Episode 372: Under the Moonlight

「The moon is beautiful, isn’t it?」

「Eh? Ah, you’re right. Is that… a full moon?」

We had stepped out into the empty courtyard and were idly gazing at the moon while walking along the path.

Well, to be accurate, the moon reflected in the pond looked like a full moon, so I just happened to look up at the sky… and noticing that, Sara-san muttered her impression while gazing at the moon herself.

「Hehe…」

「What is it?」

Sara-san let out a sudden chuckle and turned her gaze from the sky back to me. Her figure was illuminated by the moonlight and the faint glow of the lights, appearing truly mystical… she was so beautiful that even a sublime work of art might run away in shame.

「No, I simply stated my impression because I thought so, but if I think about it, that’s a line from a famous anecdote…」

「…Is that so?」

「Yes. Though they say it’s a story where the anecdote itself has taken on a life of its own, and we don’t even know if the source is actually correct.」

「Hoh…」

To be honest, I didn’t associate anything with that line… or rather, I lack any literary knowledge, so it’s only natural that I wouldn’t understand.

Whether that makes me pathetic or not is another matter… but still.

「By the way, what kind of story is it?」

「It’s a story where a famous writer of the past expressed ‘I love you’ as ‘The moon is beautiful, isn’t it?’ Personally, I think it’s a quite romantic phrasing, but if you think about it calmly, the meaning doesn’t really make sense, does it?」

「Ah… it certainly feels poetic, but if someone actually said that to me, I wouldn’t know what they were talking about.」

The way of expressing it feels very much like a writer, but how exactly do you transform the original meaning to end up with that line… I still don’t really get it.

「Wait, but you said it took on a life of its own?」

「Yes. While the story itself is a famous episode, apparently no record can be found proving that the writer actually said it.」

「Um, so you mean someone just made it up?」

「That might be the case, or it might have been true. At the very least, it seems certain that there is nothing to prove it.」

「I see… I learned something new. But even after hearing that, I still don’t know why you laughed, Sara-san…」

「Hehe… there wasn’t a deep reason for that either… I just remembered the anecdote and thought that I never dreamed the day would come where I would be conscious of it myself.」

「Ah, I see…」

In other words, she knew the meaning as knowledge, but she never imagined from her past self that a day would come where she’d actually feel it… or something like that.

Well, for Sara-san who used to hate men to an extreme degree, I guess I can understand why she finds her current self mysterious.

「But that kind of romantic phrasing isn’t bad. Especially since I lack vocabulary, I’m always worried about that sort of thing.」

「Is that so?」

「Yeah. Especially when I want to praise you, Sara-san, I always feel really frustrated. With my cheap expressive power, I can’t even say half of what I’m thinking…」

The yukata from the other day, the kimono today… when the food is delicious, when I’m moved by something, I can only say extremely simple and straightforward things. But really, I wish I could at least put the emotion in my heart into words a little bit more and tell it to you, Sara-san…

「Hehe… but I feel beyond happy just to receive straightforward praise from you, Kazunari-san, you know?」

「No, but it’s always the same pattern… I have so many more things I’m feeling and thinking, you know? But I can’t put them into words well, and really, I should be telling you more and more, Sara-san…」

「Kazunari-san… I fully understand that you are sincerely happy about what I do, and that you are truly, genuinely praising me. Even if there are no ornaments on your words, our hearts are firmly connected…」

「Sara-san…」

I feel like I understand the meaning of Sara-san’s words… as a physical sensation, somehow. It’s true that even without flowery words, I feel incredibly happy just being praised by Sara-san, and I know those words aren’t just flattery but come from her heart…

「So please, don’t say such things. I love you exactly as you are… the unvarnished Kazunari-san.」

「Ugh… when you put it like that…」

This is a real killer line. If I say anything more, I’ll just look like a fool who’s worrying about unnecessary things.

Well… it’s not like I’m not aware that I’m just being self-indulgent.

「Kazunari-san…」

Sara-san whispered my name and softly leaned against me. She rested a bit of her weight on my right arm, her usual position…

「I pride myself on being able to understand your heart better than anyone, Kazunari-san. Even if words are lacking, as long as we are close like this…」

「…You’re right. People often say words aren’t necessary, and I guess this is what they mean…」

To begin with, Sara-san can easily see through my thoughts, so it’s not strange at all that she could do something like that…

「Yes. On my pride, I have no intention of being a woman who cannot fathom the feelings of the one she loves. So…」

「It’s the same for me. I have no intention of being a man who doesn’t understand your feelings, Sara-san.」

「Hehe… I’m not worried about that at all, so please don’t be concerned♪」

「It’s quiet…」

「It is. On a moonlit night, just the two of us… slowly looking at the starry sky and the garden… I’m truly happy.」

「Me too. It’s different from being alone at home… times like this are good once in a while.」

Being alone with Sara-san, relaxing while enjoying the scenery… looking up, the moon illuminated us, and the cloudless night sky was scattered with constellations that colored it…

「Betelgeuse is in the upper left of Orion, that one in Canis Major is Sirius… going up from there, that bright star is Procyon in Canis Minor.」

Sara-san, pressing her body tightly against mine, pointed at the night sky and taught me the positions of the constellations. So I also pressed myself against her to make them easier to see…

「Let’s see… ah, I see them. It’s that red star and the two bright, standout ones, right?」

「Yes. If you connect those three with lines… they’re called the Winter Triangle.」

「Ah, I’ve heard of that! Hoh… so that’s what it is…」

To be honest, just like with literature, I have zero knowledge of constellations… but I’m a simple guy, and just by looking at them with Sara-san, I feel like I’m suddenly becoming interested.

「Also… those two stars over there. Do you know what constellation that is?」

「Two? Let’s see… then, is it Gemini?」

「Yes, exactly!♪」

Sara-san gave me a soft smile that felt like it could melt me just by looking at it. Shown a face like that, no matter how beautiful the starry sky was, all my attention was stolen by her…

「Hehe… is something the matter?」

「No… just, it’s beautiful.」

「Yes. The air is clear in winter, after all…」

「No, not that…」

「Eh?」

Not understanding the meaning of my words, Sara-san wore a cute, blank expression. But that was so irresistibly cute that I almost wanted to play a trick on her cheeks…

「Um, Kazunari-san?」

「N-No, I was talking about the stars after all.」

「What do you mean ‘after all’? That’s like declaring that it was something else.」

「Ugh…」

I-I can’t say it. It’s too stereotypical, it’s a phrase that’s been used way too much, and I find it extremely hesitant to actually say it out loud… plus it’s way too cheesy.

I mean…

「Sara-san, you’re asking because you already know, aren’t you?」

「No, I have no idea at all.」

「Eeeeeh, but you just said you could understand my heart immediately…」

「If you’re going to say that, you understand my feelings too, don’t you, Kazunari-san?」

「Ugh…」

Even with just that mischievous smile, I knew for certain that Sara-san had noticed it… I knew it!

「…You’re so mean, Sara-san.」

「Hehe… pouting so cutely won’t help you♪ Now, Kazunari-san, if you have something to say to me, please go right ahead.」

「Uuuuh…」

Now that it’s come to this, Sara-san definitely won’t forgive me until I say it. Moreover, because Sara-san is in a kimono today, having her face so close makes my heart pound even more than usual… in that sense, Sara-san is sneaky!!

「…are.」

「Pardon?」

「The one that’s beautiful isn’t the starry sky… it’s you, Sara-san.」

But I’m smitten, so I’m weak…

If Sara-san wants to hear it, even if it’s too cliché and is one of the most embarrassing lines I’ve ever said…

「I’m so happy…」

Or so I thought, but Sara-san seemed normally… no, rather, she seemed quite delighted…

「…It’s mysterious. Before, I would have found it nothing but disgusting just to have a man praise my appearance… but now, just being praised by you, Kazunari-san, makes me feel this happy.」

「I-I see, well, I’m glad then.」

「Yes. Truly… I am truly happy… hehe.」

Looking truly blissful… and happy…

Sara-san looked up at my face with a smile more dazzling than the moon or the stars.

「Um… I always think you’re beautiful, Sara-san, but you have a mystical feel today. The kimono suits you perfectly too… you’re so beautiful… I…」

「Kazunari-san…」

My embarrassment has already reached its peak… in fact, it’s overflowing, but if I don’t say it now, I’ll miss the chance to praise the kimono.

So I steeled my resolve and put all my feelings into my cheap words…

「…K-Kazunari-san.」

I stared straight into Sara-san’s eyes without looking away, trying to convey my feelings as sincerely as possible. Then, Sara-san’s face rapidly began to turn red…

「Eh? Sara-san?」

「P-Please don’t stare at me so much… um, it’s… embarrassing.」

Just as she said, she looked very embarrassed… she suddenly turned her gaze away from me, her face turning redder and redder. She looked so incredibly cute and lovely that I couldn’t take my eyes off her. As I stared in silence… Sara-san glanced at me for a split second before burying her face in my arm. She clung to me tightly…

This. This is beyond just being too cute…

「S-Sara-san… um.」

「For now… please don’t look.」

「Eeeeeh!?」

I felt「something」more than just words from Sara-san’s line, and my heart began to pound even more violently. Plus, this atmosphere was just way too good, as if it had been made specifically for this…

「You are truly mean today, Kazunari-san…」

「N-No, I didn’t mean it that way…」

「Even during the meal earlier, you did something to humiliate me.」

「H-Humiliate!?」

What’s with that choice of words!?

It sounds like I’m doing something incredibly outrageous!!

「You’re… so mean, Kazunari-san.」

「Ugh… I-I’m sorry…」

「Are you truly reflecting?」

「I-I am reflecting?」

Sara-san finally lifted her face from my arm, her cheeks puffed out for the first time in a while… as always, it was a 120% cute appeal of「I’m angry, you know?」Of course, it goes without saying that this was to hide her embarrassment, but I should just do as she says for now.

「Hehe… then, please show me an attitude of reflection.」

「Attitude?」

「Yes. Here…」

Moving slightly away from my right arm, Sara-san spread both arms in an「over here」pose. It went without saying what she wanted from me, and pointing out that it had nothing to do with reflecting was a no-no. That would be boorish.

「I’m sorry.」

「Hehe… you’re a good boy♪」

With a formal apology, I jumped into heaven… and Sara-san immediately wrapped her arms around the back of my head and softly enveloped me. Since she was in a kimono today, the feeling of being held was completely different from usual, but I could definitely feel the warmth and other things.

And… the feeling of happiness was the best after all.

「I’ve been busy since this morning and couldn’t do this the whole time…」

「…Now that you mention it, you’re right.」

「Honestly… and I’ve been looking for a chance the entire time.」

「I-I’m sorry.」

「Hehe… as a punishment, I will extend the duration of the hug♪」

「Mgh…」

Along with Sara-san’s voice sounding incredibly happy and full of joy, the strength she used to pull my head toward her increased slightly. But today, the stiffness of the kimono got in the way, and the place for my face to escape… that is, the ability to get into heaven properly, was the biggest… no, it’s nothing.

「Kazunari-san. I will be by your side forever. No matter the time, no matter what happens, always…」

「…Sara-san?」

「If you ever need courage, I will help you. I will stay close to your heart, always with you.」

I see… so this means… that’s it.

Our hearts are connected, so I know even without being told.

I reaffirm the meaning of those words.

Because…

This is Sara-san’s way of cheering me on for what I’m about to do after this.

「…Did you notice?」

「Of course. Or rather, did you think I wouldn’t?」

「Haha, you’re right. It was only natural for you, Sara-san.」

It wasn’t something I only realized because she pointed it out.

It was true that I was feeling a bit of tension and an indescribable anxiety about having「that talk」that was coming up. That’s why I was trying not to think about it as much as possible… but Sara-san knew.

I really am someone who can’t keep secrets from Sara-san, aren’t I… well, I don’t really mind.

「There is no change in you that I would fail to notice, Kazunari-san.」

「Right. It’s just like you, Sara-san.」

「Yes♪」

As if happy with my words, Sara-san gently stroked my head which she had been softly enveloping. And for my part, I wanted to be pampered by that kindness right now, so I clung back to her…

「…Sara… san.」

「Hehe… there, there… good boy.」

A voice came out that was so completely pampered it made me feel pathetic. But even at that voice, Sara-san stroked my head with even more joy…

That’s exactly why I can’t just stay pampered like this. I have to at least tell her this much.

「Sara-san… I’m really going to work hard. About what comes next, my studies, myself… and our future.」

While stating my resolve once more, I slowly moved my face away from heaven.

And there was Sara-san’s gentle smile, her beautiful eyes staring at me as if scattered with the stars of the night sky, illuminated by the moonlight and appearing more beautiful and mystical than anything else in the world…

That smile inevitably fired up my feelings…

「Yes. I also, as your partner… and as your spouse, will continue to support you with everything I have. So Kazunari-san, don’t be afraid. Don’t be fearful. Please move straight ahead just as you wish. I will follow you wherever you go…」

「Sara-san… thank you.」

Sara-san’s eyes, full of determination, blew away even the slight anxiety I had inside. And what remained was nothing but a firm confidence and an overflowing love…

「Sara-san…」

Driven by that love, I reached out my arms to Sara-san. I gently grabbed her slender shoulders and pulled her close… as I did, far from resisting, Sara-san moved her body closer of her own accord.

「Kazunari-san…」

Sara-san moved her body close to the perfect distance for doing「it,」and stared intently at my face with a look that was somewhat pained… and full of expectation.

I felt like the stage had been set for me, which was a bit… well, considering our usual dynamic, I guess you could call this our way.

「I love you… Dear.」

「I love you too… Sara.」

「Hehe, well done… mnh.」

The next moment, she wore a smile like a flower in bloom, and Sara-san narrowed the distance all at once, standing on her tiptoes…

And…

「Mnh…」

In the end, as if my lips were being stolen by Sara-san…

The two shadows created by the moonlight merged into one, and I vowed in my heart once again that I would never break for the sake of the most precious treasure in my arms, Sara-san.

It was such a warm, happy, and gentle moment.