Episode 32: Solution
“Please, Yuto—stay with me, forever—!”
Ayano’s voice trembled as she was held in Yuto’s arms.
“I finally became Yuto’s girlfriend, I absolutely hate to be separated again because of something like this…!”
She clutched his clothes tightly.
“I’ll quit school, I won’t leave the House. I know it’ll trouble Yuto, Mother, and everyone else, but—but…!”
As if clinging to him,
“I want to be with Yuto…!”
It was a small, pained cry.
Before he knew it, Yuto tightened his embrace around her.
“I want to be with Ayano too. No matter what happens from now on, I’ll be by Ayano’s side. So, don’t cry.”
He didn’t want to leave her alone.
He didn’t want to let go of her hand.
He didn’t want to make her sad anymore.
Kamijou Yuuto felt that from the bottom of his heart.
And he was well aware that there was only so much he could do.
“—That’s right, Ayano. I have a good idea. It’ll solve everything.”
“…?”
Ayano, who had been burying her face in Yuto’s chest, pulled away slightly.
In this situation filled with nothing but anxiety, she could sense confidence in his words.
Yuto took Ayano’s hand and looked her straight in the eyes.
“—Let’s get married.”
A simple, short, and powerful statement.
“————“
That was unexpected.
She gasped.
Her heart pounded loudly, throbbing painfully.
The depths of her body grew hot.
“A-Again with the suddenness!?”
“Was it a nuisance?”
“Auu…”
Asked with a lonely and troubled expression, Ayano whimpered softly.
‘Let me say it again. I love Ayano. I wasted the precious three years of middle school, but I will never waste the next three years! I won’t let you feel pain or loneliness. And, if you’ll allow it, I want to be by your side forever, even after graduation—please let me.’
‘If you hold my hand again, I will never let go.’
‘My—my feelings for Ayano are second to none.’
‘Since you don’t seem to understand, let me be clear—don’t lay a hand on my woman.’
‘Ah, I’ll cherish you forever.’
‘Then, I’ll say it again properly when I can take responsibility.’
‘Of course. As long as she wishes, I want to be with her even after graduation.’
‘Ayano, you’re not alone. From now on, I’ll always be with you.’
Every one of his words had been earnest.
“Well, I’m still a kid, and there’s almost nothing I can take responsibility for… but no matter what happens, I can be by Ayano’s side.”
Once again, Yuto looked straight into Ayano’s eyes and smiled sheepishly.
“What do you say? Will Ayano be my bride?”
Ayano gripped Yuto’s hand tightly in return.
—Various thoughts floated into her mind, swirling around her heart.
Her answer was already decided.
It hadn’t changed one bit in seven years.
“—I… will…”
Squeezing out the words,
“I want to be Yuto’s—bride…!”
With tears streaming down her face, Ichinose Ayano accepted Kamijou Yuuto’s Marriage Proposal.
“…Seriously?”
“S-Seriously, you bakaa…!”
Yuto hugged Ayano, who was sobbing, once again.
“That’s good. I didn’t know what I’d do if I got rejected.”
“—There’s no way I’d reject you.”
“But, sorry for not having a ring. I really wanted to prepare properly and propose.”
“It’s fine. This is more than enough.”
Ayano nuzzled him like a cat as Yuto stroked her back,
“But, what are we really going to do? If things stay like this, that idiot will come to our class on Monday and confess to me—just imagining it makes me feel sick… Hold me tighter.”
“Yes, yes. Ayano doesn’t have to think about any other men but me, okay?”
“Yay, my Fiancé(e) is the possessive type~”
Hehehe, the two laughed weakly.
“Well, things have gotten to the point where we can’t handle this on our own anymore. At least we have until Monday. Let’s talk to Mother and them properly. And also to the school and the police. Let’s work together to do something about it. So, Ayano, stay with me.”
“Yeah.”
As if confirming each other’s existence, they pressed their bodies closer together.
“…By the way, are the hotcakes already cold?”
“They’re probably all dry by now.”
“Can I put a lot of Maple Syrup on them?”
“Make them all soggy.”
“Well, I’m the one who bought them though… Oh, right, I also bought Anko. The chunky kind.”
“You know me so well. As expected of my bride.”
“I’m not your bride yet~”
“Don’t worry about the small details~”
They felt so relieved that they almost forgot what they were worried about.
And at the same time, their hearts were pounding with excitement.
“Ayano.”
Yuto placed his hand on her cheek.
“—Well… yeah.”
It was a gentle Kiss.
A short touch was not enough to satisfy them—.
They sought, they begged, they sought again.
Clumsy, awkward, frustrating, but fulfilling—it was intoxicating.
“Nn… Yu—the Kiss is too long.”
“Sorry. I just…”
Ayano pulled away, breathless, but Yuto wrapped his arm around her waist.
“Ah~, is it going to be like that?”
“I can still hold back… somewhat, though.”
“I see…”
They averted their eyes slightly.
“But—um… in the end, I—didn’t buy ‘that’…”
“No, um… I already have the rubbery thing prepared.”
Ayano’s face turned bright red in an instant.
Yuto, concerned about her reaction,
“Sorry. To be honest, I was kind of expecting it. I looked up the manufacturer’s website, so I have knowledge of ‘the correct information around that area’. So… it’s up to Ayano, I guess.”
Yuto let go of Ayano.
He wanted to prioritize her feelings above all else.
To the downcast Ayano,
“Sorry. It’s too sudden after all. How about some warm tea—”
Before Yuto, feeling guilty and self-loathing, could finish speaking, Ayano tugged on his sleeve.
“—Room… go?”