Episode 257: A Second Start

Night…

Since the three of them left, Sara-san and I have been focused solely on working.

I was mainly in charge of cleaning, but I decided to take this chance to organize my personal belongings too. Because of that, there was more to do than I’d expected.

But it was worth it. By evening, we’d finished organizing the luggage and even did a light furniture reshuffle. I ended up leaving most of the major tasks to Sara-san, but considering how things usually go, I’ll count being able to participate in the housework as a win.

Tchop, tchop, tchop, tchop…

♪~♪~

And right now in the kitchen, along with the sound effects produced by the knife and frying pan, Sara-san is performing a lovely humming duet.

Sara-san looks happy as she cooks, moving her body to the tune. She’s in a very good mood.

Even though I know how much Sara-san loves cooking, it’s rare to see her doing it quite this cheerfully. She seemed normal at lunch, so I’m a bit curious to see what’s up.

I tried to peek in from the side so I wouldn’t get in her way, but Sara-san suddenly turned around as if she’d noticed something. Apparently, she’d sensed me approaching.

「Fufu… playing tricks… that’s a no-no, alright?」

Since I was approaching stealthily, it seems she thought I was trying to pull a prank. She gave me a「no-no」with a broad smile while poking my forehead with her index finger.

「N-No, that’s not it! You just looked so happy that I wondered if something happened…」

「…Did I look that happy to you?」

「Yeah.」

「I, I see. I thought I was acting like I usually do…」

Sara-san hadn’t noticed her own behavior, and when I pointed it out, she gave a slightly bashful smile. Then, as if to explain the reason to me, she turned her gaze toward the cooking tools like the knife and frying pan.

…I see, so that’s it.

What Sara-san was looking at was the set of new cooking utensils we’d bought along with the dishes during our shopping trip the other day.

It seems Sara-san had wanted new ones for a while, and she was so happy when we decided to buy them during that trip. Since they’re tools for everyday cooking, they’re like an elite squad gathered after taking a lot of time to choose, even incorporating my opinions. And now, they’re all lined up right in front of her.

「These are mine… the cookware that we chose together, Kazunari-san. From now on, I’ll be using these to cook every single day. In our life together, using these things that only the two of us chose, I’ll be making your… our meals.」

Seeing Sara-san’s happy expression makes even me feel happy just watching her. Since she has a special passion for cooking, I suppose her emotional attachment to things like this is quite strong.

「I can’t say it well, but it makes me happy. Today, by getting all this new furniture together, it’s like I’ve finally realized that our life with just the two of us has truly begun…」

「No, I get it. We bought all this stuff specifically for the two of us to live together, after all.」

I can more or less understand what Sara-san is trying to say.

The things we got during that shopping trip were bought for our life together from here on out. And I think there’s a huge difference between buying daily necessities and buying furniture. Furniture is what gives a life its shape. So, it’s no exaggeration to say that this shopping trip represents the fact that Sara-san and I are living together, and will continue to do so.

「Yes! And… um, this experience made me realize something… I finally understand the feeling of people getting married wanting to choose and get all their furniture from scratch together…」

I still have a vague feeling when it comes to the concept of marriage. But after today, I feel like I finally understand the「meaning」of buying furniture. So when I think about it that way, Sara-san’s desire to decide everything together when we get married seems natural, even obvious.

「…You’re right. Looking back on today, I think that’s exactly how it should be when we get married, too.」

「Yes! I’m so happy you said that. Then, may I have your promise?」

「Yeah. For that reason too, I’ll work hard once I get a job.」

It might have sounded a bit like a joke…

Since I’ve never even earned my own living expenses, anything I say right now probably sounds like nonsense. But even I can tell from watching my father and Masaomi-san that I’ll eventually be in that position too one day.

「Well, I’m sure people would tell me I’m a hundred years too early to be saying that. But, I promise.」

「 I don’t think that at all. I am absolutely certain that you will become a wonderful husband, Kazunari-san.」

「I’ll, I’ll do my best. I’ll definitely keep my promise.」

「Yes. Then, I’ll be looking forward to that day… my husband♪」

Sara-san gazed at me gently with eyes that were incredibly direct. Her look made me feel that she wasn’t joking at all, but truly believed in me.

That’s why, in order to live up to those expectations, I…

It was a double-sized futon we bought so we could sleep together, but seeing it actually laid out makes me realize its size all over again.

I thought it was big when we hung it out on the balcony, but seeing it like this, it feels even bigger. I should have known from the display model at the store, but maybe it’s because the size of the room acts as a point of comparison?

Sara-san was checking the feel of the futon we’d just laid out, patting it lightly. She looked so pleased that I’m sure she’s satisfied with it.

「Kazunari-san, isn’t it about time we got into the futon?」

「Y-Yes!?」

It wasn’t that I was thinking anything indecent, but her sudden call made my response stumble.

We’ve both finished our baths, but usually this is the time we’d spend relaxing, watching TV or drinking tea. We’re tired after a full day of work, but to be honest, it’s still a bit early for sleep.

「Fufu… is something wrong?」

「I, I’m fine. More importantly, isn’t it a bit early for bed…」

「Yes. I think it’s still early… but why don’t we lie down and talk?」

「Talk?」

「Yes. Since we have our nice new futon. And…」

「And?」

「…I want to hold you in our new futon as soon as possible, Kazunari-san…」

「…………」

That’s… embarrassing… and I don’t know how to respond…

Sara-san seemed a bit bashful about saying it so directly too, but I guess wanting to hold me was her priority. Since she said it so decisively, I found myself even more at a loss for words.

「I, I understand.」

Once I gave my acknowledgment, Sara-san nodded happily, pulled back the comforter, and climbed into the futon first.

Sara-san usually prioritizes me in everything we do, but she’s always the first to move when it comes to getting into the futon.

Because…

「Kazunari-san, this way please…」

Holding up the comforter, she’s waiting with her arms open as if to welcome me. The reason Sara-san always gets in first is precisely to set up this position.

「P-Please excuse me…」

The moment I’m most nervous is this one, when I have to go and let myself be held. I always feel bad making Sara-san wait, but even so, I can’t just boldly dive in as if I’ve gotten over my nerves.

I forced down the feeling that I was about to burst from the tension, steeled my resolve, and slowly moved between Sara-san’s arms. Once I settled my body, her arms wrapped around my back, and I was pulled in tight as if being pushed from behind.

「S-Sara-san…」

「Let’s stay like this for a bit until you calm down.」

While moving the arms wrapped around my back, she gently patted me in a rhythmic tchop… tchop… pattern. Since Sara-san knows I’m nervous, she always does this every single time until I settle down.

Eventually, the tension drained out of me from the comfort, and I relaxed, letting go of any extra strength. Seeing that I’d calmed down, Sara-san pulled me in even tighter with her whole body, wrapping her arms around my head and back.

To match her momentum, I pressed my face into her, acting just a little bit spoiled.

「Kazunari-san, feel free to go even deeper, alright?」

「!? N-No, this much is…」

「No holding back♪」

Gently…

A light pushing force was added from the hand resting on the back of my head, and in the end, I ended up burying my face in her just like usual.

「Fufu… this position really feels the most natural after all. It’s calming, or rather, it feels stable…」

「I, is that so?」

「Yes. You’re very comfortable to hold. Besides, if I do this…」

Gently…

In an embrace that felt like she was enveloping my entire body, I felt a flash of panic as a man and instinctively tensed up. But that was soon replaced by the comfort of having my head stroked, and the feeling vanished as if wiped away.

Noticing that I’d gone limp from the sense of security, Sara-san loosened her hug just a bit, perhaps so we could talk. She continued to stroke my head, of course.

「You’ve finally become honest… you really are such a shy person, Kazunari-san.」

It seems Sara-san is mistaking my wariness and stiffness for being too shy to be honest. Of course, that’s a big part of it, but as far as right now is concerned, it’s a bit different. To be honest, I just needed some time to settle my feelings in various ways.

「Even so… is it because the futon is different? I feel like the holding sensation is different from usual.」

「It is?」

「Yes. So, please let me verify that…」

「Verify?」

Squeeze…

The embrace she’d loosened just a moment ago returned to a firm hold. I felt like I was going to melt into the comfort of being enveloped by her whole body and Sara-san’s softness.

「Yes, it wasn’t my imagination. Changing the futon was the right choice. I feel like I can sense you even more strongly now, Kazunari-san.」

「You can tell that much of a difference?」

「Yes. Inside the futon, it’s a world for just you and me, Kazunari-san. No one and nothing can get between us. Right now, I can’t feel anything except for you, so I can tell the change quite clearly.」

I think I more or less understand what Sara-san is saying. It’s true that when we’re like this, trapped in the limited space of a futon, it can feel like a closed-off area that’s cut off from the outside world. And if it’s just the two of us inside… then I suppose you could call it a world for just the two of us.

「That’s why… it was the right choice to get a large futon. By being enveloped even more deeply than before, our world is clearly born.」

「I think I understand that too. And since the futon got bigger, our world has expanded as well. So, it should be okay to be a bit more relaxed—mmph…」

I thought I was playing along well with Sara-san’s talk, but for some reason, I was pressed in hard as if to cut me off. Did I say something weird?

「Even if the futon is spacious, your place to rest is right here, you know?」

It seems she took my comment about being relaxed to mean I wanted to move a bit further away. I didn’t mean it that way, but it’s also true that I thought it might be tough for Sara-san to do this every night.

For Sara-san, even if the world changes, my sleeping position isn’t supposed to change. That’s probably why she’s holding me tight as if she has no intention of letting me go.

And as usual, my face is firmly in the heaven that can be called its fixed position…

In other words, does the「here」Sara-san is talking about refer to here… no, maybe I’m overthinking it.

「Haa…」

「Fufu… what is it?」

「No… it’s just that I’m so happy… I feel like I’m going to fall apart in all sorts of ways.」

With the triple punch of comfort, pleasure, and the sensation of heaven, my true feelings slipped out of my mouth before I could stop them. Even though I thought「Crap」after saying it, it was already too late.

「Please feel free to fall apart when you’re like this with me. I’ll take responsibility, after all.」

「Responsibility?」

「Yes. I’ll keep doing this for you from now on, and even after we’re married… forever…」

「Haha…」

As long as Sara-san’s wishes don’t change, it seems it’s set in stone that we’ll be doing this forever. For me, if I can feel this kind of happiness every day, it’s everything I could hope for.

That said, even if I know it makes Sara-san happy, there’s obviously the struggle as a man of whether it’s okay to lean on her this much…

I always resolve in my heart to make up for it in other ways, though…

「I mean… I said something as grand as responsibility, but the truth is actually quite simple.」

「Eh?」

「In the end… I just want to do this for you, Kazunari-san…」

「I, I see.」

「Yes. So, please lean on me… if you hold back… I’ll be sad…」

A whisper from Sara-san that sounded like it was overflowing with a bittersweet, uncontrollable affection.

She tightened her arms as if to press me even harder against her.

I didn’t resist and simply let myself be enveloped by Sara-san’s kindness.

Thump… thump…

Deep enough to hear a heartbeat… yet, I didn’t feel any of the usual tension or panic as a man. It was just a calm feeling, as if I were being wrapped in Sara-san’s gentleness.

「Today… with the arrival of the new furniture… our life has finally gained its color. Today is the true start of our life… that’s something very important. After all, everything from here on out will be connected, leading all the way to our marriage in the future.」

「………You’re right… it is.」

「I’m so happy that I could welcome such an important day, one that will stay with me for the rest of my life, with you and no one else, Kazunari-san… I’m… so happy.」

On top of this life, the next one… and our future married life will be built. They’ll be connected. Sara-san is saying that the first step of all that has begun. There’s no way I wouldn’t find that deeply moving.

And she told me she was happy that I was the one sharing such an important moment with her. There’s nothing that could make me happier than that.

That’s why I have to do it, for Sara-san’s sake, for our future!

「I’ll do my best! For our future, and for our life together, I’ll start by working hard on my studies and definitely fulfill my promise to Masatomi-san!! As long as I’m with you, Sara-san, I can do anything. I can work hard. So together, the two of us—mmph…」

The feelings filling my heart overflowed, and I couldn’t stop talking. Driven by that, I started speaking passionately, but I couldn’t finish what I had to say.

By the time I realized it, my mouth itself had been sealed by Sara-san. That was when I first noticed I was being kissed.

And then, my vision, my touch, everything became a single color: Sara-san.

Eventually, the connection was slowly broken, and the Sara-san I saw was wearing a smile overflowing with happiness.

Even staring straight at each other from point-blank range, none of the usual extra emotions like embarrassment were born within me right now. Because my heart was equally filled with nothing but love and happiness.

「…I was so happy to hear your feelings… I just couldn’t help myself.」

「Sara-san…」

「Let’s work hard together. I’ll be by your side to support you… I’ll always be here to heal you like this. If it’s for your sake, Kazunari-san… I’ll do… anything…」

「Thank you. For your sake too, Sara-san…」

I think today was surely the second starting line of our lives.

Just as Sara-san said, the happiness of being able to welcome it with her is truly beyond words.

Without forgetting my current feelings, for Sara-san’s sake and for our happy future, I’m going to fulfill my promise to Masatomi-san.

—Bonus: Just before falling asleep—

「……Kazunari-san.」

Chu…

Sara-san’s soft lips on my cheek. Actually, this is the third time already.

「S-Sara-san… what’s wrong?」

「……I was happy today… so, it’s your fault, Kazunari-san…」

Sara-san whispered in a voice that gently blamed me, yet held sweetness and a hint of a pained longing.

When she whispers that in my ear, the tension spikes all at once and my heart starts racing.

「I love you… my husband…」

Chu…

I’m happy, but… I don’t think I’ll be able to sleep yet… after this.