With the beetles completely forgotten, I’d spent the walk back to the village savoring the lingering sensation of Airi’s breasts from our accidental encounter.
(Airi’s breasts... Airi’s breasts...)
"Good work, Ryouta!"
"O-Oh! Good work to you too, Airi."
"We’ve already set the bait on the trees, so now we just have to wait until morning, right?"
On the way back to her grandmother's house, Airi looked back at me with a mischievous, childlike smile.
I, however, wasn't quite as optimistic. We’d essentially just stuffed some foul-smelling concoction of fermented bananas and shochu into old stockings. I couldn't help but wonder if such a crude setup would actually yield results.
"Hey, Airi. Are you sure that'll work? To a complete amateur like me, that trap seems way too simple."
"T-They’ll come! And if they don't... I’ll stay another night if I have to!"
Apparently, Airi was determined to get a beetle, even if she had to be stubborn about it.
"Why are you so dead-set on catching a beetle anyway?"
"B-Because..."
"...Because?"
"Um..."
Airi looked down, fidgeting nervously. Was there some reason she found it hard to talk about? Come to think of it, I’d never actually asked why she wanted one so badly. I’d just assumed she wanted to relive a bit of childhood nostalgia, but maybe there was more to it.
"Is there some specific reason you want a beetle?"
"Y-Yeah. Actually, well... um."
"Why are you being so cagey about it? Wait... Airi, you’re not planning to flip them for a profit, are you?"
"I am not! I'm not that hard up for cash!" Airi shouted, playfully pummeling my shoulder.
"Then you can tell me, right? Or is it something you can't share with me?"
"N-No, it's not that. It's just embarrassing."
"Embarrassing?"
"Yeah... See, since the start of the year, my mom’s been working later at her part-time job. Lately, whenever Airi gets home from her own job, she’s always alone..."
"Wait, what does that have to do with beetles?"
"That’s why! Airi is lonely! I get so lonely by myself, but whenever I tell people I want to talk on the phone because I'm lonely, they just tell me to do that with my boyfriend! So I thought about getting a pet... but my apartment building doesn't allow dogs or cats."
So, out of all the possible options, she had settled on a beetle...
"Pfft..."
"Hey! You laughed! Ryouta, that’s mean!"
"Sorry, sorry. It’s just... your reason for wanting one is actually pretty cute."
"C-Cute? You really think so?"
"Yeah. It feels very like you, Airi."
It was honestly quite innocent and charming.
"But then I thought, since you already know the circumstances that I don't have a boyfriend, maybe if I just told you how I felt, I could've asked you... or something."
"Asked? Asked me what?"
"...No, never mind! It’s nothing! Airi is going to live with Mr. Beetle!"
Airi blurted out the words and then broke into a jog.
"The first one back gets the first bath! Alright, Airi is going in first!"
"Wait... Airi!"
I stood there for a moment with my hand reached out, watching her run toward the house.
(Like I’d mind... If you're a guy, of course you'd want to be the one taking a bath right after Airi!)
I stared up at the rural night sky, now blanketed in stars, a faint, knowing grin creeping onto my face.