Chapter 32
A few days passed, and then the talk of the sports festival came up.
Everyone's minds shifted from the summer vacation to the P.E. festival, as they decided on the class T-shirt design and began to discuss in class what events they would participate in.
After the P.E. festival, the next event was the school festival. The next one was the school festival, followed by the school excursion.
I looked at the events for the P.E. festival written on the blackboard, thinking that September and October would be busy months.
The short distance race, the tug-of-war, and the scavenger hunt, which is the highlight of the P.E. festival, were all to be participated in by all students.
All students are required to participate in these events, and the rest are left up to those who want to participate.
Only the boys who are in the sports club and a handful of girls who like to exercise take the initiative in the discussions.
The rest of us just lay on our desks and watched the proceedings.
Last year's gymnastics festival was a rock-paper-scissors-scissors contest, and I lost out and joined the two-person tripod, but this time there were a lot of people willing to get on board, and it looked like there would be no extra competition.
I patted my heart and thought back to last year's scavenger hunt.
Last year, as I recall, it was glasses that I borrowed. I borrowed a pair of glasses from Inoue-san, who wears glasses in the same class, and finished first.
My theme was an easy one, so I was able to win first place, but some of the themes were more serious: horses, Saito-san, a first-year student, ponytails and chou chou, and gals. There were some very bad ones.
As I was laughing to myself, remembering the way everyone was running around the field saying the names of the things they had borrowed out loud, my friend sitting in front of me turned around and asked me, “What's wrong with the way you suddenly started laughing? I replied, “I was remembering last year's scavenger hunt,” and my friend, remembering last year, wrinkled his brow and muttered, “The jigsaw puzzle was hell …….”
Yes, this friend asked if there were any jigsaw puzzles across all first through third grades because jigsaw puzzles were on loan last year.
Luckily, he got to the finish line with a third-year senior who was wearing jigsaw puzzle patterned socks, but he came in last. ……
You never know what you're going to owe until it's time. That's why it's interesting, but also scary.
Hanamiya-san and I were talking about preparing a paper in advance to flag ourselves this year, but I'm going to stop doing that.
I'm trying not to be too conspicuous because we are hiding the relationship.
— “Yeah, sure, that would be better.
Yes, it would be better that way.”
At lunchtime, in a corner of the third-year hallway where many people's voices could be heard, I told the story of the scavenger hunt to Hanamiya, Endo and Tanaka in a whisper so that no one would hear, and Tanaka said so with a pack of juice in his hand.
Endo and Hanamiya also shook their heads yes with snacks in their hands.
I'm sure Toramasa is thinking about Marilyn and trying to keep her from finding out about it.
Even if we were to look for her, we wouldn't be able to find her.”
Hanamiya-san chewed a mouthful of snacks after Endo-senpai's words to me.
I took one of Hanamiya-san's snacks and said, “With that in mind, I will be in charge of watching over everyone's appearance,” and tossed the snack into my mouth.
At that time, Hanamiya-san said without any context, “Yes, memories,” and pointed her cell phone at us.
I made a peace sign with Tanaka-senpai and Endo-senpai, said, “Memories,” and took a picture.
This sudden saying “memories” and taking pictures had become a boom for us in the past few days.
It all started with Mr. Hanamiya. It seems that Hanamiya-san could not forget that I took her picture and said “memory” on the day we went to the rooftop, and from the next day on, she has been taking pictures like this every chance she gets.
At first she was surprised to have her picture taken out of the blue, but after a few days she got used to it.
This time, Endo pointed his cell phone at me and said, “Memories,” so the three of us, including Hanamiya-san, took a picture.
After that, I put my phone away and Hanamiya-san started to continue the conversation as if nothing had happened.
I'm already like that on a regular basis, and Rei-chan has to borrow it…”
'I usually want to borrow Momo-kun, so I'll get the paper ready.'
I'm going to prepare the paper because …… Yayoi says this, and Shiori and Ai are going to reconfirm it?”
I guess so.”
After Endo-senpai nodded to Hanamiya-san, who folded her fingers to confirm, the chime rang and we were dismissed.
I was a little nervous, but I was not.
After I had brought Toraya into view, he noticed us a little later and looked at me, so our gazes met.
I felt that Toraya's expression, which had been wrinkled between his eyebrows and looked angry, softened just a little after he caught me.
I had been able to look away from him before, but since the summer vacation was over, I have not been able to do the same thing. It only takes a few seconds. Even so, the time that I spent with Toraga's eyes on me felt a little longer than the one second I usually spend with him.
I could not stay like this forever, so I shifted my hand from the one I was waving at Endo and pointed it at Toramasa, gave him a small wave, said, “Bye-bye,” and left the place.
When I got to the classroom, I sat down in my seat and was getting ready for my next class when I felt a vibration in my breast pocket where I kept my cell phone and took it out.
When I opened my phone, I found a text message from Toramasa, which read, “Can I call you tonight? The text read, “Can I call you tonight?
If it was a phone call with Toramasa, any time would be fine. ……
With that thought in mind, I replied, “Of course! I replied, “Sure!
—I was so happy to hear from him.
That night. I received a phone call from Toramasa, just as I had texted him at school.
I was lying on my bed in my room, so I picked up my phone, put it to my ear and said, “Hello?
Is everything alright with the time?”
I said, “I'm fine! If it's a call with Toramasa-san, he says he's always available!
I see.
What's wrong with you that you suddenly want to call me?”
The most important thing to remember is that you can always call him.
The actual “I'm not sure what to do” is the most important thing to do, but it's a good idea to make sure that you are not doing something that you don't want to do.
Toraga-san?”
I called his name to make sure he was still there.
I called his name to confirm, and a short “ah” came back immediately, so it wasn't like the signal was bad or anything.
After a few moments of silence, he replied, “…I just wanted to hear your voice for some reason. He replied.
I'm glad to hear that …….”
I felt a little caught up in Toraga's answer, but since he said so, it must be so.
I was just about to convince myself of this when I heard Toramasa sigh from the other end of the phone. My body stiffened as if I had done something wrong.
It is true that it is easy to hear someone's voice over the phone, but since you can't see their face, you don't know what kind of expression they have on their face. Is it an expression of anger, dismay, or distress?
I couldn't tell, so I tried to open my mouth to say something, but the person on the other end of the line was too busy talking to me. But before I could say anything, Toraga spoke from the other end of the phone.
I want to see you.
It was a short word, delivered in a voice that sounded as if it was being squeezed out of me.
It was only a four-letter word, but it made my heart ache.
I am really happy that Toraga wants to see me. Because Toraga wants to meet me, right?
It's not easy to get words or thoughts from someone you love who wants to see you. It's not something you can easily get by wishing for it.
I have to talk to Toraga more, with his voice alone, and with more of him in my sight. I want to know that he is talking to me.
I want to see him. I wish I could see him. I opened my mouth with such faint hope.
I want to see you too. …….”
When I said that, Toraga fell silent again on the other end of the phone.
But the silence ended immediately, unlike before.
Hey …….
Can I help you?”
Can we meet at …… for a little while?”
The words I had been expecting in my heart reached my ears as a voice from Toraga's mouth.
At that moment, the heat of the whole body rises at once. The heat and the pain in the heart almost choked me.
I want to see you! I want to see you!
As I bit into the phone, I heard Toramasa say, “I'm on my way over there now,” and close the front door behind me.
I heard Toraga say, “I'm on my way over there now,” and close the front door.
Of course I'm coming, it's nighttime.”
Toramasa speaks as if it were a matter of course.
Toramasa doesn't let me walk alone at night.
I was so happy, so warm, so cherished, and so greedy that I wanted more words from Toraya, so I quietly opened my mouth.
Shall I go with you to the vicinity of ……?”
I was so greedy that I wanted more words from Toraga, so I softly spoke up. Don't leave the house until I come.
Somewhere in the back of my mind, I knew that Toraga would respond in that way. I knew that, and I asked him.
The most important thing to remember is that you can't just take a look at your own personal personal information.
I'm sorry. I apologized in my heart and said, “I understand. I'll wait until Toramasa-san comes,” I picked up a nearby cushion and hugged it.
I did not hang up the phone and continued the conversation.
We talked about what had happened at school today, and I moved my body restlessly until Toramasa arrived.
I enjoy talking on the phone with Toramasa, and time usually flies by, but right now it's going by very slowly. I know that in a little while I will be able to feel Toramasa even closer to me than on the phone.
I know that in a little while I will be able to feel Toraga even closer than on the phone.
I asked him, thinking it was time to get home, and he replied, “I just arrived.
I called out to my parents in the living room, “I'm going to go over there for a minute! I called out to my parents in the living room, and without waiting for their reply, I put on my sandals and ran out of the room.
Toraga!”
I found Toramasa standing a short distance away from the house and called out to him.
I stood in front of Toramasa and peeked out from underneath him to see his expression.
His expression is neither angry nor sad. He was just looking straight at me with a smile on his face and his eyes fixed on me.
Toraga's hand moves to embrace me.
It was a very natural embrace, and I naturally put my arms around Toraya's back.
I could feel Toraya's body heat from my body touching his, and I was filled with happiness.
Outside near the house.
It was nighttime and not many people were passing by, but I didn't know who might be there.
I wanted to touch him. I wanted to be hugged.
And I couldn't refuse a hug from someone I loved.
How could my heart be so calm while my heart was beating so loudly? My feelings were so calm that such a question came to mind.
It was like looking out at a quiet ocean or watching the sunset from a classroom window – the kind of feeling you get when you see something calm but moving.
I'm sorry for saying that out of the blue.
I wanted to see you too, Toraga-san, so I was very happy.
I thought I could handle it with just my …… voice.”
Just as I express with my body what words can't convey, I hope that my unspoken thoughts can be conveyed to Toraga through my body. I unconsciously put strength into the hand I put around Toramasa's back as I thought of this.
A few moments later, Toraya let go of my body. The distance between us is so close that I could easily reach out and touch him.
We are close, but the distance between us has become more distant than before, and I feel a sense of loneliness.
Toraya's hand touches my head. The first time I saw him, I thought he was a good man.
It was nice to meet you.”
I knew that Toramasa was going home when he said that in a lonely voice.
I have only seen him for a short time and already he is leaving.
I wanted to keep him, but it was already late. Just because he is a man does not mean that the streets at night are not dangerous.
I am always sad to leave Toramasa.
“Toramasa!”
What is it?”
'Tomorrow is Friday, so I want to see you after school ……
I can't say “don't go home,” so I'm going to talk about tomorrow, not today.
I had originally promised to meet with Toraga during the vacations, but we hadn't talked about it in detail.
I'm not sure what to expect, but I'm sure I'll be able to find a way to get a good deal on a new pair of shoes.
After hearing those words, I opened my mouth again.
I slowly made eye contact with Toraga, more nervous than before.
Can't I stay at Toramasa's house?”
When I said that, Toraga's eyes showed more surprise than before.
I thought he was looking at me without blinking, then he hid his face with one hand and was silent for a while.
'……This is the first time you've said that to me, isn't it?
'Yes, it's the first time I've said it. …… Um, if it's no good, it's no good! I just thought it would be nice if I could stay the night! Sorry for being so …… selfish.”
He dropped his gaze to the ground, said so as if to excuse himself, and waited for Toraga's reaction.
I'm not …… good enough.”
The words were mumbled somewhat weakly.
The first thing you need to do is to make sure that you have a good understanding of what you are doing and how to do it. His eyes are looking straight at me.
My heart was pounding, and I felt the urge to reflexively avert my gaze because I liked Toraya too much and he was too cool. But I can't avert my gaze because Toraga is staring straight at me.
Thank you.”
I managed to squeeze the words out of my mouth and Toraya opened his mouth, “Me too …….
I waited for him to continue, and then his mouth moved to connect the rest of the words.
Can I be selfish too?
Toramasa replied, “As long as it's your selfishness, I'll do it.
Toramasa smiled and took my hand.
I want to eat your cooking.
I thought my heart would burst out of my mouth.
No, I'm sure if I opened my mouth, my heart would have jumped out of my mouth.
That's how much Toraga's words made my heart skip a beat.
Because it means he wanted to eat it again, right?
I don't think there is a woman who wouldn't be pleased to be told such a thing by someone she loves. ……
I was very happy.
Toraga is always good at making me fall in love with him. He says it over and over again. I am in love with Toraga every day.
I love him more than ever, but the feelings of love that I have for him exceed my expectations, and even now they are increasing one by one.
I would make any number of things for Toramasa-san.
The most happy feeling.
–I love you.
For some reason, the words I am usually good at saying did not come out of my mouth at that moment.
Instead, I laid my own hand on top of Toraya's hand on my cheek, and my eyelids drooped so that I could feel his hand firmly on my skin.
