Chapter 69 - Secrets
(1)
"Mornin'~ Toya-kun."
"Thirty more minutes."
"Rejected."
I don't want to. It's cold outside. I don't want to leave my futon.
I express my firm intention not to wake up by becoming a bagworm.
"Ugh... so that's how it is... In that case..."
Saying so, Airi clung to me from on top of the futon.
"H-Heavy!"
"That word is forbidden when talking to a girl. I actually care about this, you know."
"I didn't mean it like that."
"I call this 'Operation North Wind and Sun'!! See, now you want to get out, don't you?"
If anything, I can't get out...
Well, fine. If that's how she's playing it, I have some ideas of my own.
I shake Airi off, futon and all.
"Ow! You can't be rough with a girl!"
I flop over Airi, covering her with the futon.
"Wa-Wait a minute!!"
Airi is surprised.
"Now you're the one who can't get out, Airi."
"...Geez, do this kind of thing at night, or when we're 'alone'! Kanna is watching."
Hm? What did she just say?
I poke my face out of the futon and look toward the door to see Kanna leaning against the wall, tapping on the door.
"As usual, you two are showing off right from the morning."
"...Morning, Kanna."
"Yo. Hurry up and get off her. Airi's in trouble."
"Toya-kun, if you don't change quickly, you'll be late."
And then the two of them leave the room.
I change my clothes, grab my things, and leave the room.
December.
This year is almost over too.
There's a lot to be busy with before it ends.
Though final exams are over.
Still, this year went by in a flash.
"Ah, Toya-kun, could you keep me company tomorrow for a bit?"
"I can, but did something happen?"
"Y-Yeah. I worried about it a lot, but I thought it would be better if we went just the two of us."
"Got it. Around what time?"
"Hmm, let's decide tomorrow~"
Saying that, Airi gave a beaming smile.
Today is the class match.
Because you end up standing out whether you want to or not.
This time is the same.
Whether it was because someone had burned my previous play into their mind or something, I was forcibly pushed into soccer.
...I mean, once in a while I want to try basketball or something.
"Mizuta-sensei, I want to play basketball."
I tried pleading, but I was dismissed with a "You're soccer, aren't you?"
That said, it's not like I can perform every time.
The ones who had burned my previous play into their minds weren't just my teammates; other classmates did too.
"Mark player number two!!"
Ah, they're sticking to me like glue.
And three of them at that.
There's nothing for me to do like this.
Well, I don't need to perform every time, so I'll just do it half-heartedly.
Wandering here, wandering there.
It's the same every time.
Today too, we've played so many matches that the ground is torn up.
With about ten minutes remaining, it was a tie.
This is the last match of the day.
I wonder if the other matches are finished?
Airi and Kanna have come to cheer me on.
"Toya, get it together! Stop spacing out!"
"Toya-kun, do your best!"
If you say things like that... look, the marker who had left because they saw me spacing out is coming back.
Thinking that, I run into a space.
Umeki-kun sends a pass.
There are no passing lanes today.
In front of me are two DFs.
The three who are likely following behind me have confirmed the two in front and are keeping a bit of distance.
Are they intending to shut down other passing lanes?
While I'm thinking all this, the ball comes to my feet.
It'll work out somehow...
I kick the ball forward with my right foot.
At the same time, I pretend to run forward.
The two DFs, thinking I'll dribble, step back.
However, once the ball hits the ground, it returns toward me.
They close the distance with me again.
My figure is completely hidden from the keeper.
The ball slips past my right and goes behind me.
I flick it up with the heel of my right foot.
From the keeper's perspective, the ball must have completely vanished...
"It's to the left!!"
An opposing team's DF shouts, hurriedly chasing the ball himself, but he stops halfway.
He probably thought the ball would go over the goal.
But...
The keeper leaps desperately.
He doesn't reach it.
I've heard there are shots praised as "exquisite rainbows," but this is probably just a tiny bridge.
The ball fell, drawing an arc that passed just barely by the goalpost.
The whistle blows.
Cheers erupt.
We won this match 1-0.
Just as I'm feeling relieved that the match is over, Airi and the others jump on me.
Wait a second, you can't do that in front of so many people!
But neither of them cares about that.
"Toya, you really are amazing!"
"Don't you think you should actually play soccer?"
I'm exhausted just from that one play.
Umeki-kun approached me.
"It's not too late even now, just submit your club application!"
"Sixty minutes is already tough; ninety minutes is impossible."
"Just the final ten minutes is fine!"
I wonder if there are matches that can be settled in ten minutes?
"Even a guy who seems to have no redeeming qualities actually has one, after all."
The one who approached me saying that was Watanabe-kun.
"You won't get anything out of me just for praising me."
"I just normally think it's amazing. By the way, Toya, you got a second?"
Watanabe-kun beckons to me.
"What?"
Watanabe-kun wraps his arm firmly around my neck and whispers.
"Do you have time after school today?"
"Well, I think I have a little."
"Then, wanna go to karaoke?"
"I don't mind, but I don't have many songs I can sing."
"That's fine. It'll be okay."
I don't know what "okay" means.
While everyone is singing and getting hyped, I don't think me sitting alone in a corner is a very "okay" situation.
"Leave it to me. More importantly, keep this a secret from Tosaka-san and the others, okay?"
I flinch.
Is it that kind of thing?
"If it's that kind of talk, I'll pass..."
"Once in a while is fine, right? Bonding between guys is important too."
That phrasing is going to be misunderstood.
"Just for one or two hours... please!!"
Watanabe-kun begs me as if praying.
Well, he's looked after me to some extent, so I guess it's fine.
"Alright."
This was the beginning of the mistake.
(3)
"I have some errands today, so go home ahead of me."
I say this to Airi and bow my head.
"What errands?"
Airi is blatantly suspicious.
"I-I'm telling you, it's not like I was called out by a girl or anything."
"Yeah... I'll believe that, but..."
I'm not lying.
Or so I thought.
"Um... is the content of the errands something you can't tell me?"
Airi asked modestly.
Did she think that girls who are too persistent are disliked?
"There's nothing you need to worry about, Airi. I was just called out by a friend."
"Who is this friend?"
"Ah, that's..."
"Toya, let's go."
Watanabe-kun is calling me.
"Is the friend Watanabe-kun?"
"Yeah, I'll be back by study time."
Saying that, I left school with Watanabe-kun and the others as if escaping.
I was taken to a neighborhood karaoke parlor.
It seemed the room was reserved, as we walked straight inside.
And waiting there were...
Several girls from the class and girls from the same school whom I didn't know.
No, no, this is bad.
"Wait, I didn't hear about this from you, Watanabe-kun."
"Well, you see, they said they'd been watching this guy since the last class match. They wouldn't stop saying they wanted to talk to him once."
"But I have a girlfriend."
"That's why I told you to come so you wouldn't get caught."
I don't think that's the point.
"Katagiri-kun, sit here."
"There, go on."
I sit down as told.
"Katagiri-kun is plain, but he's surprisingly good-looking."
"Since when have you been playing soccer?"
"Why did you stop playing soccer?"
"Right? It's such a waste."
"It's a waste to only do it for the class match."
Ah, they're soccer fans.
"Maybe it's because I don't have the stamina to run for the full ninety minutes of a match?"
"Eh~. With Katagiri-kun's play, there's no reason to run for ninety minutes."
"You can just build up your stamina from now on."
"I also need time to study."
"Hmm, what a waste."
While I was being told whatever they wanted by girls from my class whom I barely knew—girls whose names I didn't even know—I started to feel something was off.
Looking at Watanabe-kun and the others, they were smoking cigarettes.
Smoking by minors is prohibited.
"Watanabe-kun and the others smoke!?"
"Hm? Well, yeah."
"If you don't do sports, why don't you try one, Katagiri-kun?"
"No, I'm good."
"You really are a serious person."
Taking advantage of the confusion, you link arms with me. Let go.
You know I have a girlfriend, right?
I smell some kind of perfume.
"Now, now, let's just sing something for now."
Saying that, Watanabe-kun begins operating the remote.
"I want to sing that person's song."
"Katagiri-kun, do you know Romeo's songs?"
Romeo... I've heard the name before.
Occasionally, when I was studying while watching music programs.
But I don't know the songs.
"Sorry, I'm not really interested in singing."
"Is that really the life of a modern high school boy?"
"Have you been sticking with Tosaka-san and studying this whole time?"
"How boring~"
If it was going to be like this, I wouldn't have come.
Three boys including Watanabe-kun, and four girls.
Each of them is singing songs I don't know.
I clap along with a forced smile.
Yeah, this is boring.
I'll find some excuse and go home.
I happen to look at the clock.
Before I knew it, it's past 19:00.
This is bad!
"Sorry! I have something to do, so I'm going home now!"
"Wa-Wait a minute, Toya."
"Ah, the bill. How much should I pay for now?"
"Then, this much."
I pay the amount I'm told and leave the room as if escaping.
(4)
Toya-kun came back thirty minutes past the promised time.
I had already started studying in Toya-kun's room.
As soon as he saw that, Toya-kun bowed his head and said "Sorry!"
If I get angry here, it'll just be a repeat of the past.
"It's okay! Why don't you eat dinner and take a bath?"
"I'll do that."
Saying that, he threw off his uniform, changed into room wear, and dashed out of the room.
You're far too careless just because I'm your girlfriend.
It's not that I'm embarrassed at this point, but it's kind of lonely.
If you don't hang your uniform up properly, it'll get wrinkled... Huh?
A smell I've never smelled before.
One is the smell of cigarettes. The other is... the scent of women's perfume.
Toya-kun, where were you and what were you doing?
It's not something where you'd be alone with a girl.
He was invited by Watanabe-kun.
And the smell of cigarettes and the scent of perfume.
Toya-kun, did you go bad?
I thought you weren't that kind of person.
I hear the sound of someone thumping up the stairs.
"I forgot to change! ...? What are you doing, Airi?"
"Ah, I thought I'd tidy up your uniform."
"Ah, thanks."
Saying that, he headed to the bath with his change of clothes.
He's the usual Toya-kun.
It's some kind of mistake, right?
I'll ask him when he comes back.
Time flows while we are alone.
I was wondering when to ask.
When I actually try to ask, I'm scared.
I hate the idea of feeling that same unpleasant feeling as back then.
I was scared.
"Is something wrong? You've just been spinning your mechanical pencil for a while."
"Eh?"
"You can't seem to concentrate today, Airi."
"T-That's not true."
I put on the best fake smile I can.
"If you say so."
Saying that, Toya-kun returns to his studies.
There's nothing to be nervous about.
I just have to talk normally.
Surely there's nothing.
It'll end as a funny story.
I took a chance and asked.
"By the way, where did you go today?"
"...Karaoke."
What is that "..." for?
"With whom?"
"...With Watanabe-kun and the others."
Others?
"Who else was there?"
"Watanabe-kun's friends."
Toya-kun repeats vague answers.
"I smelled cigarettes and perfume on your uniform."
"Ah, Watanabe-kun smokes, huh. I was surprised."
What about the explanation for the perfume?
"The scent of women's perfume..."
"...What are you trying to say?"
Toya-kun's pen stopped.
He had clearly become in a bad mood.
He's hiding something.
That turned into a conviction.
I try to hit the core of the matter.
"A woman was with you, wasn't she?"
"Watanabe-kun's friends, girls from our class, and girls from other classes."
"I didn't hear that a woman was with you."
"I realized it after I was taken there!"
"Why were they with you?"
"They said they saw the class match soccer and wanted to try talking to me. I was the only one sticking out."
Toya-kun says, laughing.
"I don't care about that! Why didn't you tell me a single word!?"
"I just answered because you just asked."
"Were you planning not to tell me if I didn't ask!?"
"What's wrong with you all of a sudden? I'm telling you, nothing happened."
"Setting aside the smell of cigarettes, why is the scent of perfume clinging to you?"
"That's..."
"That's!?"
"It has nothing to do with you, Airi!"
"...I'm going home!"
I gather my things and stand up.
"W-Wait... listen to me."
"You're the one who just said it has nothing to do with me, Toya-kun!"
"I phrased it poorly, but I'm telling you, really, nothing happened."
"Then, how do you explain the scent of perfume?"
"T-That's..."
See, you can't say it!
"Then, I'm going. See ya."
"Wait, Airi..."
"Let go!"
I pushed Toya-kun away.
"Oh? Airi-chan, you're going home early today?"
"...Excuse me for disturbing you."
Saying that, I left Toya-kun's house.
I went home and cried.
I was intensely irritated.
Not at Toya-kun.
At myself, for not being able to believe Toya-kun who says nothing happened.
What should I do?
What should I have done?
I can't find the answer.
Maybe I'm not as smart as everyone thinks I am.
Because I can't even find a simple answer.
Before I knew it, I was calling Kanna.
Her part-time job should be over by now.
"Airi, what's up?"
I explained the situation to Kanna.
"That Toya bastard... I can't forgive him."
Kanna, having finished listening, said those words.
"What should I do?"
"Shouldn't you just leave him alone until he comes to apologize?"
"But tomorrow is his birthday."
"...First of all, what does Airi want to do?"
"I think Toya-kun didn't do anything. He made a promise. But I'm irritated by Toya-kun's attitude."
"Then, talk to him one more time tomorrow. He might tell you this time. It's always been like that, right? He has a tendency not to tell the truth until he's backed into a corner, doesn't he?"
"Yeah, that's true."
"I'll ask him too. Don't worry."
"Yeah."
"Later."
Saying that, Kanna hung up the phone.
I'll call her again tomorrow.
Call... Ah!
...Maybe I should just talk tomorrow?
But... will I be able to talk and laugh tomorrow?
For now, at least a message...
"Tomorrow in front of the station building. At 18:00."
I send it.
A reply came back immediately.
"Got it."
Is that all?
Feeling a little bit pissed off, another message arrived.
"I'll talk then, so I want you to listen properly."
"Can't you talk now?"
"Airi isn't calm right now, is she? I want to talk while we're settled."
"...Got it."
That night, I couldn't sleep.
(5)
I messed up.
I didn't notice the scent of perfume.
But couldn't she have trusted me at least a little?
...Impossible, huh.
Should I tell her the truth?
No, now that it's come to this, I have no choice but to tell her, right?
Will she be satisfied?
Isn't there some good excuse?
...I wonder if Kanna's part-time job is over?
I called Kanna.
"What's up, Toya?"
"No, actually..."
I explained the situation to Kanna.
"You idiot!! Why didn't you tell Airi the situation immediately!?"
Kanna yelled at me.
"I was invited by a friend to go to karaoke and there were several girls there. I had my arm linked... can I really explain that?"
As I said it, I started to feel that "no matter how you look at it, this is cheating."
If it's Airi, she might start talking about breaking up again.
"Even so, if you stay silent like this, it's over!"
True.
"Trust Airi... She'll understand properly."
"...Got it. I'll talk tomorrow."
"Talk now."
"Even if I talk now, Airi is seeing red. That would be total destruction."
"...Definitely talk tomorrow."
"Got it."
"Later."
The phone hung up.
I'll talk after things have calmed down.
I think my choice isn't wrong.
Airi, I can trust you, right?
That you'll understand...