Chapter 399 - Lovers (1)

"Well then, a toast to celebrate the marriage of the Ishihara couple!"


We had come to the after-party of the Ishihara couple's wedding.

The venue was the usual party hall.

As expected, when the number of people is about to reach sixty, the venues also become limited.

"Congratulations on your marriage."

"Thank you, Katagiri-kun."

"Emi, congratulations."

"Thank you, Airi-chan."

After exchanging brief greetings, while eating,

Naru and Kosei were introducing the new members.

Nakayama Kazushige-kun and Tsukahara Hitomi-san.

It seems their houses are close to ours. In that case, I guess we can pick them up and drop them off.

It seems Kiritani-kun and Makoto are both behaving themselves today.

No trouble is wanted at a celebratory occasion.

Kanna said that Makoto's attitude in particular has changed.

I don't know what changed or how, but if she is staying quiet, there is no problem.

"Toya, how are your studies going?"

Kosei asked me while holding a glass.

"It's going well. Airi is supporting me, so I'm managing somehow."

"I see. That's good. But don't push yourself too hard. The tax accountant exam is quite tough, isn't it?"

"Yeah, the volume of study is incredible. Honestly, it's stressful. But since Airi prepares nutritious meals for me every day, I can keep going."

"Heh, must be nice. To have such a dedicated wife-to-be."

Kosei smiled teasingly.

"It's not like that..."

Airi blushed slightly and looked down.

"By the way, what about Kiritani?"

I asked, looking over at Kiritani, who was sitting in a corner with a gloomy expression.

"Ah, that guy... it seems he's having a hard time at his new job."

"Is he still struggling?"

"Yeah. He got a job at a small company, but the working conditions are terrible, and he's completely worn out. He's always complaining about wanting to quit."

"But Makoto is pregnant, right? He can't just quit."

"Exactly. That's why we need to talk some sense into him. He needs to realize his responsibility as a husband and a father."

"I see."

"After this after-party, we're planning to take him to a snack bar and give him a thorough lecture. Toya, you're coming too, right?"

"Yeah, I'll go."

Lovers (2)

We moved to a quiet snack bar near the station.

The only customers were us, and the Mama of the shop welcomed us warmly.

Kiritani was sat in the center, looking downcast.

"Kiritani, do you understand why we brought you here?"

Kosei spoke in a heavy tone.

"Yeah... because I've been complaining about work..."

"It's not just about complaining. You're married now, and Makoto is going to have a baby. Do you think you can support them with that kind of attitude?"

"But... the work is really tough. The boss is always yelling at me, and the overtime is crazy..."

"Do you think you're the only one who has it tough?"

Naru chimed in, looking stern.

"Everyone works hard to protect their families. If you run away now, what's going to happen to Makoto and the child?"

"I... I know that. But..."

Kiritani's eyes welled up with tears.

"I'm just scared. I don't know if I can really be a father. I don't have confidence..."

"Nobody has confidence from the start," I said, looking at him.

Kiritani looked up at me.

"You chose this path yourself. You took Makoto from her family, and you made a promise to make her happy. If you give up now, you're just a coward."

"Toya..."

"If you're tired, rest. But don't quit. For the sake of your wife and child, you have to stand strong."

Kiritani wiped his tears with his sleeve and nodded slowly.

"I understand... I'll try harder. I won't run away anymore."

"Good. If you ever feel like giving up again, we'll drag you back here," Kosei said, patting Kiritani's shoulder.

The atmosphere in the snack bar softened, and we spent the rest of the night talking about the future.

Lovers (3)

A few days later, I was walking near the university with Airi.

The campus was lively with various circles recruiting new students.

As we were walking, a group of young men in flashy clothes blocked our path.

"Hey there! Are you guys freshmen? Why don't you join our circle?"

The leader, a guy with dyed hair and a smug grin, spoke to us.

"No, thank you. We're not interested," I replied, trying to walk past them.

"Come on, don't be like that. We're the 'Watanabe Squad'. We throw the best parties and have tons of fun. You'll definitely regret it if you don't join!"

He grabbed my shoulder.

I gently but firmly brushed his hand off.

"I said we're not interested. Please let us pass."

Watanabe's expression darkened.

"Hey, don't get cocky. Who do you think you are?"

One of his lackeys stepped forward, trying to intimidate us.

"Wait, isn't he... Katagiri Toya?"

Another member of the squad whispered, looking at me with wide eyes.

"What? The basketball guy who won the world championship?"

"Yeah, that's him! And the girl next to him is Airi, right?"

The atmosphere among the Watanabe Squad instantly changed from aggressive to tense.

"T-Toya-san... sorry about that. We didn't recognize you," Watanabe stammered, taking a step back.

"It's fine. Just don't force people who say they aren't interested," I said coldly.

"Y-Yes! Understood! Excuse us!"

They quickly turned around and practically ran away.

"Are you alright, Toya-san?" Airi asked, looking up at me with concern.

"Yeah, I'm fine. Let's go home."

We resumed our walk, leaving the noisy campus behind.

Lovers (4)

That night, I was lying in bed, looking at my smartphone.

Airi was already next to me, breathing softly.

The group chat for our circle was buzzing with messages.

The members were discussing holding a welcome party for the new recruits.

Then, Sasaki Yutaka, one of the new members, sent a message.

"A welcome party?"

"It's for you guys, you know? We can't just do nothing, right?"

"Why?"

"Eh?"

"To be frank, a welcome party is a drinking party, right? We are minors, you know?"

"You can just drink soft drinks, can't you!"

"Isn't that just Mika-san and the others wanting to drink using us as an excuse?"

"Even high school students are participating!"

"Age has nothing to do with it. I think it's questionable to get excited using others as a side dish while leaving the guest of honor behind, though?"

He is quite a troublesome person, isn't he.

"Well, it's fine, though."

You're fine with it?!

"I am also eighteen. I have had that kind of social experience. Through my part-time job."

"Then don't say it from the start!"

"Because I thought I had to properly push my assertion through. Because I wanted everyone to recognize the fact that they are doing that kind of thing."

"Pushing your own way too much is a source of making enemies."

Emi-san says.

"What Emi-san says is also reasonable. That is a point I should also reflect on. But I want everyone to understand too. The temperature difference between people who are drunk and having fun, and those who are not."

"Toya! You say something to him too!"

Kanna is saying.

"Is Toya that Katagiri Toya person?"

"That's right!"

"Good evening, nice to meet you. I am Sasaki Yutaka."

"I am Katagiri Toya. Nice to meet you."

"Why did you throw away basketball and take a job like a tax accountant?"

"I am not a tax accountant yet. It might be more correct to say an egg? (T/N: "egg" is a Japanese idiom for someone in training/apprentice)"

"Even though you became famous in basketball. I want to know the reason you threw away that basketball."

"Once I saw the peak of the world, I would quit. Because I had decided so."

"It's cool, but that is just a hit-and-run victory, right? Have you never been told that you are cunning?"

"I think that way of speaking is rude. Everyone is doing this while understanding Toya-san's intentions. It is not something for you to say this or that about!"

Airi is angry.

"Airi, don't get worked up."

"But Toya-san! Are you fine with this!"

"Because it is something I've been told relentlessly. I'm used to it."

Airi does not seem convinced.

I return to my smartphone.

"What you say is a sound argument. I might be cunning."

"So you are aware of it."

"However, I have no intention of bending my thoughts."

"Don't you call that running away?"

"That might be so."

"So you really are aware of it."

"Well, yes."

"I thought you were a bit more of a go-getter, but you aren't really like that, are you? I thought you would justify yourself a bit more."

"In the first place, is there a need to justify myself?"

"Eh?"

"Is there a need to prove to the world that I am correct?"

"What do you mean?"

"There is no need for values, philosophies, or religions to become one."

"?"

"It is fine as long as there are people who can mutually acknowledge each other. I found that person."

"Isn't that just a loser's howling after all?"

"That's true, depending on the person looking, I might be a loser."

"So you admit it yourself."

"Yeah, well then. As a loser, I will go to sleep like a loser. I have work tomorrow too."

"Really running away."

"Good night."

Placing down my smartphone, I get into bed with Airi.

"Toya-san. Was that really alright? I feel frustrated."

"If you deal with that kind of fellow seriously, you will only get tired. You learned your lesson from the media interviews, right?"

"That is true, but..."

"...Even a loser can make Airi happy."

"...That's right!"

Airi turns off the lights and clings to me.

I want to hug her, I don't want to be separated.

Whisper that you won't let go.

It's fine to stumble with me, lover.