Episode 376: The True Engagement

「Good work today, Kazunari-san.」

「Good work to you too, Sara-san. And… thank you.」

After finishing the turbulent dinner party, starting with seeing my parents off, dropping by the Satsukawa house for Sara-san to change, while I somehow escaped Mayumi-san’s onslaught(?), narrowly avoiding the mother-daughter battle without honor that was about to start again, we finally made it home.

And only a short time after returning home, since it was already late, we took a bath, finished preparations for tomorrow, and crawled into the futon… in the end, right up until the very last moment, it was truly a turbulent day.

「Hehe… I don’t remember doing anything that warrants being thanked, you know?」

「No, no, I have so many things to thank you for, Sara-san… just thinking about it briefly, how many do you think there are?」

Giving me courage, encouraging me, and watching over me while I talked to my parents about that story.

And jumping in to help with the explanation to my parents, and even following up after that…

Also, would rescuing me from Mayumi-san(?) count as one too?

Anyway, just thinking for a bit brings so many to mind…

「Even if you say that, for me, it’s all just natural… being of use to Kazunari-san is my deepest desire, and I could even say it’s my joy.」

「Um… having you think of it as only natural makes it harder for me to accept, in a way…」

That she thinks this way without lies or joking is just like Sara-san, so I guess that’s that…

But that’s exactly why I mustn’t forget to be grateful.

「Hehe… either way, I’m receiving my reward properly like this, so please don’t let it worry you♪」

Saying that, Sara-san lovingly and carefully patted my head over and over while it was buried in her heaven(?). But no matter how I think about it, I can only see this as a reward for「me」and not Sara-san… well, it’s a bit late for that.

So anyway, as you can see, we are currently flirting in the futon… I mean, snuggling up to each other, in the middle of skinship to heal the fatigue of the day… wait, who am I even talking to?

「Kazunari-san… mnh.」

Chu… without any warning, a gentle kiss from Sara-san suddenly touched my forehead. Of course I’m happy, but why all of a sudden?

「Sara-san?」

「Kazunari-san… with this, we’ve become fiancés in the true sense of the word, haven’t we?」

「Eh…?」

Fiancés in the true sense?

But even before now, we… ah, I see.

「…You’re right. Masaomi-san and Mayumi-san had a formal discussion with my parents, and reached an agreement.」

Until now, it was basically just a verbal promise, or rather, we just called ourselves fiancés on the premise that both sets of parents had separately given their approval…

But if today, through a formal meeting between both families, we were recognized under a complete agreement… then that means.

「Hehe… today is an anniversary♪ Having been given genuine approval by both families, we have become formal fiancés in the true sense of the word.」

「Haha… you’re right. But I thought we were formal fiancés even before today.」

「I felt the same, but having both families formally agree, it’s as if the weight of it is entirely different…」

「Ah, certainly in that sense, we could say we’ve become “more formal” fiancés.」

For us, at an age where we can’t get married yet, maybe it’s only after both sets of parents agree and recognize us that we can truly be called「fiancés」for the first time… when I think about that.

「Um… Kazunari-san?」

「Eh?」

「Well, today has become a special day for us.」

「Y-Yeah?」

「So… just for today, just for tonight, I don’t mind…」

「Y-Yes?」

「Until the very moment we fall asleep… may I call you… Dear?」

「…!?」

At Sara-san’s sweet voice and cute request, my heart starts racing all at once.

And of course, the obvious answer is okay… or so I’d like to say, but the problem is that being called「Dear」by Sara-san is still incredibly embarrassing and ticklish, and doing that all night long, I’m a bit afraid that「something」I’m holding back might come to the surface.

What’s more…

「Kazunari-san… is it no good?」

Being pampered by Sara-san like this, my answer was decided from the start.

So… prepare yourself, me.

A man’s battle that cannot be lost begins today as well…

「Understoo… alright, I understand, Sara.」

「I’m so happy… Dear♪」

When I answered, Sara-san let out a voice that sounded truly happy… blissfully happy from her heart, and she slightly increased the strength she used to hold my head close.

If it makes her this happy, then the struggle is worth it, yeah.

「Dear, shall we talk like this just a little longer today?」

「Um… s-sure?」

「Thank you… hehe♪」

Perhaps she’s just that happy about this situation, because she’s showing a playful side that’s a bit different from usual. Not just that, but the way Sara-san is holding me feels a bit different than normal too… I can’t put it well, though.

「Now then… you really worked hard today, Dear.」

「Eh? Ah, yeah… well, I don’t know if I worked hard…」

「No, telling that story must have been heavier than anything else for you.」

「…That’s true, but I couldn’t miss this chance. If important things were decided without me ever telling that story…」

To establish our future family relationships like engagement and adoption, telling that story was my way of taking responsibility, and at the same time, it was the final ritual to truly part ways with and overcome my past.

And it was a sign of gratitude and apology to my Father and Mom, who watched over me and supported me in silence back then… and sincerity toward Masaomi-san and Mayumi-san, who have become my new parents…

「Yes. I made sure to witness it properly. With this, no matter what anyone says, you…」

「Yeah. With this, I’ve completely settled my past. So there’s nothing left for me to worry about…」

「Dear… that’s a no-no, okay?」

Plink… once again, something lightly touched my forehead… this time not her lips, but Sara-san’s fingertip.

And immediately after, a gentle petting began as if to overwrite it…

「S-Sara?」

「You promised me that you wouldn’t keep any secrets, didn’t you?」

「Ugh…」

Don’t tell me, by any chance, what Sara-san means is…

「Did… did you notice? …I mean, did you notice?」

「Hehe… of course. Knowing your kindness, I don’t even have to think about it.」

「Ugh… sorry.」

She didn’t say it directly, but there’s no mistake that she’s referring to Yuzuha. I didn’t intend to hint at it at all, but as always, I can’t keep secrets from Sara-san…

「…In my head, I know there’s nothing left I can do for her. And considering what was done to me…」

「Even so, in a corner of your heart, you find yourself thinking about it, worrying about it… I think that’s something that can’t be helped. No matter the situation, you are a kind person…」

「…Sorry.」

「Please don’t apologize. It’s because you’re like that that I even feel proud. Not bending the convictions inside you, not losing yourself no matter the time, not forgetting your kindness. That is what makes you Kazunari-san, and why I can say you’re my favorite, the world’s most wonderful husband.」

「S-Sara-san…」

「Even if a small part of another woman remains in a corner of your heart… I’m not such a narrow-minded woman as to find that unpleasant. That is your inherent kindness, Kazunari-san, a heart that cares for a precious childhood friend… there is no romantic affection there, and I pride myself on knowing that all such feelings are directed toward me.」

「…That’s of course. My love is all for you, Sara-san. That, I can say clearly and with confidence.」

Truly… I’m no match for Sara-san at all.

Not just that I’m concerned about Yuzuha, but even if the reason is different, the fact that another existence remains in my heart… even if I only see her as a childhood friend, I still felt a little guilty for keeping a woman other than Sara-san in a corner of my mind, and I never thought she’d actually notice that true feeling.

And Sara-san accepted even that as being part of me…

「Hehe… in that case, I have no complaints at all. That is an unnecessary worry, and you’re just overthinking things.」

「You’re right, sorr…」

「However… if I were to say just one thing.」

「Eh?」

Squeeze… she strengthened the force she used to hold me, and I felt Sara-san’s presence as she brought her face close above me… to my head. But she didn’t kiss me like before, she just… held my head as deep as possible… wrapping around me, tightly.

「I am truly a lucky person to be thought of that much by you. Not just your feelings, but even deep in your heart… you always think of me first and treasure me. You keep me in your thoughts. Being loved by a man like you, I’m truly…」

「…It’s only natural. I only look at you, Sara-san, and I don’t want to look at anyone else. As long as you’re by my side…」

「I feel the same way. As long as you are by my side… I need nothing else…」

「Sara-san…」

Frustratedly, painedly…

Sara-san changed the position of her face and arms over and over, holding me deeply and strongly.

And I also pressed my body against her, as if to be pampered by Sara-san.

「Dear… I love you…」

It was as if every kind of sweetness was blended together and then wrapped in a supreme sweetness…

Sara-san’s voice was so incredibly sweet that my whole body felt like it was melting just listening to it.

And then, after she pulled my head away just a little… to the point where we could see each other’s faces, our eyes met as she stared intently at me…

「Sara… san…」

「…I don’t like that… call me Sara, Dear.」

「S-Sorry, Sara.」

Being pointed out so suddenly, I realized I’d gone back to my usual way of talking before I knew it. Even so, my consciousness remained stolen by Sara-san’s pained, wavering eyes.

Looking at Sara-san like that, there was no way I could stop the love overflowing from inside me…

「I… love you. From my heart, I adore you…」

「Me too… Sara. I… I’m truly…」

「I’m so happy…」

Sara-san, voicing her feelings as if she could no longer hold them back, was so precious…

But to treasure her, I put my last「brakes」into full operation… but even so, at least this.

And…

「Sara…」

「Dear…」

As if being sucked in by Sara-san as she gently closed her eyes…

For the first time after becoming「true fiancés」…

We exchanged a kiss…