Chapter 30 - Free Time
(1)
Day 3: Kyoto
The morning was free time in Kyoto.
Meaning we could go anywhere as long as it was from Kyoto.
Makoto and Kanna said they wanted to go to the Movie Village.
Airi said she wanted to go to Arashiyama.
I felt indifferent either way.
...
It was decided that we would split into two groups.
Gather at the hotel at 13:00. Eat lunch on your own.
We agreed to meet up in front of Kyoto Station at 12:30.
"Do a good job,"
Makoto said as he left.
I wonder what he's talking about.
We went to Arashiyama by train.
It was then that I realized.
Trains aren't just JR.
Airi led me while I was lost at the ticket gate.
Is Airi used to this?
"I've come here on a trip with my family before."
They're a family that travels a lot.
Arashiyama, Togetsukyo.
The autumn leaves were magnificent.
"So pretty~!!"
Airi frolicked while taking photos.
Thinking I might as well take one of Airi too, I took out my smartphone.
"Hmm~ in that case~..."
She took the smartphone back from me and asked a passerby, "Excuse me~," to take a photo of us together.
"Don't you want a photo of yourself too?" the person who took the picture asked.
Since we're already at it, I figured I'd have my photo taken too.
"Please," I said, handing over the smartphone.
Just like before, Airi got abnormally close to me.
I've already gotten used to it, though.
Getting used to things is scary.
"Say, cheese."
The photo was taken.
Since the smartphone doesn't make a sound when taking a photo, I didn't know when it happened.
"There, I got it."
I didn't know until they spoke to me.
"Thank you very much."
Once I said that, the person who took the photo left.
"Hey, hey, let's ride that."
What she was pointing to while linking arms was the trolley train.
For the record, people from the same school were also here.
"Yay, amazing, amazing!"
Airi took photos incessantly.
What's the difference between this and a normal train?
Well, cutting through the autumn leaves was a spectacular sight.
It didn't take that much time.
However, by the time we got off, it was almost time.
We returned to Kyoto Station, ate lunch at some random shop, and waited for Kanna and the others.
As expected, they arrived late.
"Ah, my bad, my bad."
"Sorry, we got a bit too carried away and forgot the time."
"...We're acting together in Osaka, right?"
Airi said with a sigh.
"Ah, it's fine. Osaka isn't that far apart."
"Yeah, don't worry, you two enjoy yourselves."
Since the two of them said so, Airi agreed, saying, "If that's the case..."
Actually, she might be happy about it.
(2)
We arrived in Osaka.
Free time here as well.
We just had to be back by 18:00.
"For now, let's go to Umeda,"
Kanna said, pushing through the crowds and leading the way.
The three of us followed behind.
I was at the very back.
As usual, I didn't know where the boarding area was.
Does Kanna know?
"Come on, buy your tickets, buy them."
I bought my ticket as Kanna told me to.
"You don't have to rush so much, the train is still..."
"Coming!"
She beat me to it.
We passed through the ticket gate and went down.
It's the subway.
I looked at the display board.
It said how many minutes were left.
Was the timing just right?
The train arrived on time.
We boarded.
For being just past noon, there are way too many people.
I was taken aback when we arrived at Umeda.
People, people, people.
At this rate, it seems like we'd get separated immediately.
"Which way, Kanna?"
"This way, don't get lost!"
"Got it."
At that moment, naturally, very naturally, I was holding Airi's hand.
The reason might have been to avoid getting lost, but I had probably just gotten used to it.
We entered a commercial facility.
Apparently, there's a theme park inside.
However, the theme park was closed.
The four of us stood there stunned.
"That's strange, it was there when I came before,"
Airi said, bewildered.
"What do we do now?"
"Well... let's just kill time somehow."
"Makoto, is there anywhere you want to go?"
"Should we go to a net cafe or something to kill time?"
"You came all the way to Osaka for a net cafe!"
"...Should we go shopping or something?"
"There's somewhere I want to go, would that be okay?"
Airi asserted herself, which was rare.
"Then, let's make this entrance the meeting spot and act separately."
"Is around 17:30 okay?"
"Got it."
"There's somewhere I want to go with Toya-kun!"
Saying that, Airi grabbed my arm.
She headed toward the upper floors of the building.
"I get it, so don't rush me."
Where we arrived was a Ferris wheel.
Why is there a Ferris wheel on top of a building?
"Look, let's buy tickets and line up."
Urged by Airi, I lined up.
Airi didn't let go of my arm, but since everyone here was a similar kind of couple, it didn't bother me.
Our turn came.
We boarded the Ferris wheel.
At first we sat facing each other, but once we rose to a certain height, we sat side-by-side.
I looked at the gondolas in front and behind, and since they were similar, this should be fine, right?
"Hey! Look, look!"
Beyond that, the sea was visible.
It's quite high, here.
She was frolicking while looking at the scenery, but as we approached the highest point, Airi's expression stiffened.
Not just her expression, her body was also tense.
Is she afraid of heights?
No, that wasn't it.
By the time we reached the top, she closed her eyes.
No matter how dense I am, I understood what that meant.
I put my arm around her shoulder and gently overlapped our lips.
It was only for a few seconds.
Come to think of it, have there been that few times where I was the one to initiate the kiss?
When the kiss ended, she was grinning.
"I've always wanted to try that once!"
I see, so that's why she chose the Ferris wheel.
When the Ferris wheel descended about halfway, we sat facing each other again.
Is this some kind of ritual?
When we got off the Ferris wheel, I asked, "Where to next?"
"Toya-kun, isn't there anywhere you want to go?"
I hadn't thought of anything.
"...Hmm."
"Maid cafes are rejected, okay?"
She preempted me.
"...Then, okonomiyaki."
"Eh?"
"No, I've wanted to try the authentic Kansai-style."
"...You won't be able to eat dinner."
"Okonomiyaki is basically like a snack, right?"
"You're a glutton, Toya-kun."
"My bad."
"Well, shall we go eat something?"
After eating okonomiyaki, we enjoyed window shopping at the commercial facility.
When the time came, I waited at the entrance.
"Hey—"
I heard Kanna's voice.
They came out of the commercial facility.
There were paper bags in their hands.
"Did you buy something?"
"Yeah."
Both of them were smiling.
Did something good happen?
"Well, let's get going soon."
Saying that, we returned to the hotel.
(3)
We ate at the hotel and took a bath.
There was a rock near the partition wall, and there were boys trying to climb up there to peep.
Naturally, it was completely obvious.
Along with screams of "Kyaa!", hot water and basins came flying.
There were casualties everywhere.
It goes without saying that those injured people were later made to sit in seiza in the hallway.
"I wonder what they're doing..."
Makoto and I relaxed in the bathtub while watching those boys.
"I think we're also kind of strange for not getting carried away."
"Do you want to see?"
"I don't know about Toya, but if Kanna-san or Tosaka-san said they wanted to see, they'd probably let me."
"As if that would happen!"
"Why are you turning red? It's a joke."
"I'm just dizzy from the bath."
After Makoto and I left the bath, we headed to the room.
Then, in front of the room, there was a girl from a different class.
"Um, Tada-kun, I have something to talk about, would that be okay?"
"Hmm? Sure. Toya, go back to the room first."
"Yeah."
She probably intends to confess.
Well, it doesn't matter to me who Makoto dates.
I'm bored.
I got into my futon and listened to my Walkman.
The other boys were playing pillow fights and cards.
Eventually, it became lights-out time.
Makoto didn't come back.
I wonder what happened?
Click
The door opened.
Makoto returned.
"Toya, for a second..."
Saying that, Makoto called me outside.
"What's up?"
"Quiet! ...Follow me for a bit."
Saying that, Makoto proceeded while staying alert to the surroundings.
You're actually making it look more suspicious, Makoto.
And the place we arrived at was... the girls' room.
"Wait! You..."
"Just get in!"
Makoto pushed me into the room like that.
"Ah, Toya-kun!"
Airi beckoned me over.
Makoto went next to Kanna.
"Haha, you can't have a school trip without this!"
Makoto laughed, saying that.
"Toya-kun, you'll be found if you're just sitting there. Get inside the futon! If Mayumi-chan comes, you can just dive under."
Get inside the futon...
I glanced at Makoto.
Makoto had already cheekily gotten into the same futon as Kanna.
At this rate, I'd certainly be found.
I got into the same futon as Airi.
We're closer than when we went on a trip. Which is obvious, though.
My heart is pounding.
I wonder if Airi is okay?
The main topic of conversation was Makoto.
Why did they bring me along?
At that moment, Airi poked my arm.
"Sorry for asking too much of you,"
Airi whispered in a low voice.
"No, it's fine, but why me too?"
"That's because..."
"What are you two whispering about by yourselves?"
Kanna said, coming over.
"We're not exactly whispering."
"It'll be a problem if the guest of honor tonight is like that."
Guest of honor? Isn't this all just about Makoto?
"Right, right, we brought Toya here because there's something we want to ask him tonight."
Makoto said that.
Something they want to ask...?
I don't really want to be asked.
"What is it, the thing you want to ask?"
The girls around us answered instead.
"Yesterday we heard from Airi what she likes about Toya-kun, but what is it about Airi that Toya-kun fell in love with?"
As I thought, it's that kind of talk.
"I-I was curious too. What do you like?"
Airi also asked nervously.
"What do I like... everything."
I couldn't convey it any better.
"What do you mean, everything? Isn't there something more specific?"
Kanna expressed her dissatisfaction.
"...It is,"
I said as if muttering.
"Huh?"
Kanna asked back, seemingly not having heard.
"I said!"
"Your voice is too loud!"
Just as the girls cautioned me.
Slide
The sound of a door opening was heard.
"A-Are you staying up late again!?"
Makoto and I instinctively dove into the futons.
We held our breath and stayed still.
Then, a rumbling sound was heard.
It was from Airi's stomach.
Is she hungry?
The lights were turned on.
"Get closer, or we'll be noticed,"
Airi said, clinging to me.
This is bad.
This is the first time in my life I've been this close to a girl.
Ah, was there a time I was close to Kanna?
"Are Tada and Katagiri not here!?"
Hearing our names, I involuntarily jumped.
Crap! Were we found!?
"They're not here~"
"I mean, this is the girls' room, Oshinda-sensei."
"Don't come in! Pervert!"
Perhaps overwhelmed by the girls' booing, the teacher left.
"Those guys are getting a lecture tomorrow."
Such a voice could be heard.
"E-Everyone, please go to sleep quickly too."
Saying that, Mayumi-chan also left.
After a while, Airi touched my shoulder.
"It's okay now."
Being told that, I poked my face out of the futon.
"That was close, Toya."
" 'That was close' my ass. We're getting a lecture tomorrow."
"Well, that'll become a good memory too."
"Hey, wouldn't it be better to just go back to our rooms quickly?"
"Idiot, if we leave the room now, we'll be caught instantly. It's better when everyone's fallen asleep."
"I-I see."
As I was being persuaded by Makoto, Airi whispered.
"Sorry. Let's stay together just a little longer, okay?"
"Ah, Tosaka-san just said something to Katagiri-kun."
"What did she say!"
The girls started making a fuss.
I-If we make a fuss now...
"A-Are you still not asleep!? ...Katagiri-kun! And even Tada-kun!"
Mayumi-chan shouted.
Hearing our names, the teachers rushed over.
After that, we were made to sit in seiza in the hallway for about an hour and received a lecture.