My head was pounding.
It wasn’t a migraine; to be blunt, it was because I’d spent too much time crying. Between the emotional exchange between Sara-san and Natsumi-senpai and my own breakdown afterward, the throbbing behind my eyes was relentless.
I must have been grimacing, because Sara-san sat beside me with a look of deep concern.
"Kazunari-san, are you all right?"
"No... well, my head..."
There was no point in hiding it, so I told her the truth. Mayumi-san, who was listening from the driver's seat, chimed in.
"Takanashi-kun, do you have any medicine on you?"
"Yes. I’m prone to headaches, so I keep some handy."
"There should be a convenience store coming up soon. Wait just a little longer until I can buy you some water."
I felt terrible. I was causing trouble for everyone again. Why was I like this?
"Kazunari-san, no."
Sara-san’s finger poked me gently in the center of my forehead.
She had read my expression perfectly. Before I could apologize, she wrapped an arm around my shoulder and slowly guided my body down. She settled me into a lap pillow.
"Please, just relax and let your body rest."
While her right hand stroked my hair, her left hand began to pat my chest with a slow, rhythmic cadence... pon... pon...
"Haa... she’s as incredible as ever, isn't she?"
I heard Natsumi-senpai’s voice from the back, heavy with exasperation.
"What is?" Hayato asked, sounding genuinely confused.
I had a vague idea of what was coming, but I was in no condition to respond.
"Did you see that? She guided Takanashi-kun down with such natural movements," Natsumi-senpai observed. "And even after he was on her lap, there wasn't a single wasted motion in how she started comforting him."
I could feel Natsumi-senpai peeking over the back of our seat. Since it was a car with a three-row seat, I was in the middle row with Sara-san, while Natsumi-senpai and Hayato occupied the very back. From her vantage point, she must have seen everything.
"True. She certainly seemed used to it," Hayato agreed.
"Is it normal for a high school girl to be that practiced at giving a man a lap pillow?"
Hayato didn't seem to have an answer for that. The car went silent for a moment.
"I’m not entirely sure what you're implying," Sara-san said, her voice calm and steady. "But if it is something I can do for Kazunari-san, I am more than willing to master it for Kazunari-san exclusive use."
Coming from anyone else, it would have sounded like a joke. From Sara-san, it was a statement of absolute fact.
Natsumi-senpai seemed taken aback by the sheer sincerity of the reply. "...Sara might actually be invincible at this point," she muttered, giving up on the teasing.
We stopped at a convenience store to get water. Once I’d taken the medicine, all I could do was wait for it to kick in.
The moment I climbed back into the car, I was promptly guided back down onto Sara-san’s lap. As the pain began to recede, the soothing comfort of her touch took over. I drifted into a haze of drowsiness.
Sara-san continued to stroke my hair, but eventually, she shifted her hand to gently cover my eyes, coaxing them shut. That was the final blow to my consciousness.
"Good night, Kazunari-san."
Enveloped by the sound of her voice, I fell into a deep sleep.
"Hehe... Kazunari-san is cute..."
There she goes again, Mayumi thought.
She’d seen this before. Sara had a habit of whispering those kinds of things whenever she managed to get Takanashi-kun to sleep. In the past, she’d looked merely pleased with herself, but seeing the blissful, radiant smile on her daughter’s face now made Mayumi feel like teasing her would be in poor taste.
Well, I suppose loud voices are prohibited from here on out, Mayumi decided. If we wake Takanashi-kun, I have a feeling Sara’s rage would be terrifying.
"Hey, Sara," Mayumi whispered. "What’s the plan from here? Takanashi-kun’s injury should be mostly healed by now."
"Regardless of how he looks, I intend to continue as I have until the doctor gives him a completely clean bill of health. Besides, I’ve been personally requested to look after him by Kazunari-san's mother."
Mayumi blinked. "Wait... his mother?"
"Eh? You’ve met Takanashi-kun’s mother?" Natsumi-senpai leaned forward, her eyes wide. "I never heard about this..."
"Kazunari didn't mention it either," Hayato added.
"Wait, wait, wait... Sara-chan!" Mayumi exclaimed softly. "Why didn't you tell me something that important? I would have wanted to give my own greetings if the timing was right!"
Mayumi wondered if her daughter realized the weight such a meeting would carry between their families.
"It was all very sudden," Sara replied. "I didn't exactly have the luxury of time to arrange a formal introduction. But she is a wonderful mother. Oh, and when we were exchanging messages on RAIN earlier, she asked me to send her regards to you and Father."
Natsumi nearly choked. "She’s exchanging messages with Takanashi-kun’s mother on RAIN?!"
This was insane. Takanashi-kun had already won over Sara’s mother, and now it turned out Sara had already secured the approval of his mother.
Based on what Daichi had said, the entire Student Council already considered them a locked-in pair. Now, on their very first day as a couple, the outer moat had been almost entirely filled in, parents and all.
"My, my," Mayumi purred. "If you’re already in direct contact, then there’s no problem. Perhaps I’ll reach out for a formal greeting once you two have settled into your relationship a bit more."
Takanashi-kun shouldn't be sleeping through this, Natsumi thought, looking at the boy’s peaceful face. Even Hayato seemed stunned into silence.
"Kazunari-san... we’re almost there. Can you wake up for me?"
"Nnn..."
I heard a voice... but the pull of sleep was too strong.
"...Ka-zu-na-ri-san... Wa-ke-u-p."
A shiver ran down my spine. The sensation of warm breath against my ear, combined with the melodic lilt of Sara-san’s voice, jolted me awake.
"Wh—!? W-What!?"
I sat up, my heart racing from the ticklish sensation that still lingered in my ear.
"Hehe... are you finally awake?"
I realized I’d been asleep on her lap the whole time. Sara-san was beaming at me, and I had no idea what she’d actually done to wake me.
"We’re arriving soon, so please stay awake. And don't sit up so suddenly next time."
She scolded me gently as I tried to pull myself together.
"Is Takanashi-kun awake?" Mayumi-san called out. "Make sure to wake those two in the back, too."
It seemed everyone except Mayumi-san and Sara-san had been dozing. I felt a wave of guilt for being the cause of the late-night detour. Since it was so late, Mayumi-san dropped off Natsumi-senpai first, then Hayato.
"Mayumi-san, thank you so much for the ride. See you tomorrow, Sara, Takanashi-kun."
Natsumi-senpai waved as she hopped out.
"Thanks for today, I had a blast," Hayato said, leaning through the door. "Kazunari, thanks again. And... congratulations, man."
"Thanks," I mumbled, feeling the heat rise in my cheeks.
Then, it was my turn.
Even though I knew I’d see her again tomorrow, a strange sense of loneliness settled over me as we pulled up to my apartment.
Sara-san seemed to feel it, too. She slid across the seat to press herself against my side. Hoping to return even a fraction of the comfort she’d given me, I reached out and stroked her hair. She gave me a radiant smile and leaned into my touch, acting like a total affection-seeker.
"Oh my. I wonder since when my Sara-chan became such an affection-seeker," Mayumi-san teased, catching our reflection in the rearview mirror.
Sara-san’s face flushed a deep crimson, and she pulled away just an inch. "Mother! Please focus on your driving!"
"Well, I would, but we’ve already arrived."
I looked out the window and realized we were indeed parked in front of my familiar apartment building. Embarrassed, Sara-san and I fell into a bashful silence.
I thanked Mayumi-san and stepped out of the car. Sara-san followed me to the door as if it were the most natural thing in the world. When we reached the entrance, I turned around to say my goodbyes, but before I could speak, she stepped forward and hugged me.
"Kazunari-san, I will be here again tomorrow morning."
I wrapped my arms around her, returning the embrace. "I’ll be waiting."
"Hehe... until tomorrow, then."
She pulled back, her eyes sparkling. I stood there, waiting to see her safely back into the car before heading inside. Suddenly, she turned around and hurried back toward me.
Chu.
A soft, fleeting sensation pressed against my cheek. Then, she leaned in close to my ear.
"I love you."
With that whispered confession, she turned and ran back to the car. She gave me one last wave as she pulled the door shut, and the car began to roll away.
I stood there in the quiet night, staring at the empty street in a daze.