Episode 158: Laughing Together One Day

As we left the hotel, a car pulled up smoothly right in front of us, as if it knew the timing perfectly.

The driver got out, opened the door, and stood there waiting.

Man… that’s impressive.

I wonder if this is just a normal scene for Nishikawa-san.

She definitely isn’t a regular commoner.

「So, anyway, Sara started wiping Takanashi-kun’s shirt in the classroom, and there was this big fuss about whose shirt it was,」Natsumi-senpai said.

While everyone was getting hyped up in the car, the conversation had somehow shifted to talking about our schools.

Right now, she was telling the story of that rainy day when I’d shielded Sara-san and got soaked.

To think that’s what happened after Sara-san took my spare shirt…

「The moment the guys in class started talking trash about Takanashi-kun, Sara just snapped. And I don’t mean after they said it; I mean the second they started.」

「I have no reason to let people whose names I don’t even know say things about Kazunari-san.」

「I mean, they are your classmates…」

I knew this already, but Sara-san really was like a school idol. To other guys, I must just be a target for jealousy.

It’s not exactly fun for me to have other guys hovering around Sara-san either, so I’ve been thinking about taking some measures eventually.

Well… I’ll definitely end up making enemies out of most of the male students. I’m used to that, though, so it’s fine.

「Takanashi-kun, any comments?」

「That’s the face of a man who won’t forgive anyone who touches his woman.」

「Eh!?」

Hanako-san blurted out something wild.

I wasn’t thinking that far, no matter how you look at it… though I did want to make sure nobody laid a hand on her.

「I’m not a huge fan of the expression ‘my woman.’ Since Sara used to loathe men, wouldn’t saying it like that get on her nerves?」

That was a very Nishikawa-san-like comment. As for Sara-san… I wonder?

「…Um, I’m actually okay with it. If Kazunari-san calls me his woman, I’d actually be happy…」

Responding to Nishikawa-san, Sara-san put her hand to her cheek and glanced at me with slightly downcast eyes.

And when our eyes met, she shot me a look full of massive expectations.

She is definitely, 100% requesting that I say it…

「U-um… Sara-san is my woman, so I don’t want other guys getting close to her.」

I tried to say it as modestly as possible, but Sara-san gave a huge, happy smile, linked her arm with mine, and pressed her whole face right up against me.

「Yes… I’m your Sara, so please monopolize me.」

Seeing Sara-san’s happy face as she slowly leaned her weight into me made me feel happy too.

「Don’t feed the stupid couple.」

「…My apologies.」

It was a funny dynamic: Nishikawa-san, who looked the oldest, getting scolded by Hanako-san, who looked the youngest.

「Honestly, it’s not that I hate my current school life, but it’s not interesting either. I don’t really have any close friends.」

Hanako-san and Tachikawa-san go to the same school, but they aren’t classmates, so they wouldn’t even see each other unless they meant to. Apparently, they weren’t the type to hang out together either.

If anything, they were just allies who hated the same person and met up as needed.

「But because of this, Hanako-san and Yoko probably became friends, so school might get a little more fun, right?」

Tachikawa-san reacted to Todo-san’s comment, but Hanako-san didn’t.

「Yeah, I’m gonna forget about Yamazaki and enjoy school life from now on. Let’s get along at school too, Hanako-san.」

「Yeah…」

Tachikawa-san seemed ready for a fresh start, but I couldn’t help but notice Hanako-san’s gloomy face.

When we reached the station, everyone got out for a moment.

A limousine suddenly pulling in and a crowd of people piling out really stood out; the stares from people around us were actually a little embarrassing.

This is where we say goodbye to Yuji, Hanako-san, and Tachikawa-san.

「Yuji, you were a huge help. Thanks for everything.」

「Yamazaki and Yuzuha won’t be in your way anymore. This time, enjoy school enough to make up for middle school. Yokogawa! Look after Kazunari over at your school.」

Yuji spoke to Hayato, who raised a hand in response.

「Got it. Though with Satsukawa-senpai around, it doesn’t look like he’ll have any trouble.」

Am I really that dependent on others… the conversation keeps moving forward on the assumption that I need someone to look after me…

「Satsukawa-senpai! You were truly amazing! A woman who can become strong for the person she loves… I really admire that!」

「Eh, a-ah, thank you. It was nothing special…」

Receiving Tachikawa-san’s praise, Sara-san looked taken-aback, or rather, a bit overwhelmed.

That’s another rare sight.

Tug, tug…

This movement of pulling my sleeve was Hanako-san.

I’ve finally learned her habits.

When I turned my head, she was staring up at me with that same hard-to-read expression.

She beckoned me with her finger, which meant the same thing as before: lend her an ear.

「…I changed my mind, so I’ll tell you my name. It’s Hanasaki Riko. Hanako or Riko, whichever is fine.」

!?

Hanako-san finally revealed her name…

But what should I call her now? I mean, if she says Riko is fine, that means I can use her first name, right?

Hanako-san shot a quick glance toward Sara-san.

By the way, Sara-san was still in the middle of being overwhelmed by Tachikawa-san.

「…A reward for taking down Yamazaki.」

Just as I thought Hanako-san was whispering in my ear, she shifted her position slightly.

Chu.

!?

「H-Hanako-san!?」

Because I was so used to calling her that, the name that popped out reflexively was still Hanako-san.

No, wait, it was only for a second, but did she just…!?

「Don’t worry, there’s no deep meaning. It’s just a reward and affection.」

After saying that, Hanako-san showed me a genuine smile from the bottom of her heart.

I looked around… maybe nobody saw, or maybe they just pretended not to…

「See you, Takanashi-kun.」

「See you later, Takanashi-kun.」

「See ya, Kazunari.」

After seeing the three of them off, we got back into the car and started moving.

「Well then everyone, until we meet again.」

We saw off Nishikawa-san’s car until it was out of sight before disbanding.

「Well, I’m heading out. See you tomorrow.」

「I’ll be heading home too. See you tomorrow~!」

Hayato and Todo-san headed off in their own directions. That left me, Sara-san, and Natsumi-senpai.

「Well, Sara, shall we go?」

「Wait a moment.」

Sara-san came close to me and stared into my face as if confirming something.

「…I thought so. There’s no way you’re totally fine, is there?」

Sara-san muttered something that sounded a bit pained, leaned into me as if hugging me, and then whispered,「I’ll come over later.」

When she pulled away, she left a simple greeting of「Until then…」and lined up next to Natsumi-senpai.

「Seriously… flirting even in a split second like that. Well, Takanashi-kun, see you tomorrow.」

「Yes, see you tomorrow.」

Natsumi-senpai headed home with Sara-senpai in tow.

And with that, the long day truly came to an end.

Knock knock… click.

Just like she said when we parted, Sara-san had arrived.

When the door opened, I heard the sound of a car driving away outside, so Mayumi-san probably dropped her off.

「Sorry to keep you waiting.」

Not much time had passed since then, so she must have turned around and come right back as soon as she got home.

Looking closely, she had that travel bag I saw before… eh? Why the bag…?

Sara-san put her luggage somewhere out of the way, and I thought we were going to talk, but instead, she wrapped her arms around my head and pulled me into her chest before saying a word.

「Sara-san…?」

「…I could tell just by looking that you have a lot on your mind regarding Sasagawa-san. So… please don’t push yourself.」

As expected, I can’t hide anything from Sara-san.

In the end, I just made Yuzuha suffer and couldn’t produce a single result that matched the effort.

The main factors were that I was too soft and Yuzuha was more twisted than I’d imagined, but the result was that I just made her cry and sent her far away.

It wasn’t that I was shocked by it, but I did have some lingering regrets…

「You must be tired today, so let’s take a bath and go to sleep early, okay?」

While holding my head to her chest and gently stroking it, Sara-san informed me of the plan. She’s definitely planning to stay over for my sake.

So, I decided not to ask any tactless questions.

We didn’t talk about anything in particular. By the time I finished my shower, Sara-san’s futon was already laid out.

…I didn’t point out the fact that there were naturally two pillows lined up next to each other.

I didn’t have the guts to crawl into the futon and wait for her while she was in the bath.

I was just browsing the web on my bed to pass the time when I started getting a bit sleepy.

Would it be bad if I just fell asleep before Sara-san got out…?

I thought I was staying awake and thinking about that, but before I knew it, Sara-san was peeking down at me.

Wait, was I asleep?

「Fufu… we can talk tomorrow, so shall we go to sleep now?」

I got out of bed and turned off the light, and as if being guided by her, she took my hand and I lay down on the futon.

And then she slowly pulled my head into a hug.

「Kazunari-san… I believe there will eventually come a time when Sasagawa-san understands. It wasn’t exactly a good ending, but today will be the trigger for that… so it shouldn’t have been in vain.」

「…Yes.」

She must have noticed I was a bit down.

Sara-san was backing me up.

So I decided to honestly act spoiled.

「Let’s believe that a day will come when you can meet and smile again. For today… good job, Kazunari-san… goodnight.」

She probably intended to stay like this until I fell asleep.

When I pressed my face against her a bit to act spoiled, she hugged me gently and tightly.

Wrapped in Sara-san’s kindness and acting spoiled in silence, I eventually fell fast asleep…