After we left the cafe, we made the rounds through the remaining classrooms. Without any particular trouble—which was only to be expected—today’s patrol concluded safely.
The Student Council members still had reports and other tasks to handle, so we couldn't head home just yet. Natsumi-senpai and Hayato left for their club activities.
Since that meant we had to part ways here, I felt a lingering sense of regret, but…
"Well then, we'll be heading home now. We still have tomorrow, after all."
Naturally, Nishikawa-san was leaving, but Tachikawa-san and Yuji had also decided to take a ride in her car.
The two had originally planned to take the train, but they chose to graciously accept Nishikawa-san’s offer after she approached them.
"Today was so much fun! Sigh, I wish our school would open its festival to the general public too…"
"Well, that’s probably asking for the impossible. The fact that our schedules didn’t overlap was our only saving grace."
The high school Yuji and Tachikawa-san attended didn't open its festival to outsiders. Only a limited number of people, such as family and alumni, were allowed in, so the scale was naturally smaller.
However, perhaps thanks to that, the dates for our festivals—which often tended to clash—were staggered. It was a lucky break.
"If you're going to put it like that, my school hasn't even had a festival yet…"
"Wait, really!?"
"We only just merged, after all. School events like that are still a work in progress."
From what I heard, the Student Council at Nishikawa-san’s school wasn't even fully functional yet, so any real events likely wouldn't start until next year. Thinking about it that way, the current third-year students were a bit pitiful.
"Well, I don’t know how things will go next year, but even if we do hold a festival, I’d like to shift the schedule for my own personal enjoyment. I certainly hope to invite all of you."
"Ah, I’d love to visit your school, Nishikawa-san!"
"I want to go too!"
Even without saying it aloud, the rest of us felt the same. One look at everyone’s faces told me everything I needed to know.
Ding-dong-dang-dong
"Yahho, it’s Minamin. Sigh… why does time fly so fast when you’re having fun? It’s a shame, but today’s festival hours have officially come to an end~"
Even over the speakers, Fukazawa-san’s voice lacked its usual bottomless cheer. It sounded a bit drained, perhaps even tinged with a hint of melancholy.
"But we still have tomorrow! Get some rest today, and tomorrow we’ll cause a huge ruckus… I mean, we’ll do our best!! So, with that, day one of the Rinka Festival is officially over. Great job, everyone~"
Clap clap clap clap!!!!
Not just us, but surely everyone in the vicinity… the entire school was enveloped in a wave of cheers and applause that wouldn't quit. The fun first day of the festival drew to a close.
The slight loneliness I felt was quickly pushed aside by the thrill of knowing that tomorrow was still to come.
"Shall we head home then? See you tomorrow…"
"See ya later~"
"I’m expecting big things tomorrow, Natsumi-san."
"Don't put unnecessary pressure on me!!"
The sound of everyone laughing was so pleasant that I couldn't help but wish these days could last forever.
A fun day had finally reached its conclusion.
But for me, in more ways than one, the real performance was tomorrow.
I knew I was about to do something audacious, but I didn't feel any anxiety at all.
I would do it… for our sake.
Ding-dong-dang-dong
"Ah, sorry, I forgot. A business communication for the stupid couple who pulled all sorts of stunts again today… Even the Buddha's patience has its limits, you know? That is all."
Ding-dong-dang-dong
" " "……………" " "
I’m so sorry…
"How should I put it… today was a very long day."
After eating dinner and taking a bath, all that was left was to sleep. Now that we had reached this point, I finally felt like I could truly breathe a sigh of relief.
We had been on the move since morning with a dense schedule, so that feeling was even more pronounced.
"It truly was. But I feel like this is the first time I've experienced a school event with such a sense of fulfillment. Last year, I simply did my work and it was over before I knew it."
"It’s the first time I’ve been this invested in a school event too. But I’m sorry, Sara-san. Even though you must be exhausted, you ended up making dinner as well…"
I had told her that for today, at least, a bento or eating out would be fine. But Sara-san insisted she was okay and prepared dinner as usual.
While that made me happy, I still felt a bit guilty.
"Fufu… it’s precisely because I’m tired, you know? Seeing you happy, Kazunari-san, is what gives me strength."
Squeeze…
Stroke, stroke…
As she said those wonderful words, Sara-san tightened her embrace slightly. She gently stroked my head.
To describe our current position… we were lying on the duvet, and I was in the middle of being pampered to no end by Sara-san.
I had asked her if there was anything I could do for her since she was the one who was tired, right?
Then she suddenly pulled me close, pushed me down—or rather, before I realized it, we were in this position.
I wasn't complaining, though.
"Fufu… being like this makes all the day’s fatigue just melt away."
"…If you say so, then I’m glad."
"I am truly satisfied just being like this. Besides, the fact that you were worried about me makes me so happy, Kazunari-san."
Actually, if I were asked if there was something specific I could do for Sara-san, I couldn't think of anything right away, which was pathetic.
If it were something like letting Sara-san seek affection from me, I could manage that.
But in Sara-san’s case, it was more like… well.
"Kazunari-san?"
"Yes… mgh…"
Chu…
When she suddenly called my name, I lifted my face from where it had been buried in heaven, only to have my lips immediately blocked by hers.
"Nn…"
Chu…
Five seconds… ten seconds… Sara-san didn't pull away. I felt a bit dizzy from the suddenness, but that only lasted a moment. Even if Sara-san was the one taking the lead as usual, I wanted to show that I was actively accepting her.
So, I pressed back slightly.
"Fufu…"
As we kissed, Sara-san let out a soft, delighted sound. She wrapped her arm around my head, fixing my face in place. Now I couldn't pull away or avoid her—I was completely at her mercy.
"Kazunari-san, once more… nnh."
Chu…
Since she was cradling my head, our lips met even more deeply this time. The sensation, the softness of Sara-san’s lips, and everything else made my heart race so fast it felt like it would overflow.
At the very core of it all was a sense of pure happiness, so my honest wish was to stay like this and accept it in silence.
But… well, as a man, a certain kind of alarm was ringing in my head, warning me that anything beyond this was dangerous.
Basically, just staying silent and accepting it was starting to get a bit problematic.
"…Kazunari-san."
"…Sara-san."
As she pulled her lips away, I felt like I could see all her deep emotions for me reflected in her eyes. I couldn't look away. Normally, staring at each other this closely for so long would have been too embarrassing, and I would have averted my gaze.
But today… right now, that bashfulness was eclipsed by the feeling that I was being drawn into Sara-san’s beautiful eyes.
"…My apologies, I simply lost myself for a moment…"
"No, I’m happy to be like this with you too, Sara-san."
"Yes. Kazunari-san, come here…"
Sara-san loosened the arm holding my head and guided my face back toward her chest. I didn't resist; instead, I buried my face there, hugging her back.
Haa… being like this really puts me at ease. It truly does.
"Fufu… such a good boy, Kazunari-san."
Stroke, stroke…
Sensing that I had fully entered my affection-seeker mode, Sara-san’s voice overflowed with joy. I already knew this, but Sara-san definitely seemed happier when I was the one clinging to her.
"Tomorrow will be a busy day, so shall we get some sleep now?"
"You're right…"
I suspected that had been her intention from the start, but I didn't mind. Even if it happened every night, this time spent seeking affection from Sara-san until I grew sleepy was an irreplaceable, happy moment for me.
Beep…
Sara-san used the remote by the pillow to turn off the light and lifted the duvet behind me with one hand. It was a task she could have done much more easily if she let go of me, but she refused to part from me for even a second. Pointing that out would have been tactless, so I kept quiet.
"Fufu… it’s so warm."
"You're the one who’s warm, Sara-san."
As we headed toward winter, the nights were getting chillier, even if the days were still alright.
Since the two of us slept huddled together, a single duvet was enough for now. But before long, we would probably need to bring out the winter one.
"Kazunari-san… thank you for the cat plushie."
"No, I’m just glad you liked it. But I thought we could bring the others too…"
On the vanity mirror Sara-san used, the cat plushie we got today was already sitting regally.
For my part, I thought she should just bring all the other plushies left at the Satsukawa house here, but Sara-san had said they would get in the way.
"I believe the day will come when I can welcome those children back… for now, I’ve left them in charge of watching the house."
"…You're right. I’ll do my best too."
I hadn't actually thought of anything specific to do when I said I’d do my best. But the words just came out—I felt intuitively that making that happen was my responsibility.
"Yes… let’s do our best together."
"Yeah, together… both of us…"
Stroke, stroke
Sara-san didn't press for specifics on what exactly we were going to do our best at, but I felt like it was another conversation focused on our future.
"Speaking of which, Tachikawa-san mentioned that you used to use a large plushie as a body pillow…"
"Yes. To be honest, when I was at home, I often slept while holding one."
"I knew it. There were several large ones by your bedside, weren't there?"
"Yes, those children were particularly comfortable to hold…"
In other words, those had been the chosen elite. When I imagined Sara-san sleeping while hugging a plushie, I felt like I would writhe from her cuteness. That was a serious amount of moe power.
"But I have no need for a body pillow anymore…"
Squeeze…
Mugh…
Sara-san’s right hand tightened its hold on my head. As a result, my face was buried even deeper into heaven.
Since her left arm was pressing against my back, we were now in a state of total contact.
"Fufu… holding you feels like heaven, Kazunari-san♪"
"…I’m happy too."
Actually, I’m the one in heaven!
…Though I could never say that out loud.
"It’s going to get colder from now on… so let's keep each other warm like this every day."
"Yeah, it’s warm if we stay like this…"
Stroke, stroke…
Enveloped by the endlessly kind Sara-san, my heart racing at her sweet voice, I couldn't believe I was living such happy days.
I had heard the phrase "so happy it’s scary," but I never dreamed the day would come when I would feel it myself.
"Sara-san…"
It wasn't that I was actually afraid, but I squeezed back, taking the initiative to hug her as an affection-seeker. When I did that, Sara-san would always smile and hug me even tighter.
I felt Sara-san’s warmth and was wrapped in happiness. It was okay; this happiness wasn't a dream.
"Fufu… such an affection-seeker♪"
"…Is that bad?"
"…No. Please… seek even more affection from me… Darling."
"…Okay."
Sara-san’s voice was so sweet that my heart started pounding without limit. It was so loud I thought it might be heard not just by her, but by the neighbors.
Yet despite the racing heart, strangely enough, the "unsuitable male urges" I had felt earlier seemed to have vanished.
Or perhaps Sara-san’s boundless kindness had simply enveloped those urges before they could even sprout. I tried to think of it that way.
In any case, I felt like I could finally relax and seek her affection.
"♪~♪~"
Then, Sara-san began to hum a gentle tune, almost like a lullaby to calm my spirit.
Matching the rhythm, she slowly stroked my head and patted my back… pon… pon…
The comfort was so overwhelming that my racing heart gradually, but surely, began to settle.
"…Kazunari-san… thank you."
"…Sara-san?"
"With this, I’ve received the strength… the courage to get through tomorrow."
"Um…?"
Tomorrow was an important day for me—to do something for Sara-san’s sake and to remove some of the obstacles in our way. But for Sara-san, it was a day she likely wasn't looking forward to at all.
So, I took her words to mean she had found the energy to face such a day.
"As long as you are by my side, Kazunari-san, I have nothing to fear. I’m not taking today’s tarot results at face value, but in order to grasp our happy future…"
"…You're right. For our future."
Her strangely meaningful tone made me panic for a split second, thinking she had caught onto my plan, but that didn't seem to be the case.
Or perhaps she was simply feeling some anxiety about the Miss Contest.
Regardless, as Sara-san said, even if "future" was a bit of an exaggeration, tomorrow was an important day for our school life and for ending her worries.
That was why I was going to do something big.
The old me would never have even considered something so audacious, but to the current me, it was "nothing much."
If it was for Sara-san’s sake, something like this was absolutely no big deal at all.
Side Sara
"…Kazunari-san?"
"…Zzz… zzz…"
"Fufu… you’ve fallen asleep, haven't you…"
Stroke, stroke…
Pon… pon…
As I looked at Kazunari-san’s innocent, truly adorable sleeping face, I gently stroked his head and pulled him a little closer, careful not to make him uncomfortable. To ensure he slept soundly, I patted his back… pon… pon… in time with his heartbeat.
Whenever I do this, Kazunari-san falls asleep almost immediately… fufu.
I feel his breath, gaze at his lovely sleeping face, and the day comes to an end. There is nothing more blissful than this.
"…Darling."
This way of addressing him was something I originally came up with on the spot to compete with Mother. But now, it has become something imbued with truly special feelings for me.
After all… this is a term a wife uses for her husband.
I am not unaware that calling him that even now makes my own feelings seem quite heavy.
But… when I think of Kazunari-san, my feelings overflow. I cannot suppress them, and they refuse to stop.
So precious… so precious… Kazunari-san is truly dear to me…
Even if those around me say I’m overdoing it, I have no intention of changing how I express my love. If Kazunari-san ever found it a nuisance, I would stop in an instant, but…
As it stands, I know that Kazunari-san is happy, and I am blissful because he accepts me.
If that is the case, then I have no reason to hold back.
Furthermore, Kazunari-san has begun to walk a path for my… for our future. If so, then I have the duty to support him with all my might and to heal him like this.
…I suppose that makes it sound like I’m doing it out of a sense of obligation.
But in truth, I simply want to do everything for him. You could call it a grand justification.
This is something that brings me immense happiness as well… so it’s not just killing two birds with one stone, but three or four.
"…Sara…san…"
"Yes… I am right here…"
Squeeze…
When I slightly tightened my embrace in response to Kazunari-san’s sleep-talking, he rubbed against me as if seeking affection… haa… he really is so cute♪
Seeing him look so adorable makes me want to kiss him again.
But if I did that, I would wake him… so, I’ll settle for a gentle one on his forehead.
Chu…
Mojo-mojo
Perhaps the kiss was ticklish, as Kazunari-san wriggled slightly, burrowing further into my chest… fufu, now I’m the one who’s tickled♪
…I truly am happy.
I wish the two of us could stay like this forever.
However, I must sleep soon as well.
"Tomorrow is finally the day…"
Tomorrow is the final day of the Rinka Festival.
And the day of the Miss Contest.
I don’t have a shred of amiability to show to the rabble, so I couldn't care less about the result. If it’s the winner, that… I’ve forgotten her name… but she or anyone else can do as they please.
To me, such a thing is worthless.
However… I will make sure those who dragged me into that event pay the price.
My only regret is that it will cause trouble for Kazunari-san… but I’m sure you will forgive me, won't you?
This is all for the sake of our future school life, and to ensure that the ill intent of fools does not target Kazunari-san.
I no longer have any need for a convenient reputation like being "aloof."
"Darling…"
With the warmth of Kazunari-san sleeping against me and my love for him, I have nothing to fear. I have no hesitation.
I will never again show such a pathetic display as I did back then.
As long as it is for Kazunari-san’s sake… from now on, in the future, no matter what happens.
Stroke, stroke…
"……Nn…"
"…Good night, Darling."
Chu…
So as not to wake Kazunari-san, I give him the final kiss of the day right before sleep.
That is enough for today.
Next is tomorrow… after we wake up, a "good morning" kiss… fufu.
Well then, good night… Kazunari-san.
Sweet dreams…
I adore you…
I love you from the bottom of my heart… Darling♪