Now... the final event of the day was finally about to begin.
Immediately after getting off the train, I had shot a quick signal to Yuji and Hayato via a phone call. The arrangement was that they would start the welcome preparations once they received it, so they should be standing by now, fully prepared.
The plan was simple: Sara-san would open the entrance and go in first.
Everything had gone according to schedule so far. If there was one thing I was worried about, it was that Sara-san had slipped into a "spoiled mode" that far exceeded my expectations. She looked like she was fully intent on flirting with just the two of us once we got home. That part made me a little anxious... though I was also happy.
"We're back at the house... The date is over..."
Sara-san murmured sadly. She hadn't let go of my right arm since we left the park, and even now, she showed no sign of releasing her hold. Perhaps she felt that the moment she let go, the magic of the day would truly vanish.
We could go on plenty of dates in the future, but her lonely mood was likely my fault for never taking her on a proper one until today.
"Sara-san, where should we go next time?"
"Eh?"
"Please don't look so surprised. Today's birthday date might be ending, but I want to keep inviting you out from now on."
"Ah..."
A smile finally returned to Sara-san's face.
It seemed she truly realized that more fun experiences were waiting for her.
It really was my fault for neglecting our dates for so long.
"I decided on the destination this time, but would you like to choose the next one, Sara-san? It's fine even if it's a bit far away."
"Thank you very much! Then, next time, I will—"
"Yeah. I'll make sure to work hard at my part-time job again!"
"Since I have been able to save on our living expenses, I can provide the funds for your portion, Kazunari-san. Besides, the reserve funds I received from Mother remain untouched. Therefore, there is no need for you to push yourself with extra work."
Reserve funds... For that mother to prepare something like that, she must have taken quite a liking to Sara-san...
"Please don't take any more part-time jobs in secret, okay? I absolutely won't forgive you next time."
"Y-Yes."
Faced with Sara-san, who was radiating a heavy pressure through her beaming smile, I could do nothing but nod obediently. This was going to make future surprises difficult, but I suppose it couldn't be helped. I would just have to work openly to save up for dates and presents next time.
"Since Kazunari-san's money is fine, I'll use my own—"
"Sara-san, that is something I absolutely won't allow. Please don't say another word about it."
It was a small matter, but my pride wouldn't allow me to let Sara-san pay for us. If it came to that, I would rather continue working part-time jobs forever.
"......Yes. I will do as Kazunari-san commands."
I was worried I had spoken too firmly, but for some reason, Sara-san turned bright red and nodded with a small, polite bow.
I didn't think I’d said anything particularly strange...
"Fufu... I've been scolded by Kazunari-san."
I hadn't intended to sound angry in the slightest, yet for some reason, she looked strangely happy.
Vibrate... vibrate...
My smartphone had been buzzing incessantly for a while now. It was almost certainly a "hurry up and get inside" scolding. Everyone must have realized we were standing right outside.
"S-Sara-san, it's about time..."
As I glanced toward the entrance, I felt as if an entity radiating a prismatic seven-colored aura(?) was waiting on the other side of the door, silently screaming at us to get on with it. Sadly, I had to cut the conversation short and urge Sara-san forward as planned.
"Yes, then let's go inside."
Sara-san took the key out of her bag and unlocked the entrance.
My heart started racing.
Click...
Beyond the door lay my room, as usual, shrouded in a darkness that suggested no one was there. When I thought about how everyone was holding their breath and desperately hiding, I felt a giggle start to well up.
Sara-san entered the house first. Whenever we returned home together, it was an implicit rule for her to enter first and welcome me back. I would take a breath, count to a few, and then follow her inside.
As I stepped through the doorway, Sara-san was standing there, facing me.
"Welcome home! Kazunari-san!"
Thud...
The sound of the door clicking shut behind me served as the signal. The surprise party had begun!
Bang!!!!!
Pop-pop-pop-pop-pop-pop!!!!!
"Kyaa!!"
A fanfare of party poppers rained down with a series of loud cracks.
Startled by the sudden roar from behind her, Sara-san spun around and clung to me.
"Sara!!!"
"Happy Birthday!"
Led by Natsumi-senpai's voice, a chorus of cheers filled the air.
Simultaneously, the lights flickered on, revealing our hidden friends and the handmade decorations scattered throughout the room. The colorful display made it obvious just how much effort everyone had put into the preparations.
Sara-san stood there blank-faced, her eyes wide as she blinked, clearly unable to process the situation.
"Eh, eh, eh...?"
She kept her face turned toward our friends while still clinging to me. She tried to speak, but her voice wouldn't come out. To help her calm down, I spoke softly while lightly stroking her head.
"Everyone prepared a surprise birthday party for you."
"Though it was Takanashi-kun's project!"
"No, the original idea was Todo-san's—"
"The one who actually did the planning was Takanashi-kun!"
Personally, I wanted to say it was a group effort, but the two of them stubbornly insisted it was mine, and the others nodded in agreement. Hearing that, Sara-san turned back to me.
"...Is that so?"
"E-Eh, well... more or less..."
"Kazunari-san......"
Sara-san's soulful expression and misty eyes once again stirred that familiar impulse in my chest.
She had been acting so differently today that I was constantly struggling to keep my cool.
"...Sara, we also worked pretty hard, you know..."
Nishikawa-san finally cut into the conversation, having run out of patience. Sara-san seemed to snap out of it, nodding as she looked me in the eye.
"I'm sorry. So many wonderful things have happened today that I've become a bit overwhelmed. Eri, Natsumi, Hanako-san, Todo-san, Tachikawa-san, Yokokawa-san, Tachibana-san..."
Sara-san called out every person's name, looking each of them firmly in the eye before giving a deep, formal bow.
"Thank you all so much for today. This is the first time I have ever been celebrated with a party by my friends... I don't know how to express my gratitude. But—"
Sara-san looked at everyone with a serene, beautiful smile.
The others looked stunned, as if they had been enchanted by the sight of her.
"I am happy. Everyone... thank you."
"A-Alright! Now that Sara's being honest, let the party begin!!"
"Yeahhhh!!!!"
At Natsumi-senpai's command, the group essentially swept Sara-san into the room.
Following them, I took another look around. There were stars and flowers cut from colored paper, and if I looked closely, I saw paper strips hanging with what looked like handwritten messages. I'd have to make sure Sara-san got to keep all of those later.
"Alright, everyone has their glass? Then, before the toast, let's have a few words from the organizer, Takanashi-kun!"
I wish she had warned me about that... I hadn't prepared a single thing to say.
It was a classic Natsumi-senpai curveball, but I couldn't just ignore it and kill the mood.
Well, I should start by saying thank you.
"Uh—first of all, thank you everyone for your help. I think Sara-san's surprise birthday was a total success. Specifically, I want to thank Todo-san and Hayato again for supporting and covering for me while I was working my part-time job, and Nishikawa-san for coordinating all the party preparations. Thank you so much. Thanks to you guys, the date and the present went perfectly. So, from here on out, I want us all to celebrate Sara-san! Happy Birthday, Sara-san!"
Clap clap clap clap clap clap!!!
"Alright! Any heroes who want to hear about the results of today's date, feel free to grill him later. Now then—Sara, Happy Birthday! Cheers!!!"
"Cheers!!!"
"So, how was the date?"
"Yeah, since you went so far as to work a secret job, did you actually show her your manly side?"
The first ones to corner me were Yuji and Hayato.
They had clearly been worried, as they moved in the second the party started.
"What's that supposed to mean, 'manly side'?"
"You know, stuff."
"You were so fired up, I figured something must have happened."
"Why are you three huddling together already!"
As I was talking with the guys, Natsumi-senpai suddenly cut in.
No alcohol was being served, but her energy was so high I wondered if she was on a natural high.
...Then again, maybe she was always like this.
"Look, don't just hang out with the boys. Takanashi-kun, you're the lover of the guest of honor, so get over there and stay by her side! You guys come with me too."
I had stayed back because Sara-san was in the circle of girls, so I thought her being so bossy was a bit much.
Still, I had no reason to refuse. When Natsumi-senpai dragged me into the group, Sara-san immediately clung to my arm.
"Honestly, you two... don't you get bored of being stuck together 24/7? Even for lovers, you need a little space... I think Takanashi-kun must have it tough in a lot of ways."
Natsumi-senpai emphasized the words "a lot of ways," and her gaze seemed to be trying to tell me something. I had a feeling she was hinting at things of a more... physical nature.
"Eh? Could it be that I am being a nuisance to Kazunari-san!? Because I didn't realize it, have I been a burden this entire time? That's..."
Thanks to Natsumi-senpai's loose tongue, Sara-san had completely misunderstood.
She looked like she was about to cry, and seeing her like that made my heart ache.
I pulled her into a hug, and seeing her look up at me with such anxiety only fueled my protective instincts. I ended up pulling her even closer.
Today, Sara-san was so vulnerable and cute that I just wanted to spoil her rotten.
"There is absolutely no way I could ever think you're a nuisance, Sara-san. If you weren't by my side, I would be miserable and lonely."
"I'm so glad... If I couldn't be near Kazunari-san like this, I think I would cry from the loneliness... Being by your side makes me so happy. I want to be with you forever and ever, my beloved..."
Sara-san was so incredibly sweet that as we gazed at each other, my eyes naturally drifted down to her lips. We had finally shared our first kiss today, and the memory was still so vivid that I couldn't stop thinking about it.
It seemed Sara-san was thinking the same thing; she noticed where I was looking, and her cheeks flushed. Almost unconsciously, her eyes began to flutter shut, and she tilted her face up just a fraction...
"Whoa! W-W-Wait a second, you two!! What is with this atmosphere? Something's different!!"
Natsumi-senpai's frantic voice acted as a brake, and we suddenly realized that everyone was staring at us.
It seemed we had accidentally retreated into our own world again.
"T-That was so intense, I was shocked... The vibe between Takanashi-kun and Satsukawa-senpai was so heavy, I think they would have just kept going if Yuzuki-senpai hadn't stopped them..."
"I-I was surprised too, but could this mean..."
While Todo-san and Hanako-san whispered to each other, Nishikawa-san looked like she was deep in thought. Suddenly, she let out a strangled gasp, her face twisting into a look of absolute shock.
"N-N-N-No way... Could it be!? Did you take another step up the stairs... Sara!!??"
"I knew it! That's it, isn't it! Finally... hey, hey, which one of you was it?"
Sara-san didn't answer Natsumi-senpai's question. Instead, she glanced at me from the corner of her eye, her cheeks turning a deep crimson. She immediately looked down, fidgeting bashfully while clinging to my arm... God, she was too cute.
"Aaaaaah!!! What was with that look?! Sara, Sara's taken another step toward adulthood!!!!"
"Calm down, Eririn!"
"Whoa, hearing this kind of thing from a friend makes me so nervous~"
"As a big sister figure, my feelings are complicated..."
"To give off that kind of atmosphere while still in high school... as expected of Satsukawa-senpai."
"Looks like you properly showed her your manly side after all."
"Seems so. Well, after all that effort, people would have called him a wimp if nothing happened..."
The fact that we’d kissed was exposed almost immediately, but I suppose it was only a matter of time.
Unfazed by Nishikawa-san's screams of despair, Sara-san simply gazed at me, looking as happy as could be.