Chapter 370 - The Moon of God Floating in the Dark Night
(1)
"Good morning, Toya-kun. It's morning~"
I am woken up by Airi at the scheduled time.
Today, there are only the two of us, me and Airi, in the house.
My parents have returned to their hometown.
It seems Airi's parents are spending the New Year abroad.
Today is New Year's Eve.
Airi is full of enthusiasm, saying we are cleaning from the morning.
For now, after eating breakfast, I ask her what I should do.
It is mostly the same thing every year, though.
Cleaning the water areas, the ventilation fan, the doors, and washing the car.
Airi vacuums the whole house and wipes down the hallways clean.
Since I am at it, she asks me to take care of the garden as well, so I tend to it.
For lunch, I was able to have instant ramen.
She properly put an egg in it.
Once the cleaning is done, I go shopping with Airi.
We buy rice cakes and a shimenawa. The osechi was ordered from a shop, since only me and Airi would be eating it anyway.
Airi said, "Is store-bought better than a bride's handmade cooking?" so when I said, "You would just be packing store-bought stuff anyway, wouldn't you, Airi?" she groaned, "Ugh," but reluctantly agreed.
While I attach the shimenawa to the entrance, Airi changes her clothes and begins to prepare.
Once I finish decorating, I also change my clothes and begin to prepare.
When the preparations are finished, we leave the house and head to the bus stop.
Taking the bus to the city, I stroll around the city with Airi.
After killing some time, we head to the venue for the first party.
The first party is at an izakaya.
Haruto and the others were early, as usual.
Since the seating wouldn't matter anyway once the banquet started, I sat next to Haruto and the others and talked.
Once Watanabe-kun and his group arrive, others come one after another.
The last ones to arrive were Kisaragi-kun and Asakura-san.
Today is a large group of over fifty people.
There are also people I don't know.
"Well then, this is the last banquet of the year, everyone enjoy yourselves,"
Watanabe-kun says, and the banquet begins.
Though there will be a New Year's party in a week, though.
While eating and drinking while talking with everyone, I was called over by Watanabe-kun and the others.
When I moved seats, there were people older than me.
"Toya, this is Emi-san's cousin, Hayashida Hanae-san, and her husband, Yuhei-san. And Morishige Seita-san and his wife, Nami-san."
"Nice to meet you, I am Katagiri Toya."
"Nice to meet you, I am Hayashida Hanae. You are Katagiri Toya-kun... Oh?"
Hanae-san is looking at me as if sizing me up.
I also looked into Hanae-san's eyes.
"To not only not look away when looking at me, but to look back at me... I see. You are indeed the person the rumors say you are."
Hanae-san said so and laughed.
"Nice to meet you, I am Morishige. I have heard about you from my secretary, Hayashida."
Morishige Seita-san also had straight, honest eyes, just like the rumors said.
I listened intently to Morishige-san's talk.
The current state of the prefectural administration, the current state of the municipal administration, and politics colluding with corporations must be changed.
Effective utilization of resources unique to the local area. Appealing the local area to the world.
On the other hand, supporting local businesses and normalizing the working environment.
The upcoming aging society, creating a foundation where people with disabilities can work. I listened to his ideals, and so on.
It was the kind of boring content one would hear in a class, but he broke it down and explained it in a way that was easy to understand and visualize.
I see, the secret to his popularity is this talking ability.
He went to various izakaya to explain politics to young people, and strongly appealed his own thoughts.
That effort has probably borne fruit and led to his current acquisition of floating votes, hasn't it?
It is said that not a few people volunteer for his political activities.
I was drawn into his speaking skills, to the point of forgetting the passage of time.
However, it was not all good stories.
As expected, there are those who obstruct his political activities, it seems.
The name of that group is the Knights of the Sun.
In order to make Eto Shinichiro, whom they are backing, win—or more precisely, to make Morishige-san stop his candidacy—they are apparently planning all kinds of obstruction tactics.
They go so far as to commit business obstruction against his original occupation at a hotel, and try to kidnap his daughter, Shiori-chan, among all kinds of other obstruction tactics, he said.
Morishige-san says he wants to borrow our young power.
"What do you think, Toya?"
"Katagiri-kun, couldn't you help us?"
Watanabe-kun and Emi-san asked.
I took a breath and answered.
"Unfortunately, we cannot be of help."
The two of them look disappointed.
Morishige-san stares intently at me.
"Are you saying I am wrong?"
"That is not it. Morishige-san's way of thinking is splendid, and your ideals are high. If you become the Mayor, it will surely be a good municipal administration. No, it will not stop at municipal administration; it will reach prefectural administration, and eventually national politics."
"Then, why are you refusing, Toya?"
Watanabe-kun says.
"Your thoughts are pure. They are clear and without stain. On the other hand, our power is something illegal; there is a risk we might become a shackle to you."
"I see, you are also someone who advocates for ideals. A stainless, clean politics."
"The one who can realize that is you. If it is support for that purpose, we will not spare any effort. We are rooting for you."
"I get it!"
Watanabe-kun stands up.
"We will support Morishige-san from the shadows! Everyone, make sure you go and vote!"
When Watanabe-kun says that, the place gets lively.
Morishige-san firmly shakes my hand.
It was at that moment.
Shatter
The sound of something exploding outside can be heard.
I headed toward the entrance of the shop.
A scrap of paper is lying on the ground.
When I pick it up, there is text written on it.
"Back off, otherwise your safety is not guaranteed."
Does this mean our moves are being read?
"Toya, what's wrong?"
"It seems they've shown their tail from their side."
I show the scrap of paper to Watanabe-kun.
"This is..."
Mika-san also looks at it.
"Toya, this is a letter of challenge to the Watanabe Unit!"
Mika-san says.
It seems the situation has changed.
"Emi-san, what about Morishige-san and the others' SPs?"
"Father has assigned a handpicked elite. There is no problem."
"Let's have them go home for today. Arrange for their transportation immediately."
"Understood."
Emi-san is making a phone call.
"I am sorry, it seems I might end up wasting your precious three months."
"We will settle this by voting day."
"Which means, Toya..."
"We will probably have to take some kind of measure."
I answered so.
"Isn't that great? Let's finish off the Knights of the Sun right here!"
Mika-san shouts.
But I said.
"No! They are not an opponent we can carelessly lay a hand on!"
"Then are you saying we should just take it lying down? Victory goes to the one who makes the first move. Let's barge in and gang up on them to shut them down!"
"If we do that, Morishige-san will also take damage. That would be a fatal wound."
"Then what do you want us to do, Toya!"
"I will think about that from now on. In any case, please do not take any rash actions."
Kanna says, and I answer.
"Are we going to face danger again?"
Manabe-kun says.
"I don't think so. Regarding that, the deck has already been constructed."
"What do you mean by that?"
Manabe-kun asks.
"We know the composition of the hostile organization. We will sell that to the media."
If it comes to a kidnapping or hostage situation, Eto Shinichiro himself will suffer damage.
Though I don't know if that damage will be a fatal wound.
"More importantly, Morishige-san's family is the top priority. We must protect them at all costs."
"There is no problem, we are guarding them thoroughly."
Emi-san says.
"You are a splendid adult overflowing with a sense of justice. Let us share a drink again once the election is over."
Morishige-san says.
And so, Morishige-san went home.
Hayashida-san also prepares to go home.
"Hayashida-san, you be careful too."
"I'm fine, I've trained enough to protect my family."
"I've still got my old skills too. No need to worry. Katagiri Toya... you will become a splendid adult. This big sister guarantees it."
"Thank you..."
"Well then, see you later, since we've left our child in someone's care too."
Saying so, the Hayashida couple also went home.
"Toya, what are we doing now?"
"We accept the fight that was picked. If they hit us, we hit back! That's the Watanabe Unit, isn't it?!"
Watanabe-kun and Mika-san say.
"Everyone is forgetting. The current Watanabe Unit has a weak point called USE."
We cannot allow ALICE's name to be dragged through the mud!
"If my existence is going to be a shackle, I will leave the Watanabe Unit."
"No, even if you do that, it won't change anything. Knowing them, they will quickly sniff out that USE is an activity of the Watanabe Unit."
"In that case, I will leave USE. I will definitely return the medical expenses I borrowed."
"I won't allow that. It's fine, Toya-kun is already thinking of the next move. It's fine to keep going as we have been. We are a group that can't leave people in trouble alone."
Airi says.
However, we were unable to find a countermeasure.
"Let's stop this gloomy talk here! We have the countdown live from now, right?"
Kanna says.
Is it already that time?
"Toya, are you actually unable to make a move?"
Watanabe-kun says.
"Well, yes. But they have guards. If they focus their target on us, we can just pay them back double. Just..."
"Just?"
"If hostages don't work, they will take the next measure—I have that kind of premonition."
I did not know what that measure would be.
I hope nothing happens.
"It is almost time for the last order."
The clerk says.
We leave the shop.
"There is still time before our schedule."
Watanabe-kun says.
"How about we change venues and drink some more?"
Thwack
"Toya-kun, you don't mean 'drink some more', you mean 'eat some more', right!"
Lies do not work on Airi.
"Well, shall we look for some shop for another two hours or so?"
"We can use my place,"
Watanabe-kun says, and Kanna says.
Kanna is on the phone.
It seems it is open.
We decided to go to Kanna's mother's shop.
(2)
"Toya-kun, on the rocks is fine for you, right?"
Airi pours the alcohol for me.
We didn't have a reservation in particular, but the Watanabe Unit had almost completely occupied the place.
Kanna is helping her aunt.
"Toya, are you also looking for a new home early next year?"
Watanabe-kun asked.
"That's right, I think I'll look for one once the New Year's party is over."
I answered so.
"I see... I think it will be tough, but do your best."
Watanabe-kun says so and gulped down his drink.
"Did you also have a hard time, Watanabe-kun?"
"Well, yeah. Even though we are husband and wife, two people who have lived different lives until now are going to spend time together. There are differences in lifestyle habits and such."
"I guess you and Tosaka-san don't have that problem," Watanabe-kun laughed.
"Toya, be careful! When you live together with a woman, she suddenly becomes nagging and noisy!"
Kiritani-kun should really pay more attention to his surroundings.
"Who suddenly becomes noisy?"
"That's obviously the wife! Wait... Ai."
"These two are about to start a new life! Don't go filling his head with unnecessary things! Katagiri-kun, you shouldn't mind him either, okay!"
That's why I told you so.
"Watanabe-kun, have you ever had any complaints about Mika-san?"
Airi was asking.
"I do. But I think both sides need the tolerance to accept those kinds of things."
Just silently accept your wife's complaints. Watanabe-kun says so.
A wife's complaints, huh.
"Masashi is kind! He does housework, and if our days off match, he takes me out to play!"
Mika-san says while pouring alcohol into Watanabe-kun's glass.
"Katagiri-kun, what kind of property are you looking for? I can introduce you to some properties we handle."
Akira-san said.
"Near my parents' house, maybe around a 2LDK? And parking space for two cars."
"For Katagiri-kun, wouldn't it be faster to just buy a house?"
Emi-san says.
"Because I'm thinking of renovating my parents' house in the future."
"I see. Is the 2LDK Airi-chan's wish?"
"Yeah, we're going to have a child as soon as we get married~"
Even if you say it like a chicken laying an egg...
"Why near your parents' home?"
"It's quite convenient. Airi can drive, so she can go shopping, and Blue Bird is close by, so it would be a nice distraction for Airi. The bus also runs there."
"You are quite considerate of Airi-chan, aren't you?"
Changing Airi's living environment completely makes me anxious. It would cause Airi unnecessary stress.
With that kind of feeling, the second party got lively, centering on the topic of our new life.
"It's about time. Shall we go?"
Watanabe-kun says, and everyone moved to the live house.
(3)
The live house located in the basement of Ishihara-kun's entertainment agency.
It was opened thirty minutes prior.
A large venue that could easily accommodate about fifty people.
The men lining up in the very front row.
The women looking on in exasperation from behind.
Me, Airi, the Watanabe couple, the Ishihara couple, the Sakai couple, Kosei, and Naru were relaxing around the middle while having drinks.
Five minutes before, ALICE came in and began her MC.
And then, when it became one minute before, the countdown began. (T/N: possible typo in source — original reads "阻止て" instead of "そして")
3, 2, 1...
"Happy New Year, everyone!"
With her shout, the live performance began.
The setlist this time was twelve songs.
A live performance of a little over two hours, with MC segments in between.
Everyone was wild with excitement.
This time, love songs and ballads were also mixed in.
And after singing the last song, Arisu says, "Thank you," and leaves the stage.
Voices calling for an encore can be heard.
ALICE goes up on the stage again and sings two encore songs.
After bowing deeply, she left the stage.
Leaving the live house, we wait for Arisu-san and Akiyoshi-kun.
When the two of them come out, Watanabe-kun says, "The after-party is karaoke, then."
Though it was a time of day when there were no other choices anyway.
At the karaoke, everyone was having a great time.
Though we had turned into dedicated listeners.
Arisu-san also seemed to be tired, as expected.
She was resting while talking with us.
"Are you okay?"
I asked Arisu-san.
"Yes, I am fine. My tension just got high."
"The real thing is the day after tomorrow. Rest well tomorrow."
"Isn't Keita-san taking you for the first shrine visit of the year tomorrow?"
"...Where would you like to go?"
The two of them are talking intimately.
"What is the real thing the day after tomorrow?"
"Sunday is my first live. Though I can only do lives on weekends."
It seems she will be doing lives all over Kyushu once spring break starts.
For her, the day will surely come when she flies out not just to Kyushu, but nationwide, no, even abroad.
The Watanabe Unit also needs to act carefully so as not to become a shackle to her.
I listened to the two of them talk while thinking about such things.
The after-party continued until morning.
Once the after-party was finished, everyone disbanded.
And then, we also went home by bus and fell asleep.
(4)
"Toya-kun, lunch is ready~"
Woken up by Airi, I eat lunch.
"Hey, let's go for the first shrine visit of the year?"
Airi says.
"Where do you want to go?"
"Nishikanada Shrine is fine, it's been a while."
"Understood."
I go to visit the shrine with Airi.
Nishikanada Shrine has many visitors for its size.
We line up and wait for a while.
Airi is firmly holding my arm.
"What's wrong?"
"I'm keeping a close eye on you so that Toya-kun doesn't run off to the food stalls."
"I see."
After ringing the bell and praying, Airi says, "Let's draw a fortune."
We bought fortunes and tied them up. After buying a traffic safety amulet and returning home, Airi grilled some rice cakes for me.
While eating them, we killed time by watching television in the room.
When night fell, Airi began preparing dinner.
Though, that only meant making ozoni and picking at the osechi.
Airi poured hot sake into my sake cup.
I also poured some into Airi's sake cup.
Taking a sip, Airi's face turned bright red.
"It's quite strong, isn't it?"
After that, we cleaned up, took a bath, and spent some relaxing time in the room.
"Shall we look for a room once the New Year's party is over?"
"...Yeah."
Something seems strange.
"What's wrong?"
"You won't get mad if I tell you?"
"Is it something to get mad about?"
"I don't know."
"I won't get mad, so tell me."
"You see..."
Airi speaks.
She is looking forward to the new life, but can the two of us really make it on our own? Will she be able to support me? It seems she is harboring such anxieties.
I hug Airi.
"Airi, you said it. It's not that I will make you happy. It's that the two of us will become happy together. I return those same words to you."
Let's support each other and become happy together, Airi.
Airi smiled warmly.
"That's right."
After that, we talked about things like how we have to buy furniture once we decide on a room.
"Only a little over a month left with this house, too~"
"Airi, how did you feel when you left the Tosaka house?"
"Hmm. Because I naturally ended up living together with you in this house."
That's right.
Our life living together, which felt long yet short.
We are about to set about preparing to begin our new life.
The future, hope, and dreams shining in the dark night.
The Moon of God that sings of them.
The melody of a mischievous love awakens.
Until the dream wakes, shining in the present, burning oneself, being guided.
Needing nothing, in desperation, staring at the love that forgets everything, naked until morning.