine, but concentrate on the practice!"
"Shinji, go for the rebound too! We're already thought of as being weak inside, so you have to be firm!"
"Yuki, don't hold back and drive aggressively! With your dribbling technique, you can do it!"
The girls' team coach gave instructions.
Then, when the lunch break came, we had a meeting in the waiting room.
"After this, it's 5-on-5 with the girls' team, right?" Toma-senpai said.
"Sota, this isn't a date. Do it seriously," Tasuku said.
"Tasuku is fine. He can flirt with Sakura outside the court," Toma-senpai said.
Outside the court...
Does he not know how much those words hurt Tasuku?
"Toma-senpai! If you want to flirt, you can switch places with Tasuku. Why don't you go on a date with Murakawa-senpai!"
I lashed out with great intensity. Why am I getting so worked up?
"I-it was a joke. You don't have to get so worked up."
The reason Toma-senpai was flustered was because I was crying.
Without saying anything, I dashed out of the waiting room.
Heading toward the court, I crouched down alone and cried.
Why am I so emotionally disturbed?
Because he was hurt.
Because I want to flirt but I can't?
I am the manager.
I cannot treat Tasuku specially.
I understand that in my head.
I intend to do that.
And yet, this unsightly display.
While Tasuku is trying to win a spot in the starting lineup, he is being mocked.
I couldn't stand that.
I feel frustrated as if it were my own matter.
Is that why I'm crying?
My head cooled down considerably, and I regained my composure. At the same time I regained composure, anxiety rushed in.
Will Tasuku lose interest in me for being such a failure?
There's also the incident from this morning.
Just then, something cold touched my cheek.
Turning around, Tasuku was standing there.
"Drink this."
I received a sports drink from Tasuku and drank it.
Tasuku sat next to me and began to speak.
"Looking at an empty court cools your head down, doesn't it?"
"It does."
"Is your head cooled down?"
"Yes, I caused a nuisance."
"I don't think of it as a nuisance. You got angry for my sake, right? Thanks."
"Am I... not a nuisance?"
"Why do you think that?"
I confessed my feelings. I revealed everything.
Then, Tasuku laughed.
"Did you think I was a guy with such a narrow mind?"
"I-it's not that... but it's my first time, so I don't know. How far I can step in."
Tasuku stood up smoothly.
"Stand up."
As I also stood up, Tasuku hugged me.
"I can handle just one person like you entirely. It's no big deal. You can be as spoiled as you want."
"Tasuku... thank you."
"Whew! You two are really showing it off."
I heard Toma-senpai's voice.
Toma-senpai looked at me and bowed his head.
"I'm sorry about earlier! I'm seriously reflecting on it!"
"...It's fine now. Please raise your head."
"Ara~? Sakura with the boys. What happened?"
The girls' club members arrived.
"It's nothing. Now, let's start practice!"
I said, forcing a smile.
"Let's do our best, Marina-chan."
"Let's do our best, Sota-kun."
The two of them flirted without caring about the eyes of others.
I felt envious of those two.
Tasuku patted my shoulder.
"Want to come to my house tonight?"
"...Yes."
And then practice began.
(3)
After Sakura-san dashed out of the waiting room, I tried to follow her. But Tasuku stopped me.
"Leave this to me."
Saying that, Tasuku left the waiting room.
"Sota, you were in the wrong just now."
Shinji cautioned Sota.
"Sorry. I'm seriously reflecting."
Sota bowed his head.
"Try to understand Sakura's feelings. Truthfully, she wants to favor Tasuku, but she can't because of her position as manager."
"Is being a manager that heavy a responsibility?"
I asked Shinji.
"Our coach is like that, after all. In reality, we were able to get stronger thanks to Sakura. Moreover, it was after she studied basketball from scratch. She's having a hard time too."
"I think it's as Kira-kun says. It would be impossible for me. I'd definitely end up favoring Toya-kun."
Shinji and Airi said.
Kana-san also said, "You'd want to support your own boyfriend, wouldn't you?"
"Toya is receiving Sakura's support too, right? Moreover, she's managing the daily practice of someone who says they'll become the world's best player. It must be pressure."
Is that how it is?
"In that case, wouldn't it be better if everyone went together?"
"Mental care is the job of the boyfriend, Tasuku, right?"
Shinji said.
"That said, it's about time. Shouldn't we go to the court?"
When Kyota said that, everyone stood up.
"Toya-kun, braking and full-backing is fine, but don't overdo it... it'll put a burden on your knees, I think."
"Got it. Thanks, Airi."
Saying that, as I headed to the court, there were Sakura-san and Tasuku hugging.
"Whew! You two are really showing it off."
Sota immediately teased them.
He hasn't reflected at all.
In the afternoon, we entered joint practice with the girls.
It was the usual practice, but there was an opposing center who had a gloomy face.
(4)
In the morning, I happened to look at the calendar and gasped.
What day is it today!?
I counted on my fingers.
That can't be!
Even when I'm with Makoto, we've done things properly.
There's absolutely no way with another man!
This is bad, what should I do?
Calm down! It's just a little irregular.
I told myself that.
If such a situation happened now, I'd ruin Makoto's life.
But what should I do?
First, confirmation. They sell them at drugstores, right?
While thinking about such things, I was typing messages to the girls' group.
An anxiety far too great to carry alone.
"I might have done it?"
"What do you mean?"
"...It's not coming?"
"Eh!?"
Everyone had the same reaction.
"Did you tell Makoto?"
Mika asked.
"No, not yet. I just noticed... I'm confused. Should I tell him?"
"Men have responsibility too. You have to talk properly," Emi said.
"I agree with Emi. If it's found out that you were hiding it, I think Makoto-kun would be shocked. It'll be fine if it's Makoto-kun. Make sure to go to the hospital together, okay?"
Airi is right.
"Did you use a test kit?"
Ai said.
"No, I was thinking of going to buy one now..."
"It could just be your imagination, so use one early."
"Ah, you're right."
"What's wrong, Kanna?"
Makoto woke up.
"N-nothing."
I hid the smartphone.
"You say it's nothing, but your complexion is bad. Are you feeling unwell somewhere?"
"No, really, it's nothing..."
Makoto grabbed both my arms.
"We're already husband and wife, right!? Let's have no secrets!? What happened? Are you short on living expenses or something?"
Money... I wonder how much it costs?
I'll have to borrow from Mother?
I remained silent.
However, if my partner had been Toya, he probably would have just let it go with a "Hmm." But my husband is Makoto. His intuition at times like this is sharp.
Facing the calendar, I turned pale. And I was shaken. I instinctively hid the smartphone. And the arms Makoto was holding were trembling.
A man of Makoto's age would notice.
"You don't happen to... not have it come?"
Let's have no secrets. I don't want to hide it from Makoto either.
I nodded silently.
Agitation was visible on Makoto's face.
"Sorry..."
I apologized for no reason.
"It's not something Kanna should apologize for, right? How long has it been?"
I spread both hands.
"Then, shall I go buy a test kit?"
"If you go buy it, you'll just be a pervert, right? I'll buy it."
"Ah... do I not need to come along?"
"It's fine, Makoto, go to your club."
"Got it..."
I left the house, timing it for when the drugstore opened.
And when I returned, Makoto's car was parked.
When I entered the house, Makoto greeted me.
"Did you buy it?"
"Yeah..."
"Then let's try using it right away."
"Wait a bit."
"How was it?"
Makoto was waiting while watching TV.
"It was negative."
"I see..."
But the anxiety couldn't be wiped away.
Maybe the timing was just too early.
Did I miscalculate?
Unable to just watch me be so shaken, Makoto began searching on his smartphone.
"Hello, my name is Tada, can I receive a consultation now? Actually..."
After Makoto finished the call, he looked at me and said.
"Let's go to the obstetrician-gynecologist now. It's better to make it clear, right?"
There are results I don't want to know, though.
I just nodded.
Makoto waited on the bench outside the examination room.
I didn't know if he was excited or agitated. Makoto's response was calm to the end.
To state the result, it was negative.
A subtle feeling, like being relieved but also disappointed...
Leaving the examination room, I told Makoto the result.
Makoto listened calmly.
"I see..."
Just that one phrase.
Getting in the car, I apologized to Makoto.
"Sorry for making you worry! I was careless too!"
"The one who should apologize isn't Kanna, it's me."
"That's not true, Makoto has been properly considerate. For instance, you even let me skip practice today."
"Soccer is not the priority, right? Since a child was made."
"There's also the method of abortion."
"I can't let you do that. You might never be able to give birth again, you know?"
"But it might end up ruining Makoto's life!"
"My life, huh..."
Makoto said that and fell silent.
Returning home, Makoto told me to just sit down and relax.
"About my life that I mentioned earlier..."
"Yeah..."
"Would it be okay if I pushed my dream on you?"
"It's fine."
"I want to have a child with Kanna, and give that child an elite soccer education. I want them to make it into the national team."
"If that's the case, why don't you aim for the national team yourself?"
"There are too many geniuses in my generation. I might be able to go pro, but the national team is impossible."
So he's entrusting it to his own child?
"Of course, this is only if the child wants to play soccer."
Wait a minute.
"Why has the conversation become based on having a child?"
"It might put pressure on Kanna, but even so, my dream is to raise a child together with Kanna. I'll help with the childcare too."
Don't say things like pressure.
"Well, the ideal is after graduating university. It's hard to put into words, but don't be so anxious. If it happens, I'll work too. Isn't that fine?"
"Thank you. I'm happy."
Makoto hugged me.
And then, as if waiting for that, a prank of fate began.
"Ah..."
"What's wrong?"
"Sorry, bathroom for a second!"
Makoto's dream, huh...
(5)
On the second day, we toured the ancient capital and visited the art center.
Then we returned to the hotel.
We walked quite a bit.
But I'm glad I could see the real Guernica.
Other tourists seemed to feel the same.
There seemed to be newlyweds around the same age, touring happily.
Apparently, we're leaving earlier tomorrow than today.
On only the second day, I've already started missing Japan.
I wonder what everyone is doing right now?
Is the Blue Bird, Ichinose-san, okay alone?
Speaking of Ichinose-san, I wonder if things are going well with Nakajima-kun?
Nakajima-kun is still lacking.
Tada-kun is already balancing club activities and a lover.
Those two overcame the adversity of not being able to meet normally and managed to reach marriage.
I don't think "let's break up because we can't meet" is an option for them, though.
Katagiri-kun is amazing too.
I never imagined he was aiming to be the best in the world.
Moreover, the courage to say he'll quit once he becomes the best is incredible.
I think it would be better if he didn't quit and just kept going, though.
He already has sponsors, so he's practically a pro.
I wonder why a sponsor would be so willing to do that for a single university student.
Does that mean Katagiri-kun's talent is that great?
"What's wrong, Zen-kun?"
Akira-chan, having finished drying her hair, got into bed.
"No, I was just thinking everyone is amazing."
"Why?"
"Like managing to reach marriage from a long-distance relationship."
"Then aren't we the same?"
That's true. I was stunned to receive a house as a Christmas present.
Moreover, a student marriage with a honeymoon in Spain...
"Thinking about it, we're amazing too."
In various senses.
"Right? You should take more pride in yourself."
I don't know if it's something I should be proud of.
Well, each couple probably has something they can brag about, right?
No matter how trivial it is, as long as the people involved are happy, that's enough.
Sometimes there might be hesitation.
In those times, don't hesitate to rely on your partner.
Because they'll surely find a wonderful answer.
"By the way, Zen-kun?"
"What is it?"
"When are we making a child? If we're making one at Christmas, I think it'll be a bit too late."
"...Could you wait at least until university graduation?"
"Is it okay to make me wait that long?"
"Doesn't Akira-chan have a dream of becoming a teacher?"
"It's not particularly a dream, you know?"
"Eh?"
"I just chose a university that was conveniently close."
There are many people like that in the Watanabe group.
Like wanting to go to university together.
But even such a dream is a splendid dream...
My dream... has already come true, so it's fine.
To obtain an ordinary amount of happiness.
I don't know if this is ordinary, though.
"Zen-kun, shall we sleep soon?"
"You're right, shall we sleep soon?"
While feeling a sense of nostalgia in a distant foreign land, I decided to enjoy the honeymoon for a while longer.
(6)
"Yay~"
Airi is happy looking at her smartphone?
"What was so good?"
"Toya-kun doesn't need to know♪"
I see, I don't need to know.
While Airi was fiddling with her smartphone, I played an FPS.
Truthfully, I want to play with headphones, but I'm playing on speakers out of consideration for Airi.
It seems Airi's exchange of messages has reached a lull.
She sneaks up behind me.
Since I could roughly predict her actions, I hid behind the cover of a building.
"Taa!"
Airi hugged me from behind.
Without being shaken, I continued the game.
"Uuu... ei!"
Airi committed the reckless act of changing the game channel.
"Airi, I told you to stop because my win rate will go down."
While saying that, I let go of the controller and hugged Airi.
"Ehehe~"
"Then, shall we do the usual?"
"Yeah."
Saying that, I started the laptop.
Then I started the game client and logged in with my character.
I appeared in a so-called hangout spot in a desert city where idle characters from the same Guild gather.
"Oh! You're here, Toya. I was just thinking of conquering a dungeon now."
"Want to come too, Airi?"
"Sure~"
This was supposed to be the new way to relax, replacing the car... or so it was.
Suddenly, the smartphone rang.
"Sorry, a call now."
I typed in the chat and answered the phone.
Ken-san's name appeared on the screen.
"Hello!"
"Shigeru-san had an accident!"
"Eh!?"
Shigeru-san is the street racer who works at the gas station.
"Why again!?"
"A yellow EK9 collided from behind. Because of that, he lost balance and spun, and while trying to avoid it, there was an oncoming car, and to avoid the collision, he crashed into a cliff."
The pattern is the same as Hiyama-senpai's! Could it be...
"I'll go to the hospital for now."
"Yeah, please do that."
"Sorry, something urgent came up. Logging off."
Saying that, I logged out of the game.
"Airi, I'm going out for a bit, is that okay?"
"It's okay, but where are you going?"
Airi had also logged out.
"The local general hospital."
"Hospital!?"
"Apparently Shigeru-san had an accident."
"Again!?"
While Airi was preparing, I confirmed with Hiyama-senpai.
"Hiyama-senpai, was the car that collided with you a yellow EK9?"
"Yeah, that's right. You figured it out well. Did it appear locally too?"
"Thank you."
After typing that message, I took Airi and headed to the hospital.
When we arrived at the hospital, there was Shigeru-san with a cast on his arm, a bandage wrapped around his forehead, and a collar on his neck.
"Are you okay!?"
"As you can see."
Saying that, Shigeru-san laughed.
Seeing that figure, I felt irritation.
I hit the wall with a thud!
Airi hugged me from behind.
"Toya-kun, erase whatever you're thinking right now immediately!"
"Katagiri-kun. I think that's better too. This opponent is too dangerous."
At that moment, the smartphone rang. It was from Makoto.
"Toya! It's me!"
"...What is it, Makoto?"
"Absolutely stop it. I told you yesterday, it doesn't matter if you win or lose! It'll become a scandal for you! Your dream will stop coming true!"
"If my dream doesn't come true, it's basketball for life. It'll be just as everyone wants, so it's fine, right?"
"There's no way it's fine, you idiot!"
Probably listening on speaker, Kanna's voice could be heard.
"If you do something that makes Airi cry, I'll absolutely never forgive you! You promised yesterday! That you'd end Toya as a street racer."
"I'm not such a pushover that I can stay silent while a friend is hurt!"
"And if something happens to you, what will that friend think? No one will be happy!"
"Is that all? I'm hanging up."
"Wait, Toya!"
Click...
Taking Airi with me, I repeated going up and down the mountain that night.
But whether it was good or bad, they didn't appear that night.
Around the time I was running out of gasoline, I refueled and returned home.