Episode 197: The Party Begins

Now… finally, today’s last event is about to raise its curtain.

Immediately after getting off the train, I sent a call notification to Yuji and Hayato. With that, they should be in the middle of getting the welcome ready, so they’re probably standing by and fully prepared by now.

All that’s left is for Sara-san to open the front door and enter the room first… that’s the plan.

Everything has gone according to schedule so far without any issues. If I had to say one thing, Sara-san has entered an even more pampered mode than I expected, and she looks like she’s fully intent on flirting with me alone at home after this. I’m a little anxious about that… though I’m also happy.

「We’ve arrived home… our date is ending…」

Sara-san murmured sadly. She hasn’t let go of my right arm once on the way here, and she’s still clinging to it now. Or perhaps she feels that the moment she lets go, today’s date truly comes to an end.

We can go on more dates from now on, but this lonely atmosphere might be my fault for not taking her on proper dates until now.

「Sara-san, where should we go next time?」

「Eh?」

「Don’t look so surprised. It’s true that today’s birthday date is ending, but I want to keep asking you out on dates from now on, you know?」

「Ah…」

My words bring the smile back to Sara-san’s face.

It seems she’s realized all over again that there are more fun things waiting for us.

If that’s the case, then this really was my fault for neglecting our dates.

「I chose the destination this time, but would you like to choose the next one, Sara-san? It can be a bit far away if you want.」

「Thank you! Then, next time I’ll…」

「Yeah. I’ll work hard at my part-time job again!」

「As for your share, Kazunari-san, I’ve been able to save from our living expenses, so I can provide it from there. Besides, the reserve funds I received from Okaa-sama are still untouched. So there’s no need for you to push yourself with part-time work.」

Reserve funds… for that mother of mine to prepare something like that, she must really like Sara-san…

「Please don’t work any more part-time jobs in secret from me, okay? I absolutely won’t forgive you next time.」

「Y-yes.」

Faced with the pressure Sara-san emitted while wearing a full-faced smile, I could only nod obediently. This makes future surprises difficult, but it can’t be helped… I’ll just have to work part-time openly to prepare money for dates and presents next time.

「Since the money for Kazunari-san is fine, the rest will be my own…」

「Sara-san, on the contrary, I absolutely won’t allow that. Please don’t say any more.」

It might be a small thing, but I’m putting my pride on the line; I can’t let Sara-san pay. If it comes to that, I’d rather keep working part-time forever.

「……Yes, I will do as you command, Kazunari-san.」

I was a bit worried because I spoke a little strongly, but for some reason, Sara-san turned red and gave a small nod.

I don’t remember saying anything particularly strange, though…

「Fufu… Kazunari-san scolded me.」

I didn’t intend to scold her at all… but I wonder why she looks so strangely happy?

Vibrate… vibrate…

…Actually, my phone has been vibrating like crazy for a while now. If I’m not mistaken, it’s probably an angry call telling me to hurry up and get back. Everyone must have noticed we’re in front of the house…

「Sa-Sara-san, it’s about time…」

When I glanced toward the front door, I felt a presence emitting a seven-colored aura (?) from behind the door that seemed to say「Enough already,」so unfortunately, I decided to cut the conversation short and urge Sara-san inside as planned.

「Yes, let’s head inside.」

Sara-san took the key from her bag and unlocked the front door.

…I’m getting nervous.

Click…

Beyond the open door was my usual room, wrapped in a darkness that showed no sign of anyone being there. When I think about how everyone is desperately hiding while holding their breath, it’s a bit inappropriate, but I can feel a laugh welling up.

Sara-san enters the house first. When we return home together, Sara-san always enters first to say welcome back to me. Because of that, it has become an unspoken rule for me to take a breath and follow her inside.

Once she steps through the door, Sara-san is naturally there waiting and facing me.

「Welcome home! Kazunari-san!」

Thud…

The sound of the door closing behind me echoes. That’s the signal for the surprise party to begin!

BANG!!!!! BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG!!!!!

「Kyaa!!」

A rain of crackers rings out loudly like a fanfare.

Surprised by the sudden roar from behind her, Sara-san clung to me.

「Sara!!!」

HAPPY BIRTHDAY~~~~~!!!!!

Led by Natsumi-senpai’s voice, everyone calls out their congratulations.

At the same time, the lights flash on in the pitch-black room, revealing everyone who was hiding along with handmade decorations scattered everywhere. Looking at the colorful display, I can tell everyone worked hard to prepare.

Sara-san has a dazed expression, her eyes wide as she blinks repeatedly, seemingly unable to process the situation yet.

「Eh, eh, eh…?」

While still clinging to me, she turns only her face toward everyone, but even when she tries to speak, no words come out. I try talking to her while stroking her head to help her calm down.

「Everyone prepared a birthday party for you, you know?」

「Though it was Takanashi-kun’s project!」

「No, the idea was Todo-san’s…」

「The one who planned it was Takanashi-kun!」

Personally, I want to say this party was everyone’s project, but those two stubbornly insist it was me, and everyone else nods in agreement. Hearing that, Sara-san turns back to me before I know it…

「…Is that so?」

「E-eh, well… sort of…」

「Kazunari-san……」

Sara-san’s longing expression and moist eyes give me that impulse once again.

Sara-san’s vibe is so different from usual today that I’m completely losing my pace…

「…Sara, we worked hard too, you know…」

Perhaps losing her patience, Nishikawa-san joins the conversation. Sara-san shifts her mood slightly, looks into my eyes, and gives a small nod.

「I’m sorry, so many happy things happened today that I lost my composure. Eri, Natsumi, Hanako-san, Todo-san, Tachikawa-san, Yokogawa-san, Tachibana-san…」

Sara-san called everyone’s name while making firm eye contact with each person, and eventually gave a deep bow.

「Thank you so much for today. This is the first time I’ve ever been celebrated with a party by friends… I don’t know how to put it into words. But…」

……Sara-san looks at everyone with a peaceful smile.

On the other hand, everyone else looks surprised, or rather, they seem to have frozen while staring at her beauty.

「I am happy. Thank you… everyone.」

「A-alright!!! Now that Sara’s being honest, let’s start the party!!」

Ooooh~~!!!!

At Natsumi-senpai’s command, Sara-san is pushed by everyone toward the back of the room.

As I follow her, I look around the room again. There are stars and flowers shaped from colored paper and cardstock, and if I look closely, there are also strips of paper with handwritten messages hanging… I’ll have to give all of these to Sara-san later.

「Alright, does everyone have a glass? Then, before the toast, let’s have a few words from our organizer, Takanashi-kun!」

I wish she’d told me that in advance… I haven’t thought of anything at all.

It’s a reckless request from Natsumi-senpai, but I can’t just ignore it and dampen the mood of the party.

Right, I should just say thank you too.

「Uh… First of all, thank you to everyone for everything leading up to today. I think Sara-san’s surprise birthday was a success. I want to specifically thank Todo-san and Hayato for supporting and following up on my part-time job, and Nishikawa-san for overseeing the party preparations and everything else. Thank you so much. Thanks to all of you, I think the date and the present went well. So from here on, I want us all to celebrate Sara-san! Once again, Sara-san, happy birthday!」

Clap clap clap clap clap clap!!!

「Okay, any brave souls who want to hear about the results of today’s date, feel free to ask after this. Now then, Sara, happy birthday, cheers!!!」

CHEEERS!!!

「So, how was the date today?」

「Yeah, since you went so far as to work a part-time job, did you show her a bit of your manly side?」

Yuji and Hayato are the first to grab me.

I guess they were curious, because they came over right at the start.

「What do you mean by ‘manly side’?」

「Well, you know, various things.」

「Since you were so fired up, didn’t something happen?」

「Why are you guys huddling up as just men all of a sudden!」

While I’m talking to those two, Natsumi-senpai suddenly interrupts.

There’s no alcohol provided, but I wonder if this strange high tension is what they call a natural high.

…Wait, was she always like this?

「Come on, don’t just stand there with three guys. Takanashi-kun, you’re the lover of today’s guest of honor, so stay by her side! You guys come over here too.」

I’d been holding back because the girls were surrounding Sara-san, but I think her logic is pretty unreasonable.

That said, I have no reason to refuse and no point in resisting. In the end, I’m led by Natsumi-senpai into the circle of girls, and Sara-san immediately clings to my arm.

「But honestly, you two… don’t you get tired of being all lovey-dovey 24/7? Even for lovers, a moderate sense of distance is… I think it must be hard for you too, Takanashi-kun, in ‘various’ ways.」

Natsumi-senpai emphasized「various,」and I feel like she’s trying to communicate something to me with her eyes. Is she perhaps pointing out「guy things」…?

「Eh, could it be that I’m causing trouble for you, Kazunari-san!? Have I been a nuisance all this time because I didn’t notice? That’s……」

Because of Natsumi-senpai’s unnecessary comment, it seems she’s misunderstood and thinks she’s a bother to me.

She looks like she’s about to cry from the shock, and seeing her face like that makes me feel painful too.

I hurriedly hug her, and her expression as she looks up at me anxiously stirs up my protective instincts, so I end up hugging her with all my might.

Sara-san’s cuteness is different today, making me want to just let her be pampered…

「There’s absolutely no way I’d ever feel like you’re a nuisance, Sara-san. If you aren’t by my side, I’d truly be sad and lonely.」

「I’m so glad… If I couldn’t touch you like this, Kazunari-san, I might cry from loneliness… because being by your side makes me so happy. Forever and ever, I want to be by your side, the one I love…」

Sara-san is just too cute. As we stare at each other while I stroke her head, my gaze unexpectedly drops to her lips. We finally had our first kiss today, and the emotion of that moment is still so vivid that I can’t help but be conscious of it.

It seems it’s the same for Sara-san, as she noticed my gaze shift to her lips, and her cheeks gradually turn red… Whether it’s unconscious or not, she shows a hint of trying to close her eyes, and tilts her face up just a bit…

「Eh!? Wait, wait, wait, wait a second, you two!! What, what’s with that atmosphere!? It’s different from usual!」

Natsumi-senpai’s panicked voice hit the brakes, and I realized we were the center of attention.

It seems we entered our own world again…

「I-I was surprised all of a sudden… the atmosphere between Takanashi-kun and Satsukawa-senpai was so intense, if Natsumi-senpai hadn’t stopped it, they would’ve just…」

「I-I was surprised too, but could this be…」

Beside Todo-san and Hanako-san who were talking, Nishikawa-san seemed to be thinking about something, but with a「Hah!?」she suddenly wore a look of pure shock.

「N-n-n-no way… no way!? You went up another step… Sara!!??」

「I get it! So that’s it! Finally, huh… Hey, hey, who started it?」

Sara-san didn’t answer Natsumi-senpai’s question, but instead, she glanced at me from the corner of her eye while her cheeks turned red. She immediately looked back down and began to fidget embarrassedly against my arm… ugh, that gesture is also too cute…

「Noooooooooo!!! What was that meaningful exchange just now!? Sara… Sara went up another step to adulthood!!!!」

「Calm down, Eri-rin!」

「Whoa, whoa, hearing that kind of talk about a friend makes me nervous~」

「As a big sister, it’s complicated…」

「To be able to create that kind of atmosphere as a high schooler, as expected of Satsukawa-senpai.」

「It seems he showed his manly side after all.」

「Looks like it. Well, if nothing happened after he was that fired up, people might’ve called him a wimp…」

The kiss was found out almost immediately, but I suppose it was only a matter of time.

Completely ignoring Nishikawa-san’s agonizing screams, Sara-san remained her usual self, staring at me with a happy expression.