Chapter 317 - The Cherry Blossoms Scent, and You Are Lovely
(1)
"Good morning, Toya-kun. It's morning~"
I'm woken up by Airi.
"Good morning, Airi"
I give Airi a kiss along with the words.
She happily clings to me.
"Want to get dressed quickly and get your daily routine over with?"
"Why are you in such a hurry?"
It's still spring break, you know?
"Today's the cherry blossom viewing day, right? I have to make the lunch."
Ah, cherry blossom viewing. So we're doing that this year too.
We were able to return to our daily lives after the battle ended.
That first step is the cherry blossom viewing.
Manabe-kun and the others are apparently securing a spot for us.
I get changed, finish my daily routine, take a shower, and eat breakfast.
After that, while Airi takes a shower, I watch TV with Father in the living room.
The content on TV had also become ordinary.
When Airi comes back from the shower, I make coffee and return to the room.
Airi watches TV while drying her hair.
There were no more news items that particularly caught my eye.
But online, rumors about Unity's disbandment are spreading.
Unity was crushed by Stinger.
That's the kind of rumor.
But it was irrelevant to us.
With the backing of the Sudo Group now unstable, it's probably only a matter of time before Stinger gets cut off.
Besides, entering such a dangerous circle is one's own fault.
It's not our fault.
That's what I thought.
After drying her hair, Airi sits next to me and leisurely drinks her café au lait.
She's in a good mood from the morning.
Because we no longer need tense times.
After finishing her café au lait, Airi takes her mug and goes downstairs.
She'll probably start preparing the lunch now.
I also shut down my PC and started playing a game.
The usual trivial conversations have started in the messages.
Makoto sends another stupid video.
I delete the message before Airi sees it.
Even though the conflict is over, a conflict with Airi would be no joke.
While I'm playing the game, Airi calls me.
"Lunch is ready~"
I interrupt the game.
It was instant ramen.
The egg is properly included.
After eating that, I return to the room and resume the game, and then Airi, having finished cleaning up, comes back.
Airi frolics around me.
I stop the game and open the laptop.
"Apparently there's a new event going on. Want to try it for the first time in a while?"
Airi probably doesn't mind anything as long as she can spend time with me, right?
She gladly agreed.
But she gets bored with it in about two hours.
I spend the remaining time watching TV and fooling around with Airi.
I enjoy my time with Airi while looking at messages on our phones together.
We leave the house a little after 5 PM.
We headed to the cherry blossom viewing venue.
(2)
Together with the Takemotos, the four of us had been securing the spot.
Talking among the four of us, exchanging messages.
"How's married life?"
Saki asked.
"Even though we're newlyweds, we had a long cohabitation period, so..."
Satomi answered.
"What about you, Takemoto?"
"We haven't even had the ceremony yet."
"You're not going to say you'll work hard at a part-time job to pay for the ceremony, are you! If you push yourself any more, you'll die!"
"I know, I'm matching my days off, aren't I?"
These two seem to have settled down quite a bit over the past two years.
Last year, for better or worse, the conflict had put an end to their lovers' quarrels.
When the cold winter melts, spring arrives.
The current Unity was exactly in the season of spring.
"What was that all about, that conflict?"
I muttered to myself.
"It was nothing. Isn't that fine?"
Takemoto said.
"I guess so."
I answered.
"Let's drop that gloomy talk for now! The cherry blossom viewing is for everyone to get excited!"
When Saki said that, everyone nodded.
Returning to the way the Watanabe Group should be.
That's all it is.
Let's forget the past that has passed.
"Hey, good work securing the spot."
"Good work! I brought a ton of drinks!"
The Watanabes arrived.
"Sorry we're late! I had a part-time job and couldn't make it no matter what!"
"I prepared a lunch."
Haruto and Shiratori-san also came.
Everyone gathered one after another.
We would be gathering over 30 people.
We needed quite a large space.
When everyone was laying out their lunches, Katagiri-senpai and the others arrived.
"Huh? Is everyone already here?"
"No, the Tadas aren't here yet..."
The Tadas arrived last, along with the Kiritanis.
"It's because Eita was playing games until the very end!"
"I can't help it! I was just about to clear it!"
These two are the same as always.
We were able to return to the same old them.
That's a joyful thing.
And then the feast begins.
"Well then, let's all do our best in the first semester too! Cheers!"
When Watanabe-senpai said that, the feast began.
(3)
"Toya, eat this. It's a dish I'm pretty confident in!"
"Toya, eat mine too. I think it's good!"
When Kanna and Mika-san shared their food with me, everyone shared theirs.
Of course, I eat everything.
Airi's homemade lunch too, without leaving any.
"Toya-kun? Which one was the most delicious?"
Airi already knows the answer, but she occasionally asks me this.
"Airi's is obviously the best, right?"
"Yay~"
Airi happily clings to me.
"Showing off right from spring, huh."
Kanna said.
"Speaking of spring, I heard Hiyama-senpai already started work?"
Ai-san asked.
"Yeah, they've already finished moving."
Apparently, he was assigned to the main store.
He's in the middle of new employee training.
"So what are you going to do in the end, Toya? Is the local bank your first choice?"
"No, I'll probably fail anyway, so I'm giving up on that."
"I see... Well, it can't be helped, right? After all the chaos you caused."
I probably won't be able to get a job at a company affiliated with the Knights of the Sun.
Fortunately, thanks to Airi's impeccable schedule management, I've managed to get the necessary qualifications.
I'll find a good job somewhere.
"Has everyone decided on their jobs?"
I asked everyone.
"I'm planning to be employed by Emi's company," Ishihara-kun answered.
"I'm suddenly the president," Sakai-kun answered with a laugh.
"I'm the same as you, Toya. I'll start looking from now on," Watanabe-kun said.
"I'm going pro after graduation. The contract's already done," Makoto answered.
Nakajima-kun seems to be aiming for a public servant position.
Kiritani-kun was the only one looking down.
"What's wrong, Eita?"
Watanabe-kun asked.
"This idiot already messed up right at the start of spring, apparently."
Ai-san sighed.
"What do you mean?"
Watanabe-kun asked.
It apparently happened yesterday!
Kiritani-kun was called to the academic affairs office.
"You won't be able to graduate this academic year, will you?"
"Eh!?"
"You didn't take a second foreign language, did you?"
"I properly took English!?"
"That's the first foreign language... There's always one person like you every year."
"Well then, I'll take it starting now!"
"Registration is already closed. Give it up."
After that, there was apparently a huge fight with Ai-san.
"This idiot!"
Ai-san is still angry even now.
"That's a disaster, Eita."
Watanabe-kun also gave a wry smile.
"What's the big deal. Even with a year repeating, you can manage one credit in half a year."
Makoto said.
"So, are you going to work, Ai?"
Airi asked.
"I have connections, so I might work."
"Connections?"
"Because our hospital is always short-staffed."
Nishimatsu-kun said.
"So, Honoka too?"
"Yes, we're planning to go together."
So, the ones who haven't decided on jobs yet are me and Watanabe-kun.
"I'm thinking of aiming for a public servant position too."
Watanabe-kun said.
"What about you, Tasuku?"
"The guys from the basketball club are apparently all planning to go to companies with basketball clubs. We've gotten our name out there thanks to you, Toya."
Apparently, if they win the spring tournament this year, it'll be certain.
"The team to watch out for this year is still Kumamoto Institute of Technology. That defense and offense are a threat!"
Sakura-san said.
Speaking of career paths.
"What are you going to do, Kosei and Naru?"
"Just go to high school normally?"
"Me too."
"Kosei and Naru are good kids. My father has taken a liking to them. He says he'll take care of them through university."
Emi-san said.
"I'll hire Katagiri-kun at one of our group's companies if you like?"
"I'll count on you in the end."
"Then it's practically decided for everyone, isn't it!"
"That's how it seems."
"Then let's toast to everyone's future!!"
Career paths. I've never really thought about them properly.
I couldn't imagine myself working.
Everyone has been thinking about it properly.
What do I want to do?
While everyone else was excited, I was alone, thinking.
Then Airi pinched my cheek.
"Toya-kun must not worry alone!!"
Airi said.
"I'll worry about my own career path by myself."
"Boo! I'm going to be part of your future, Toya-kun. At least consult with me."
"You're right."
I have to bear Airi's future as well.
There's no time to worry so much.
"Katagiri-kun, there are good jobs even if you don't get so down."
Emi-san said.
"Yeah, but I want to try looking for my own career path myself until the very last moment."
"Sorry, Emi. Toya-kun tries to do everything himself..."
Airi apologized.
"It's fine, but if you get desperate, let me know anytime. I'd welcome Katagiri-kun."
Emi-san said with a laugh.
"Come to think of it, no one's joining this year? The Watanabe Group?"
Mika-san said.
"We're technically looking. But the first semester hasn't started yet. We'll take our time looking."
Watanabe-kun said.
"I'll look around too. There might be someone just right."
Ai-san said.
"Might as well have someone worth taming."
"That's right, someone with some fight in them would be good."
Emi-san and Akira-san said.
So, that means they're planning to do that again this year, huh.
"The next wedding is Hiyama-senpai and them, right?"
Watanabe-kun said.
"Yeah, we're planning for June."
Hiyama-senpai said.
After that, it's Shiina-san and them...
"Who's after Shiina-san and them?"
Watanabe-kun said.
No one raised their hand.
"We'll think about it when that idiot Eita graduates."
Ai-san said.
"Our spring continues."
"Because the snow has melted."
Airi and Emi-san said.
"Shouldn't you worry about yourself before worrying about others, Airi?"
Kanna said.
"Huh?"
"It'll be fine, right? Toya keeps his promises."
Makoto said.
Even if he didn't, it looks like they'd be forced into marriage anyway.
"I trust Toya-kun~"
Airi is in high spirits.
"Don't look so glum, you guys, come on in."
Mika-san said to Kamenashi-kun and the others.
"Aren't you guys thinking about marriage or anything?"
Watanabe-kun asked.
"We're talking about registering our marriage after graduation."
Kamenashi-kun answered.
"Just go ahead and register it on impulse. Nothing changes!"
Mika-san said.
The four of them are discussing.
"The day after tomorrow, huh. I'm looking forward to it."
Watanabe-kun muttered casually.
Looking forward to school life.
Is being able to feel that emotion also due to the sense of release from an unreal daily life?
The cherry blossoms are fragrant, filled with the scent of spring.
Our spring feast continued until late at night.
(4)
When I got home, I took a shower and waited for Airi's shower.
I turned on the TV, and a drama was playing.
I was staring blankly at it when Airi came back with a chu-hai.
"Here, cheers."
"Cheers."
I drink the chu-hai.
We watch TV together, just the two of us.
The drama ended, and a talk show started.
It was a celebrity I wasn't particularly interested in, so I just watched.
Spending time together.
By the time I finish my chu-hai, I'm feeling sleepy.
"Should we go to sleep soon?"
"Okay~"
Airi must be tired too from all the excitement today.
She obediently falls asleep.
"Hey, Toya-kun?"
"What is it?"
"I'm looking forward to next week."
"Yeah, me too."
"I wonder what kind of people will join?"
"Let's leave it to Watanabe-kun and the others?"
"Yeah, you're right."
Airi clung to me and suddenly fell asleep.
"Toya-kun..."
I seem to be in Airi's dreams.
I exist within my beloved.
Within me, surely, you exist too.
We enjoyed the spring night while sharing our dreams.