Chapter 254 - Being able to love someone will become the greatest nourishment for living
(1)
Everyone was getting excited that evening.
The conversation centered around my basketball stories and topics from Haruto and the others.
"I see, so Toya wants to work at a local bank,"
Kanna said, and Makoto let out a sigh.
"I think I'll go that route too, looking for a company that has a soccer team."
"If Makoto is going to walk the same path as Toya, you'll have to at least become a Japan national team player."
"Don't ask for the impossible."
"Toya is asking for the impossible, and moreover, he's actually trying to make it happen. First, he secured a position on the national team."
"I admit Toya is amazing."
"You're amazing too. You've been scouted by a local soccer team, right?"
"Eh? Is that so, Makoto-kun?"
Airi looked surprised.
"Well, yeah. They said they want to use me even if it's in the middle of the season."
"You're going to make a living through soccer, right? Then wouldn't it be fine to join?"
"Well, that's true, but..."
I wondered if there was some problem.
"If I get injured, it's over. Even the meaning of going to university would vanish."
"I see... there are those kinds of problems, aren't there?"
"Makoto... just to be clear..."
Kanna spoke.
"If you're thinking something stupid like 'I hate the idea of being away from me,' I'll write the divorce papers immediately."
"It's not like that. It's not as if I won't be coming home for months. Compared to before, it's actually quite short."
"As long as that's the case."
"Even so, the seniors are amazing. You're already thinking about the future?"
"Only these two are special. They're trying to throw away a precious opportunity."
When Haruto spoke, Kanna replied.
"Speaking of the future, what will happen to the Watanabe group? Once we graduate..."
Emi-san said.
"There's no 'what will happen,' it'll just continue without changing. We aren't exactly doing some kind of club activity; everyone just likes it, so everyone gathers and makes a fuss. That won't change even after we become working adults."
Watanabe-kun said.
"As expected of Watanabe-senpai, so cool!"
When Haruto said that, everyone applauded.
Just comrades, then.
I hoped it would continue forever. I thought that.
Everyone believed that the bond of the Watanabe group would last eternally.
"Haruto, are you thinking about the future?"
"Me?"
Shiratori-san was asking Haruto.
"Yes, do you intend to stay in a friend-like feeling with me forever?"
"No, I intend to be lovers with Haruna."
"What is the difference between lovers and friends?"
"Isn't it the presence or absence of romantic feelings? I really like Haruna a lot, you know?"
"Is that really true?"
"What do you mean by that?"
The atmosphere of this conversation is starting to look suspicious.
"Hey, Haruna. Don't you like Haruto?"
When Kanna asked, Shiratori-san answered immediately.
"If I didn't like him, I wouldn't make statements like this."
"Then, we talked in the bath earlier, right? That Haruto would lead the way from here."
"I want to walk together by Haruto's side. I want to stand on the same eye level. I'm tired of a way of life where I just follow someone else."
Shiratori-san's heart is disturbed.
I wondered what happened.
I understood the reason immediately.
An empty can with a shining, uneven surface lay at Shiratori-san's feet.
I looked at Mika-san.
"Well, she said she'd never drunk it and had no interest, so I told her 'Didn't you learn from Haruto's case that everything starts with experience?' and then she said 'This is surprisingly delicious'..."
"Mika, you..."
"More importantly, Watanabe-kun, we have to stop Shiratori-san."
"You're right."
Watanabe-kun and I stood up.
"Haruto, what kind of paths are there for lovers? We finally managed to walk holding hands. But when will you give me a kiss? What did you mean by 'until the end' when you said it then?"
"T-That is..."
Haruto struggled to answer.
Watanabe-kun and I grabbed Shiratori-san's arms.
"Shiratori-san, shall we leave it at this for tonight?"
"It's still too early to sleep."
"Well, you should rest well tonight. There's tomorrow and the day after. Mika, Emi-san. Could you help us a bit? I don't know which room is hers."
Saying so, we forcibly dragged Shiratori-san away.
"Let me go! I still want to talk to Haruto!"
"Well then, shall we wrap things up? I have to educate Shiratori."
When Mika-san said that, she began tidying up.
"What is 'education'? Are you going to tell me about the thing from earlier?"
"Yeah, even if you hate it, I'll teach you. Haruto, leave this side to us."
"Got it."
Mika-san, Emi-san, Watanabe-kun, and I calmed Shiratori-san down while leading her to the bedroom.
By the time we were walking through the corridor, Shiratori-san seemed to have regained her composure.
"I'm sorry, it was my first time, so I just..."
"You don't have to worry about it. Though I never thought you'd take such an interest in love."
When Shiratori-san apologized, I replied.
"I'll teach you thoroughly later. Don't regret it after you hear it, okay?"
"Is it something that scary?"
"Depending on the woman, she might feel it's scary. Though it probably depends on the man too..."
"It depends on Haruto..."
"Ahem, could you please have that conversation among women?"
Watanabe-kun cleared his throat, and Mika-san and the others laughed.
"Oh? Sorry. I just thought you were already used to that kind of thing."
"Masashi, don't get shy now!"
Emi-san and Mika-san said.
And after leading her back to the bedroom, we returned to our room.
The tidying up was mostly finished.
Then, everyone said goodnight and headed to their bedrooms.
(2)
"Umi-chan, don't you need to call Tange-sensei?"
"He's probably still drinking with Harada-san."
As she was saying that, Umi-chan's smartphone rang.
Apparently, a message came saying, "Don't stay up late and make sure to sleep."
"Even if he tells me not to stay up late..."
"Right?"
Neither I nor Umi-chan were children enough to be able to sleep at this hour.
"Shall we get excited among women too?"
"That's a good idea, a girls' night."
"What what, if it's that kind of talk, let me in too~"
Saki-san came over.
"Is it okay to leave your husband alone?"
"Leave him alone or what, he's getting excited with the other men."
"Maybe I'll join in too~. The talk over there is boring, with things like Shiratori-san's story~"
Sakura-san came over.
"Since we're in the same year, maybe I'll join too?"
Sakura-san came.
"There's a bit of an age gap, but it's okay, right?"
Miyuki-san came.
The number of people increased all at once.
"Miyuki-san, what happened with Nishimatsu-san after that?"
I tried asking Miyuki-san.
"Hmm? He's started doing the housework properly."
"That's good."
"Umi-chan, was it? How about your side?"
"I'm... the opposite."
Opposite?
"Whenever I try to do the housework, Shuji-chan does everything, saying 'Use that time for your work.'"
"In a way, that's enviable, isn't it?"
"How about Saki-san's place?"
Umi-chan was asking Saki-san.
"At my place, we both work, so it's a rotation system. But that guy started taking late-night part-time jobs saying 'Because I want to go on a trip,' and I'm worried about his health."
"That's not good..."
"He tells me not to worry because the household finances are stable."
"How about Niina-san? Are things going well with Shiina-san?"
Miyuki-san asked.
"Even if you ask how. I'm probably the same as Shiratori-san."
"Eh?"
"We were talking in the bathroom, right? 'Even a kiss hasn't happened yet'... I'm the same."
"Even though you've been dating for over half a year!?"
I nodded slowly.
"If you put it that way, I haven't done it either,"
Umi-chan said.
Eh!?
"Even though you're married!?"
"Yeah."
"That's a bit... you know,"
Saki-san said.
"Maybe it's because I'm a child after all~"
"That has nothing to do with it."
"Then, do I lack charm?"
"You wouldn't marry someone like that,"
Miyuki-san said.
Well, image-wise, he's not the type of person to do those things proactively, right?
"Then, let's have a contest, the two of us!"
"A contest?"
"Who can kiss first!?"
"Wouldn't Niina-san have the advantage in that? Because if you decided to do it right now, you could, right?"
If I had that kind of courage, I would have already done it.
"Judging from the conversation, both of you are first-timers, right? Instead of talking about contests, it's better to wait slowly."
Miyuki-san lectured.
"By the way, who was Miyuki-san's first partner?"
"My husband, obviously."
She said and laughed.
"I think I said before, but I didn't have romantic feelings. I guess I just became engaged to him for some reason."
"Was it Katagiri-senpai who made you realize it?"
"Yes, he really is a mysterious person."
Looking at that Katagiri-senpai, he was dragging Watanabe-senpai and Shiratori-san.
I wondered what happened.
"Everyone, let's wrap things up soon."
When Mika-san said that, everyone began tidying up.
"Well, the rest tomorrow night."
"Yes."
Saying so, we also began tidying up.
(3)
We watched the video on Kanna-san's smartphone.
Fear?
Embarrassment?
Anxiety?
Various emotions were mixed together, and I was confused.
"...Do people really do this kind of thing?"
I was asking Kanna-san.
"If humans didn't do it, we wouldn't have been born either."
Kanna-san said and laughed.
"It's okay. If Haruto is the partner... a time will definitely come when you think that. In fact, the previous Haruna would never have said 'When will you kiss me?'"
That was certainly true.
"How do you make the tension ease?"
"Everyone is nervous at first; easing that is the man's role. You just have to feel safe and entrust your body to Haruto."
Mika-san said.
Is he used to it? I heard he has many female friends. I stopped thinking about it because imagining it made me feel sick.
Besides, if he's that experienced, why hasn't he done anything to me? Do I lack charm?
"I can say for sure, whatever Haruna just thought is absolutely not the case."
Kanna-san said.
"Why?"
"That guy looks flighty, but he's surprisingly serious. I guess Toya's eye for people is as accurate as ever."
If he's serious, does that mean he doesn't do those acts?
"Men, you know, the more serious they are, the more hesitant they become with the person they're truly serious about. Thinking stupid things like not wanting to take her innocence."
Ai-san said.
Is that how it is?
"So, the rest depends on Haruna's feelings. If Haruna thinks she wants to do it with Haruto, she should just prepare. Just send a sign that it's okay anytime."
"A sign?"
"Like talking with your faces close, or frequent body touch, there are various things."
"In short, you just have to get the other person in the mood."
Emi-san said.
Get him in the mood. I could feel my face heating up.
"If you start longing for it, trying to act spoiled is also a method. Appealing as much as possible, saying 'I want to be spoiled by you.' If he still doesn't notice..."
Tosaka-san said. What should I do at a time like that?
"You have no choice but to tell him directly. If you say 'Please look at me a little,' it'll surely get across."
"Is it something you have to go that far to do?"
"The correct answer is that you'll want to do it even if you have to go that far. A time will definitely come when you want him to hug you tight."
Is that so.
"I'm not as sharp as Toya-kun, but I can tell right now that Shiratori-san likes Haruto-kun very much. To the extent that being able to love him is the nourishment for her living."
Being able to love someone will become the greatest nourishment for living. I see...
I see. This feeling grows.
In fact, she is seeking a kiss from him.
It must be the thing that lies beyond that.
And the place where one eventually arrives is that.
Will Haruto notice my feelings?
This emotion that has burst open inside my chest.
In fact, he was able to change this world that cannot be betrayed.
From now on, Haruto will change it for me.
I felt that way.
(4)
"I'm beat. I can't believe those lines came out of Haruna."
"You're the one who got her in the mood, right?"
"That's true, I'm a man too. I can't let Haruna be embarrassed."
"Don't get so fired up, you'll mess up the real thing."
"Got it."
Though I think he's already too fired up.
"Even so, I'm impressed by Toya. Even if it was partly because of the drink, to make that Shiratori-san say those things."
Watanabe-kun was surprised.
"That just shows how pure Shiratori-san was, right? The more a stone is perfectly round without any jagged edges, the easier it rolls just by tilting it a little."
In truth, she might have already been tilted. Only a wall was blocking her. Once that wall was destroyed, she might have just rolled easily.
"So, what should I do after this, Katagiri-senpai?"
"That's something Haruto has to think about himself. You're used to this kind of thing, aren't you?"
"It's completely different when the partner is a female friend versus a girlfriend. I don't want to be hated."
Normally I think it's the opposite.
"Invite her soon. Maybe starting with a kiss? It would be pitiful to throw her into an unknown world all of a sudden."
Though the women are probably teaching her various things.
"Got it! A kiss, then!"
"It's better not to tense up too much. Leave it to nature."
"Got it. There was something I wanted to try with my girlfriend."
"What is it?"
"Kissing at the TV Tower."
"That might become a good memory for her too,"
Watanabe-kun said.
"Don't you have any advice for me?"
Sa was seeking advice.
"Sa, you're doing fine, right? There's nothing left to say at this point."
"Ho, is Mizushima-kun doing well with Sakura-san?"
"How far did you go? With Sakura."
Watanabe-kun and Makoto asked.
Makoto was particularly interested.
"How far... we've reached the point where she helps me hang the laundry."
"You started living together!?"
"Not that far, just when one of us stays over at the other's house."
"I see. For that stiff Sakura to fall that far, was there some trick?"
"Nothing in particular. I feel like it happened naturally. Well, I pushed a little from my side."
"I see."
Tasuku and Makoto were talking.
"Toya, what about yourself? Are things going well with Tosaka-san?"
"I intend for them to be... I think I've gotten used to how to handle Airi."
"You can easily peek into Tosaka-san's heart, right?"
Makoto said.
"Hmm, it might be that I don't want to peek. It's scary to think about the time when I wasn't there."
"That's impossible for Tosaka-san, right? She's thinking only of you. Look at her properly and act."
"Airi told me the same thing."
Saying so, I laughed.
"More importantly, Hiyama-senpai, you should be careful. You haven't been paying much attention to Sakura-san."
"Yeah, I'm thinking of paying some attention to her during this training camp."
"That's for the best."
It seemed everyone else was doing well.
I understood that after watching them all day.
"In that case, is the goal of the training camp to deepen the relationship between Haruto and Shiratori-san?"
"That's no problem. I told you earlier, right? Shiratori-san is already wishing for one step further. She'll surely grant Haruto's wish."
"Should I ask Emi-san to prepare a separate room?"
"That would be counterproductive. She'll get nervous."
I laughed and explained to Watanabe-kun.
Haruto and the others just need to proceed slowly on their own path.
Being able to love each other will surely become the greatest nourishment for living...
"Shall we sleep soon?"
"Yeah. Haruto, be prepared for tomorrow. It'll probably be a tough day."
"Why?"
"You'll understand when tomorrow comes."
"Got it. Well then, goodnight."
Saying so, Haruto fell asleep, snoring.
It goes without saying that he disturbed everyone's sleep.