Chapter 423 - Birthday
(1)
"Good morning, Toya-san. It's morning."
"Good morning, Airi."
Once I exchange morning greetings with Airi, Airi leaves the bed and heads to the kitchen.
I also change, get ready in the washroom, and head to the dining room.
"I think I'll be late again as usual, so..."
"Yes, I understand. Please do not push yourself too hard."
"Yeah, I know."
When breakfast is over, watching Airi tidy up, I call out to Airi.
When Airi's tidying up is finished, watching television in the living room, I spend a relaxing time with Airi.
Today as well, the television was covering celebrities' affairs and infidelity.
Are people really that interested in the infidelity and affairs of complete strangers?
I tried asking Airi, who was watching quietly.
"They are celebrities, so they are not exactly complete strangers, right?"
Now that she mentions it, that is certainly true.
"And perhaps because I am also a woman, I still end up feeling like I cannot forgive them."
"But in this incident, the one who had the affair was the female announcer, right?"
How is it in that case?
"Normally, I cannot forgive it. Regardless of whether they are a man or a woman, I think the act of an 'affair' itself is not good. It is an act that is not permitted legally either."
I see.
"It is unusual, isn't it? For Toya-san to be interested in such a topic."
"I just felt curious for some reason."
Though basically, I think it does not matter.
"Let me see... Toya-san, what would you think if I ended up in that kind of relationship with another man?"
"There is no need to even think about that. I believe that, of all people, you would never do such a thing, Airi."
"Thank you very much."
Airi acts spoiled.
I want to let her act spoiled, but it is almost time.
"It is almost time, I have to go."
"I suppose so..."
Airi looks lonely.
At times like this, I whisper in her ear.
"I will come home as early as possible today. When I do, I will give you lots of attention."
"...Yes! Please take care and have a safe trip."
Airi's mood improves.
Seen off by Airi, I headed to the company.
I greet Kamiki-san, who always arrives first.
And then I check today's schedule.
Two cases in the afternoon, huh.
It looks like I will be late after all.
When the morning assembly ends, work begins.
After a while, a single phone call rings.
"Uehara-san, please take outside line one."
Tatsuhiko-senpai answers the phone.
His behavior is strange, he is panicking about something.
"President, I am sorry. I am leaving early! Toya, I leave the rest to you."
Saying so, Tatsuhiko-senpai dashed off and went home.
"Who was it from?"
I tried asking Iizuka-san.
"It was from Natsumi-san's mother. It seems Natsumi-san's labor pains have started."
"Labor pains?"
Apparently, it is a sign of the beginning of childbirth. It is said to be proof that the baby will be born soon.
Even if they say soon, it apparently takes at least twelve hours at the earliest.
Then, isn't it fine not to panic so much?
"If a wife has someone like Katagiri-san as a husband, she seems likely to have a hard time."
Boos arose from the female staff.
"You cannot be like that from now on. Even by mistake, do not say the same thing to your girlfriend."
I was cautioned by the President as well.
"Toya, resentment from the time of childbirth never disappears."
Koriyama-senpai whispers in my ear.
Is that how it is...
"Koriyama-senpai... did you mess up?"
"With my first child, I had the same feeling as Toya, you see. Even now, I am told, 'You were playing around on your smartphone next to me while I was suffering!'"
"I see..."
"Shimoyama was also amazing. He received a call that labor pains had started, and although the President told him to go home, he stayed at the workplace because the baby wouldn't be born soon anyway. What's more, because it was the off-season, there was no work, and he was killing time browsing the internet."
That is bad...
"You make sure to be careful..."
If I make one wrong move, there is no telling what Airi's papa will do to me.
When I finish work, I return home.
"I'm home."
"Welcome home. I will prepare dinner, so please take a bath first."
"Understood."
After taking a bath and eating dinner, until Airi tidies up and takes a bath, I become Airi's conversation partner.
Airi tells me about things like what happened at Blue Bird.
And also about how the supermarket clerk mistook the price of cabbage and lettuce.
She is surprisingly meticulous.
Come to think of it, since we started living together, Airi has been staring intently at receipts.
And today as well, when she came out of the bath, she returned to the bedroom and was looking alternately at her laptop and receipts.
When I hand a can to such an Airi, she receives it with a "Thank you very much."
Airi continues her work while drinking.
As I stare intently at such an Airi, Airi says, "Is something the matter?" so when I reply, "No, you are quite diligent, Airi," she answered, "That is because I am holding onto Toya-san's precious money."
When Airi finishes her work, she drinks up her beverage and clings to me.
"You said you would give me attention today, didn't you?"
"Ah, sure. Wait a moment."
I also drink up my beverage, turn off the television, lower the lights, hold Airi in my arms, and place her on the bed.
I cling to her, covering her from above.
Then, the smartphone rings.
"It will be over soon."
Temporarily parting from Airi, who makes a lonely face, I look at the smartphone and laugh.
"Airi, come here for a moment."
When I call Airi, Airi clings to me from behind and peers into my smartphone. A smile also appeared on Airi's face.
It was a message from Tatsuhiko-senpai.
It was a healthy baby boy. It seems they named him "Hyosuke."
"He's handsome just like me, right?"
was the message.
"A baby, huh~ I am envious."
Airi says.
"Let's look forward to ours too, okay?"
"Eh?"
"For a boy, Sora is decided, but for a girl, Tsubasa and Amane. Have you decided which one to start with?"
"...Let me see. Which one do you prefer, Toya-san?"
"Hmm, I am torn. Both are good names, aren't they?"
"Shall we ask Toya-san's papa next time?"
"That's right."
"Is it enough already? It troubles me to be teased too much."
Airi said embarrassedly.
"Ah, sorry. It is fine now."
"Yes."
And then, the two of us get into bed.
"Hey, Airi."
"What is the matter?"
"Have you heard, Airi?"
"About what?"
"When you were born, Airi, did your dad attend the birth?"
"...It seems Papa rushed over from the scene. Blaring the siren in a great panic. Apparently, he was made to write a written apology."
He does reckless things. Airi's papa.
"How was it for you, Toya-san?"
"I have never heard about it."
Maybe I will try asking the next time I go back?
"But why the sudden question? Did you get in the mood?"
"No, it is not like that..."
I probably have to tell her the reason. I wonder if Airi will get angry?
I told Airi what happened at the workplace.
"It is a good workplace, isn't it? ...But Toya-san's remark is something I cannot overlook."
"Sorry!"
"How about a punishment game for the first time in a while?"
"Punishment game?"
"Yes."
Airi is laughing.
"Please attend my childbirth."
"...Is it okay?"
I do not really know, but isn't that the kind of thing they do not really want to be seen?
"Is there no such thing as feeling embarrassed?"
"If you say that, I will be seen by midwives and doctors I do not know, you know? Are you fine with that, Toya-san?"
When put that way, that is true.
"If you say it is okay for me to attend, Airi, I will attend."
When I say so, Airi smiles warmly.
"It is a promise. There is no saying 'I don't want to after all because it is scary' later on, okay?"
"...Is it that grotesque?"
"Apparently, there are some who see it that way."
"I see..."
"Did you grow to dislike the idea?"
"The one you are giving birth to is my and Airi's child, right? I will witness it together with you. Though I might not be of any help."
"Thank you very much."
Airi clings to me.
A child...
Airi's and my child.
What on earth kind of child will they become?
It would be nice if a beautiful child resembling Airi is born.
If so, will I end up becoming a doting parent?
I was still unable to imagine myself running around busy with child-rearing.
(2)
"I'm home..."
"Oh! Welcome back! You're late today."
Ah, shoot!
The clock has passed 22:00.
"Tasuku, sorry! I forgot to tell you! Today there was a Basketball Club launch party!"
"Ah, was it already that time of year? Indeed, it is around the time the league matches end. How was it?"
"Tasuku, did you eat dinner?! I didn't prepare anything..."
"Ah, it's fine. Since there was no response when I sent a message, I just ate whatever on my way."
Tasuku says so and laughs.
A failure as a manager. A failure as a housewife. What on earth am I...
I feel like crying at my own wretchedness.
Yes, I was crying at the entrance.
Frustrated, so frustrated.
"What's wrong? Sakurako."
I cling to Tasuku, who came to greet me at the entrance, and wail.
Tasuku was troubled.
"Calm down, Sakurako. For now, let's go inside. Okay?"
Taking off my shoes, I cling to Tasuku, who sits on the living room sofa, and sob.
"It was a launch party, right? Did something happen?"
Tasuku speaks to me in a gentle tone.
I explained everything to Tasuku from scratch.
The Kyushu League was demoted to the third division.
As for the Basketball Club members, excluding those graduating this year, we managed to secure five members somehow.
However, with five members, it does not function as a team.
We have no choice but to rely on next year's incoming students, but as expected, we could not dispel the image of it being a transient momentum due to Katagiri Toya, and it was demoted to an interest group.
With no budget coming in, the current director is dismissed at the end of this season.
The new director is currently undecided.
It has completely run aground.
I could not fulfill my responsibility.
I was filled with apologetic feelings toward the seniors, including Tasuku.
Tasuku listened to my story quietly.
And then, he says in a calm tone.
"Good work."
Tasuku is kind to me.
But that kindness hurts right now.
Because it hurts, tears overflow.
Tasuku just accepts me.
He listened intently to my confession.
"It's okay, nobody is going to blame you, Sakurako."
Tasuku says.
Is Tasuku not frustrated? That the Basketball Club they built up is crumbling away.
Tasuku takes out a beer from the refrigerator and gives it to me.
"You have tomorrow off, right? Rest well tonight."
"You can blame me, you know. Because it is all my responsibility."
"But achieving back-to-back championships in the spring tournament is also Sakurako's achievement, you know?"
I look at Tasuku.
Tasuku was laughing.
"More importantly, what are you going to do from now on?"
"Eh?"
"Surely you aren't planning to repeat a year at the university, are you?"
"That's true, but..."
Right now is not the time for that...
"It is because it is now that you have to think about it. There is not that much time left until graduation."
"Sorry, I cannot think of anything right now."
"Then, isn't that fine?"
Eh?
"I told you, right? 'Good work'... What you should do now is not regret what has passed. It is to think about how to live tomorrow from now on. If you have no goal, rest until you find one. That is what I am here for."
Though I don't think you are the type of person to settle as a full-time housewife. Tasuku laughs.
My future from now on.
I had not thought about it.
Tasuku has not become a professional either.
What should I make my goal?
"...I won't tell you to give an answer right away. If you want to go out to work, do so; if you want to devote yourself to housework, that is also an option. I want you to decide by your own will."
"My will..."
My dream.
My hope...
Hope can be created by myself.
"Tasuku. May I speak my selfishness?"
"Oh, is there something?"
I looked at Tasuku's face and nodded.
"I want to raise a soccer player."
"Are you going to get a coaching license or something?"
"That is also fine, but..."
I hesitated to say it.
"What's wrong? Sakurako."
"I want to raise my own child into a soccer player."
Tasuku was flustered.
"A-A child, you..."
"Of course, I will also respect the child's will, but I want to give them a helping hand."
"N-No, not that, a child all of a sudden?! We haven't even held a ceremony yet!"
"Of course, after the ceremony is fine. I want a child."
Though that might be an act of pushing my own ego onto the child.
"Tasuku, please give me a child."
"...So that is your will."
I nodded.
"I understand... Let's think about it next year once our life settles down."
Tasuku consented.
A new dream was formed inside me.
A new hope was born.
Light shone into my future.
"But are we going to keep making them until a boy is born?"
"Nowadays, even girls can play soccer!"
I was anticipating.
My child whom I have yet to see.
And my new life was born.
(3)
Riding in a taxi, we were returning home.
We were both silent.
It was not that we had a fight.
It was just that there was no trigger for either of us to start talking.
We were silent until we arrived home.
"Sho, you can take a bath first."
It was Chitose's first words.
"Understood."
I take a shower.
"Chitose, I'm out."
"Understood."
Chitose takes a shower.
During that time, I was watching television in the living room.
Chitose takes a shower and dries her hair.
The television was showing the news.
Next year is the World Cup year.
Fortunately or unfortunately, everyone pays attention to soccer.
They stopped broadcasting basketball news entirely.
"Sho... want a drink?"
"Thank you."
At this rate, aren't we like a couple in a rut?
The dull news flowing from the television.
Even in days like this, I am searching for fun things.
Do I want stimulation?
Is that so?
The hot passion had completely cooled down.
But we must start running toward a new world.
Toward a future that no one knows yet.
Because the future continues endlessly forever.
Every time I sighed, I wanted to break this reality.
I grasp Chitose's hand.
Chitose looks over here.
"We just have to start over again."
I say.
"...That's right."
Chitose squeezes back.
Rather than blaming oneself for being pathetic, the thing to love is the merry-go-round of "now."
Ultimately, we are dreamers.
Life continues to the next stage.
(4)
"I'm home."
Toya-san returned.
"Welcome home. Thank you for your hard work."
I greet Toya-san.
"Sorry, the work was finished, but my senior started boasting about his child again..."
"He must be extremely happy."
I greet him with a smile.
"I will reheat the food, so please take a bath first."
"Understood."
While Toya-san is in the bath, I reheat the soup.
Today is Toya-san's birthday.
I also bought a present.
Toya-san has no particular preference for small items.
That is why I dared to choose one.
Toya-san would be a wonderful person if he paid just a little attention to his personal appearance, though.
Toya-san came out of the bath.
When he sits on the chair, I pour wine into Toya-san's glass.
Toya-san pours wine into my glass.
"Toya-san, happy birthday."
"Thank you."
The two of us enjoy the meal.
There were no bright topics.
Apparently, the Basketball Club was demoted to the third division.
The three of them were depressed.
But, Takatsuki-kun and Chitose-san still have next year.
What will Sakurako-san struggle with and walk toward from now on?
However, Sakurako-san created that answer herself.
"I will make a soccer player."
Toya-san was surprised by that answer.
Toya-san says that the one who was probably surprised the most was Mizushima-kun.
I tried asking Toya-san if there was anything he wanted his own child to do.
"I will let the child follow the path they like."
Toya-san has chosen his own path, after all.
"Do you have anything, Airi?"
"If the child has even a single talent, I would like to support them."
Surely, because they are Toya-san's child, they will have at least one redeeming feature.
When dinner is finished, I tidy up and take a bath.
When I come out of the bath, I take two Chu-hi cans, head to the bedroom, and hand one to Toya-san.
Toya-san seems to have noticed the present from me.
"Airi, what is this?"
"Please open it."
When Toya-san opens it, what was inside was a business bag.
"Thank you."
"You're welcome."
After that, while drinking Chu-hi, I keep the household account book, and when I finish, I watch television with Toya-san.
Watching television, I get the feeling that it is already the end of the year.
I try not to bring up the end of the year as a topic.
Because Toya-san also seems to be conscious of it.
"Shall we sleep soon?"
"Yes."
Turning off the television, I lower the lights and get into bed.
An end has come into sight for this journey that I yearned for.
With an otherworldly love.
Beyond the ideal, only hope is always crowding.
Pushing through impulsive love, I move forward.
With a love mixed with sleet.
Piercing through the delusional night, I move forward.
Do not blame yourself for being pathetic.
The thing to love is now.
We are always dreaming.
Life advances to the next stage.
Living for someone, accepting someone's love.
By piling up the present little by little like that, so that we can share both joy and sadness.
If I can find happiness in thinking of each other with you, even ordinary things will embrace a radiance.
Look, I am drawing close to that voice.
Because I want to tell you that I love you, I want to tell you, because I believe in this irreplaceable hand and the future with you.
Because I am conveying the word "thank you" to you now, the connected right hand is gentler than anyone else's. Look, it is receiving this voice.