Sunday.
Finally, the day had arrived.
The part-time jobs were finished, I’d managed to save more money than I’d expected, and I’d bought the present.
It had been a last-minute plan, but I felt proud of how it had all come together in the end.
Now, all that was left was to enjoy today’s date to its fullest before finally handing her the gift.
I wondered if Sara-san would be happy… I was truly looking forward to seeing her reaction.
Throb…
"Ngh…"
Even I had to admit my right hand was at its limit. It had reached the point where it throbbed even when I wasn't doing anything. I could feel the dull ache even now, though perhaps thinking of it as an honorable wound was being a bit too dramatic.
Regardless, I planned to give it a long rest after today.
Glancing at the table, a neatly wrapped box caught my eye. Inside was the locket pendant, and I had already tucked a specific photo inside. I figured that after I gave it to her, Sara-san could replace it with any photo she liked.
The photo wasn't one I had originally owned, but the scene it captured was deeply meaningful.
I’d decided it was perfect for the occasion, and for that, I had to thank Mayumi-san…
Going back in time just a little…
"Takanashi-san, have you decided on a photo for the locket?"
"No, to be honest, I wasn't sure what would be best. I thought I'd just leave it up to Sara-san."
"But it’s a special gift. You should put a photo you like in there first."
"I just haven't been able to find the right one…"
I’d done some research and found that lockets were typically for photos of family or lovers. The thought of putting a photo of myself in there had crossed my mind for a split second, but I quickly dismissed it as being way too self-absorbed.
"Oh, in that case, how about this one?"
And that was how the photo Mayumi-san sent me via RAIN ended up inside.
I had no idea when she’d taken it, but it was a shot of me hugging Sara-san on that hilltop that night.
Even though it had been dark, the area had been lit up well enough that the image was quite clear.
The moment Sara-san had leaped into my arms after hearing my confession… it was a moment I would never forget as long as I lived.
I’d hesitated, thinking I should let Sara-san choose the first photo, but in the end, I decided to start her off with that one.
……………
Anyway, it was time to head out.
It was still early for our meeting, but in more ways than one, I had no intention of making Sara-san wait.
I picked up the box from the table, wrapped it carefully in a cloth just in case, and placed it in my bag. I didn't want the wrapping to get even slightly crumpled.
Here we go… the culmination of my life as a part-time worker!
When I reached the station front and checked the time, I still had an hour to spare. But an hour passes in the blink of an eye. Just thinking about Sara-san made me so happy that I probably looked like a total weirdo to anyone passing by.
Then, while I was periodically scanning the path Sara-san would take to the station front, my vision suddenly went pitch black.
"Hehe… guess who?"
With my eyes covered, my other senses seemed to sharpen.
As Sara-san whispered playfully into my ear, I felt the blissful sensation of her pressing against my back.
Between the anticipation and the joy of her arrival, I couldn't stop myself from grinning like an idiot.
"Sara-san…"
The moment I whispered her name, the hands covering my eyes vanished. The sudden return of the morning sun was almost blinding.
"Yes! Well done. As a reward for the correct answer, here’s something for Kazunari-san!"
Sara-san quickly circled around to face me and leaned in close.
Chu.
She pressed a light kiss to my cheek and then pulled back, finally allowing me to see her face.
It was clear that Sara-san had put even more effort into her appearance than usual today.
She wore a charming white shirt with frills, the collar fastened with a ribbon-like tie. Her outfit featured a high-waisted black long skirt, and her hair was styled differently than usual, draped forward over her chest. The hat perched daintily on her head was, of course, the one I had given her.
Yeah, there was no doubt about it—she’d coordinated her entire look to suit my tastes. I’d heard it from Sara-san herself and from Natsumi-senpai, but apparently, she used to prefer much plainer clothing. Knowing she was wearing this specifically for me made it all the more wonderful.
"Sara-san, that outfit really suits you. You look beautiful."
I told her exactly what I was feeling. I wished I could have found more eloquent words to praise her, but unfortunately, that was the best I could do.
"Thank you! I'm so glad you like it, Kazunari-san!"
Even my simple compliment seemed to make her radiate with joy. Perhaps she’d sensed the depth of the feelings I couldn't quite articulate.
"…Whoa, look at that girl."
"…She’s incredible. She’d put idols to shame…"
"…Wait, is that guy her boyfriend?"
"…Talk about an unbalanced match."
…I’d known this would happen, but to total strangers, that was probably how I looked. To actually match Sara-san in the looks department, you’d have to be a male idol or a handsome guy like Hayato.
But I didn't need to feel inferior. If I thought of myself that way, it would be an insult to the girl who had fallen in love with me. It didn't matter what the people around us thought; how Sara-san felt about me was everything.
"Sara-san, shall we?"
"Yes. Please escort me all day today, okay?"
Sara-san gave me a brilliant smile and naturally leaned against me, linking her arm with mine.
She pressed her cheek against my arm and let out a happy little "Hehe…"
"…Tsk."
"…Stupid normies."
They’d been mocking me just a second ago, too.
Naturally, I didn't feel a shred of anger. In the presence of Sara-san’s smile, those outsiders felt like nothing more than pebbles on the side of the road.
As we walked toward the ticket gate, I pulled two tickets from my pocket.
"Sara-san, here."
"Thank you very much."
When I handed her the train ticket, she accepted it gracefully.
We both have SAICA cards, but I’d decided I was paying for everything today, so I’d made sure to buy physical tickets.
I’d worried she might try to decline, but being the person she was, she probably realized she shouldn't make me lose face.
After waiting on the platform for a few minutes, we boarded the train. Since it was Sunday, it wasn't as packed as the weekday commute, but it was still fairly crowded.
Getting a seat was out of the question, but for another reason entirely, I secured a spot in the corner near the door and had Sara-san stand against the wall. I positioned myself to act as a shield between her and the rest of the car.
The reason was simple: the moment we’d stepped onto the train, every man in the vicinity had fixed their eyes on her. She’d frowned uncomfortably, so I decided to block their view.
Worried she might feel cramped between me and the wall, I leaned in and asked, "Are you okay?"
"Yes. Oh, but…"
She leaned forward, almost hugging me.
"If it’s alright, I’d like to stay like this…"
The look Sara-san gave me as she peered up at my face was one of pure happiness.
""""Tsk…""""
It wasn't like they’d practiced it, but the sound of multiple men clicking their tongues in unison almost made me burst out laughing.
If you let other people’s jealousy get to you, you’ll never survive dating Sara-san.
"Oh, wow…"
The moment we passed through the aquarium gate and entered the main building, we were greeted by a tunnel-shaped tank. Dolphins were gliding through the water with effortless grace, and Sara-san let out a soft gasp at the sight.
She followed them with her eyes as she approached the glass. One dolphin stopped right in front of her, nudging the tank as if it were trying to tell her something.
"Hehe… are you talking to me?"
The scene of Sara-san—radiating an almost divine aura—interacting with the dolphin was so ethereal that the other guests nearby were left staring in a daze.
I made sure to record the moment on my smartphone while also committing the sight to memory.
"Does the dolphin like that big sister?"
"Looks like it. Maybe that dolphin is a boy."
Hearing the parent and child talking nearby, Sara-san took on a slightly troubled expression and spoke to the dolphin.
"I’m sorry. I have no interest in anyone other than my destined person."
I don't know if the dolphin actually understood her, but it shook its body as if in response before swimming away.
Realizing I was filming, Sara-san’s face flushed a soft red. She hurried over to me and hid her face by clinging to my arm.
"Goodness… that’s embarrassing…"
"Not at all. You looked truly beautiful."
"…Meanie."
We were still at the entrance, yet we were already drawing fond smiles from families and murderous glares from the men as we moved deeper into the aquarium.
We followed the path, stopping to look at each tank together.
Seeing Sara-san so excited, almost like a child again, filled me with a sense of pure joy.
Eventually, we reached an area partitioned off by black curtains. According to the route, we were supposed to go inside.
"Is it alright to enter?"
As if answering her question, another group of guests stepped out from behind the curtain.
It looked like we were free to go in.
"Let’s check it out."
"Okay!"
…………
"…………"
The two of us stood there, completely speechless.
Countless jellyfish, glowing with a soft blue light, drifted lazily inside a massive tank that towered far above us. It was a breathtakingly surreal sight.
Entranced by the view, Sara-san reached out and took my hand as if by instinct.
"…Ngh."
I desperately swallowed a cry of pain.
Fortunately, Sara-san was so captivated by the tank that she didn't notice my reaction.
Endure it! Don't make a sound!
Once our hands were settled, the initial spike of pain began to subside into a dull ache.
Phew… I can do this.
"I never really thought much about jellyfish before, but they create such a dreamlike atmosphere, don't they?"
"Yeah. It’s so beautiful I'm at a loss for words."
I managed to keep my voice steady as I replied. Sara-san turned to look at me happily, but then her expression shifted to one of slight concern.
"Oh? Kazunari-san, stay still for a moment."
She pulled a handkerchief from her bag with her free hand and reached up to wipe the sweat from my forehead.
I hadn't even realized I was sweating. It was almost certainly a cold sweat from the pain.
"There, all better. Was it getting too hot in here?"
"I didn't even notice, to be honest."
"Really? Well, perhaps we should head out for now."
With that, Sara-san tightened her grip on my hand.
"………!"
"…?"
For a heartbeat, I panicked, thinking she’d figured it out. But her gaze wasn't on my face—it was focused on our joined hands.
"…! C-Come on, Kazunari-san, let’s keep going."
Listening to Sara-san’s voice as she pulled herself together, I felt a wave of relief that she hadn't seen the look on my face.
(His palm is so hard… and it feels swollen, almost inflamed… Is he injured? He must have done this for me… Kazunari-san… No, right now, I have to act like I haven’t noticed a thing!)