Chapter 390 - Logos of the Dawn
(1)
"Phew~"
Having finished cleaning up, we were taking a breather in the large communal bath.
The women's group should also be relaxing in the bath around this time.
I can faintly hear voices from the adjacent bath.
Tonight was tough too.
Though there will probably be another storm once we get out of the bath.
"Good work, Toya."
Watanabe-kun came over.
"Good work."
"We both have a hard time, don't we?"
"Yeah."
Is there some kind of countermeasure we could take?
The three who should be coming up with those countermeasures were pestering Sho.
"Sho, how was Chii?"
"What do you mean, how?"
"What do you mean, 'what do you mean'?! You've done the deed with Chii, right?! As her older brother, I need to ask what Chii's first time was like!"
"What do you mean... it was normal? We were both flustered, but..."
"I see... So, was Chii good at it?"
"I-I've never done it with anyone else, so there's no way to compare."
"Isn't there a slightly more concrete impression?! Like Chii's voice was cute!"
"Or that she was unexpectedly bold?!"
"Or that her chest was unexpectedly big?"
"As her older brother, that does concern me. The last time we took a bath together was when Chii was in fourth grade, after all."
"Seriously?! How was she back then?!"
First of all, that's not something to shout about at the top of your lungs, Makoto.
Watanabe-kun and I were just watching the four of them.
We decided to stay out of unnecessary trouble.
As expected, complaints flew from the women's group.
"Big Brother! Stop filling Sho's head with weird things! Sho, you don't have to deal with Big Brother either!"
"You total pervert! Cut it out!"
"Eita too! You pervert!"
"Ryuji-san, don't copy weird things either!"
Chii-chan, Kanna, Ai-san, and Honoka-san are shouting.
"I'm just worried as an older brother. Because I couldn't guide her on nighttime matters!"
Makoto, there are various problems with that.
"Of course you couldn't, you idiot!"
Kanna says.
"Hmph... we can't talk here. Let's get out quickly and talk in the room. Sho, follow me!"
"We're curious too, let's go, Nakajima-kun."
"Gladly."
The four of them leave the bath in high spirits.
This is going to be another disaster later... Good grief.
"It seems you and Tosaka-san are doing well."
"How is living together? Toya."
Kimoto-senpai and Hiyama-senpai came over.
"Well, it was good at first, but it's tough when the work increases."
Since I also have to keep Airi company.
When I say that, Kimoto-senpai grabs my shoulder.
"You're having a hard time too, Toya. I understand. Keeping your wife company while working is fundamentally impossible."
"I heard, you know. It was tough during the golf tournament too, wasn't it?"
Kimoto-senpai and Hiyama-senpai say.
These two had also been drinking quite a bit.
"Watanabe-kun, you too, right? Taking care of your wife while working must be tough."
"Hahaha, well, yes."
Watanabe-kun gives a wry smile as Kimoto-senpai speaks.
We thought we could spend a peaceful time if those two weren't here.
We didn't realize there was another spark.
"If that's the topic, please let us join too."
"I want to join too."
"Um, us too..."
Manabe-kun, Takemoto-kun, Ishihara-kun, and Sakai-kun join in.
The two from the older group, Tange-san and Shiina-san, are leisurely enjoying the bath.
It seems everyone had complaints about their wives.
Ishihara-kun and Sakai-kun seem to have terrible stress.
Well, both of them suddenly became presidents. It's no wonder.
While Watanabe-kun and I were listening to everyone's grumbling, I was called over by Tange-san.
"What is it?"
I went over to Tange-san's side.
"No, I don't have any particular business, but..."
"You guys are doing well, aren't you? If so, I just called you over because I thought it would be better not to let unnecessary information get into your head."
Tange-san and Shiina-san say.
"Do you really have no complaints about Tosaka-san?"
Shiina-san said.
"None. I'm grateful, though. It's thanks to Airi that I can go to work properly every day."
"You get along well. Or perhaps you've got yourself a girlfriend?"
"She's a girlfriend who is too good for me."
"Treasure her. Never forget that feeling. Because it's easy to forget as time passes."
Tange-san says.
"Toya-senpai, got a second?"
Haruto is calling.
Busy, busy.
After thanking the two, I head over to Haruto and the others.
"I want you to say something sharp to the four new recruits of this year!"
Around Haruto, there are four unfamiliar faces.
Some advice, huh...
From what I saw today, there didn't seem to be any particular problems.
"...I wasn't watching that closely, but is that okay?"
When I say that, the four nod.
First is Tsukimisato-kun, right?
"Tsukimisato-kun, I think you're doing well. Takanashi-san is the one who has feelings for you. You hit it off with her, right?"
"Yes."
"On top of that, she holds love for you. It's all up to your own decision."
"But, is someone like me really okay... Her family runs a large hospital, you know."
"You don't need to worry about the difference in status. If you two have the feelings, you can overcome anything. Even Ishihara-kun and Sakai-kun were like that, after all."
"...I understand. It's up to my own decision, right?"
His eyes are straight.
That's why it's very easy to read his mind.
He is just waiting for someone to give him a push.
The determination is already solid within him.
"Do your best."
"Thank you very much."
Next was Umemoto-kun, right?
Umemoto-kun also seems to have successfully opened the door to Sakuragi-san's heart.
Is he used to handling women?
"I don't think I have any advice to give Umemoto-kun. Her feelings are already rolling. It will surely go well. However, be careful, because she seems to have some trauma regarding romance."
"You can tell even that much?"
"...It seems I hit the mark?"
Umemoto-kun was surprised.
Next is Ohara-kun. Ohara-kun also has no particular problems. I think he's fine as he is.
"Are you worrying about something, Ohara-kun?"
"I was wondering if what I'm doing is mixing public and private matters."
"If you say that, Arisu-san even went as far as getting married, you know?"
"That's true."
"You should just do well as you are now."
"Yes!"
Finally, Koizumi-kun, is it? I had heard the story from Emi-san.
"You're a lucky owner too."
"I think so too."
"What you need is confidence. It's fine, from how things looked earlier, she has no wariness toward you. Rather, she wants you to come at her more proactively."
"Is that so?"
"Yeah, try bringing up more topics from your side. I'm sure there will be a reaction. But there's no need to rush. You two have plenty of time."
"I understand."
With this, is that everyone?
"Toya-senpai, thanks a bunch! It looked like the four of them were worrying about something, so I couldn't just leave them alone."
"What about you, Haruto?"
"Eh?"
"You seemed to be worrying about something too, Haruto?"
"I really can't hide anything from you, Senpai."
Apparently, when he went to greet her parents' house a little while ago, he was pressured with, "Aren't you going to get married yet?"
I see.
"That's a problem."
"And, even though I told them I wanted them to wait until I got a job, they told me that if it's work, I could just succeed our family business, and that settled the matter for the moment... but this time Haruna..."
She seems to be feeling anxious, wondering if she isn't good enough for him.
I chuckled.
I know that answer best.
"You have no choice but to convey it with all your heart. Tell her to wait until Haruto is ready. That when the time comes, you will definitely come to get her."
"...As I thought, that's the only way. I get it! Thanks a bunch!"
"Consulting on other people's romance is all well and good, but..."
"Don't you think you could listen to our worries too, Toya?"
Looking back, Hiyama-senpai and Kimoto-senpai were standing there.
"Let's get out too, before the women return."
"That's right, even we have things we want to talk about just among men."
The two say.
I look at Watanabe-kun.
Watanabe-kun is also smirking.
Before the women are here... I think that way of thinking is the first mistake, though.
We left the bath.
(2)
"Honestly, that idiot!"
"They really never learn!"
"Even Ryuji-san joined in!"
"I... despise my brother."
Kanna, Ai, Honoka, and Chitose are saying so.
"Everyone has it rough..."
I could only say that much.
Because Toya-san has absolutely none of those elements.
Is it really different when both work?
"Airi, you have to keep a strict eye on Katagiri-kun so he doesn't end up like that!"
Ai says.
"Women shouldn't work! Stay at home! That's an outrageous argument, isn't it?!"
Honoka is saying.
"But even if you stay at home, they complain! That their wives don't understand the hardships of work!"
"You can say that again~ Shifting the troublesome things onto us. Coming home drunk just because they were working~... Who do they think they are?"
It seems even full-time housewives have accumulated frustration.
"Knowing Airi, she's probably spoiling Toya, but you'll definitely shoulder unnecessary hardships in the future."
"Unnecessary hardships?"
"...Does Airi plan to do child-rearing all by herself too?"
Kanna asked.
"Toya-san will help with that too."
"Do you think a guy who doesn't do a single chore will cooperate in child-rearing?"
"It's not that Toya-san doesn't do chores, I'm just making sure he doesn't have to. Because Toya-san pushes himself too hard."
"There's no point if Airi is pushing herself too hard because of that."
Ai says.
"I'll head out first. There's something I'm a bit concerned about..."
Naru went out.
"Speaking of things to be concerned about, we haven't heard Eita's voice for a while."
"Come to think of it, Makoto has gone quiet too."
"This is last year's pattern."
Ai, Kanna, and Honoka say.
The three also went out.
Just as I was about to leave too, I was stopped by Miyuki-san and the others.
I wonder what it is?
"It seems your life living together is going well?"
Miyuki-san says.
"Yes, thanks to you."
"You don't need to worry about the things around you. Your partner is Katagiri-kun, after all."
Satomi-san says.
"That's true."
"It's fine if you understand. I was worried that you might be getting anxious after hearing all kinds of grumbling."
Satomi-san says.
"Marriage is tough, isn't it?"
Misato says.
"It might be important to assess your partner. Don't be swept away by your surroundings, look properly with your own eyes."
"After that, it's just as Tosaka-san said during the cherry blossom viewing. Make up your mind. If you can't believe, you should give up."
Miyuki-san and Satomi-san say.
"Please tell me the points to assess."
When Takanashi-san asks, Miyuki-san shakes her head.
"There's no such thing. If I had to say, it's intuition."
"Intuition?"
Takanashi-san asks back.
"What you felt when you looked at Tsukimisato-kun. You have no choice but to believe in that. We're human, after all, things can change after marriage. Even so, can you have the strength to believe? What it comes down to is a hunch."
Miyuki-san explained.
"Takanashi-san, has anything changed since you started living together with Tsukimisato-kun?"
When I ask, Takanashi-san answered.
"Let's see, I keenly realized my own naivety. He balances his part-time job and studies. He is trying to stand on his own feet. He even handles chores. While keenly realizing my own naivety, I am constantly amazed by his greatness."
Takanashi-san says she respects Tsukimisato-kun.
"If it's that kind of thing, our Yuma is like that too. Though I'm the one putting on the brakes."
Saki said.
"It means there are people who meet such wonderful husbands. But we don't rank them. Because we chose our husbands ourselves."
Satomi-san says.
And she says Manabe-kun chose her.
Everyone is like that, they chose, and they were chosen.
No matter what happens, that is the fact.
Differences in values or views on romance don't matter.
Just one single fact.
Because he is the person I chose, I will just follow him.
"Well then, shall we get out soon too? It's no use talking about difficult things. The night is going to be lively, right?"
Satomi-san says so and laughs.
We also left the room.
(3)
As expected, the room had turned into chaos.
Everyone was grumbling as much as they pleased.
Even Hiyama-senpai was joining in.
Scattered sweets and empty cans.
Kosei and I were just listening.
"Katagiri-kun, don't you want to join in?"
Kosei asked.
"I don't have an excuse to join, after all."
That's why I was bewildered.
Why do so many complaints well up?
Is living together really that difficult?
Was Airi also grumbling in the bath in the same way?
"Toya, Kosei! Tonight is a free-for-all. You guys spit it out too."
Makoto pestered us.
"I don't really have any complaints about Airi."
"I-I don't think I have any either?"
Kosei's behavior is strange.
I soon found out the reason.
"Kosei, let's go."
Naru took Kosei's hand and dragged him away.
"It's still too early to sleep."
"There's no need to deal with drunks! If you can't sleep that much, I'll keep you company!"
"I get it, so don't pull me!"
"That guy is destined for the same fate as Toya in the future too..."
Makoto says.
"Yeah! He's the type who can never stand up to his wife!"
Kiritani-kun says.
"S-Shouldn't we change the subject soon?"
Watanabe-kun tries to hold everyone back.
But there is no stopping everyone once they've gained momentum.
"Watanabe-kun! Tonight, let's go all the way! The time has come for the men to raise the banner of rebellion!"
Kimoto-senpai also seems to be dead drunk.
"Stupid, Sakura gets angry over every little thing too..."
Even Hiyama-senpai is in this state.
The only thing I can do is escape from this place.
Just as I try to quietly leave the room, I bump into something.
"Where do you think you're going? Toya?"
Kanna and Ai-san are standing at the entrance.
Watanabe-kun is also caught by Mika-san.
Today was crazy.
Was it because the stress of daily work had accumulated, or did the change in environment of a new life cause it?
It spread like a virus, infecting even the quiet Ishihara-kun, Sakai-kun, and Takemoto-kun.
"I am the master of the house!! Shouldn't you show me more respect!"
"I completely agree! I am the husband!"
"Saki, you interfere too much in my actions!! I am the husband! I'm not a child!"
The women's group is quietly watching this scene.
With over twenty women watching, the men are saying whatever they want.
Watanabe-kun and I couldn't bear to watch.
And the anger of the women's group did not allow us to tell them.
It seemed like the frenzied banquet would last forever.
"Huh? Where are Toya and Watanabe-kun?"
Kiritani-kun noticed.
"Those two are no good! They don't know how to handle their wives! Shouldn't we, as their seniors, give them some advice? Where are they?"
"Indeed, those two are the root cause of being looked down upon. We might need to give them some advice."
As Kimoto-senpai and Hiyama-senpai also start searching, everyone begins to look.
And Kiritani-kun notices.
"Toya! Don't stay in the corner like that, come over here."
Kiritani-kun takes my hand and pulls, but my hand is firmly gripped by Airi.
"Airi... this is the reality of the men," Ai-san says.
"A-Ai... when did you get there..."
Kiritani-kun sits down on the floor and backs away.
"A husband's dignity... how interesting, Nozomi. It's fine, you know? I'll watch closely. Please continue."
"E-Emi..."
"I didn't know you were someone who could say such grand things either. Zen-kun?"
Sakai-kun is at a loss for words.
"Yuma is indeed my husband, so let me say something as your wife too."
"Saki. N-No, I just..."
"Just what?"
"I-I'm sorry!"
Takemoto-kun seems to have gone for the wise choice.
He honestly apologizes without saying anything.
Starting with that, everyone begins to make excuses.
But there is no way such desperate excuses would pass.
"Masashi! If you have complaints too, I'll listen to them, you know?"
"M-Mika, calm down... we can talk this out."
Isn't this the first time I've seen Watanabe-kun flustered?
This was no time to worry about others.
"Toya-san. Won't you come over here? Let's talk slowly, just the two of us."
"Airi. I-I didn't say anything!"
"That's why let's talk, just the two of us. Because I want to hear Toya-san's story."
"Airi. Take this opportunity to tighten the reins on him properly!"
Kanna says.
Everyone was desperately apologizing.
And I was desperately explaining myself to Airi.
That disaster continued even after the date changed.
By the way, it seems Kosei was also thoroughly questioned.
(4)
Everyone desperately apologized and went to sleep.
In the end, I was innocent and got off scot-free, but I couldn't sleep very well.
I wanted to know Airi's true feelings.
Airi has never once voiced a complaint since we started living together.
Could she be accumulating stress deep down?
I couldn't sleep because of that anxiety.
Waking up around four o'clock, as I was aimlessly wandering around the mansion, I ran into Airi.
It seemed Airi couldn't sleep either.
The two of us headed to the second-floor balcony.
It felt like it was still before dawn.
Airi remained silent.
I tried to start the conversation.
"Airi, are you still angry?"
"Why would I be?"
"No, well, after what happened yesterday..."
"Toya-san, you don't have any complaints, do you?"
"Well, that's true, but..."
"I believe in Toya-san."
Airi says so and smiles.
Since I had the chance, I tried asking Airi.
"Hey, Airi, don't you have any complaints about me?"
"Why would I?"
"Since we started living together, you stopped saying that kind of thing entirely, right?"
"That's true. Toya-san, haven't you noticed?"
"What?"
You haven't noticed, have you, Airi laughs.
"You've come to wake up obediently in the morning. You come straight home at night. On your days off, you keep me company. Why would I hold any complaints toward such a Toya-san? It's the same as Toya-san. I have no complaints."
Airi says so and laughs.
"It's a wonderful view, isn't it?"
"Yeah."
"I was told something in the bath."
"What?"
"Whether Toya-san would help with child-rearing."
"I see."
"I answered without any hesitation, 'Toya-san will help.'"
"...We're having three children, right?"
"Yes, we have to do our best."
"Yeah."
"Let's continue to do our best together."
Airi said so and looked at the scenery.
"It's still chilly, isn't it? Shall we go back?"
I silently take off my jacket and try to put it over Airi.
"You mustn't, Toya-san will catch a cold."
When Airi says that, I put the jacket on her and hug her from behind.
"This should be fine, right?"
"...You are a troublesome husband, aren't you?"
Airi said so and laughed.
The morning mist hung over the scenery we looked out at.
Yielding to the kiss poured into my lips, let us walk through the morning mist without hesitation.