Chapter 139 Happy but Baka Couple

Happy but Baka Couple

Morning comes as usual. To be honest, I didn’t sleep much.

The words I said to Ichijo-san last night keep looping in my head,

“No need to rush. If it’s okay with you. … I’ll always be by your side, Ichijo-san. I won’t disappear anywhere, ever.”

When I remember that, my mind goes blank and I let out an inaudible scream. My words are embarrassingly heavy. I mean, it’s really too heavy.

When I think about it calmly, I’ve already gone beyond a confession and said something… outrageous.

I can’t help but be embarrassed.

But what shocked me even more were her words that followed mine,

“Yes. Don’t let me go.”

What does that mean, what will happen to our relationship now?

Does that mean she accepted my words, which were heavier than a confession? …

I staggered around, finished my breakfast, and went outside.

There was Ichijo-san waiting for me, smiling, as usual.

“Ah, good morning, Senpai!”

After everything that happened last night, she smiled at me just naturally.

“Ah, good morning.”

I replied in my usual tone as much as possible. She smiled a little while she looked down and started walking.

She talks less than usual. And it was easy to see that she was trying to avoid talking about yesterday. I tried to keep up with her pace as best I could.

Even though there is more silence, I feel happier than usual. This unspoken relationship makes for very precious moments.

We are taking the same steps toward the same destination. That alone will never change.

Ai’s PoV

As usual, I’m waiting for him in front of Kitchen Aono.

What should I do? I can’t stop smiling. Obviously, I’m the one who’s floating around. Now it’s certain that at least Eiji-senpai cares about me.

I can see how that fact, just put into words, can make you so happy.

“I love him.”

Thinking of the other person I loved, I let these words go up into the sky. Slowly the words melt away and create a lingering feeling. My heart feels warm.

Soon he comes out of the house. As much as I can, I greet him as usual. But I swear I can’t look directly into his face. If I did, I’m sure I’d remember what he said yesterday.

He knows exactly what I’ve wanted since my mother died. I think Aono Eiji, a future novelist, understood my deepest psychological state. That is, he understood it more than I did…

I wanted a family. I just wanted to be really loved and to love someone.

I didn’t want to be treated like a trophy or an accessory.

The men who confessed or approached me, including that monkey, Kondo, seemed only interested in my face and status. To them, I was just decoration.

The humiliation and despair of being treated like a “thing” by someone I had never really talked to deepened the loneliness I had felt since losing my mother and poisoned my heart.

Only he was different.

He treated me as a person, not a thing. The one who saved me from loneliness.

As I listened to his words yesterday, his presence grew bigger and bigger in my heart.

The more his presence grew, the more the words I used to say to him casually became unspeakable. That’s why there is more silence than usual.

However, I wasn’t in a hurry to say those words. Rather, the silence was pleasant.

He told me that there was no need to be in a hurry. I will gradually become more natural. I feel that together with him I can overcome my heavy kinship, the painful memories of the past, and the reality from which I’ve been running.

He tried to match his pace with me. And what he’s going for is the same as mine. Just that kind of kindness… No, let’s put it into words.

“Senpai, thank you for always matching my walking speed.”

He laughs shyly.

“Oh, I was found out.”

“I knew, of course. If we are always together. …”

“I see.”

“I love that kind, gentle thing you do…”

With a little joking and a lot of gratitude, we continued at our own pace.