Chapter 359 - Running Through the Crisis
(1)
"Hey, Toya-kun, which one do you think is better?"
"Hmm, let me see..."
Even I can get stuck on a decision sometimes.
Airi and I were at the department store, just as we promised, to buy Airi a skirt.
The black skirt with white polka dots was nice, but then a new option appeared.
A knit one-piece dress.
Just imagining Airi wearing it—she'd surely look adorable.
But Airi did say she didn't like mini skirts because they're cold.
Looking at Airi's heart, she'd pick the polka-dot skirt, but... mmm, this is tough...
"Ugh... Toya-kun, are you really looking?"
"I'm looking."
It's precisely because I'm looking that I'm torn.
Should I force my desires on Airi?
Or should I suppress my own wants and grant Airi's wish?
...Wait, there's a perfect solution!
"I think the skirt suits you better, Airi."
"Okay, then I'll buy the skirt."
Airi picks the skirt.
"Huh?"
Airi notices something's off.
I'm standing in line at the register of the women's clothing store, holding the knit one-piece.
It's a bizarre sight.
"Toya-kun, what are you doing with that?"
A perfectly natural question from anyone.
After Airi buys the skirt, I'll buy the knit one-piece.
"Ah, could you wrap it up, please?"
"Yes."
The clerk chuckles as she wraps it.
Airi watches with a puzzled look.
I take the beautifully wrapped package and say to Airi, "Shall we go?"
I told Airi it's already nighttime, so maybe we should eat something before heading home.
Since we came all the way to the city, we decide to eat at the department store's annex.
I even anticipated Airi leaving food behind.
She wouldn't eat messily in a place with such an atmosphere.
"Hey? What are you going to do with that knit one-piece?"
Airi still doesn't seem to get it.
"It's a gift."
"For who?"
"For someone precious."
Poke
"So you have someone like that? Toya-kun, you're cheating on me!"
"W-wait, that's not it, calm down."
"How can I calm down? That's cruel, Toya-kun. Here I was enjoying our shopping date!"
"That's exactly why I prepared this as the finale!"
"And that's your declaration of cheating?!"
"Like I said, I told you—it's for someone precious."
"Who is it?"
"It's Airi."
Airi seems to have settled down.
"Then why didn't you just pick that one instead?"
"You said you didn't like mini skirts, right? Because they're cold, I thought."
"If Toya-kun wants me to, I'll wear it!"
"But I also thought you'd look cute in that skirt with a white top."
"Thanks ♪ In that case, why didn't you just buy both?"
"You said you don't like mini skirts, and if I tried to buy both, you'd get mad, right?"
"...Then what was the reason you bought the knit one-piece?"
"It's a personal request."
"A request?"
"Yeah."
Airi seems unable to read my intention.
"What's the request?"
Airi asked.
"Could you wear this as loungewear?"
"Huh?"
"I don't know exactly why you don't like mini skirts—whether it's because of the cold or because you're worried about exposure. But if it's loungewear, only I'll see you, right? The heating's on, so it'll be warm. I'm asking you to wear it as loungewear."
Hearing that, Airi burst out laughing.
"So even Toya-kun gets troubled sometimes. Okay. If Toya-kun wishes, I'll wear any outfit for you."
"Thank you."
"You could have just said that from the start... People might think you're weird, a guy buying women's clothes."
"I wanted to buy it myself because it was my own desire."
"That excuse won't work from now on."
Why?
I asked Airi.
"Because starting next year, all of Toya-kun's money will be managed by me, right?"
Ah, right.
"I'm full, so let's head out soon. I want to get home quickly."
"Why?"
"I have to grant Toya-kun's request."
Ah, that's what she means.
We finish our meal and head home.
After we get home and I take a bath, Airi gets in the bath.
And when she comes out, she's wearing the knit one-piece we bought today.
As expected, it suits her.
Her fingertips peeking out from the sleeves. Her healthy legs.
"It's actually pretty warm, this."
Looks like Airi has taken a liking to it.
"As expected, Toya-kun and I have similar tastes."
If that's true, I'm glad.
Airi sits on the floor and fiddles with her phone.
"Looks like he still hasn't come home. Makoto-kun."
Ten days had passed since Makoto disappeared.
No contact from him since then.
Even Kanna was worn out.
She couldn't even eat.
What are you doing, Makoto? Come back soon. The people precious to you are waiting for you.
"Shouldn't we file a missing person report?"
Just as Airi said that.
My phone rings. It's Watanabe's group.
"Big brother has come home."
It's from Chii-chan.
I exchange a look with Airi.
We leave the house and head to Makoto's house.
(2)
Ten days had passed since I left home.
I'm still attending classes and showing up for practice.
Naturally, Eita and Sakura-san found me.
They came to the field again today.
I talked to them during a break in practice.
"Don't you think it's about time you went home?"
Sakura-san said.
With what face can I go back?
"This isn't the time to be stubborn, you know? Kanna-senpai is worried."
"Sakura-san, about Kanna and the others..."
"I know. I haven't told them."
"Toya said it. He said you were just set up. So you don't need to worry."
Eita said.
It's not that simple.
"Even if I was set up, the fault lies with me for letting my guard down. If I hadn't gone in the first place, this wouldn't have happened."
"Wouldn't it be better to just tell her how you feel? ...This is just a runaway kid, after all."
At that moment, my phone rang.
An unknown number.
I answered.
"Hello?"
"Oh, it's me, Shimomura."
"How did you get this number...?"
"I asked someone from the soccer club. I have some urgent business, so could you come to the back of Gym 1?"
"Ah, got it."
I hung up, said a word to Sakura-san and Eita, and headed to the back of Gym 1.
There were several women I'd never seen before.
A few gal-style girls. First-year students this year, maybe?
"You're Tada Makoto?"
"That's right, but?"
"We were asked by Shimomura Arisu, you see."
Their eyes were sharp. This didn't look good.
"Did something happen to Shimomura-san?"
"Looks like she got pregnant, you know?"
Huh?
"If you're a man, you get it, right? What you did."
No way. That can't be—I haven't even done it with Kanna!
"Th-that can't be!"
"Even if it can't be, children are born anyway, right? You're old enough to understand that."
"So where is Shimomura-san?"
"She's too shocked to see anyone right now. So we're here to deliver a message."
"What kind of message?"
"We need you to prepare 500,000 yen for the abortion, and 1,000,000 yen in compensation. So 1,500,000 yen total."
My head went into a panic.
N-no way.
"Get it ready in a week. It'll be too late after that, you know. You don't want to throw away your future, do you? If it comes out that a future J-Leaguer, and a married man at that, got his mistress pregnant, that'd be a huge problem, right?"
"I already filed the divorce papers! I'll take responsibility and raise Shimomura-san's child!"
"Arisu just entered university. She said she doesn't want to give birth. Understand her feelings."
"Where is Shimomura-san? Let me meet her!"
"You're a slow-on-the-uptake big brother, aren't you? You're hated by Arisu."
I couldn't say anything.
"Well, that's how it is. Do what you need to do."
The woman patted my shoulder and left.
Money. I need money. I have to get money somehow!
I gave all my savings to Kanna. What do I do?! Even a loan shark wouldn't give me 1.5 million yen...
No choice. I'll borrow from my parents, saying I'll pay them back later.
I'll have to tell them the truth.
I can take one hit.
I'll go home after club activities.
What a pathetic man I am.
I leave the spot in a daze.
Without noticing the two people watching me.
I go home and explain the situation.
I start by telling them I divorced Kanna.
My parents' faces are stern.
Smack
First, one from Mom.
"You had Kanna-chan, and you still did this!!"
Mom was crying.
Bang!
"I'll transfer 1.5 million yen into your account tomorrow! You don't have to pay it back! But in return, never set foot in this house again!"
Dad's body was trembling too.
I stagger toward the entrance.
What a completely worthless man.
"Big brother..."
Chii tugs at my sleeve.
I don't want her to see me like this.
I pull away, put on my shoes, and step outside.
Then Toya and Tosaka-san are standing there.
"Makoto... come with me for a bit."
"Toya, sorry for everything. I've caused you a lot of trouble."
"Yeah, and you're still causing it."
That's right... I'm still causing it right now.
"I have nothing to say to you."
As I say that and try to get into my car, Toya grabs my arm.
"Just come with me!"
"Let go, Toya."
"Makoto-kun, please, just listen to what we have to say!"
Tosaka-san said.
"I'll explain your mistakes one by one, so come!"
"...Fine. Where should we go?"
"The usual family restaurant."
"Got it."
When I start driving, Toya and the others follow behind.
They don't seem to intend to let me get away.
I obediently head to the family restaurant.
(3)
When I arrive at the family restaurant, the Watanabe couple, the Ishihara couple, Kanna, the Kiritani couple, and Sakura-san are there.
Kanna sits next to Makoto without saying a word.
And she holds his hand tightly, looking down.
Sakura-san and Kiritani-kun, who had been tailing Makoto, explained the day's events.
"So you two knew where Tada-kun was."
Emi-san said.
"Sorry, I only heard about it today too," said Ai-san.
"Because Makoto told me not to say anything," said Kiritani-kun.
"I figured it was bad after hearing today's story," Sakura-san said.
"Do you have any idea how many people you've worried?"
Watanabe-san said.
Makoto remained silent.
"Don't just stay silent, say something! Kanna was worried too!"
Mika-san yelled.
I was waiting for my usual order to arrive.
Kanna still wasn't saying anything.
I go to get a refill on soup.
Poke
"It's not going to start unless Toya-kun says something, right?"
Is that so? Then I'll say it.
"Makoto... you really don't remember, do you? How you got to the hotel."
"Yeah, when I came to, I was on the hotel bed."
"Was that about 11 days ago?"
"Yeah, probably."
"Do you remember what you drank that day?"
"Two mugs of beer, sake, and shochu on the rocks, and..."
"What were you talking about?"
"What university are you from, what's your department, is that ring a wedding ring, and..."
"Ah, this is just killing me. Toya, what are you trying to say?!"
Mika-san said.
"...He can answer in such detail, but only the part about going to the hotel is missing—don't you think that's strange?"
"When you put it that way, yeah."
"...Makoto, when you went to the bathroom and then drank after that, who was sitting next to you?"
"Shimomura-san."
"Then there's no doubt it was Shimomura-san who spiked your drink."
"Spiked?"
Makoto repeated.
"You must have been drugged while you were in the bathroom. You're not the type to drink until you black out under normal circumstances."
"Now that you mention it, I guess..."
"Next, I'll tell you the mistake you made after that."
"There's more?"
"What do you know about women's bodies?"
"I know the basics."
"Then why didn't you notice?"
"Notice what?"
"How can you tell someone is pregnant just 10 days after the act?"
"Ah!"
He seems to have realized it himself.
"After what happened with Kanna on our high school field trip, Watanabe-kun told me, and I studied up quite a bit. That's impossible, no matter how you look at it."
"Now that you mention it, you're right..."
"Makoto, calm down. That's what you're lacking right now."
"Well, I get that in that kind of situation, your head would be in a panic."
Watanabe-san said.
"Kiritani-kun said he'd look into it, and lo and behold, apparently she's pregnant with the children of 10 different men right now."
Emi-san said.
"What... as a woman, I can't forgive that..."
Ai-san clenched her fist.
"That's all I have to say. The rest is between Makoto and Kanna. I'll listen since you both probably want to talk calmly."
I don't know what they might do if left alone.
In the meantime, I'll eat my hamburger steak.
Poke
I knew this would happen.
"Kanna... I'm sorry. I was planning never to see you again. I thought I had no face to show you. I know how you feel... So once this case is over, I'll..."
"You know how I feel? If you really mean that, I won't hold back either!"
Kanna spoke for the first time.
"Do you really understand the humiliation I felt when I heard you'd been taken by another woman!? What you're doing is just running away! Do you have any idea how much I worried these past ten days!? How lonely I was!?"
"Then what am I supposed to do!? Tell me! I don't know any other way to take responsibility!"
"Makoto-kun, you can't run away!!"
Airi said.
"Toya-kun said, 'Bet your sword and heart and see your life through to the end'! Shouldn't Makoto-kun also bet his life on Kanna and see it through!?"
"Bet my life on Kanna...?"
"What you did is unforgivable. But all you're doing by regretting it is belittling yourself and wallowing in despair. At the very least, that will only make Kanna even more unhappy!"
"Isn't my existence just a burden on Kanna?"
"Makoto-kun, did you know? Kanna was crying in her heart. When your suspicions came to light."
"I know that much."
"Right. Then do you know this? When Toya-kun cleared your name, Kanna cried and asked, 'Can I trust that guy now?' If you run away now, you'll make Kanna unhappy for the rest of her life!"
Had Airi's persuasion worked?
Makoto fell silent.
"...What you did is unforgivable. ...But even so, if I lost you, there'd be no happiness for me! If you understand me, get that through your head!"
"Kanna... I'm sorry... I'm really sorry."
Makoto hugged Kanna.
"You idiot. Don't think sorry is going to let you off... I'll never forgive you. Make me happy for the rest of your life. Then I'll forgive you."
"Got it... I'll dedicate this life to you."
They were both crying.
"Well then, Kiritani-kun, that's settled here. What are we going to do next?"
What now... I thought about dragging him to the Nishimatsu Clinic by force to get him examined. But that doesn't seem necessary.
"Makoto, sorry to interrupt your sentimental moment..."
"Oh, yeah. What is it, Toya?"
"When are you going to contact Shimomura-san?"
"A week from now. They'll probably contact me then."
"She's not coming herself, right?"
"Yeah. Seems I'm hated."
Makoto said with a laugh.
"Then this next part is Emi-san's field."
"Tell me anything. As a woman, I can't forgive this evil woman."
"I want you to investigate the movements of the ten fathers. We want to catch them in a transaction."
"I see. Got it."
"Makoto, you come too then. We can't discuss it without you."
"I know."
"Well, since we've finished eating... as a finale, some french fries..."
Poke
"That's enough!"
When Airi said that, everyone laughed.
(4)
"Hey, Toya-kun?"
"What is it?"
"There's something I don't get."
"What's that?"
"Where did Toya-kun learn about the female body?"
"Ah, from health and physical education textbooks and stuff."
"Hmm."
"What about it?"
"No, I'm just wondering why you didn't ask me."
"Th-there's no way I could ask that, right?"
Besides, isn't it normal to hide that kind of thing?
"And yet, you were paying attention to my stomach sounds and stuff."
There's no way I can say I suspected she might be pregnant.
"From now on, if there's something you don't understand, I'll teach you."
"Yeah, I'll count on you then."
"Should we go to sleep soon?"
"Yeah."
We get into bed together and turn off the lights.
"Hey? Toya-kun."
"What?"
"Do you think those two can make up?"
"Don't you think they can?"
"Do you think Makoto-kun will do the same thing again?"
"Probably not."
"...Ugh, are you really listening seriously?"
"I am. I'm just absorbed in Airi right now."
"Ehehe~ It's the outfit Toya-kun likes, after all."
"Yeah."
All is silent.
No one knows what lies ahead.
But Kanna will probably forgive him again and again.
And Makoto will keep changing again and again.
Until they can become the ideal couple.
But the ideal always stays ahead.
They'll probably be chasing it forever.