………
I wondered what time it was…
The alarm hadn't gone off yet, but instinctively, I felt that morning was fast approaching. Even so, I didn't feel like moving just yet.
Partly due to the mental exhaustion from the day before, the moment I’d crawled into the futon, the promised "Sara-san Hug" had easily brought me down—not that my reason had collapsed, but I’d fallen asleep in a matter of minutes.
It felt like a waste of a perfectly good moment, but then again, this was going to be my reality every night from now on. I wondered if my heart could even take it…
By now, I was reasonably awake. Between the exquisite warmth of something soft pressing against my face and the familiar sensation of a hand gently stroking the back of my head, I knew that if I let my guard down for even a second, I’d slip right back into a deep slumber.
Beep, beep, beep… Beep, beep, beep…
the relentless, mechanical beep of the alarm broke the silence, a heartless intrusion on the moment. The hand stroking my head pulled away. Before long, the alarm stopped, and I felt Sara-san move as she prepared to get up.
Just five more minutes…
Without a word, I leaned into the softness before me, wordlessly signaling my plea for more. The hand returned to my head almost immediately.
Haa… This was pure bliss…
"Fufu… Kazunari-san, you really are such an affection-seeker when you first wake up. We still have a bit of time, so please, rest just a little longer…"
She whispered the words sweetly into my ear, and the sheer comfort of it sent my consciousness drifting back toward a hazy dreamscape.
"……If you want a hug that badly, I’ll even give you one at school, you know? You only need to ask."
The offer made me happy, but the thought was also terrifying. If we actually did that, I was certain I’d turn into a completely useless human being.
I was well aware that I’d already done plenty of ridiculous things up until now, but I couldn't let myself get too used to this level of pampering. Probably.
Mwah………
When I finally opened my eyes, Sara-san’s face was right there at point-blank range, giving me a start.
I realized immediately that she had kissed me on the cheek. As she reached up to brush a stray lock of her beautiful hair back, my heart skipped a beat.
"Good morning… Darling."
Darling.
Hearing her call me that made the reality sink in—yesterday wasn't a dream. It was real.
Even if it was only a private arrangement for now, we truly had become fiancé and fiancée.
"Is something the matter?"
Perhaps finding my dazed expression strange, she tilted her head and looked at me curiously.
"No, I was just making sure yesterday wasn't a dream…"
"…It wasn't. You asked to date me with the premise of marriage, Kazunari-san. And in turn, I promised that I would become your wife in the future. Even our parents have given their official blessing."
Seeing Sara-san flash a radiant smile that looked as though a flower had just bloomed, I felt the weight of reality settle in once more.
Fiancé… Marriage… Wife…
I might not have grasped the full gravity of those words just yet, but the most important thing was that this happy life with Sara-san was going to continue. For now, that was all I needed to focus on.
"As long as I can be with you forever, Sara-san, I’m happy with whatever we call it."
"Yes, I feel the same. However, I still… um, I want to officially be… your wife…"
By the time she finished, Sara-san had turned bright red and cast her gaze downward.
The last part was a whisper, barely audible, but I knew exactly what she wanted to say.
And just imagining it…
What were we doing, the two of us turning beet-red together first thing in the morning?
"Good morrrrning!!!"
When we met up at the convenience store, Natsumi-senpai was in such a high state of tension that even Sara-san seemed to recoil slightly.
"G-Good morning, Natsumi. You seem to be in an exceptionally good mood today."
"Good morning, Natsumi-senpai."
Though we returned the greeting, Natsumi-senpai just stood there smirking at us, her eyes darting back and forth between me and Sara-san.
"Well, you two certainly look happy! Heh heh heh, I can't believe you actually went and got engaged. Engaged in high school? What kind of rom-com manga is this? You guys are moving way too fast!"
"Well, it’s just…"
Unaccustomed to this kind of ribbing, Sara-san looked a little lost, clearly unsure of how to respond.
"Honestly, I want to hear every single detail, but it wouldn't be fair to the others if I got the scoop first. I'll hold back for now."
Surprisingly, Natsumi-senpai backed off easily. Of course, that just meant the actual debriefing session was going to be an interrogation. What was I even supposed to tell them?
"Just one thing, though… Sara, I’m glad for you. Are you happy?"
"……Yes. I am truly happy. Thank you, Natsumi."
"Yeah? Then that’s all that matters. Well, shall we head to school?"
Natsumi-senpai and Nishikawa-san were the ones who had helped Sara-san get back on her feet. And since things had only proceeded so smoothly because Sara-san had shown up when she did, I realized I owed Natsumi-senpai another proper thank you as well.
Rattle…
"Morning."
"Good morning, Takanashi-kun!"
"Yo, Takanashi."
"Mornin’."
I’d finally reached the point where I could walk into the classroom and give a loud greeting without feeling self-conscious.
It helped that everyone, boys and girls alike, greeted me back quite casually.
As I headed toward my seat, I saw a small crowd gathered. They were likely surrounding Hanako-san.
"Ah, morning, Takanashi-kun!"
"Hanasaki-san, Takanashi-kun is here!"
"Maybe we should give them some space…"
"Morning…"
"Good morning, Hanako-san. Thanks again for everything yesterday."
It was her usual blunt greeting—one that a stranger might mistake for her being in a bad mood.
I sat down and offered my thanks, and to my surprise, she flashed a tiny smile.
"I didn't really do anything."
"That’s not true. You were a huge help to me."
"I see. That’s good, then. You worked hard."
!?
Hanako-san actually smiled…
She had shown a similar expression recently, but it really was an adorable smile. Hanako-san, who used to rarely smile even around us, seemed to be changing for the better, one small step at a time.
The people around us were completely captivated by her smile, rendered speechless with their faces turning red. Even the boys who usually watched us from a distance were dazed, looking like they’d been struck by lightning.
Meanwhile, Hanako-san remained indifferent to the atmosphere. She stood up, stepped toward me, and…
Stroke, stroke…
She slowly stroked my head.
Sara-san did this to me all the time, but was I really that childish? I mean, I wasn't complaining, but still…
"…Hanasaki-san is way too cute when she smiles…"
"…That’s a total knockout for any guy…"
"…The gap moe is real…"
"…Those two are definitely a thing…"
"Hanako-san?"
Stroke, stroke…
"I’m looking forward to the report later."
The way Hanako-san laughed as she said that made her look just like a real big sister.
Ding-dong…
The fourth period ended, and the chime for the start of the lunch break echoed through the halls.
Since neither Hayato nor Todo-san had dropped by during the previous breaks, there hadn't been any major chaos yet. Though the crowd around Hanako-san was still a constant fixture.
Rattle…
"Excuse us!"
Just as I was thinking about them, the two of them appeared together.
"Takanashi-kun, Hanako-san, it’s lunchtime!"
"We’ve come to fetch you two."
Todo-san was always energetic, but she seemed especially radiant today. She was clearly in a fantastic mood.
Seeing her give Hanako-san a light hug in lieu of a greeting was proof of how close they’d become. Then again, Todo-san was an Angel; I was pretty sure she could make friends with a statue.
"…Man, the collaboration between the Angel and the Little Angel is top-tier today."
"…I heard from a buddy that Todo-san is actually the number one 'hidden' beauty in her class."
"…No surprise there. She’s literally an Angel."
"…Ugh, I’m so jealous of Yokokawa!"
I see. So Todo-san was that popular, huh? Hayato really couldn't afford to be complacent.
"Well, shall we go?"
"Right. Hanako-san, Todo-san, are you ready?"
"Yeah."
"Understood."
To anyone watching, we were probably a very strange quartet. We drew plenty of curious stares as we made our way out.
By the time we reached the flowerbed, preparations were already finished. Sara-san and Natsumi-senpai were waiting for us on the bench.
Natsumi: "Hey, good work."
Todo: "Sorry we kept you waiting!"
Hayato: "Good work, everyone."
Hanako: "Hello."
As everyone exchanged greetings, Sara-san stood up gracefully and walked over to me with a smile.
Sara: "Good work today, Kazunari-san."
Me: "Sorry, I’m a bit late."
Sara: "It’s quite alright. Now, shall we have lunch?"
Sara-san took my hand and led me toward the sheet.
A bento was already laid out exactly where I always sat, perfectly prepared.
Natsumi: "Honestly, Sara’s been more enthusiastic than ever. She was even obsessing over the angle of the bento boxes."
Sara: "W-Wait, Natsumi! I told you not to mention that…"
Sara-san cut in, looking flustered. She was blushing slightly, clearly embarrassed by the revelation.
Todo: "Anyway, let’s eat! I want to hear everything about you two!"
It seemed that was the sole reason for Todo-san’s high spirits. With wry smiles at her eagerness, we all opened our bentos and began our lunchtime.
………
Todo: "So, the two of you really are engaged now, right!?"
As we were finishing up, Todo-san finally jumped the gun, unable to wait a second longer. Her eyes were practically sparkling.
Sara: "…Yes. Though we haven't received official permission from Kazunari-san’s parents yet…"
Me: "Ah, based on what I’ve heard from them, it shouldn't be an issue."
Mom was basically on board from the start, and Dad seemed pretty much okay with it too. I was fairly confident they’d approve.
Sara: "Fufu… I want to meet your father and mother soon. Especially since I haven't had the chance to speak with your father yet."
Me: "Dad seems to be looking forward to meeting you too, Sara-san. I’m actually planning to tell him as little as possible, just so I can see him fall over in shock at how beautiful you are on the day of the introduction."
Sara: "I appreciate the sentiment, but you mustn't play pranks on your father… Understand?"
She scolded me lightly, but she was smiling as she poked my forehead with her index finger. Sara-san really was too cute—she made my heart race even when she was telling me off.
Hanako: "…What a sweet little lecture."
Hayato: "…No, they’re definitely just flirting."
Todo: "Father-in-law and mother-in-law… Satsukawa-senpai, you’re really going to marry Takanashi-kun! It’s so amazing having people I know talking about things like this. It doesn't even feel real yet."
Sara: "I agree. Even I feel like I might be dreaming sometimes."
Natsumi: "And then there’s me. Having seen the old Sara, I still can't quite wrap my head around it."
Natsumi-senpai and Nishikawa-san probably felt that more than anyone.
Sara-san had been kind to me from the start, but I knew she used to be incredibly cold to other guys. Anyone who had seen that for years would feel the same way.
Natsumi: "I mean, Sara used to trash-talk boys constantly. She’d call them eyesores or tell them to go back to elementary school and start over. For her to be the first one to get a lover and an engagement… it’s just unthinkable."
Sara: "Natsumi, would you please stop comparing Kazunari-san to the masses?"
Sara-san made no effort to hide her displeasure as she checked Natsumi-senpai.
Seeing her get genuinely offended on my behalf made me happy, even if I felt a little bad for Natsumi-senpai.
Natsumi: "Sorry, sorry! But that’s just how shocked I am. I mean, don't you find it strange too, Sara? Given who you used to be?"
Sara: "……True. If I think about who I was before I met Kazunari-san, I never would have dreamed that a day would come where I’d be thinking about marriage."
Hanako: "I can understand that feeling. Which is exactly why the conclusion is always that it’s a good thing she met Takanashi-kun."
Since Hanako-san and Sara-san were similar in some ways, they seemed to have developed a mutual understanding. Come to think of it, those two really had started to get along.
Todo: "I don't really know the old Satsukawa-senpai, but it basically just means you love Takanashi-kun that much, right?"
Sara: "Fufu… Yes. My past self doesn't matter anymore. The fact that I love Kazunari-san now is everything."
Todo-san, with her trademark innocence, had tackled the heavy topic head-on. Her simple, pure words seemed to wash away Sara-san’s annoyance, and her tone returned to its usual gentleness.
Hayato: "…She just said 'I love you' like it was the most natural thing in the world."
Natsumi: "…She did. For Sara, he’s already way past just being a boyfriend."
Todo: "'I love you' is such a big phrase! I get 'like,' but this feels so special."
Sara: "I can't quite explain it, but the word 'like' isn't enough to describe my feelings for Kazunari-san. This just feels more… right."
I felt like I understood that completely. "Like" wasn't a light word, but it wasn't enough to express the depth of what was between us. It was a higher level of expression.
Todo: "'I love you' is what people who are getting married or married couples say!"
Sara: "That’s right. And since I’ve promised to become Kazunari-san’s wife…"
Todo: "Kyaaaaaaa!!"
Todo-san let out her loudest squeal of the day. I was very glad we were in a secluded spot.
Natsumi: "…W-Wife… To think I’d live to hear that word from Sara’s mouth…"
Hanako: "…Yeah, that’s usually not a thing at our age."
Hayato: "…Tell me about it."
I was too embarrassed to even try joining the conversation between Sara-san and Todo-san…