<1092>
// May 5 (Wednesday)
<1093>
// I moved out at the end of the consecutive holidays in May.
<1094>\{Akio} ""
// \{Akio} "Bastard, get a license."
<1095>
// Getting off from the light truck, pops first said that.
<1096> \{\m{B}} ""
// \{\m{B}} "Don't say something impossible. I ain't got any money."
<1097>\{Akio} ""
// \{Akio} "Hmph, well, this is the last of the crap I'm helping you out with."
<1098> \{\m{B}} ""
// \{\m{B}} "I know, pops. It'll be fine."
<1099>\{Akio} ""
// \{Akio} "I'll return to work now. I'll return to carry it later this evening."
<1100> \{\m{B}} ""
// \{\m{B}} "Yeah, thanks for the help."
<1101>\{Akio} ""
// \{Akio} "Tch, ain't that nice... living together, huh..."
<1102>
// Muttering that, he ran off.
<1103> \{\m{B}} ""
// \{\m{B}} "You'll also be all alone with Sanae-san, won't you?"
<1104>
// I saw him off.
<1105> \{\m{B}} ""
// \{\m{B}} "Well, now..."
<1106>
// I faced the light truck. The spread-out luggage was not few in number.
<1107>
// Speaking of needed things, at least there was stuff going from the TV to the drawers, and from the futon to the dining table.
<1108>
// Everything was old stuff that was locked up in the Furukawa household's storage room.
<1109>
// The fridge provided with the room was small.
<1110>
// I've decided to use the coin machines right in front of the apartment for any laundry.
<1111>
// That much should be enough. Any more than that would be simply luxury.
<1112>
// For now, I held the futon and went towards the room.
<1113>
// Nagisa was waiting there alone.
<1114>
// There still wasn't anything here yet but... just watching Nagisa standing in this room makes my chest throb.
<1115>
// The two of us will really be starting to live together.
<1116>
// Feelings of anxiety and hope were mixed together in that.
<1117>\{Nagisa} ""
// \{Nagisa} "Ah, the luggage came?"
<1118>
// Nagisa asked first.
<1119> \{\m{B}} ""
// \{\m{B}} "Yeah, sorry but you'll have to move out of the way for a bit."
<1120>
// Taking off my slippers, I come in. I hung the futon on the wall... then the brittle surface peeled off.
<1121> \{\m{B}} ""
// \{\m{B}} "Uwaah, I'm suddenly breaking apart the room..."
<1122>\{Nagisa} ""
// \{Nagisa} "Umm, I'll help!"
<1123> \{\m{B}} ""
// \{\m{B}} "It's okay, this is a man's job. Just watch."
<1124>\{Nagisa} ""
// \{Nagisa} "But..."
<1125> \{\m{B}} ""
// \{\m{B}} "There's not too much luggage."
<1126> \{\m{B}} ""
// \{\m{B}} "You can bring tea afterwards."
<1127>\{Nagisa} ""
// \{Nagisa} "But..."
<1128> \{\m{B}} ""
// \{\m{B}} "I said it's fine."
<1129>
// Within an hour, we had finished cleaning up.
<1130>
// We sat down, facing together at the low, small dining table.
<1131>
// Nagisa sipped the tea she brought.
<1132> \{\m{B}} ""
// \{\m{B}} "........."
<1133>
// Sip, sip.
<1134>\{Nagisa} ""
// \{Nagisa} "........."
<1135>
// Sip, sip.
<1136>\{Nagisa} ""
// \{Nagisa} "Umm..."
<1137>\{Nagisa} ""
// \{Nagisa} "... what should I say at a time like this?"
<1138> \{\m{B}} ""
// \{\m{B}} "Hmm?"
<1139>\{Nagisa} ""
// \{Nagisa} "The two of us living together's started."
<1140> \{\m{B}} ""
// \{\m{B}} "Yeah, it has."
<1141>\{Nagisa} ""
// \{Nagisa} "What should I say?"
<1142>\{Nagisa} ""
// \{Nagisa} "Since it's started, should I say, 'Ready, Go'?"
<1143> \{\m{B}} ""
// \{\m{B}} "No, that'd be weird."
<1144>\{Nagisa} ""
// \{Nagisa} "Why not?"
<1145> \{\m{B}} ""
// \{\m{B}} "Because there's no goal."
<1146>\{Nagisa} ""
// \{Nagisa} "When you put it that way, that's true."
<1147> \{\m{B}} ""
// \{\m{B}} "Because living together mutually helps us, see..."
<1148> \{\m{B}} ""
// \{\m{B}} "I'm sure, 'Let's work hard', will do."
<1149>\{Nagisa} ""
// \{Nagisa} "Ah... that's true. You're wise, \m{B}-kun."
<1150> \{\m{B}} ""
// \{\m{B}} "Then, shall we?"
<1151>\{Nagisa} ""
// \{Nagisa} "Okay."
<1152>\{Nagisa} ""
// \{Nagisa} "Ah, please wait."
<1153> \{\m{B}} ""
// \{\m{B}} "What?"
<1154>\{Nagisa} ""
// \{Nagisa} "I thought of a vow we should be under."
<1155> \{\m{B}} ""
// \{\m{B}} "A vow?"
<1156>\{Nagisa} ""
// \{Nagisa} "Yes."
<1157>
// Putting down her teacup, Nagisa placed both her hands on her chest.
<1158>\{Nagisa} ""
// \{Nagisa} "I, Furukawa Nagisa..."
<1159>\{Nagisa} ""
// \{Nagisa} "will no longer cry. No matter what kind of pain there is, I'll work hard and climb over it."
<1160> \{\m{B}} ""
// \{\m{B}} "Uh, Nagisa,"
<1161>\{Nagisa} ""
// \{Nagisa} "Yes?"
<1162> \{\m{B}} ""
// \{\m{B}} "You can hold it in during times of sadness."
<1163> \{\m{B}} ""
// \{\m{B}} "During times of happiness, if you desperately try to hold in tears, you won't be joyous at all."
<1164> \{\m{B}} ""
// \{\m{B}} "Don't you think so?"
<1165>\{Nagisa} ""
// \{Nagisa} "Yes, you're right. I'm sure that's right."
<1166>\{Nagisa} ""
// \{Nagisa} "Okay then."
<1167>\{Nagisa} ""
// \{Nagisa} "Well, one more time."
<1168> \{\m{B}} ""
// \{\m{B}} "Yeah."
<1169>\{Nagisa} ""
// \{Nagisa} "I, Furukawa Nagisa..."
<1170>\{Nagisa} ""
// \{Nagisa} "will no longer cry. No matter what kind of pain there is, I'll work hard and climb over it."
<1171>\{Nagisa} ""
// \{Nagisa} "But during times of happiness, I may end up crying."
<1172>\{Nagisa} ""
// \{Nagisa} "As I'm such a person..."
<1173>\{Nagisa} ""
// \{Nagisa} "Please take care of me."
<1174>
// Placing her hands on the mat, she bowed down.
<1175> \{\m{B}} ""
// \{\m{B}} "Same here as well."
<1176>
// I also bowed.
<1177>\{Nagisa} ""
// \{Nagisa} "Ehehe..."
<1178>
// Nagisa smiles.
<1179> \{\m{B}} ""
// \{\m{B}} "All right, let's go greet the neighbors while it's still bright out."
<1180>\{Nagisa} ""
// \{Nagisa} "Okay."
<1181>
// The two of us made dinner.
<1182>
// The main menu was grilled fish, and a side dish of daikon. It also came with a simple touch of rice and miso soup.
<1183>
// Even so, we were really happy when we had finished making it, and it was very delicious when we ate.
<1184>
// We cleaned up, and watched TV for a while.
<1185>\{Nagisa} ""
// \{Nagisa} "\m{B}-kun, this day's gone fast, hasn't it?"
<1186> \{\m{B}} ""
// \{\m{B}} "Yeah, it has."
<1187>\{Nagisa} ""
// \{Nagisa} "We should take a bath soon, and get some rest."
<1188>
// It's ten o'clock.
<1189> \{\m{B}} ""
// \{\m{B}} "Oh yeah, you sleep at about eleven, don't you?"
<1190>\{Nagisa} ""
// \{Nagisa} "Ah, well... just because I want to, doesn't mean I'm in such a rush."
<1191>\{Nagisa} ""
// \{Nagisa} "I was thinking of your health, \m{B}-kun."
<1192> \{\m{B}} ""
// \{\m{B}} "Ah... thanks. Then, I guess I'll take a bath."
<1193>\{Nagisa} ""
// \{Nagisa} "Yes, please do."
<1194>
// Standing in the kitchen's narrow pathway, I pulled the curtain.
<1195>
// If not for the curtain, we would definitely need something to block it out later.
<1196>
// Flinging my clothes into the basket up above, I entered the bath.
<1197>
// Hiss...
<1198> \{\m{B}} ()
// \{\m{B}} (There's very little coming out...)
<1199>
// I turn the faucet.
<1200> \{\m{B}} ()
// \{\m{B}} (Aagh...)
<1201> \{\m{B}} ()
// \{\m{B}} (Temperature control's also pretty sensitive...)
<1202>
// Well, if I get used to this, I probably wouldn't think of it.
<1203>
// I washed my hair with the shampoo Nagisa uses.
<1204> \{\m{B}} ""
// \{\m{B}} "Go ahead."
<1205>\{Nagisa} ""
// \{Nagisa} "Okay. I'll be heading in, then."
<1206> \{\m{B}} ""
// \{\m{B}} "Yeah."
<1207>
// Coming in place of me, Nagisa stood, and pulled the curtains.
<1208>
// I'll use the dryer up ahead.
<1209>
// I plug it in, and the moment I flick the switch...
<1210>
// Whirr...
<1211>
// I hear the sound of ruffling clothes.
<1212>
// I turn back at the curtain.
<1213> \{\m{B}} ()
// \{\m{B}} (If I think carefully... I had never once been in \bthis\u kind of situation, have I...?)
<1214>
// I see Nagisa's bare feet under the curtain.
<1215>
// Her skirt fell there just now.
<1216> \{\m{B}} ()
// \{\m{B}} (Ahh... getting excited from just that shows just how innocent we are...)
<1217>
// But, that comes with living together.
<1218>
// I'm sure Nagisa was prepared for that.
<1219>
// No matter how unprepared we were...
<1220> \{\m{B}} ()
// \{\m{B}} (Gah, what am I thinking about?!)
<1221>
// I turn my eyes away from the curtain.
<1222>
// Evne though we both had decided to work hard together, what the hell am I gonna do to keep myself calm on the first day?
<1223>
// .........
<1224>
// Thud, the sound of the door closing.
<1225> \{\m{B}} ()
// \{\m{B}} (Well...)
<1226> \{\m{B}} ()
// \{\m{B}} (I've been holding it in like a man but... there's a limit to what I can take, see...)
<1227>
// I look once again at the curtains.
<1228>
// Calm myself down
<1229>
// Be serious, so that I won't get caught
<1230> \{\m{B}} ()
// \{\m{B}} (Come on, calm down...)
<1231> \{\m{B}} ()
// \{\m{B}} (I haven't even gone through the first day of work...)
<1232> \{\m{B}} ()
// \{\m{B}} (We had just started living together, so pops and Sanae-san wouldn't stand for this, would they...?)
<1233>
// Remembering the faces of those two allowing for Nagisa's independence... I naturally calmed down.
<1234>
// To step on their feelings... was not something I could do.
<1235> \{\m{B}} ()
// \{\m{B}} (We've got much bigger hurdles to cross, after all...)
<1236> \{\m{B}} ()
// \{\m{B}} (Otherwise, there'd be no meaning.)
<1237>
// I so suggested to myself.
<1238>\{Nagisa} ""
// \{Nagisa} "It was a nice bath."
<1239> \{\m{B}} ""
// \{\m{B}} "Nagisa, you're cute."
<1240>\{Nagisa} ""
// \{Nagisa} "T-thank you very much."
<1241>\{Nagisa} ""
// \{Nagisa} "But, to say that just as I come out of the bath feels a bit strange."
<1242> \{\m{B}} ""
// \{\m{B}} "I was holding it in. Just let me say it."
<1243>\{Nagisa} ""
// \{Nagisa} "Okay... though it's not that I hate it."
<1244>
// I so observed my words, probably thinking that this much would be allowed.
<1245>
// But, it really feels like she's become a lot cuter than before.
<1246>
// Is that because Nagisa changed...?
<1247>
// Or is it that I loved Nagisa a lot more than before...?
<1248>
// I really couldn't tell.
<1249> \{\m{B}} ()
// \{\m{B}} (If I don't get caught, it's fine, right...?)
<1250> \{\m{B}} ()
// \{\m{B}} (I'll quickly grab her underwear, and then put it back...)
<1251> \{\m{B}} ()
// \{\m{B}} (That should be fine, right...?)
<1252> \{\m{B}} ()
// \{\m{B}} (This is a situation for men, after all!)
<1253>
// I shuffle my feet in front of the curtains, and softly turn it over from under.
<1254>
// Up ahead... at the topmost basket, Nagisa's underwear made a small circle.
<1255> \{\m{B}} ()
// \{\m{B}} (Uwahh...)
<1256> \{\m{B}} ()
// \{\m{B}} (This is really exciting...)
<1257>
// If she opened the door now, what would I do? What excuse could I come up with?
<1258> \{\m{B}} ()
// \{\m{B}} (Ahh, hurry up and take it. It should still be warm right now...)
<1259> \{\m{B}} ()
// \{\m{B}} (Instead of the warmth, the smell...)
<1260> \{\m{B}} ""
// \{\m{B}} "Hey, am I a damn pervert----?!"
<1261>
// I roll about, pulling in the curtain.
<1262>
// Clatter, clatter, clatter!\shake{3}
<1263>
// The hooks violently broke off.
<1264> \{\m{B}} ()
// \{\m{B}} (Oh crap!)
<1265>
// I put them back on in a hurry.
<1266> \{\m{B}} ""
// \{\m{B}} "Pant... pant..."
<1267>
// Even though I was just out of the bath, I was sweating all over.
<1268> \{\m{B}} ()
// \{\m{B}} (Am I an idiot...?)
<1269>\{Nagisa} ""
// \{Nagisa} "It was a nice bath."
<1270> \{\m{B}} ""
// \{\m{B}} "........."
<1271>\{Nagisa} ""
// \{Nagisa} "What's wrong, \m{B}-kun?"
<1272> \{\m{B}} ""
// \{\m{B}} "Eh... why do you ask?"
<1273>\{Nagisa} ""
// \{Nagisa} "Well, because you're not looking this way."
<1274> \{\m{B}} ""
// \{\m{B}} "Y-yeah... it's nothing. Just thinking about stuff."
<1275>\{Nagisa} ""
// \{Nagisa} "\m{B}-kun, your hair is wet again."
<1276> \{\m{B}} ""
// \{\m{B}} "Yeah..."
<1277>\{Nagisa} ""
// \{Nagisa} "Go ahead and use the dryer first."
<1278> \{\m{B}} ""
// \{\m{B}} "It's fine. If I leave it be, it'll dry up."
<1279>\{Nagisa} ""
// \{Nagisa} "You can't do that. If you sleep with your hair wet, you'll catch a cold."
<1280>
// Ahh, because it's the first day we're living together, so I want to jump up in the air...
<1281>
// If I'm going to have this much of a craving every day, I really will reach my limit...
<1282>
// I was lying down sideways without being able to fall asleep, the whole time staring at the ceiling I had become used to.
<1283>
// Nagisa also wasn't able to fall asleep, not once snoring.
<1284> \{\m{B}} ()
// \{\m{B}} (.........)
<1285>
// I just happened to find it amusing with the two of us as we are.
<1286>
// Living from now on like this feels as simple as playing house.
<1287>
// Though I've come this far making Nagisa happy on my own...
<1288>
// There are a lot more problems ahead of us just waiting.
<1289>
// I'm sure reality isn't that easy on us.
<1290>
// We really were kids in regards to that. It feels like we might simply break apart.
<1291>
// I don't know how strong one must be to cross that.
<1292>
// I just think that we should do the best we can.
<1293>
// Pops and Sanae-san are probably thinking in the same way.
<1294>
// The one passion of youth.
<1295>
// We should do whatever we want to do.
<1296>
// If it's within our grasp.
<1297> \{\m{B}} ""
// \{\m{B}} "Hey, you awake, Nagisa?"
<1298>\{Nagisa} ""
// \{Nagisa} "Yes, I am."
<1299> \{\m{B}} ""
// \{\m{B}} "I want to become stronger."
<1300>\{Nagisa} ""
// \{Nagisa} "I feel the same way."
<1301> \{\m{B}} ""
// \{\m{B}} "Yeah..."
<1302> \{\m{B}} ""
// \{\m{B}} "So, let's work hard, okay?"
<1303> \{\m{B}} ""
// \{\m{B}} "I'm also going to end up working in a new place, without pops or Sanae-san to rely on so easily."
<1304> \{\m{B}} ""
// \{\m{B}} "I'm expecting that it'll definitely be painful."
<1305>\{Nagisa} ""
// \{Nagisa} "Okay."
<1306> \{\m{B}} ""
// \{\m{B}} "You should also work hard, starting now."
<1307>\{Nagisa} ""
// \{Nagisa} "Okay..."
<1308> \{\m{B}} ""
// \{\m{B}} "And, if we do that for a year..."
<1309> \{\m{B}} ""
// \{\m{B}} "I'm sure we'll be so strong, we won't lose to anything."
<1310>\{Nagisa} ""
// \{Nagisa} "I also think the same way."
<1311> \{\m{B}} ""
// \{\m{B}} "You'll swear to that?"
<1312>\{Nagisa} ""
// \{Nagisa} "Yes, I will."
<1313> \{\m{B}} ""
// \{\m{B}} "Let's work hard."
<1314>\{Nagisa} ""
// \{Nagisa} "Okay."
<1315>
// Inside the lined up futon, I searched for Nagisa's hand.
<1316>
// Finding it, I grasped it.
<1317>
// While feeling the warmth of someone, I fell asleep.