Episode 353: Happiness

And so… today is our weekly routine, the day of the once-a-week dinner at the Satsukawa house.

The student council didn’t have any pressing work, and since I’m heading home early, I decided to do some grocery shopping for dinner on the way.

Especially during the preparation period for the School Festival, I was so busy that I left the dinner parties entirely to Mayumi-san… the fact that Sara-san seemed unhappy about that was one of my worries, but that’s being resolved starting today.

Well, in exchange, I can already picture Mayumi-san looking a bit pouty about it instead…

The shopping list has already been sent to me via RAIN, so now I just need to get everything at the usual shopping district before heading to the Satsukawa house.

Right… that was all it was supposed to be…

「Having a dinner party at Satsukawa-san’s house every week, you guys really are like one big family.」

「But even if you’re going to be family in the future, doesn’t it feel a bit awkward for Takanashi-kun to be the only one moving in on their space?」

「No, not really? I just spend my time there like normal, and honestly, it might even be more comfortable than my own house.」

「Kazunari-san, I am truly happy to hear you say that… but it would be disrespectful to my Father-in-law and Mother-in-law, so please try not to say it so openly, okay?」

「Oops, you’re right. Sorry about that.」

It’s just like Sara-san said, it would be pretty bad to my father and mother to say it that clearly.

But in reality, my father is such a free spirit that he just rolls around doing absolutely nothing when he’s home, and my mother is just loud about this and that…

They say the grass is always greener on the other side, but no matter how you look at it, my father and mother can’t beat Masaomi-san and Mayumi-san.

「I’m a bit late to the party here… but the “Father-in-law” and “Mother-in-law” Satsukawa-san is talking about are Takanashi-kun’s parents, right? Which means…」

「You’re calling them Father-in-law and Mother-in-law because of the legal tie?」

「Yes, of course. Is there something wrong with that?」

「No… it’s just, how do I put it…」

「It’s like you’re already in full marriage mode…」

「Sigh… I don’t quite understand what part is bothering you… regardless, the fact remains that Kazunari-san’s parents are my Father-in-law and Mother-in-law.」

Hmm, I can easily imagine that what the senpai wanted to say was that they were surprised Sara-san would make those kinds of comments herself… it’s that usual「I can’t believe it」vibe.

But since it’s only natural from Sara-san’s perspective… it’s just another one of our usual, classic interactions.

…Wait, actually.

Why are the senpai even coming along for dinner shopping!?

「Wife, where are we shopping?」

「”Where” you ask, we are stopping by the greengrocer and the fishmonger.」

「The usual shops?」

「Yes.」

By the way, it’s not particularly rare for Hanako-san to be with us.

To begin with, this shopping district is on Hanako-san’s route home from school, and her house… her apartment is just past the next turn.

「…So it’s not a supermarket.」

「…I can’t even imagine that Satsukawa-san shopping at a greengrocer and a fishmonger…」

「Oh, welcome, Sara-chan!! You’ve got a big group today!!」

「Hello. Yes, today is a bit…」

「I see, I see. Ah, welcome to the young man too!!」

「H-Hello.」

As usual, we’re greeted by the shop manager who is the quintessential greengrocer, and Sara-san immediately starts picking out what she needs from the vegetables on display.

Basically, just choosing the vegetables lined up in front of the store is enough, so we rarely ever step into the back of the shop.

「This and…」

「Coming right up… wait, Sara-chan, that finger…」

「Eh? Ah, do you mean this?」

The manager’s eyes go wide as he quickly notices「it,」which is showing off a definite presence on Sara-san’s finger. Come to think of it, we haven’t been to this shop since the proposal.

「The ring finger… don’t tell me, does that mean what I think it means!?」

「Hehe… yes, it does.」

Sara-san shoots a meaningful glance at me standing next to her and smiles with a face full of happiness.

The manager, who was watching this with a look of surprise, looks back and forth between me and Sara-san before a smile spreads across his face as if it were contagious…

「Is that so, is that so!! Well, that’s a shocker!! Man, you should’ve told me sooner!!」

「What’s all this, dear? Why are you shouting so loud?」

Hearing the manager’s surprised voice, his wife naturally appears from the back of the shop. The contrast between her brisk way of speaking and her cute little doggy apron is quite charming.

「Oh, Sara-chan and her boyfriend, welcome! Thanks for always coming by!」

「Hey, take a look at Sara-chan’s left hand!!」

「Huh? Her left hand…!? Sara-chan, that!!」

「Hehe…」

Seeing Sara-san’s left hand, the wife freezes with her eyes wide just like the manager. Well, these two have seen Sara-san since she was a little girl, so it’s only natural their surprise is that much greater.

「Wait, no way, is that an engagement ring!? From your boyfriend!?」

「Yes♪」

「Ehh!? Is Mayumi-cha… are your parents okay with this!?」

「Of course, this is officially recognized by both families.」

「Wow, this really is a surprise!!」

「Man… you’re quite the guy, kid.」

Whack, whack!!

「Cough!! Cough!!」

As per usual, the manager starts hitting my back pretty hard.

I know he’s not hitting me with his full strength, of course, but it’s still fairly powerful and actually hurts a little.

But, when he does this…

「Sir… how many times do I have to tell you the same thing?」

「Whoops, crap, sorry about that, kid!!」

「You, how many times does Sara-chan have to get mad at you before you learn? Cut it out already!! Sorry about him, boyfriend. This man has the brain of a chicken.」

「N-No, it’s fine…」

And so, Sara-san getting genuinely angry is also part of our usual interaction.

Regardless of who it is, Sara-san’s style is to never forgive anyone for doing anything to me.

「Man, sorry, sorry. But kid, you’re clearly as loved as ever, I’m jealous. Besides, being able to make such a stunning beauty your wife, you’ve basically won at life, right?」

「…I suppose so. I also think every single day about how I can be this happy.」

「Oh, listen to you. Well, a girl who’s both this beautiful and knows her way around a kitchen is practically an endangered species. There’s no doubt you’re a lucky man, kid.」

「Haha, I’m the one most aware of that.」

Connected to the best woman in the world, Sara-san, I am the happiest man in the world.

I don’t even need to be told; as the person involved, I understand it best.

That’s exactly why I want to treasure Sara-san more than anyone and make her the happiest in the world… no, I will make her the happiest in the world. That is the vow I’ve made to myself.

「…How do I put it… they’re just too well-adjusted to this.」

「…This is what high schoolers shopping looks like… really?」

「…The fact that she’s acting like a housewife isn’t exactly new.」

「…It’s seeing her acting like a housewife that we just can’t believe…」

「I was wondering why Mayumi-chan has been in such a great mood lately, so that was the reason.」

「Well, we’ve gotta give you a celebratory gift then.」

「Hehe… thank you. I will gratefully accept your kindness.」

「Hahaha, she’s already a perfect housewife… wait, she already was.」

「Sara-chan, go ahead and pick out what you need first.」

「Yes. Then…」

In this way, we finished our usual(?) shopping, and on the way out, we gratefully accepted a gift assortment of fruits like persimmons, bananas, and grapes.

I’m happy, but was it really okay to take this much… oh well.

After parting ways with Hanako-san and the senpai, I walk slowly along the familiar path with just Sara-san.

Autumn is progressing steadily, and whereas before this time of day would have felt like mid-afternoon, the sky is already filled with the setting sun… our long shadows stretching out in front of us make me feel the approach of winter once again, or so I was thinking idly.

That’s because… I suddenly remembered that around this time last year, I didn’t have the mental capacity or the emotional room to think or feel such things at all.

Just how happy I am right now…

Just how precious this daily life is…

「Kazunari-san.」

Squeeze… Sara-san tightens her grip on my hand just a little bit.

When I turn my gaze to the side, I end up locking eyes with Sara-san, who was also looking my way… and she lets out a soft, gentle smile.

「Sara-san?」

「No, it’s nothing in particular, but…」

「But?」

「Hehe… I was just thinking… how happy I am.」

「…Me too.」

Did she「read」my thoughts again, or was it just a coincidence… but when I think about how we can understand each other even through something so casual, only feelings of joy well up inside me.

「The greengrocer’s wife told me something earlier…」

「Now that you mention it, you were talking about something as we left?」

「Yes. Although, it wasn’t anything too important.」

「Is it… something I’m allowed to hear?」

「Of course. She told me to make sure I hold on tight to a husband with this much backbone.」

「Backbone… you say?」

Backbone… what did that even mean exactly?

I feel like it had a nuance like someone who can do what needs to be done… but if that’s the case, can I really be called a man with backbone?

「At the age of only a first-year in high school, you can look seriously toward the future, succeed in gaining official recognition from my parents, and even perform a proposal after preparing a proper engagement ring. Just how many boys with that kind of backbone are there in this world… so she said I must never let you go.」

When it’s laid out like that, it’s true that I feel like I’ve been doing things that aren’t very high schooler-like…

But I only did each of those things because they were necessary, and I don’t remember doing anything particularly incredible. It was all just because I wanted to be with Sara-san…

「Hehe… but I didn’t need to be told that. I know better than anyone that Kazunari-san is a wonderful, reliable man. And… even without being told, I have no intention of ever letting go of this hand for the rest of my life.」

「Sara-san…」

Pushing our tightly held hands out slightly in front of us… as if to vow once more that she won’t let go, Sara-san’s expression firms up.

I don’t need to be told that either…

「Yeah. I have no intention of letting go of this hand either. Even if you said you hated it, Sara-san…」

「Kazunari-san, please don’t say such things even as a joke. There is no way I could ever reject you, even if the world were turned upside down.」

「S-Sorry, that was just a figure of speech… of course, I know that would never happen.」

「Yes. The only place I belong is by your side. Being able to be near you, being able to do everything I can for your sake, that is the greatest happiness for me…」

「Sara-san…」

With our hands still held tight, Sara-san appeals to me… to my eyes, with a gaze that is incredibly direct.

As if being sucked into those sincere eyes, I find myself unable to look away at all… and we just stare at each other in silence.

「So… please be happy too, Kazunari-san. I will definitely make you the happiest person in the world.」

「…Thank you. But I’m already the happiest person in the world, you know?」

I don’t know why Sara-san suddenly started saying this. It might have been triggered by something in the conversation at the greengrocer’s…

…Or perhaps, it was Sara-san’s own way of following up on what I had been thinking… no, that’s not it. It was an appeal, or something like that, though I can’t put it well.

That’s why I…

「Being with Sara-san, who loves me and understands me more than anyone, for the rest of my life… there’s no happiness greater than that. I can say that with certainty. That’s why I’ve become able to easily accept everything from the past, thinking it was all necessary for my current… and future happiness. Because it was through all of that that my meeting with you was born…」

「Kazunari-san…」

Thump… after a light impact, our long shadows merge into one. Sara-san wraps her arm around my left arm, which wasn’t holding any bags, and I’m enveloped by something warm and soft…

「…As I thought, I’m the one who is the happiest in the world. To be loved that much by you, Kazunari-san…」

「No, I’m the one who’s the happiest.」

「Hehe… if you argue any further, I’ll have to force your mouth shut again, you know?」

「Eh!?」

「…Even without saying something so unromantic, right now, I am…」

「Sara…san?」

Unlocking her arm, Sara-san moves in front of me, and we look directly at each other.

The sight of Sara-san illuminated by the evening sun is beautiful beyond words… even appearing mystical.

My… my very own goddess.

「Let’s become the two happiest people in the world… together… Dear?」

「I guess so…」

「Yes♪」

She leans her body in as if entrusting herself to me, and the distance between us becomes zero… Sara-san’s eyes, which were gazing into mine, gently close.

Just after I was captivated by that sheer beauty.

「I love you… Dear.」

Chu…

This time, even my lips were stolen…

Our long, long shadows had completely become one.