…Towa-kun
“Phew, that was fun.”
“Yeah. It’s been a while since we had this much fun.”
Ayana and I, who had thoroughly enjoyed ourselves at the pool, were now at a nearby family restaurant. Feeling quite tired from all the activity, we decided to pass the time by having something sweet to eat.
“It’s a bit disappointing that we’re not alone…”
Saying so, Ayana looked towards the two sitting in front of us, Iori and Asaka-san.
“It’s not a big deal. Opportunities like this don’t come often.”
“That’s right~. It’s okay, right, Yukishiro-kun!”
Certainly, it’s rare to be alone with our seniors like this. I, for one, don’t mind it and find it enjoyable. Of course, Ayana expressed her disappointment, but her expression was calm, far from indicating any aversion.
“Well, I think it’s nice once in a while. It’s not a lie that I would have preferred being alone with Ayana.”
“Towa-kun!”
As I affectionately ruffled Ayana’s head, she closed her eyes with a contented expression. That gesture of hers, how should I put it, makes me think she’s like a cat when I see her like this.
“Like a cat, right?”
It seems Iori thought the same thing. If this were at home with just the two of them, she would probably switch from a cat to a leopard in an instant…
“Here you go!”
Our orders were brought to us. Ayana and I went for cake, but is Asaka-san going to be okay with that? What I was looking at was a jumbo parfait with a considerable amount. It’s a scene that makes you want to ask, where is all that going in her petite body?
“W-Whoa, that’s amazing…”
“Despite her looks, this girl can eat a lot. And she doesn’t gain weight at all, envy-inducing metabolism she has.”
“It’s one thing not to gain weight, but it’s hard to believe that none of the nutrients go to her height or chest!”
It seems Asaka-san has her own big concern.
After that, we all joined hands and dug into the food, but Asaka-san’s hands were moving too fast. Eating at high speed without any sign of slowing down. It feels like watching a food fighter up close on TV.
“…Huh?”
“…Human?”
“Towa-kun, setting you aside, Nonomiya-san, that’s a bit rude.”
“?? What’s wrong??”
It seems Asaka-san didn’t hear our murmurs, as she tilted her head while eating her parfait. Her adorable manner of gobbling it up one bite after another is very charming, making her look like a hamster.
Soon after, Asaka-san finished her parfait thoroughly, and Ayana and I couldn’t help but applaud.
“hehehe, it was delicious today too!”
“What’s going on with your stomach…”
I think that will forever remain a mystery. Asaka-san finished her parfait, while Ayana and I finished our cakes, enjoying a brief chat.
“I’m sorry. I’ll go to the restroom for a bit.”
“I’ll go too~”
Ayana and Akasaka-san got up from their seats, leaving only me and Iori behind. I didn’t particularly have anything to ask Iori, but it seemed like she did. As Ayana and the others disappeared from view, Iori spoke up.
“Hey, Yukishiro-kun, has something happened with Osamu recently?”
“Osamu?”
“Yes.”
I was about to answer that something had indeed happened, but… I hesitated for a moment. That day was a special one for both Osamu and me. It was a day where Osamu faced the fate that had followed him from the past and truly moved forward.
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“hahahaha, seems like something did happen. Alright, I won’t ask for details.”
With that, Iori took a sip of her juice and continued.
“Whenever I see Osamu lately, he seems different. Not in appearance, but it’s like he’s gained a clear sense of self.”
Iori said with a hint of joy in her voice. Looking at her face, I remembered… Iori truly had feelings for Osamu. But that day, hearing the conversation between Osamu and me on the rooftop, Iori sealed those feelings deep within her heart.
“We often meet at school. Just the other day, he helped me out a bit with work. Although what he did hasn’t changed, just the atmosphere, it’s amazing how much a person can seem different.”
Certainly, since that day, Osamu no longer exuded a timid aura. He appeared more relaxed, as if a burden had been lifted. Although Ayana hadn’t mentioned it yet, I could tell from our conversations while preparing for the sports festival that his change was quite apparent.
“He was able to move forward. He had been standing still for so long, but finally, he’s moving ahead.”
“…I see.”
Iori probably didn’t need any more details. Still, I couldn’t help but notice how genuinely happy she seemed to talk about Osamu. Perhaps… as I gazed at her intently, Iori blushed slightly and spoke up.
“…I realized I’m incredibly simple-minded. I won’t go into details, okay?”
“hahahaha… Yes, I understand even without you saying it.”
I’ll just laugh it off as that’s probably what she meant. In a way, maybe Iori had also been at a standstill.
“What’s with those eyes of yours, like your father’s?”
“Huh?”
“Just had a feeling.”
Father… I’m not at that age yet. I must have made a weird expression when she mentioned father, as Iori chuckled, leaving me with mixed feelings. Well, it’s true I used to look a bit older before, but that’s about it.
“Towa-kun.”
“Hmm? Welcome back, Ayana――”
I was talking to Iori when I heard Ayana’s voice nearby, so I responded, but… I froze for a moment.
There stood Ayana… indeed, it was Ayana, but she was wearing a black hood that covered her eyes deeply. Ayana didn’t look like that when she went to the restroom, so I was surprised, but that wasn’t the only shock.
“Ayana?”
Her eyes seemed to convey a sense of distress. What was going on? Just as I was about to ask, Ayana’s figure dissolved into thin air.
“Huh?”
I instinctively rubbed my eyes. It was an unbelievable sight, and I almost let out a sound, but managed to swallow it. What was that just now? As I pondered, Iori’s voice reached me.
“Oh, Nonomiya-san hasn’t returned yet? hahahaha, did you love her so much you started seeing illusions?”
“…”
I couldn’t immediately respond to Iori’s teasing gaze and words. The recent scene had been so shocking. Was it lack of sleep? Fatigue? Many possibilities crossed my mind, but… at that moment, a fleeting image from when I went to buy swimsuits with Ayana flashed in my mind.
“hahahaha, that could be it.”
I managed to reply somehow, swallowed my juice to calm myself down.
“Towa-kun, I’m back.”
“I’m baaack~!”
After that, Ayana and Akasaka-san returned. The scene I witnessed earlier lingered in my mind, but I managed to bid them farewell without showing any emotions.
“Well then, see you both. Let’s hang out again.”
“See you both later! It was fun!”
We waved goodbye to the two of them, and Ayana and I set off on our way home. To distract my restless heart, I reached for Ayana’s hand as we walked side by side. Holding hands like this was nothing new, but this time, I wanted to feel Ayana’s presence for as long as possible.
“Was there something bothering you after all?”
“…hahahaha, you catch on, don’t you?”
“Of course. There’s nothing I don’t understand when it comes to Towa-kun.”
That’s right, Ayana always notices. It’s reassuring, comforting, and she’s become a pillar of support in my heart. She squeezed my hand back firmly, flashing a reassuring smile, and I quietly expressed my thanks to her.
“Yes♪ I’ll always be by Towa-kun’s side. Don’t hesitate to rely on me… in return, though…”
“?”
“I… will rely on you too. I’ll rely on you so much that it’ll be troublesome!”
Releasing our hands, Ayana wrapped her arm tightly around mine as she spoke. Watching her smile, it felt like all my worries from earlier had vanished into thin air. But upon a moment of reflection, I started to understand. The Ayana from earlier, the Ayana I had seen before, that image was unmistakably the same as the Ayana from the fan disc.
“…Is there a significance to this?”
As Ayana beside me beamed with a smile, I couldn’t shake off the image of the troubled Ayana I had seen earlier. On our way back home together, I kept pondering over the meaning behind that expression.