Chapter 388 - A Gentle Song
(1)
"Toya-san, it's morning. Today is early, right?"
"Ah, that's right. Thank you, Airi. Good morning."
Woken up by Airi, I begin to prepare.
During that time, Airi prepares breakfast.
When the preparations are finished, I eat a meal with Airi.
"Well then, today I am going to help Honoka move."
"Understood."
"What will you do for dinner?"
"I think I'll eat before coming home."
"I understand."
Airi is smiling the whole time.
After eating breakfast, I leave the house.
"Well then, please take care."
"Airi, you too, be careful driving."
"Yes, have a good day."
"I'm off."
Saying so, I leave the house.
When I arrive at the golf course, there are various people.
While thinking it is probably that group, I don't know how I should call out to them.
While I am worrying about what to do.
"Oh, Katagiri-kun. You're early. Over here, over here."
The President called out to me.
"Let me introduce you, this is the President of the company that hosted this competition."
"Nice to meet you, thank you for inviting me today. I am Katagiri, who has been in your care since this month."
"You are the rumored one?! I saw you on TV, please go easy on me."
Saying so, we shake hands.
When everyone gathers, greetings and an explanation of the rules are carried out.
I go around with Tatsuhiko-senpai, the President, and the client's President, the four of us.
We go around 9 holes in the morning, have a meal break in between, and go around 9 holes in the afternoon.
Once the client's President hits the ceremonial first shot, we start.
I hit last.
Standing on the tee box, I insert the tee, grip the club, and take my stance.
"Toya, relax and hit."
Tatsuhiko-senpai calls out.
I heard him clearly.
My mind concentrates. It's fine, I'm in the zone.
I swing the club up. In the trajectory of the swing, I can see a light at the very center of the ball.
I just trace it and swing through with all my might.
The ball flies vigorously, flying about 450 yards.
I hear applause.
And so, my first golf began.
(2)
After seeing Toya-san off, I finish preparing and go to Honoka's house.
The move had already begun.
"I'm late. I'm sorry."
"It's fine, just having you help is a lifesaver."
For male help, there are Nakajima-kun and Kiritani-kun, as well as Watanabe-kun, Kimoto-senpai, and Hiyama-senpai.
Leaving the large furniture to the movers and the men, we carry small luggage and clean the rooms.
For the women, there are Honoka, Ai, Mika-san, Kana, and Sakura.
With six women, the cleaning is finished in no time.
After that, moving the luggage toward the new home.
Once we finish carrying everything, "Thank you, everyone," is said, and the delivery soba they ordered is served.
"Is Katagiri-kun working on his day off?"
Ai asked.
"No, he's going to a golf competition."
"Well, that kind of socializing is necessary, I suppose."
Watanabe-kun says.
I think so too. I truly feel that Toya-san is a working adult.
"We'll do the unpacking ourselves from here on."
When the Nakajima couple says so, we head to Blue Bird.
At Blue Bird, there were Saki, Misato, and the Sakai couple.
It seems Sakai-kun had documents he had to look over by today, but Akira stormed into the President's office, declared "There is no value in looking at documents from an incompetent who makes the President work overtime," shredded the documents right there in the President's office, and forced him to come along.
Apparently, among them were approval documents for transactions on the scale of hundreds of millions, but that seems to have had nothing to do with Akira.
It is said that the number of companies that have gone bankrupt due to Akira's assertion of "Take a proper rest on holidays" has reached double digits.
Akira says "It's no big deal," but Sakai-kun's complexion is pale.
It seems the Ishihara couple had some trouble at the entertainment agency.
Perhaps because today is a holiday, almost none of the university group is here.
"It's been a while since we all talked like this."
Watanabe-kun says.
"Didn't we have Kanna's wedding?"
I say.
"And we go to Blue Bird almost every day, too."
Kana says.
After that, as we all talk, time passes in the blink of an eye.
"What's Toya doing tonight?"
Watanabe-kun asked.
"He said he would eat out before coming home."
"Then, how about we all have dinner together just like this?"
Everyone agrees with Watanabe-kun's proposal.
I also sent a message to Toya-san saying, "I'm going to eat dinner with everyone tonight."
For dinner, we went to a nearby family restaurant.
"How have things been with Eita since then?"
Watanabe-kun was asking Ai-san.
"He's changed. He started doing housework, and when he's on the late-night shift, he prepares breakfast when he gets home."
As expected, Ai-san is an important person to Kiritani-kun.
"That's good. Everyone was worried about Ai-san and Honoka-san."
Watanabe-kun says.
"And then, let's see, he sends me messages during his break when he's on the late-night shift."
Ai says happily.
"With this, we can welcome the training camp without any worries."
"That's right. Don't cause any trouble at the training camp either, Eita. You and Makoto-kun are the sources of worry."
Akira and Watanabe-kun are saying.
"I-I know. I haven't gone to the mountains or to the Zero-Yon, so there's probably no problem."
"Everyone is on edge because we don't know what you guys will start saying once alcohol gets into you."
Kiritani-kun says, when Watanabe-kun replies.
"That's right, Kiritani-kun. Last year, because of you guys, do you know how much trouble I had to go through to get my wife back in a good mood?"
"Give me a break, Eita. It's hard to get Sakura back in a good mood too."
Kimoto-senpai and Hiyama-senpai say.
"Oh? Are you blaming others? Kazu-san, weren't you agreeing with them too?"
"Is Haruki planning to blame others too~? I was listening to the conversation properly, you know~"
Kana and Sakura say.
"It'll be fine this year, because Toya is here."
Kiritani-kun says.
"What does that have to do with anything?"
"Toya is also piling up stress from work and stress from living together! If he gets a little alcohol in him, it'll all come pouring out."
"You don't understand at all, you idiot! Are you planning to drag Katagiri-kun into it this year?!"
When Kiritani-kun says that, Ai said.
"That would never happen with Katagiri-kun. What were you listening to during the third after-party?"
"It's just as Akira says. That is impossible for those two."
Akira and Kana say.
"Airi, there's no need to take what this idiot says seriously, okay! Just as Akira and Kana say, that would never happen with Katagiri-kun!"
Ai says.
But I was concerned.
Toya-san never complains at all. That's why it's scary. Isn't he bottling it up without any place to vent his stress?
I will properly accept any kind of complaint, so I want him to tell me.
Just like what Toya-san said to me.
Once dinner was finished, we went home.
When I get home, the lights are not on yet.
The clock had passed 21:00.
There is no one in the house.
For now, after taking a bath, I look at my smartphone while watching TV in the bedroom.
A message arrives. It's from Toya-san.
"Sorry, I'll be a little late. If you're tired, go to sleep."
"It's fine. Please be careful not to drink too much."
Will he be home after midnight again?
I had no intention of denying that act itself.
It's an occasional holiday. Resting his wings would be necessary too.
Toya-san was working constantly this week.
I am also happy that he contacts me frequently like this.
I look at the Watanabe Group chat.
The casual daily lives of university students and working adults are mixed together.
It was the same for the girls' night out side.
Come to think of it, since everyone became working adults, we haven't had a girls' night out.
It seems it is difficult to coordinate our days off.
It is close to a miracle that everyone was able to take a day off on the day of the training camp.
Such exchanges also completely stop around after 22:00.
Everyone is probably resting in preparation for tomorrow.
I was waiting for Toya-san's return while watching TV.
(3)
After everyone left, I begin unpacking.
Though, having said that, most of the small things had been carried beforehand, so there aren't that many.
By around evening, it is mostly tidied up.
My husband is relaxing while watching TV.
"Since it's mostly tidied up, I'm going to go shopping, okay?"
Saying so and trying to leave the house, I am stopped.
"I'll go with you too."
"It's fine, I'm just going to buy things to prepare for dinner."
"Even so, I want to go together."
"It's really just for a little bit, you know?"
"Yeah."
Am I being suspected?
While being a little bewildered, I accepted his proposal.
When we arrive at the supermarket, he takes a basket.
"You don't have to make anything that elaborate, okay?"
"Then, which do you want to eat, fish or meat?"
"Meat."
An easy meat dish...
"Is chicken okay?"
"Yeah."
I choose chicken.
After finishing the shopping, I return home and cook.
It seems he is cleaning the bath during that time.
Since that night, he has changed.
When I return from the late-night shift, breakfast is prepared, and sometimes a note saying "Thank you for your hard work" is left.
I thought that communicating properly is indeed important.
When the cooking is done, I call him.
We face each other at the table and eat.
"This is our first meal since Honoka moved in."
"That's right, isn't it?"
"I might still have many areas where I lack consideration, but..."
His clumsy consideration seeps into my exhausted body.
A fleeting wish that seems like it would disappear with a single breath.
A song of the soul, which I start to say but swallow, becoming embarrassed.
A deliberate love hidden behind a smoldering cover-up of embarrassment.
The oath of that day, which easily bowed down.
Recalling it, feeling frustrated, I involuntarily shout.
A song of regret.
To my pampered self in the mirror, I now swear revenge.
Will I be able to feel like Airi too?
Let's try it.
"Don't say things like that, Ryuji-san."
"Eh?"
"I learned that even you can change. I will show you that I can change too, so let's be happy together?"
"...Yeah, I look forward to working with you."
"I look forward to working with you too."
After eating dinner and taking a bath, he is sleeping with the TV left on.
I turn off the TV and wake him up.
"It's still cold at night, so please sleep properly in bed."
"Ah, sorry."
"It's almost time for my work, so I'm off."
"Yeah, take care. You barely slept today, right?"
"Thank you. Please check the locks and the gas."
"Understood. Have a good day."
"I'm off."
Saying so, I leave the house.
When I look back at the apartment, he is waving from the window.
Looking at the sky with him like that, I notice what is important and go mad.
A gentle song.
A song overflowing with the joy of loving, like stoking a small fire for someone forgotten.
(4)
"Hmm."
"This is troubling."
"I wonder who it is?"
"Mizuki, do you have any idea?"
"I don't know at all."
"What shall we do?"
We were lost in thought, looking at the numerous fan letters lined up on the conference room table.
They, "Mustard," are a comedy duo that has only recently been formed.
Doing live shows on their own is only to the extent of doing free live shows at shopping malls, or being called for wedding entertainment.
They have barely done any media expansion.
While they naturally don't have wedding entertainment, they apparently go to shopping mall live shows every time as the opening act entertainment for ALICE.
It might be bad to say this, but I could understand if Yoshino-san were targeted, but why Shinohara-san?
This suspicious person's outrageous behavior, which could lead to police involvement if one step is mistaken.
"Should we report it to the police?"
Ohara-kun says.
"We cannot conclude that they are a stalker yet. There is also the possibility of a pure fan."
Honda-san, who is in charge of the comedy, says.
"What will you do, Nozomi? I will follow your will."
Emi says.
Shall I try taking a gamble?
"This is only my prediction, but..."
When I say so, everyone pays attention.
"Let's set a trap at tonight's ALICE live show. Emi, prepare the SP immediately."
"What do you plan to do?"
"If his target is Mizuki, there is even a possibility that he will slip out halfway through."
"We just need to apprehend him there, right?"
When Emi says so, I nod.
"Just in case, I'll place SP at the live venue too. We only need to pay attention during Mustard's live show, right?"
"That's right. It seems this person's target is Mizuki alone."
Kasumi is supporting the trembling Mizuki.
She herself is probably experiencing this for the first time.
That day, we held the live show as usual.
I was also watching the audience seats from the special room.
The intuition acquired through training was useful.
While looking forward to ALICE's turn, there was one person looking at Mustard's comedy routine with eyes of envy.
At the end of that gaze was Mizuki.
I immediately inform the SP.
Once Mustard's turn is over, that man leaves the live venue satisfied.
And he was apprehended by the SP at the exit.
We immediately take him to the conference room.
Emi and I, along with Mustard and the manager Ohara-kun, surround him.
I present several fan letters to him.
"These are yours, aren't they?"
He was trembling.
"Could it be that I was a nuisance?"
He is frightened.
I was convinced. He is not a stalker or anything.
"That's not it, we just had you come because we thought it was strange. There aren't many fans who attend every time solely for Mustard."
I called out to him gently.
"...Why me?"
Mizuki asked.
He continued to speak.
The two of them desperately doing comedy. Among them, he highly praises her boke as wonderful.
An amusement that cannot be forgotten once seen.
The only entertainment found by him, who is a university student and doesn't find any other joy in university.
The entertainment eventually turned into admiration, and then he fell in love.
Her, who only gets work for free live shows despite being this funny.
While thinking of it as an unrequited love, he wanted to help her somehow.
With such feelings, he sent fan letters every time and came to the live house every time solely for Mustard, so he said.
"Have you never thought that that is just a nuisance?"
In place of Mizuki, who says nothing, Kasumi presses him.
"I'm sorry. But I hated myself for being unable to do anything. I absolutely didn't do it as harassment."
"A stalker's excuse, isn't it. President! For Mizuki's sake too, some kind of punishment!"
"I agree, we should hand him over to the police."
I look into his eyes.
They had pure irises.
What would Katagiri-kun do?
I was thinking about that.
"For now, he is banned from the live house. I will arrange it. Is that fine, Nozomi?"
"Wait, Emi."
I said.
Katagiri-kun would do this. There is no mistake in what I do. Have confidence.
"You, what is your name?"
"Koizumi Katsunori. I'm 18 years old."
"You said you were a university student earlier, right? Which university? What club?"
"It's a private university. I haven't joined any circle."
"...Have you heard of a group called the Watanabe Group?"
"Nozomi! You, don't tell me?!"
Emi says.
I stopped Emi.
"If it's rumors, they say it's the 'God of Love Fulfillment'."
"Why don't you also put your faith in the god of love fulfillment?"
I said so and smiled warmly.
"President! You are ignoring Mizuki's feelings! Are you planning to make her associate with someone who does such creepy things?!"
Kasumi says.
"There are no lies in what he is saying. You'll know if you read the fan letters. He is a pure fan of Mustard... of Shinohara Mizuki."
Kasumi says nothing.
"Mizuki, what will you do? Of course, if you dislike it, this talk won't stand, but?"
I asked Mizuki.
"...Why me? I asked earlier too, but it's absolutely decided that Kasumi is better."
Koizumi-kun said.
"Certainly, looking from the side, the tsukkomi-role Kasumi-san is cooler. But to me, Mizuki-san, the boke-role who makes Kasumi-san's character stand out, has always looked shining."
He seems to be an enthusiastic fan.
"President, do you want to hook me and Koizumi-san up? Is that what you think?"
Mizuki asked.
"I respect your will. The reason I thought of putting him in the Watanabe Group is because I thought it would be wiser to keep him inside a cage."
Mizuki is thinking.
"President! This is too reckless. Have you not considered that he might run wild?"
When Ohara-kun says that, I denied it.
"It's just before the training camp. Even if he held thoughts of doing such a foolish thing, they will disappear immediately."
"Before the training camp... that might indeed be a good move."
I obtained Emi's agreement.
The rest is Mizuki.
"I understand... I will follow the President's instructions."
"Mizuki! Do you understand the meaning of what you are saying?"
"It's fine, Kasumi. Starting by getting to know him... is fine, right?"
Mizuki makes sure.
"Yeah, when it's impossible, you can just say it's impossible."
"I understand."
And so, Koizumi-kun and Mizuki exchange contact information, and we invite him to the Watanabe Group.
Everyone is surprised, but when I explain the circumstances, they understood.
"If that's how it is, leave it to us."
Mika-san said.
"Koizumi-kun, do you do part-time work?"
"Yes, I do. It's a late-night part-time job, though."
If he is going to do the same part-time job, the late-night one with better hourly pay is better. Because that way, he can also attend Mustard's live shows. He says so.
"In short, you want to earn money for Mustard's live show tickets. That's how it is, right?"
"That's right, I don't have any other hobbies."
In that case, it will work.
"Do you have a license? Do you have a car?"
"Yes, I have a license. I also have a car."
"I see. Koizumi-kun, I have a proposal for you. You said you were at a private university, right?"
"Yes, that's right, but..."
"Nozomi, don't tell me?"
Emi seems to have caught on.
"Ours is small as an entertainment agency, and we are still short-staffed. I have a good idea where your live show expenses would be covered, and on top of that, you can see her from much closer."
"What is that?"
"Neither Mizuki nor Kasumi has a driver's license. They can't even ride bicycles. With only the manager Ohara-kun, restrictions are placed on their movements. I want to hire you as a personal driver."
"Please let me do it!"
"Yeah, bring your resume at a later date."
"I understand."
"Well then, you may go home for today."
"Thank you very much."
Saying so, he left the room.
"President! Are you serious? Making a man who is practically a stalker Mizuki's attendant is too cruel."
Kasumi protests.
"If he had that intention, he would have put it into action long ago."
"That's right, I don't think he has the guts, when coming to see only the opening act of the live show every week and writing a fan letter every time is the best he can do. If he did, he would have at least tailed her."
Emi seems to agree with me too.
"Either way, once we go to the training camp, I'll beat that rotten disposition straight. Right, Nozomi?"
When Emi says so, I nodded.
"Well, if your wife says so, then it's fine, but..."
Kasumi reluctantly backs down.
I say a word to Mizuki, who has an anxious expression.
"He is not the kind of guy to mix public and private matters. You don't need to worry."
Saying so, Mizuki nodded.
After that, when ALICE's performance ended, I offered words of appreciation to Arisu, and Emi and I went home.
"But you went with a bold plan for you, Nozomi."
"Because I thought it would be pitiful to end a precious university life with nothing but work."
Once you go out into society, you inevitably end up with a life devoted entirely to work.
I wanted to make their private lives fulfilling too. That was what I thought.
...I am not in a position to worry about others, though.
Even though I am unable to satisfy the wife right in front of me.
On late nights, we finish dinner at a family restaurant and go home.
Until we return home, it is work.
When I get home, I dive onto the bed as if liberated from various things.
"Nozomi, please take a bath before sleeping."
"Ah, sorry."
When I get out of the bath, Emi enters.
I turn on the TV in the bedroom and touch my smartphone while watching the news.
Everyone is getting excited over commonplace topics.
While I am gazing at that state of affairs, Emi comes out of the bath.
"You weren't asleep yet? You have your main job starting tomorrow, right? You have to rest even a little."
"I was waiting for Emi. I'm going to sleep now."
"I see, then I'll turn off the TV."
Saying so, Emi turns off the TV and turns down the lights.
"Good night."
"Good night."
Someone is reaching out a helping hand.
But right now, I am unable to notice it.
A song of the soul, which I start to say but swallow, becoming embarrassed, a fleeting wish that seems like it would disappear with a single breath.
Next is my turn.
I shall reach out a helping hand to someone.
I shall grant a fleeting wish that seems like it would disappear with a single breath.
(5)
"Toya, you were lying, weren't you!"
Tatsuhiko-senpai was complaining at the competition's party venue.
It was no wonder. Despite it being his first course, he took away not only the championship but also the Best Gross Award and the Longest Drive Award.
Moreover, the details were terrible: producing a flight distance of as much as 450 yards, always sinking it in one putt once on the green, always making a chip-in if within a 160-yard range, and making a hole-in-one on a 120-yard short course.
Tatsuhiko-senpai complains that it is not a feat a beginner would perform.
"It seems you have talent not only for basketball but also for golf."
The President laughs.
I had no choice but to laugh and gloss over it.
"If it's come to this, it's darts! I'll settle this with darts. Let's go to a darts bar later!"
"Stop it, Uehara. The opponent is too bad."
Koriyama-senpai says.
Is the second after-party decided?
I send a message to Airi.
No reply comes back.
What's wrong? Is she taking a bath or something?
For now, I have the senpais explain the rules to me first.
The type of game we play is a game called Zero-One.
You reduce the points. The first person to make it exactly 0 wins.
With this, there is also an element of luck, and there is no way even I would win without fail.
In fact, I lost to Koriyama-senpai several times.
Tatsuhiko-senpai, dead drunk, had no way of throwing properly, and ended up giving up halfway through to play slots by himself.
Is it about time?
But Tatsuhiko-senpai says, "Let's go rest somewhere for one last place."
The time had already passed 1:00.
The other colleagues say, "I have work tomorrow, so I'm going home."
I wanted to go home too, but Tatsuhiko-senpai wouldn't let me escape.
The two of us drink at a bar.
"You, aren't you avoiding Natsumi?"
Suddenly, the topic changed.
"I've heard about Natsumi and you. She is worried that you might be worrying about that matter."
I couldn't say anything.
"Since we're at it, I'll say it clearly! Aren't you making light of Natsumi?!"
Tatsuhiko-senpai says in a loud voice.
"Don't you think she's dragging it on forever?! Natsumi isn't such a narrow-minded person! Even during the Olympics, she was happily talking about you being Natsumi's first love. Inside her, she has moved past it. She's just worried that you might be worrying about it. In that sense, Natsumi is still bound by you. Won't you release her already?"
I was listening to Tatsuhiko-senpai's talk seriously.
"...How can I release her?"
"That's simple. You just have to laugh in front of her. You just have to be happy too. Show off that you are happy! Just with that, she will be pleased."
I just have to laugh...
Looking at the current Natsumi-san, will I be able to do that?
Can I make the incident that I triggered as if it never happened?
"...I understand. I will make an effort."
"It's not an effort! Do it right now!"
Saying so, Tatsuhiko-senpai begins operating his smartphone.
"Hello? Natsumi. I'm drinking at a bar in town right now, could you come over for a bit? Ah, sorry."
Saying so, Tatsuhiko-senpai hangs up the phone.
"It must be tough for you too, working while carrying this on your back forever, right? If you're going to settle it, do it right now! I'll witness it."
Tatsuhiko-senpai says so and leaves the shop.
After waiting for about 15 minutes, Natsumi-san came by car.
It seemed Natsumi-san had just gotten out of the bath.
"What's wrong?"
She is looking at Tatsuhiko-senpai with those eyes.
"Natsumi, it seems Toya has something to talk about, so I want you to listen to him."
When Tatsuhiko-senpai says so, Natsumi-san looks at me.
The thing I had kept close to me ever since I started my current job.
I take it out of my bag.
The thing that, though faded and tattered, had been properly preserved.
The love letter from Natsumi-san.
She is bewildered.
What I will speak of now is my and her past...
(6)
It was the day of the entrance ceremony for junior high school.
The classes were decided, and she was unable to find her seat.
There was no sign of anyone noticing her.
I ended up noticing.
And then I asked her.
"What is your name?"
She remains silent and is troubled.
Can she not speak? Can she not hear?
I wrote in a notebook.
What is your name?
She wrote her name with her mechanical pencil.
Murakami Natsumi
I smiled warmly and guided her to her seat.
Thank you.
She wrote so in the notebook.
After that, in no time, she became the target of bullying.
Helping her with that was my role.
Toya and Natsumi are going out. Such a rumor also spread throughout the class.
A target of teasing and ridicule.
But she was lonely.
Therefore, I couldn't leave her alone.
While spending such days, one day an incident occurred.
She made a mistake.
A single love letter falling from her bag.
To Katagiri Toya-kun.
It was written so.
A classmate picks it up.
"As I thought, that Murakami girl likes Katagiri!"
The whole class jeers.
They look at the contents.
I like you. Please go out with me.
It is simple, but it pierces the chest.
However, because I have Airi, I cannot respond to her feelings.
While I remain silent, unable to say anything, a classmate tore that love letter to shreds.
"Katagiri says he hates a silent girl like you too!"
Makoto grabs onto that guy.
I tried to stop him.
The voice I heard for the first time then.
A sensation as if time had stopped.
I felt as if a world of only Natsumi-san and me had been created.
The words heard from her mouth for the first time amidst the noise.
"You're cruel, Toya-kun."
The words that pierced my chest.
I felt as if I had done something irreversible for the rest of my life.
After that, the teacher enters the classroom, and everyone takes their seats.
I'll apologize later. I'll convey it properly in my own words.
God never gave me that chance for the rest of my life.
And then, the second semester began, and I learned that she had transferred schools.
Ever since then, I have known the weight of the sin I committed.
I lived while hiding that all along.
When I first confessed it to Airi, I was crying.
"Toya-kun is not to blame!"
Airi said for me.
But as expected, I was regretting it all along.
A time to receive retribution will come someday.
I lived in fear like that.
And now, the time for that confession has come.
The past I have sealed away all this time.
The oath of that day, which easily bowed down.
Recalling it, feeling frustrated, I involuntarily shout.
A song of regret.
To the pampered man in the mirror, the time for revenge has now come.
Revenge must be accepted solemnly because of the sin. Even if I lament, it is already too late—
(7)
"I was happy when I received the letter. But I had Airi. Therefore, I didn't know how to respond to Natsumi-san."
Because I was still immature. And then the incident occurred.
"I won't ask you to forgive me at this late stage."
"I knew."
Eh?
"Natsumi?"
Tatsuhiko-senpai also seems surprised.
Natsumi-san, who couldn't speak, is speaking now.
"I knew at least the rumors about Katagiri-kun and Tosaka-san. But because my transfer was decided during the summer vacation due to my father's work circumstances, I just wanted to properly sort out my own feelings, and though I thought it would be a nuisance, I just wanted to confess."
Work circumstances?
"I am happy now. Because Tatsuhiko-san is here. That day is also a good memory..."
"Is that so..."
"That's why I told you! Toya!! You were just dragging it on by yourself!"
Tatsuhiko-senpai says.
"Well then, now that things are cleared up, shall we head home soon? If I oversleep tomorrow, it won't be a joke!"
"I'm going back by driving service, so be careful on your way home," Tatsuhiko-senpai says to Natsumi.
Natsumi-san also waves and goes home.
I also went home by driving service.
When I park the car in the apartment's parking lot, I notice that I have received a message.
"Thank you."
It was a message from Natsumi-san.
(8)
The lights in the room are on.
Did Airi stay awake for me?
The clock had passed 3:00.
I unlock the door and enter the room.
Usually Airi would welcome me, but she doesn't come.
Did she get angry, as expected?
When I go to the living room, the TV is on.
Airi was sleeping on the sofa.
Airi is tired too, isn't she.
Carrying Airi in my arms, I carry her to the bed in the bedroom.
After covering her with the futon, I also took a shower.
It seems better to stay up all night today.
After that, I played a game for the first time in a while to kill time.
When it becomes 6:30, the alarm rings.
Airi wakes up.
"Ara? Why am I in bed, I wonder?"
Airi, looking puzzled as she looks around.
"Good morning, Airi. It's morning."
"T-Toya-san. When did you get back?!"
"Was it around past 3:00? I sent a message saying I'd be late, though."
When I say so, Airi looks at her smartphone.
Her head seems to be in confusion.
And then, coming to her senses, she hurries off to the kitchen.
I also turn off the power of the game console, change clothes, and head to the dining room.
I eat breakfast as usual.
Though Airi's behavior was strange.
"What's wrong?"
"I'm sorry... I couldn't welcome Toya-san properly. I am a failure as a wife."
"I am the one who should apologize. I never thought it would be that kind of time. I'll be careful from next time."
"For Toya-san, that is also work, so it can't be helped. In contrast, I..."
"It wasn't just work. There was another reason for being late."
"What happened?"
I spoke to Airi about the talk with Natsumi-san without hiding anything.
"In that case, you were able to reconcile, right?"
"It seems I was just worrying all by myself."
"That's good."
"That's right."
After eating breakfast, I leave for work.
Airi sees me off.
"I might do a little overtime today. I'll send a message again."
"Yes, I will never make the same mistake again... so please forgive me."
It seems Airi is dragging it on.
What should I do at a time like this?
Embracing Airi, I lightly kiss her.
And then I whisper "I love you" in her ear.
"Thank you. Please take care and have a good day."
"Yeah, I'm off."
Saying so, I head to the company.
A gentle song.
Looking at the sky, I notice what is important and go mad.
A song overflowing with the joy of loving, like stoking a small fire for someone forgotten.