184 - Could it be…?

RAW

Haruto enjoyed an ordinary conversation with Kiyoko, who had safely regained consciousness.

She might have been gone forever.

Having gone through such an experience, Haruto realized that being able to talk about trivial things with his grandmother was the greatest happiness of all.

While the two of them were spending a quiet time together, Ayaka came to visit after school.

"Oh, Ayaka-san. Thank you for coming to see me,"

Kiyoko bowed her head politely with a smile, and Ayaka returned a bright, cheerful smile.

"I'm really glad I can see your smile again, Kiyoko-san."

As she said this, Ayaka handed over the flowers she had brought as a gift.

"Please get well soon."

"Oh my, thank you."

What Ayaka had brought was a gerbera flower arrangement. Seeing the bouquet of bright yellow gerberas and other cheerful colors, Kiyoko’s expression also brightened.

"They’re so beautiful. Thank you, Ayaka-san."

"Thanks, Ayaka,"

Haruto added after his grandmother, and Ayaka responded with a gentle smile.

"Once things calm down, my parents and Ryota also want to come and visit. Is that alright?"

"Yes, I would be very happy."

"Oh, that reminds me, Grandma. Tomoya and Shizuku also messaged me just now saying they’d like to come visit."

"Saki too, she said she wants to come if it’s not a bother."

"Oh my, of course it wouldn’t be a bother at all."

Kiyoko smiled, saying, "To have so many people worry about me, I really am fortunate."

Then, still wearing that soft smile, she turned toward Ayaka.

"Ayaka-san, I’m truly grateful to you for everything you’ve done this time. I’m sorry to be in this condition, but I at least wanted to convey my thanks. Once I’m discharged, I’ll be sure to properly repay you."

"Oh, please! You don’t need to be so formal!"

Ayaka told Kiyoko, who had bowed deeply, "Please raise your head," and then, looking a little embarrassed but speaking clearly, she continued.

"Both you and Haruto already feel like family to us… So, when something is difficult or troubling, it’s only natural that we help each other. That’s what family does."

Ayaka gently reached out and held Kiyoko’s hand.

"I’ll gladly accept your gratitude. But if you make it sound too much like you owe me, like it’s some great debt, then… it feels a little lonely."

"Ayaka-san…"

Kiyoko’s eyes widened slightly, as though struck by Ayaka’s words. Then she slowly turned her gaze toward Haruto.

"Haruto, really, I’m so glad you met Ayaka-san."

"Yeah. She really helped me this time. Not just Ayaka, but Shuichi-san, Ikue-san, and Ryota too… everyone supported us."

Haruto bowed his head to Ayaka, who was still holding his grandmother’s hand.

"Thank you."

Ayaka smiled softly in response.

Haruto and Ayaka left the hospital after visiting Kiyoko.

The two of them sat side by side on a city bus, gently swaying with its motion.

"I’m glad Kiyoko-san seems to be doing well,"

"Yeah, apparently her checkups say she’s recovering smoothly. I think she’ll be fine now."

Haruto turned his gaze from the crimson sunset outside the window to Ayaka.

"But the hospital stay might end up being a bit long. Even if her recovery’s going well, the surgery was a big burden at her age. She’ll need rehabilitation."

"I see… But I’m sure if it’s Kiyoko-san, she’ll handle the rehab just fine."

As she said this, Ayaka squeezed Haruto’s hand tightly.

From her hand came a warmth filled with her true feelings, which filled Haruto’s heart.

No matter what, there was someone by his side. Someone who would stay close to him.

How precious, how reassuring that was.

With gratitude and a deepened sense of love born from this experience, Haruto squeezed Ayaka’s hand back.

"Hehe…"

Ayaka smiled happily and leaned her body against Haruto.

Feeling her weight against him, Haruto’s heart overflowed with joy.

He was glad he had met Ayaka.

He was glad she had become his girlfriend.

Haruto felt this deeply.

Through her kindness, through her openness, Ayaka had become an irreplaceable presence in his life.

When Kiyoko collapsed, Haruto had fallen into despair.

But Ayaka had stayed with him the whole time. Because of her, his heart didn’t break.

He quietly repeated Ayaka’s words in his heart.

“Haruto, you won’t be alone. I’ll always be by your side. As family.”

Those words had saved Haruto’s heart more than he could ever express.

The pure feelings Ryota had shown him, and Ayaka’s warm, enveloping words had protected him when loneliness and fear threatened to swallow him.

Surely, what Ayaka had said would become the most important words of his life.

That’s how he felt.

“I’ll always be by your side. As family.”

He would never be alone. He would always have family with him.

For Haruto, who had lost his parents when he was young, that meant everything.

“As family.”

Ayaka’s words gave him strength.

They were precious, words etched into his heart.

“As family.”

They carried a warmth and security that was immeasurable.

“…Huh?”

And here, Haruto’s thoughts froze.

Ayaka’s words had etched themselves into his heart. They held great weight and meaning.

But why did they?

Inside, he began questioning himself.

Back then, he thought he might lose his grandmother. He was terrified, afraid of being alone.

Those words had saved him.

That’s why they meant so much.

But then—why did they save him?

Because he realized he wasn’t alone.

Because Ayaka told him he wasn’t.

Why wasn’t he alone?

Because Ayaka would stay with him. Always, beside him, through everything, as family…

Which means… what exactly?

Two people who had no prior connection meet,

fall in love, share their feelings,

recognize each other as irreplaceable, and spend their lives together—

as family.

That is…

"That’s a wife…"

The words slipped out of Haruto’s mouth before he knew it.

Perhaps because it was so sudden and unclear, Ayaka looked at him with a puzzled expression.

"Hm? Did you say something?"

"Ah, n-no! It’s… nothing!"

"Really?"

"Yeah, I was just… thinking."

Haruto forced a smile as he said this.

Seeing his reaction, Ayaka seemed to have misunderstood. She gently squeezed his hand again, looked into his eyes, and spoke in an encouraging tone.

"Kiyoko-san will definitely be fine. She endured such a difficult surgery, so rehab won’t be a problem either."

"Y-yeah. You’re right."

Ayaka continued to stay by his side with her all-encompassing kindness. Haruto was overcome by an urge to embrace her tightly, but he held himself back and tried to organise his thoughts.

Ayaka had said it.

That she would stay by his side, as family.

And his inner reasoning had concluded—that meant being his wife.

But wait! Was that really what she meant?

Back then, he had been completely crushed.

He must have worried Ayaka terribly.

Maybe she only said those words to comfort him.

Haruto tried to rein in his hasty conclusion.

They were still just high school students. Ayaka surely thought marriage was far off.

Maybe her words were simply meant to reassure him, nothing more…

But then he remembered that moment again.

And clearly, he recalled the expression Ayaka had when she said those words.

Eyes filled with resolve, as though she had made a life-changing decision.

Her tone was firm, infused with her true feelings.

And before she said those words, she had added: “Just now, Ryota said it too…”

Ryota’s words to Haruto had been: “If big brother and big sister get married, then we’ll be family.”

Haruto was certain.

At the same time, his heartbeat began racing uncontrollably.

He could no longer think of her words as just a simple comfort.

He couldn’t dismiss them as wishful thinking.

Because those words had been… Ayaka’s proposal.

Haruto let out a small sigh.

Then he remembered—what had he replied back then?

When Ayaka, with such resolve, proposed to him—what had he said in return?

“…‘Thank you’? What the hell was I doing…”

Haruto buried his face in his hands at the pathetic memory.

Who answers a proposal with “thank you”?

The correct answers were only “yes” or “I will.”

And yet, all he had managed was “thank you.”

At the time, he had been overwhelmed by the warmth of the Tojo family and Ayaka’s support.

So he just wanted to express his gratitude.

…but that excuse wouldn’t hold water!

"I should have answered! What the hell am I doing!"

"Haruto?"

Unable to contain his frustration, he had spoken out loud. Ayaka turned to him again with a curious look.

"Ah, no, it’s just…"

He trailed off, fumbling for words.

Just then, the bus arrived at the stop nearest to Ayaka’s house.

"Ah, we need to get off!"

"Yeah. Haruto, are you alright?"

"Y-yeah, I’m fine."

Forcing a smile to reassure her, Haruto got off the bus with her. Then, gathering his resolve, he turned to face her.

"Ayaka! Um…"

"Yes? What is it?"

"Before going home… want to take a little walk?"

"A walk? Sure."

Ayaka agreed with a bright smile.

Haruto, his heart pounding with nervous tension, gently took her hand.

Ayaka had spoken those words with great resolve.

Then he, too, had to respond properly.

With his own words, he needed to convey his feelings.

Holding the hand of the person who was now far more than just his girlfriend, his dearest one, Haruto began walking.

"Then, let’s go."