Episode 195: Overflowing Feelings

Five dolphins jumped from the water at the same time, hitting balls hanging from the ceiling before returning to the surface…

Splash!!!

「Whoa!」

「Kyaaa!」

Cheerful screams echoed from the guests sitting near the pool. Since those seats were clearly marked as a splash zone, everyone sat there knowing what to expect, making it all part of the fun. Meanwhile, more dolphins jumped high, spinning and crossing paths.

「Incredible! This is completely different from the dolphin show I saw with my parents a long time ago!!」

Sara-san passionately explained the difference with a hint of excitement. For starters, the number of dolphins moving simultaneously was on a completely different level. I’d seen a show before too, but this venue was as vast as a competition arena, and the pool was massive. Naturally, the impact was different, and seeing so many dolphins synchronized was truly a masterpiece.

「Whoa, they’re so fast!!」

It looked like they were standing on the water with their tail fins as they moved backward at high speed. As soon as the first row finished, the second row followed, and this also happened in rapid succession.

Through hoop jumps and ball play, the show progressed, and before I knew it, it was reaching the finale. Sara-san stared intently at the dolphins swimming and jumping as if they were dancing to the music. But I found myself more captivated by her profile than the show. Just as I was about to reach out to her, she suddenly turned toward me.

「…Kazunari-san?」

She smoothly took my arm, linking hers with mine while giving a happy smile.

「I’m happy…」

I couldn’t help but wonder how much feeling was packed into that single word, it sounded so deep.

「…The view is amazing. And… it’s so beautiful.」

There was still time before the sun went down, but as autumn deepened, it felt like the daylight hours were getting shorter and shorter. Even though it wasn’t even 4 PM yet, the sun had dropped so much it felt like it was already past 5 PM.

After leaving the aquarium, we’d come to the park right next to it. This park faced the sea, and if we stayed here, we’d be able to see the sun sink into the ocean. However, since everyone was waiting at home, I couldn’t really stay that long.

Considering the time we needed to get back, we only had about thirty minutes. I’d originally intended to give it to her once we arrived, but deciding this park was a better location, I chose to give her the present right here.

「Sara-san… I have something to tell you.」

Sara-san was leaning slightly over the railing with both hands, looking out at the sea. Captivated by the contrast between her back and the ocean, I began to speak, spurred on by the atmosphere.

As she turned around, her long hair fluttered in the wind. My heart raced at the way she lightly pressed down her bangs.

She’s beautiful… sometimes I still wonder if I’m dreaming, that Sara-san actually became my girlfriend. I really…

「Yes… I’m listening.」

I felt a different kind of tension than when I confessed, but why was I so nervous? I was just trying to give Sara-san a birthday present. It wasn’t like she’d reject it, and it wasn’t like I was waiting for an answer. I should just be able to casually say happy birthday and hand it over…

I’d need to explain the part-time job. She might have something to say about it, but even so, this tension…

No, this tension isn’t coming from me. It’s Sara-san. Something is off with her. I’d been curious about it, and now I understand. Behind her superficial brightness was that momentary, longing expression I’d seen earlier. I think that’s what’s surfacing now.

Did I do something… I’m worried because I don’t know the reason, but I’ll try to ask about it while giving her the present. But before that…

「Sara-san, I’m sorry for keeping it a secret, but I was working a part-time job.」

「……Yes.」

I see… since she isn’t surprised, that means she noticed. And Sara-san seems to have stopped hiding it now, as that longing expression from before is fully on display. Honestly, I’m incredibly flustered. I thought she’d just be happy, or maybe a little angry. But seeing her like this is completely unexpected.

「……You noticed?」

「…Yes. To be honest, I thought I needed to talk to you about money last night, so I turned back halfway. Since I’m the one looking after our living expenses… the ticket money… well.」

「Ah…」

I really am a klutz when it matters. Right… I’d never lacked for anything before, so I completely forgot. If she thought about where the ticket money came from, it’s no wonder she noticed.

「I ended up following you. I also saw you working your part-time job from a distance.」

To think she saw that right at the end… it was such a pathetic way to finish that I couldn’t help but give a wry smile.

「……Is that so. I guess I really am a bit of a klutz.」

「No, I’m the one at fault. Actually, I’d been curious since the school trip, but I decided to wait until you spoke to me about it. And as expected, you did tell me. And yet, I… even though I trusted you.」

This… by keeping the job a secret, I might have put unexpected pressure on Sara-san.

「I couldn’t forgive myself. But my joy outweighed that. You worked a part-time job for this date today. You went through all that trouble. I do feel sorry. But… I’m happy. My true feeling is that I’m so happy you care about me that much. Kazunari-san… show me your right hand…」

…There’s no point in hiding it now. Since she specifically asked for my right hand, she definitely knows. I steeled myself and held out my open right hand.

Sara-san gently lifted my hand with both of hers, which were trembling slightly, as if she were handling something fragile.

「……u!? Th-this much… isn’t this incredibly painful? I didn’t notice and I held it earlier…」

Was it then… I see, is that why she suddenly switched to linking arms and seemed to worry that I was pushing myself…?

「To be honest, it hurts. But this is the result of me working while thinking about you, Sara-san. So I’m satisfied.」

「…Yes. It was really painful for me to know you were injured for my sake. And I was even happier than that. So, so that I wouldn’t waste your feelings, I told myself to enjoy today from the bottom of my heart, to keep smiling, and to act like I didn’t notice anything. I decided that when you spoke to me, that would be the time for me to tell the truth.」

So that was the reason for that longing expression…

「I’m a lucky woman. To have you do this much for me, to care for me this much… because of that joy, I’m able to smile like this. Because your feelings make me so much happier than any sense of apology or my own guilt…」

Sara-san must have felt guilty for ruining the surprise I worked so hard for, and for following me even though she trusted me. But she was also happy, and she was wavering between those two feelings, which led to that expression. And she still feels that way now. But…

「Sara-san, if I can say one thing, my surprise isn’t over yet.」

「……Eh?」

「It’s true I wanted to keep the job a secret, but I didn’t work just to earn money for the date. So, you haven’t ruined my surprise at all, Sara-san.」

「I-is… that so? I… I thought I’d wasted all your feelings, and I was so sorry…」

Sara-san began to tremble. I need to reassure her quickly, I shouldn’t drag this out. I open my bag and take out the box wrapped in cloth. Once the cloth is off… good, the wrapping is still perfect. Sara-san’s gaze is glued to my hand.

「Sara-san… happy birthday. It feels a bit weird to say it myself, but since it’s your birthday and the first present since we became a couple, I worked really hard.」

「…………ah」

Sara-san made a sound that wasn’t quite a word. She might be panicking. I took her trembling hand and placed the small box on it.

「If you’d like… please open it.」

「………Yes.」

Sara-san untied the ribbon and slowly, carefully peeled off the wrapping paper so as not to tear it. Then she opened the box… and stopped moving with her head slightly down.

……? Wait, why isn’t she taking the contents out…

Drip… drip…

As if a tiny rain had started right there, drops of water fell at Sara-san’s feet, one by one. I hurriedly checked her expression… Sara-san was crying with a look of surprise still on her face.

「E… eh? M-my apologies, I… today… today… to… day… uugh.」

She looked bewildered that she was crying, but that was only at first…

「Hic… sniff… I-I’m so… sorry…… I, I decided I would smile today… but, but… I’m at my limit… I can’t smile… I can’t smile anymore… ugh… uaaaah…」

Sara-san looked like she was about to collapse, so I hurriedly pulled her close. She started wailing as if she’d hit her breaking point.

「Hic… I decided… sniff… I wouldn’t… cry, but, I… I-I’m so glad, your feelings… truly… uuuuuu… I’m happy… I’m so happy… uaaaaah.」

I’d never seen Sara-san like this. Her pent-up feelings must have reached their limit. It’s my fault for letting her get this distressed. I’m the one who should be sorry.

I hugged her with all my might. Even though she was so unsteady she could barely stand, she leaned into me desperately.

「I love you!!! I love you so much!!! Kazunari-san… Kazunari-saaaaaan!!! I love you so much, waaaaaah!!」

「I-I love you too, Sara-san… truly… u… sniff… I love you, I love you!!」

It felt like Sara-san’s tears were overflowing from me as well…

In the empty park, only the sound of our crying echoed. We held on to each other so we wouldn’t fall… so precious… so precious…

「Waaaaaaaaah!!!!」

For a while, we couldn’t move…

I wonder how long we stayed like that. Once she’d calmed down a bit, Sara-san managed to pull away from me. She held the locket pendant she’d taken from the box, and placed the box carefully back in her bag as if she were touching a treasure.

Sara-san still had a tearful face, and I probably did too. Even so, I think we both calmed down enough to talk.

「…Sniff… Kazunari-san, please. This pendant… from you to me…」

She held the pendant, cradled firmly in both palms, out to me. Naturally, I knew what she meant. I took it, unfastened the clasp, and reached around her neck as if I were hugging her to put it on.

「……There, it’s on properly now.」

「Kazunari-san……… I…」

That was as far as the words went for both of us. Sara-san still had the remnants of tears on her face, but they were so beautiful they looked like jewels to me. As I stared intently at those jewels lingering at the corners of her eyes, Sara-san stared back at mine just as intently.

「Sara-san…」

「Kazunari-san…」

(Smoothly…)

Looking up at me slightly, Sara-san stared at me from point-blank range………

With a few tears still remaining, she slowly closed her eyes.

And I followed my own heart…

That day, for the first time, we shared a true kiss…