Chapter 97 - The Wondrous Year
(1)
Airi's parents are gone again this year-end.
Apparently, they're going on a trip for New Year's.
They really love traveling.
My own parents are also apparently returning to their hometown for the New Year holidays.
"I can't just leave Airi-chan all alone, right?"
Tell that to Airi's parents, not me.
"In that case~"
Airi said with a bright expression.
It's probably something troublesome.
"Let's spend the New Year holidays at my house."
As I thought, it wasn't anything good.
There's no way my parents would allow that.
"That would be a help. Well then, I'll be in your care for a week."
My parents aren't much better.
And so, I packed a week's worth of clothes and stayed at Airi's house.
Wait, wouldn't my place be fine too? Then my parents would be there.
"Dinner's ready~"
Have I forgotten about Kanna? I have to let Kanna know.
"Let's take a bath together tonight~"
I send a message to Kanna.
A reply comes immediately.
"Yeah, Makoto is also off for the New Year, so he's spending it at my place."
Ah, so Makoto is doing that kind of thing too...
"Makoto-kun is with Kanna too, huh."
Before I knew it, Airi was looking at my smartphone next to me.
"I think peeking without permission is a bit much."
"I don't think anyone boldly carries out a conversation that would be problematic if peeked at."
Is that the issue here?
After eating, we clear the dishes together.
I'll at least help out that much.
Once the cleaning is finished.
"Well, shall we do the bath?"
"Yeah, go ahead."
"You really were in your own world, weren't you? I said let's go in together."
"I heard you. We have time, so we don't have to go in together."
"Toya-kun, if you were told your food was being cut in half, you'd cry, wouldn't you?"
I wouldn't go as far as crying, but it would be troubling. What does that have to do with this?
"Then, you'll listen to my request too, right?"
Ah, so that's how it is...
"Oh, put your clothes in the washing machine after you take them off."
"No, I prepared a week's worth."
"Washing for one person is the same as washing for two, so I'll wash them for you~"
Isn't that something people usually dislike?
Like, "Don't wash my things with my father's~" or "I hate hanging them up with my boyfriend's underwear~" or something like that?
But reality seems to be different.
Apparently, the majority of people think like Airi, that "if it's my boyfriend's, it's no problem."
And then, Airi's finishing blow.
"Look, it's a rehearsal for when we live together."
Ah, so in Airi's mind, living together is already a certainty.
In Airi's head, chapel bells are probably ringing above us.
Resisting in vain would only result in making Airi angry, making her cry, or making her anxious, so I quietly throw my laundry into the washing machine.
Once naked, while I'm washing my body in the bathroom, Airi comes in after me.
Show at least a little modesty... huh? Is her face flushed?
I temporarily stop washing and press my forehead against Airi's... no fever.
"What's wrong?"
"It's a bit late to realize, but I started wondering if this is what it's like for newlyweds, and once I became conscious of it, I got embarrassed."
She sticks out her tongue.
"In that case..."
"If you say things like 'close your eyes' or 'I'll get out first,' I'll cry, okay?"
Isn't it fine to taste the feeling of being newlyweds much later?
If we do it now, there won't be any freshness when we actually are newlyweds, right?
(2)
After getting out of the bath, I study with Airi while listening to a CD.
Why are we playing a CD?
Because Airi mentioned the word "newlyweds," and I became conscious of it, got nervous, spoke less, and the atmosphere became heavy.
"That part is wrong."
"Ah, thanks."
Honestly, almost none of the study material was entering my head.
Let's imagine it.
In a room with a girl who, though it's incredibly fast, has promised to marry me, and moreover, she's wearing only a sweatshirt with no bra. The scent of shampoo wafts from her still-damp hair.
Furthermore, perhaps because she just got out of the bath or because of embarrassment, she is right next to me with faintly pink cheeks.
Right next to me. I wonder why? Even though she could just do it in her usual spot, Airi is studying right beside me.
Isn't that cramped?
When I try to move as a test, she grabs my arm and shakes her head.
Conclusion.
I put down my mechanical pencil.
Airi looks at me.
"What's wrong?"
"Let's stop studying tonight!"
"Eh!?"
Ignoring the bewildered Airi, I turn on the television.
"Hmm... did I trouble Toya-kun?"
"No, neither of us will actually learn anything if we study with these feelings, right?"
"And that's why I wondered if I troubled you..."
"Let's do the studying during the day, and when it's time to flirt at night, let's flirt with everything we've got. Airi, you're in that mood right now, aren't you?"
"Yeah."
"Come here."
Saying that, I pull Airi's shoulder close.
Airi wraps her arms around my waist.
Naturally, Airi's soft breasts press against my side.
"Toya-kun really is different lately. You're so gentle."
"It's because Airi is gentle too."
"I wonder if it's thanks to the monjayaki after all."
"Lately, you've started thinking from my perspective, haven't you, Airi?"
"Yeah."
"That's why I started trying to think from Airi's perspective too. Thinking, 'What would Airi want to do now? What is she thinking?'"
Tears are welling up in Airi's eyes.
"Then it felt like I started spending time in the same world as Airi..."
Airi closes her eyes and turns her face toward mine.
I knew what that meant.
And I respond to Airi's request...
(3)
December 31st
Ping
I woke up to the sound of my smartphone.
I look at the clock; it was 12:00.
I slept quite a bit.
As I push myself up, I wake Airi, who had been sleeping while clinging to me.
"Hmm? What is it?"
Rubbing her eyes, Airi also pushes herself up.
"It looks like a message came in."
Let's see... huh?
Airi clings to me.
"Just a little longer~"
"I get it, so just let me see the message."
Saying that, I get out of bed and pick up the smartphone placed on the table.
"Who is it from~?"
"It's from Kanna... eh?"
"Tonight at 23:00, Watanabe group assemble at Shunbi Shrine by Watanabe."
After seeing the message, I return to the bed. Airi happily clings to me.
"What does it say~?"
"It says assemble at Shunbi Shrine tonight at 23:00."
"...How are we going?"
"We'll probably just have to go early and kill time, right?"
"And the way back~?"
"Hmm..."
A hotel... is out. No matter how you look at it, we'd be picked up by the police for guidance.
In that case, we'll just have to kill time at a karaoke place or a net cafe.
"We'll just have to kill time at a net cafe or karaoke..."
"Ugh... that's it. Let's call Rie-chan."
Saying that, Airi straddles my body to get out of bed.
Then she picks up the smartphone on the table and calls Airi's mother.
"Hello, um, you see~... yeah. I understand."
After finishing the call, Airi turns back to me.
"Wait a bit~" ...
"Airi, you're cold... some clothes..."
"Ah, I'll turn on the heater."
No, not that...
The smartphone ringtone sounds.
Airi answers the phone.
"Hello? Yeah, I got it~. Thank you~"
After finishing the call, she looks at me again and says,
"She said check into the Tower Hotel after 14:00~. She said she already made the reservation."
A hotel... what about the money!?
"She said she settled it with an online card payment."
Isn't the Tower Hotel quite expensive?
I'm surprised she could get a same-day reservation.
For now...
"Want to eat something? Something simple is fine."
"Ah, then if instant ramen is okay, I'll make some~"
Saying that, Airi tries to leave the room while still naked. Wait a minute!
No matter how much no one else is here, that's not allowed!
Airi stopped.
It seemed... like she noticed her own appearance.
She had noticed. However...
"Toya-kun, are you interested in naked aprons?"
Pardon?
"Apparently, if you actually do it, hot water splashes and it's hot, so it's better to avoid it, right?"
I don't think that's the issue, but for now, I tried to stop her by saying that.
"Hmm. It seems Makoto-kun requested it from Kanna, but Toya-kun isn't interested."
Saying that, Airi picks up her underwear and puts it on.
"Wait a second. You're awfully detailed about this, did someone tell you!?"
"No... I just looked it up on the internet."
"When I looked it up, it said men love it!"
What on earth is this girl researching.
After eating lunch, I calmed down a bit.
I think about it while washing the dishes.
I've been staying at Airi's house for three days now.
Furthermore, Airi's parents provided a hotel for us to spend the New Year.
...Shouldn't I let my own parents know too?
"I'm done cleaning, shall we study in the room?"
"Yeah."
Once we get to the room, I call my mother and the others.
"Hello, what's wrong?"
"Mother, actually..."
I told her about staying at a hotel.
However, contrary to the response I expected.
"I see, I understand. Well then, please relax."
Is that all!?
"Hmm..."
Airi is troubled.
I'll be troubled with her.
I wonder what she's troubled about?
"Should we take a shower before we go after all?"
Naturally, we're going in together, I know.
(4)
When we arrive at the hotel around 16:00, Airi checks us in.
After being handed the key and entering the room, it's a spacious room.
The bed is a double bed.
That makes sense. It's Airi's mother, after all.
Now, what to do until the time?
What about dinner?
Should we go eat somewhere?
What should we eat?
Where should we eat?
For now, I search on my smartphone.
Ah, surprisingly many shops are open.
I make a random reservation.
Is around 19:00 okay?
Now, what to do until then?
Should we look around the station building?
But there's still time before the illuminations light up.
"Hmm, for now, I'll confiscate your smartphone."
Saying that, Airi took the smartphone from me.
Why?
"You were trying to kill time with your smartphone, weren't you? Look at the scenery properly. It's beautiful."
Saying that, Airi points to the window. It certainly is beautiful. The night view must be wonderful too.
While I'm captivated by the scenery, Airi hugs me from behind.
"This time you forgot about my existence, didn't you?"
"That's not true."
"Were you enjoying the scenery?"
"Well, to some extent."
"Then sit there."
She pointed to the table and chair placed by the window.
When I sit in the chair, Airi also sits.
A moment of silence flows.
A spacious guest room, interior in subdued tones.
All of it was unfitting for us.
I feel somewhat restless.
...I have to say something, right?
"Even so, it's a spacious room~"
Airi was the first to speak.
"Yeah..."
"The view is great too... Rie-chan is overdoing it even though we're only staying for one night."
"True..."
"Toya-kun, you're thinking 'unfitting' or 'restless' right now, aren't you?"
Lately, Airi's intuition has been razor-sharp.
"Yeah, that this isn't a room high schoolers should stay in."
"That might be so."
"Do you think so too, Airi?"
"Well, yeah, that Rie-chan is overdoing it a bit."
Airi said and laughed.
"But since she went to the trouble of preparing it, we have to enjoy it."
I say that and look at the scenery outside.
"Am I in that scenery too?"
Airi asked while smiling.
"Of course."
The two of us gazed at the scenery.
(5)
While eating dinner and looking at the illuminations, a message arrives from Makoto.
"Waiting in front of the station."
I was just about to head there.
When I head to the bus stop in front of the station, Makoto and Kanna are waving.
It seems everyone arrived early.
The other members are also gathering.
"The meeting place was here, right."
Watanabe-kun is laughing.
"Shall we head to the shrine for now? There should have been a fast food place on the way."
When Watanabe-kun suggests that, I immediately suggest something else.
"In that case, there's a udon shop on the way..."
"Why udon on New Year's Eve~?"
Airi asked.
"Airi, you think udon has more calories, don't you?"
"Eh?"
"Actually, udon has fewer calories."
"...Are you saying that while understanding the meaning of New Year's Eve soba?"
"...You want to say 'thin and long' to cut off the calamities of this year, right? But lately, because udon is thick and long, it's often eaten as a lucky charm related to longevity, like 'health and longevity' or 'long-lasting family fortune,' apparently."
"You really research things well when it comes to food."
Airi muttered with a sigh.
"Well then, shall we eat New Year's udon?"
Watanabe-kun said with a laugh.
After eating udon, we arrived at the shrine.
A line has already formed.
Hey, we met again this year, Tonkotsu Ramen-kun.
If it means thin and long, you're fine too.
Let's eat...
"Hey, Toya. You're definitely eating too much... again, Tosaka-san will..."
When Makoto warns me, Airi says one word, "It's fine."
"You're spoiling him too much," says Kanna.
"We're walking back anyway, so it's fine," says Airi.
Everyone is looking at their watches.
0:00...
"Happy New Year!" everyone says.
"Looking forward to this year too~" the girls are making a fuss.
We ring the bell, throw in an offering, and pray.
What should I wish for this year.
I think while looking at Airi's profile.
May I be able to keep smiling beside my beloved.
May Toya-kun's inside be filled with my love...
I make eye contact with Airi.
And we laugh.
It seems the hearts of the two are already as one.
Once the prayer is finished, we draw omikuji.
I run toward the night stalls.
"How was yours this year?"
"It was slightly lucky (Suekichi)."
"Something bad was written."
"Nothing in particular~ on the contrary, it says I'll be blessed with many children!"
I choked.
"What do you plan to do after this?"
Watanabe-kun asked.
"Our parents provided a hotel, so we're staying there."
"A hotel, huh~ that was an option. Kanna..."
"Rejected. Knowing you, you probably intend to make me do cosplay or something."
Makoto... where are you two heading?
"We intend to stay at Isshy's house," says Eguchi-san.
"We intend to stay at my house too," says Kanna.
"We'll spend it at a net cafe," says Kiritani-kun.
"I see, then we'll disperse," says Watanabe-kun.
Saying that, everyone scatters... or rather, they don't. We were mostly together until the station.
Though we parted at the Tower Hotel on the way.
"You're staying at a hotel like this!?" Kanna is surprised.
"Rie-chan reserved it for us~" Airi says, and Kanna is appalled, "A relationship officially recognized by parents is amazing."
Once we return to the room, we take showers.
"Let's go in together!" says Airi.
"Sorry, just this once!" I refuse.
There is a reason.
"Then, I'll go in first."
I stop Airi, who is about to enter the shower despondently.
"Sorry, can I shower first?"
"?. I mean, sure?"
Airi tilts her head.
I hurriedly take a shower.
And when I get out, I change into a gown and switch with Airi.
And while she's in, I make preparations.
I pour sparkling grape juice bought at a convenience store into the provided whiskey glass, and with that in one hand, I get into bed and gaze at the night view.
Yeah, this kind of mood isn't bad.
The night view is very beautiful.
Come to think of it, I've never enjoyed a night view before.
Maybe I should have enjoyed the night view a bit more in Tokyo.
While I was thinking such things, Airi returned from the shower.
"Sorry to keep you waiting~ and what are you doing? I mean, what are you drinking!?"
The grape-colored liquid poured into the brandy glass must have looked like something else to Airi, right?
"It's just juice. Ah, that's right. Airi, could you take a photo with my smartphone?"
Saying that, I hand the smartphone to Airi, and with the night view as the background, I hold the brandy glass filled with grape juice and turn toward Airi.
After taking a photo with my smartphone, Airi also takes a photo with her own smartphone.
And then she sends that photo to Makoto and Kanna. Wait, isn't that bad!?
As expected, messages arrive from Makoto and Kanna.
"What the hell are you doing lol" from Makoto.
"Are you an idiot!" from Kanna.
I just wanted to try it out a little...
"Toya-kun, over here, over here."
Airi pours grape juice into a brandy glass, gets into bed, and beckons.
I get into bed while still holding my glass and line up with Airi.
It's strange, even though it's the same grape juice, I feel like I can get into a slightly more adult atmosphere.
Airi and I clink our glasses and drink.
"It's delicious."
Even though it's just grape juice.
"Right? I've always longed for this kind of atmosphere."
"Toya-kun is mysterious. You make me feel such a wonderful mood. Even though we're just drinking juice."
"Someday, let's enjoy drinking real alcohol... let's see, for example, at a restaurant on the 21st floor."
"Toya-kun can even have ideas like that~"
But what. But...
"Let's come back again someday."
"Yeah."
"Ah, but..."
"But?"
"For the wedding, I want a restaurant on the coast~"
I almost spat out my juice.
(6)
I peek into Toya-kun's world.
A world a little more chic than usual.
I look at Toya-kun's profile.
I feel like I can understand a little bit lately what he is gazing at.
At first, he thought of nothing but food, but he's looking at me just a little bit.
Though I can't erase the anxiety.
For a future where nothing is known, I seek the destination that beckons fleetingly, gaining and throwing away.
Falling as if dreaming into Toya-kun's world.
Even if I'm hurt, Toya-kun's gentleness embraces me.
I want to erase everything other than myself from inside Toya-kun if possible, seeking all of Toya-kun's love, and becoming entangled with Toya-kun.
Starting a new life together, I don't need a tomorrow without Toya-kun.
Meeting Toya-kun was truly a miraculous encounter.
I've found someone I can love this much for the first time.
I won't say 'the end.'
Forever in Toya-kun's arms...
"Toya-kun, hold me strongly."
"Pardon?"
"Let me sleep in Toya-kun's arms."
Toya-kun hugs me.
He didn't actually hug me strongly.
He wraps me gently.
May this wondrous today continue forever.