Chapter 355 - Where the Wind Goes
(1)
"Toya-kun, it's morning~. Time for breakfast~."
I wake up to Airi's cheerful voice.
It's not that I'm reacting to the food.
It's not because my morning routine is gone.
It's because I don't want to upset Airi.
Airi has been in a good mood for the past week.
I want to keep this going into the second semester.
Our student life has only half a year left.
Our life in this house also has only half a year left.
As I thought, I'm glad I made that decision.
Airi has been in a good mood ever since.
"Hey~, if you're up, you gotta go wash your face quick."
"Got it."
When I exchange morning greetings with Airi, she gets in a great mood.
"Toya-kun is always so kind."
Airi hugs me.
It's painful to pull her away, but it can't be helped.
Breakfast is waiting.
"Airi, should we head out soon?"
"Ugh..."
Airi looks lonely.
I know how to handle her when she's like this.
"After breakfast, let's relax together. We don't have to go out until evening anyway."
"...Okay♪"
See, she's better now.
After washing my face and finishing breakfast, I take my coffee back to the room.
Airi comes with me.
I spend the morning relaxing with Airi, watching the morning shows.
I mess around with my smartphone and laptop during that time.
Airi peeks at them.
It's not like I have anything to hide now, so I let her see.
If it keeps Airi in a good mood, it's a small price to pay.
At noon, we have lunch.
After that, watching the afternoon programs makes me sleepy.
News where boring commentators comment on boring topics.
Unusually, there's been a lot of basketball talk lately.
It seems this year's Asian Championship didn't go well.
The winner was China.
The lack of a three-point shooter is being pointed out, but many commentators are indirectly questioning my selfish retirement.
Not that I care, though.
On Airi's recommendation, I went to Tokyo in the middle of this week.
It was for a TV location shoot.
A TV show I watch every week.
I had some alcohol, so I don't really remember the recording well.
I was shocked when I watched that show last night.
"The habit I want Katagiri player to fix!"
It seems they interviewed Airi and Masato.
I saw Airi's face. Airi laughed it off with an "Ehehe~."
She said whatever she wanted, like "She has a habit of eating a lot" and "She gets clingy in the morning."
But in response, I also said whatever I wanted, like "She doesn't eat that much" and "I do it because I don't want to upset her."
Airi's smile disappeared. Airi's anger gauge is about to hit its peak.
"Don't you have any complaints about your own girlfriend?"
A sharp retort came in.
"If I don't keep her happy, she gets sulky right away."
Ah, I messed up.
"So that's how Toya-kun was thinking~?"
Airi's smile is scary.
"Hey, I had some alcohol, so..."
"They say alcohol brings out your true feelings, right? The show is called 'Honest Talk' too."
The show isn't over yet.
"Then, was your retirement also because of her influence?"
I guess they asked me that.
"Airi, let's just go to bed tonight."
"...It's no use. I recorded it properly."
And now she's watching that recording.
"It feels more like I was forced into basketball rather than retiring. Like, 'Guess I have to do it.'"
The memory of being smacked hard by the comedian at that time came back to me.
And now I got smacked hard by Airi.
Ponk
"So that's how Toya-kun really felt!?"
I was desperate to get her to forgive me last night.
She's still a bit angry watching it now.
"Ugh..."
Airi is grumbling.
When this happens, I change the channel.
"Ah, I was still watching."
"My segment was over there, right?"
"But~..."
"Airi, I said this last night too, but I had alcohol. I'm sorry, I apologize."
"That's not it!"
Huh?
"I just wanted to know what Toya-kun's true feelings were. I was a bit surprised, but I thought, 'So he did have complaints after all.'"
"So, I said I'm sorry."
"I've complained to you too, you know? Like how you won't wake up in the morning... We still haven't talked honestly with each other. Isn't that a problem when we start our married life?"
Airi says.
Let's be honest from now on, okay? I'll fix my ways too.
But I'm saying things I don't want to say for Toya-kun's sake, so I want you to understand that.
And honestly, I'm happy that you're clingy in the morning.
"Basketball is over now. I'll spend the second semester doting on you as much as I want."
"Won't that be a burden on Toya-kun?"
"I want to be spoiled by Airi too, you know."
"Yay~"
Airi, completely unrelenting, seeks physical affection from me even in the middle of the day.
That day, I served Airi until we had to go out.
(2)
"Eita! Wake up already! You're gonna be late!"
"Can't I have five more minutes?"
"How long is your 'five more minutes' gonna last!?"
The lifestyle rhythm I had disciplined Eita into collapsed easily in three days.
He sleeps from morning until evening.
But today he's on the day shift.
Because there's a gathering of Watanabe's group tonight.
The agenda is about Eita and Tada-kun's drinking habits.
It seems their drinking habits were unpopular not only with the women but also with the men.
Don't drag me into this!
It seems everyone agreed.
When we came back from Tokyo, the two of them came to greet us.
Tada-kun seemed to be genuinely reflecting on his actions.
Though apparently his room was a complete mess.
Eita, on the other hand, said whatever he wanted.
And the rhythm that collapsed in three days was slow to return...
"Hey! You have a part-time job from afternoon to evening today, right!? We gotta hurry!"
"What's the problem with taking one day off!?"
"Of course there is, you idiot!"
I somehow get Eita changed, feed him lunch, and send him off to his part-time job.
Next is my turn.
Honestly, I'm the one who needs to hurry since my workplace is farther away!
I rush to get ready and go to my part-time job.
Hiding my bad mood, I put on a smile, act friendly, and do customer service.
It's not just customer service; there are various tasks like managing inventory.
When that's over, I go home.
When I get home, I'm dumbfounded.
The room I had cleaned is already messy again.
The culprit, needless to say, is Eita, sitting in a chair staring at his PC.
"Oh, Ai, you're back? Well, let's go?"
"'Let's go' is not the right attitude, you idiot! Don't you know what it means to clean up a little!?"
Only after I say that does he start cleaning.
There's also a problem with how he cleans.
"If I wanted to, I could just burn it all, right?" Eita says, trying to put everything together into the burnable trash.
"The sorting instructions are posted on the wall, aren't they!?"
He can't do anything unless I tell him every single step.
After preparing like that, we rush to catch the train.
"Oh, Ai, right? I thought we might be on the same train."
"Kanna!"
It's Kanna, the person I ran away from home with, both of us dissatisfied with our husbands' behavior.
Kanna's husband, Tada-kun, seemed to be reflecting that night, but how is he doing now?
I asked Kanna.
He's good at cooking but doesn't clean up, leaves his clothes lying around, and throws trash wherever.
His lifestyle is still the same, she says.
I wish he'd think about his attitude towards life too.
Talking about such things, we headed to the meeting spot in front of the station.
(3)
Late!
Considering today's schedule, he should be back by now.
What is he doing?
Click
It seems he's back.
"Late! Where did you stop by!? You knew we had the Watanabe group gathering today, right!"
"I was working overtime until I reached a good stopping point at the site."
"Couldn't you have refused, saying you had plans?"
"It was hard to bring it up."
Yuma looks troubled.
He can't refuse when asked. It's both a good and bad habit of Yuma's.
If he keeps living like this, he'll definitely end up with unpaid overtime and die from overwork.
"We're going now, right? Well, let's go?"
"You're not going in those dirty clothes!? Pay a little attention to your appearance!"
"Got it."
Saying that, Yuma takes a shower.
Meanwhile, I prepare his change of clothes.
"I'll leave your clothes here!"
"Thanks."
Yuma washes up quickly, gets out of the shower, dries off, and changes.
"Is this good enough? If we don't hurry, we'll miss the train, right?"
When Yuma says that, we leave the house.
We made the train.
Even while being jostled on the train, we continue our argument.
"If you keep living like this, you'll really die from overwork. What are you going to do when the second semester starts?"
"I'll cut back on my part-time job by then, for sure. You don't need to worry."
"Did you forget that you crammed in extra work last year because you said you wanted to give me a Christmas present?"
"I wanted to make Saki happy..."
"Didn't it cross your mind that I'd be sad if you collapsed?"
"I'll be careful this year."
"Please, really do that."
I'm being careful too.
I sell clothes I don't wear and accessories I don't need on online auctions, and I keep food expenses to a minimum.
That seems to be a source of worry for Yuma.
He thinks our living expenses aren't enough?
That's not it, I'm just trying to live within our means.
Living beyond ourselves just tires us out.
I tell him that, but Yuma doesn't understand.
The train arrives at the station.
Haruto and Haruna were waiting at the ticket gate.
"Hey, thanks for your hard work!"
"Thanks for your hard work."
After greeting them, we head to the meeting spot.
Everyone was gathered.
Watanabe-senpai speaks.
"Well, shall we head to the restaurant?"
The restaurant was the usual yakitori place in front of the station.
(4)
"Ah, the reason I called you all here today is about Makoto-kun and Eita's drinking habits."
Watanabe-kun started off.
"Is it only a problem with Tada-kun and Kiritani-kun? No problems with the other men?"
Emi-san objects.
"If you have complaints, why don't you just say them now!? Same goes for this time, why do you guys have to sneak around and talk among yourselves!"
When Mika-san says that, the women start making a fuss, saying "Yeah, yeah."
"Wasn't the whole thing started by the women having their girls' night out in the first place?"
When Hiyama-senpai says that, Sakura-san retorts.
"We don't go to those kinds of places at our girls' night~. Don't change the subject~."
"Even if we don't go to those places, the women are still complaining, aren't they?"
"I'm not such a goody-goody that I'd just smile while being badmouthed behind my back~."
I don't join the conversation and just eat the yakitori.
Airi puts various things on my small plate for me.
Emi-san was watching me.
"Katagiri-kun probably thinks this is someone else's problem, but I saw your show yesterday! You said whatever you wanted, didn't you?"
"W-well, I said whatever I wanted too, so we're even. We talked about it today during the day."
Airi objects.
"Are you okay with that, Airi-chan? If things go on like that, your cohabitation will fall apart in no time."
When Emi-san says that, Airi chuckles softly.
"It's fine. It actually reassured me to know that Toya-kun was bottling things up too."
"Airi-chan?"
"No one is perfect. Everyone has their own complaints. Isn't that why the women hold their girls' night, to let off steam? Ai."
"Well, that's true... but still, the men go overboard sometimes. One wrong step and it's cheating, you know!?"
"You can say that, Airi-chan, because your partner is Katagiri-kun. The other women's partners aren't as accomplished as Katagiri-kun. That's why they're anxious and dissatisfied, right?"
Ai-san and Emi-san say, but Airi just laughs and says.
"Is that really so~? Emi, Saki, Akira... are all the others feeling anxious? Dissatisfied?"
"Th-that's..."
"I guess I'm anxious about Yuma overworking himself? I've never thought about him cheating."
"That goes for Zen-kun too. He works non-stop. He's not the type of man who has the guts to cheat."
Saki-san and Akira-san say.
Airi continues.
"In the end, the problem is that you're all getting swept up in Makoto-kun and Kiritani-kun's vibe, right? That's why you gathered today, right? So we can get to the main topic now, right? Watanabe-kun."
"R-right. As Tosaka-san says. I think we need to do something about these two's drinking habits, but what should we do?"
I think while eating the fried chicken.
I know it's not as simple as just banning them from drinking. That doesn't leave many options, though.
"Toya-kun, tell everyone what you just thought."
Airi says.
"Toya, do you have a plan!?"
Watanabe-kun asks too.
Everyone's eyes are on me.
I take a sip of my highball and say.
"Nope."
Airi seemed to have expected that answer, her expression unchanged.
"Nope... so we're just going to let this continue?"
"Ai-san and Kanna don't really want to ban them from drinking, do you?"
"Well, that's true, but..."
"For example, even if we ban them from Watanabe group drinking parties, they're going to become working members of society soon. Drinking parties will increase, more or less. Hiyama-senpai and Kimoto-senpai should know that well."
"They do increase, for sure."
"So you're saying there's a possibility they'll do the same thing there?"
Hiyama-senpai and Kimoto-senpai say.
"Toya, you're looking at it from a man's perspective again. Are you trying to say the women should just put up with it?"
Kanna says.
"I've never been, so I don't know, but I at least think they shouldn't go to places like that. We've already decided not to let those two be the organizers of the men's gatherings."
But the complaints can't be helped. So what should we do?
"...Airi told me, you know? She said if I have complaints, I should tell her. But she also said she wants me to understand that she's saying it because she's worried about me."
"I get that. I tell Yuma not to overwork himself because I'd be in trouble if he collapsed, and that he doesn't need to worry about the household finances."
When Saki-san says that, everyone starts talking at once.
"In short, what should we do?"
Mika-san says.
"Instead of just denying everything outright, why not honestly talk about what you're thinking and listen to the other person's side? At least so you don't have to vent your complaints outside."
If we do that, it'll probably just turn into lovey-dovey talk from now on.
"Makoto understood. He's been drinking less outside since then, and he doesn't complain anymore."
Kanna says.
"Well then, what should we do about Eita? He shows no sign of remorse at all."
Ai-san says.
"About that... what about everyone else? Makoto is especially good at creating more housework. He won't even clean his own room."
"Eita's the same. He does absolutely no housework."
Kanna and Ai-san say.
"My husband does his share properly~."
"Yuma even does things he doesn't have to."
Mika-san and Saki-san say.
"My husband is hopeless too. He stopped doing anything after we got married."
"Haruki is surprisingly clean and tidy~."
Hanana-san and Sakura-san say.
The men fall silent.
The women get excited among themselves.
Me and Airi just watch and laugh.
Then I say one thing.
"So this is the kind of stuff you talk about at your girls' night, right?"
The women realize.
"That's true, isn't it."
Ai-san says.
"What do the men think about that?"
When I ask, they say, "Well, I guess there are things we should reflect on..."
"That's the women's dissatisfaction right there. You just need to resolve it. Isn't it the same for the women?"
"Katagiri-kun, please understand the women's side too, why we feel like nagging!"
Ai-san says.
"Just throw your arguments at them. Appeal to the men with the women's claims. There will be conflicts. But love isn't just about pretty words, is it?"
The women fall completely silent.
"Well, maybe we should choose the place more carefully when we go for the second party with the Watanabe group? Neither side wants to be watched or to watch the other, right?"
When I say that, Kosei speaks up.
"I'm still a kid, but I understand what Katagiri-kun is saying. In short, it's about being considerate of your partner, right? I messed up on Valentine's Day too."
"Kosei! That story is enough!"
"Come on, Kosei, tell us."
Naru tries to stop him, but Kanna makes him continue.
It seems Kosei didn't notice that Naru had prepared chocolate for him on Valentine's Day and said, "Getting excited over Valentine's Day is stupid."
"That's no good, Kosei. You gotta notice that stuff."
Haruto says.
"I realized later. It's the same with drinking parties. Naru is always crying after the parties. Saying, 'If you have a problem with me, just say it.'"
"In short, the men need to be more considerate of the women."
Watanabe-kun sums it up.
"Eita, you should try to understand your wife's feelings a little. She's not nagging you because she likes it. Have some tolerance."
Watanabe-kun says.
"I know that, but... can't I at least complain at drinking parties!"
"If you have something on your mind, why don't you just say it now!"
"There are things you can't say right in front of the person!"
Eita and Ai-san are arguing.
Then Airi says.
"I said something at the girls' night once. 'Complaining and griping just makes you feel worse; lovey-dovey talk is probably a much nicer feeling.'"
"If a guy did that, it'd just be creepy!"
Manabe-kun says, and everyone laughs.
"See, you laughed. If you're going to drink anyway, it's more fun to laugh."
Airi says.
"I want to drink happily."
Ishihara-kun says.
"Looks like the discussion is settled. For the men, first, don't go to shady places. Second, be careful with your topics. Those two points. What about the women? Can you accept that?"
Watanabe-kun says.
"Well, I understand the men's side too. We both have things we bottle up, right?"
Ai-san says.
Better to have cheerful topics than to continue a pointless argument.
But Makoto says.
"But what about our actions outside the Watanabe group? Like Toya said, there are after-parties for the club."
"Are you planning to badmouth your wife at those places... Makoto? If you have something to say, I'll listen now."
"No, it's nothing."
When Makoto says that, everyone laughs.
(5)
We chose the usual karaoke place for the second party.
Everyone, men and women alike, keeps singing.
In the midst of the excitement, I'm also engrossed in eating.
"Toya-kun, sing something too. I want to hear that song."
"Ah, sure."
Airi inputs the song on the terminal.
When my turn comes, I sing.
Kitamura-san seems to have opened up quite a bit too. She's not very good at singing, but she belts it out without caring.
Then we get Kuribayashi-kun to sing.
"Sho-chan, is it okay not to contact home?"
"I'm 19 already, you know? I'll go out and have fun when I want to. Iori, are you okay?"
"When I said I was with Sho-chan, they told me, 'Don't go overboard.'"
"I see. Well, if we're just doing karaoke, it should be fine, right?"
"Yeah. Sho-chan, aren't you going to sing?"
"I'm not really good at it. Singing at places like this."
"That's exactly why it's fine. Ah, let's sing that song together?"
"If Iori wants to, then sure."
"Yay~"
Kisaragi-kun and Asakura-san seem to be getting along well too.
Chi-chan and Sho are...
"Sho! You guys are staying with us until morning!"
"You're going to sing until morning!?"
"That's right, and when morning comes, go straight home."
"I'll go home when I'm done. What are you so worried about, big brother?"
"It's obviously about Chi! It'll be too late for Chi to realize it too! Men become beasts at night!"
"Ah, that's what you mean. Then we've already done it."
"Huh!?"
Makoto stands up. I'm a bit surprised too.
Looking at Sho's face, it seems what Chi-chan is saying is true.
"Sho! Who did you ask for permission before touching Chi!"
"That's between me and Sho! It's none of my brother's business!"
"That's why I was worried about Chi getting a boyfriend! I never thought it would happen this fast..."
"Isn't it fine? It means Chi-chan has become an adult. She wouldn't have said something like that before."
"Even Kanna... Ishihara-kun and Watanabe-kun will understand, right?"
Makoto seeks help from Ishihara-kun and Watanabe-kun, but...
"Well, I think it's fine as long as he's someone who can take appropriate responsibility."
"I never really meddled in my siblings' affairs."
"Is there no one on my side in the Watanabe group!?"
Makoto shouts.
"I understand, Makoto! We two are always comrades!"
Kiritani-kun puts his arm around Makoto's shoulder.
"Alright, let's drink until morning today! Let's drink and deepen our bond!"
"You're on!"
Are they starting again...?
"Those two are hopeless..."
Kanna, looking exasperated, comes over here.
"Is it okay? Leaving Makoto-kun alone?"
Airi asks.
"It's too late now. I'll just let him do what he wants."
"Eita is the same as always. We might have to do something about him again."
Maybe I'll go back to my parents' house, Ai-san says.
"Still, Toya finally decided to cohabit. Well, I guess you two will be fine."
"I thought Katagiri-kun should just get married already... but was it because we showed him too many of our bad sides? Did he get disillusioned with marriage?"
Kanna and Ai-san say.
"No, it's the opposite. I was even thinking about proposing to Airi this year."
When I say that, the two are surprised.
"Why aren't you doing it!?"
When Ai-san asks, Airi answers.
"I told him. I said I'd wait until Toya-kun was satisfied, without rushing."
She happily said that he seriously went to ask her father for permission to cohabit with marriage in mind.
Mika-san, who overheard the story, says.
"That's practically half-decided for marriage, isn't it! Why didn't you say so sooner!"
"I was just going to say it after I proposed."
"Idiot! You should announce news like that as many times as you can! Everyone, let's celebrate big time today!"
When Mika-san says that, everyone reacts.
"Alright, got it! Toya! If that's the case, get over here! As a senior husband, I'll give you some solid advice!"
"That's right, Toya! The beginning is the most important for this kind of thing! We'll give you advice!"
Makoto and Eita say.
Sighing, I start to get up, but Airi grabs my arm.
Then she shouts.
"Stop filling Toya-kun's head with weird ideas! I know it's nothing good!!"
"Tosaka-san, there are things a man has to do, and we're just giving him advice on that!"
"That's right, Tosaka-san. If he lets himself be walked all over from the start, he can't maintain his male dignity!"
"That's exactly what I'm saying is unnecessary!"
Airi seems to be in a bad mood. It's probably best to ignore her and eat the fried chicken.
When I notice, Ai-san and Kanna, who were on either side of me, are gone.
"Oh, advice? I didn't think you were such a splendid husband. My apologies. I'd like to be more careful in the future, so could you share some for reference?"
"The beginning is important, huh. That's quite impressive. Won't you let me hear it too? So I can be careful~."
The two seemed to have returned to their original seats.
You can guess what happened after that, right?
"So it always ends up like this with those two."
Watanabe-kun came over.
"Watanabe-kun, is there anything you're careful about?"
"Well, I think what you're thinking is fine, Toya."
"What do you mean?"
"Do what your wife says and relieve her stress as much as possible. Unlike us, they can't let off steam outside."
"Yeah."
"Also, if you really think something is absolutely wrong, it's okay to fight about it and point it out. Male dignity is built that way."
I engrave Watanabe-kun's words firmly in my heart.
Airi is also asking Mika-san.
"Airi! You can't just spoil him! You have to say what needs to be said. If you don't, men just keep getting worse."
"Ugh... but isn't Watanabe-kun a good husband?"
"He's still no good! He treats me like a child. I'm still a lousy housewife too."
"That's not true. It's amazing that you can handle housework while working."
"Tosaka-senpai, let me say something too."
Saki-san came over.
"Anyway, you absolutely have to keep a close eye on your husband's health. Especially be careful when he starts working overtime. He's probably the same as Yuma in that he'll overwork himself for unnecessary surprises."
"That's true..."
The other women also seem to be giving Airi various advice.
"Well, that's how it is. They'll say all sorts of things, but just let it wash over you without unnecessary resistance."
Watanabe-kun whispers that to me, but it seems the women heard him.
"Hey!? 'Let it wash over you,' you say! That's inexcusable!"
Emi-san says.
"Everyone is saying it because they care about their husbands, isn't that a bit much~?"
Sakura-san says.
"Surely, Nozomi! You weren't thinking the same thing, were you!?"
"N-no, not at all! I'm listening gratefully."
Ishihara-kun's eyes are darting around.
"Well, that's how it is. Good luck."
Saying that, Watanabe-kun tries to escape!
"Masashi, you sit down too! That remark was inexcusable!"
It seems he failed to escape.
"Kazu-san..."
"Of course not. I do exactly what you say."
"For someone who says that, you're still coming home late a lot."
"Th-that's... and I spend time with Hanana once a week, don't I?"
While Kitamura-san continues singing, the women's guidance session continues until morning.
But that's probably for the best.
The women are busy with housework and work; they're not even allowed to go out and have fun on the way home like the men.
If it can be a small outlet for their stress, I can put up with a little noise and listen.
And on my days off, I'll spend time with them properly.
Easier said than done, though.
Even I know that.
Even now, I can't always be there for Airi.
Once I start working, I'll definitely have to leave Airi alone.
That was a concern for me.
So I'll try to find a way to ease Airi's anxieties and dissatisfactions, even just a little.
That's probably what's important.
It's a difficult task, like chasing the wind.
But everyone is probably doing it unconsciously.
I felt envious of them.
I looked at the men being scolded with a sense of admiration.
When morning came, everyone went home on the first train or by car.
We also headed home on the first bus.
"Hmm~"
Airi seems troubled already.
"What's wrong?"
I ask Airi.
"I was just worried that Toya-kun might end up like that too~."
I definitely won't end up like Makoto and the others.
"I know you won't end up like Makoto-kun and them. But I wonder if you'll start finding me annoying, like the others do."
"Maybe."
"Ugh..."
We get off the bus and go home.
Once home, I take a quick shower.
Then I wait for Airi to come back.
"Huh? Toya-kun, you're still awake?"
"Yeah."
I wait for Airi to dry her hair.
When Airi finishes drying her hair, she sits down next to me.
Alright then...
I put my hand on Airi's shoulder and pull her close.
"What's wrong? Aren't you sleepy?"
Airi asks, and I smile and answer.
"I need to start practicing now. Practicing how to relieve Airi's dissatisfaction."
"You're just saying that because you want to be spoiled, aren't you? Honestly, you're hopeless~."
"Maybe."
"Well then~ let's go to bed for now?"
"Okay."
We get into bed.
Airi clings to me.
"Toya-kun thinks I have dissatisfactions and anxieties, right?"
"I don't think you don't."
"Right now, my heart is so full of happiness. So much that I feel like I might die from it."
If you died, I'd be in trouble, Airi.
"From now on, Toya-kun is going to make me even happier. Just thinking that, there's no way I could have any anxieties or dissatisfactions, right?"
"Is that so? Yeah, I guess so."
"Even now, Toya-kun is being considerate of me. Just that feeling makes me happy. ...But maybe there is one thing I'm anxious about?"
"What?"
"Hmm, I'm worried that you push yourself like this even when you're tired. Toya-kun will die from overwork."
"That would be a problem."
"So when it's time to rest, rest. I'll have you dote on me plenty when we wake up."
"Got it."
"Okay, then goodnight."
Saying that, Airi fell asleep.
She's such an endearing girl, finding joy in the smallest things.
That's exactly why I have to be considerate of her.
She won't speak up about small things herself, so I have to be the one to pay attention.
The person I admired when I first met her is now sleeping next to me, and we've promised each other a future.
Rooted firmly, never to be swept away by a fickle wind.
I wonder if I can still be the person she admires?
Thinking about such things, I fell asleep.
Dreaming of the future to come.