Episode 66 – Mentor

“……Hey, Nagi.”

“What is it?”

“Aren’t you a little close?”

“Isn’t it the same as usual?”

“That’s…..true, I guess.”

After saying goodbye to Shiroyama san and Haku, we walked for a while. I suddenly felt a sense of discomfort.

No. It’s a little strange to say that I felt a sense of discomfort. I felt a sense of discomfort about not feeling strange.

To be more specific, Nagi’s distance is so close just like when she’s at home.

Our shoulders touch, and our hands are squeezed together. ……I could feel something soft hitting my elbow from behind the thick texture. The right half of my body felt the warmth of Nagi’s body.

The strange thing is that it doesn’t make it difficult to walk.

The pace was natural, and we were able to walk while having a normal conversation. That is why I did not feel anything strange.

The distance between us was quite close. I stopped and turned my head to see Nagi’s face.

“……E-erm. We’re outside, in case you’re wondering.

“There’s no one watching, right?”

Nagi is right, there are not many people around here. But it’s not like there’s literelly no one.

“You never know when someone might show up.”

“L-let’s show them off then !”

“What do you mean by that…….”

I chuckled at her words–

Finally, I realized what Nagi was thinking.

Nagi and I locked eyes. Her eyes were softly staring at me.

“Even if I meet someone you know, they can tell at a glance. ……..They know that Souta kun and I are more than lovers.”

She stopped. Nagi straightened up and softly kissed my cheek.

“I thought it would be nice to do something like this outside if we’re in public.”

“……Nagi, you’re such a schemer.”

“Fufu. I’m quite cunning, you know?　Especially when it involves Souta kun.”

Resting her chin on my shoulder, Nagi chuckled.

“I think it’s enough for today.”

“Yes ! ……It doesn’t have to be just for today, right?”

“……M-my heart can’t take it.”

“That’s too bad.”

Contrary to those words, her expression seemed to be happy. My cheeks naturally relaxed as well.

“….My school is less than five minutes away.”

“Yes !”

Nagi pulled her face away from mine and rejoined our hands together again.

“It’s warm. Souta kun’s hand.”

She gently lifted up her hand. At the same time, my hand was also lifted up.

I felt a soft and soft touch on the back of my hand. It was placed on her cheek.

“The back of your hand is a little cool.”

“…….I was holding hands with Nagi the whole time, so I guess my palms are more warm.”

“That’s true I guess”

Nagi removed her hand. She pressed my palm against her cheek.

I could feel the plumpness from my palm.

I gently tickled her cheek with my thumb.

Nagi narrowed her eyes and shivered happily.

“It tickles a little.”

“Sorry.”

“No, it’s fine. I’m happy.”

Nagi took my hand again. She looked at the back of my hand.

“Nagi?”

“……”

Gently. Her face was close to my hand.

On the back of my hand, not on the cheek. It felt soft and warm.

“……”

“Well then, shall we go this time, Souta kun?”

Nagi looked at my face and nodded in satisfaction, then started walking. ….To hide her blushing cheeks.

“Nagi.”

I stopped her.

“What is it–“

At the same time as she turned around. I pressed my lips against her forehead. Through my lips, I could feel Nagi’s body heat. It was a little hot.

“……!”

“L-let’s go. If we stop here,……anyone will see us, and they will think we are weird.”

“……Yes !”

And finally we started walking. Once I looked at Nagi, our eyes met. Nagi gave me a small smile.

–Her face was red, even her ears.

◆◆◆

“So this is Souta kun’s elementary school.”

“Yeah. ….It’s a little bit smaller?”

“You’re right. It may be a little smaller than the one I used to go to.”

There are not that many kids around here. Well, it’s not like the school is going to go out of business.

The ones running on the field are probably the soccer club. The number of students is low, and when I attended the school, they must have been doing a lot of things in cooperation with the local soccer club.

At that time. I saw a female teacher near the field and our eyes met.

“……That person.”

At the same time I muttered to myself. That person rushed to us.

“……! I knew it, Souta kun.”

A female, very young teacher. ……Ah, that’s right.

“Long time no see, Nita sensei.”

“It’s been a long time. How have you been?”

“Yes, I haven’t had any serious illness. It’s nice to see that you’re in good health, Sensei.”

“……Well, a lot has happened. I’m fine, too.”

After that conversation, I saw Nagi fidgeting in the corner of my eye.

“Sensei. This is my fiancée, Shinonome Nagi.”

“N-nice to meet you. I’m Shinonome Nagi.”

“……Fiancée?”

I opened my mouth to explain, thinking that I would be asked again. Nagi was faster.

“A lot of things happened. Souta kun and I will be sharing the future together. …..There are also family circumstances.”

“Well, that’s about it. It’s a long story.”

“Hee. Is this a political marriage or what?”

The teacher probably didn’t mean to say that with bad intentions. But I choked up when she said that.

Looking at my face, the teacher has an expression that she has done it.

Nagi is–

“No. It’s not like that.”

She answered calmly.

“I crossed paths with my family. We had to enter into a political marriage mainly because of me. And Souta kun. …..He broke it all down. He fixed it. So that I wouldn’t get any more offers of arranged marriages.”

It’s not like she explains it lightly. He is not ……But, it’s like she’s suppressing the pain.

“So it’s more about preventing political marriages. ……I don’t think my father would even take the story now. It was also meant to ease his mental burden.”

“……I’m sorry. It was a comment that lacked delicacy.”

“No, I’m back on my feet now. ……Of course, it’s not like I’m reluctant. Souta kun and I both have feelings for each other. Besides, I promised Souta kun that we’ll be happy together.”

Phew.

Involuntarily, I let out a sigh.

It’s strong.

It hasn’t been that long. Nagi has become so strong. And–

“You’ve become beautiful”

“Huh?”

“Oh…..no. It’s nothing.”

I couldn’t help but say the words.

Somehow……before talking to Nagi. I used to watch her. It seemed that she had become much, much more beautiful.”

It’s not my imagination. I’m sure of it.

“I’m getting more beautiful?”

“……Yeah. Very much.”

Now, I don’t think I’d notice it even after a day of just looking at Nagi’s face. ……I don’t say this because it’s a little creepy.

“E-even Souta kun. ……You’re getting cooler. Even now, when we make eye contact, there’s a sense of relief……but I also get nervous.”

“….It’s too dazzling for me in my thirties.”

I was taken aback by those words and looked to the side. On the other side of the fence, the teacher was quietly weeping.

“S-Sensei ?”

“I’m sorry. I’m already thirty-one this year, but I can’t even have a boyfriend. ……I’m an adviser to club activities on my days off, so I can’t even get married. I just can’t.”

“T-thank you for your hard work……?”

I heard that teachers also have a lot of difficulties. …..If it’s her, she might be able to get married.

When I smiled wryly at the teacher’s words…..suddenly. The teacher’s face changed.

“……And, Souta kun. I have one thing I wanted to apologize for.”

With a serious expression. She looked at me.

“I was an unfit teacher. ……Ss your teacher. I couldn’t let you enjoy your last year of elementary school, which comes but once.”

“That’s not–“

“No. It’s true. Ever since then, I’ve always regretted it. I couldn’t help you at the most important time of your life.”

The regret was evident in every word.

At that time, Nagi raised her hand.

“…..Excuse me.. Can I ask you a few questions?”

“Yeah.”

Nagi must not have understood the story well yet.

“What we talked about yesterday. Do you remember?”

“….You’ve told me about your school days.”

“Yeah. That’s the thing, it’s been since I was in elementary school. Nita sensei was my sixth grade teacher, and she helped me a lot. She used to warn me about them.”

“……Even so, I couldn’t change them.”

It’s true that the teacher’s attention did not change them. But

“I was happy. If it wasn’t because of Sensei, things would have been much worse.”

In fact, by the time I was in the sixth grade, the frequency of teasing had decreased.

“I have nothing but gratitude for Nita sensei. Truly.”

“Souta kun……”

“So let me say it again. Thank you.”

Once, I took my hand away from Nagi. I bowed my head.

“But I…..”

“Sensei. In such a case, just one word is enough.”

Sensei kept her mouth shut at Nagi’s words.

And then–

“You’re welcome.”

She replied.

“You’re welcome. I haven’t said that in years.”

“That’s what I was taught in my family. To accept gratitude with an open heart. It makes you feel much better.”

“……I’ve thought that for a long time. You must have come from a good family.”

“Yes, a very good family.”

If it weren’t for my father and mother. I might have taken a wrong turn.

The teacher gave a small laugh and turned toward the ground.

“If I were any further apart, I’d get complaints from the parents. ……Lastly.”

The teacher looked at me.

“I think there are many coincidences. Thank you, Souta kun. For talking to me. You’ve lifted the burden in my heart.”

“You’re welcome…….”

To be honest, I was a little hesitant to tell this to her. Because of what happened earlier, I had no choice.

“And–Nagi chan, is that correct?

“Yes. Just call me that.”

“Then, I’ll call you Nagi chan. …..Nagi chan.”

The teacher gave a soft smile to Nagi.

“He’s one of the five nicest kids I know. From the bottom of my heart, I want him to be happy. ……And naturally Nagi chan, who he chose, because I want you to be happy.”

Nagi was listening to the teacher’s words.

“When you are as young as you are, I’m sure you will be able to experience a lot of things. I’m sure that it’s not only fun things. I think there will be sad and painful things too. But still.”

The teacher said. She had not changed since then.

“I want you to have fun. I want you to enjoy the long road of life…together.”

Those were the same words she had said to me on graduation day.

“Yes.”

Nagi looked straight at the teacher and replied.

“If I’m with Souta kun, I can be happy. …..I’m sure I’ll have an enjoyable day.”

Nagi looked at me and smiled softly.

“Tomorrow will be better than today. The day after tomorrow will be more fun than tomorrow. After all, I have Souta kun….and Souta kun has me.”

Her eyes were completely unclouded.

It makes me happy again.

When I put my hand on her head, Nagi happily closed her eyes.

“Souta kun. You’re getting better at patting my head like this day by day.”

“….. Is that so?”

“Yes. Now, when I’m being stroked like this, I’m so happy……that I almost fall asleep unintentionally.”

Just like Nagi said, those eyes are just a little bit dazed.

The teacher looked at us and laughed.

“I’m going back then. It’s especially cold these days. I hope you two don’t catch a cold.”

“Yes. Please be careful too, Sensei.”

After watching Nagi bow lightly, the teacher returned to the ground.

“……She was a good teacher, wasn’t she?”

“Yeah.”

Nagi looked a little sad. She looked at me.

“Nagi?”

“I’ve been thinking about it for a while. I wish I had met Souta kun much, much earlier.”

“…… I’ve been thinking about it too, but I don’t know if we can get along, you know?”

“Sure we can.”

Without pausing in my words, Nagi answered.

“Because it’s me and Souta kun.”

Her eyes–and her face were completely devoid of any shade.

“I guess so.”

I’m sure…..no. Without fail. I’m sure I’ll fall in love with Nagi at first sight too.

Although I’d like to see a little of that world, too…….

“I’m happy enough right now. I can be with Nagi like this.”

“Fufu. That’s true. Right now is definitely the best.”

Nagi intertwined her fingers and started walking.

“Where shall we go next?”

‘Well……middle school isn’t too far, but from here, the shopping mall is close. I’m getting a little hungry, so why don’t we go there?”

“Yes ! I want to see some clothes too !”

“Yeah.”

While having such a conversation. …..Nagi’s words were repeating in my head.

[Tomorrow will be better than today. The day after tomorrow will be more fun than tomorrow. After all, I have Souta kun….and Souta kun has me.]

I was so happy that my cheeks almost relaxed.

“Nagi.”

“What is it?”

“I love you.”

I strengthened my hand just a little bit and Nagi replied in the same way.

“I love you too, Souta kun.”

A short exchange of just a few words.

Just with that, my heart was warmed and filled with happiness.