"See you later!"
"Good work today!"
"We wish you two all the happiness in the world!"
After parting ways at the Station Front with the Student Council members—who had been in quite an uproar—we arrived at the Shopping Street to buy ingredients for dinner. If it were just me, I would have made do with something easy from a convenience store or a supermarket, but Sara-san was particular about her ingredients. She liked to shop at the specialty stores she frequented. I had heard she used to come here with Mayumi-san since she was a child, so she seemed to know all sorts of shops I’d never even noticed.
As for Sara-san herself, she had linked her arm with mine the moment we left the others and was currently clinging tightly to my left arm, looking quite pleased with herself.
"We’re missing a few ingredients, so please let me stop by the meat shop and the vegetable shop."
"Understood. Is the meat shop the same one we visited before?"
"Yes. I’m glad you remembered."
"Well, yeah. That lady said some things about her son that didn't sit right with me."
I still remembered that encounter vividly. For a shopkeeper to try and set a customer up with her own son... I thought it was a bit too much of a cliché.
When I thought about how she might have been introduced to the guy behind my back if I hadn't shown up that day, I couldn't help but feel a lingering sense of unpleasantness. Of course, I knew Sara-san would have turned him down without a second thought, but still.
"...Um, Kazunari-san. If such a troublesome topic comes up again in the future, would it be alright if I clearly state that I have someone I've sworn my future to? I believe that would allow me to reject them even more firmly."
"Ugh... y-yes. I’d actually be happy if you did that..."
Sara-san spoke the phrase "someone I've sworn my future to" without a hint of hesitation or embarrassment. Her boldness made me the one who felt flustered instead. She was the type who could be remarkably dignified about these things, whereas I still wasn't quite used to it.
"Fufu... is something the matter, Darling?"
The moment she noticed my embarrassment, Sara-san called me "Darling" with a mischievous glint in her eyes. Being addressed that way gave me a strange, restless sensation—I didn't even know how to describe the feeling. Was it happiness? Shame? Embarrassment? Or something else entirely?
I’d been thinking lately that Sara-san’s occasional "little devil" streaks and her tendency to pamper me might be the influence of Mayumi-san. I secretly suspected my guess was right on the mark.
"Welcome, Sara-chan. Is your boyfriend with you today too?"
The first voice we heard upon entering the shop was a greeting that felt very much like one for a regular. Since I would likely be showing my face here more often from now on, I felt I should greet them properly so as not to embarrass Sara-san.
"Hello. We’ll be coming here together from now on, so please look after us."
"Yes, hello. You two are as close as ever, aren't you? But what brings this on so suddenly?"
"I’ve been leaving the shopping entirely to her until now, so I thought I’d help out as a luggage carrier or with anything else I can do."
I obviously didn't intend to say it was because Sara-san had pleaded with me, so I gave a standard answer reflecting what I’d been thinking. Since I actually had been feeling that way, it wasn't a lie at all.
"My, my, how wonderful, Sara-chan. He might turn into a fine husband one day."
"Fufu... I have always thought so."
"Ahaha, you’ve certainly learned how to speak your mind, Sara-chan. Having watched you grow up, it's even more apparent."
I could see how accustomed she was to this environment by the way she skillfully handled the joke from the meat shop lady. Seeing her like this made Sara-san’s maturity stand out all the more, and I felt once again that I must be the childish one if I was always the one being called "cute."
After we finished there, we purchased what we needed and left the shop. Next, we stopped by the vegetable shop right next door.
While we were looking at the vegetables lined up in front, a man appeared from inside—the quintessential image of a shopkeeper, wearing a headband and an apron.
"Oh, welcome, Sara-chan! You haven't been coming with Mayumi-san lately... wait, hey, who’s the young man?"
"Hello. We’ll be coming here together from now on, so please remember his face."
It was the same pattern as before. Since this was the first time I’d shown my face at this shop, I was reminded of my first visit to the meat shop. Surely he wouldn't start talking about a son here too, would he?
Sara-san’s reply left the man wide-eyed with surprise.
"...I’d heard rumors from the neighbors, but I guess they were true. Man, I can't believe there's a guy out there who actually captured Sara-chan... You're quite something, kid!"
"Uh... yes, I think it's a miracle myself..."
"Kazunari-san, I was the one who fell in love first, you know? Didn't we talk about this before?"
Come to think of it, we’d had an argument before about who liked whom first. At that time, Sara-san had silenced me with a kiss and I’d been forced to surrender, but I still thought that was playing dirty.
"Ooh, Sara-chan was the one who caught him? That’s even more of a shock! I’m jealous, kid. Sara-chan will definitely make a fine wife."
Thwack, thwack!
"Y-yes. I think so too."
He slapped my back with such enthusiasm that I almost choked. I really struggled in situations like this because I didn't have the experience to know how to respond properly. I couldn't just brush it off like Sara-san did.
"Mister, Kazunari-san is troubled, so please stop there."
Thanks to Sara-san’s firm warning, the man stopped hitting my back immediately and scurried back to his post.
"Oops, wouldn't want to make Sara-chan angry. Alright, I'll give you a little extra as an apology, so just pick out whatever you want for now."
"Honestly... well then, I'll take these..."
We only visited those two shops today, but even as we walked along, people from several other stores called out to us. I realized for the first time today that Sara-san’s popularity wasn't limited to the school; she was a local celebrity here in the shopping street as well.
After we finished our curry dinner and were picking at our dessert, both of our smartphones rang at the same time. Since it was simultaneous, there was no doubt it was a Group RAIN notification.
Since mine was charging and out of reach, Sara-san picked up her own phone to check.
"Kazunari-san, I've received a message from Eri about the debriefing session. She says that if everyone is free tomorrow, she'd like to hold a meal gathering."
Tomorrow, huh...
Since everyone—Nishikawa-san especially—had really looked after us throughout this whole ordeal, I’d wanted to report to them as soon as possible. While Group RAIN was an option, I felt that these kinds of things should be discussed in person.
"Understood. Are you okay with that, Sara-san?"
"Yes. I have... no problem with it."
Even though she said that, the slight hesitation in her voice caught my attention. Was something bothering her?
"Sara-san, if there's something on your mind, please tell me. Don't hold back."
"Ugh..."
When I spoke a bit more firmly, Sara-san looked slightly troubled and hesitantly explained herself.
"It's nothing major. It's just... we finally started our life with just the two of us, and yet we're already going to be eating out..."
Given that Sara-san was incredibly particular about making my meals, this probably wasn't a small matter for her. This was only our second dinner since moving in together. To suddenly eat out when she was so fired up about her role... it was only natural for her to feel conflicted.
"I see... in that case, I'll try not to eat much there. Then I can eat your food when we get back home."
"You're being mean... I can't let my selfishness make you do something like that, Kazunari-san."
Sara-san puffed out her cheeks and let out a cute protest at my joke—though I had been halfway serious. Since I was the one who’d poked it out of her, I felt a little guilty.
"But really, I’d honestly rather eat your cooking than a dinner at some famous hotel. Your meals are better to me than any restaurant. And I'm not just being flattering—I mean it."
I told her the truth, what I genuinely felt, with no exaggeration involved. The restaurant Nishikawa-san had taken us to before was famous and the food was undeniably delicious, but in terms of my personal preference, it didn't hold a candle to Sara-san's cooking.
"...Thank you. I'm truly happy to hear you say that. Please don't worry about tomorrow anymore. Your feelings alone are more than enough for me, Kazunari-san."
Hearing my words seemed to have cleared the air, and she returned to her usual self.
"I'm serious, you know?"
"Yes, I understand. Then, will you believe me if I do this?"
Chu...
Closing the distance instantly, Sara-san leaned in and kissed my cheek without a moment's hesitation. Her smile told me she truly believed me now.
"How was that? If you still don't believe me, I'll have to go for your mouth next time."
"Ah..."
I didn't doubt her happiness for a second. But the prospect of a kiss on the lips was still special, and as someone who struggled to initiate things myself, I couldn't help but feel a surge of expectation when she teased me like that.
"Fufu... Kazunari-san, your face is so honest, even if your heart is shy. You're so cute..."
Sara-san, having clearly read my expectations, pulled my head toward her chest with a gentle smile.
"Kazunari-san, look at me..."
She whispered into my ear, her hand guiding my face upward. As her face drew closer and closer, I instinctively closed my eyes.
Chu...
"Nnh..."
I don't know how many seconds passed, but I remained completely at her mercy until she finally pulled away.
After ending the kiss, Sara-san gazed at me with a dreamy expression before breaking into a soft, lovely smile.
"My whole body feels fluffy... I always end up like this when we kiss. How about you, Kazunari-san?"
"I feel like... the happiness is almost too much to handle..."
"I agree. I think I end up this way because I’m just too happy. Kazunari-san, come here..."
"Y-yes..."
I was still in a daze, my response barely coherent. Sara-san guided me back to her chest and embraced me softly, slowly stroking my hair.
"Fufu... if you stay this shy, I'll always be the one to kiss you first. If you're alright with that, I don't mind at all, but..."
"Ugh... I-I'll do my best."
I didn't know if "doing my best" was the right way to put it, but I felt it was a bit pathetic to leave everything to the proactive Sara-san. In that sense, I really did want to try harder.
"Yes, I'll be waiting for you whenever you're ready... Darling."
As Sara-san held me, I secretly vowed in my heart that next time, I would be the one to initiate the kiss.