Chapter 413 - Don't Look Back
(1)
"Well then, everyone, let's make some noise,"
Ai-san says, and the banquet begins.
Mika-san grills meat with a beer in one hand.
"Here, Toya-san,"
Airi takes the grilled meat onto a small plate for me.
"Thank you, Airi,"
I say so and eat the meat.
Airi also seems to be eating a little.
"Toya, eating is fine, but are you drinking?"
Watanabe-kun came over.
"I'm drinking properly,"
I show Watanabe-kun the can of chuhai.
"Did you also go back to your parents' house for Obon, Watanabe-kun?"
"Yeah, I went to show my face at my parents' house. They were noisy, telling me to show them their grandchild soon."
But he says it's impossible all of a sudden because Mika-san is also working.
"I heard that you and Airi are already thinking about it, though?"
"Well, yeah, I think we'll make a child once we have the wedding ceremony and settle down."
When I say that, Airi seems to be surprised.
"T-Toya-san, you didn't say a single word about that..."
"I was thinking we would when you felt like it, though."
"I am ready anytime, you know."
Airi says so and laughs.
"Senpai, thank you for your hard work,"
The Nishimatsu couple and the Takemoto couple came over.
Watanabe-kun replies.
"Good job to both of you on the fireworks display and the first-semester wrap-up party,"
"No, about that, it's fine for me, but Saki-san is graduating next year. I'll be left alone, though,"
Whose turn is next, Nishimatsu-kun says.
Nishimatsu-kun asks if it is fine for him to be alone if he is to continue.
"Isn't it fine? I was doing it alone too,"
"But in my case, it's Medical School. It's impossible to go to Aoi Tori every day..."
"Ah, if that's the case..."
Watanabe-kun calls Kuribayashi-kun.
"What's the matter?"
"I want you to run the Watanabe group for the next term together with Nishimatsu-kun,"
When Watanabe-kun says so, Kuribayashi-kun is surprised.
"It's an honor that you nominated me, but is it okay with Haruto-senpai and the others?"
"Nishimatsu-kun will handle the planning and such. The problem is that we need a contact point at Aoi Tori,"
Watanabe-kun explains.
"Indeed, since I go there every day to keep Misato company, I might be the right person. It's a local university, too,"
"There's no need to think so deeply about it. Emi-san, Akira-san, and Kana-san are also at Aoi Tori,"
"...I understand. I'll take it on,"
"That helps. I would have considered continuing if I were a full-time housewife, though,"
Saki-san says.
"S-So, are you planning to bring in new members next year too?"
I tried asking Watanabe-kun.
"We won't know that until next year. I'll leave the selection to you, though,"
Watanabe-kun answers so.
It seems like the number of working adults will also increase, Watanabe-kun says.
Is it really okay to increase it more than this?
"It might increase even more when the second semester starts, you know,"
Watanabe-kun says so and laughs.
Am I the only one who thinks it's no laughing matter?
"Toya, what did you think looking at things today?"
Watanabe-kun asks.
"What do you mean?"
"From my perspective, I think it has already left our hands, though,"
So that's what he means.
"I agree with you, Watanabe-kun. It seems they successfully did both the fireworks display and the wrap-up party by themselves,"
The matchmaking is also going well.
Although the female group used quite aggressive methods regarding the matchmaking this year.
"What is this year's graduating group doing about a graduation trip?"
I tried asking Saki-san.
"We probably won't do one. There are many people who will start working right away,"
She says there are already people working as trainees. That would be Manabe-kun.
"It's almost the last of the meat!"
Mika-san is saying.
Airi went to get it and fed it to me.
Once we finish eating, everyone cleans up.
We also decided to help clean up.
(2)
We had occupied the kitchen area.
Because of the sheer number of people, the amount of dishes to wash is also large.
The female group is fully mobilized to do the dishes.
Toya-san said he would help, but we refused.
Because Toya-san likes to make things uselessly covered in soap suds.
"As I thought, we might need to prepare countermeasures for tomorrow,"
Ai says.
"Why?"
When I ask, Ai answers.
"I think what Eita said was his true feelings. It might be hell for the male group,"
Well, certainly, I don't want to see Toya-san frolicking at that place.
"Yeah, I don't wanna see a guy frolicking together at that place either,"
Kanna also seemed to be thinking the same thing.
"And you know, even if they accompany us so reluctantly, it would just spoil the fun for us too, wouldn't it?"
Ai might be right.
"Does that mean we change tomorrow's location?"
Mika asks.
"It might be better to consider that too..."
"I think that's wrong,"
I countered Ai.
"Airi. What do you mean?"
Kanna asked.
"Toya-san said it. 'It's a day to make your bride have fun,'"
"But they won't be able to enjoy it, right? It feels like we're dragging them along by force,"
"It's the opposite. We have to convey to them, 'Thanks to you, I'm having this much fun,'"
"That's an interesting opinion. I think so too,"
Satomi-san says.
"In the near future, if a child is born, a husband is someone who also has to entertain the child. We have to see if they can do it properly,"
"Well, that's true. I don't think someone who can't even keep their wife company would keep a child company,"
Kana says.
"If the male group is going through trouble to make us have fun, let's pamper ourselves with that. It's fine once in a while, isn't it?"
When I say so, everyone nods.
"It's just as Airi says. Those guys are struggling, even if they don't look like it. It wouldn't hurt to indulge in that kindness a little bit,"
Mika says.
"That goes for Naru and Hitomi too, you know? If you date someone who makes an obviously displeased face here, you'll struggle later on. You need enough leeway to enjoy watching your boyfriend struggle,"
"Kosei certainly doesn't show a displeased face. Though I'd also like to know his true feelings,"
"Is it really such a painful place for men? I haven't been on many dates, so I don't know,"
When I say so, Naru and Hitomi react.
"Well, the characters are what they are. Any decent guy would show a rejection response,"
When Mika says so, everyone laughs.
"Then, shall we make the struggling men suffer tomorrow?"
When Ai says so, everyone nods.
"Come to think of it, Toya-san and Watanabe-kun were talking earlier. Mika, do you have no intention of having children?"
"Eh? What do you mean?"
"Watanabe-kun said you can't have children because you have work, Mika,"
"That guy... not a single word of that to me... even though I can take maternity leave. Masashi is also working, so I'm fine with anytime, though,"
Mika says so and looks happy.
Looking at Mika like that, Ai and Kanna look envious.
"Must be nice, since for me, it's like I'm still supporting one giant kid,"
"For us, we've only just started working, so it's difficult. I don't even know how long Makoto's contract will last,"
Ai and Kanna say.
Will the first childbirth be Mika?
Without realizing it, the conversation had shifted to that.
(3)
"What kind of place is the one we're going to tomorrow? From what I heard just now, I feel like it's really bad,"
Sasaki-kun was asking.
"...Have you never been there?"
"No, I haven't, I'm not very interested in it,"
"I've never been there either,"
When Makoto asks, Sasaki-kun and Nakayama-kun answer.
Makoto answered with a serious face.
"Not interested... absolutely do not say that tomorrow,"
Makoto was unusually serious.
Because he was serious, everyone listened earnestly.
Makoto explains in detail what kind of place the Land of Harmony is.
The expressions of everyone listening to the explanation grow grim.
I'm already used to it, though. I'm used to it, but my heart is still heavy. A place that attacks you with a tremendous sense of fatigue.
"Why go out of your way to go to such a place? I'm interested in that,"
Sasaki-kun says.
"I don't know. It's the same as the training camp during the May holidays. Before we knew it, it became a rite of passage,"
Makoto says.
I wonder who really started saying that.
"Sorry, I didn't know what kind of place it was either, so I accepted Ai-san and the others' proposal,"
Watanabe-kun says. So that's what happened...
"Nakayama-kun, was it... be careful. If you're going to continue your relationship from now on, it's a matter that will affect your whole life, you know,"
What Makoto says has persuasive power.
"Well, isn't it fine? You guys will also absolutely end up having to take them there if a girl is born to you in the future,"
Tange-san says.
"If a child says they want to go, I'll take them. It's not a place for fully grown adults to go on a date!"
Makoto says.
Don't say it in such a loud voice, Makoto.
"It's just as Makoto says. It's a childish theme park where families with children go!"
Kiritani-kun jumps on the bandwagon.
"How many hours is it going to last this year? That torture,"
"By the request of the female group, the plan is to play until 15:00, go to a public bath, eat dinner, and go home,"
"Seriously! We're staying for five hours?!"
Nakajima-kun was exaggeratedly surprised.
It's easier on your mind if you think that five hours is all it takes, Nakajima-kun.
I can generally tell what will happen if these three spill their complaints.
Everyone either retreats into their tents or starts keeping their partners company.
Watanabe-kun couldn't escape.
He was desperate to stop the rampage of these three.
"Well, don't say that. Give them some service once in a while. You're always being taken care of, aren't you?"
"If it's service, I do it every day! I feel like I've been handed a death sentence!"
"I want to relax at least on my rare days off! It's exhausting for me too, dealing with old bags every day,"
"Toya, remember this, this is the reality of marriage. It's what they call the graveyard of life. If you're going to reconsider, now is your chance!?"
Watanabe-kun's sincerity was also in vain, as the three began to spill their complaints.
It seems all the newcomers missed their chance to escape.
"Thank you, Nakajima-kun. Well, I guess I'll go for a walk with Airi,"
"Ah, Katagiri-kun, we'll go too. Nakayama-kun, you should do that too. Let's go, Naru,"
Airi and I, Kosei and Naru, and Nakayama-kun and Tsukahara-san created an escape hatch called a walk.
"That's right, he's a grateful husband who services me every day. Tonight, I will service you. What do you desire?"
"Who are you calling an old bag? Eita,"
"The graveyard of life... you say interesting things. Ryuji-san,"
Kanna, Ai-san, and Honoka-san take up positions next to their respective partners.
By the time they realized it, it was already too late.
"No, it's fine. Kanna is tired too, so we're in the same boat, right?"
"Of course I meant the customers. I didn't mean you, Ai,"
Makoto and Kiritani-kun say.
Nakajima-kun is flapping his mouth open and shut.
"Masashi, I hear you want a child? Why didn't you tell me?"
"Mika! No, they told me when we went back to my parents' house the other day... so I just..."
Watanabe-kun is caught by Mika-san.
"Heh, so Watanabe-kun has finally made up his mind to become a dad,"
Yuki-san also joined in.
It seems the discussion continued while we were out on our walk.
(4)
"Are you okay, Airi?"
"Yes, I'm fine,"
Airi's mood seems to be good. Though I don't know what happened in the kitchen area.
I also look at Kosei and Nakayama-kun's situations, but both couples seem to be getting along well.
"Did something happen in the kitchen area, Airi?"
"Yes, a little. It's a secret just for the women,"
"I see,"
Being too persistent would probably be bad.
I didn't press any further.
An inch ahead is darkness.
Believe in yourself, and find the answer from within the darkness... huh.
I look up at the sky.
The starry sky spreads out.
Even if I were told I could have the entire universe spreading across this sky, there is a love I cannot yield.
There are times when you cannot tell truth from lies.
Because morning is too far if we just stare at each other, I want to embrace you, lighting a fire just for tonight.
Warm me to the core of my body, so my heart will never look back again.
"Don't look back... huh,"
"What's the matter?"
"Just talking to myself,"
"Is that so,"
The high schooler group has gone on ahead.
Where will this haziness in my chest take me?
The melody that comes drifting in.
A mysterious voice won't let me go.
The moon speaks to me.
I wonder what kind of rainbow I can build?
Time flows and melts into the darkness.
If there is love, making two hearts connect is such an easy thing.
Carrying burning feelings, it runs through the night sky.
Drawing a bright red trajectory, it runs through tomorrow.
Let's shoot down sadness and hatred, and scatter excitement and smiles.
When we returned to the tent, the talk was still continuing.
But it wasn't a lecture or anything like that.
They are talking happily.
Noticing us, Kanna calls out.
"Oh, Toya, welcome back. You're late. The high schooler group came back quickly and already went to sleep,"
"Aren't you guys going to sleep?"
"No, next week is Arisu and the others' wedding, right? We were talking about that,"
"I see,"
"Before that, we also have to celebrate Kanna's birthday,"
Airi says.
And then we also joined the conversation.
And before long, everyone returned to their tents.
We also return to our tent.
When I lie down with Airi, I whisper to her.
"I want to make love to Airi tomorrow night,"
"I understand,"
Airi laughs happily.
Because morning is too far if we just stare at each other...
Light a fire only on the nights I want to make love to you, and let's burn to the core of our bodies.
Without our hearts ever looking back again.