Episode 196: What’s Next

Ah… beautiful… she’s truly beautiful.

Tears that should’ve stopped overflowed again just a little.

When I pulled my lips away and looked at Sara-san, she still had her eyes closed while tears fell. Seeing her like that sent a shiver of emotion through me. Between the impact of the first kiss and everything else, I was trembling with an indescribable feeling.

Sara-san slowly opened her eyes. While tears still lingered at the corners, she wore a peaceful expression that was different from before.

「A dream… another one has come true…」

「…A dream?」

「Yes. My first kiss… another of my ‘firsts’ given to Kazunari-san…」

Sara-san looked happy, yet also a bit dazed, as if she were in a dream.

Her gaze went back and forth between my eyes and my lips…

Whether it was unconscious or not, she touched her own lips with her finger. That gesture, combined with her expression, gave off a strange sexiness that made my heart race.

「Kazunari-san…」

「…Yes?」

「I’m so glad… I didn’t ruin your feelings after all… I’m so glad… truly…」

「Sara-san…」

I don’t think there’s a man alive who could withstand this level of sweetness.

Why is she so cute? I had no idea what to do with myself anymore, and the only option I could think of was to just keep holding her.

「Sara-san, I really wanted to work and prepare a present for you myself. I wanted to surprise you, I wanted you to be happy… but I never intended to make you suffer because of it… I’m sorr—」

「Kazunari-san.」

「…Yes?」

「Please don’t apologize. I am truly happy right now… This pendant you prepared for me, even while injuring yourself for my sake… it’s a treasure I’ll keep for a lifetime.」

「Sara-san…」

「Fufu… sorry, let me pull away for just a second. I want to get a better look at the treasure I received from you, Kazunari-san.」

Reluctantly pulling away from me, Sara-san gazed at the pendant while touching it lovingly with both hands.

However, the second I regained my composure, I started feeling incredibly embarrassed… I had no idea what kind of face I should make when looking at her now.

Because we’d both been so overcome with emotion, our first kiss had suddenly taken on an atmosphere where we were both seeking each other out.

I’d ended up crying too because I was so happy about her feelings… what kind of couple has a first kiss like that? Is it rare?

To be honest, it was a fact that I’d secretly hoped she would accept me if the mood was right after giving her the present.

But I’d miscalculated and put unexpected pressure on her, and seeing how distressed she looked, I’d thought I shouldn’t push her that far.

Though, that was exactly why I’d been overwhelmed with affection for her when she started crying.

Sara-san was touching it with such joy, but it seemed she noticed it was an opening locket.

「Oh… so this is a locket?」

「Yeah. I put a temporary photo in there for now, but if you have a photo you like, Sara-san, please put that one in instead.」

Without answering, Sara-san opened the locket and froze again.

「…Fufu… honestly… Kazunari-san, really…」

It looked like she liked the photo too, which was a relief.

She was still staring at it, but she’ll probably ask where the photo came from.

「Fufu… such a… sniff… wonderful photo…」

…Ah.

「Honestly… you’re so unfair… I’m so happy… sniff… a photo like this… like this… like this…」

「Sara-sa…」

Thump…

A light impact hit my chest before I could even finish calling her name.

「…I… hic… Kazunari-san, you dummy… I love you so much… just how happy are you trying to make me?」

Sara-san, who usually acts so mature, was so cute today… she almost looked like she was the same age as me, or even younger…

「Sniff… I’m… so happy.」

「Me too.」

「I love you…」

「Yeah. I love you too.」

「I adore you…」

「Sara-san…」

「Mmm…」

We stayed held in each other’s arms for a while until she calmed down… Our shadows, stretching out with the sinking sun, remained as one for a long time…

The train on the way back was relatively empty, but Sara-san refused to leave my side.

She seemed to be in full「pampered mode」today, leaning her entire weight against my chest.

「Kazunari-san… thank you so much for today. This is the second time in my life I’ve had such a happy day.」

「Eh, oh… is that so?」

There was another day as happy as today? I thought I’d worked pretty hard on this one…

「Fufu… Kazunari-san, you’re so dense. There’s only one other thing that could make me as happy as today, you know?」

Poke, poke…

Maybe my slight disappointment showed on my face, because Sara-san started poking my cheek with a mischievous expression.

So that happy event was also something involving me… I see.

Wait… ah!

Seeing that I’d realized it, Sara-san puffed out her cheeks just a little.

「The day you confessed to me, Kazunari-san, was the happiest day of my life until now. So… a ‘no-no’ if you forget it.」

「I, I’m sorry. But it’s the same for me, you know? The day you became my girlfriend and today are the top moments for me…」

「…Yes. We’re the same. From now on, and forever, everything will be with you, Kazunari-san.」

Smiling happily, Sara-san’s left hand never left the pendant around her neck, perhaps unconsciously.

Even after we got off the train and left the station, Sara-san didn’t leave my right arm. She seemed worried about my right hand, reaching out with her free arm to stroke the back of it.

「When we get home, let’s treat your right hand. …Thinking back on it now, did you avoid treating it just to keep the injury a secret?」

「Um…」

I figured she’d think that.

It was the truth, and I was prepared to be scolded once she found out.

「But… I wanted you to be happy, Sara-san… so if it was for that…」

「…You’re unfair. When you say something so sweet, I can’t say ‘no-no’ to you anymore…」

「…No, I didn’t mean it like that.」

Sara-san wore a slightly troubled expression and stared straight into my eyes.

「It was painful for me for a while.」

「…Yes.」

「Knowing you were injured and having to act like everything was fine was truly hard for me…」

「Yes… I’m sorry.」

「I won’t forgive you with just words.」

I could tell by her tone that she wasn’t being entirely serious, but this was the first time I’d had such a childish exchange with Sara-san. The joy made a laugh well up inside me.

「It’s cruel to laugh.」

「Sorry. What can I do to be forgiven?」

「……Later, one more time.」

I noticed Sara-san’s gaze was fixed on my mouth. The current Sara-san was just too tempting to tease.

「…One more time?」

「…You know what I mean… meanie.」

I’d reached the limit of my endurance for her cuteness and decided to shut her up with physical force.

It was just a light kiss, a mere touch, but she seemed satisfied and her mood instantly became ecstatic.

「Fufu… I’ll forgive you for now with that.」

「Eh? ‘For now’?」

「Of course. Because…」

「…Because?」

「Next… it’s my turn.」

Saying that, Sara-san looked absolutely radiant as she laughed with genuine joy.

Another mood-breaking Extra~During the Birthday Party Preparations~

「Pardon the intrusion~」

Yokogawa-kun unlocked the door, and everyone filed into the room one by one.

It wasn’t my first time in Takanashi-kun’s room, but it must be the first for everyone else.

「P-pardon me…」

Eri-rin in particular seemed incredibly nervous and was unusually quiet.

「Heh… it’s my first time in a boy’s room, but Takanashi-kun really keeps things tidy.」

「No, that’s because he has a ‘wife’ here.」

Hanako-san’s rebuttal to Todo-san’s impression was spot on; Sara manages this place constantly, after all.

「The kitchen is also neatly organized. As expected of Satsukawa-senpai.」

Tachikawa-san, who was looking around the kitchen, shared her thoughts. It seems she really admires Sara, but the way everything becomes「as expected」is a little funny.

「Um… isn’t it a bit rude to stare so much at someone’s room?」

Eri-rin was at least saying the common-sense thing to stop them, but I wonder if she realizes how obvious it is that she’s actually intensely curious herself…

「Now then, as his big sister, I shall check to see if my little brother has any ‘strange things’ hidden away…」

「No, Hanako-san, Kazunari doesn’t have anything like that, so please stop.」

「Yeah, Kazunari is fine. More importantly, let’s start the preparations. We can chat after we’re done.」

Naturally, the guys stepped in to cover for Kazunari. Well, even I don’t think there are any strange things in this room that Sara practically lives in.

「U-um, everyone…」

「「「「「「 ?? 」」」」」」

Eri-rin called out timidly. I wonder what’s up?

「When you all say ‘strange things’… specifically, what kind of things are you referring to?」

「「「「「「 …… 」」」」」」

Everyone except Eri-rin looked around at each other, looking awkward.

「Natsumi?」

「D-don’t ask me something like that! H-hey, Tachibana-kun!」

「Eh!? O-oh, right, I’m sure Natsumi-san wouldn’t know!」

Tachibana-kun immediately stepped in with a follow-up. A groundless follow-up, though…

「Is that so… Oh, Hanako-san, you’re looking for them because you know what they are, right?」

「Eh!? I-I… maybe Yuko is surprisingly knowledgeable?」

Hanako-san called Tachikawa-san “Yuko.”

They go to the same school, so it looks like they’ve become friends.

「N-no, not me! M-Marina!」

「Whaaa!? W-why are you bringing me into this!」

Poor thing… Todo-san turned bright red.

「N-Nishikawa-san, this is Kazunari’s private business, so let’s drop the subject!」

「Yokogawa-kun!」

Maybe because Yokogawa-kun stepped in immediately to help, Todo-san called out to him happily. Oh? Did the atmosphere between these two change a bit while I wasn’t looking?

「Y-you’re right, my apologies. I said something rude to Takanashi-san too…」

Phew…

Eri probably has a rough idea, but I think the fact that she’s asking anyway means she’s actually interested.

「Alright, talk later, let’s get started now!」

I gave the order to get us back on track. Since everyone’s roles were already decided, they grabbed what they needed and got to work.

I’ll get started too.

「Is it okay if I move things that are in the way?」

I turned toward Tachikawa-san’s voice. It looked like the folded futon was in her way.

「Kazunari told me to just do whatever, so I think it’s fine to move it if it’s in the way.」

「Got it~」

「I’ll help move the futon too.」

Just as Hanako-san joined in to help Tachikawa-san, Eri-rin spoke up again.

「Um…………」

「Hm, what’s up Eri-rin?」

「This bed is Takanashi-san’s bed, right?」

Eri-rin was pointing at the bed Kazunari usually uses, of course.

「Yeah, that’s right.」

「Nishikawa-san, is something wrong?」

「Notice something?」

Tachibana-kun and Yokogawa-kun joined the conversation, likely on guard against her saying something strange again. I don’t know what she wants to say, but Eri’s expression is a little scary…

「Then………… whose futon is this folded one?」

「「「「「「 …………. 」」」」」」

No one had an answer for that……

However, the look on Todo-san’s face, which had turned bright red, told the whole story…

And all expression vanished from Eri-rin’s face.