Epilogue – Surely, forever and ever

Source

https://kakuyomu.jp/works/16818622176550308690/episodes/16818792438390033934

“—-… wake up… wake up—”

A faint voice reached me.

Slowly… I forced my heavy eyelids open. The oppressive sunlight streaming through the window made me want to shut my eyes again immediately.

“Akito? Wake up?”

But.

That incredibly sweet soprano voice made me feel like she was calling my name.

I forced my narrowed eyes open.

And there… was the bright smile of the school’s most beautiful girl.

“Ah, you’re awake. Good morning, Akito?”

Huh… Why is Renka here? I thought.

As I moved my sleepy head, the memory became clear.

This was my room, inside my bed.

And right before my eyes—a face as angelic and delicate as could be. Her adorable cheeks were flushed, her lips glistening with moisture.

“Ah… ahh, uh, yeah. Good morning, Renka…”

We were on a narrow single bed, under a single thin blanket.

The distance between us was so close, the slightest movement would bring our lips together.

There, belonging to my proud childhood friend—Fujisaki Renka—were her beautiful eyes, nose, and lips.

“Hehe. Sleepy Akito, you’re so cute. You were cute yesterday too, you know?”

A teasing voice. Renka flashed an innocent smile, giggling softly.

I averted my gaze from Renka’s face… and slightly lower, her beautiful body lay exposed.

White, slender, yet soft-looking—no, actually soft. Incredibly so.

“Ah—Moou, Akito, you pervert. You’re looking at my chest again.”

“No… that’s impossible to avoid. If a guy sees the naked body of someone he likes right in front of him, anyone would react like this.”

“Hehe, I see. But not now, okay? We gotta get ready fast or we’ll be late for school.”

Today was September 1st. The Monday after summer break ended—the first day of the second semester.

…Renkawas right. If we didn’t start getting ready soon, we’d be massively late on the very first day. I really wanted to avoid that, but—I barely slept last night. Sleepy was sleepy.

“Hey, Akito, wake up? Let’s eat breakfast?”

“…Please, just five more minutes.”

“No way. You’ll be late for school!”

Then Renka brought her thin lips close to my ear and whispered,

“And—you know? When we get back. I’ll finish what we started yesterday?”

Her voice was ticklish and sweet.

—That’s right. That’s exactly it.

On the way home from yesterday’s fireworks festival. Renka and I—we confessed our feelings to each other, moving from childhood friends to lovers.

And then, last night… we raced through the ABCs of love at a shocking speed.

I still can’t believe it. But this is definitely real.

The warmth of Renka’s soft body. The feel of her white, smooth skin. Her lustful voice, her ragged breaths, and that sweet expression—I remembered it all vividly.

And… Renka’s incredible stamina, which never seemed to run out.

“When we get back… isn’t that just because you want to, Renka…?”

“… That’s not it! Because yesterday, Akito was really happy about it…!”

Renka’s face flushed bright red. How adorable.

I gently stroked the beloved amber hair of my childhood friend.

The silky feel against my hand felt wonderful. Renka pouted her lips in slight displeasure, yet a happy smile lingered on her face.

“Mouu… you idiot, Akito!”

“Yeah, yeah. Well, I am Idiot Akito, after all.”

Fortunately, it seemed Mom hadn’t come home last night. As usual, she was probably busy with work.

Dad… probably came home. But he left without saying anything. I’m glad to have such understanding family. Really, I am.

◇◇◇

After eating Renka’s homemade meal, we washed the dishes side by side.

“I’m off—” I said, starting down the path to school.

On the way, I stopped by Renka’s house. …Last night, Renka suddenly declared she didn’t want to go home and headed straight to my place still wearing her yukata. So she needed to change into her uniform first.

By the way, until just now, I’d lent Renka my shirt and pants. That baggy outfit was unbelievably cute. She looked stunning in her yukata too (though I accidentally got it dirty), but I think Renka would look adorable in anything.

“—Sorry to keep you waiting, Akito.”

And there she was, Renka in her uniform, walking up from the entrance.

A short-sleeved summer uniform with a cute ribbon design. Her healthy thighs peeked out from the short skirt. …This is bad. I can’t help but remember last night.

“Akito. Shall we go?”

“Oh, yeah…”

As if it were the most natural thing, Renkapressed right up beside me and smiled brightly.

I was mesmerized by her smile—and then it happened.

Someone sprinted past us.

Familiar black hair, glasses I knew all too well.

“…Yuri?”

“Hm—Ah, Akito and Renka? Good morning, nice morning, huh?”

Yuri stopped, stamping his foot, and turned toward us. He was in his usual uniform, but a towel was draped around his neck.

As usual, he pushed his glasses up his nose and said,

“Sorry, I was focused on my run and didn’t notice. To miss my best friend like that… my best friend skills still need work.”

“Nah, that’s fine… But seriously, what are you doing? Your house isn’t even in this direction, right?”

“It’s kind of embarrassing, but over summer break I ended up eating three whole watermelons a day. I probably gained weight, so I figured I’d run around the school route to lose it.”

Three whole watermelons a day? Well, needless to say, Yuri’s family is loaded… Wait, that’s not the point I should be making. How can you eat that much… Wait, maybe that’s not it either? Should I say, how can you not get sick of it?

Well, anyway—it felt like it had been ages since I’d been this confused by Yuri’s words and actions. That trip felt like it happened so long ago.

“So, you two—ah, I see. That’s how it turned out.”

Yuri looked back and forth between me and Renka.

He let out a soft chuckle, his expression relaxing gently.

“Akito, Renka. You two did well.”

Hey, hey… What is that? What’s with that gentle smile?

It was a soft expression I’d rarely seen, even as his childhood friend, from Yuri who was usually cool—or rather, the stoic type of handsome guy. Somehow, it made my heart skip a beat just a little.

◇◇◇

After parting ways with Yuri, Renka and I headed to school together.

It was a truly happy time. Every little thing we chatted about felt incredibly fun.

Laughing, getting angry, blushing.

I could watch all those expressions on Renka’s face right beside me. I kept thinking, How happy I am.

We arrived at school, climbed the stairs, and headed to the door of Room 2-B.

I hesitated just a little before opening that door. Embarrassment, fear of being yelled at, guilt towards Suzunami-san. My heart felt tangled up with all these emotions.

“Akito? Aren’t you coming in?”

But Renka, on the other hand, didn’t seem to care at all.

She just looked up at me with those purely innocent eyes.

“Ah… I’m coming in, I’m coming in. Just… let me take a deep breath first—”

“Mouu, you coward, Akito. Come on, let’s go?”

With that, Renka—with her left hand—gripped my right hand tightly.

Her slender, white fingers intertwined with mine.

And then, Renka just—boldly stepped into the classroom. Like she was dragging me along.

“Hey! Renka—”

That cry of mine, or something like it, quickly echoed off the ceiling.

The classroom on the morning after summer break. It should have been the same as always, yet the atmosphere felt somehow different.　

Amidst a unique scene that hinted at a new everyday life.

Towards me and Renka, holding hands like lovers—tap tap tap, footsteps approached. Then,

“————Renka!”

It was a cheerful, lively voice. The voice of that competitive girl who always brightened things up for us.

With that momentum, she—Nanami Sena—

Mugyu!!… and hugged Renka.

“Renka! Hehe, Renka, Renka!”

“Whoa… Seriously, Sena. Look, everyone’s watching?”

“But! Renka, Renka—ah, I can’t take it! Renka, I love you so much!!”

Sena rubbed her cheek against Renka’s face. Though exasperated, Renka patted Sena’s hair gently with her right hand.

Watching this heartwarming scene unfold right beside them.

Another guy, a flashy blond boy—Yuzuka Hideki—walked over to me.

“Yo. Good morning, best friend.”

“Yeah. Good morning, Hideki.”

“What’s up? You’re not biting. Or do I have to say it too? ‘I love you, Akito’?”

“Hideki. Do you… actually like me?”

“No way! Well, maybe I do! Maybe I do, but I don’t!!”

Hideki was panting heavily, making a huge fuss with all his might.

Eventually, he… let out a sigh, relaxed his shoulders, and raised his hand beside his face.

Probably for a high-five. Even though I thought it was way too immature in front of our classmates’ stares—I found myself smiling at Hideki naturally.

“Thanks, buddy.”

“Heh heh, no problem!”

Clap. An embarrassingly loud sound echoed through the classroom.

At the same time, Sena seemed satisfied too. She gave Renka one last tight hug, squeezing her hard, before finally stepping away from us.

As she left, Sena flashed a happy smile, glanced at me for just a moment, and said,

“Oh—oh yeah! I really like you too, Akito-kun, okay?”

…What the hell was that, I thought.

It felt like a forced, tacked-on “I like you.”

But, for some reason—it made me incredibly happy. Sena’s voice seeped into my heart. I felt the warmth of her feelings throughout my entire body.

And then—our eyes met.

Renka and I were still holding hands. So surely, with her sharp intuition, she must have seen everything.

My phone buzzed.

I opened it with my free hand. “Akito, what’s up?” Renka looked at me blankly.

『(Miyuki) Ayata-chi!』

『(Miyuki) Good job today! Be happy~!』

Along with Enfil’s cool sticker of Suzunami-san’s favorite character.

Suddenly, I tear my gaze away from the phone—Suzunami-san, leaning against the wall in the corner of the classroom, hides her mouth with her phone and flashes a dazzling smile.

A smile as bright as the sun, full of energy.

Thank you—I say it aloud. Suzunami-san’s smile grows even more dazzling.

◇◇◇

—I think to myself, once again, how happy I am.

When did it all begin? Now, I can’t even tell.

But—

“Akito. Want to sit down?”

Renka was sitting next to me.

I’d lost sight of Renka’s back, so close yet so far away. Maybe… Renka felt the same way too.

But—the truth is, distance never mattered from the start.

What mattered was just the courage to take that first step.

That day. I overheard Renka talking behind my back. Instead of trying to understand her “true feelings,” I cowardly ran away. …If only I’d mustered the courage back then, maybe our relationship wouldn’t have soured.

Because of that, I hurt Renka terribly. I got hurt too, in my own way. Maybe someday, we’ll hurt each other’s hearts like that again.

But. Renka is with me now.

I truly hope that when that time comes—we can face it together.

I am. Ayata Akito is a genuine loser.

I’m lazy, sloppy, irresponsible, and mediocre at both studying and sports.

I had nothing to be proud of besides being Renka’s childhood friend—or so I thought back then.

But now it’s different. I can say that with absolute certainty.

Because—for me, the very fact that I’m Renka’s childhood friend is my greatest pride.

“Hey, Renka …”

“Hm? What is it, Akito?”

Right now, I just—I just wanted to laugh.

With Renka , I’m sure we could laugh together forever. No matter what happens, I’m not afraid with Renka. I believe I can turn small courage into something big. That’s why,

“―――――You and me. We’re definitely going to be happy, right?”

I squeezed.

I clasped Renka’s warm left hand.

Around that wrist――the friendship bracelet that should have been worn to shreds was tied beautifully.　

–

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