“Kazu… nari… san…”
Her voice was a soft murmur, blending into the rhythm of her steady breathing. Perhaps she was dreaming about me.
When I stroked her head, she nuzzled her face against my chest, looking perfectly content.
Usually, she was the one doing this for me, so I didn't think it was bad for the roles to be reversed once in a while. Besides, Sara-san was being so honestly pampered today that it made me want to spoil her even more.
…………
Once Sara-san had finished her bath and caught her breath, I had taken the plunge and invited her to join me in the futon. My only thought was that she might be able to talk once her mind was at ease; I didn't have any ulterior motives, of course.
The moment we lay down together, Sara-san clung to me. When I hugged her back, she looked relieved, but before I knew it, she had fallen fast asleep.
She must have been incredibly exhausted mentally. When I thought about how her nerves must have been strained all this time, a surge of anger welling up inside me, even though I knew Masaomi-san wasn't necessarily a bad person.
Feeling Sara-san’s warmth, I recalled my conversation with Mayumi-san from earlier…
“I’m well aware that this is still a heavy topic for the both of you,” Mayumi-san had said. “But now that the other side has made their move, sitting back and doing nothing could lead to even more trouble down the road. If that's not what you want, Takanashi-san, then please… even if it's just a vague idea, tell me how you intend to move forward.”
What would I do from now on?
What did I want to become with Sara-san?
When I looked at my true feelings, the answer was already decided.
I hadn't become her lover with the intention of ever breaking up.
I wanted to be with Sara-san forever; I had no intention of leaving her. Even if someone called it the nonsense of a child, it was my honest opinion and my true heart.
And I understood that if we continued to spend our lives together like this, the word “marriage” would eventually come up.
That said, as a total beginner in romance, I couldn't possibly claim to truly understand marriage yet. I had only vaguely perceived it as something waiting far, far ahead of our current relationship.
Was Mayumi-san’s question a troubling one for me then?
The answer, of course, was no.
My desire to stay together forever hadn't changed in the slightest. If that was the case, I wouldn't hesitate, no matter what lay ahead.
The topic had grown so large that it felt heavy, but I realized the answer was surprisingly simple.
“I want to stay with Sara-san forever,” I told her. “I can't put it into fancy words, and I honestly don't think I fully understand marriage yet. But whatever awaits at the end of the road with Sara-san, I won't hesitate. I have no doubts when it comes to her.”
I didn't know if this was the answer Mayumi-san was looking for, but I tried to convey it as my true, unvarnished feelings.
I didn't know what I didn't know.
I just had to tell her my true heart—that I wanted us to be together—without trying to look cool.
I just had to say that I wouldn't hesitate to do whatever was necessary to reach that goal.
“Thank you… I understand your feelings well, Takanashi-san. You want to stay together, so you won't hesitate for that sake… Is that right? Hehe, now this mother-in-law can do her best too!”
Mayumi-san returned to her usual gentle and bright demeanor, as if she had switched her mindset. I felt somewhat relieved to hear her usual voice.
“So, I’d like to talk with Masaomi-san.”
“Yes, it would be better to have a thorough talk. I’ll tell him to make time this weekend, so please keep your schedule open.”
The weekend, huh…
I couldn't consult with Sara-san anymore, and my plans had been considerably disrupted, but now that it had come to this, I would definitely persuade Masaomi-san even if I had to do it alone. I would make him recognize me.
“I’ll be present for the talk with Masaomi-san, too. Since things have turned out like this, for Sara-chan’s happiness, Takanashi-sa… no, Issei-kun, I’ll definitely have to have you join us as a son-in-law!”
Son-in-law… she was definitely talking about me.
Since words like “fiancé” and “marriage” were flying around, it shouldn't have been surprising, but I still felt bewildered when it was said so directly.
…By the way, did she just call me by my first name?
“Leave the arrangements with Masaomi-san to me. As for Sara-chan…”
Right, the question was what to do about Sara-san, who had run away from home.
There was absolutely no option to force her back.
“Issei-kun, I’m sorry to ask this, but could I leave Sara-chan to you for a while? I’ll give you the necessary living expenses when we meet this weekend.”
I thought that would be best too.
Right now, the shock Sara-san had received was too great, and I thought it would be difficult for her to calm down and think things through properly. In that case, it would be better for her to stay away from home until she was able to think straight again.
“Leave it to me. But I don't need living expenses or anything.”
“No, since I’m the one asking, please accept them. Now, we should finish up soon. Sara-chan might be coming out of the bath.”
“You’re right. Well then, I’ll leave the matter with Masaomi-san to you.”
“The same goes for me; please take care of Sara-chan. Well then, good night.”
…………
I had no hesitation.
I would simply choose the path of being with Sara-san.
However… the opponent wasn't just a simple nuisance.
What I had learned from Mayumi-san’s story was that just being lovers wouldn't be enough to silence the other side. With people like that as opponents, even if we announced we were engaged, it might only look like the fire was extinguished on the surface, while the embers remained. I had a feeling that was the case.
I felt like it would have been easier when I was dealing with Yamasaki…
The next day.
I thought Sara-san looked normal this morning.
No, it was obvious she was pretending to be normal, and my heart ached when I thought about her inner turmoil.
But I couldn't show that while Sara-san was enduring it.
What I could do now was stay close to her and make her feel as safe as possible.
And then, I had to have Masaomi-san recognize me as soon as possible. That came first.
I couldn't wait for the weekend.
“Good morning, Takanashi-kun.”
The greeting, delivered in a slightly blunt voice, came from Hanako-san, who had become my classmate just yesterday.
In addition to being a precious best friend, she was now my classmate, making her an even more irreplaceable presence in my life.
“Good morning, Hanako-san.”
“…………”
What was it? Even though I had just returned the greeting, she stared at my face as if checking for something.
“…Look, they’re staring at each other first thing in the morning.”
“…It’s true, they’re already all lovey-dovey.”
“…Gah, I’m so jealous.”
“…It’s fine, I still have Satsukawa-senpai.”
“…I feel like she’s been getting even more beautiful lately. There are too many rivals, though…”
“…A flower on a high peak should just be admired like I do.”
“Come here for a second.”
Muttering that, Hanako-san suddenly grabbed my school uniform sleeve and pulled.
I was surprised by the suddenness, but I immediately judged there must be a reason, so I followed her silently.
Accompanied by someone’s voice behind me saying, “Come back by homeroom!” we went out into the hallway and were pulled even further ahead.
We finally arrived at the deserted stair landing where I often talked with Hayato.
She had already noticed this place on her second day of school transfer…
“Hanako-san, what’s wrong?”
“That’s my line. If you’re in trouble, I’ll give you advice.”
“So talk to me.” I felt like I could read those words in Hanako-san’s eyes as she stared at me. Was I really that bad at hiding things?
“…There might not be enough time to explain.”
It might have sounded like an excuse, but in reality, there wasn't much time until homeroom, and if I started explaining now, we'd never finish.
“I see… In other words, it’s a big story. In that case, tonight, issue a summons on RAIN.”
A summons?
…Ah, she meant a group call.
“Two heads are better than one. I don't know exactly what's eating at you, but if you consult everyone, there might be a solution. It’s probably about your wife anyway, so I can imagine how you're feeling, but you mustn't forget that the fact that those around you want to help is a strength in itself.”
The fact that those around me were cooperating was my power?
What did that mean?
…I thought so sometimes, but I felt that Hanako-san saw things from a different perspective than the rest of us. At those times, she would suddenly offer a sharp opinion without being swayed by the situation, or say something meaningful.
If so, these words too…
“You have all of us, and I’m with you too. If you can't handle it on your own, then rely on us. Honestly.”
“Hanako-san……”
There was a fair height difference between us, but she stood on her tiptoes as much as she could and barely managed to pat my head.
Even I could understand those words.
I also wanted to be of help if my friends were in trouble.
So surely, everyone else felt the same way about each other.
I had been so frantic thinking I had to do something about Sara-san that I had unconsciously dismissed the option of consulting my reliable friends.
“Hanako-san, you’re amazing.”
There must have been other ways to say it, but that was all that came out of my mouth.
“Because I’m your Big Sister.”
With a smirk, Hanako-san used her recently frequent keyword, “Big Sister.”
However, considering our interaction just now, I couldn't find a word to say in return this time.
“Hanako-san, about that ‘Big Sister’ thing…”
Ding-dong…
The first bell echoing through the school was the signal for us to return to the classroom.
Once again, I couldn't talk about this topic.
We looked at each other and started walking back down the hallway. Behind my back, Hanako-san murmured—
“I’ll tell you next time.”
Lunch break.
After finishing our bento and catching our breath…
“U-Um… Kazunari-san, really…?”
“Of course. Come on, hurry!”
“Auhhh.”
I patted my lap, urging Sara-san along. Her face was flushed with embarrassment, but the way she timidly tried to follow my instructions suggested she was actually happy about it.
“…What are those two doing?”
“…It looks like Kazunari is trying to give Satsukawa-senpai a lap pillow.”
“…I wonder how it feels to have a boy do that for you?”
“…You’ll know if you have a handsome guy do it for you.”
“…Eh!?”
If they made too much noise, Sara-san would get embarrassed and hesitate, so I wished they would leave us alone.
“Th-Then, please excuse me.”
As if she had made up her mind, Sara-san whispered a small “Ei!” and rested her head on my thighs.
After covering Sara-san with my school uniform blazer, I tried stroking her head—the classic part of a lap pillow situation.
“Fuaaa…”
I heard a voice from Sara-san that I rarely got to hear—I couldn't tell if she was happy or if it just felt good. That made me happy too, so I stroked her head over and over. Meanwhile, Sara-san must have gotten used to the situation, as the weight on my legs increased slightly.
Stroke, stroke…
Stroke, stroke…
Time flowed slowly and peacefully, as if the space around us had changed.
Sara-san’s hand, which was touching my leg, moved as if checking for something, and a smile naturally overflowed at the gesture.
I might have understood a little bit how Sara-san felt when she usually gave me a lap pillow.
“…Um, Natsumi-senpai, what are you…”
“…I’m going to show this to Eririn later~”
“…Takanashi-kun looks so happy… It makes me happy just watching them.”
“…If it’s that good, maybe I’ll ask for one next time. No, as I thought, I should be the one…”
“Kazunari-san…”
I had noticed, but as expected, Sara-san wasn't asleep. When our eyes met as she turned to face me, she gave me a soft smile.
“As expected, you couldn't sleep?”
“Hehe… I’m just so happy that it feels like a waste to spend it sleeping.”
“In that case, shall we do this at home too?”
“Thank you. But if anything, I’m the one who wants to give Kazunari-san a lap pillow, you know?”
As I thought, was Sara-san happier when I was the one being pampered?
If that's the case, maybe I'll take the plunge and try pleading with her next time…