Chapter 352 - Running Away
(1)
"Toya-kun, good morning, it's morning~"
"It's still break, isn't it early?"
"That's not true? I prepared first and then woke you up, you know?"
"Preparation?"
What for?
"Ugh... today is the day we go on the trip! Didn't we prepare last night?"
Looks at the clock, it's still just before 7 o'clock.
"If we use the expressway to Miyazaki, we can get there in about an hour and a half, so it'll be fine."
"You're the one who said we should get up early because you wanted to take the national highway, Toya-kun!"
That's right.
I get up. I have a choice. Should I hurry up and prepare, or should I improve Airi's mood first?
No matter how I think about it, Airi's mood comes first.
"Ugh..."
"Sorry, sorry, I forgot. I was so happy thinking about being able to go on a fun drive with my cute bride that I couldn't really fall asleep."
"Yet you forgot, didn't you!"
At times like this, clumsy bargaining is useless. I honestly apologize.
"I'm really sorry! I'll be careful from now on, so cheer up. Our fun date will be ruined."
"Ugh... only this time, okay?"
"Thank you, Airi."
Saying that, I kiss Airi.
"Hurry up and get ready."
"Got it."
Then I hurriedly prepared and changed clothes, then took my luggage and left the house.
I load the luggage in the car, get Airi in, and start driving.
Is Airi still in a bad mood? Is there some topic that might lighten things up?
Airi is humming along to the FM radio playing in the car and looking at the scenery.
She seems normal, but usually Airi would say something to me.
On the way, I stop at a convenience store and ask Airi if there's anything she needs, saying I'll buy something.
"If you go alone, Toya-kun, you'll buy a ton of snacks, so no! I'm going too!"
Maybe she's surprisingly normal?
Well, but if I can keep her in a good mood, I want to.
I kept the snacks modest. I just buy a juice and gum.
The car starts moving again.
Airi becomes silent again.
"It's been a while. Driving on this road."
"Yeah, because I don't really have business around here."
"Toya-kun, you want to know why I was in a bad mood, don't you?"
"Eh?"
"No, no~ you shouldn't doubt your bride. It's just that there was nothing to talk about, and you seemed tense too, so it was hard to talk to you, that's all."
"Ah, is that so? Sorry."
"As long as you understand♪"
I see, she wasn't in a bad mood after all. As usual, I'm bad at getting inside Airi's head.
Since she's not in a bad mood, maybe I should ask now?
"Airi, you said it before, right? 'I'm looking forward to living together next year.'"
"Yeah. Aren't you looking forward to it, Toya-kun?"
"Should we start looking for a place next year?"
"Eh?"
"I've been thinking about various things. If we search in March, I don't think we'll make it in time."
Graduation thesis, final exams, graduation trip, graduation ceremony. And then starting work. There's no way we can fit in moving and settling down amidst all that in March.
"Then when do you think is good?"
"I was thinking, how about we start looking for a place next year and move after the exams end in February?"
I have savings and income too. It's surprising, isn't it? Even though I said I would retire from basketball, there are still sponsors who want to sign me for a one-year contract. I received many TV appearance requests but turned them all down. Because I want to enjoy my university life now.
"Then we'll start looking for a new place from January?"
"Yeah, I think that timing is fine."
"You finally said it yourself, Toya-kun."
"Eh?"
"I've been worried, thinking 'What is Toya-kun going to do from next year? Will he keep living at home forever?'"
"Don't you have any anxieties, Airi? About living with me?"
"I've properly undergone bridal training. I have Ms. Maya's seal of approval."
"That's not what I mean. About becoming one with me."
"That's not true at all. Don't you trust me?"
But there were the incidents with Makoto and Kiritani-kun. And also with Kimoto-senpai and Hiyama-senpai. I wondered if Airi herself was going through wedding blues.
"So that means you'll marry me?"
"Huh?"
"Because it's something that happens to people about to get married, right? Wedding blues."
"I'll properly propose to Airi next year."
"Yay~"
After that, we talked about wanting this kind of furniture, about getting a double bed, about a 2LDK being fine... 2LDK?
"Are we having separate bedrooms?"
Even though it's a double bed?
"Huh?"
Airi asks back, looking puzzled. Then she says something outrageous.
"You don't get it, Toya-kun~. There's a whole year until you propose and we have the wedding ceremony, you know?"
"That's right~"
"We've been spending time together up until now. It should be about time, right? And you'll be a working adult too."
"What should be?"
"Let's have a child?"
What!?
"Because I want at least two. They say it's best if the first is a girl and the next is a boy, right?"
Father also said he's already decided on a name for a daughter a long time ago.
"As for me, I'd like to enjoy living alone with Airi a little longer."
"Boo-oo~! Women have a time limit for having children, you know!"
If things go smoothly, I'll be a father of two in three years.
At that moment, my and Airi's phones ring.
Probably the Watanabe group.
Airi looks at it and giggles.
"What's wrong?"
"It's a secret from Toya-kun~"
"You're the one who said couples don't keep secrets, Airi."
"Then I'll tell you tonight. But promise me you won't tell Makoto-kun and the others."
"Is it about those two?"
"Yeah."
Did those two do something again?
Thinking such things, I kept heading south.
(2)
Crap! The soccer club has already started!
It's not necessary to go to the soccer club anymore, but I want to at least do some basic training.
Why didn't that Kanna wake me up?
Was she working from this morning?
I look at the calendar; Kanna has taken a long weekend starting today.
"Kanna, why didn't you wake me up!?"
No reply.
In fact, there's not even a sound.
"Kanna!!"
I call for Kanna, but there's no reply.
Did she go out?
I look at the entrance. She seems to have gone out somewhere.
She could have at least said something when she left in the morning.
Anyway, I have to eat something.
I'll buy something at the convenience store.
When I return to the living room, there are two scraps of paper.
One is... a divorce registration form!?
On the other piece, there's a note.
"It says: 'I'm tired. I don't want to hear anything. Let me rest.'"
My head goes into panic.
Calm down. Recently, everything should have been normal. There shouldn't have been anything particularly wrong after that drinking party.
I even got her mood back properly. As for my faults... I have too many ideas of what I might have done wrong; I don't know which is the correct one!
Calm down, this isn't the time to panic. What should I do first?
I call Kanna.
"I cannot take your call right now."
I send a message.
It doesn't get read.
This is bad, bad, bad.
I go outside and check the parking lot. It's still there. That means she still intends to come back.
But the divorce registration form is properly filled out.
I send a message to the Watanabe group.
"I haven't heard anything, but?"
"Did you do something again?"
"Put your hand on your chest and think carefully."
Only harsh comments from the women.
The men all say they don't know.
Only one person responded. It's Eita.
"It seems my Ai also ran away from home. What should I do?"
Lately, I've indeed been too cocky.
But that doesn't mean she should suddenly leave a divorce registration form!?
She never showed any signs of that!?
At times like this, the one I can rely on is Toya.
Should I call Toya?
"Is that Makoto? What's wrong?"
Don't say 'What's wrong'!? Didn't you see the messages!?
"Kanna ran away from home?"
"Eh?"
It seems Toya is hearing this for the first time too.
"Did you do something?"
"I don't know. There was just a divorce registration form left."
"A divorce registration form? Man, that's bad, isn't it!?"
That's why I'm calling you!
"Toya, what should I do?"
"Calm down. First, it's about what you did!"
"I haven't done anything since that drinking party!"
"What about her birthday!?"
"I celebrated it properly!"
"Talking with Makoto is getting nowhere, so I'll call Kanna... Airi?"
Is Tosaka-san also listening?
"Makoto-kun, you brought this on yourself! Reflect on your actions!"
Pfft.
I didn't feel like going to club activities that day.
I checked all the places Kanna might go. The local university, Aoi Tori, Mozu-san's house.
She wasn't anywhere.
She'll come back when things cool down.
Believing that, I went to my part-time job.
But she didn't come back that day.
(3)
"Ai! Where are you!?"
When I wake up in the morning, Ai isn't there. In the living room, there are two scraps of paper. One is... a divorce registration form!?
On the other scrap of paper, there's a note.
I'm tired, let me rest, don't look for me.
The divorce registration form is neatly filled out.
I search around frantically, half-crazed.
She doesn't seem to be in the house.
I call, but she doesn't answer.
I ask the Watanabe group if they have any idea.
Apparently no one knows.
It seems Kanna-san also ran away from home.
I try looking at Ai's part-time job and Aoi Tori.
At Aoi Tori, Emi-san said one thing to me.
"You brought it on yourself. Reflect properly, okay?"
So it was because of that drinking party after all?
But it's not something worth running away from home over, right?
It was just a prank.
She'll come back soon.
I went to my part-time job.
By the time I finish, the room's light... is off.
The car is there. That means she intends to come back.
Wait, wait, wait.
If she was that stressed, she could have just told me.
Has she really gotten tired of me!?
A breakup before we even have the wedding!
The only ones panicking are me and Makoto.
Everyone else is acting normal.
I call Makoto.
"Hello?"
"Eita!? Can you meet me right now?"
"I was just thinking the same thing!"
We arranged to meet at a nearby family restaurant.
We tried to call Toya too, but it seems he's on a trip.
Watanabe-kun. The only one we can rely on is Watanabe-kun.
We call Watanabe-kun.
"Sorry, but I can't help this time. I have my own circumstances."
Saying that, he hangs up.
"Makoto, what do we do!?"
"She took her luggage, right!?"
"It seems she took a change of clothes and a bag."
"And the car is still there, right!?"
"It was there!"
"Then there's nothing to worry about. She'll come back tomorrow."
"That's right. What, I just worried for nothing!"
Saying that, we reassure each other, but the anxiety wouldn't go away.
In the end, she didn't come back that day.
(4)
"Sorry to keep you waiting~"
"It's fine, we still have time until the train."
When Ai arrived, she said that.
We pack our luggage into carry bags and board the train.
We go to the local station, and from there take a highway bus to the local airport.
We enjoyed the air travel to Haneda Airport.
All the members of the Watanabe Group Girls' Meeting knew about this.
It was Emi who arranged the trip.
"A birthday present for Kanna-chan. Both of you, relax and spread your wings."
Saying that, she gave us the tickets.
Additionally, I was handed two divorce registration forms.
I give one to Ai, and we each fill them out.
Without pressing our seals.
And we left a note and quietly left the house.
I look at the Watanabe group messages.
The men are panicking.
I suppose they each asked their partners about the situation.
It quieted down.
"For now, it's a success."
"But from here on is the problem."
Ai says.
If they don't learn their lesson from this, we'll just press our seals.
We had decided that together.
When we arrive at Haneda, we take a train and arrive at Tokyo Station.
From there, we take another train to the hotel.
"Tokyo? I haven't been here since school trip."
Ai says as she lies on the bed.
"Yeah."
I never thought I'd come back to Tokyo like this.
"Airi and the others have arrived at the hotel too, it seems."
Ai says.
Airi is on a trip with Toya.
"Airi is lucky. Unlike us."
"Yeah."
When Ai says that, I nod.
We were watching TV together.
"Isn't it about time for dinner?"
Is it that time already?
"Is there anything you want to eat?"
"Do you know any recommended restaurants, Kanna?"
"I was only here in elementary school, so I don't know the places' tastes..."
Bump!
"Hey, that's dangerous. It's dark, so be careful."
"Sorry, I was talking... Yukari?"
"No way!? Kanna! Why are you in Tokyo?"
Shimotsuki Yukari. My best friend from when I lived in Tokyo. And...
"Sightseeing in Tokyo at this time of year?"
Aoi Cai. My unrequited crush from when I lived in Tokyo. Yukari's lover.
"Since we're here, join us. I'll take you to a good restaurant."
"But aren't you two on a date, Cai...?"
"We were just wandering around. We see each other every day now."
"We just started living together."
Yukari says proudly.
"Kanna, there's something I wanted to ask you."
I wonder what?
At a cheese dakgalbi restaurant in Shinjuku.
"What is it you want to ask?"
I ask Cai.
"Did that Toya really quit basketball?"
Is that all?
"Yeah, right now he's on a trip with his girlfriend."
If Airi heard that, she'd probably say 'But I'm his bride~'.
But there's nothing good about becoming a wife, you know?
"He's carefree. Meanwhile, things were tough over here."
"He's that kind of guy. He said he 'feels refreshed' too."
"Well, that figures."
I didn't remember Cai's smile at all.
"Anyway, how's your married life?"
"Yeah, yeah, I wanted to ask that too. It's already the second year, right?"
When Cai asks, Yukari also joins in.
I exchange glances with Ai and then explain the situation.
"A nagging, noisy Kanna? I can't imagine it."
"I can't imagine it at all either!"
It seemed like a funny story to them.
"He's a hopeless guy, that Makoto."
"Cai, you can't talk about others!"
Yukari is complaining to Cai.
"Listen. No matter what I cook, Cai doesn't give me any sense of accomplishment."
If it were Toya, he would happily eat it.
Don't get married.
This isn't something to say to these two.
Ai and I thought so.
"So, what will you do after the trip? Will you hear them out?"
"...If they show remorse, I intend to hear them out."
But Makoto's remorse is unreliable.
"Hey, is it Yukari-san? Do you plan to get married too, Yukari-san?"
"Cai's contract with the B League is decided from next season. We plan to get married once the contract is finalized."
"Do you think you'll regret marrying Cai-san?"
Ai was asking.
"Who knows. We fight all the time. But I think we get married because we think that's still okay."
Yukari answered.
"Was it different with Kiritani-san?"
"I..."
Ai was at a loss for an answer.
Yukari looks at her curiously.
"Alright, we've eaten and the talk is over, let's go."
Cai looks at Ai, maybe thinking something, and stands up.
"Ah, the bill..."
"It's fine. As a commemoration of our reunion after so long, I'll treat you."
"Cai is rich now, so take advantage of it."
After being treated by Cai, we leave the restaurant.
"How long are you staying in Tokyo?"
"I plan to go back the day after tomorrow."
I answered.
"Then tomorrow, let's go strolling around town, the three of us women! I'll show you recommended places. It's completely different from when Kanna was here."
Yukari says.
"Then tomorrow... Kanna, do you remember that place in Shibuya?"
"Yeah, that place."
"Let's meet there at 10 o'clock."
"Got it."
"Then, good night."
Saying that, Yukari and the others left.
We also return to the hotel.
"Seeing those two, I remembered when I married Eita."
Ai says.
I also remembered when I married Makoto.
The hope of married life that everyone dreams of.
I recalled that now.
Let's remember it one more time.
How much I loved him.
I sought peace and such, but I can't convey it as easily as words.
"Even though he's such an idiot, I still love him. I..."
Ai says.
"Yeah..."
I might be the same.
Someone said that the opposite of love is not hate, but indifference.
We are swayed by just one word from Yukari.
"Kanna. Let's forget what we just thought during the trip!"
Ai says.
Something I want to tell Makoto right now.
If I do, this plan will fail.
I want to convey the same feelings to Makoto.
For that, we still need time.
Until those two remember.
(5)
I'm staying at a resort hotel in Miyazaki with Toya-kun, eating delicious food, taking a shower, and relaxing in the room.
"I see."
Toya-kun is looking at the messages.
I explained today's events to Toya-kun.
Adding that it's a secret from Makoto-kun and the others.
"But I wonder if Kanna and the others are regretting it by now?"
"Even so, no! It's not Kanna's fault!"
"But even if Makoto and the others reform, they'll probably do it again."
"Ugh..."
What Toya-kun says is also valid.
He suddenly smiles, seeing me troubled.
"The joy of trusting each other, the sadness of hurting each other, so that someday we can love as we are... time flows, I suppose."
"Huh?"
"It means it still takes time for them to become like us, Airi."
Toya-kun says that and laughs.
"Are we loving each other?"
"Don't you think so?"
I smile gently and hug Toya-kun.
"...Right?"
Toya-kun also says that, laughs, and hugs me.
I'll remember it as many times as I need.
How much I loved him.
Without averting my eyes from the truth, slowly feeling the time.
That kind of time is probably necessary for those four.
Like cold stones that heat up even as they hurt each other.
Surely the time to understand each other will come.
Until then, time flows slowly...