Episode 258: Gradually Spreading Rumors

Beep beep… beep beep…

…………

「…san」

…………

「…san, let’s wake up now.」

…………

「Kazunari-san… are you not going to get up for me?」

It’s not like I’m ignoring her or trying to be a jerk. In the first place, there’s no way I’d ever do that to my beloved Sara-san.

If you were to ask why I won’t get up, I’d tell you my body just won’t move even if I wanted it to. Or maybe it’s more accurate to say I simply can’t wake up.

A lot happened last night, so I had a hard time getting to sleep. Especially since I was wide awake after she hit me with a barrage of kisses right before bed.

Of course, Sara-san didn’t mean anything bad or have any ulterior motives, she was just letting her feelings for me overflow. And I was the one who went ahead and let myself be pampered by her…

As a result, I ended up being strangely alert, tossing and turning all night.

Yeah… basically, I’m still sleepy…

Still, it’s probably about time I got up, no matter what.

I’ve got to pull myself together… I thought, trying to rally my sluggish willpower, when I suddenly felt a slight weight pressing down on my body as if someone were covering me. I knew immediately that Sara-san was trying to do something, but was she planning to take physical action since I wouldn’t wake up?

For the record, Sara-san never resorts to forceful measures like dragging my covers off. She always wakes me up within the bounds of being gentle, so I’m not worried about that at all.

「My husband…」

Along with Sara-san’s whisper, I feel something like a breath against my cheek. I know her face is close, but could she be planning a continuation of last night…

「W-a-k-e u-p♪」

!!!!!?????

「Whoa!?」

Caught completely off guard, Sara-san did the unthinkable: a sweet, breathy whisper right in my ear. Between the intense tickling, the tingling, and the shivers running through me, there was no way I could handle it. My body lurched upward all at once, practically jumping out of bed.

「Ehehe… Good morning, Kazunari-san.」

「G-Good morning…」

「Is something the matter?」

「T-That just now was…」

With a broad smile that practically announced her successful prank, Sara-san looked perfectly composed, not acting guilty at all.

I don’t have any intention of getting mad, but I thought it was a rare move for her. Of course, this isn’t the first time she’s done it, so it’s not exactly a mystery…

「This is a punishment for the mean Kazunari-san.」

「Mean?」

「You were already awake, weren’t you?」

「Ugh…」

It looks like she saw right through me. Then again, it’s not like the fact that lies and excuses don’t work on Sara-san is anything new, so I guess you could say it’s only natural.

「Fufu… calling it a punishment was a joke, but you didn’t seem like you were going to get up, so I used the method that proved super effective before. Plus, when I blew on your ear during that ear-cleaning session the other day, you seemed to really enjoy it…」

This wake-up method was one of her special finishers(?) specifically for me that I’d been hit with a few times before. And it looks like she added a breathy upgrade to this finisher, which I hadn’t seen in a while.

I’m weak to having my ears targeted (a recent discovery), so when this technique is used, it’s devastatingly effective.

And that thing during the ear-cleaning, even remembering it now gives me shivers from the sheer impact. It was such a shock that I thought I was going to ascend to heaven right then and there, and it’s an event that’s taken root in my memories in all sorts of ways.

「No, that was…」

「You like it, don’t you?」

「……I love it.」

「Yes. You were able to be honest… good boy♪」

Chu…

Just when I thought she brought her face close, she gave me a light kiss on the cheek as a reward.

Right after waking up, between being happy, embarrassed, and flustered, my face felt like it was already about to boil over.

The reason for Sara-san’s actions is strictly, purely「because it makes me happy,」and there are no other motives. That’s why it’s so complicated for a guy… but I know for a fact that this is definitely a luxury of a problem.

「Fufu… we still have a little time, so come here.」

Softly…

Even though she held me all through last night and pampered me like crazy… I’m being held like this starting from the morning, and even though the conclusion is already reached, I can’t help but ask myself,「Is this really okay?」

「Kazunari-san… please don’t be shy, and just say it honestly if you like it.」

But when Sara-san pulls me in and strokes my head like this… those logical thoughts just fly right out of my head.

I know for a fact, and not just because I want to believe it, that Sara-san truly wants to do this from the bottom of her heart. That’s why I want to accept it honestly too.

Acting spoiled when I want to, and working hard when I need to, that’s fine, isn’t it…

That might be a soft way of thinking, but if I’m aiming to balance both, then that’s surely the way I’m required to be.

「Ehehe… I’ll be sure to do lots of ‘whooo’ for you during our next ear-cleaning session, too♪」

…………I wonder if I’ll be able to survive the next ear-cleaning session in one piece.

「Mornin’!」

「Morning…」

Meeting up at the convenience store with the morning-energetic Natsumi-senpai and the always-cool Hanako-san, we head to school as usual. I can’t help but be aware of my surroundings because of Saturday, but for now, there don’t seem to be any major changes.

In the first place, it’s probably crazy to think something would change after only a day or two. I’m not a celebrity or a famous person, so I tell myself to cool it with the self-consciousness and not get ahead of myself.

「Takanashi-kun, what’s been up with you?」

「Nothing, really…」

「You don’t need to worry, I think we’re still okay for now. Though I’m sure it’s only a matter of time…」

As expected of Hanako-san… her sharp ability to nail my state of mind is already at a level where I’ve got to take my hat off to her.

「Hmm? ……Oh, you mean what happened on Saturday!」

As if she finally got it, Natsumi-senpai slapped her hands together. Her easy-to-read gestures are kind of cute.

Regardless of that…

「Natsumi-senpai, did you know?」

「I don’t know the details. I just heard from Daichi. Or rather, seeing the way Sara went charging out of the classroom, I knew something had to be up…」

Come to think of it, I’d forgotten that Natsumi-senpai has a route via the former president. Since a meeting was held in the student council room on Saturday without Sara-san and me, maybe part of that talk made its way to Natsumi-senpai.

「No… it was because there was a misunderstanding about the relationship between Kazunari-san and Hanako-san…」

「Even though I told them over and over it wasn’t like that… honestly… kids are a pain because they never listen.」

Kids… I know she’s obviously talking about our classmates, but treating her own peers as kids, huh…

Then again, when I think about mental age, there are definitely parts that make sense. To be honest, I sometimes find myself thinking「Are you guys kids?」about my classmates too, and I’m sure Hanako-san, with her high mental age, feels that even more often.

「Oh, by any chance, was there a misunderstanding that Takanashi-kun’s girlfriend was Hanako-san?」

「Yeah. Apparently they made up all sorts of scenarios on their own and thought we were a couple.」

Yeah… we were being viewed as a pair with some pretty deep issues, thanks to some weird made-up scenario about us being lovers who enjoy a big-sister-little-brother dynamic.

I really can’t help but wonder what kind of thought process leads to a story like that.

「Hmm… (Well, I can’t say I don’t understand how the classmates feel. Hanako-san clearly views Takanashi-kun as special… and the two of them get along great, after all.)」

「Kazunari-san’s class should be fine now. They should understand that I am the fiancée, after all.」

「I see…… so you just laid it all out…」

「I wonder how things are going to be starting today.」

To be honest, I’ve been thinking about that the whole time we’ve been walking. After an uproar like that, there shouldn’t be anyone left who still says they don’t believe it. But regardless of that, I wonder how school life is going to change from here on out…

The moment we went public with my relationship with Sara-san, I steeled myself for the fact that I couldn’t go back to a school life where nothing happens. But I had this faint hope that if my plan worked, maybe things would settle down after the beauty contest.

Natsumi POV

At some point, the sight of people gathering around Sara’s seat during breaks stopped being unusual. It’s because her personality has improved a bit since she started dating Takanashi-kun, making her easier to approach. Or maybe it’s also because she’s gotten used to it since Yuri and the others started talking to her after the school trip…

For the record, she’s the same as ever when it comes to guys, but the number of idiots who misunderstand her improved attitude as a chance to get closer is actually continuing to grow.

「Satsukawa-san, you’re at it again today, huh.」

「Yes. Since I cannot take much time, I must take every small opportunity I can find.」

For a little while now, Sara has been diligently knitting a scarf during short breaks. I thought it was rare for her to do that at school, but it makes sense once I heard it’s a surprise present for Takanashi-kun. Since they’re living together, she can’t exactly make it at home.

「…I’m impressed you can knit at that speed.」

「It’s just practice. I have made various things until now, after all. Besides, my Mother and Grandmother trained me thoroughly.」

Even as she carries on the conversation, the speed of Sara’s hands as she knits doesn’t show the slightest sign of slowing down. Just like with her sewing, her handicraft skills are impressive as always.

I don’t know about Sachie-san, but I know for a fact that Mayumi-san is quite multi-talented. It’s common knowledge that Sara has been taught various things since she was little, so even at her age, she already has off-the-charts feminine power… or rather, housewife power. Even if she were to marry Takanashi-kun right now, she’d have no trouble being a full-time housewife.

That said, the fact that Sara started knitting a scarf in the classroom has caused quite a shock to this class. Part of it is because it’s so unexpected for the straight-laced Sara to do something like that at school, but the biggest reason is definitely the question of who that scarf is for. For the record, the majority opinion is that it’s for a family member or a female friend.

「Phew… seriously, you’re like the embodiment of feminine power.」

「Ehehe… what is that supposed to mean?」

「Natsumi said it before. That you’re the embodiment of feminine power, Satsukawa-san.」

「I mean, you’re perfect at home ec, after all.」

Because her personality has clearly changed, the number of girls talking to Sara now that she’s easier to approach has increased significantly.

The sight of Sara talking while surrounded like this has become a daily occurrence, and I think that’s a good thing.

「I have been doing various things since I was little because they would be useful in the future, after all.」

「So, the fact that you’re good at all things home ec is a result of that.」

「That would be correct.」

「Wow… whoever marries Satsukawa-san in the future is going to be one lucky guy.」

Yuri, who cut into the conversation, laughed meaningfully, and I’m sure she said that with Takanashi-kun in mind. She shouldn’t know about the engagement stuff yet, so I wonder if her ability to hit the nail on the head regarding marriage is just animal instinct…

The boys, as if agreeing with Yuri’s sentiment, were all nodding in unison and directing envious gazes toward Sara, which was pretty funny.

「Ehehe… I shall be the one to make my husband happy, after all.」

As Sara said that with a radiant smile, the boys in the classroom were completely captivated. That smile would be more than enough to kill any man, and even I think it can’t be helped.

「…Haaah… truly the Goddess’s smile.」

「…H-Husband… aaaaagh, I want her to call me that…」

「…Seeing a smile like that, I really can’t give up…」

「…I’m talking to her with the mindset of a long-term battle, though.」

「…You too? …Well, looking at her like that, there should still be plenty of time.」

「…Since her vibe has changed lately, I’m at least hoping for a friend position.」

「…Must be nice… I wish she’d date me…」

「…There’s a rumor that the scarf is for a boyfriend (lol).」

「…No way, there’s no way that’s the case for Satsukawa-san.」

「…With all the talk about her being a man-hater, that’s impossible.」

To the classmates who have known Sara until now, the current Sara must look like a completely different person. However, while that might be fine for the girls, I think it’s different for the boys. Seeing her like that, it’s no wonder some guys are hoping they might be able to get closer to her than before.

Plus, many of the boys in this class are actually thinking quite realistically. Judging that a boyfriend is out of the question for Sara for the time being, many of them are aiming for「starting as friends」or「even just being friends is fine (with hidden motives)」with a long-term battle in mind. Having seen Sara pay no mind even to famous ikemen, they understand that taking the long way around is the most constructive approach. That’s why it can’t be helped that many boys are hopeful about Sara’s current change.

RATTLE RATTLE RATTLE!!

BANG!!!!!!!!!

As if to shatter the peaceful atmosphere of the class, the classroom door was suddenly flung open without warning. At the violent sound of it hitting the wall, all eyes turned toward it in accusation.

「Puff… pant…」

The boys who burst into the classroom while drawing everyone’s attention, as if they were competing with each other, were… the class mood-makers, Kayama-kun and Ikegami-kun. They turned their gazes this way, and after confirming something for a second, they came charging toward us. Feeling an unusual presence in their desperate expressions, I instinctively steeled myself.

At the sudden turn of events, not just us but the rest of the classmates looked confused. The only one acting perfectly normal was Sara, who was so focused on her knitting that she wasn’t paying attention to her surroundings.

「S-Satsukawa-san!!」

Hearing her name, Sara finally turned her attention to her surroundings and stopped her hands. Noticing the duo standing in front of her, she glared at them with an expression purely filled with displeasure. It looked so cold that it practically accused them of being an utter nuisance.

Normally, a boy who received a look like that would mostly flinch, but it seemed that wouldn’t be the case this time.

「W-We just heard from an underclassman, but they said you have a boyfriend in this school!!??」

「A-And that you’re getting married, that’s a lie, right!!?? When I confessed, you said you didn’t want men getting close to you!!??」

It looks like the time has finally come.

They must have heard about Saturday somewhere and rushed over to confirm it… well, it’s the truth, so I’ll just watch and see how Sara answers.

For the record, I’ve decided not to meddle in Takanashi-kun’s business anymore. If anything, I just plan to stay alert regarding the living-together situation…

「…Huh??」

「…What are they even talking about?」

「…It’s hard enough just to be friends because she’s a girl…」

「…Even for a joke, that’s way too out there.」

「…In the first place, marriage at this age…」

「…Who would even believe a story like that?」

「…Or maybe they’re just desperately trying to get her attention?」

「…If so, that’s hilarious (lol).」

「…No way, a story like that is just impossible no matter what.」

「…Um… I also heard something like that from an acquaintance yesterday…」

「…Eh… surely that’s just a hoax?」

「…I thought so too and laughed it off…」

「…Does that mean the hoax is spreading?」

I think the classmates’ reactions are only natural.

In a way, we classmates are the ones who have watched Sara the longest in this school, and it can’t be helped that the majority opinion is「no way.」

I mean, even I, her best friend, couldn’t believe it at first, after all…

「…H-Hey, Natsumi. This means things about Takanashi-kun have leaked out, right? But what about the marriage thing?」

Yuri, who doesn’t know about Saturday, also looks a bit confused by this development. I didn’t answer her whispered question and decided to wait for Sara’s response…