Chapter 27 - Toya's Reason
(1)
November.
The time when the trees begin to change color.
And for us, the school trip was fast approaching.
Preparations also began.
Precautions and explanations. Organizing groups and deciding on plans for free time.
At the same time, thanks to the school trip, final exams would start earlier than for other grade levels.
"S-So, the groups..."
"Hey, let's hang out together."
"Let me in too!!"
There was no way Mayumi-chan could take charge, so the groups were decided arbitrarily.
"Toya-kun, we're together, right!"
"Toya, let's go around together."
"Sounds interesting, I'll come along too, alright? Toya."
And so, my group was decided as the four of us: me, Makoto, Airi, and Kanna.
"...Please decide on your plans for the free time."
A disheartened Mayumi-chan. Don't let it get you down.
"So, where are we going?"
"Hmm... it's Osaka, right? I'm fine with anywhere."
Airi went there during GW, didn't she?
"Let's go to Osaka Castle!"
"Makoto... can't we go somewhere more fun? For example, here."
The place Kanna pointed to was a certain theme park.
"Kanna, you should probably avoid that place. You won't be able to see everything during the free time. It's crowded, and the travel distance is long."
"I see..."
A disappointed Kanna.
"Where do you want to go, Toya?"
Makoto asked.
"I don't really care, but don't we need to check the timetable?"
"Huh?"
"Eh?"
"Hah?"
All three of them had the same reaction.
"Toya... have you never left your hometown?"
"I haven't."
All three of them burst out laughing.
"Toya, don't make me laugh!"
"Toya, that's so like you!"
"Toya-kun, you don't have to worry about that."
Did I say something strange?
"That part is fine, so for now, just try saying where you want to go!"
Where I want to go, huh.
Hmm... nothing comes to mind.
"Just say anything."
"Anything is fine?"
The three of them stared intently.
It doesn't cost anything to say it...
"...Nipponbashi."
"What's that?"
Makoto asked.
"...I've always wanted to try a maid cafe."
Silence flowed.
"Toya-kun! Think seriously!!"
"Toya, are you an otaku!?"
I was scolded by the two of them.
Makoto was laughing alone, clutching his stomach.
(2)
That day, I was also studying at home.
It was just a way to kill time until Makoto arrived.
Kanna is not concentrating.
Her head seems to be full of the school trip.
Unusually, Airi seems to be the same.
Looking at the clock, she looked as if she were waiting for the moment to arrive.
And then, around shortly after 6 o'clock.
Ding-dong
The two of them react.
I hear the sound of someone coming up the stairs.
It's Makoto.
"Good evening—"
Makoto appeared wearing a tracksuit.
"We've been waiting—"
"Good work—"
The two of them called out to Makoto.
And then, the school trip meeting began.
The result...
It was decided on a theme park and a mixed-use commercial facility in Umeda.
It was mostly Kanna and Airi pushing their way through.
Well, if it's there, it's not that far from the hotel and seems like we can relax.
After it was decided, it turned into idle chatter.
When we tried to eat dinner together.
"Ah, it's already prepared at my place, so I'm going home now. See ya."
And so Makoto went home.
After eating dinner, it was studying again.
I spent time as usual.
After eating dinner, studying as usual.
It passed 21:00.
As usual, the two of us saw Kanna home, and I saw Airi home.
And it was when I was about to go back.
"Toya-kun, do you have a moment?"
Airi called out to me.
"What is it?"
"Come inside my house for a bit."
...I wonder what it is?
(3)
Once I was guided to the room, Airi went outside the room.
She returned with tea and sweets.
Is this going to be a long talk?
I look at the clock.
It's probably a souvenir from the GW trip.
It was a desk clock of a mascot character.
It has passed 22:00.
I wonder if her parents say nothing about bringing a boy in at this hour?
When Airi sat down, I started the conversation.
"What's the talk about?"
"About Kanna and Makoto-kun."
"Did something happen to those two?"
"No... it hasn't been that long since they broke up, right? I wondered if they're okay... if they're alright..."
"Two months have already passed, you know? They're probably fine."
"I see..."
"Is that all you wanted to talk about?"
"No."
There's more?
"...How are things with Kanna since then?"
"How are things? You mean?"
"I mean, has anything happened?"
"Were you worrying about that?"
"Of course I was. After everything that happened..."
I suppose that's true.
"Nothing's happened. Don't worry."
"Really? Then it's fine, but..."
Airi looked somehow anxious.
Please don't make that face.
What should I do?
How can I wipe away her anxiety?
Time flowed silently.
"Airi-chan~ it's getting late~"
When I looked at the clock, it had passed 23:00.
"Well, I'll be heading home soon."
Saying that, I stood up and put my hand on the doorknob.
Something pressed against my back.
Airi's arms wrapped around my waist.
"Just for a little bit, let me stay like this."
My body stiffened.
"Yeah..."
"Airi!!"
It's Airi's Papa's voice.
Airi pulled away abruptly.
"Well, see you tomorrow."
"Yeah, see you tomorrow."
I hurried out of the room.
I greeted Airi's Papa and Airi's Mama and left the house.
Suddenly, I looked up at the second-floor window.
Airi was looking this way from the window.
When our eyes met, she waved and smiled brightly.
I waved back and went home.
(3)
I took a bath and returned to my room.
When I looked at my smartphone, there was a message.
"Sorry for doing something strange earlier."
It was from Airi.
"I don't mind."
I replied.
I wonder what happened? So suddenly.
She's normal when she's with Kanna.
Had she been thinking about this all along?
Hmm...
Should I consult Makoto at a time like this?
I remembered Makoto's words.
"Don't waver."
I'm not wavering, though.
What should I do?
I opened the smartphone's call history.
I selected Airi's number.
The ringing tone sounded.
"Toya-kun?"
Naturally, it was Airi's voice.
"Airi, about earlier."
"Yeah..."
"It's okay, because I won't change."
"Yeah..."
"Because I've always, always loved you, Airi!"
"Yeah..."
"So... please don't make a sad face."
"Thank you... I'm okay now."
"Well, good night."
"Good night."
Couldn't I say something more tactful! Me
I sighed at my lack of vocabulary.
Just then, the smartphone rang.
A message.
"I love you♡"
It was from Airi.
"I love you too!"
I replied immediately.
...It seems she fell asleep.
No reply came.
Well, whatever.
From now on, I'll also think about how to deal with Kanna.
I don't want to make Airi sad.
As for why I'm so fixated on Airi...
That's for another occasion.
Good night.
(4)
Why did I do that!?
I regretted it after Toya-kun left.
I wonder if I looked like a heavy woman?
Toya-kun didn't say anything.
I want to cry.
For now, I'll apologize.
I sent a message.
"Sorry for doing something strange earlier."
No reply comes.
Has he finally come to hate me?
I don't want that!!
After a while, a reply came.
"I don't mind."
Thank goodness. But only one sentence?
After that, the phone rang.
It's from Toya-kun!
I answer immediately.
"Toya-kun?"
"Airi, about earlier."
"Yeah..."
I wonder what it is?
"It's okay, because I won't change."
"Yeah..."
I know...
"Because I've always, always loved you, Airi!"
"Yeah..."
Thank you, but really?
"So... please don't make a sad face."
Was I making a sad face?
Did I make him worry?
Or rather, was he worrying about me?
"Thank you... I'm okay now."
I felt a little better.
"Well, good night."
"Good night."
And so the call ended.
I know he loves me.
But why?
I've never heard the reason.
"Because I confessed."
What if the reason is something like that?
I'm scared to ask.
Before I knew it, I had sent a message.
"I love you♡"
A reply came immediately.
"I love you too!"
It's good that he tells me he loves me.
But I want proof.
I want to hear something to back up him saying he loves me.
At that time, I couldn't even imagine it.
Just how much Toya-kun thought of me...