Chapter 60 - Lodging
(1)
Early May
I was standing in front of the convenience store with Airi.
Even though it was a convenience store I frequented all the time, on this day alone, I hesitated to enter.
"What are you doing? Let's just go in already."
Airi pushed my back.
Once inside the convenience store, I started by browsing the shelves.
Poke
I was poked.
"What do you think we came here for!"
I was scolded by Airi.
Looking back, there was a shelf where razors, wet wipes, and batteries were placed.
The item I was looking for was there.
"Hmm, there aren't many varieties, are there? Maybe a drugstore would have been better."
Airi picked some up and began selecting.
"Hmm, what's your size, Toya-kun?"
What is this girl asking!
"I-I don't know. What do you think, Airi?"
Airi's face turned red.
"How should I know that? I mean... I've never seen anyone else's."
That's true; it would be troubling if she could answer that clearly.
Men rarely compare them with each other.
It happened back in elementary school or during middle school field trips, but in high school, everyone mostly hides them.
You know... people worry about being "turtleneck boys."
Though they hide them knowing that those who have already become "Ueno men" are in the minority.
Well, it's not like everyone is staring there, though.
What should I do? Should I say S to be modest... but it would be a waste if it didn't fit.
On the other hand, it would look uncool if I bought L and it was baggy.
Since the ones Mickey was handing out in middle school fit perfectly, I'm probably normal.
"I think I'm probably normal."
"I see... then, here!"
Airi handed me a small white box.
"U-huh."
Saying that, I started walking toward the drink corner.
Airi stopped me.
"I wonder where you're going~?"
"I'm at least going to have some juice."
"Just juice, okay!"
"And some snacks..."
"Uuu..."
In times like this, I should just buy them.
Leaving the hesitating Airi behind, I bought some juice and snacks at random and proceeded to the register.
Actually, I wanted to buy bread, rice balls, and sandwiches too, but Airi's gaze did not permit it.
"Here you are. Is there anything else you need?"
"Some fried chicken..."
"That's all!"
Airi revoked my final plea.
(2)
There was no annual trip this year.
Every day was studying with Kanna and Airi, the three of us.
Then, at night, I would walk Kanna home, spend some time alone with Airi, and then go home.
"Kanna, don't you need to spend your holidays with Makoto-kun?"
"He seems busy with club activities. Even so, he said he'd take the last day off."
"Is practice that tough?"
"It seems so."
I see, so Makoto's club is tough...
"Ah, it's already this time, I've gotta go!"
"What do you mean 'this time,' it's only 16:00?"
"I have my part-time job starting at 18:00."
Part-time job!?
"Kanna, you started a part-time job!?"
"Yeah, well."
This is the first I've heard of it.
"I want to earn at least my own allowance. I'm not going to university, after all."
"I see..."
Airi looked lonely.
"So, you don't need to walk me home, so you two enjoy yourselves."
With that, Kanna left the room.
We were left alone.
Well, it's been happening often lately.
Knock knock
Someone knocked.
It must be Mother.
From some point in time, she started knocking to check if she could enter.
Only when I'm with Airi, though.
She must be trying to be considerate.
But Mother.
Aren't you being considerate in the wrong place?
"You can come in."
When I said that, Mother entered.
"Toya, Mother and the others will be gone for four days starting tomorrow."
"Huh?"
"There was talk of a family meeting regarding Ako-chan."
"Family meeting?"
Mother looked at Airi and spoke.
"Airi-chan, I've obtained your mother's consent, so I wonder if you could let our Toya stay at your house."
Excuse me?
"That's fine~"
Airi answered instantly.
Well, it's too late for surprises now...
Now then, time to prepare.
I started preparing once I reached a stopping point in my studies.
A change of clothes, study tools, and... I'll bring my game just in case.
And then...
I noticed it then.
I've used them all up!
There are no more distributions from Mickey.
"What's wrong?"
Airi asked.
"No, it's just... I used up all the condoms."
"Ah, I see. Then why don't you just buy some?"
"Don't say it so casually, like I should just go buy them at a convenience store."
"They sell them at convenience stores."
Why do you have that information?
"Shall we go now?"
Airi's eyes were sparkling.
"N-now!?"
"We might use them tonight, right~?"
Just how aggressive is she.
And so, we went to the convenience store to buy some.
(3)
Airi's room.
"It's a bit messy because this was sudden, but..."
It's way cleaner compared to my room.
I put down my luggage and sat in a random spot.
Airi, who had hurriedly tidied up, sat next to me.
...
...
...
The air was heavy.
"S-shall we turn on the TV or something?"
Saying that, Airi picked up the remote and turned on the power.
After a while, Airi's mom called out.
"Dinner is ready~"
"Yes~! Shall we go?"
I talked with Airi's parents while eating dinner.
After finishing, Airi and Airi's mom were tidying up.
"...Toya-kun is a high school student now, right... How about it? Just one drink."
No, I'm still a high school student.
"Papa, don't suggest drinking to a minor!"
"...U-umu."
Saying that, Airi's papa drank alcohol by himself.
After a while, he whispered in a low voice.
"My daughter... how is she?"
"...Yes?"
What is?
"I-I mean... are you doing well in bed?"
That is not a question a father should ask.
"Papa, don't ask unnecessary things!!"
Airi warned him loudly.
Her face was bright red.
She probably heard him.
"U-umu."
What should I answer in a time like this?
Should I say we're doing well?
He doesn't seem like the kind of father who would fly into a rage over someone laying a hand on his daughter.
After thinking about it in various ways, I whispered this.
"...She's been very good to me."
It was probably for the best.
Airi's papa's expression brightened.
"I thought so, I thought so, she takes after her mother. Her mother is the devoted type too, hahahaha."
Was that her character, Airi's papa?
"Wait, Toya-kun! What did you whisper to Papa!?"
Airi was angry.
"Airi, it's fine here, so go take a bath first. I have something to talk about with Toya-kun."
"Uuu... Rie-chan, don't whisper strange things to Toya-kun too."
"It's okay~"
Airi went up to her room to get a change of clothes.
"Toya-kun, I told Airi, but we'll also be away from home for four days, so please look after our daughter."
Eh?
"It's alright, I've already spoken to Maya-san. Please get along well."
Wait, does that mean this was a planned crime?
Should I answer that I understand?
Will it be taken in a different meaning?
"I-I will do my best."
I wonder about this too.
After Airi took her bath, I also took a bath and returned to Airi's room.
Airi was studying while watching TV as if nothing had happened.
"Ah, I'll do it too."
"Yeah."
"It's rare, studying while watching TV."
"...I can't settle down without sound."
"Ah, yeah, that happens."
The flow of this conversation is suspicious.
She's hiding something again.
And it's a precursor to an explosion.
What should I do?
For now, I look at Airi.
Hair, dried. It smells like shampoo.
Clothing, loungewear. Nothing seems particularly different.
Neck, she's wearing a necklace.
Wrist, she's wearing a bracelet. I'm wearing one too.
Also, what comes to mind... the calendar!
I check the date. May 1st! Nothing is happening today.
Time... 22:00...
But that's all that's left.
I'll settle for some light skinship.
"Airi..."
I try to gently place my hand on Airi's shoulder... but I was slapped.
"I'm still studying!"
Was I wrong?
Is she in a bad mood for some reason?
Is she angry because I whispered something to Airi's papa?
I surrender.
"Sorry, I'm slow..."
"Eh?"
"No, you just seem to be in a bad mood."
"...That's not true."
"But..."
"I just said no because I'm studying. You have to have a clear distinction."
"Is that really all?"
"Yeah."
Airi nodded with a smile.
"You heard it from Rie-chan, right? The talk about them not being here from tomorrow."
"Yeah."
"That's why, when we study, we study, and when we flirt, we flirt with all our might. We have plenty of time... Kanna is coming too... right?"
"I guess so."
It seems I was overthinking.
"Ah!"
Airi raised her voice.
"What's wrong?"
"Later, make sure you have things properly prepared."
(4)
"Otonashi-san! Take the order!"
"Yes! Sorry to keep you waiting, customer..."
In the eyes of society, even if it's a weekday, some people use paid leave to make it a long holiday.
The store is very busy today as well.
A five-hour shift from 17:00 in the evening until 22:00.
The hourly wage is on the better side.
It's a sufficient amount for a high school student's allowance.
I intend to stay home a little, though.
When work ends and I return home, I pour hot water into the cup noodles I bought.
I take them into my room and turn on the TV while eating a rice ball.
Looking at my smartphone, there's a message.
It's from Airi.
"Toya-kun is staying at my place starting today. Study at my house!"
I operate the smartphone and reply.
"Roger."
The vibration rings.
"Part-time job until this hour? Good work~"
"Thanks."
Ah, I've gotta wash my uniform.
Should I send a message to Makoto too?
"Just got home from my part-time job."
No reply comes.
He's probably tired and sleeping.
A reply should be here by tomorrow morning.
As I set the laundry... I fell asleep.
I wake up at 6:00 in the morning.
I prepare breakfast.
On days off, I take over the housework.
It's the best filial piety I can do right now.
After entering high school, Mother increased her part-time shift.
As expected, the household finances must be tight, right?
I want to make her as comfortable as possible.
Mother wakes up.
"Doing part-time jobs and such... do you really intend not to go to university?"
"I'm studying properly, I'll at least go to a vocational school."
"I'm sorry, if only I hadn't gotten a divorce. I could have made things easier for you..."
"Stop talking about that guy!"
"Ah, that's right."
Ever since the divorce and coming here, talking about that guy has become a taboo.
It's better not to have a guy like that around! That piece of trash!
I remembered something unpleasant.
I change the subject.
"By the way, I made more friends during the last overnight training."
"Is that so? That's good."
Mother's expression brightened.
Most of them were unpleasant people, but I guess there are some good ones among them.
"It's about time for you to get ready, Mother."
"Ah, you're right."
After seeing Mother off.
I iron the laundry.
While doing so, it becomes almost 9:00.
I've gotta go soon!
I took my luggage and left the house.
It seems I've already gotten over Toya.
Makoto makes me forget.
He kept his promise.
Right now, I'm full up just with Makoto.
So, even if they flirt in front of me, I wouldn't think anything of it... as if I wouldn't.
However, I'm the one whose relationship has turned into long-distance, so show some consideration!
Well, it wouldn't help to take it out on the two of them.
Thinking so, I say nothing.
I wish for the two of them to be happy.
"What's wrong, Kanna? Are you tired today?"
Suddenly, Airi strikes up a conversation.
"I'm just overwhelmed by how much you two flirt."
"Eh...? Ah, sorry."
When it comes to Toya, Airi loses sight of her surroundings.
And Toya doesn't try to notice Airi's feelings at all.
"Kanna, if you're hungry, I've got snacks."
...It's like this.
Studying by day, part-time job by night.
Those days continued.
As expected, it's tough.
But on the final day, I have a date with Makoto.
I took the day off for that.
And it was the night before.
Almost at the same time I arrived home, a message came in.
"Can I go to Kanna's house now?"
Eh?
"You just finished practice, right? Tomorrow is fine."
"I mean, I'm in front of your house right now."
Huh?
For now, I try opening the door.
Makoto was standing right in front of me.
"Yo, long time no see."
"Long time no see, you... are you okay not going home?"
"I stopped by a bit before coming here."
I touch Makoto's left cheek.
There is a proper sensation.
When I realized that, I couldn't sit still.
I immediately hugged Makoto.
Everything that had been building up until now was released, and I was crying.
"For now, can I come inside?"
"A-ah, right."
I let Makoto into the house.
"You've eaten dinner, right? I'll make something right now, so wait."
"It's okay, I bought some."
Makoto showed me a bag containing bento.
"I thought we'd eat together."
Saying that, he smiled brightly.
After eating the bento, I check the time.
It's not yet time for Mother to return.
I look at Makoto's luggage.
It's not an amount for someone who's going home because it's late.
"You're staying over, right? Go finish your bath first."
"I see, thanks as always."
"Don't worry about it."
"If you want, shall we go in together?"
Makoto joked while laughing.
"...What will you do when Mother comes back?"
By the way, even when Mother is here, Makoto stays over without hesitation.
The parents in this house are generous about such things.
"I see, that's a shame."
"Just go take your shower already."
While Makoto was showering, I laid out the futon.
There are futons for two people, but since it's a hassle, I only laid out one.
Anyway...
When Makoto returned from the bath, I stepped back and went into the bath.
During that time, Makoto spent his time watching TV in my room.
Once I finished my bath, I sat next to Makoto and watched TV together.
The parents return at 1:00 AM at the earliest, and in the late cases, towards morning.
Around the time it passed midnight, we gazed into each other's faces.
And then...
"Hey, Kanna."
"What?"
"What happened back then? When I called Toya, it was kind of unnatural."
"...Nothing happened."
"Kanna. Shall we also have no secrets? I think that's important since we're apart."
"...If you find out, you'll surely hate me."
After saying it, I thought, "Oops!"
"That means something did happen."
"...Toya and Airi were teased."
"And?"
I told Makoto the details of the incident.
Also that I was trembling, unable to do anything...
"It's pathetic, right... even to me."
Will he hate me? Will he despise me?
My head was full of such things.
But Makoto was different.
Makoto hugged me and laughed.
"That's not true. I think it's as Toya and the others said. Kanna is a girl, so it can't be helped."
"I don't want it to be settled with 'because I'm a girl'! Besides, I remembered... being teased in Tokyo..."
That memory where my body froze, my legs trembled, and I couldn't speak from fear.
I wanted to change this pathetic me.
But I can't change.
That's frustrating.
"It's okay. I'm with you, Kanna. Although I can't do anything usually."
"You're kind, Makoto."
"Of course I'll be kind to my girlfriend."
Saying that, Makoto laughed.
Just that kindness is enough.
How much it has saved me.
"Makoto, thank you."
Saying that, I hugged Makoto back.
"This kind of line might not suit me, but... I want to stay like this until morning."
If it were Airi, she'd be able to act spoiled skillfully, right?
Even if I say it...
"Yeah... that's my intention too."
I slept in Makoto's arms.
6:00 AM
The alarm rings.
I turn it off immediately so Makoto doesn't wake up, and quietly slip out of the futon and get dressed.
Then I prepare for the morning.
Mother wakes up.
"Did Makoto-kun stay over last night?"
Mother asked.
"Yeah, apparently he has the day off from club activities. He's sleeping now."
We didn't do anything shameful... or did we.
"Then, you're on a date today."
"I guess so."
"It's the last of the long holiday, so enjoy yourselves thoroughly. Where are you going?"
"Probably watch a movie at the station building and then I'll see him off."
"I see."
She didn't ask anything more than that.
After seeing Mother off, I finished changing and preparing, then woke Makoto up.
"It's already 9:00."
"Ah, yeah. I'm waking up."
When he woke up, he started changing.
In the meantime, I prepared Makoto's breakfast.
"Oh, this looks delicious."
Makoto rejoiced exaggeratedly.
"It's no big deal."
After Makoto finished breakfast, he tidied up and prepared.
Makoto also set his hair in the washroom.
Then the two of us went out into town.
(5)
When we arrived at the station building, we first ate lunch.
The usual food court.
Makoto ate ramen, and I ate a sandwich.
After that, a movie.
We watched a movie that was playing.
Since something like a spin-off of a long SF feature was playing, Makoto said he wanted to see that.
I said that was fine.
It wasn't that I wasn't interested.
When the movie started, Makoto watched intently.
It was as if he had forgotten I was next to him.
I tried to be mischievous by gently overlapping my hand.
Then he looked this way and squeezed back.
Makoto is really good at making me happy.
When the movie ended, we left the theater.
After that... I saw Makoto off.
"Well, see you. Next time, maybe in the summer."
"When is summer?"
"Probably around the Obon holiday."
"I see..."
Will I be unable to meet him for a while again?
The bus, which is usually late by at least 10 minutes, arrived exactly on time on this day alone.
"Later."
Saying that, I hugged Makoto as he tried to board the bus.
"Kanna?"
I shook my head and sobbed without knowing why.
Makoto, sensing the situation, gave up on boarding the bus and headed to a nearby coffee shop.
Sorry.
Makoto handed an espresso to me, who was waiting at the seat.
"This was the right one, right?"
Saying that, he had prepared a caffe latte for himself.
"Is the time okay?"
"Yeah, it's okay even if I miss one bus."
"I see."
"We have about 20 minutes, so let's talk slowly."
"Yeah."
However, 20 minutes at a time like this pass in the blink of an eye.
We headed to the bus stop again.
"No more of this next time. I'll call you when I get home."
"Yeah."
The bus came.
This time, I'll see him off properly.
"Well. See you."
"Yeah."
I watched until that bus disappeared from sight.
Upon returning home and placing my luggage on the table, I looked at my smartphone.
It was a message from Makoto.
"Today was fun. Let's hang out again!"
Hang out?
"Is it just 'hanging out' with me?"
I tried a little prank.
"No way, right? Kanna is weird today. There's nothing to worry about."
That's true, it must be so.
Then a call came from Makoto.
"Hello..."
"Sorry we can't meet often, but we're always together."
Always together?
I hope that's really true.
"I know, sorry for making you worry. I'm okay now."
After that, we talked for about 30 minutes and hung up.
From tomorrow, their respective daily lives begin.
Exhausted, I fell asleep just like that on that day.