Episode 210: Everyone’s Thoughts

「…I see. So Sara-chan…」

「Yeah, so that’s why.」

「I understand. Things might be tough from here on, but if anything happens, bring Sara-chan back here whenever you need to. We’ll handle persuading her parents after that.」

I knew my mom would say that.

But I’ve got no intention of leaving that part to them. This is something I have to do myself, and besides, I’m sure Masaomi-san and Mayumi-san will understand. So, in my mind, relying on my parents is a last resort.

「I’m not going to say it’s too early. If you’re saying it’s necessary to stay with Sara-chan, then age doesn’t matter, so make up your mind. It’s a world we don’t understand, but you’re going to dive in anyway, right?」

「Yeah.」

「…Don’t lose to the kind of people who’d involve such a good girl in their own profit races. If you need anything, call right away. I’ll talk to her parents too.」

…My parents should be fine now.

I didn’t plan on relying on them for this anyway; this was more of a report.

「Oh right, I heard about Yuzuha-chan… we were in the wrong for that too. I was too soft for not knocking you down and forcing the truth out of you when I noticed something was wrong.」

「Wait, what!?」

I panicked at my mom’s suddenly dangerous words.

Come to think of it, so much has happened that I forgot to report back to my family home. If she knows about this…

「She and her mother came by to apologize. Honestly, I was flustered because Yuzuha-chan looked like an empty shell… plus, they mentioned settlement money and I didn’t know what they were talking about. I’ll keep it safe for now, though I wonder if that’s money you’d want to use as dowry… or maybe not?」

「Dowry?」

What’s that…?

「Anyway, focus on Sara-chan for now. Don’t you dare make her cry, okay? Go show her you’re a real man!」

Todo Marina POV

「Are we going to offer a prayer, Todo-san?」

Having passed through the torii gate, the two of us were staring at a small shrine. I guess I should do that. If there’s anything I can do, even if it’s just praying to a god, I want to do it.

But that’s not my real goal. Hayato-kun doesn’t know, so it’s only natural he’d find it strange.

This might be meddling… I might get yelled at later.

It’s frustrating, but we can’t do anything about the matters at the company where Satsukawa-senpai’s father works. We had to leave all that to Nishikawa-san, but if there’s anything else I can do…

「Oh, welcome, Marina-chan. You aren’t with Mio-chan today?」

「Hello, Sachie-san.」

I wonder if Sachie-san knows about what’s going on? If she does, then I’m just meddling. But if she doesn’t…

「Oh my! You’ve brought quite a handsome boy with you. I see, so after Sara-chan, Marina-chan has found a lover too?」

「Fueeeee!?」

L-Lover!?

Hayato-kun is!?

「N-No, Hayato-kun is……」

………Hayato-kun is what?

What was I about to say?

I look to my side and lock eyes with Hayato-kun, who looks just as surprised. I feel like his face is turning a bit red…

「Oh, is that so? I think you look good together, though?」

Sachie-san beamed a smile at us as she looked at Hayato-kun and me side-by-side.

A good match? Someone like me with Hayato-kun?

「Um, nice to meet you. I’m Yokogawa Hayato.」

Hayato-kun regained his composure and gave a greeting.

But I’m in no state for that.

What about Hayato-kun?

What is Hayato-kun to me?

Just a friend? A best friend?

From Sachie-san’s perspective, we looked like a couple, right?

I’ve never thought about that before…

「Kazunari is my best friend.」

「Takanashi-san is truly blessed with friends… Oh, Marina-chan, are you okay?」

「Eh!?」

Hearing my name brought me back.

I can’t do this, I came here to talk about something important.

I’ll put thinking about Hayato-kun on hold and focus on Takanashi-kun and Satsukawa-senpai…

「Sachie-san, I’m sorry if you already know this, but there’s something I need to talk to you about…」

If I can be of help, even just a little…

「Kazunari-san, do you have any requests for dinner tonight?」

Sara-san suddenly asked while resting her hand on my arm.

Since she started staying at the house, she seems to have calmed down quite a bit. Looking at her normally like this, nothing feels out of place.

But……

「Hmm… that’s a tough question.」

「If it’s your wish, I can whip something up on the fly, you know?」

「No, everything you make is delicious, Sara-san, so it’s hard to pick just one.」

In fact, I’ve never had any thought other than「this is delicious」when it comes to Sara-san’s cooking.

I guess I could just pick my original favorites like hamburger steak, but Sara-san’s cooking isn’t something I can choose that simply.

「Flattery won’t get you anything, you know?」

「That’s a shame… but it’s not flattery, okay?」

「Oh, honestly, Kazunari-san…」

With a wry smile, Sara-san stepped closer. She stretched her body up as if standing on her tiptoes.

Chu…

I felt the light sensation of her lips touching my cheek.

She then linked both her arms with mine and looked up at me.

「Fufu… that was a thank-you for the happy feelings.」

「Sara-san…」

「Well, since it seems you can’t decide, I’ll choose. So, let’s stop by the supermarket on the way home, okay?」

……As I thought, the discordance remains in the details.

Even if she looks the same at first glance, there’s a lot of skinship, or rather, physical contact. Or more accurately, whenever we’re facing each other, she’s always touching my shoulder or arm, or she’s close enough to be touching.

And the supermarket is the same.

Sara-san usually won’t let me help with housework. So with shopping, she’d usually go ahead on her own unless I offered to help, and it’s rare for her to suggest stopping by on the way back herself.

In other words… I think somewhere in her heart, she doesn’t want to be away from me. Normally, I’d be happy she feels that way, but considering the reason, I can’t be purely joyful…

「…Hey, do those two realize this is the Student Council room?」

「…Maybe they think they’re at home?」

「…Does that mean it’s always like that at home?」

「…Man, it’s incredible how they can flirt while completely ignoring everyone around them.」

「…She just kissed him normally, didn’t she? Satsukawa-san’s image is so broken I don’t even know what’s what anymore…」

When I turned off the lights and headed for the futon, Sara-san immediately reached out to me. Grabbing her hand, I sat down and then lay down beside her, and she hugged me instantly.

「Kazunari-san…」

I hugged her back as she whispered my name, and she clung to me as if she’d never let go.

Since she started staying here, it’s been like this every time we sleep. I stroke her head while holding her to help ease her anxiety even a little, continuing until she falls safely into a deep sleep.

「Tomorrow, I’ve ended up having to go out with just Natsumi and Eri.」

「Have a good time. I think you need to blow off some steam once in a while.」

Of course, this is according to plan. Technically, Nishikawa-san wasn’t supposed to accompany them, but that shouldn’t be a problem.

「Kazunari-san… I’m so sorry… I…」

She has something she wants to say but can’t bring herself to say it; it’s truly painful. Her state tells the whole story.

So I give her this answer.

「Sara-san… you don’t have to push yourself. I’ll wait forever until you’re ready to talk.」

These words are nothing more than a postponement.

But from my perspective, this isn’t a postponement, it’s buying time.

So that I can eventually say,「It’s okay now, don’t worry.」

Tomorrow’s the big day…

The next day.

Nishikawa-san apparently brought a car, and she and Natsumi-senpai came to pick her up.

They were a bit earlier than scheduled, so Sara-san is currently getting ready inside while Natsumi-senpai keeps her company. It’s obviously to let me talk to Nishikawa-san.

「How is Sara doing?」

「I think she’s much calmer than at first. But I couldn’t bring up the matter of the marriage meeting.」

I know she was trying to tell me. But I didn’t want to force her to say it. I thought I should be the one to remove her worries… I’m not saying I’m confident, but…

「I understand. Leave Sara to us for now. We’ll try to talk to her a bit so she can go back to her usual self.」

「Thank you. But don’t push it too hard…」

「It’ll be fine. You focus on the talk with Sara’s father, Takanashi-san. Also… for the record, we’ve got a lead on providing support regarding the matter with Saba Electronics.」

!?

A lead on support!?

To be honest, I thought that was impossible, and I also thought I shouldn’t count on it. That’s why this report is a truly happy surprise.

「However, that all depends on today’s conversation. So…」

「I understand. Hearing that has me even more fired up. I’ll definitely get his approval!」

Nishikawa-san gave a nod with a smile at my answer.

I’ll have to find a way to thank her once everything is over…

「Sorry to keep you waiting. …Oh? Kazunari-san, is something wrong? Did something good happen…」

Having finished her preparations, Sara-san seemed to sense something from my face. She’s as sharp as ever.

「No, I’m fine. Well then, have a safe trip.」

「Yes, I’ll be back by evening, so don’t worry about dinner. Well…」

After our farewells, she naturally stepped close to me and stood on her tiptoes.

Chu……

Sara-san gave me a light kiss that just barely touched my cheek, whispered「I’m off then,」and then pulled away.

「Sigh… she looks like her usual self to me. What do you think, Eri-rin?」

「…………」

「Ah, so she’s the same as usual too…」

Following Natsumi-senpai’s gaze, I saw「Dark Nishikawa-san」with the highlights gone from her eyes, a sight I’ve been seeing often lately.

I watched the three of them get into the car and waved back until Sara-san was out of sight…

Now, time to start preparing for the decisive battle.

!?

When I left the house, a familiar face was suddenly standing right in front of me. That gave me a bit of a shock…

「You’re heading out now?」

「Eh, Hanako-san?」

I only reported a general schedule, so she shouldn’t have known the exact time.

Wait, has she been waiting here ever since Sara-san and the others left?

「I’ll walk with you part of the way.」

She’s a girl of few words, but I can tell she came here because she’s worried.

So I’ll accept her kindness simply.

「…Thanks. I’m glad you’re here.」

「Whatever… I’m your Onee-chan, after all.」

Her words were blunt as usual, but she gave me a radiant smile I rarely get to see. Then she started walking ahead as if to lead the way.

「It’ll be okay. Today is definitely going to go well. You’ve got nothing to worry about. That’ll be the same from here on… so don’t think about unnecessary things.」

Hanako-san gave me those words of encouragement without looking back.

From here on… that probably means after today. Maybe she’s heard something from Nishikawa-san.

And then, as we approached the station…

Watching Hanako-san walk ahead of me toward the Satsukawa house, I was reviewing what I should say today in my head. I was so lost in thought that I was looking but not really seeing my surroundings. Because of that, I didn’t notice the best friend standing at the station until he called out to me.

「Kazunari!」

「Yuji… why are you here?」

I didn’t need to ask to know Yuji was here because of our situation, but I couldn’t help but ask anyway.

「Nah, I just got curious and came by. Don’t worry about me, just go give ’em hell. You got past that thing with Yamazaki, so this should be a breeze, right?」

With a grin, he gave me a hard slap on the back as if to psych me up.

He must’ve come all this way just because he was worried. I’m really grateful.

「You’re right! Look forward to tonight’s group RAIN, ’cause I’m gonna report that I’ve become Sara-san’s fiancé.」

「You said it, right? I definitely heard that. Alright, get going. If anything moves, make sure to let me know. I’ll keep my phone on so I can answer anytime.」

「? Ah, yeah, got it. Well, I’m off then!」

Everyone is cheering for me. Mayumi-san is going to be there too. I feel like I’ve bonded with Masaomi-san myself.

So it’ll be okay… I’m sure it’ll be okay.

「I’m done here too. I’m looking forward to the report. Lastly, give me your ear.」

「? Alright.」

What is it at a time like this?

Feeling a bit curious, I bent my knees to match Hanako-san’s height. Since there’s a height difference, I had to lower myself quite a bit.

「I’ll be on standby, so contact me if anything happens.」

「G-Got it.」

Yuji said something similar, but does she actually intend to wait until the meeting is over?

「A good luck charm for success.」

Chu……

!?

I felt a soft, warm sensation on my left cheek, not the right side where Sara-san always kisses me…

「Good luck.」

And then Hanako-san sent me off with that same radiant smile from before.

Tachibana Yuji POV

It’s been a while since I’ve seen Kazunari with that look in his eyes.

Then again, there’s no way he wouldn’t be fired up when he’s doing this for his girlfriend and being cheered on this much by girls. I’d like to think my own pep talk had some effect, but it looks like Hanako-san took all the credit. That’s a bit unfair…

「Hanako-san… do you actually like Kazunari?」

It was something I just couldn’t stop wondering about.

There’s no way Kazunari and Satsukawa-san would ever break up. If that’s the case, then this would be an unrequited love.

「No. It’s not that simple, so don’t make assumptions.」

The atmosphere she showed to Kazunari vanished, and she returned to the usual Hanako-san I knew. Between Satsukawa-san and her, does Kazunari just attract this type of woman?

「Tachibana, are you here already?」

「Hello, you two.」

I was called from behind, but I knew immediately who it was.

We hadn’t talked about them coming here… it seems they came to see him off too.

「Well, yeah. I thought I might run into Kazunari if I came early, but I guess things really do work out.」

「From the way you’re talking, it sounds like Kazunari’s already gone. We were a bit too late.」

「Hanako-san and I gave him enough pep for all of you.」

「I see, thanks, Tachibana-kun.」

「Hey, did you include my share too?」

That’s another unexpected voice.

Natsumi-san and Nishikawa-san are with Satsukawa-san, so… what, did everyone gather here in the end?

「Yeah, I put in enough for Tachikawa-san, too.」

「That’s good. Now, what should we do?」

I’d intended to be here on my own, so I was going to wait somewhere nearby.

And if things looked difficult, I was planning to storm the Satsukawa house, do a dogeza, or whatever it took to get them to listen to the story of the two people I’ve seen as a friend. I don’t know if that would change his mind, but it’s better than just sitting and waiting.

「Tachibana… no, Yuji. If you’re storming in, I’m going with you.」

Yokogawa whispered that to me. It looks like he was thinking the same thing.

「True, two guys doing a dogeza might be interesting. Back me up if it comes to that, Hayato.」

But I doubt it’ll come to that. There isn’t a parent in the world who wouldn’t acknowledge those two when they love each other this much.