Episode 119: Coming to One’s Senses

Clap… clap…

Clap-clap…

Clap-clap-clap-clap!!!

「Congratulations!」

「Don’t show us up like that, you two!!」

「Stay happy!!」

「I’m so jealous of that beautiful girlfriend~」

「Thanks for showing us something good~」

Just when I thought applause had suddenly started, it kept building until it turned into a standing ovation. Whistles rang out too, and I finally realized the situation I’d just confessed in.

Right, there are people around… no, these people aren’t exactly acquaintances, so it doesn’t really matter.

More importantly, I did that right in front of Mayumi-san… Sara-san’s mother…

Recognizing that fact all over again, a wave of intense panic washed over me.

「Kazunari-san, is something wrong?」

「N, no, I just realized… even though it was the heat of the moment, Mayumi-san’s right here.」

「Fufu… that’s true. But I don’t have a problem with it, okay? Okaa-san hasn’t been against my relationship with you, Kazunari-san.」

It’s true, I think she’s been friendly since the first time we met. If Sara-san is okay with it… is there really no problem?

And then there’s Natsumi-senpai and the others.

I wonder if she’ll get mad and call us a「stupid couple」again…

I hesitated to look at everyone out of embarrassment, but encouraged by Sara-san, who looked so happy with her arm linked in mine, I braced myself.

When I looked toward where the three of them were standing, Mayumi-san was smiling and clapping with her smartphone in one hand.

And Natsumi-senpai was…

She was laughing while crying.

I walked back quickly, and once Sara-san let go of my arm, Natsumi-senpai lunged at her as if she’d been waiting.

「I’m so glad, I’m so glad!! I’m sorry, I thought it’d be okay, but when I realized Sara actually gave a proper answer… sniff…」

Maybe talking about it made the tears come back, because Natsumi-senpai started crying even harder. Sara-san was comforting her with tears in her own eyes.

「Natsumi… thank you. Because you supported me, I was able to come this far. I was able to be united with my most beloved, Kazunari-san. So… so…」

Sara-san couldn’t find her voice anymore, and the two of them just cried quietly while hugging each other.

Partway through, I couldn’t see the two of them very well either.

It’s been a long time since I’ve cried along with someone else…

I’m sure Natsumi-senpai supported Sara-san in ways I don’t even know about. She might have been worried about whether Sara-san could give a proper answer.

Just as Yuji is to me, there’s no doubt that Natsumi-senpai is that person for Sara-san.

If that’s the case, I have to thank Natsumi-senpai too, I have to be grateful… thinking that just made me cry even more.

I wonder how long it was like that; before I knew it, the two of them had stopped crying, and for some reason, I was the only one still at it.

As I was crying along, I remembered everything that had happened up until now and the fact that I’d met Sara-san, which made me cry even harder. It’s the first time I’ve ever cried like this.

Next thing I knew, Sara-san was in front of me, hugging me in a way that pulled my head against her.

「Kazunari-san… please calm down.」

Sara-san had comforted me or stroked my head many times before, but I feel like it’s the first time I’ve been hugged this closely. I reflexively went limp and leaned into her, and Sara-san tightened her hold on my head just a little.

「Fufu… are you a spoiled baby?」

Hearing Sara-san whisper that in such a sweet voice made my heart skip a beat, and I suddenly regained my composure. Right now, my face was pressed against Sara-san’s very soft sensation and—

「Don’t start getting all touchy-feely so suddenly, you stupid couple.」

Natsumi-senpai, who seemed to have regained her rhythm, threw in her usual quip.

In the end, I exposed the pathetic sight of being the last one crying and even put on a display of「shame play」by needing Sara-san to hug me to stop… and all right in front of Mayumi-san…

When I felt myself getting a bit depressed, Sara-san’s hand immediately started stroking my head, so I pulled myself back together.

「Ufufu… congratulations, you two. I never thought my daughter would do the exact same thing we did. Confessing right in front of us… Kazunari-san might be even braver than that person.」

Mayumi-san said that with an expression that looked like she’d just seen something very entertaining.

Er… does this mean she’s officially approving of me as Sara-san’s mother?

「Takanashi-kun, you better make my best friend happy. If you make her cry, I won’t forgive you.」

Natsumi-senpai seems to have fully recovered.

Of course, I have no intention of making her cry; if I do, it’ll only be tears of joy.

「No, congrats. Honestly, I didn’t think I’d get to see a scene like that. It was worth coming today just for this. It might be tough at school from now on, but if you’re ever in trouble, tell me anytime. Next… is my turn.」

Hayato is a good guy as always.

He seems to have been inspired and found some new resolve. Come to think of it, those two were supposed to be alone together at the fireworks festival; did anything progress? From what I can see, I don’t feel any change, though.

「Takanashi-san… I’ll leave Sara in your hands. This girl goes full speed ahead once she sets her mind on something, so let me know if you’re in trouble because she doesn’t know when to stop.」

「No, even if that happens, I’ve already decided to accept all of it.」

Mayumi-san really seems to have given her approval.

I guess I really have to talk to her father soon…

Maybe seeing through my thoughts, Mayumi-san laughed as if she were having fun.

「Oh, he’s fine for now. He’s going to be busy for a while, and if we tell him now, he won’t be able to focus on his work.」

It looks like the meeting with her father is still a way off… I’m both relieved and feel like I want to just get it over with.

「Sigh… I wondered how long Sara-chan’s man-hating would last, but I’m relieved. I guess the next thing to look forward to is grandkids?」

Pfft!

It’s the first day of dating, it’s way too early for that…

I mean, isn’t that a conversation for after marriage? No, no, does she even approve of things to that extent!?

I don’t know if Sara-san was listening to the conversation or not, but she was sticking to me with a very happy smile, her arm linked with mine.

「Heh… we’re talking about that already? Hey, hey, Sara, would you want a boy or a girl?」

Natsumi-senpai joined in on Mayumi-san’s joke and questioned Sara-san for fun.

No, that kind of joke is just way too much.

「? Um… is this a talk about babies?」

「Yup, yup!」

「Well… as for me…」

After saying that much, Sara-san looked at my face and turned bright red.

I’m sure I look exactly the same.

「……I was joking, but you’re actually thinking that far ahead?」

Sara-san reacted to Natsumi-senpai’s words, which were a mix of surprise and exasperation.

「N-no, it’s still too early, right, Kazunari-san?」

She said「still」…

「Y-yeah, that kind of talk is still too early, right? We only just started dating today.」

I should stop this conversation.

It’ll be troublesome in many ways if we start getting weirdly conscious of it from now on.

「Ufufufu… Takanashi-san, it’s “still” too early, isn’t it?」

So please stop…