Part-2 Ch-12 Ep-06

 MARI'S POV

This four-day trip would come to an end today.

After finishing our last round of shopping on Kokusai Street in Naha, we boarded the bus once more and headed for Naha Airport.

When the airport came into view through the bus window, memories of the entire journey surged back at once, and an indescribable emotion rose in my chest, something lonely, yet happy.

“Somehow, thinking ‘ah, we’re really going home now’ makes me feel a little sad,” Maki murmured from the seat beside me as she hugged me sideways while I sat by the window.

The moment I was wrapped in Maki’s arms, I nearly forgot that we were riding a sightseeing bus packed with our entire class, and I hurriedly tried to pry her arms away.

“Maki, we’re in front of people……”

“Hm～～?”

Even though she could clearly hear me, Maki pretended not to understand and rubbed her cheek against mine, leaning her full weight onto me.

The clinging sensation of her skin and the warmth radiating from her made my cheeks burn even hotter.

“Maki, it’s embarrassing!”

“Eh～～?”

Even when I squirmed and tried to slip out of her grasp, she held me firmly, leaving me unable to move.

Feeling flustered, I stole a glance over Maki’s shoulder at the classmates around us. Everyone was desperately pretending not to look our way.

Sorry, I apologized silently.

While mentally pressing my palms together in apology toward my classmates, I said,

“Mari, you’re cute.”

“……Thank you.”

Maki seemed utterly incapable of seeing anything but me, smiling the entire time.

For the moment, I returned the thanks.

Ever since we had returned to our hotel room from the beach last night, she had been like this nonstop.

Even after arriving at the airport, Maki rarely left my side.

While checking in our luggage, while browsing souvenirs, whenever there was even the slightest opportunity, she would press close enough that our arms touched, and whenever possible, she tried to hold my hand.

The only time Maki finally separated from me was in the waiting area near the boarding gate, after we had passed through security.

“They’re practically newlyweds. Hearts are flying everywhere. Mostly around Ichinose.”

As we watched her walk off saying she was going to the restroom, Kagami-kun muttered that with exasperation.

Thinking about how incredibly happy yesterday must have made her, I felt a quiet sense of pride bloom inside me, like thinking, I did it.

“That girl isn’t seriously planning to cling to Nagase with that same energy even after the school trip ends and we’re back to our normal routine, right?”

“No, if it’s Ichinose, I think it’s possible.”

“Haha…… Even I would be in trouble if that happened, maybe.”

While chatting like that with Kagami-kun, Todoroki-kun, and the others, my eyes met someone approaching us from the opposite direction.

Ah.

It was Godaiin-kun.

Godaiin-kun and I froze the instant our gazes met, neither of us able to look away.

“Ah, sorry, I’ll step away for a moment.”

Leaving those words for Kagami-kun and the others, I stood up decisively.

When I approached and spoke to him, Godaiin-kun startled, then moved awkwardly, like a computer that had just recovered from freezing.

“I heard you two snuck out of your room at night. Were you okay?”

The words he spoke, paired with a wry but unexpectedly calm smile, were filled with concern for us, and once again I thought what a genuinely good person he was.

“Yeah, we got yelled at really badly by Tobesen.”

Tobesen was the nickname for our homeroom teacher. It might have been the first time our usually gentle homeroom teacher had ever been that angry with us.

Both Maki and I are fundamentally serious people, so it hit us especially hard.

“That’s unusual. You two usually follow the school rules perfectly. You don’t seem like the type who would ever get scolded.”

“Ah…… I wanted to show Maki the glowing sea at night…… I guess.”

I had wanted to compete with Godaiin-kun.

But saying that outright felt embarrassing in front of him, so I left it vague.

His eyes widened, and then, as if something had finally been released from within him, he let out a soft breath and laughed.

“……Yeah. That really is impossible for me. With my position as student council president and everything, I could never do something like that.”

From the way Godaiin-kun laughed, I understood instantly. Ah, his love has truly ended now.

“I’ll cheer you on.”

“Thank you.”

We exchanged those brief words, then clasped each other’s hands.

“Should we keep an eye on him for a while?”

“Whoa!”

As I waved at Godaiin-kun walking away, a voice suddenly spoke right next to my ear, making me jump.

Pressing a hand to my ear, I spun around to find Seishuku-san standing directly behind me.

“Wha, eh? Eh?”

“Should we monitor him for a while?” Seishuku-san repeated.

Only then did I realize she was worried about us.

“Ah…… You can leave him be. I think he’ll be fine now.”

“Understood.”

But monitor him, really.

Watching Seishuku-san nod quietly, I tilted my head, wondering if this girl was somehow my subordinate.

Unfortunately, I had no memory of ever hiring her.

“I only wish for the happiness of you two.”

“Ah…… right.”

There were many things I wanted to say, but I decided not to nitpick every strange thing Seishuku-san said or did.

“There are still two capture targets left. You must not let your guard down.”

“I know.”

“You did quite well this time.”

Suddenly being praised with a soft, adorable smile made my heart skip. I always think this, but the destructive power of a beautiful girl’s unexpected smile is no joke.

“Wait, how much exactly did you see?”

“……Fufu.”

Watching her smile meaningfully, I began to suspect that perhaps Seishuku-san had planted a GPS tracker or listening device on me.

It seemed my privacy and human rights were easily trampled.

Still, having someone like her on my side was undeniably reassuring.

“It would help greatly if you could continue cooperating as much as possible even after we advance a grade.”

“Of course.”

When I held out my hand to shake hers, Maki, who had come looking for me, suddenly appeared and grabbed it instead.

“Ah, it’s really over already, huh.”

Once we boarded the return flight and settled into our seats, Maki murmured that with lingering regret.

An announcement instructed us to fasten our seatbelts, followed by a video explaining the emergency evacuation procedures.

“……….”

Muttering to herself, Maki continued squeezing my hand. Even when I tried to pull away, she showed no sign of loosening her grip.

Rather, when I did try, she tilted her head, peered into my face, and asked, “What’s wrong?” leaving me flustered and blurting out, “Ah, no, nothing.”

Wait, why am I the one panicking?

“I see,” Maki said.

She faced forward again and murmured once more, “Ah, we’re really going home, huh.”

Thinking that holding hands on a plane should be fine, I replied, “Yeah.”

Perhaps I was gradually being pulled into her rhythm.

“A lot happened, didn’t it?” Maki said.

“Yeah.”

“I’m looking forward to the shisa we made being sent to us.”

“Yeah.”

“We tried so many foods for the first time. I think I’ve come to like goya.”

“I’m not very good with bitter foods.”

“Mari’s like that, huh.”

“Yeah.”

“……Sneaking out of the hotel with you to go to the sea was fun too.”

“Yeah, it was for me too.”

“We got yelled at really badly by Nitobe-sensei, though.”

“……Yeah, that was the first time I’ve ever been scolded like that.”

“Mari, is something wrong?” Maki asked.

“It’s nothing. Ah, the plane’s about to take off, isn’t it.”

Listening to the in-flight announcement, I answered her that way.

As the plane began to vibrate and sway, Maki rummaged through the bag at her feet.

I wasn’t paying much attention and continued gazing out the window when she said, “Here,” and placed something in my palm.

“Eh?”

Looking down in surprise, I saw a small, palm-sized teddy bear mascot keychain resting there.

I glanced back and forth between the smiling Maki and the keychain.

On the soles of the teddy bear’s feet, embroidered alternately like dice pips, were five squares and four squares.

“It’s called minsa-ori,” Maki explained, pointing to the pattern.

“It’s a traditional Okinawan design.”

She told me she had spent the entire four days carefully choosing it. I was so shaken that I couldn’t find the words to respond.

I stared at the teddy bear keychain.

Pure white, small, soft, and filled to the brim with Maki’s affection.

Ah, I’m glad I worked so hard, I thought.

When I gripped the teddy bear tightly, Maki covered my hand with hers, enveloping it.

At that same moment, I felt a gentle floating sensation and realized the plane had taken off.

“Mari, let’s come back again. Even when we’re adults. Together.”

“……I’ll keep doing my best from now on too.”

My slightly mismatched reply made Maki tilt her head in confusion, but these were the right words.

This was correct.

From now on, through next year, all the way to our graduation ceremony.

I intend to break every single flag with all the capture targets and protect these days with Maki.

End of Chapter 12

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Authors Note

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Well, Chapter 12 has ended.

This concludes the second-year high school arc.

Ah, it was so long……

There may be some intermittent one-shot updates as interludes, but for now, 

the main story of the second year is complete.

I hope to see you again in Part 3.

It became quite lengthy, but thank you so very much for reading all the way through.

If you’d like, please look up Okinawan minsa-ori.

See you again.

From Chirichiri.