Chapter 283 - The Land of Harmony
(1)
"Toya-kun, morning~"
Even though I slept with the sleeping bag as a mat, it's still hard.
"Let me sleep a bit more."
Saying that, I tried to go back to sleep.
"No way! You said we'd go for a walk this morning~"
Airi said that and mercilessly shook my body.
I can't help it.
I sat up and stretched.
"Let's go soon?"
Airi pulled my arm, urging me.
When I went outside the tent, there was mist.
As I walked looking at the trees and flowers and grass I couldn't see at night, I ran into the Ishiharas, Kosei, and Naru.
"Good morning."
When I greeted them, they greeted me back.
"Katagiri-kun, are you out for a walk too?"
"Yeah, something like that."
Saying that, the six of us talked as we walked.
"Come to think of it, Kosei-kun, did you get to see Naru-chan's sleeping face?"
Airi's questions were merciless.
Then Kosei laughed, and Naru looked down and fell silent.
I wonder if something happened?
"What what? Did something happen~?"
At times like this, Airi launches a persistent barrage of questions like a neighborhood auntie.
"Nothing really... just..."
There, Kosei laughed as if remembering.
"If you say it, Kosei, I'll never speak to you again!"
Naru-san was showing emotion, which is rare for her.
I guess this is normal for this age.
"It's not something to hide... just..."
"Just?"
Emi-san seemed interested too.
"I saw her sleeping face up close. When I woke up in the morning, Naru was clinging to me..."
"The tent was small, it couldn't be helped!"
Their conversation felt heartwarming.
"Shouldn't you two share a room soon?"
Emi-san said to them mischievously.
"I don't mind at all, though."
"No thank you!"
Kosei seemed to have the upper hand.
"But you've already seen her changing, right? And slept together? So what's the problem?"
"Seems like it. What do you want to do?"
Kosei asked Naru.
"...Do whatever you like, Kosei."
Naru didn't seem entirely opposed.
"Naru-chan, me and Toya-kun did it when we were in third year of middle school."
Airi, it's better not to say such delicate things.
"I'm not at that kind of relationship with Kosei yet!"
See, Naru got angry.
"I'm fine anytime, though."
Even Kosei teased her.
Naru seemed genuinely upset.
She went ahead.
"If you get too far away, it's dangerous!"
Ishihara-kun hurriedly chased after her.
"Are we still actually being targeted?"
Kosei asked Emi-san.
"It doesn't seem like we're being followed. But we can't let our guard down."
Emi-san answered.
"I see..."
"Kosei, come here! The lake is beautiful!"
"Yeah, I'm coming now."
Called by Naru, Kosei went ahead.
"I can't tell if they get along or not."
"That's just the kind of age Naru is at."
Emi-san said, and I answered.
We walked around the lake once and then returned to the tent.
Makoto and Watanabe-kun and the others were preparing breakfast.
"Where were you guys?"
Kanna asked.
"Just a little stroll around the lake."
"Hmm... Food's ready."
It was a hearty meal from the morning.
Rice, miso soup, yakisoba, and fried eggs.
I ate it all without leaving any.
Airi left some, so I ate that too.
"Is today just going back?"
Shiratori-san asked.
"No, I was thinking we should stop by one more place."
Watanabe-kun said.
That's news to me.
"Where are we going?"
Haruto asked.
Watanabe-kun grinned and said.
"The Land of Harmony."
"Gah!"
Me and Makoto had the same reaction.
Come to think of it, Makoto said he'd been there before, right?
I've been there with Airi too. My parents took me.
"What's wrong? Have you been there?"
Watanabe-kun apparently hasn't.
"We have... but... right, Toya?"
"Yeah..."
We both hesitated.
"What? I thought it'd be perfect for Naru and the others. You got a problem with it?"
Kanna said, and we both reacted with "Not at all!!"
"Then it's settled," Watanabe-kun said.
After finishing breakfast, while the women cleaned up, we took down the tents.
Makoto whispered to Kosei.
"Listen, no matter what, keep smiling. Don't ever look bored."
"I know that much."
That pain is probably something only those who've been there can understand.
(2)
When I woke up in the morning, I was wearing clothes.
Saki still seemed tired and sleeping.
I want to let her sleep, but it's breakfast time.
I reluctantly wake Saki.
"You could have woken me up earlier!"
"Saki was sleeping so peacefully. I wondered if you were having a good dream."
Saki hugged me and said.
"Dreams are just dreams! They can't beat reality!"
It seems for Saki, the present is more important than dreams.
I waited for Saki to change and then went to eat breakfast.
After finishing breakfast, we kill time until checkout.
There's no need to rush out.
We relax together.
"You're not planning to work a shift starting tonight or anything, are you?"
"As if! I marked it on the calendar, remember?"
"Then tonight, I'll cook for you."
"That I look forward to."
At checkout time, we leave the room. It was really crowded.
She said there's a place she wants to stop by on the way back.
As Saki said, we bought food at a drive-through fast food place, then parked the car and sat on a seawall to eat lunch.
"Is this okay?"
"This is what I wanted."
We spend time slowly together.
On the way back, we brought souvenirs to the Tange couple and Blue Bird.
"Thank you."
Ichinose-san and Nakajima-kun thanked us.
"Everything started from meeting here, right?"
"Yeah, after you suddenly splashed water on me."
"There were days we hurt each other too."
Saki laughed as if remembering.
The feeling of wanting to be together connects to tomorrows we don't yet know.
"Saki, do you still want to be with me?"
"If I didn't, I'd have filed for divorce by now!"
Her words were angry, but her expression was a smile.
"Saki has changed. I guarantee it. You're much more wonderful now."
"Yuma has changed too. I guarantee it. Because of the Yuma now, I am the person I am now."
We slowly drank coffee together, then went home.
From there, our daily life begins.
What changed.
That we try to spend evenings together as much as possible.
Because on nights we can't meet, loneliness apparently always strikes.
I don't want to make Saki uneasy.
Because loving someone makes you anxious—being sad about that seems painful.
When she wants to be spoiled, I let her be spoiled to her heart's content.
It's about all I can do.
But I thought that kind of thing is important.
"Yuma, dinner's ready."
"Got it."
I'll spend the evenings with her at least during summer break.
I learned that thinking that way connects to tomorrows we don't yet know.
(3)
Finally finished.
Today is the unveiling.
At the prefectural hall, many important people are lined up.
Me and Shuji-chan are among them.
The red cloth was removed.
Applause was given to the statue that captured the moment Katagiri-senpai was leaping.
We listened to the important people's speeches. And then the ceremony ended.
Soon the oil painting will be finished too.
"When will the next work be done?"
I receive questions like that one after another.
Shuji-chan answers them.
And that day, we go to Shuji-chan's preparation room at the local university.
I'm painting an oil painting there.
The piece I had Shuji-chan title 'Passion' truly represented Katagiri-senpai burning with passion.
And I poured all my passion onto the canvas.
When I'm so immersed I lose track of time, I notice it's gotten dark around me.
"Should we head home soon? Umi."
Shuji-chan said, and I put away my tools.
When I get home, I start painting again.
A scene I saw once.
A sad scene where pale pink snow dances.
But someday the time will come when I can smile properly.
A painting like that.
"Umi, dinner's ready."
When Shuji-chan says that, I clean up and eat.
After that, I take a bath and watch TV with Shuji-chan.
We were watching a drama.
It was an ordinary drama.
But there was a kiss scene.
I remembered the conversation with Mirai.
Should we have a contest to see who kisses first?
I haven't heard that Mirai kissed.
Because she was too busy with that Egoist thing.
It was a meaningless kiss scene.
I only thought about it watching it.
I stare into Shuji-chan's eyes.
Our eyes meet.
"What's wrong? Umi."
I made up my mind and asked.
"Shuji-chan, have you ever kissed?"
"Well, of course I have. Wouldn't it be weird not to at my age?"
Shuji-chan laughed.
Maybe it was also the effect of the alcohol we were drinking.
"Then, am I still weird?"
"What's wrong, Umi?"
I confessed what happened at the training camp.
"Someone said it's weird to be married and still haven't kissed. What am I to you, Shuji-chan?"
Am I not that kind of object?
Shuji-chan says nothing.
"Is it because I'm still a child?"
I'm an adult now, you know?
Say something.
"I'm your wife, Shuji-chan."
Shuji-chan hugs me.
"It's not something to rush about."
"I want to kiss you now, Shuji-chan!"
"Umi... close your eyes."
I close my eyes and prepare to accept Shuji-chan.
His hot kiss awaited me.
"How was it? Your first kiss?"
Shuji-chan was laughing.
It smelled a little of cigarettes.
"Smelled like cigarettes."
"I should have used breath care. Sorry."
Saying that, Shuji-chan laughed.
I went back to my room and got ready for bed.
Knock knock
Shuji-chan knocked.
"Can I come in?"
"Yeah."
Shuji-chan came to my room with a pillow.
"Since we're at it, should we sleep together for once?"
He said laughing.
I nodded silently.
I fell asleep wrapped in Shuji-chan.
My first experience since getting married.
There was nothing more.
Because I thought I'd save that for a treat after the ceremony.
Today we took one step forward.
Let's be satisfied with that.
We spent our first night together.
(4)
"Thank you for your hard work!"
"I'll drive you home, Niina-san."
Lately, Shiina-san has been taking me home every time.
But this day was a little different.
We ate at a restaurant, went to an observatory, and looked at the night view.
I wonder why?
"Beautiful, right?"
As Shiina-san said, the night view of Beppu was beautiful.
"Why here of all places?"
I asked Shiina-san.
Shiina-san was silent.
"It's the place of our first date."
Can that be called a date?
"That's right."
In society, I think they'd call it kidnapping.
"Actually, you're the first woman I brought to this place."
"Is that so."
I looked around.
Everyone was linking arms or hugging, loving each other as naturally as can be.
Before I knew it, we had blended into them.
Shiina-san pulled me close by the shoulder.
I accepted it.
I see, now is the time.
I understood.
He desires this.
And I...
I looked at Shiina-san and closed my eyes.
I could feel his face approaching.
I wondered if his glasses would get in the way.
It seemed I didn't need to worry.
My first kiss smelled of cigarettes.
A bitter and nostalgic scent.
Time that had stopped is about to start moving.
Everything I don't want to forget.
Tomorrow at this time, I'll surely be smiling.
Smiling while thinking of you.
When the kiss ended, I was flushed.
"Was that your first?"
Shiina-san was laughing.
I nodded.
"How was it?"
"I think you should quit smoking."
"That's harsh."
Shiina-san is laughing.
Shiina-san is on the phone.
"Ah, it's me. Shiina. Yes, I'm with Mirai-san now. I was thinking of having her stay at my place tonight. Yes, sorry."
Huh? I'm not prepared at all?
Even mentally, I'm not...
Shiina-san finished the call.
"She said it's fine."
"Even if you say it's fine, I haven't prepared anything."
Not even a change of clothes...
"I'll take you home in the morning."
He's sometimes pushy, that's his personality.
But I don't dislike it.
But...
"Why today of all days?"
"No particular reason? I heard tomorrow is your day off."
"...This is my first time, you know? I thought you might want to make it an anniversary or something."
"Anniversaries aren't predetermined days. I think someone once said that the day itself becomes an anniversary."
"...I understand."
"Well, shall we go?"
"Um, why here?"
"I thought about your first kiss location... that's all."
"Why today?"
"You were having a contest, right? To see who kissed first?"
Saying that, Shiina-san laughed.
Let me mark this day.
When I told Umi-chan that I kissed, she said she did it too today.
His intuition is sharp, Shiina-san.
(5)
I understood what Toya-senpai and Tada-senpai were worried about.
Cute character attractions and goods were on sale, and the women were squealing.
When there was a parade, the women gathered to take photos while the men slumped on a nearby flowerbed.
Haruna was also earnestly taking commemorative photos.
"Haruto, let's take one together?"
When she said that, we took a photo with a person in a mascot costume.
Toya-senpai took it for us.
For the attractions, it was decided that we would ride freely.
The Ishiharas accompanied Naru and Kosei, though.
With Ishihara-senpai as bodyguard, I think it's the safest.
The words Tada-senpai said to me.
"Whatever happens, keep smiling."
That worry was unnecessary.
This might be the first time I've seen Haruna so excited.
It was a place of women's dreams. A place like that.
The park was surprisingly large.
But Haruna was looking around various places regardless.
I got a little tired.
Whatever happens, keep smiling.
Is this what it means?
Even if Haruna is healing, this amusement park was frankly tiresome.
Even the food was designed to be cute.
Haruna happily taking photos.
Is this Haruna's hobby?
"Haruna, do you like this kind of thing?"
"Haruto, are you not good with this kind of thing?"
I might have worried her.
"No, not at all!"
"Then let's go around one more time?"
Seriously!?
"Okay."
I smiled to cover it up.
That day was a trial.
Finally, we rode the Ferris wheel.
Time-wise, this would probably be the last one.
I let my guard down for a moment.
I sighed.
I quickly held my breath.
But Haruna didn't miss it.
"Haruto, didn't you have fun?"
Haruna looked at me with lonely eyes.
"No, that's not true. As long as I'm with Haruna, anywhere is fun."
"Then let's come again."
She said the parade content changes depending on the season.
"Got it."
I answered cheerfully. That was the best I could do.
"Just kidding. I can tell you're forcing yourself, Haruto."
It was totally obvious.
I thought an awkward atmosphere would settle.
"So I felt like teasing you a little. I wanted to see you flustered."
Huh?
"You're always like that, forcing yourself to entertain me. I'm happy that you do it for my sake."
"Then it's fine to come again."
"Next time, I want to go where you want to go."
"To a place I want to go? You'd probably be bored, Haruna."
"I want to share your world too."
Haruna said that.
"Where do you want to go, Haruto?"
"Somewhere I've always wanted to go with my girlfriend."
"Where?"
"An aquarium."
"Huh?"
Haruna seemed surprised.
And then she said this.
"Good. That's 'a place I wanted to go with my boyfriend' too."
That was good.
Haruna suddenly sat next to me and kissed me.
I was surprised by the suddenness.
She finished the kiss. And said one word.
"Thank you for today."
How much that one word healed me.
"But what brought this on?"
I asked Haruna, who sat back in her original seat, and she pointed at the couple in the gondola below us.
They were exactly in the middle of a kiss.
"I thought that's what Ferris wheels are for. Was I wrong?"
In a way, she might be right.
A place to share time just for the two of us.
When we got off the Ferris wheel, we headed to the meeting spot.
"Wait."
Haruna said, and when I stopped, she linked her arm with mine.
"You can wait a little, can't you?"
"Yeah, I guess."
We walked back slowly, looking around.
(6)
We are now standing in front of a souvenir shop, waiting.
I was somehow hanging out with Makoto and the others.
Then other couples started gathering too.
The women inside were amiably looking at the goods.
"This place never changes, huh."
Makoto muttered.
"...Indeed."
For better or worse.
Almost all the people watching the parade were women.
The men were all slumping at the back.
Like a band of exhausted warriors standing still.
I'm not married yet, and Makoto and the others don't have kids, so it's still okay.
The fathers with young children were performing the incredible feat of carrying their kids on their shoulders while filming with a camera.
The women and children, whose excitement kept rising, contrasted inversely with the men, who couldn't hide their fatigue.
Still, they answered their girlfriends with their best smiles, trying not to make them unhappy.
It's a picture of hell.
I think every local man holds a grudge about how such a theme park was created.
"But it seems you and Makoto-kun have been here before."
Watanabe-kun asked.
Watanabe-kun also looked a bit tired.
"I came with my family. I only remember watching my little sister excitedly with a bored expression. I thought I'd never include it in a date course. If I acted like that with my girlfriend, I'd only see a future of doom."
I bet...
"What about you, Toya?"
"I came with Airi, I think. Exactly as Makoto said. I remember desperately trying to match Airi's pace."
"Toya, you've had it rough too..."
"...Still do, though."
"Toya-kun! Help me pick~"
See.
"Good luck~"
Pushed by Makoto's lifeless cheer, I go inside the shop.
But it seems I wasn't the only prey.
"Makoto, I mean, you guys, what are you doing? Shouldn't you be helping pick, or something? Don't just stand there dumbfounded!"
When Kanna said that, everyone started walking slowly.
Watanabe-kun gave a wry smile.
Inside the store was total chaos. People of all ages, adults and children, were browsing goods of various mascot characters.
Shopping while being jostled in the crowd.
"Toya-kun, which one do you think is better?"
If I said "Either is fine," it would definitely upset Airi.
I used the special skill of getting into Airi's head to choose.
"I guess this one. But this one catches my eye too~"
The words "Just buy both" are a landmine that must never be stepped on.
If I said it, the final result would be "Is shopping with me that boring!?" and she'd get in a bad mood.
It seemed Sakai-kun had stepped on that landmine.
He was desperately trying to soothe an upset Akira-san.
At times like this, I use my special skill to look around the store.
I choose a plushie that I think is the one, but I don't say "Don't you think this is the best?"
Because I'd get yelled at "You just picked arbitrarily!"
The key is to pretend to be thinking hard and then make a choice.
"Ah, you think so too, Toya-kun? I was wondering about that one too. Okay, I'll get this."
Airi takes it and lines up at the register. Operation successful.
I look at everyone. They all seem to be managing well.
"Airi, I'll wait outside the store."
"Okaay."
As for Kosei and Naru...
"I don't need something this childish!"
"Don't say that. What about using this keychain as a matching set?"
"Aren't you embarrassed, Kosei?"
"Is it embarrassing to use a pair item with you?"
"If you're going that far, I'll buy it."
"Ah, I'll buy it."
Kosei seems to know how to handle women.
When I went outside the store, Haruto was already out.
He was slumped over, exhausted.
"What's wrong?"
"...I'm completely burned out for today."
...My condolences.
When everyone finished shopping, they came out of the store.
Once everyone was together, we left the theme park.
At the parking lot, Watanabe-kun said.
"Thank you all for two days. I was thinking we'd have dinner at a family restaurant in Beppu and then call it a day. Is that okay? Shiratori-san is here too, so Beppu should be fine."
Everyone agreed to Watanabe-kun's suggestion.
After eating dinner at the family restaurant, everyone dispersed.
We also headed home.
"Hey? Toya-kun?"
"What's up?"
"Do guys hate those kind of theme parks?"
If I choose the wrong answer, Airi will get furious.
"No, I don't think that's true. But why do you think that?"
"Because everyone seemed so down compared to that first amusement park we went to? Maybe they were tired..."
"Well, I don't think guys dislike them, but there aren't many who love them either."
"So that means you don't like them either, Toya-kun!"
Ah, I might have chosen wrong.
"...From now on, when we date, I'll exclude that theme park."
Airi laughed and said that.
"Sorry."
"You don't have to apologize. You always go along with what I want. ...Do you remember going to that theme park before?"
How could I forget? It was a disaster that could have traumatized me from the concept of dates.
"Back then, you looked so bored, Toya-kun. You always seem unmotivated, but I wondered if dating me was that unpleasant."
"Of course not."
"Yeah, today too, when I said let's go to that theme park, you made a face like 'What?!' so I was a bit scared. I wondered if you hated it."
So that's it.
"We've changed since then, haven't we?"
Airi had a lonely expression.
What's wrong? ...I see?
"We have changed."
"Just as I thought..."
"My feelings for you only grow stronger."
Airi's expression turned into a smile.
"My feelings for you are getting stronger too."
"Thank you."
"It's only natural."
Airi seemed to be in a better mood.
When we got home, we put down our luggage and entered the house.
"Welcome back~" my parents said, and we gave them souvenirs before going to our room.
Airi was organizing her change of clothes and other things.
I looked at her and said.
Tonight should be fine, right?
"Airi, want to take a bath together?"
Airi looked up at me and said.
"Really?"
"If you don't mind."
"There's no way I'd say no! I have to hurry and get ready! Before you change your mind."
Slowly is fine. I'm already in that mood.
The world between me and Airi is probably already in harmony.
It's growing little by little.
Searching for the goal we should reach.