Chapter 92 - I Want You
(1)
"Man, yesterday was a disaster. Hahaha."
Your voice is too loud, Watanabe-kun.
"Still, Katagiri-kun, you were amazing. To instantly say 'I was eating curry'..."
Ishihara-kun said, as if recalling the moment.
Last night, when I was led by Mizuta-sensei to the group of teachers who had been searching for us and got scolded with a "Where have you been!", I had somehow answered, "I was eating curry."
"Your head was just full of curry, wasn't it?" Kanna remarked.
"But thanks to that, we were safe," Sashihara-san added.
"Being able to think on your feet is one of Toya's strengths," Watanabe-kun said.
I silently ate my TKG (T/N: Tamago Kake Gohan, raw egg over rice).
"There's plenty of rice, so would you like seconds?"
Nakai-san asked.
In that case, I'll take seconds immediately.
Bonk
"Chew your food properly!"
"I am..."
Watching this exchange, Sashihara-san commented.
"I see what Kanna means. That's certainly not a couple's conversation."
"There are side dishes left, but there's no rice."
I can't just leave the side dishes, right?
"It's because you eat all the rice with the egg!"
"There's still seaweed left, too."
"Ugh... just one more bowl, okay?"
One more bowl, huh...
"Excuse me, an extra-large serving, please."
Bonk
"But you said one more bowl was okay, right? You didn't put a limit on the amount, did you?"
"Stop using that kind of sophistry!"
"My, my, you two get along so well. Are you lovers?"
Nakai-san asked while scooping the rice.
"Yes!"
I'm in a great mood when I'm eating!
Airi didn't seem to mind either, saying "That's right" with a shy expression.
"Then, it's better to go along with your girlfriend. That's the secret to making it work."
I didn't hear about any such thing.
My rice was reduced to half of the original amount.
"Just one bowl, okay?"
Airi smiled brightly.
She's in a good mood; it's better not to provoke her carelessly.
If she gets angry, that's one thing, but it's a pain if she cries.
I guess it's better to go along with Airi.
Good grief.
After eating, we returned to our room.
I changed my clothes and went back into the room.
I decided to ask Ishihara-kun about something that had been on my mind.
"Ishihara-kun, are you in touch with Eguchi-san?"
"I am. She messaged me saying let's meet in the lobby during the free time today."
"Ohh~ things are going smoothly!"
Watanabe-kun's voice was loud.
"Only, she said 'along with Sashihara-san and the others'..."
"Are you kidding me! We want to be alone, too!" Kiritani-kun shouted.
"Sorry, it's just because I'm so pathetic,"
Watanabe-kun encouraged the depressed Ishihara-kun.
"Now, now, it's only the second day. Besides, we can't let Isshy and Eguchi-san walk around alone."
Which means Watanabe-kun and Kanna will be acting together too.
"Is that okay?"
"What is?"
Watanabe-kun asked back.
"Both of you have boyfriends and girlfriends... I don't think it'll feel great."
"She's not a woman with such a narrow mind. Otonashi-san said something like she's fine with it."
"...Then, should we act together too?"
"Toya, you can't, right? Tosaka-san seems bad with attractions, so she's probably the type to enjoy shopping or sightseeing."
"But then, it's just us again..."
"You just think about Tosaka-san. Don't think about unnecessary things."
Is that really okay?
(2)
Leaving the hotel, the bus was heading toward the theme park.
As usual, Toya-kun was captivated by the scenery and wouldn't look at me.
But even so, it's fine.
Just being by his side makes my heart bounce lightly.
When we can't meet, I feel anxious, lonely, and heartbroken.
Please keep smiling, and keep showing me your profile.
Toya-kun is the only one who can hurt me and the only one who can heal me, you know?
I soar or sink based on a single trivial word...
I was looking at Toya-kun while thinking about such things.
"Airi!!"
Kanna was calling from behind.
"Yeees?"
"Is that idiot Toya in his own world again?"
"It looks like it~"
"Good grief, he's hopeless."
Saying that, Kanna stood up and approached Toya-kun, but I stopped her.
"Once we get to the theme park, he'll give me plenty of attention, so just leave him be for now."
"Airi? What's gotten into you today? You were crying yesterday..."
"Hmm... maybe it's because 'just being by his side makes me feel happy'?"
"Airi-chan, you mustn't compromise. If you spoil Katagiri-kun, he'll just keep falling further."
Ai said.
If it were the me from yesterday, I probably would have been angry or crying.
But today, for some reason, just looking at his profile makes me feel happy.
I don't know what caused this change in my heart.
But I believe Toya-kun is always thinking about me.
...Probably.
That doesn't even matter.
Because Toya-kun is the first person to make me feel such gentle emotions.
"Spoiling and love are different, Airi,"
Kanna pointed out.
"I can say for sure. Right now, this guy is thinking about nothing but food. Look at the pamphlet in his hand."
...Indeed, it was open to the restaurant page.
"I intend to go along with Toya-kun today."
The three of them were surprised by my words.
"Does that mean you're going to eat your way through the park? Even though everyone is saying they'll let you two have a date."
Emi made a face as if she couldn't believe it.
"Yes. Yesterday, when we went to eat monjayaki, I was made to realize. Ah, such happiness exists too."
"What kind of state of mind is 'happiness from eating monja'?"
When Kanna asked, I told her about what happened yesterday.
"Toya-kun said, 'Sharing one dish like this is the height of couple's bliss, isn't it!' I almost cried at such a trivial word. I felt that Toya-kun is properly accepting me as his lover."
"Wasn't that just you getting carried away because you got to eat monjayaki?"
Kanna said with an exasperated look.
"Even so, it's fine. There is a me who soars at a trivial word. I sink sometimes too... but I love Toya-kun, including all of that."
"Well, isn't it fine? Tosaka-san has entered a state of mind that we just don't understand, right?"
Watanabe-kun said.
"I don't mean this in a bad way... but isn't this the typical pattern of falling for a loser?"
Emi said.
"That's right. If you don't tell him strictly, Katagiri-kun will only continue to degenerate."
Ai also agreed with Emi's opinion.
"Of course, I'll keep controlling him as usual. But I think it's okay for now. I'll enter my own world too. Because just having Toya-kun next to me makes me feel happy."
"Hmm... I don't really get it, but is that what love is?"
Emi asked.
Kanna answered in her stead.
"It's a world that Emi doesn't need to understand yet. These two have gone beyond love and are already standing in the realm of devotion."
"I see... how do you become like that?"
"It's not something you can just decide to become. It also depends on Isshy..."
"Hmm..."
Emi said that and looked at Ishihara-kun.
Ishihara-kun seemed flustered by being suddenly called upon.
"Was Tosaka-san bad with rides?"
Watanabe-kun asked.
"Yes, especially the scream-inducing ones."
"Then, shall we go with the same strategy as yesterday?"
"I'm fine with it,"
Emi said.
At that moment, Mizuta-sensei took the microphone.
"We'll arrive at the theme park soon, but I'll tell you now. Do as you please as long as you don't cause problems. However, do not act alone. Do not get involved in any trouble."
Saying that, Mizuta-sensei sat back down.
Toya-kun was still in his own world.
That's just fine.
Even the parts of Toya-kun that others think are bad are enough to fill this heart with affection.
I said it before, didn't I?
That I'll accept all his flaws.
Though, I do wish I could enter Toya-kun's world too.
Like when we were at the ski slopes.
When the bus stopped in the parking lot, everyone stood up hurriedly.
Finally, I pulled Toya-kun back to the real world.
Then, an unexpected reaction occurred.
"I'm already back."
Eh?
"If that was the case, you could have just told me..."
"Listening to Airi's talk was so embarrassing that I couldn't bring myself to say it."
I gave Toya-kun a little nudge.
"I was embarrassed too, talking without noticing you were listening!"
I chuckled at Toya-kun.
"Anyway, let's get off the bus. After that..."
"'First, get some food,' right? I know. However, after that, you have to go along with me."
(3)
We were made to wait one to two hours to ride the attractions.
We talked about various things during that time.
Ai and Eita. Isshy and Emi also seemed to be enjoying that time.
I killed time with Watanabe.
"At this rate, we'll only get to ride two or three."
"There's travel time too, so it might be better to narrow down what we want to ride now."
"Still, Isshy and the others have gotten close."
"That's true. It seems Isshy has finally relaxed a bit."
I said that while looking at the heartwarming sight of the two.
"Now everyone in our group has a partner."
I let that slip with a sigh.
"You just thought 'I wish I had a boyfriend now,' didn't you?"
"Well... if you're going to say that, the same goes for you, Watanabe."
"True. It is a bit sad that only the two of us among this group don't have partners."
Watanabe laughed as he said that.
"This group is finished today, too..."
A lot happened. Including the troubles and the fun things, it might have become a good memory.
"It's not over yet. Next time, maybe at the end of the year or the beginning of the next, why don't we all get together? Bring Kanna-san's boyfriend too."
"That's going to be quite a large crowd."
"That's not a bad thing."
"Depends on the other members."
"Not in a weird way, but should we exchange contact info?"
"Sure."
Saying that, we operated our smartphones and exchanged contact information.
"I'll tell Toya and the others."
"I'm counting on you."
"Hey, it's our turn!"
After riding the attraction, we gathered in front of a bench.
Emi was tending to Isshy, who had gotten motion sickness.
"I'm sorry... I'll just take it slow, so everyone go ahead and ride the next one."
Isshy said apologetically.
"Oh? Do I look like the kind of heartless girl who would leave her boyfriend behind to play?"
Was Emi that kind of character?
"It's impossible to leave you alone and play. You're the type who'd probably get caught up in some trouble,"
Watanabe said.
"If Isshy is weak with rides, he should just say so,"
Eita added.
"I'm not weak, I just got nervous..."
Well, it's only the second day since the couple formed, so it's natural to be nervous.
"What should we do after this?"
I asked Watanabe.
"Given the time, let's put something in our stomachs. Isshy, can you walk?"
"I'm okay now."
Isshy looked as if he wanted to say that the current situation was actually more nerve-wracking.
It's no wonder, since he's suddenly using her lap as a pillow.
The restaurants were crowded too.
After waiting for a while, we were finally guided to a seat, then they came to take our order, and it took an hour for the food to arrive.
We chose several types of pizza and shared them while eating.
"I've always wanted to try this. Here, Isshy."
Emi took a slice of pizza and brought it to Isshy's mouth.
Isshy seemed surprisingly understanding.
He opened his mouth, and Emi put the pizza in.
"How is it? First impressions?"
Watanabe asked Emi.
"Not bad, this kind of thing."
"Then, do it the other way around next time."
"I wonder if he'll do it for me?"
Saying that, Emi looked at Isshy's face.
Isshy was bewildered by the sudden request.
"Just do it, like that lovey-dovey couple next to us."
Saying that, he pointed to Ai and Eita.
The two of them were flirting, completely unaware.
Having made up his mind, Isshy grabbed a slice of pizza.
Emi opened her mouth with an "aaahn."
...His hand is shaking.
Be careful not to drip the sauce.
It seems he did it successfully.
Isshy basked in a sense of accomplishment, as if he had completed a great task.
"Oh? Sorry, Isshy. It looks like some sauce got on your mouth."
Emi took a paper napkin and wiped around Isshy's mouth.
Isshy's face turned red.
When the meal was mostly finished, Watanabe stood up and said, "Well, shall we ride about two more things before we go back?"
"I want time to buy souvenirs, so maybe one more is the limit?" Emi said.
"That's true. Which one do you want to ride?"
Watanabe returned to his seat and spread out the pamphlet.
"If we're here, it's gotta be that one!"
Eita pointed to one attraction.
"Then, let's go with that."
Honestly, any of them were fine with me.
Everyone else felt the same.
And so, we headed toward that attraction.
(4)
Airi is smiling.
Even when I try to enter a food shop, she's smiling.
Is this some kind of omen that something bad is about to happen?
I'll try asking Airi just in case.
"Can I go in here?"
"Sure~"
As expected, she answered cheerfully.
After that, we took commemorative photos with characters and walked along a street lined with elegant Victorian-style buildings.
I kept snacking during that time, but Airi kept smiling.
I shouldn't have done anything wrong yesterday.
In that case, is it about this morning?
As expected, I had been in my own world until I heard Airi's voice.
But she said something like she'd forgive me, right?
...It doesn't seem like she's in a bad mood.
In fact, she's walking excitedly with her arm linked in mine.
Occasionally, she finds a souvenir shop and says, "Let's go!"
Did something change Airi?
"Hey, Airi."
This is getting nowhere; if I keep brooding, I'll make Airi cry again.
"Yeees?"
Yeah, she doesn't seem to be in a bad mood.
If I ask "Why are you in such a good mood?" here, wouldn't it have the opposite effect?
"...Nothing."
"
?"
Airi looked at me curiously.
If I don't say something, she'll get grumpy again.
For now, I'll eat a churro.
Wait, that's not it!
"...I'm thirsty."
"Well, after eating that much, of course you are~"
When I took a sip of juice, Airi put her mouth to the straw and said, "Give me a sip too~"
Am I overthinking it?
Should I just enjoy myself normally?
Airi is bad with rides.
So we're just sightseeing casually.
Since we're not riding anything, we can look around all the areas.
Airi takes photos from time to time.
"Airi, you're in a great mood. Did you want to come here that much?"
"I don't think there are many girls who'd be in a bad mood coming here, you know?"
"Still, you're exceptionally cheerful."
"Because I'm with Toya-kun."
"...Can we talk for a bit? Ah, at that shop over there."
"Food again? I guess I have no choice~"
Usually, I'd be nudged, but today's Airi was different.
I ordered a pasta set and a grape drink, and Airi ordered tiramisu and tea.
"So, what did you want to talk about?"
Airi was still smiling.
"Is it fun being with me? Usually, you get angry and say 'all you do is think about food.'"
As soon as I said it, I regretted it.
Did I say something to make Airi angry again?
But Airi didn't stop smiling.
"Weren't you listening to the conversation on the bus?"
"I had returned to the real world, but I wasn't listening closely."
I only heard the part toward the end about "my own world..."
"Even if Toya-kun hates himself, I can't replace Toya-kun with anyone else."
"
?"
"I don't think I can remove all of Toya-kun's flaws, but even so, I want Toya-kun. I want to carry even that pain."
...?
I don't understand what she means.
"Toya-kun is aware, right? That you only look at food, or suddenly enter your own world."
"Y-yeah."
"But I thought about it last night. Could I fall in love with someone else because of that?... For me, it was impossible~"
That's a relief. I thought you were going to switch to someone else.
"I can even find Toya-kun's flaws endearing. Just being by his side makes me feel happy. Thinking that is how I reached my current state of mind."
I see... how can I respond to Airi's feelings like that?
"Right now, you're thinking 'how should I respond?', aren't you? You don't have to think about anything. Nothing good ever comes from Toya-kun thinking."
That way of putting it really stings...
"I want Toya-kun♪ So please stay as you are. When we can't meet, I feel anxious, lonely, and heartbroken. Because just being by your side makes my heart bounce lightly."
"Don't talk as if I'm going somewhere."
"Right! Then there's no problem at all... Let's see, if I had to say one thing, don't go alone. I want you to take me with you. Into Toya-kun's world."
"...I'll make an effort."
"You can do it without effort. When our eyes met at the ski slopes, I felt like I could share a world with Toya-kun."
"Ah, I see."
When I said that, Airi nodded with satisfaction.
Just as I thought she was about to dig into the ordered tiramisu, she was looking at my pasta.
Her intuition seemed sharp today.
"Want some?"
"Yes♪"
I twirled the pasta with my fork and brought it to Airi's mouth.
"Delicious~"
Airi has changed.
Can someone change this much in a single day?
"Were you thinking about this since the monja?"
"Yes... because at that time, Toya-kun said it was the height of couple's bliss. I felt that I really am in Toya-kun's world."
"That was..."
"Just the mood of the moment, a whim, and that's fine! I feel like Toya-kun is better off just putting his whims into practice. Thinking only creates seeds for arguments."
Am I being put down or praised?
Waiting for Airi to finish her tiramisu, we stood up.
"Shall we buy some souvenirs soon?"
"Eh? I already bought some."
"Let's buy something as a memento for the two of us."
"You're buying it for me♪"
We bought a necklace at a souvenir shop.
After that, we met up with Watanabe-kun and the others at the entrance.
I happened to look at Ishihara-kun.
He was naturally holding hands with Eguchi-san.
I looked at Watanabe-kun.
Watanabe-kun was giving me a thumbs-up.
It went well, then.
Before leaving, Ishihara-kun asked Eguchi-san for a favor.
"Can we take a commemorative photo together?"
"Sure," Eguchi-san replied.
Ishihara-kun and Eguchi-san took a commemorative photo with a mascot character.
"It's about time, shall we go?"
When Watanabe-kun said that, we headed toward the meeting point.
"Hey, don't forget me!!"
Kanna came chasing after us.
"Where were you?"
"I was dealing with a boy's confession. Was Airi safe?"
"Nothing happened at all, though?"
"I see. Everyone knows about you two, after all."
Since we were even on TV.
(5)
We boarded the plane for the return trip.
Come to think of it, I saw something interesting at the airport.
A moving walkway.
I tried using it for now.
This is fun; if I walk on it, I go faster and faster.
"Are you a child! You are!" Kanna remarked.
I am a child, still.
As usual, without getting bored, I was looking at the scenery outside.
Since it was night, I couldn't see Mount Fuji, though.
At that moment, something heavy and warm pressed against my right shoulder.
Airi.
"It's beautiful, isn't it?"
"It is."
But it's rare for Airi to look at the scenery.
"I said I'd enter Toya-kun's world, right? That I'm here... you know what I mean."
I sort of understood.
"It's just an ordinary view, but looking at it with Toya-kun makes it feel different."
Though the swell of her breast pressing against my shoulder pulled me back to reality.
"So, what wonderful things were you thinking about?"
"...Will you not get angry if I tell you?"
"I won't get angry."
"Did you get bigger again, Airi?"
Bonk
"I told you I wouldn't get angry!?"
"I didn't say I wouldn't hit you~"
Airi laughed as she said that.
Airi has probably developed as much as she can.
"Finally, it's ending. The trip."
"Eh? It's not over yet."
Is she going with the "the field trip isn't over until you get home" vibe?
"Wait, did you forget what you said yourself? I remember!"
Didn't she just get angry right after saying she wouldn't?
"What, did Toya say something weird again?"
Kanna woke up from behind Airi and joined the conversation.
"It wasn't weird. It was a wonderful thing."
?
I don't remember at all.
"...You really don't remember, do you? It's okay. Tomorrow and the day after are makeup holidays."
"What did I say, Airi?"
"Toya-kun, at the ski resort, hugged me and said this..."
Ah, I remember!! Wait, it's bad to say that now!
"Airi, stop!!"
But, my plea was in vain...
"That we should do even better things when we get home... so until that's finished, it's still the school trip."
"Ho~ Toya's words have become quite bold."
Kanna was smirking.
It seems our school trip is still continuing.