Episode 124: The Stupid Couple’s Phone Call

「Good evening, Kazunari-san.」

「Good evening, Sara-san.」

It was a phone call from Sara-san that I’d been longing for, to say the least.

「Fufu… you picked up quite fast, didn’t you?」

Well, of course I did.

I was holding my phone in my hand, waiting for the call to come.

「No, I just happened to be looking at the internet.」

I couldn’t say something as pathetic as the fact that I’d already gotten lonely on the first day.

「I’ve been doing nothing but worrying about you all day, Kazunari-san, to the point that Okaa-san got mad at me. I ended up lying to Otou-san, telling him I was thinking about things for the student council in the second semester.」

Sara-san said that in a cute tone of voice.

Even though it was just a normal exchange, even her voice was precious to me.

「You were thinking about me that much?」

「Yes. By the way, what did you do for food? Please at least buy a bento from a convenience store or the supermarket. No instant ramen, okay?」

「………」

How does she know…

I can’t tell her… that I had cup ramen for both meals.

「Honestly, haven’t I always told you that instant food is no good? It’s a “no-no,” okay?」

「Yes… I’m sorry…」

She noticed after all.

I got scolded… To avoid making Sara-san worry unnecessarily, I should probably at least switch to bentos starting tomorrow.

「…I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to give you a lecture.」

「No, I’m the one at fault.」

Even though Sara-san hadn’t said anything wrong, for some reason she apologized to me.

I felt like her tone dropped a bit, too.

「To think that not being by your side would make me feel this anxious… even though it’s only been one day, I’m so lonely…」

Sara-san muttered that in a slightly dark tone.

Of course, I felt the same way.

「…When I woke up this morning and realized I wouldn’t be able to see you for a while, Sara-san, I was stunned. Even though it’s my own home, I didn’t know what to do… I couldn’t remember what I used to do before. The reason I picked up this phone so fast wasn’t because I was on the internet; that was a lie. Actually… I was just holding my phone the whole time, wondering if you’d call me soon, Sara-san…」

I didn’t actually intend to say all that…

But once I started talking, prompted by Sara-san’s words, I couldn’t stop, and I ended up regretting that I’d let my true feelings slip.

I wonder if she’ll get mad and call me pathetic for a man…

「…Kazunari-san.」

「Yes…」

I braced myself to be scolded.

「…If you were in front of me right now, I’d want to hug you with all my might. It’s so frustrating… Kazunari-san, you’re cute… so cute.」

In a way, I got a very Sara-san-like response.

Her voice was trembling; I wonder if she was fidgeting?

「Kazunari-san…」

「Sara-san…」

I want to see her…

It’s human nature to want to see someone even more when you know you can’t.

「Ah, geez, you’re so noisy…」

「? Eh, what is it?」

I panicked because Sara-san’s tone suddenly changed.

Did I do something?

「I am sorry, Otou-san is nois… I mean, it seems I am being called.」

「Ah, I see. Um… I was happy to hear your voice…」

If she’s being called, then I guess the call ends here. What a shame… I wanted to hear her voice more.

「Kazunari-san, if today is already over, then there are four days left. I’ll do my best to endure it, so you too, Kazunari-san…」

「Yes, I’ll do my best too. I was happy to hear your voice, Sara-san…」

Sara-san is just as lonely as I am.

If that’s the case, what good is it for me, a man, to say pathetic things?

I should show enough character to wait for her return with a smile.

「I was happy to hear your voice too, Kazunari-san… I really was… Good night, Kazunari-san. Please get some good rest.」

Sara-san’s heartfelt voice resonated in my heart.

「Yes. You too, Sara-san… Good night.」

「I love you so much, Kazunari-san… chu…」

Beep

Call ended… huh.

I imagine Sara-san giving a kiss over the phone.

Good night, Sara-san… I love you too.

And just like that, it’s finally been three days…

Two more days. In two days, I can see Sara-san.

It was the first time in my life that I’ve felt a mere two days were so long-awaited.

I was the same, but Sara-san’s loneliness seemed to be building up too, and we couldn’t bring ourselves to end today’s call.

「Good night, Sara-san.」

「Good night, Kazunari-san.」

「「 …… 」」

「Um… would you mind hanging up first, Kazunari-san?」

「No, it’s fine whenever you’re ready, Sara-san.」

「I can’t do it. I can’t hang up… honestly, I want to listen to your voice forever, Kazunari-san…」

「I feel the same way. I want to keep hearing your voice, so I can’t bring myself to end it either…」

「Kazunari-san… I’m happy…」

「I’m happy too… Sara-san.」

We went on like that and couldn’t hang up, until we finally both decided to press the end call button at the same time.

Sara-san… I want to see you.