Chapter 3 Final Episode 58 – Only One More

“……Suzaka san. I’m glad to see her doing well.”

“Fufu. Suzaka san is also looking forward to talking to Souta kun, you know?”

Suzaka san gave me a lot of souvenirs. Cakes, chicken, pies, and other Christmas-like things.

Suzaka san said that she would hold it all the way up, but as expected, I couldn’t bother her that much, so I decided to hold it. I asked her to come upstairs.

“I’ll heat up the rice, so please leave it in the kitchen.”

“Yeah. ….what should I help you with?”

Seeing Nagi act like she was at home, she smiled involuntarily while asking.

After thinking for a moment….Nagi smiled.

“It’s just heating up while we wait. Why don’t we chat?”

“……Yeah, okay.”

In other words, it’s the same as usual.

This kitchen can be called Nagi’s main battleground, so there is little room for me.

It’s not that I can’t cook. It’s just that cooking three times a day, or even twice a day if you skip school, is a hassle. Besides, whether it’s delicious or not, that’s why.

It’s thanks to Nagi that I can eat delicious food now. I’m really grateful to her.

But putting that aside.

“I would like to cook with Nagi someday.”

When I said so, Nagi gave me a puzzled look.

And then she smiled softly.

“Yes, let’s cook together in the near future !”

With such a promise. While the two of us warmed up the food, we started chatting.

It was nothing special. We chatted about what happened at home, what books we found interesting. Or about a video of a cute cat.

For me, the time spent talking about such things was one of my daily happiness.

◆◆◆

Christmas songs were playing on the TV.

When I listened to it with my family, I didn’t pay much attention to the lyrics. I was just listening to it because I kind of liked the rhythm of it.

But…now that I hear it, I think again.

“…… Surprisingly, there are many songs about broken hearts.”

“Yes, they are.”

The song isn’t just about happiness. I can also kind of understand why they are popular…..

If I made a mistake, I would have listened to this song alone.

“Souta kun.”

Nagi called my name and I drowned out the stupid thought.

It’s not good for me to say that, knowing Nagi has gone through a lot of trouble.

My thoughts were further erased with a very sweet kiss.

“I’ll make you forget every time you make a face like that. ….I’ll make you forget everything.”

Nagi muttered as she let go of her mouth for just a moment. She pressed her lips against mine again.

It was not a deep kiss. Yet it felt awfully sweet.

Nagi’s hand slides down and intertwines her fingers with my hand. As if to tell me that she would never let me go again.

How many times did the kissing continue? Each time my breathing became labored, I would take a few seconds to catch my breath, and before my lips were dry, she would be pressed against mine.

A couple of bitter Christmas songs played, then switched to a brighter tune. Finally, Nagi’s face parted away from mine.

But her face is on my neck. Her arms were around my back, hugging me so tightly that I could hear the sound of her squeezing me.

“I love you.”

The words were small. But they reached my ears. They reached my heart.

“I love you, too.”

The sweet smell of flowers, different from cake, wafted through the air. Warm and gentle hugs.

Such a time lasted for a while.

◆◆◆

The sound of a strong wind echoes through the room. Nagi’s wet hair was about to be swept away by the wind.

I ran my fingers through her moist hair and let the moisture escape. Nagi was ticklishly and happily surrendering herself to me.

I’m going to be honest. She was so beautiful.

After the bath, Nagi’s atmosphere changed a little. She became more mature.

“…Fufu.”

My hand touched her neck, tickling Nagi as she laughed. However, each and every one of those gestures was somehow different…my heart made an unpleasant noise.

Somehow I managed to hold it in…..and finished drying my hair. I put the hair dryer down while relieved.

By that time, Nagi had shifted her place from the carpet to the sofa. I sat down next to her and she leaned against me. The fluffy pajamas are a little comfortable to the touch.

“Fufu. Thank you, Souta kun.”

“You’re welcome.”

Nagi wrapped my hands in hers. Then she rubbed her hands like massaging them.

“…Are you having fun?”

“Yes !”

She smiled back at me. I looked at her hands and thought, ‘That’s good then’.

Nagi’s thin, beautiful fingers rubbed the palm of her hand. She stroked my index finger from the bottom to the tip of the nail. It tickles a little.

She intertwines her fingers and holds my hand. Nagi’s cheeks became loose and she smiled in a way she would never show outside.

“……Souta kun’s hand. It’s big and gentle, I like it.”

As if to check her body temperature, she took my hand to her cheek. It feels smooth and comfortable.

“Ehehe.”

When our eyes meet, she looks a little shy. But even more than that, she smiles happily.

I took a deep breath. If I didn’t, I would have overflowed with emotion.

“—You don’t have to hold it back, you know?”

Nagi’s face was right in front of me. The distance between us was so close that even our breaths crossed each other. I looked into her blue eyes that seemed to absorb me. Next, I was drawn to the small lips that were lifted at the edges.

I found myself embracing her. We put our lips on top of each other’s.

I do this almost every day, but I never get used to it. I wonder if one day I will get used to it.

The sweetness that burns in my brain stretches my thoughts so thin that it doesn’t matter.

Right now, I just couldn’t help but love Nagi.

But I could not throw reason to the wind. Once away from her, I was recovering my reason while replenishing my oxygen. Nagi’s lips moved slightly.

“I knew it, I. I like kissing with you, Souta kun. …..It’s as if the feeling that I love you is being poured directly into my heart.”

Each of those words. Each of those gestures cut down my reason.

……Probably. I know I’m going to be okay now, but.

I don’t want to be hated, or something like that. ……I also want to cherish her more than that.

But there is one more thing. Something caught me.

I looked at Nagi’s face. Nagi smiled wryly with his eyes still wide open.

“……Did you find out?”

“I don’t know what it is, but……there’s something that’s been bugging me.”

I don’t know what it is. But it seemed to be right.

“I was able to get over everything today.

I don’t have to worry about it anymore. I can assure you of that.”

She returned to her serious expression……but Nagi said without distancing herself from me.

“I see. I’m glad to hear that.”

“Yes. But……there is one thing I have to settle.”

“Settle?”

Words that are unfamiliar to hear in everyday life. I tilted my head involuntarily.

“Yes”

Nagi nodded her head without losing her serious expression. I don’t really know what kind of a settlement is being made, but…..

“Okay.”

“I understand.”

Nagi will be fine from now on. If there’s something that’s out of her control or something that’s bothering her, she will consult with me.

If not me, there is Soichiro san, Chie san, and Suzaka san. It will never become a big problem.

However, Nagi’s cheeks suddenly turned red.

“B-but. Um…you don’t have to hold back, you know?”

“—Eh?”

“I’m ! I-I’m ready at any time.”

The words made me freeze up.

“It’s not good to hold back. …..I’ve been making you wait for so long.”

The words that followed brought me back to consciousness…..I thought for a moment.

My cheeks were hot and I couldn’t look into Nagi’s eyes.

“Well, I’m still…..fine. It’s not that I don’t like it or anything. It’s….”

I can’t think straight. Even so, I somehow manage to speak my mind.

“… I want to do it. I’m already prepared.”

I’m only 16 years old. I don’t want to make excuses for not being mentally prepared.

What about premarital sex? That is no longer the case. …… No, if Nagi wants it, that’s fine.

Anyway, we’ve already broken through that wall. But…….

“I’d rather wait until after all that Nagi stuff is done anyway. Besides, I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t holding back……”

I touch Nagi’s cheek. Her warmth transmitted.

“Because I’m satisfied just being able to interact with Nagi like this. You don’t have to worry about it.”

“….Thank you.”

Nagi smiled softly.

I was wondering if it was a good thing that I turned her down. But…..it seems to be all right.

“Then, when that one is over…….I’ll let you know.”

“Y-yeah.”

Nagi giggled and put her mouth to my ear.

I’m not sure if I’ll be able to hold out much longer.

There was a squealing sound of reason.

“Well then. I’ll clean up the kitchen.”

“Y-yeah. No, I’ll do it.

“No, no, no. I just want to do it. I’ll be done soon.”

With that, Nagi moved away from me and stood up. I was relieved that there was no follow-up, Nagi called out and stopped.

“After cleaning up the kitchen…..let’s go to the room together, shall we?”

She probably had no other intention. It’s time for Nagi to go to bed.

“….Yeah. I understand.

Even as I said that, I covered my face with one hand. This is when I let my guard down.

I could see Nagi’s face through the gaps between my fingers, and it was bright red.

◆◇◆

“Fuwaa…”

When I woke up. I was a little surprised to see Souta kun’s face in front of me. I vaguely remember staying there last night.

“……It was fun”

Before going to bed, I chatted with Souta kun. I hugged and kissed him.

Before I knew it, I was asleep.

In my fading consciousness, I remember Souta kun’s voice saying “Good night”.

Just in case…just in case, I checked your outfit.

“……well, he didn’t touch me, as expected.”

I didn’t see any disheveled clothes. I knew that Souta kun wouldn’t do it, but I was just a little disappointed.

“N-no. I-it’s not like I was expecting it.”

That makes me look like a pervert. I cooled my hot cheeks with the back of my hand. I looked at my body again.

“Mmm. But if it’s just a little bit, you can touch it.”

Not so long ago, I had thought this thing was too big and unnecessary. At that time, I even resented it.

…..I’ve changed my mind since I met Souta kun.

If anything, we have more chances to see each other, but it’s true that Souta kun is aware of it.

I shook my head as I thought about it.

“…..Soon.”

There is one more thing. I have to make a decision.

–I have to apologize to Souta kun’s father and mother.

To the two of them who loved Souta kun so much and raised him with care. Don’t act as if nothing happened. Especially when I think about the future.

Even if they don’t forgive me. Even if they don’t approve of our engagement, I will apologize until they forgive me.

And when I received permissions–

“Just a little more. Please wait.”

Once this is over, there will be nothing more to worry about.

When I looked at Souta kun, he was still sleeping peacefully. When I touched his hair with my fingers, he wriggled ticklishly.

“I love you, Souta kun.”

I kissed his forehead.

In order to make Souta kun happy.

To make me happy.

“I love you more than anyone else.”

I’m happy now.

But I can be happier. I should be happy.

If I’m with Souta kun.

Chapter 3 Sugar Candy Princess <~Complete~>.