Chapter 25 - Airi's Melancholy
(1)
I couldn't sleep much.
The stain on Toya-kun's shirt from last night.
It was dark, so I couldn't tell for sure, but it looked like the color of Kanna's lipstick.
There's no doubt something happened.
And then there was Kanna's message, as if to confirm it.
"I won't lose to Airi."
That message is burned into my mind and won't leave.
Apparently, Kanna is coming to Toya-kun's house again starting today.
What kind of face should I make when I go?
Is she planning to steal Toya-kun from me?
"I hate that more than anything!"
I cling to my pillow.
What should I do?
I thought about it.
But what if Toya-kun's feelings waver?
Just imagining it for a second makes my mood sink.
I tried to stop thinking about it.
I'll believe in him, in Toya-kun.
While I was thinking about all sorts of things, I overslept...
The clock says 7:15.
This is bad! I won't make it in time!
I hurriedly change, get ready, and leave the house.
I skipped breakfast.
The time I left the house was 7:35.
I'm completely late!!
Sorry, Toya-kun.
(2)
"...Ya... ...uya... Toya, I said..."
Someone is calling me.
Is it Airi?... No, wait. Toya?
I slowly wake up.
"Now! Wake up!!"
Along with a spirited shout, I am flipped over, futon and all.
Having rolled off the bed, I blink my eyes.
"Oh! You're awake?"
The person standing in front of me, saying that, wasn't Airi, but Kanna.
"Wh-why is Kanna here!? Where's Airi?"
"She hasn't come yet. I wonder what happened?"
She hasn't come?
I looked at the clock.
It's past 35.
That's strange—wait, this is bad!
"Kanna! I'm going to change, so go downstairs!!"
"Got it."
Saying that, Kanna leaves the room.
While I'm changing, it gets noisy outside.
"Toya-kun!!"
Airi opens the door vigorously.
I was in the middle of putting on my pants.
My eyes meet Airi's.
After a brief pause.
"Kyaa! I'm sorry!!"
Airi said, closing the door.
I finish breakfast and hurriedly get ready.
Once I'm ready and return to the living room, Airi and Kanna seem to be chatting harmoniously... or so it seemed.
However, Airi's eyes aren't smiling.
"Shall we go soon!"
"Yeah."
"Yeah!"
Somehow, both of them are acting different than usual...
"Hey, Airi."
"Whaaat?"
"Could you at least make it just holding hands?"
Airi is gripping my right arm and won't let go.
Rather than gripping, it's more like she's clinging.
Isn't this a bit too conspicuous?
"Do you hate linking arms?"
Airi looks up at me with upturned eyes.
No, we aren't linking arms.
"You don't have to flirt this much from the morning, right?"
"Then when is it okay to flirt?"
As she says this, Airi presses her body even closer.
I'm conscious of the feel of her chest.
Somehow, Airi is strange today.
"People are watching, so be a little more modest..."
"Do you hate it that much when people see me flirting with you?"
Airi makes a lonely face.
That expression has been unfair for a while now.
"Airi, Toya is hating it."
Unusually, Kanna throws me a lifeline.
"Toya-kun, do you hate it?"
I'm telling you, that face is unfair...
The gazes of those around us are painful.
Why is a guy like that with such a cute girl...
That kind of gaze pierces through me.
Give me a break.
(3)
The underwater skirmishing between the two continued at school as well.
"Toya, about this problem here—"
"Kanna, I'll let you see my notebook."
I'm cursing the seating arrangement now.
Makoto is beside me, holding back laughter.
You're partly responsible for creating this situation, Makoto.
Lunch break.
I came to the courtyard as if escaping.
I let out a sigh.
"That's rough."
Saying that, Makoto tosses a canned juice my way.
I catch it and drink.
"Do you know whose fault it is that it became like this?"
"Are you trying to say it's my fault?"
"You... why did you turn Kanna down? What did you not like about her?"
"It's because the one Kanna-san likes is you."
"You can handle that however you want."
"I'll respect her will. Once she's acted until she's satisfied and then gives up because it's no good. I'll think about it then."
"That's cruel."
"The cruel one is you, right? Toya."
I turn around at Makoto's unexpected words.
"Who's the one making her think 'maybe there's still a chance'?"
"I don't remember saying it like that..."
"Can you say you didn't? Can you say you haven't taken action?"
I can't talk back.
"I think I told you before, but being too kind can sometimes be a cruel thing, you know?"
I see...
"Well, just do your best to handle it. Only, if you stay non-committal, you'll end up being hated by both."
"That won't happen."
It's been decided from the start. The one I like is...
"Then tell her that, right? That'll solve it."
"Are you plotting to take the credit at the end?"
"Who knows, isn't it up to Kanna-san? Besides, you already have the answer."
Saying that, Makoto left.
What Makoto says is reasonable.
(4)
That night, the study session resumed.
"Toya-kun, that part is wrong."
"Toya, what was this part again?"
"Kanna, try looking it up yourself for once."
"If I could do that, I wouldn't be struggling."
They seemed to be getting along harmoniously, but the tension between the two was taut.
When do I bring it up?
As expected, maybe on the way home...
"Toya-kun?"
"Hey, Toya, are you listening?"
"Eh?"
I wasn't listening at all.
"Toya-kun, you tell her too, that it's better to look it up herself for once."
"That's why I'm asking where that part was!"
"Now, now, let's not fight and get along."
"I'm not fighting."
"I just gave a little warning."
It's no good, I really can't say it now.
I put on a fake smile and weather the situation.
"Toya-kun!"
"Toya, say something!"
The spearhead of their anger seems to have turned toward me.
I could do nothing but stay silent.
Wondering what to do, I check the time.
God had not abandoned me.
"You two, it's about time, so shall we wrap it up?"
The clock had passed 21:00.
"Well, see you, Airi."
"See you, Airi."
I'll talk to Kanna when we're alone on the way back.
However, at that moment, I noticed something strange.
Despite having walked Airi to the entrance, she didn't move an inch.
"......ku"
Eh?
I didn't hear well.
"I'm coming too..."
"Heh?"
"I'm going to walk Kanna home too!"
(5)
I've been in a bad mood since morning.
When I arrived at Toya-kun's house, Kanna was already in Toya-kun's room.
That's my role!
"What did that message from yesterday mean?"
"Heh?"
"What do you mean by 'won't lose to me'?"
"Ah, that... it means exactly what it says."
"That's not an answer!"
"If you don't understand, then whatever."
"One more thing, what did you do with Toya-kun yesterday?"
"Nothing... why not ask Toya?"
So irritating.
During the commute to school,
I showed my intention that I will absolutely not hand over Toya-kun.
Occasionally, I glance toward Kanna.
She doesn't seem to care at all.
What's with that composure?
Toya-kun is hating it, too.
Do you really not want people to see me with him that much?
At Toya-kun's house.
Toya-kun isn't listening to me at all.
Is he just smiling?
Does he think that'll settle things smoothly?
This is the first time I've been this frustrated.
And then, when the time comes, Toya-kun tries to wrap things up by saying it's time to go home.
Am I a nuisance...?
Do you hate me that much?
Have I been hated without noticing?
If I'm going to be hated anyway...
"I'm going to walk Kanna home too!!"
I'll be hated to the very end.
It was half-desperation.
The way home.
Three people in silence.
You probably intended to flirt just the two of you, but I won't let that happen!
"Um... Kanna."
Toya-kun broke the silence.
A confession in front of me?
I mustn't cry, me!
"What?"
"About me, could you give up? I have Airi, and... I probably can't be in that kind of relationship with Kanna anymore."
Eh?
What did he just say?
Kanna is listening to Toya-kun's words in silence.
"Sorry, it was my fault for being indecisive. You can punch me right here. But if possible, I want to stay friends."
"...You're late."
"Sorry."
"...Fine. Close your eyes."
Kanna, wait!
It was just as I was about to say something.
Kanna glanced toward me.
!?
A moment of silence.
Kanna was kissing Toya-kun.
Moreover, it was long, and as if she were sucking on Toya-kun's mouth...
No, my brain can't keep up!
I wanted to look away.
But I couldn't.
"You're so late... I can't turn back now. I told you, right? That I 'won't lose'..."
"Kanna..."
"It's fine if you like Airi for now. No matter how many years, no matter how many decades, I'll wait for you."
Kanna said, smiling.
"See ya," she said, returning into her house.
Toya-kun is standing there blankly.
I cling to Toya-kun's arm.
"Let's go home?"
"...Yeah, you're right."
After that, I thought about various things during the way back.
That she'll wait for him for decades...
Anxiety crosses my mind.
Can we stay together for that long? We...
I glance at Toya-kun beside me.
He still seems unable to forget that kiss from earlier.
This man, even though I'm right beside him...!
Eventually, we arrived in front of my house.
"...Well, see ya."
Saying that, Toya-kun turns on his heel to go home, but I grab his arm.
"Toya-kun, wait!"
"What is it...!?"
It's the first time in my life.
It's laughable since we've kissed many times.
I was bewildered at first, but I took a leap, opened my mouth, and slid my tongue into the gap of Toya-kun's mouth.
And then I entwined my tongue with his.
"Nn..."
A voice leaked out unintentionally.
I want to stay like this forever.
"My, my~ Airi~ you're late~"
Reacting to Rie-chan's voice, I unintentionally pull my body away.
"Oh my~ was I in the way~"
Rie-chan has bad timing.
"Well, see you. Toya-kun."
"See ya."
Toya-kun heads home, staggering.
Is he okay?
Can he get home properly?
Rie-chan and I watch him until his figure disappears.
"A road-kiss, Airi-chan is bold~"
I can't say that we've done it many times.
No, was it the first time?
Now I'm starting to feel embarrassed.
She won't lose to me.
Then, I'll let myself say it too.
"I'll absolutely never hand Toya-kun over to Kanna!"
I sent the message to Kanna.
A message came back immediately.
"That's the spirit!"
Kanna's message even showed composure.
I wonder if she'll make moves even more boldly?
Is Toya-kun going to be okay?
The flashy lingerie she mentioned before.
Maybe I should prepare some...
Kanna probably has some...
I don't want to hand over Toya-kun's fidelity...
...Am I overthinking it?
I'm out of my mind today.
The clock had passed 22:00.
My body is flushed, and it doesn't seem like I'll be able to sleep soon.
Shall I study a bit to relax my head?
I wonder if I'll oversleep again tomorrow?
...I must prevent that much at all costs!