Chapter 323 - Quiet Determination
(1)
"Toya-kun, good morning. It's morning."
Airi shakes me awake.
I get up and start changing.
After finishing my morning routine, I take a shower.
In the meantime, Airi prepares breakfast.
After breakfast, Airi takes a shower.
In the meantime, I make coffee and take it to the room.
Today is the first day of the consecutive holidays.
The Watanabe group's training camp also starts today.
When Airi comes back, she quickly dries her hair, gets ready, and drinks a café au lait.
"Hmm..."
"What's wrong?"
"I was thinking it might be time to replace this soon."
Airi said that, looking at her mug.
"I'll buy you a new one next time we go to the Dream Kingdom."
"That's right!"
It's also my role to solve Airi's worries one by one.
Airi leaves the room holding her mug, and I leave together with her.
While Airi is getting ready, I load the luggage into the car.
Since there's a refrigerator, we split the food supplies for two days and bring them.
It's quite a lot of luggage.
Even so, thinking we'll probably go out to buy drinks and such on the second day, I finished loading everything.
It seems Airi has finished getting ready as well.
After greeting Mother and the others, we departed.
As always, we meet at our usual convenience store.
Those who arrived first were Haruto and the others.
And those who arrived last were Kisaragi-kun and his group.
Asakura-san was apologizing frantically.
But when we heard the reason, as expected, the cause of the lateness was Kisaragi-kun.
However, today the women don't get angry.
The reason will become clear tomorrow.
The lead was taken by the Ishihara couple, Kosei, and Naru, with us at the end following behind.
When we started climbing the mountain, the men sped up as if possessed.
I can't keep up with that, so I proceed leisurely at my own pace.
Then, after driving for a while, there's a car waiting with its hazard lights on.
It seems Kisaragi-kun and his group got lost.
Telling them we'll go ahead and they should follow slowly, I drive in front of Kisaragi-kun's group.
I proceed while checking in the rearview mirror that Kisaragi-kun's group is coming.
We arrived at the lodging facility quite late.
This year as well, we split into four rooms, two for men and two for women.
Everyone already had lunch prepared.
After eating that, the afternoon becomes free time.
Tasuku, Takatsuki-kun, and I practice basketball in the gymnasium.
Everyone else does as they please.
Kisaragi-kun's group, the Ishihara couple, and Kosei's group say they'll go for a drive nearby.
I suggested Takatsuki-kun should go too, but he said, "There's no time until the Spring Tournament. If the seniors are going to practice, then I will too."
"If you keep saying things like that now, Chitose-chan will get tired of you, you know?"
Tasuku says.
As for that Chi-chan, she's learning the manager's work from Sakura-san.
Airi is watching my practice.
"Is it really like that...?"
Takatsuki-kun said while practicing his shots.
"They say the start is the most important, you know. ...Have you had a girlfriend until now?"
"I did. But club activities were busy, and I couldn't spare time for her..."
"That's how it goes. Play around while you can? Once the holidays are over, the days of practice will begin."
"Then I'll do that. Hey, Chitose-san!"
Called by Takatsuki-kun, Chi-chan looks puzzled.
They're probably promising to go on a date or something.
But in a way, Chi-chan might be the more difficult one. She doesn't dislike him, but she doesn't like him either. She's finally reached the point of having some interest in romance.
But more than that.
"What about you, Tasuku? You're also soaked in basketball and not paying attention to Sakura-san, right?"
"I'm fine. Sakurako is a basketball nut. Keeping her company through basketball is just right."
"I can hear you, Tasuku!!"
Sakura-san shouts.
"I didn't say anything bad even if heard. Or what? Do you want us to go on a date or something?"
"You could at least invite me more normally!"
...She wants to be invited, huh.
"Got it. How about we take the second half of the day off and go somewhere?"
Sakura-san seems to be thinking.
There's nothing to think about.
Ah, I see.
"Airi, should we stop practicing too and kill some time around here?"
"Yeah, got it~"
"Katagiri-senpai, you have to properly cool down."
"I know. Well then, Airi, I'll go change, so wait outside."
"Oka~y"
Airi seems to have caught my intention.
Maybe she's just happy that I invited her.
After changing, I leave the gymnasium with Airi.
"Toya-kun, you've become considerate, haven't you?"
She seems to have understood my intention.
"It seemed like they were holding back because of us."
"Even though there's no need to hold back now, right?"
"Yeah, you're right."
Both Airi and I were smiling.
"So, where are you taking me?"
"Where do you want to go, Airi?"
"The observatory."
"Got it. Then let's go to the car?"
"Yeah."
We got in the car and headed for the observatory.
(2)
"Got it. How about we take the second half of the day off and go somewhere?"
Tasuku invited me.
This makes it seem like I asked him to invite me, doesn't it.
"Airi, should we stop practicing too and kill some time around here?"
Even Katagiri-senpai went out of his way to be considerate.
Tasuku is smirking as he waits for my reply.
Would it be bad to keep him waiting too long?
I'm disgusted with myself for not being honest.
"If you say you're busy in the second half, I won't force you..."
"It's not that..."
"But?"
"I worry that I might be holding you back, Tasuku."
I tried speaking my true feelings.
But Tasuku is laughing.
"Taking one or two days off isn't going to change much, right?"
"What if I get injured while we're playing around?"
If we got caught in an accident, it would be irreparable.
There's only one month until the Spring Tournament.
Tasuku comes over and sits next to me, telling me to sit down.
"Believe it or not, back in high school I was the ace of the basketball club. Of course, I was popular."
A bragging story?
"But it's the same as Takatsuki. An amazing guy one year younger joined. I was determined not to lose and spent every day immersed in basketball. I was determined never to give up my regular spot."
"...And then?"
"Tired of me, she suddenly said she wanted to break up. But I wasn't really shocked... but still."
"But?"
"When I lost in the last Inter-High qualifiers and thought, 'This is the end of my high school days,' I looked around and there was no one there. That was tough."
"So even you have experiences like that, Tasuku."
"Yeah, well. That's why I decided to treasure my next girlfriend. I started thinking maybe there were things more important than basketball."
"Tasuku..."
"Well, even so, I entered university and spent my days immersed in basketball again. When Toya joined, I got flustered again. If it weren't for Sakurako, I don't think there'd be a me now. I probably would have pushed myself despite an injury and ruined my whole life. That's why I want to treasure Sakurako."
Tasuku's face was serious.
"I can't talk about others. I forced my own expectations onto people and made them carry them. I was desperate for my own dreams and never thought about romance. So I can't properly depend on someone."
"I know. I want to make memories with that Sakurako. It's my last year of university, after all."
"Have you decided on your future path, Tasuku?"
"Yeah, it depends on the results of the Spring Tournament though."
"...Can I be selfish?"
"Yeah, tell me anything."
I took the plunge and voiced my desire.
"I want to spend the four consecutive holidays at your place, Tasuku."
"Is that okay?"
"Is it no good?"
"Of course not."
"I'm looking forward to it. Well then, shall we practice a bit more?"
"What about our date?"
Look at the situation now. Look around. There's no one here besides me and Tasuku right now.
"...You're my first relationship, so I don't really get it, but isn't doing something together just the two of us a date?"
"Fine."
It seems my feelings got through.
Proof of that is Tasuku smiling.
And so, I kept him company during practice until evening.
(3)
"As expected, the cars are packed."
Sho-chan is silent.
Is he getting irritated again?
"Do you regret coming?"
"It's not that."
Then why won't you say anything?
"The traffic jam is only until we get past Flower Park, right?"
"Yeah, right..."
"I think the unpleasant feeling is probably just temporary."
What's wrong? Suddenly...
"Maybe there's something like a sense of liberation after getting through the traffic jam? I was thinking..."
"Liberation from what?"
Sho-chan looks at me.
"From Iori."
Am I making Sho-chan feel bad?
Did I mess something up?
"Did I do something to upset you, Sho-chan?"
"It's the opposite, Iori. I was thinking maybe I'm doing something unpleasant to you."
"Th-There's nothing like that!"
"You don't have to cover it up like that. I'm at least self-aware. It makes me feel unpleasant."
So I am making Sho-chan feel bad after all.
After passing the entrance to Flower Park, the road was clear.
We drove through exhilaratingly.
It was a short time to our destination, the observatory.
The spectacular view, unique to the highlands with its sense of liberation, frees the heart as well.
I'm glad I came with Sho-chan.
Because I can feel this way.
"There's not much here, than I thought?"
Sho-chan seems bored.
Looking through the telescope, I can see horses and cows.
I show Sho-chan too.
Sho-chan still looks bored.
...Since we came all the way here.
"Sho-chan, let's take a picture!"
"It's fine, it's not some special place, is it?"
No, we make it a special place.
I try to take a selfie but it's not working well, so I get called out.
"Want me to take it for you?"
It was Tosaka-senpai and Katagiri-senpai.
I hand my phone to Tosaka-senpai and have him take the picture.
"Closer together~"
Tosaka-senpai says something unreasonable.
Tosaka-senpai's eyes encourage me, saying "Do your best!"
I take the plunge, grab his shoulder, bend down, and press my cheek against his.
Click
"Thank you very much."
I take my phone back from Tosaka-senpai.
"Wait!"
Sho-chan calls out to stop Tosaka-senpai and the others.
"What's wrong?"
"Since we're here, take one of me too."
"...Sure~"
Sho-chan hands his phone to Tosaka-senpai.
"Then, get close like before... okay, cheese!"
Click
"Thank you very much."
"You should head back soon, it's about that time~"
Tosaka-senpai and the others said that and left.
"Should we go back?"
Sho-chan says.
"Yeah."
I wonder why? He was so reluctant, but now he's holding my hand normally.
Is this that sense of liberation after getting through unpleasant feelings?
If I can experience feelings like this, I'll overcome any hardship.
But please, don't hold my hand while driving, okay?
This car is a manual transmission, you know?
(4)
Once we got through the traffic jam, the drive to the drive-in was comfortable.
Chitose-san took a break there.
I take the chance to look around the souvenir shop.
My phone rings.
"Where are you now?"
A message from Chitose-san.
"At the souvenir shop."
"Then I'll wait in the car."
I hurry back to the car.
"Welcome back. That was fast? Did you buy something?"
"Not really. Buying snacks or whatever seems pointless."
"I thought so. It's about time, you know? Should we go back?"
"Yeah... let's go back."
I start the car.
"Beautiful..."
Chitose-san said that, looking at the scenery.
Indeed, the scenery where blue and green meet was beautiful.
After that, nothing special happened; I just head the car back to the lodging facility.
When it's just Chitose-san and me, silence inevitably takes over.
She seems absorbed in the scenery.
"Is this your first time coming here?"
"I came here with my family once a long time ago. I remember my brother looked bored. So I thought Takatsuki-san might also be bored."
"You were probably still small, right?"
You might not understand it as a child. The wonder of this scenery. Just a boring memory.
"My brother always looked bored no matter where we went. I was happy just being able to play with him. I wondered if I'm a boring presence for men."
"That's not true. At least, I'm having fun right now."
"Why?"
"Because I'm driving to this wonderful place alone with my girlfriend."
"Does that mean you like it?"
"Probably, right?"
"Then, maybe I like Takatsuki-san too? I'm having fun."
It makes me happy to hear you say that.
"I'm the same as Chitose-san..."
"?
"In high school, I was devoted only to basketball and got dumped by my girlfriend. I don't regret being devoted to basketball. I had a good time. But I was still sad, I guess."
"Do you regret it now?"
"I told you, right? I don't regret it. I thought that was fine. Calling out to you, Chitose-san, was really just instinct. I thought, 'This person might be the one.'
"I never had a boyfriend in middle or high school. No one ever paid attention to me. So even now, it doesn't feel real."
"I'll make it feel real for you."
"How?"
"Secret?"
Chitose-san looked a bit troubled.
Seeing her like that, I laugh.
Chitose-san looks at me with a puzzled expression.
I see, it's her first time. I have to treasure her.
(5)
"Kosei, come come! The view is amazing~"
It's been a while since I saw Naru this excited.
"Thank you, Ishihara-kun."
"You're welcome."
"It's been a while since I've seen Naru this happy."
"Then you should look happy too."
Emi-san says.
I've forgotten how to express joy so well like that.
At an age where I could be excited like Naru, but when did I become like this?
Naru was taking pictures, looking through the telescope, browsing souvenirs - she was full of energy.
"Kosei, choose one with me."
Naru calls me, so I choose together with her.
Keychains were the main items.
Other than that, snacks and toys that you could find anywhere.
In the end, I didn't buy anything.
Naru also didn't seem particularly interested in anything.
When I try to take a picture of Naru with the scenery in the background, Ishihara-kun says, "I'll take it, so you get in too, Kosei."
After taking the picture, Ishihara-kun says, "It's about time."
On the way back to the lodging facility, Naru was leaning against me, asleep.
"She must have really enjoyed herself."
Ishihara-kun laughs, looking at Naru.
"This time last year was tough."
"A year has passed already, hasn't it."
Emi-san says with eyes looking into the distance.
"A whole year has passed, so Kosei, you should forget about it already. It's a world you'll never have anything to do with again."
"Yeah, you're right."
"Speaking of which, what are your parents doing, Kosei?"
"You didn't look into it?"
"They didn't even have a family register. There was no way to look it up."
I see. The Takahashi group had pulled strings.
"I did have parents. They're not here anymore."
"Did they pass away?"
Emi-san has a look of having asked something she shouldn't have.
"It's not like that. I just left home on my own. After that, the Takahashi group seems to have erased my family register. They told my parents I died in a traffic accident. I wasn't even allowed to have a funeral."
"I see. So that's why my parents had a hard time."
It seems it was difficult to get me, with no family register, back into compulsory education. I'm now adopted into the Eguchi family. Naru is too.
"But your parents didn't file a missing person report or anything?"
"It seems my parents were given a large sum of money. Enough to live comfortably for the rest of their lives."
Both of them were speechless.
My parents seemed delighted with the money. They probably imagined a more serious, excellent child, so they found a child as jaded as me a nuisance.
"Kosei, it's my fault... I'm sorry."
Naru seemed to have woken up at some point.
"It's like I dedicated my life to my beautiful one. I don't mind at all. On the contrary, you promised me a future. There's nothing more joyful than this."
This happiness I would never have experienced if I had stayed in that house.
I see. I'm happy now.
I felt content with my state of mind.
So I have no regrets or lingering feelings. Only a sense of fulfillment.
To my parents, the Takahashi group, Naru, and everyone in the Watanabe group.
Thank you for everything.
Because of all of you, I am here now.
(6)
When we returned to the lodging facility, everyone had already started preparing for the BBQ.
Kisaragi-kun and Takatsuki-kun apparently helped too. Kosei was setting up tables, and Naru seemed to have been making rice balls together with everyone.
When everyone was ready, Watanabe-kun said.
"Well then, good work today everyone! Let's get this party started!"
From here, the feast begins.
I just keep eating meat.
Oh, I'm eating the rice balls properly too.
I'm drinking alcohol properly too.
Everyone is chatting with their partners, gathering among friends, making a ruckus.
"Here, there's plenty of meat, so eat up!"
Mika-san is grilling meat, holding a beer in one hand.
Of course I'll eat!
Thump
"You've had enough, Toya-kun!"
"No, I heard there's still a lot..."
"No, you're done!"
"Katagiri-senpai, are you aware!? You're a Japanese national team member! Think a bit about your dietary balance!"
Blocked by Sakura-san and Airi, I can't get any meat.
"Toya, don't hold back, eat, eat!"
Mika-san throws me a perfect pass.
I take the meat and eat it.
"It's not just meat! We have yakisoba and hamburger steaks too!"
I can't pass those up.
I keep eating the dishes that are brought out one after another without wasting any.
Each time, Airi and Sakura-san scold me, but...
What is Tasuku doing?
Leaving his own girlfriend alone.
"Tasuku! Keep Sakura-san company!"
"I'm too busy managing you right now, so I can't."
The one who should be managed is Tasuku, right?
Tasuku is drinking quite a bit too.
"Tasuku! Don't think I'm not watching! You're drinking too much!"
"Don't be so stiff, Sakurako, have a drink."
Saying that, Tasuku hands a beer to Sakura-san.
"He's right, Sakurako! Times like this, you gotta get into the spirit!"
"Kanna-senpai, you guys are always getting into the spirit!"
"It's fine. Let's get into it at least during the holidays."
While Kanna is persuading Sakura-san, I reach for a cheese hamburger steak.
Thump
"Toya-kun, either drink or eat! Pick one!"
Airi scolded me.
"Eat too, Airi. This meat is delicious."
"Ugh... I'm already full."
"Then have a drink."
"I told you, I'm full!"
Airi's mood seems not so good.
Well then, nothing I can do.
"Then, how about some exercise?"
"Huh?"
"Sorry everyone, I'm going for a walk around."
"Toya! There's no lighting, it's dark, and it's still cold outside... ouch!"
"You idiot! What are you saying in front of Chi-chan!?"
"Chi is at that age too, right!?"
"Don't teach her unnecessary things?"
Leaving Makoto and Kanna behind, we go for a walk outside.
We stroll around the grounds with only the light of a flashlight.
"What's with the sudden move?"
"If I didn't do this, we wouldn't get any time alone, right?"
"Huh?"
Airi seems not to fully understand, so I take her hand.
Airi seems to have grasped the meaning.
She clings to my arm.
"This is better~"
"I see."
"Hey? Toya-kun?"
"What?"
"Did you notice?"
"What?"
"Iori and Kisaragi-kun."
"Ah."
The wall was crumbling a bit, huh.
At that rate, it looks like it'll be resolved soon.
As I thought, the problem is Chi-chan.
She's still just starting to show interest.
But I think Takatsuki-kun will handle it well.
"As expected, the Watanabe group is a group that brings good luck."
"Yeah, it is."
For me, just having Airi is enough.
When we come back from our walk, the cleanup has started.
Airi and I help out.
Tonight has only just begun.