Chapter 326 - After the Banquet
(1)
"Fuu~"
There were all sorts of things at the end today too. But it ended safely.After this, we just have to put it into practice tomorrow in Yufuin, and then it's over.I'm in the bath right now.A very large bath.While I'm in there, Watanabe-kun comes over.
"Good work today too, Toya."
Watanabe-kun says that and sits down next to me.
"Good work to you too.""Today was rough too, huh.""I never thought you'd still be at it. Watanabe-kun, do you have any hobbies?""Me? I guess my hobby is mostly eating and sleeping?"
Watanabe-kun says that and laughs.
"You get to eat Mika-san's home cooking every day, so I'm envious.""Her cooking evolves every day, you know... If she'd just learn to clean up the room, there'd be nothing to complain about.""There's no such thing as a perfect person.""I guess you're right."
As I'm talking and laughing with Watanabe-kun, Makoto, Kiritani-kun, and Nakajima-kun come over.
"Man, that was rough earlier."
I'm the one who should be saying that, Makoto.
"But she actually lent it to you, huh? Didn't Kanna say she'd absolutely never lend it?""She started going to her part-time job in my car, says the fuel economy is good. And I live close anyway.""Then if you're just driving Kanna's car around, that defeats the purpose, doesn't it?""Yeah, I got chewed out pretty badly for that just now.""As for me, she told me to take her somewhere later, man, that was rough.""That's good, isn't it? I'm jealous you get to go on a date.""I have plans too, you know?""Plans?""Toya, don't you know!? There's an event on right now, it's a golden opportunity!""Did some strong item drop or something?""I'm doing the Challenge Dungeon!"
Ah, that thing?The one with a limited-time dungeon where the item you get from defeating the boss is ridiculously strong.But since my and Airi's levels and money are already maxed out, there's no point in us doing it, so I just don't if Airi isn't interested.
"Toya, you should do it too. It's easier with you around.""I'll do it if Airi feels like it. But Airi's already done most of it and is bored..."
Besides, if we talk that loudly...
"Eita!! Don't drag Katagiri-kun and the others into this!""Kiritani-kun! Stop filling Toya-kun's head with weird ideas!"
Ai-san and Airi complain.
"If I can't game or drive, what am I supposed to do with my time!?""I told you to take me somewhere next time we drive, didn't I! If you're that bored, do some cleaning or something!""And you, Makoto, you're filling Toya's head with unnecessary stuff too, aren't you! You guys are getting a lecture tonight too!""Makoto-kun, you really fill Toya-kun's head with unnecessary things, so cut it out!"
Kanna joins in too, and Makoto holds his head.
"But I heard earlier too, don't you feel like speeding up when you're in a car?"
Nakajima-kun says.
"Hmm, when I sit in the driver's seat and step on the accelerator, it feels like the car becomes part of my body, you know?""Oh?"
Watanabe-kun seems interested.
"And then, I feel the road conditions coming through the tires, the timing of the signal changes, whether something's hidden in the shadows, all sorts of things, so I don't really feel like driving recklessly fast."
Or rather, it might be more accurate to say I'm too scared to go fast?
"If basketball doesn't work out, Toya, you could always become a racer, huh?"
Watanabe-kun says with a laugh.
"Airi wouldn't allow that. It's a game of life and death, after all.""That reminds me of driving. Can I ask for some advice too?"
Takemoto-kun came over.
"What's up?""Actually, my girlfriend told me to take her somewhere for the four-day weekend coming up...""You should just go.""She also asked me to tune her foreign car. I was planning to do that while she's on break, but I don't know how to tune it."
You can't really tune it for more speed.You want to make it comfortable and easy to drive, but the base specs of foreign cars are too high, so I don't know how to modify it, Takemoto-kun says.
"I think doing it the way you think is best is fine. Like, not touching the horsepower, just reinforcing the suspension. Or changing the brakes.""I guess you're right."
That's Takemoto-kun's specialty. There's nothing for me to add.
"Takemoto-kun, tune my car next time too!"
Nakajima-kun, you shouldn't say that so loudly.
"Ryuji-kun, don't you get it yet!"
I can hear Ichinose-san's voice.
"Yuma, you shouldn't just casually modify the cars of the Watanabe group guys either!"
Saki-san has joined in too.Takemoto-kun laughs it off.
"Well, my car isn't that kind of car, so I don't know, but at least drive in a way that reassures the important person sitting next to you."
Watanabe-kun says.
"I've heard about Katagiri-senpai. They say your technique of pushing it to the limit and drifting through corners is amazing. I want to learn that kind of skill.""It's a rumor at the private university too. Katagiri-senpai's rumor. Please teach me too."
Takatsuki-kun and Kisaragi-kun are excited, their voices loud.Makoto says in a fluster.
"I can't let my little sister ride with someone who drives that recklessly. No way!"
He said it loudly on purpose, so they could hear.
"I agree. You guys are ignoring your girlfriends' feelings too much. That's not something I should be teaching people, and more than anything, it's not a technique you can teach someone."
I said it loudly on purpose, so they could hear.There was no reaction from the women.Makoto breathes a sigh of relief.
"Well, we're not a street racing club, so let's stop that kind of talk."
Watanabe-kun says.
"Like I said before, cars aren't just for driving, you know. Tinkering with the inside is fun too."
It's the best when the sound system is good, Haruto says.
"Haruto's car is too loud to have a quiet conversation. You can't hear outside sounds either, it's dangerous."
Shiratori-san says.
"Man, this is tough..."
Haruto is laughing.
"Well, it's a privilege of youth, so it can't be helped, but you have to keep everything in moderation.""Yeah, yeah. Someday you'll find that driving leisurely is fun."
Tange-san and Shiina-san say.Since it's adults saying it, it carries weight.
"What's this 'limit' crap!? If you can see that kind of thing, you're already done for!"
Makoto, if you shout like that...
"There's a limit to my patience, you know! Makoto!"
See?
"Should we get out of the bath and talk?"
When Makoto says that, Kiritani-kun and the others head outside.
"Toya, do you really have no regrets about cars? It was the same with soccer.""I just compared it to Airi and chose Airi.""I see... Should we get out too?""Yeah."
Saying that, I got out of the bath.
(2)
"Honestly, men are..."
Ai is angry.
"We'll give them a lecture later!""We'll give them a piece of our mind."
Kanna and Mika-san are saying.
"Speaking of which, did that Toya guy really stop driving?"
Mika-san asked.
"Really. He drives slowly, at his own pace."
I wonder if he's holding back?
"What about Morizono-san and Kishitani-san?"
I asked.Kamenashi-kun and Misawa-kun seem to be of the same type as Haruto-kun.They have multiple monitors set up in the car and play DVDs and stuff.That seems dangerous in its own way.
"I hate it when the car smells like cigarettes too."
Mirai-san says.
"If we're talking about that, then let me say this: if that idiot Eita doesn't drive for a week, the passenger seat becomes a mountain of trash."
Ai says.Toya-kun rides with me every day, so he's probably fine, right?
"I want to make Haruto stop spitting his gum outside."
Shiratori-san says.
"Airi, don't you have any complaints about Katagiri-kun's driving or anything?""Nope, none. We even wash the car together a few times a month."
We do it together~, I added.
"What about Ishihara-kun and Sakai-kun?""Nozomi drives safely. He drives very gently. He seems to be considerate of his surroundings too.""Zen-kun is the same. He drives very gently. When I told him it was okay to be a little rougher, he said, 'I've had enough of danger.'"
Both of them could probably make a living as drivers.
"My husband drives gently too. He doesn't push it.""Keisuke is the same. He doesn't try to speed recklessly. It's not that kind of car anyway."
Satomi-san and Miyuki-san say.
"Haruki doesn't speed except on highways, coastal roads, and industrial roads~. Even when he does speed, he doesn't go that fast~. It's more like he matches the flow of traffic?"
Sakura says.Speaking of matching the speed of traffic, Toya-kun is amazing, isn't he? He maintains the following distance perfectly, as if he can see what the other driver is going to do.
"Driving styles really are diverse."
Iori says.
"They say you can see a person's true nature through their driving."
Satomi-san says.
"Changing the subject, Airi, you haven't logged into the game lately. Are you bored of it already?"
Ai asks.
"Nope. I play sometimes~. When I told Toya-kun he could play games, he said, 'Then let's play together?'"
But I explain to Ai that all my characters are maxed out and my money is maxed out too, so there's nothing to do and I'm bored.
"I see. No, I was just wondering if you'd be interested since there's an event on. It's not just Eita, it's easier with you guys around.""Toya-kun seems to avoid games as much as possible when he's with me. He cherishes the time we spend together~.""...I'm jealous of you, Airi.""Really, I'm so jealous of you, Airi."
Kanna says too.
"But Makoto-kun cherishes his time with you too, right, Kanna?""Well, in a way... but I feel like I'm just going along with his hobbies..."
Seems like he's causing trouble for Airi too, as usual, Kanna says.It's true that Makoto-kun gives Toya-kun unnecessary advice.Speaking of which, the voices from the men's bath have stopped.
"Maybe they all got out ages ago?"
Satomi-san says.
"Ah! I bet they're talking about something shady again!"
Ai stands up.
"Time for a raid!"
Mika-san stands up too and leaves the bath.Should I get out soon too?The only ones left are Naru and Kanna?I wonder what's wrong?
"Should we get out soon?""Yes."
Naru follows me.Kanna is left alone.
"Am I going to lose to a middle schooler...?"
Kanna was feeling down, all by herself.
(3)
"It's amazing every time I see it..."
Everyone is glued to Makoto-kun's laptop.By everyone, I mean the adult group, Kamenashi-kun, and Misawa-kun. Katagiri-kun, Watanabe-kun, and Manabe-kun don't seem interested.I wasn't that interested either. I'm not old enough to get a license yet, after all.What they're watching on the laptop is a video titled "Drift!".I thought, isn't that a waste of tires?Also, the driver is wearing a helmet and a racing suit.It's incomparably more professional than Makoto-kun and the others.It's a video of a car called a Hachiroku drifting endlessly through mountain curves.After that ends, they watch an anime of some manga endlessly.Honestly, I wasn't very interested in it.Katagiri-kun is talking with Watanabe-kun while eating snacks and drinking.The adult group and Manabe-kun are also talking among themselves.I was talking with Misawa-kun and Kamenashi-kun.Misawa-kun and Kamenashi-kun seem to have finally gotten used to the atmosphere, talking to me casually.
"Kosei, is there any kind of car you want to ride?"
Kamenashi-kun asked.
"That's still a long way off. I haven't thought about it.""Then what about a motorcycle? Don't you want to ride at least a scooter?""I have a chauffeur, so I don't feel the need to drive myself.""It feels great to be able to go wherever you want on your own terms.""Unfortunately, where I live, the station and bus stop are close, and the buses run fairly often, so I don't have trouble getting around.""Well, you'll understand when the time comes."
As we're talking like that, Haruto joins in.
"Motorcycles are great, you know! You can become the wind!"
Honestly, I don't have a good image of motorcycles. It brings to mind guys in special attack uniforms embroidered with "Kamikaze."
"What!? Kosei, are you interested in cars!?"
Makoto-kun says.I don't know how he came to that conclusion.
"No, I'm still not old enough.""You're tall enough to reach the pedals! You can drive without a license if it's not on public roads. I'll lend you my car next time, so give it a try."
Makoto-kun recommends it. He says it's an automatic, so even I can drive it.
"Toya, you tell him too. About the wonder of driving.""Driving without a license is a bad idea, isn't it?""Both you and Kosei don't understand the romance of men at all.""Do you know how many times I've made Airi angry because of your so-called 'romance'?""But isn't that what romance is all about, pursuing it anyway! Right, Eita!""Yeah! A life where you're always checking your wife's mood is boring!"
At that moment, I noticed the murderous aura approaching behind the two of them.Katagiri-kun and Watanabe-kun seemed to notice too.Sakai-kun and Ishihara-kun try to stop them.But the six of them, including Nakajima-kun, don't stop.
"Man's romance! That's so cool, Kiritani-senpai!""Yeah, man's romance! You guys think so too, right!? Kisaragi-kun, Takatsuki-kun!""I think it's fine, but...""M-maybe you should stop there? Tada-senpai."
Kisaragi-kun and Takatsuki-kun seem to have noticed too.Only the six of them haven't noticed.
"What are you getting cold feet for? Tonight, we're going to talk all about man's romance! Right!? Eita!!""Yeah! Nothing can stop us!"
Everyone else tries to distance themselves from the excited six.Sakai-kun and Ishihara-kun, who were trying to stop them, also flee the scene.Am I in danger too?As I try to slowly back away, I bump into Naru's leg.
"What did they fill your head with, Kosei?""I was just listening. It's not like I got interested."
I desperately try to explain myself.I'm not at fault.Seeing me like that, Makoto-kun and the others finally seem to notice.
"If Naru-chan is here, that means..."
Makoto-kun and Kiritani-kun turn around.
"Oh? Man's romance, huh? Fine. Let's hear all about it, shall we?""Nothing can stop you, huh. Okay. Go on, continue.""K-Kanna? Since when were you there?""A-Ai? You're back from the bath?"
Both of them try to laugh it off.Haruto and Nakajima-kun try to run, but their collars are grabbed.
"Secrets are no good. I'll listen to what you have to say.""What were you watching?"
Shiratori-san and Honoka-san say.Kamenashi-kun and Misawa-kun are no exception.
"Koki... what have you been teaching the kids...""Mamoru... honestly...""First, let's see what you were watching. And don't think the other guys can escape! The moment you didn't stop these six, you became accomplices!"
Morizono-san, Kishitani-san, and Mika-san say.
"I-I tried to stop them. Right, Ishihara-kun?"
Ishihara-kun says nothing, just cowers in fear.
"Zen-kun, I saw it all. Right down to the way you tried to run away when you noticed us.""Nozomi... don't stay silent, say it clearly!!"
Akira-san and Emi-san seem to have been watching closely too.
"Makoto, show us what you made them watch, for starters.""N-no. This is man's romance.""Just show us.""That's why I'm saying it's something only men can understand.""Stop blabbering and show us!!""Ah, I don't think it's a good idea to get involved in men's topics."
Watanabe-kun tries to pour water on the raging flames.But the momentum doesn't stop...
"Masashi! You guys are accomplices too!"
Surrounded by the women, Makoto-kun shows them the video he was watching earlier.
"This idiot never learns...""W-well, it's okay to have dreams, isn't it!""What kind of idiot lets a kid drive a car because of a dream!?"
Kanna-san and Makoto-kun are arguing.
"Kosei, were you trying to drive a car!?""I refused!"
I get mercilessly grilled by Naru.Katagiri-kun is quick to escape at times like this. He quietly approaches the exit, and when the moment is right, he dashes out.Katagiri-kun has escaped.
"Ah, Toya-kun, wait!"
Tosaka-san chases after him.The next moment. Everyone leaves the room at once.
"Ah, wait, you guys!!"
Mika-san catches Watanabe-kun.Everyone else seems to have escaped.I tried to escape too, but Naru grabbed my arm.The ones who were too slow to escape were me, Watanabe-kun, and the six who were being glared at from the start.We got lectured until midnight.
(4)
"Toya-kun, wait!"
I know that if I just run away, Airi will be in a bad mood tomorrow morning.I lured Airi to a certain place while keeping a certain distance.It was the balcony on the second floor.The stars and moon are beautiful tonight too.Is this really the time to be saying something so carefree?I never intended to seriously run away from the start.I turn around and wait for Airi.
"You can't escape anywhere now!"
I approach Airi, who is saying this while out of breath, and gently hug her.
"Hey, Toya-kun!?""Now we can be alone.""Huh?""We can talk slowly, just the two of us.""Uuu...""So, what's wrong?""Huh? Ah... uuu."
Airi can't say anything. Just as planned.
"The night sky is beautiful tonight too, Airi.""...It really is."
Airi is captivated by the night sky.
"...But you can't fool me that easily!"
Ponk
Looks like it failed.
"What did you fill Kosei-kun's head with!? He's still a kid!""I didn't say anything. Makoto and the others were just making a fuss on their own.""But you said something to Toya-kun too!""I just said it was a bad idea to let him drive without a license.""Uuu..."
Looks like the crisis is over.
"Hey? Toya-kun?""What is it?""Is 'man's romance' really that important?""Well, it depends on the person, doesn't it?"
I'd choose marron over romance, though.
"Then, what about 'the other side of speed'?""Isn't that just being too influenced by some manga?""Have you never pursued it, Toya-kun?""Driving itself was fun. But it's not something worth making you angry over.""Did I take away your fun?""I secured you as my fun instead, so it's no problem.""I see~"
Airi grabs the railing and looks up at the sky.
"It really is beautiful."
I stand behind Airi and hug her.
"Kyah!"
Airi lets out a cute scream.She doesn't resist.I whisper in her ear from behind.Airi's mood seems to have improved.
"Toya-kun, you've really become a clingy one."
Saying that, Airi laughed.
"Should we head back soon?""Yeah."
I went back to the room with Airi.
(5)
"Toya! You traitor!!"
The moment I returned to the bedroom, Makoto and Kiritani-kun cursed me.
"If you're going to say that, then I, who got dragged into it, have a complaint too."
Watanabe-kun says.
"You two, don't you actually realize it?""Realize what?""That it's not something to cling to to the point of abandoning your precious wife.""Then what are we supposed to live for?""Makoto, you'll be so into soccer that you won't have time for cars, right?""Well, I guess so.""Then what about me?""Ask Ai-san. At least Ai-san accepted your 'gaming' genre. It's your turn next, isn't it, Kiritani-kun?""...I guess so."
Kiritani-kun is deep in thought.
"Toya, how do you keep Tosaka-san happy?"
Watanabe-kun asks.
"I let Airi do what she wants to do."
All of which are really cute things, though.
"For example?""I go with her to wash the car, or accompany her shopping. I also help her choose clothes and underwear.""I see... That's a very Toya-like way of doing things."
Maybe so. It might be a feat only I can accomplish because I understand Airi's feelings.
"Kiritani-kun, if you like cars, why don't you go wash them together or something? The point is, she probably wants to spend time together.""I see..."
Taking her for a drive might be good too.
"So, what happened to the ones who got caught?""We got lectured for nearly two hours straight."
That's rough.
"Ah, I'm tired. Let's just go to sleep today.""Yeah.""Yeah."
We fell asleep.Everyone seems to have a hard time with their romances and dreams.I wonder what would happen if they tried asking their partners about their 'romance' too?Maybe it would reduce the number of conflicts, just a little.
(6)
"Airi, what's wrong? You've had a goofy grin on your face for a while now.""Huh, you think so~"
It's true that I'm feeling giddy.Toya-kun's special skills keep increasing; he turned my bad mood around and made me happy instead.He's definitely updating my instruction manual in his head.
"Honestly, if you leave men alone, they never say anything good.""You're telling me."
Ai and Kanna say. But... in the end, you forgive them, right?
"So, what happened?""Huh? No, I just warned them."
When I asked, Ai answered.
"What did the men say?""In the end, they all apologized."
I see~.
"But I bet they'll do it again. They never learn!""No doubt about it. They don't get it at all!"
Kanna and Ai say.
"I'm so jealous of you, Airi. Having such an understanding boyfriend~"
Ai says.
"That's not true. There are things he doesn't listen to no matter how many times I tell him.""Like what?""I'm curious, yeah, what is it?"
Ai and Kanna ask.
"He won't wake up properly in the morning. No matter how many times I tell him, he teases me~ He hugs me or pushes me down.""...Did Makoto's stupidity rub off on him?"
Maybe so.
"For someone who says that, you sure sound happy talking about it, Airi-chan."
Emi says.
"Because Toya-kun, who never showed interest in anything besides food, is showing interest in me."
He even helps me choose my underwear~, I add.
"No matter how you look at it, Makoto is the culprit.""Toya-kun said Makoto-kun said, 'Imagining invisible underwear is romance.'""That idiot...""And then, sometimes, when I peek into Toya-kun's feelings, he teases me.""Peeking into feelings? When did you learn such a special skill, Airi-chan?"
Emi asks.
"It's more like Toya-kun opens his heart to me, rather than me learning it.""So, what did you see?"
Kanna says.
"Toya-kun is imagining me naked~""That idiot Toya..."
Kanna is angry.
"That makes me happy, and even that teasing side of him is part of who Toya-kun is. Toya-kun doesn't imagine other women.""Airi-chan, what are you trying to say?"
Emi asks.I answered.
"I don't think it's good to just deny everything outright. I think there are things you can't compromise on."
Of course, I have to stop him from doing reckless things with the car in the mountains.
"Then how do you think we should stop those two idiots?""Wouldn't it be good if you were together at night? Like, have them cut back on late-night shifts.""I see~""I think Ai should just play games with him, but the problem is Kanna.""Yeah, that's the thing. There's a limit to how much I can go along with his hobbies.""Hmm. Ah, how about going fishing together on your days off?""Fishing. That might be good.""And then, driving, I guess."
Even a date just walking around town is fine. The important thing is to increase the time you spend together.
"Even if things go well with Airi-chan's theory, what about when he's alone?""Probably, Makoto-kun and Kiritani-kun are the same. They get bored and stressed when they're alone, so they resort to reckless driving.""So you're saying we should relieve that stress with our time together?"
When Ai asked, I nodded.
"If you just order them to do housework during the time you're together, I think they'll start thinking about relieving their stress when you're not around.""I see~""Toya-kun used to secretly play games by himself at first and wouldn't pay attention to me.""Well, I guess I'll humor him tomorrow in Yufuin.""Yeah."
The two of them seemed convinced. But there's one thing I'm curious about.
"Emi, what's your complaint about Ishihara-kun?""Well... I guess it's that he doesn't do anything for me?""Huh?""He doesn't do anything, in a good way or a bad way... He's always busy with his part-time job and studying. He helps with housework, I guess. But he doesn't pay attention to me."
I see~.
"Wouldn't it be good if you acted more needy, Emi? Like, 'Pay attention to me~'...""I think I'm doing that, but he doesn't notice.""He might notice but be too shy to do anything.""That's possible. He is Ishihara-kun, after all."
Ai says too.
"It's complicated. Men are all so different.""Yeah~"
That's probably why there are so many different combinations.And maybe the people who fit together well are the ones you call your soulmate.
"Naru, don't think this doesn't concern you.""I don't really get Kosei. I have no idea what he's thinking."
When Emi says that, Naru-chan answers.
"You'll understand someday.""I hope so."
There's plenty of time, so they can take it slow and understand each other.Even the many choices will eventually become one.We just move forward, aiming for that single goal.
"Well then, should we get to sleep soon? Naru, it's your bedtime too, isn't it?""Yes.""Well, goodnight~""Goodnight."
We fell asleep.I hope everyone will be happy.Thinking about that.Praying, I spent the night.