Source
https://kakuyomu.jp/works/16818093093152263860/episodes/16818622176203910271
Chapter 2 Epilogue
“No way! I don’t want to leave Ryo kun’s house!”
Mid-July. Toka’s voice echoes throughout the house.
“From today, you have to take care of your room too! You’re not going to be staying here forever!”
“No, no, no! This is my house!”
“You said yourself, ‘I don’t want to worry Dad, so I’ll tidy up the other room too’!”
After that, the parents began discussing Toka’s situation. They agreed that she would eat meals together at the Kuga household. They would fully support her health condition. If anything happened, they would immediately report it to Toka’s father.
And above all, it was agreed by both sets of parents that high school-aged boys and girls sleeping in the same room was unacceptable!
So, today we’re heading to the new apartment to prepare Toka’s bedding.
“No, no, no! I don’t want to go! I don’t want to be alone!”
But! At the last minute, Toka started throwing a tantrum!
The real boss was Toka herself. I thought the housing situation had settled nicely after the last incident.
“It’s close by! It only takes five minutes to get there, so don’t be so reluctant!”
“Ugh!”
I don’t know if it was father’s idea, but Toka’s apartment is really close to ours. It’s smaller and a bit older than our place, but it was chosen because it has excellent security measures.
“Ryo kun doesn’t want to be with me.”
“Don’t say that again.”
Toka said that in a tone that seemed to be scolding me. No, I want to be with her too! But the situation was too tough for a healthy young man to handle!
“Are you still doing that?”
“Mom, say something too!”
Hearing our commotion, my mother came to my room.
“Mother-in-law!”
“Arara, you like our house so much?”
Toka ran to my mother’s side! My family is really lenient with Toka! She’s even started acting spoiled!
“But Toka-chan said it was time to leave, so dad even took time off work to come here. Yuzu is waiting outside too.”
“Ugh…”
Hearing that, Toka reluctantly picked up her bag. This is weird—I’m only saying what’s fair, but it’s really hurting my heart!?
“Toka, this isn’t the end. I mean, you’re coming over for dinner tonight, right?”
“Yeah, but…”
Toka’s face was clearly downcast. I grabbed her hand and dragged her outside.
—At the front door.
“Toka-chan, stay strong. We’ll see each other soon anyway.”
“Onee chan, I’ll send you a message! We’ll see each other soon anyway!”
My father and Yuzuha exchanged farewells. Of course, it wasn’t a goodbye, so there was no sense of sadness. That’s obvious! We’ll see each other again in a few hours!
“Sniff… sniff…”
However, one person had started crying so hard she couldn’t even speak…
“Toka, you don’t have to take it so seriously…”
“…Thank you so much for accepting me.”
Toka, still crying, began to thank everyone. My father and mother watched silently. Yuzuha gently held her hand.
“Really… really, thank you so much… I never thought anyone would be so kind to just Asahina Toka…”
“Just Asahina Toka ?”
I couldn’t help but ask.
“Because I don’t have anything left…”
“Toka…”
…Right. She lost her home immediately after retiring. The damage to Toka’s heart might have been much greater than I thought. I think it’s true that Toka herself has no attachment to the name Asahina Toka, but it’s also a fact that she was hurt by that name until she became like that.
“What are you talking about, Toka-chan? It’s not ‘just’.”
“That’s right! It’s not ‘just’ . Toka-oneechan is… Toka-oneechan!”
Before I could say anything, my mother and Yuzuha spoke to Toka like that. I could never say this in front of them, but I’m really glad I was born into the Kuga family.
“Oh, Mother-in-law…”
“You’re such a spoiled child, Toka-chan.”
My mother patted Toka’s back and hugged her.
“Come anytime. You might just become our daughter after all.”
“Sniff… sniff…”
Toka was crying so hard she missed it… The “daughter-raising plan” was a complete success.
◇
“Sniff… I’m so lonely…”
Even on the way to their new home, Toka’s tears wouldn’t stop. The two of them walked slowly along the deserted asphalt road.
“If you say goodbye like that, it’ll be awkward when we meet again.”
“But…”
I don’t think it’s bad tears, but I need you to stop crying soon.
“I didn’t think being alone would be this lonely.”
“No, you’re not alone! I’m here, and so is Toka’s father!”
“But…”
This is no good. Today, no matter what I say, she just gets negative.
…Before we knew it, we had arrived at Toka’s new home.
“Touka, the key.”
Using the key I had been given by Touka’s father, we entered the new home. The room was stuffy with the heat of summer.
“Sniff…”
She was still crying even after we arrived. Well, at this point…
“Touka. Let’s take a deep breath for a moment.”
I said that while locking the front door.
Toka looked up at me with her face still wet with tears.
“First, take a deep breath. Inhale, exhale… there.”
“…Huff, puff…”
Toka followed my instructions and awkwardly tried to steady her breathing. After repeating it a few times, I could tell her shoulders were slowly calming down.
“Are you calm now?”
“I’m not calm…”
Her lowered profile looked somehow childlike, small and fragile. The tears lingering on her eyelashes told me her heart was still heavy. I held my breath, simply staring at her profile as time passed. Should I reach out my hand… While I was hesitating, my fingertips moved on their own.
What’s the big deal about being alone?
Maybe I was a little annoyed by those words.
My fingertips gently touched her chin. The cool sensation of her skin mingled with a warm feeling deep within my heart. My chest pounded loudly. I slowly met Toka’s gaze. Holding my breath, I quietly closed the distance between us.
I said nothing, just…
…gently kissed Toka’s lips.
“…!?”
Toka’s eyes widened. From the moment our lips touched to the moment they parted, it was only an instant. But a definite warmth remained there.
“You’re not alone. I’m here.”
Suddenly feeling embarrassed, I looked away from Toka and blurted out those words.
“Yes…”
Toka nodded as if savoring my words. She stared at me with a dazed expression.
“Besides, moving into a new apartment isn’t all bad…”
“It’s not all bad?”
“Well, because we can’t cuddle at my place…”
I felt even more embarrassed and turned my face away from Toka.
“Ryo-kun…”
“And this is from my family.”
“This?”
“It’s a spare key to my house. They said you can come anytime.”
I handed Toka the spare key to my house. I had once kept a spare key to Toka’s room. This time, it was the other way around. I think it’s a sign of trust, showing that I accept her.
“Ugh…”
Tears fell from Toka’s eyes again.
“…That was a surprise, you’re so mean.”
“Mean?”
“Ryo-kun, how far do you plan to go to make me successful!?”
Saying that, Toka hugged me!
“It’s not enough! It’s not enough at all!”
“What’s not enough?”
“A kiss!”
Saying that, Toka wrapped her arms around my neck and pressed her lips against mine again.
Chapter 2: The Girl in Training
End
Continued in Chapter 3
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