kscans

Chapter 438 - Blue Sky and Spring Breeze

I think I've done what I needed to do.

I believe I laid bare what I had to say and drew out the words I needed to hear.

I'm aware that it was all rather forceful, but I have no regrets. Having followed through on that momentum, my heart feels exceptionally clear—

…Exceptionally clear, and yet.

There was just one small problem.

"Haru, you're really something else."

"Yeah, well, I guess no matter how far I go, I'm still me…"

"Everything you say and do is just absurd. What are you going to do now?"

"Well, I fully intend to face this with responsibility and sincerity, you know."

"Against three people, you mean?"

"Y-Yes…"

"You seemed to be at your wits' end dealing with just two of them every day, though."

"That's where I'll, you know, turn over a new leaf…"

"That's your 'just do something' attitude right there. I suppose it can't be helped since you're a boy, but please think about the girls getting dragged into this."

"…"

"There's no way they could have an answer yet, and you forced them to confess… That was a truly terrible thing to do. Do you understand that?"

"I-I'm sorry."

"…"

"…,…"

"…I really can't stand you, Haru."

"…Um, your words and actions don't seem to be matchi—GAH…!?"

All this time, she had been clinging to me sweetly… or rather, she was just clinging to me, period. While leaning against my chest, completely limp and relaxed, the young lady of the Yotsuya family who had captured me pinched the back of my hand with all her might.

This wasn't a virtual world; it was the real one. Naturally, the pain that shot through me bypassed any sort of sensory dampener, and its intensity was staggering.

Hey, she actually pinched me. She pinched and twisted with all her might…!!

"Did you say something?"

"N-Not a thing."

As soon as I honestly admitted my fault and defeat, Sora-san, who had been giving me a dangerous glare, instantly reverted to her sweet, clingy mode… Is this really okay?

No, it's not okay, but I can't push her away, not instinctively or emotionally…

First of all, why does she smell so good? Is she even human? It's not like perfume; what kind of logic allows a human body to naturally emit such a sweet scent?

And she's so warm. It's like holding a hot water bottle; I'm starting to get sleepy.

Above all, she's so unbelievably soft that I feel like I'm going to lose my mind. How is even the tip of her shoulder this soft? That's mostly bone. Are girls made entirely of cartilage or something?

"S-Sora-san, could you let go for a second? My leg is starting to fall asleep."

"…"

"Ah, wait, sorry, that was a lie! I lied, please forgive me…!"

I tried to use a white lie to escape my confinement—but she mercilessly, and instantly, grabbed the leg that was supposedly asleep. There was no way I could fake a pained reaction, and my ruse was seen through in a heartbeat.

"…If you want me to let go, you just have to say so."

Just when I thought she was prepared for a battle of attrition, she was surprisingly understanding. Seizing the opportunity, I opened my mouth to say, "Well then…"

"If you really don't want me clinging to you, Haru, I'll let go."

"Hah—guh…!"

I was forcibly silenced in a mere three seconds.

It wasn't that her pout was theatrical… it was something else. Paired with that completely earnest, sulking face, it was a ten-hit combo that was complete overkill. Isn't that a cheap shot???

"It's fine, isn't it? We're partners, after all."

"This feels a little different from a partner's sense of distance…"

"It can't be helped. I'm a girl who's in love with you."

A two-pronged, full-force power play…!

"…And I don't recall you ever returning my permanent free pass."

"That was for holding hands."

"And to hold hands, you have to get close."

"You have an answer for everything…!"

This was trouble. This was unexpected.

Based on my past impressions, I had anticipated she might become a bit of a clingy type, but I never imagined she would transform into such a straightforward power fighter.

Factoring in my inability to ever treat Sora callously, I might have just awakened the single most difficult person for me to handle—

Okay, stop. Hold on, quit it.

Stop rubbing the back of my hand in that strangely sensual way…!!

After some back and forth, I was finally granted a pardon, and we put a tiny bit of safe distance between us for a while.

With one of my hands still captured, I exchanged "introductions" with the girl leaning on my shoulder… sharing all the little things we had never talked about before—

"—A first-year in high school… fifteen years old… you were in middle school until last year…?"

"I-Is that really so surprising…?"

At times, she was surprised.

"Believing your word that you don't mind at all, I'll say this without holding back… When I heard you were a 'younger brother,' it made perfect sense."

"What do you mean?"

"I mean that Haru was Haru because you're Haru."

"What do you mean???"

At times, she understood.

"…Wait, you're joking, right?"

"It's true, it's true. I have my student ID, want to see? I'm a bonafide, currently enrolled student."

"…You didn't… do anything shady, did you? Like, get in through the back door?"

"And what's that supposed to mean?"

And at times, she was suspicious—and as we exchanged countless words, we passed back and forth the parts of ourselves we should have known all along.

And so…

"…Is it really okay?"

"It's fine. We can save that for when it's necessary… or rather, for when you want me to know."

This time, we properly acknowledged with words that there were still secrets between us.

Time flew by in a flash, and the moment of parting was upon us. Seeing me glance at the clock on the wall, Sora seemed to understand and squeezed my hand just a little tighter.

"…I think it would be fine if you stayed the night."

"It wouldn't be fine for a lot of reasons, so I'd appreciate it if you'd let me go home."

For so, so many reasons—I thought, hiding the fact that my heart might waver if she pushed just one more time. She gazed at my composed facade and…

"…I'll see you off."

Sora smiled gently and softly let go of my hand.

"Make sure you eat dinner, okay? I heard your stomach growl earlier."

"I-It did not!"

Oh yes, it did. I definitely heard a small but adorable little rumble—no, sorry, my mistake, I didn't hear anything. It was an auditory hallucination, please forgive me…!

"Honestly…! Haru, you really are just…!!"

As Sora saw me to the entrance, I tried to soothe her playful protests, letting the cool night air vent the heat from my flushed body.

Part of that heat came from the sense of accomplishment after a major undertaking and the relief of having done what I needed to do.

But most of it… most of it was from the salvo fired by the impossibly cute girl who was now standing before me, blushing and pouting.

Really, I've got my work cut out for me from now on—

"…Sora."

But I don't regret it, and I never will.

"Once again, it's great to have you."

"…Yes, you too."

Because the smile she gave me, shy but certain, had undoubtedly regained the same color as the one etched in my memory—the one that became my reason to run.

"Haru."

She called my name, met my eyes, and her gaze, a perfect reflection of the clear sky, filled with me.

We both knew what words would come next.

"I love you."

"…Yeah, thank you."

I no longer felt any frustration at not being able to respond in kind.

I don't have time to get caught up in such things.

From now on, from this moment on—

"Good night, Sora."

"Good night, Haru."

I will never stop again until I find my answer.

◇◆◇◆◇

She watched him leave, never looking back.

She watched the back of the one who had, in the end, stolen everything from her.

Her heart felt heavy with warmth, her breath caught in her chest, and the deepest part of her felt like it was melting away—and still, she loved him so hopelessly.

It was as if she had been yearning for him for years.

As if she had been dreaming of him forever and ever.

That's why, someday, without fail.

"—You'd better be ready."

She would take the "love" of a partner he had given her,

"Next time, I'll surely… make you say you love me as a girl."

And she would transform it into the same kind of love she felt for him. The girl took her first step forward, full of hope.

So that the spring breeze that came to greet the sky would not capriciously fly away.

So that she could hold on forever to that warm wind that had swept her heart away.