And so, today was our weekly routine: the once-a-week Satsukawa family meal gathering.
The Student Council didn't have any urgent tasks, and since we were heading home early, we decided to pick up groceries for dinner on the way.
During the Rinka Festival preparations, I had been so busy that I’d left the gatherings entirely to Mayumi-san. Sara-san had seemed quite unhappy about it—a troubling factor in its own right—but that would be resolved starting today.
Well, in exchange, I could already picture Mayumi-san looking dissatisfied this time instead...
Since the shopping list had already been sent via RAIN, all that was left was to buy everything at the usual Shopping Street before heading to the Satsukawa family home.
Yes... that was all it was supposed to be.
"Having dinner at Satsukawa-san’s house every week... you two really are close with each other's families," one of my senpais remarked.
"But even if they're your future family, doesn't Takanashi-kun feel a bit out of place being the only outsider joining in?"
"No, that's not really the case," I replied. "I just spend time there normally. Honestly, it might actually be more comfortable than my own family home."
"Kazunari-san, I am truly happy to hear you say that... but it would be disrespectful to my Father-in-law and Mother-in-law, so please do not say it too openly, okay?"
"Oops, you're right. My apologies."
Just as Sara-san said, it would be bad for my Dad and Mom if I was that blunt about it.
But in reality, my Dad was such a free spirit that even when he was home, he just loafed around doing nothing, and my Mom was constantly nagging me about one thing or another...
They often say the grass is always greener on the other side, but no matter how I looked at it, my Dad and Mom couldn't beat Masaomi-san and Mayumi-san.
"This is a bit late to ask... but the 'Father-in-law' and 'Mother-in-law' that Satsukawa-san is talking about are Takanashi-kun's parents, right? Which means..."
"So you're calling them 'Father-in-law' and 'Mother-in-law' already?"
"Yes, of course I do. Is something the matter?" Sara-san asked.
"No... how should I put it..."
"It's just that you're already completely in marriage mode..."
"Hmph... I do not quite understand what you are concerned about. Regardless, the fact remains that Kazunari-san's parents are my parents-in-law."
Hmm, I could easily imagine that the senpais were just surprised all over again by the fact that Sara-san made such statements so casually... it was that familiar "unbelievable" reaction.
But from Sara-san's perspective, it was only natural. It was just another one of our standard, familiar exchanges.
...More importantly, why were the senpais coming along for our dinner grocery shopping in the first place?
"Wife, where are we doing the shopping?" Hanako asked.
"As for where, we will stop by the vegetable shop and the fish shop," Sara-san answered.
"The usual stores?"
"Yes."
By the way, it wasn't particularly rare for Hanako-san to be with us. This shopping street was her usual school route, and her apartment building was just around the corner ahead.
"...It's not a supermarket," one of the senpais muttered.
"...I can't imagine Satsukawa-san shopping at a vegetable shop or a fish shop..."
"Oh, Sara-chan, welcome! You've got quite a large group today!"
"Hello. Yes, today is a bit..."
"I see, I see. Ah, big brother is here too, welcome!"
"H-Hello."
As usual, we were greeted by the Manager, who was the living embodiment of a traditional greengrocer. Sara-san immediately began choosing what she needed from the vegetables lined up out front. Since the best produce was always displayed at the front of the shop, we rarely had to step deep into the store.
"This and..."
"Right you are... wait, Sara-chan, that finger..."
"Eh? Ah, do you mean this?"
The Manager, having sharply noticed the ring showing its clear presence on Sara-san's finger, widened his eyes. Come to think of it, we hadn't come to this shop since the proposal.
"The ring finger... no way. Does that mean what I think it means!?"
"Fufu... yes, it does."
Sara-san cast a meaningful glance at me and smiled, her face radiant with happiness.
The Manager, who had been watching with a look of pure shock, looked back and forth between me and Sara-san before breaking into a grin as if caught by her mood.
"Is that so, is that so! Well, that's a shocker! Hey, you should've told me sooner!"
"What's with you? Why are you shouting so loud?"
Apparently hearing the Manager's surprised voice, the Vegetable Shop Lady appeared from the back of the store. The contrast between her brisk way of speaking and her cute Puppy Apron was as charming as ever.
"Oh, Sara-chan and her boyfriend, welcome! Thank you as always!"
"Hey, take a look at Sara-chan's left hand!" her husband shouted.
"Huh? Her left hand...? Sara-chan, that!"
"Fufu..."
Seeing Sara-san's left hand, the Vegetable Shop Lady froze with her eyes wide open, just like the Manager. Since these two had watched Sara-san grow up since her childhood, it was only natural that their surprise would be that much greater.
"Wait, could it be... is that an engagement ring? From the boyfriend!?"
"Yes ♪"
"Eeeh!? Is Mayumi-cha... are the parents okay with this!?"
"Of course, this has the approval of both families," Sara-san said.
"Haaah, this is a surprise!"
"Man... you've got guts, big brother."
Whack! Whack!
"Cough! Cough!"
The Manager began clapping me on the back with his usual gusto. I knew he wasn't trying to hurt me, but it was still heavy-handed enough to sting.
However, once he started that...
"Mister... how many times do I have to tell you the same thing?"
"Oops, crap, sorry, big brother!"
"You, how many times do you have to be scolded by Sara-chan before you learn? Give it a rest! Sorry about that, boyfriend. This man is a bird-brain."
"N-No, it's okay..."
As I thought, Sara-san getting genuinely protective was also a familiar part of our routine. No matter who it was, she never allowed anyone to be rough with me—that was the Sara-san Style.
"No, really, my bad. But big brother, you seem to be loved as much as ever. I'm jealous. Besides, being able to make such an exceptionally beautiful girl your wife—you've pretty much won at life, haven't you?"
"...That's right. I also think every day about how I can be this happy."
"Oh, you said it! Well, a girl with this much beauty and domestic skill is practically an endangered species. There's no doubt you're a lucky man, big brother."
"Haha, I'm the one who's most aware of that."
Being united with Sara-san, the finest woman in the world, made me the happiest man alive. I didn't need to be told that; as the person involved, I knew it better than anyone.
That was exactly why I wanted to cherish Sara-san more than anyone else and make her the happiest in the world... no, I would make her the happiest. That was the vow I made to myself.
"...How should I put it... they fit in way too well," a senpai whispered.
"...This is a shopping scene of high school students... really?"
"...The fact that the wife is domestic isn't anything new," Hanako noted dryly.
"...It's that domestic appearance that we find so unbelievable..."
"I thought Mayumi-chan had been in a particularly good mood lately. So that was the reason," the Vegetable Shop Lady said warmly. "In that case, we've gotta give you a celebratory gift."
"Fufu... thank you. We will gratefully accept your kindness."
"Hahaha, you're a perfect housewife already... well, I guess that's nothing new. Sara-chan, go ahead and pick out what you need first."
"Yes. Then..."
In this way, we finished our usual shopping, and as we were leaving, we gratefully received a Fruit Assortment of persimmons, bananas, and grapes. I was happy, but I wondered if it was really okay to take this much... well, I wasn't going to complain.
After parting with Hanako-san and the senpais, I walked slowly down the familiar road with Sara-san.
Autumn was progressing steadily. Whereas this time of day would have still felt like the middle of the afternoon before, the sky was already bathed in the golden light of the setting sun. Our shadows stretched long before us, making me realize that winter was fast approaching.
I couldn't help but remember that around this time last year, I had absolutely no room to think about such things, nor the mental leeway to notice the seasons changing.
How happy I was now.
How precious this daily life had become.
"Kazunari-san."
Sara-san slightly tightened her grip on my hand. When I turned to look at her, she was already watching me, a soft, gentle smile on her face.
"Sara-san?"
"No, it is nothing in particular, but..."
"But?"
"Fufu... I was just thinking about how happy I am."
"...Me too."
Whether she’d read my thoughts again or it was just a coincidence, knowing we were in sync even in such casual moments made my heart swell.
"The Vegetable Shop Lady told me something earlier..."
"Come to think of it, you were talking about something as we were leaving, weren't you?"
"Yes. Though it was not a very big deal. She told me, 'Make sure you hold onto such a resourceful husband properly.'"
"Resourceful...?" I repeated.
I wondered if I really fit that description. To me, resourcefulness meant being a man who could get things done, someone capable... but could I really be called that?
"She said that for a first-year in high school to look seriously toward the future, succeed in gaining official approval from my parents, and even go as far as preparing a proper engagement ring for a proposal... well, she wondered how many resourceful boys like that actually exist in this world. So, she told me I must never let go."
When listed out like that, I suppose my actions weren't very typical for a high schooler. But I only did those things because they were necessary. I didn't feel like I’d done anything extraordinary. Everything was simply because I wanted to be with Sara-san.
"Fufu... but I do not need to be told such a thing. I know better than anyone that Kazunari-san is a wonderful, dependable man. And... even without being told, I have no intention of letting go of this hand for the rest of my life."
"Sara-san..."
She held our joined hands out slightly in front of us, her expression firming as if to vow once more that she would never let go. I felt exactly the same.
"Yeah. I have no intention of letting go of this hand either. Even if you said you hated it..."
"Kazunari-san, please do not say such a thing even as a joke. There is no way I could ever reject you, even if heaven and earth were turned upside down."
"S-Sorry, that was just a figure of speech... of course, I know that could never happen."
"Yes. My place is only by your side. Being able to be near you, being able to do everything I can for you, is my greatest happiness..."
"Sara-san..."
Keeping our hands clasped tight, Sara-san looked into my eyes with a gaze that was absolute and unwavering. As if drawn in by those earnest eyes, I couldn't look away. We just stood there, gazing silently at each other.
"Therefore... Kazunari-san, please be happy too, okay? I will definitely make you the happiest in the world."
"...Thank you. But I'm already the happiest man in the world, you know?"
I wasn't sure why she had suddenly become so intense. Maybe the conversation at the vegetable shop had triggered it, or maybe she had sensed the direction of my thoughts.
"If I can continue to be with you—someone who loves me and understands me more than anyone—there's no greater happiness than this. I can say that for certain. That's why I've come to be able to accept all of my past, knowing it was all necessary for my current... and future happiness. Because all of it led to my encounter with you."
"Kazunari-san..."
After a light impact, our long shadows merged into one. Sara-san wrapped her arm around mine, leaning into me with a warmth that was soft and comforting.
"...As I thought, I am the one who is the happiest in the world. To be loved so much by you..."
"No, I'm the one who's number one," I teased.
"Fufu... if you continue to argue, I will have to forcibly shut your mouth again, you know?"
"Eh!?"
"...Even without saying such unromantic things, right now, I..."
"Sara... san?"
She unwrapped her arm and stepped in front of me, looking up into my eyes. Bathed in the glow of the setting sun, she looked beautiful beyond measure... almost mystical.
My... my very own Goddess.
"Let us become the happiest couple in the world together... Darling?"
"Yeah..."
"Yes ♪"
She leaned into me, closing the distance until it vanished. Her eyes softly fluttered shut, and I was momentarily breathless at how beautiful she looked in the twilight.
"I love you... Darling."
Then, she stole my lips as well.
Our long, stretching shadows had merged completely into one.