Chapter 417 - Greetings
(1)
"Toya-san, it's morning. Please wake up."
"Good morning, Airi."
"Good morning."
After giving the morning greeting, Airi leaves the bed and prepares breakfast.
I change clothes, get ready, and head to the dining room.
From today, it is September.
For Kosei and the others, the second semester has already begun.
While watching the news and talking with Airi, we eat breakfast.
Once we finish eating breakfast, Airi cleans up.
"Summer is already ending, isn't it?"
"That's true, isn't it?"
I talk with Airi.
Though, the university group is still on summer vacation.
Changes have also begun to appear in the Watanabe group.
As expected, it seems everyone has their hands full with their own lives.
That is true. Because everyone has to get married, work, earn money, and eat.
Even so, we might be better off just gathering and drinking on weekends.
Because there are some people who cannot even do that.
When asked which is more fun, student days or being a working adult, the majority of working adults say student days.
What you gain by becoming a working adult is freedom and money.
What you lose is freedom and money.
Freedom comes with responsibility. In exchange for obtaining money, you must become independent and make a household budget work.
And, being busy, human relationships become a hassle.
Exhausted, passion fades away.
The saying "play while you are a student" might not be entirely wrong.
Though by the time the majority of people realize that, it is already too late.
"When 'once you become an adult, you are free' changes to 'it was fun when I was young,' that might be what it means to become an adult."
Even so, I might still be on the better side.
I also had a goal called a qualification. Work is not that uninteresting either. There are also fun things, being able to communicate with various people.
But what about Airi?
Spending the majority of her future life inside the house, Airi's world will be lived in an extremely limited world.
Does Airi have a purpose?
Marriage, childbirth, child-rearing...
That might be the greatest present I can give to Airi.
I look at Airi, who finishes cleaning up and sits next to me.
Noticing that gaze, Airi asked me.
"Did something happen?"
"Are you having fun right now, Airi?"
"Eh?"
Airi was bewildered. And she listened to my words.
"So you were thinking of things in such a way."
Airi smiles.
"My fun is brought to me every day by you, Toya-san."
Eh?
"Toya-san returning home safely is my greatest pleasure. Also, listening to stories about Toya-san's work is fun."
Airi says that since Toya-san is someone who doesn't grumble much, she is a little anxious, though.
"I see..."
"I said it before, didn't I? That living together with Toya-san was my dream. Since I am inside that dream, there is no way I am not having fun."
"Then, I have to make Airi's dream come true quickly."
"Eh?"
"You want three children, right?"
"...That's right."
Airi smiles.
"Ah, it is almost time."
Airi looked at the clock and said.
"Yeah, well, I'm off."
"Please take care, have a safe trip."
Seen off by Airi, I headed to the company.
(2)
Having moved to our new home, we made a fresh start.
Mikoto looked for a part-time job.
She got a part-time job at a bento shop not so far from our new home.
I went to greet my parents on that night.
They were taken aback, but once I explained the circumstances, they understood.
"Live a moderate life."
Mother just said that single sentence.
There was no particular blame.
When moving, I also met Mikoto's parents.
As expected, it seems to be cohabitation on the premise of marriage.
I had no choice but to laugh it off.
Because I hadn't thought that far ahead.
It seems I was the only one who hadn't thought about it.
And that brings us to the present.
I wake up in the morning.
Mikoto is sleeping.
Because she had a late-night shift.
So as not to wake her, I get out of bed, go to the living room, and turn on the TV.
I was watching TV while drinking coffee.
Then, around noon, I start preparing to go to my part-time job.
Around that time, Mikoto wakes up.
"You could have woken me up."
"I thought you'd be tired since it's your first part-time job and you're not used to it yet."
"I'm fine, I'm managing somehow."
"That's good then. Well, I'm going to my part-time job now."
"Take care."
Saying so, I head to the station.
I take the train to the city and go to the bookstore where I work part-time.
When I finish my part-time job, I return home.
When I return, dinner is placed on the table.
It seems Mikoto is at her part-time job.
After heating it up and eating, I clean up, take a shower, and watch TV.
"I'm home~"
Mikoto returned.
"Ah, I didn't make it in time, huh."
In Mikoto's hand was a bag containing a bento.
"I thought we could eat together, though."
"If that was the case, you could have sent me a message."
"I can't touch my smartphone during work."
I suppose that's true.
"Ah, that's right."
Saying so, Mikoto begins writing on the calendar while looking at her notebook.
It was Mikoto's part-time job shift schedule.
"If we do this, there won't be any problems, right?"
"That's true."
After that, Mikoto ate her bento while I listened to her talk.
Apparently, bentos are half price on workdays.
Once she finishes eating her bento, Mikoto takes a bath.
Then we watch TV together.
As time passes, the two of us get into bed.
Perhaps because she was tired, Mikoto fell asleep immediately.
In this way, we were gradually getting used to our new life.
(3)
I returned to my parents' house, bringing Shoko with me.
I had called the house beforehand.
I met Shoko's parents.
I wasn't as nervous as I thought I would be.
They didn't seem to interfere much in Shoko's affairs.
When I explained just the main points, they were convinced.
Is that really okay? She's your own daughter, you know? It was such a half-hearted response that I wanted to call them out on it.
And today, we came to my parents' house.
I ring the doorbell.
The one who came out was an unfamiliar girl about the same age as me.
The girl with brown hair in a natural short cut looks at my face.
Did I get the wrong house?
"Excuse me, but who are you?"
The girl looked at me and said.
"This is the Umemoto residence, right?"
I answered with a stupid question.
"Yes, it is. Are you an acquaintance of the teacher?"
"The teacher" probably refers to Father.
Father is a high school teacher.
"Hibiki! I told you not to just go out on your own, didn't I?"
Father came over.
"Oh, welcome back, Towa. Is the person next to you your girlfriend? She's a beautiful person."
Father looked at Shoko and said.
"Nice to meet you, I am Sakuragi Shoko."
When Shoko greeted him, Father responded with a smile.
"For now, come on in. How is university? Is it going smoothly?"
"Yeah, it's just summer vacation right now. More importantly, Father, who is that girl?"
"Nice to meet you, I am Umemoto Hibiki, the wife of Narito-sensei. Are you Narito-sensei's son?"
W-Wife!?
"Ah, Big Brother. You've returned at a good time. For now, come on up."
My younger sister Mei came.
For now, I decided to enter the house.
When we enter the living room, Shoko and I sit side-by-side, and opposite us sit Father, Hibiki-san, and Mei.
Mei is sixteen years old, a high school student.
Mei began to explain.
Apparently, Hibiki-san was Father's former student.
Hibiki-san fell in love with Father at first sight.
But a relationship between a student and a teacher is bad.
So she waited for three years.
She confessed on the day of the graduation ceremony.
It's a common story.
Father is popular with female students.
Every year when graduation ceremony comes, he receives a confession from someone or other.
Usually, it ends with just exchanging contact information.
And then they find a new love at their next destination and it fades away.
However, Hibiki-san was different.
She sent messages and made phone calls almost every day.
And when summer vacation started, she suddenly barged into the house.
Father accepted, thinking that just during summer vacation would be fine.
Naturally, the parents of the Kitagawa family would be furious... or so I thought.
At least, it seems the father was furious.
But the mother was different.
"This child is also eighteen. An age where marriage is allowed. Let her choose her partner as she likes."
After bickering for about half a day, it seems Hibiki-san's father gave in.
And they submitted the marriage registration after entering this month...
By the way, Father's age is thirty-eight.
Mother is already deceased.
"And so, please treat me well."
Hibiki-san says so and bows her head.
"What do you think, Big Brother!? This person suddenly comes and says, 'From today, I am your Mother'! Can you accept that!?"
Mei said so.
Honestly, I am bewildered.
A kid of the same age is Mother!?
It seems Shoko also doesn't know what to do.
"So, are you two cohabiting?"
Hibiki-san said so.
"Ah, isn't that fine? If that's what you want to do, you should do so."
I thought he would say that.
Father is someone who doesn't interfere much in his children's views on romance.
Even if I said we had a child, he would probably just leave it at "Isn't that fine?"
"So, why did Hibiki-san get married in such a hurry?"
I tried asking Hibiki-san.
The reason was extremely simple.
"Because the first semester ended and I had free time, I thought I should get what needs to be done out of the way."
To put it nicely, single-minded. To put it badly, reckless.
"Could you not have at least waited until graduation?"
Shoko was asking.
"Because I was afraid he would be taken by another woman in the meantime."
Hibiki-san answers without hesitation.
"That's right!"
Hibiki-san stands up.
"I have to make a feast today! After all, it's a wedding celebration for two couples, right? Or shall we eat out, Narito-sensei?"
Two couples?
I feel like I shouldn't ask.
"Hibiki. Towa and the others haven't gotten married yet, you know?"
Father says.
"Why!? You're going to cohabit, right!? You should absolutely register your marriage. You came to greet us today with that intention, right?"
I worried about how to answer. If I said I had no such intention, I might even turn Shoko, who was next to me, into an enemy.
"I think it's still too early."
Isn't that probably the model answer?
However, it seems Shoko was different.
She has her smartphone in hand and is calling her parents.
"Hello, it's me. I've decided to marry Towa."
Huh?
"Yeah, I'll go to the house with the documents next time, so make sure you're at home."
Saying so, she hung up her smartphone.
"Well, that's how it is. Narito-sensei."
"W-Well, isn't that fine? I'll properly pay your tuition fees just like before."
You're completely saying that on a whim, Father.
At a later date, we went to the Sakuragi household and had them sign the documents.
And we submitted them to the government office on that very day.
Who could have imagined getting married within less than half a year since we started dating?
I couldn't imagine it.
(5)
"Hey, do you know anything about the Red Comet that appeared on Kurokumi-touge?"
I was asked by Itsuki-senpai while on standby.
"I don't know anything about that sort of thing."
I don't know in various senses, but isn't that crazy naming dangerous?
"If you're working as a gas station clerk too, study at least that much."
Stop with that assumption that gas station clerk equals street racer.
"Well, guess from Kamenashi's car, Itsuki."
"Well, that's true, but... Shigeru-senpai."
Shigeru-senpai and Itsuki-senpai are talking.
Then, a red sedan arrived.
The one who came out from inside was Sakuragi-san.
"Ah, Kamenashi-senpai, you were working here."
"Well, yeah."
"Fill it up with diesel."
"Thank you very much."
Shigeru-senpai and the others are looking over here.
"You came all the way here at this hour. Is it some kind of business?"
"I guess it's business, in a way? It wasn't a big deal, though."
What kind of business is it?
At that moment, several cars that looked exactly like that kind entered.
"...Damn it. High-octane, fill it up here!"
If I recall, that person is Ken-san.
Shigeru-senpai and the others are handling it.
That Ken-san is looking at Sakuragi-san.
"Ah, you're the one from earlier!?"
It seems something happened between Ken-san and Sakuragi-san.
I tried asking Sakuragi-san about the circumstances.
"It's no big deal. They were driving slowly, so I just overtook them. I came because I heard there was a group with amazing driving techniques around here, but they weren't a big deal."
It seems Ken-san heard that.
"I-I just let my guard down because I thought you were a woman!"
"I'll let you keep it that way. I expected a little, but it was a waste just coming here."
Sakuragi-san says so.
Ken-san looked like he wanted to say something, but the problem is not that kind of thing.
"Such behavior should have been strictly forbidden in the Watanabe group, though."
"Towa doesn't complain about anything."
"It's not that kind of problem..."
"Ah, I'm exhausted. When I get back, I have to welcome Towa. See you later."
Saying so, Sakuragi-san went home.
"You said you didn't know the Red Comet!"
Itsuki-senpai says.
Apparently, Sakuragi-san is the one being called that "Red Comet."
A four-wheel drive and a turbo car, but a diesel.
Moreover, the driver is a woman.
To be easily overtaken by such a car.
It seems Ken-san's pride is in tatters.
However, the problem is not that kind of thing.
Dangerous behavior should be strictly forbidden in the Watanabe group.
When my part-time job ended, I consulted Watanabe-kun.
It seems to be Watanabe-kun's working hours.
Around the time his working hours ended, a reply came from Watanabe-kun.
"Thank you for letting me know. ...To think it was Sakuragi-san."
Watanabe-kun is holding his head.
"Let's gather again this weekend. Is the usual yakitori restaurant fine?"
Watanabe-kun says.
Everyone agreed.
"And so, let's have a thorough discussion, Sakuragi-san."
"I don't particularly mind, though?"
How do they plan to persuade her?
(6)
"Welcome home. Thank you for your hard work."
When Airi welcomes me, I take a bath, and then eat dinner.
Airi told me about what happened today.
The biggest problem is probably Sakuragi-san, after all.
It seems the talk is still continuing even now.
While Airi was taking a bath, I was looking at the logs.
The Red Comet, huh.
I don't know the performance of Red Bull, so I don't understand.
I wonder what should be done.
"Is it difficult even for you, Toya-san?"
Airi came over bringing a drink.
"Well, it's a difficult problem."
"Is that so..."
Even so, it will be too late after an accident happens.
We have to take measures quickly.
Even if we hypothetically defeat her, she will probably aim for even greater heights.
It will end up in an even more dangerous state.
As expected, talking and persuading is probably the best, though.
Rather than me saying it, wouldn't it be better if Umemoto-kun said it?
Cars...
Those charmed by speed cannot be easily exorcised.
That is something that actually happened in the Watanabe group as well.
Just how much labor will be spent on persuasion.
When I notice, Airi is looking at her smartphone with a grim face.
"What's wrong?"
"Well..."
Airi shows her smartphone.
"It'll be too late after an accident happens, you know!"
"I won't have an accident."
"Accidents aren't just caused by yourself."
"I won't get close to a car that looks like it's going to crash."
"My husband actually caused an accident because of that~. Is this an act you do even while ignoring Towa-kun's feelings~?"
"Towa lets me do as I like."
I see.
Is there no need to even wait until the weekend?
"I was called the 'Blue Flash'."
I typed a message to the Watanabe group.
"Katagiri-san was that!? By all means, please race me."
"The Blue Flash was forced to make a grave choice."
"A choice?"
"Whether to take my own pride, or to take her peace of mind."
After that, I told her about that incident.
"You haven't met that kind of opponent yet. Can you respond calmly at that time?"
"That is..."
"You guys registered your marriage, right? It should cost money too. I haven't seen your driving, but you must be putting a load on the car. Are you doing maintenance properly?"
"Of course I am."
"That money... aren't you paying it with your part-time job earnings? If so, you are putting a load not just on the car, but on Umemoto-kun as well."
Umemoto-san says nothing.
"We are still unmarried. But her life is weighing down on both of my shoulders. It's the same for Sakuragi-san. If you think about that, you shouldn't be able to do reckless driving."
"It's just as Katagiri-san says..."
"I think that's what it means to get married. I think caring for each other is important."
"...I understand. I won't do foolish things anymore."
"Please do so for Umemoto-kun's sake as well."
"I understand."
With that, the exchange of messages ended.
"Is this fine?"
"Yes!"
Airi's face was bright.
"As expected, you are amazing, Toya-san."
I rub the back of Airi, who comes to hug me.
"Well then, shall we sleep soon?"
"Yes."
When I get into bed with Airi, I turn off the lights.
"Hey, Toya-san."
"What's wrong, Airi?"
"Everyone is changing, aren't they?"
"What do you mean?"
"The person who was complaining that much has stopped saying anything. Is he scared of his wife?"
"That's not it. Everyone must have developed awareness."
"Awareness?"
"Yeah."
They obtained freedom, but responsibility came with it. As a result, they let go of freedom.
Instead, they obtained something irreplaceable.
Instead of having an income, expenses called maintaining a life were created.
That is an advance investment in the future.
Instead of having one's own social circle, the friends up until now are being lost.
That is the first step into the sky called society, which is leaving the nest.
We are no longer children protected by society. We are in a position where we must contribute to society.
That is an investment in the future.
"Even I still have to invest in Airi."
"In me?"
"I have to give you a wedding ring, get married, and make children. If that becomes Airi's reason for living."
"That's no good."
"Eh?"
"It is not just my reason for living. It must also be Toya-san's dream. It is the hope of the two of us."
"...That's true."
I stroke Airi's head.
Airi clung to me and fell asleep.
Everyone, embracing the warmth they obtained amidst the hesitation hidden deep in their hearts, goes down a new path.
Even the nights that seem about to burst with distant yearning, I will catch them in these hands.
The fleeting sadness will eventually lead to a shining future...
Every time we embrace, we have always searched for the answer to the path the two of us walked, but the unfulfilled dream without even making a sound of crumbling
Even so, everyone, embracing the warmth they obtained amidst the hesitation hidden deep in their hearts, goes down a new path.