A midsummer night feeling a little humid. In the park where only Haruto and Ayaka were, the two of them were gazing at each other, both with red faces. “…Could it be, Ayaka, that you’ve liked me for a while, that…” Haruto, with a mixture of embarrassment and confusion on his face at the words she spoke, asked haltingly. To him, Ayaka also, dyeing her face bright red no less than him, nodded slightly. “Yes… I liked you.” Her voice, shrinking with embarrassment. Hearing that, Haruto felt a sensation like his ears were getting hot, yet a feeling of joy he had never felt before welled up in his chest. Ayaka further pressed on Haruto, who was overcome with a joy so great he felt like he might squirm unintentionally. “I… I liked you all along, you know, Haruto-kun? After you started coming to the house for housekeeping, making delicious meals, playing with Ryota, and even getting liked by Dad and Mom… I fell in love with you, you know? That’s why I first mustered up the courage to invite you to the movie.” “Huh?! Wait! Since then?!” Knowing the period she had liked Haruto, he opened his eyes wide in astonishment. Ayaka charmingly puffed out her cheeks at Haruto, who had his mouth slightly open in surprise. “That’s right. Since that time, I was doing various things to try and get your attention, Haruto-kun. I wouldn’t hold hands with someone I didn’t like.” “Eh… Th-then. Even when I asked Ayaka to be my fake girlfriend…?” “I liked you. At that time, I was really surprised that Haruto-kun lied to his grandmother and said I was his girlfriend, but I was just as happy.” Saying that, she gave a shy, bashful smile, like “ehehe”. Haruto stared at Ayaka, halfway dumbfounded by the facts she was revealing. “Then, the lover practice was…” “It was a strategy to seduce Haruto-kun.” “Huh?…” Ayaka said, this time with a slightly mischievous smile, like a little devil. Ayaka, whose expression changed one after another, was so overwhelmingly attractive that Haruto’s gaze became fixed on her.
“So… that’s how it was…” Haruto murmured quietly. “Yeah… hey, Haruto-kun?” Ayaka’s face turned red with embarrassment again, and she looked at Haruto with an upward glance. “Haruto-kun, since when did you start to like me?” “Uh, I guess the time when I couldn’t suppress the feeling that I liked Ayaka was when we looked at the starry sky together?” Haruto answered Ayaka’s question while scratching his cheek bashfully. “But, I might have become aware of you when we went to the Animal Forest Park.” “Ah, maybe, when I fell in the water play area and Haruto-kun helped me?” “U-uh, yeah. That’s right…” At that time, Haruto shielded Ayaka, who had bumped into a boy and was falling, and ended up falling down together in a way that looked like they were embracing. Haruto can still clearly recall her appearance at that time. Ayaka, illuminated by the strong summer sunlight, looking mystical with water droplets sparkling like embedded jewels. Haruto was captivated by that sight. “So that’s how it was…” “Yeah…” Influenced by Ayaka, who wore an expression that was both happy and bashful, Haruto also became embarrassed, and they both cast their eyes downwards. Under the summer night sky, Haruto and Ayaka were illuminated by the streetlight. A gentle breeze flowed as if wrapping around the two of them. This summer, with its continuing hot days, even the night breeze carries a corresponding warmth. However, the reason Haruto felt hotter than usual was probably largely due to factors other than summer. Ayaka, her face still flushed red, slowly opened her mouth. “We sure took quite the detour, didn’t we?” “Yeah… Sorry, it was because I was dense.” Haruto lowered his head slightly, looking apologetic. Ayaka took a step closer to him.
“No. Right now, like this, because my feelings reached Haruto-kun, I’m happy, you know?” Taking another step closer, she said, peering up at Haruto’s face as he lowered his head. Looking at her eyes which were so close, Haruto said. “But, Ayaka was trying so hard all along, and I looked away from my own feelings, ran away… and today I even made Ayaka suffer.” Knowing the fact that she had been thinking of him all along, Haruto felt pathetic. Ayaka quickly moved her face closer to Haruto, who slightly lowered his gaze, and whispered her words. “But now, you confessed like this, right?” “That’s… as expected, I just couldn’t suppress the feeling that I like Ayaka anymore.” “Fufufu, I’m happy…” She smiled as if overflowing with joy, at a distance so close that Haruto could hug her if he extended his arm slightly. “…Haruto-kun.” “Hm?” “I like you.” “I… love you too.” “Ah! Haruto-kun, that’s unfair! Because I love you too!” As if competing with Haruto, Ayaka also rephrased ‘suki’ (like) to ‘daisuki’ (love). After that, the two looked into each other’s eyes and then let out a “fufu” laugh. After laughing together for a moment, Haruto and Ayaka met each other’s gaze again. “Ayaka, I promise you. I won’t run away from now on. I won’t make you sad.” “…Really?” “Yeah. Never again, absolutely.” Haruto declared, as if whispering to her, but his words were firmly filled with will and resolve. Overwhelmed with happiness, Ayaka raised the corners of her mouth and displayed a beaming smile. At the same time, she took another step closer to Haruto. They were already so close that their toes were almost touching.
“Your promise, Haruto-kun. Can I confirm it now?” “If Ayaka wishes.” In response to that reply, Ayaka gently placed both hands on Haruto’s chest and looked up at him with tear-filled eyes. Haruto, in turn, gently placed his hands on her shoulders as she leaned her body against him. Haruto’s figure was reflected in her upward-gazing eyes. For a few seconds, the two exchanged glances at close proximity. Eventually, Ayaka gently closed her eyes and stood slightly on her tiptoes. Haruto also closed his eyes and slowly lowered his face. Their lips gently and softly overlapped. It was just a fleeting moment. The two immediately pulled their faces apart and slowly raised their eyelids. At that moment, Haruto experienced a strange sensation he had never felt before. In front of him was Ayaka, her face completely red, looking at him with a happy expression. Only she was reflected in his vision. He forgot that this was a park, and whether it was night or day. He couldn’t even tell that. The sweltering heat of the tropical night, the discomfort of the sweatsoaked shirt clinging to his body, everything disappeared. What he felt now was a burning heat on his lips. And the maddening emotion he felt towards Ayaka. Haruto was seized by an impulse to hug her tightly, as she was still within the reach of his arms. Then, he realized. That Ayaka had now become his girlfriend. Not a fake, but his real girlfriend. If that’s the case, maybe there’s no problem with hugging her? Just as Haruto’s thoughts began to lean that way, the slight bit of remaining reason he had noticed something. That he was covered in sweat right now. He had run to this park. Due to my body not moving well from nervousness, I’m sweating more than usual. Moreover, even during the confession that followed, because I was in an extremely nervous state, I was also sweating strange sweat like cold sweat. In short, I currently smell quite sweaty. Haruto, who realized
that, suddenly felt unbearably embarrassed by the current distance between him and Ayaka. He wants to get away from her right now. No, honestly, he doesn’t want to leave, but considering various things, he wants to leave. Into Haruto’s ears, who was in such a dilemma, Ayaka’s fervent whisper entered. “We… became lovers, right? We became real, true lovers, right?” “That’s right.” “Then, we don’t… have to hold back anymore, right?” “Eh? Hold back what Whoa!?” Haruto, who was about to ask for the meaning of Ayaka’s words, let out a voice of surprise midway. Because Ayaka suddenly wrapped her arms around him and hugged him tightly. She wrapped her arms around Haruto’s back and hugged him tightly, pressing her cheek against his chest. At Ayaka’s sudden fervent embrace, Haruto’s mind went blank. Into his ears, he could hear words that seemed to ooze her emotions. “I like you… I already, like you…” At those words, Haruto’s thought circuits were on the verge of burning out. In his malfunctioning thoughts, one word was raging in Haruto’s head. I smell sweaty. I don’t want Ayaka to hate me. If she said something like ‘You smell sweaty, I really can’t stand it’, I’m confident I’d be depressed for at least ten years. Haruto gently spoke to Ayaka, who was hugging him tightly. “Ayaka? I’m sweating quite a bit right now, so I must smell, right? Could you please let go for a moment?” Saying that, Haruto urged her to release the embrace. However, at his words, Ayaka shook her head from side to side while keeping her face pressed against Haruto’s chest. “No, I don’t want to let go.” “No, but I must smell sweaty, right?” “You don’t smell. Rather, smelling Haruto-kun makes me feel really calm.” “…I, I see…” At Ayaka’s unexpected statement, Haruto felt happiness, but was also struck by even greater embarrassment. Could it be that Ayaka is a scent fetishist…? While thinking such things, Haruto remained silent and continued to be hugged by her. ※※※
Finally… finally, my feelings were reciprocated! I was able to become real lovers, something I’ve always dreamed of! I’ve become Haruto-kun’s girlfriend!! Joy is exploding in my chest. My heart is dyed in one color, to the extent that I think people can feel the emotion of “happiness” this much. Haruto-kun is my boyfriend! When I thought that, I couldn’t hold back anymore and hugged him with all my might. Haruto-kun says I should let go because he smells sweaty, but that’s not the case at all. The faint scent of Haruto-kun I felt when I visited his house. Now I can feel it clearly, and it wraps around me, making my heart pound, but at the same time, it makes me feel calm somehow, like I’m in a dream. As I hugged Haruto-kun according to my emotions, he also gently wrapped his arms around my back and held me gently. Ah… I might be too happy… How long was I hugging Haruto-kun? Forgetting the time, while feeling him with my whole body, I was gently spoken to. “Ayaka. It’s getting late, shall we let go soon? I’ll walk you home.” “…Okay.” If I were allowed, I would want to stay like this forever. But it’s late now, and staying like this would definitely trouble Haruto-kun, wouldn’t it? His grandmother would also worry about him coming home. “Can we hold hands?” Even though we only moved slightly apart, I felt the summer night air flowing between us get a little cold, and I yearned for Haruto-kun. He turned towards me with the soft, enveloping gentle smile that I love so much. “Of course. We’re real lovers now, after all.” “Yeah!!” I was so happy, I impulsively gave a playful response like Ryota… It’s a little embarrassing… but I’m happy. From my right hand connected with Haruto-kun’s, a sure warmth and a sense of relief that fills my heart are transmitted to me. Until now, we held hands like lovers under the pretext of practicing being lovers, but I don’t need a reason anymore. When walking next to Haruto-kun, I can always walk like this. The park we are in now is where Ryota often plays, so it’s very close to my house. Although it’s less than a three-minute walk away, I want to be with Haruto-kun for even a second longer, so I walk very slowly. Haruto-kun, in response to that, didn’t make a single displeased face and matched my pace. I wonder if Haruto-kun feels the same way as me? I wonder if he wants to be together? Wanting to know his feelings, I slightly look up at his side. Noticing my gaze, he turned towards me with a smiling “Hm?”. Feeling an itchy happiness from that, my expression becomes loose.
“No, it’s nothing.” I actually want to say that I want to be together more, but I’m too embarrassed to say it… But when I see Haruto-kun’s face, I feel like he feels the same way as me, and an exhilarating happiness spreads through my heart. I really, truly want to keep walking like this, holding hands with him forever. But such a wish of mine couldn’t possibly come true, and we soon arrived in front of my house. “…Well then.” “…Okay.” We faced each other again in front of the entrance. “Would you like to come in… just for a little bit?” Haruto-kun has come to my house many times for housekeeping, and Mom and Ryota know him, so even at this late hour like now, my family would allow it. Thinking of such excuses, I looked up at him. Haruto-kun shook his head, giving a slightly troubled smile. “No, it’s really late, and I’d be bothering you, so I’ll greet Ikue-san properly tomorrow.” “Oh… right.” “Yeah. So… see you tomorrow.” “Right… Will you come tomorrow afternoon?” Since we’re now real lovers, there’s no need to have him come early before the housekeeping and practice being lovers. But precisely because we’ve become real lovers, I want to see Haruto-kun even a minute, even a second, sooner. Precisely because our feelings are mutual, my desire for him has grown even stronger. My heart is dyed in a single color of joy. To chase away the faint loneliness that wells up within it, Haruto-kun smiled brightly. “Yeah. I want to see Ayaka soon too.” “Me too!” His words wrapped me in such overwhelming joy that my whole body trembled, and I hugged him tightly again. Haruto-kun gently hugged me back and lightly patted my head. It felt a little bit like being treated like a child, which was embarrassing, but it was also incredibly comfortable. Somehow, I managed to suppress the desire to “stay like this forever,” which I’ve felt countless times, and made an effort to pull away from
Haruto-kun. “Well then… Good night.” In my words to Haruto-kun, an undisguisable loneliness seeped out. “Yeah, good night. See you tomorrow.” After saying that, Haruto-kun hugged me tightly one more time. That alone was enough to fill my heart and make joy explode. After that, I stood at the entrance until Haruto-kun was out of sight, saw him off, and then went inside the house. As I headed to the living room, Mom, who was still sitting on the sofa reading a book, looked up and saw me. “Welcome home.” I smiled back at Mom, who was smiling gently at me. “I’m home. Hey Mom, I… started dating Haruto-kun.” “Oh my! Congratulations! That’s wonderful.” “Yeah.” At Mom’s blessing, I beamed. “How about Ōtsuki-kun? Has he gone home already?” “Yeah, it’s late today. He said he’ll greet you properly tomorrow.” “I see. Well, I’m looking forward to tomorrow.” Mom said that, smiling. Mom really likes Haruto-kun, so she looks genuinely happy from the bottom of her heart. Seeing Mom like that makes me happy too. “Mom.” “Hmm? What is it, Ayaka?” “Thank you.” “What’s gotten into you, suddenly thanking me?” “No, it’s nothing. Good night!” I said that with a smile to Mom, who was looking at me with a puzzled expression. The book Mom was reading. The cover was upside down, and it seemed she hadn’t even noticed. She must have been worried about me and waiting up all this time. Feeling my mother’s love tickling me, I rushed straight into my room. And then I collapsed onto the bed just like that. “…Haruto-kun is my boyfriend… Ugh~…” Hearing the words I muttered to myself, I writhed on the bed. “Ah! I have to tell Saki!”
It’s gotten quite late, but she should still be barely awake. I immediately tapped my smartphone and opened the chat screen with my best friend. The call connected immediately after just a few seconds. “…”So, what happened?”” Saki’s worried voice came from the other side of the smartphone. In response, I conveyed what happened with Haruto-kun to Saki, without hiding my joy. “I became Haruto-kun’s lover! I became his girlfriend!” “Ohh!! Congratulations!!” With a voice so loud it sounded like the speaker was distorting, Saki blessed me. “Thank you! It’s thanks to all the advice Saki gave me!” “I didn’t do anything. It’s all the result of Ayaka’s courage and effort.” “Ufufu, thank you.” My best friend’s words made me feel shy, and a smile overflowed. “Well now~, I’m really glad. If Ayaka had been rejected, I would have gone and beaten up Ōtsuki-kun right after summer break.” To Saki, who said something dangerous over the phone, I couldn’t help but give a wry smile. Saki said, “No, I might not have even waited until after summer break, and gone to raid Ōtsuki-kun’s house,” in a slightly menacing tone. “Thank you Saki. But, since we were able to start dating properly, don’t bully my boyfriend, okay?” “Oh-ho, already showing off, are we?” “Ufufufu.” “So? How did you guys start dating? Did Ayaka confess?” “No. Haruto-kun… confessed to me.” When I said that, Saki asked with great interest. “Oh, that’s a hot development! And and? What did he say when he confessed?” “Um, um… first, he talked about various things he liked about me.” “Yeah yeah!” “After that… he said he liked everything about me.” “Kyaaha~~~~~~~!” Saki’s high-pitched shriek echoed in my room.
Remembering the moment Haruto-kun confessed to me, my body heated up. “And then, finally, he said, ‘Please… become my real girlfriend.’” “That’s great!! Ōtsuki-kun is quite something! So, what did Ayaka say?” “I said, ‘Please make me your real girlfriend.’” When I said that, I could hear thumping noises and sounds of anguish, like “Kuuu~,” coming from Saki’s side. “That’s the best! You two are the best! Thanks for the feast!” Saki’s incredibly high-pitched voice somehow made me feel strangely high-spirited too. “So, so…” “What? Is there something else?” “U-uh… um. You see. I… kissed Haruto-kun.” “!!” When I told her about sharing my first kiss with him, I heard a small sound like a scream from Saki, and then nothing for a while. “…Saki? Are you okay?” Feeling a little worried, I called out her name over the phone. Then, Saki’s shout exploded as if she had popped. “Congratulations! And… may all couples in love explode!!” Saki’s cry from the heart made me laugh involuntarily. “That’s so nice~. I wish I had a perfect boyfriend who’s good at cooking, housework, mature, kind, smart, and the best like Ayaka’s~~.” “Saki, I’m sure you’ll find a wonderful boyfriend.” “Yeah, I’ll try… But surprisingly, I kind of like taking care of useless guys…” My best friend said that with a slightly lower tension than before. “Um… I don’t know if I can be of help, but I’m here for you to talk to anytime, okay?” “Yeah, thanks Ayaka. Well, but it’s good. With this, you’ve reached the starting line of love.” “Huh? This is the starting line?” Saki’s words made me sound a little surprised. This moment, when my feelings are mutual with Haruto-kun, is the starting line? “That’s right. Dating is where the real show begins, you know?” “I-is that so.”
“Right now, Ayaka must be full of joy because she started dating Ōtsukikun, so I don’t want to say anything unnecessary, but…” Saki changed from her earlier high tension to a slightly serious tone. “From now on, it’s the period where you’ll take time to evaluate Ōtsukikun.” “Evaluate? What?” “What, you ask? That is, of course, whether he is your soulmate.” “That means…” “Whether he could become your future husband.” At the word ‘future husband’ released from Saki’s mouth, my heart thumped. “Isn’t th-that too early? We’re still high school students, you know?” When I said that, Saki replied, “That’s true.” “Certainly, I think I saw something on the internet that said the probability of high school couples getting married is less than ten percent.” Even if you’re deeply in love and dating in high school, it’s more likely that you’ll eventually break up and walk different paths in life. That’s because for high schoolers like us, there are life turning points ahead like going to college or getting a job, where environments change completely. At those times, values and human relationships might change, which leads to breakups. Saki explained it to me in that sort of way. “But you know, thinking about it the other way, if you continue dating even through all that, doesn’t that mean he’s definitely your soulmate, and there’s nothing left but to ‘goal in’?” “Goal in…” The sound of chapel bells rang in my head. “That being said, as Ayaka said, we’re still high school students. It’s probably not something to be overly conscious of. But, it’s also not a future so far away, so maybe it’s okay to keep it in the back of your mind a little?” “That’s… true.” “Thinking about it at this stage, Ōtsuki-kun seems like an ideal husband. A guy who can cook is really enviable.” “Yeah. I want to eat Haruto-kun’s home cooking every day, you know. But I also want him to eat my home cooking.” “It feels like if Ayaka and Ōtsuki-kun get married, they’ll be such a loveydovey couple that everyone around them will get heartburn…” “I don’t know if we’ll get married yet…”
To hide my embarrassment, I replied to Saki, trying to sound a little indifferent. “Well, nobody knows what the future holds, but if Ayaka’s feelings don’t change and Ōtsuki-kun feels the same way, that kind of future is possible.” “That’s right.” After that, as we talked about what happened at the park and other things with Saki, I realized it was almost midnight. “Saki, are you going to sleep soon?” “Huh? Is it that late already?” Saki sounded a little surprised. “Right. Let’s continue this story next time we meet in person.” “Sounds good. Well then, good night.” “Okay okay, good night~.” After hanging up with Saki, I lay on my bed and recalled what she had said. “Haruto-kun and…” I opened the memo app on my smartphone and typed some characters there. ──Ōtsuki Ayaka The moment I saw those characters, I felt my face turn bright red and pressed my face into the pillow. I don’t know yet! I still don’t know!! Besides, if I act like that from now, Haruto-kun might think I’m a clingy girl! But… if we continue dating like this, eventually… The moment I imagined that future, I was wrapped in a feeling of happiness, as if my body were floating. For me, a high school student, that’s still a long way off. But, just as Saki said, it’s not a future that’s impossibly distant to imagine.
In five more years, we’ll be working adults. Socially independent, in a position to bear various responsibilities, and then… If Haruto-kun is my soulmate… “Ah, maybe I’ll try a name fortune telling…” After that, I couldn’t fall asleep even after midnight. …Unexpectedly, the name fortune telling result might not be bad… ※※※ “I’m home, Grandma.” Haruto, who had dropped Ayaka off at her house and returned home, told his grandmother about his return as he took off his shoes at the entrance. “Welcome home, Haruto.” Usually, at this hour, his grandmother would already be asleep. However, today she was awake, waiting for her grandson to come home. “Grandma… I’ve started dating Ayaka. Not a fake one, but we’ve become real lovers.” “Is that so? You listened to Ayaka-san’s story properly, didn’t you?” “Yeah.” Haruto scratched his head bashfully and headed towards the living room, looking at his grandmother who was smiling gently. “Hey, Grandma.” “What is it?” “Grandma, did you realize how Ayaka felt?” To Haruto, who asked that while sitting down, his grandmother let out a small laugh, “Hehehe.” “Well, I’ve experienced love in the past too, you know.” “I see…” Haruto chuckled wryly, only now realizing the meaning behind his grandmother’s repeated emphasis on “Listen to Ayaka-san’s story properly, and don’t give a self-righteous apology.” “I could also see right through how deeply Haruto was smitten with Ayaka-san.” His grandmother said that while pouring tea from the teapot into Haruto’s teacup. “Ahaha… I can’t win against you, Grandma.”
At her words, Haruto raised both hands in surrender, and then slowly drank the tea his grandmother had poured for him. “Haruto.” “Hmm? What is it?” Called by name, Haruto raised his gaze from the teacup and looked at his grandmother. “Ayaka-san is a really good girl. Make sure you cherish her properly, okay?” “Yeah. I’ll definitely, cherish her.” His grandmother nodded with satisfaction at Haruto’s determined reply. “Dating, you know. It’s a much bigger deal than you think, Haruto.” His grandmother looked at Haruto with gentle eyes and offered advice to her grandson. “No matter how much you think of the other person, there are times when you might not understand them. At such times, believe in Ayaka-san. And always value your words every day.” “Is that the secret to you and Grandpa’s happy marriage?” “That’s right. If you do that, Haruto and Ayaka will also be lovey-dovey until you’re full of wrinkles.” His grandmother answered with a touch of playfulness, making Haruto laugh without thinking. “Grandma, ‘lovey-dovey.’ And ‘until you’re full of wrinkles,’ that’s like marrying Ayaka, isn’t it?” “Haruto. If you’re going to date, face Ayaka-san with the resolve to be serious and stay together until the very end.” To his grandmother’s words, which he couldn’t tell if she was joking or serious, Haruto replied with a wry smile. “Of course, I’ll be serious about dating Ayaka. But Grandma, that’s a bit too intense, Ayaka might be put off.” While saying that, Haruto couldn’t help but imagine living together with her in the back of his mind, and his cheeks flushed faintly.
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