CH 44

Five times

Translated by Dawn

Five times

Click, click, click, click. The unusually loud sound of the clock’s hands resonating was probably because I was consciously aware of the concept of time. …No, that wasn’t the right wording. More accurately, should I express it as “diverting my attention” instead?

—The promised “five times” with Kazemiya has four remaining.

“Hey, can we watch a movie?”

“Sure. Here’s the remote.”

“Thanks.”

During this runaway from home summer vacation, Kazemiya, who had learned how to operate our TV, displayed a video streaming site on the large screen. It was one of those with a wider selection of movies compared to other streaming services, and Kazemiya displayed the desired movie from the genre of popular titles.

“That’s the one we watched before, right?”

“I found it interesting and wanted to watch it again.”

“I understand. I was actually thinking of watching it again at some point.”

“I figured.”

“I’ll have orange juice, what about Kazemiya?”

“I’ll have the same, please.”

“Got it.”

I took out the orange juice from the refrigerator, pour it into two glasses, then carefully select some snacks from the stocked ones on the shelf and bring them to the living room table.

Snacks and juice on the table. This had become the established style for watching movies with Kazemiya during this summer vacation. With the preparations for the movie complete, we both sat down on the nearby sofa.

“Why are you sitting there? It’s not directly in front of the TV, no?”

Kazemiya, pointing it out as if to not let it slide, was sitting on the two-seater sofa.

Kazemiya was sitting at the end, leaving exactly enough space for one person next to her. Normally, I would sit there and watch movies together, but today, for some reason, I intended to sit in a different spot. Kazemiya didn’t miss that.

“Sit here. It’s our usual spot, right?”

“…Yeah.”

I had no choice but to resign myself. I sat next to Kazemiya, trying to maintain a poker face as much as possible.

With armrests on both sides, there was no escape once two people sat on this sofa. Although there was some space left, it didn’t mean we wouldn’t end up in close proximity…

“………….”

“………….”

Less than five minutes into the movie, our shoulders were pressed together to the point where we wouldn’t feel out of place even if we heard a small “pop” sound. …It was not something special. Come to think of it, we’d always been this close in proximity. It was not uncommon for us to lean our shoulders against each other like this… No, but today it felt closer than usual.

The sound of the movie came from the TV screen. But mixed with that, I could hear the sound of our heartbeats. Was it my own heartbeat? Or was it Kazemiya’s? Our bodies were so close together that I couldn’t tell.

“…fufu.”

“Kazemiya, you laughed at this scene the last time we watched it too, right?”

“Well, it’s funny. Fufufu… Huh, isn’t it funny? This part.”

“…It’s normal.”’

“Is your sense of humor dead or something?”

“I think your sense of humor is just too shallow. The joke you were laughing at just now was ridiculously stupid. You should be grateful that I called it ‘normal.'”

“But… fufufu… ‘The love letter got torn’… Ahahaha.” (+)

By the way, Kazemiya laughed at a scene where the sidekick character of the protagonist, in a desperate situation against the enemy, tried to attract their attention by showing a silly gag. It was true that it was somewhat funny due to the actor’s performance and energy, but the only ones laughing at the pun itself were Kazemiya and maybe a few others in the world…

“…By the way, kids tend to like these kinds of puns, don’t they?”

“What do you mean by that, huh?”

My inner thoughts unintentionally slipped out. Kazemiya kicked my leg playfully, but of course, it didn’t hurt.

Was it just my biased view as a boyfriend that even her playful actions seem adorable, like a cat playing around?

“Sorry, I’m always so childish.”

“Don’t be mad.”

“I’m not mad.”

“You’re definitely mad.”

“Where?”

“Your voice.”

“Then I won’t talk anymore.”

“Are you planning to spend the whole day in silence?”

“…………….”

“You seriously won’t talk anymore?”

Kazemiya, looking grumpy, actually fell silent.

“Kazemiya, please cheer up.”

“…………………………..”

Still silent as ever. Not making eye contact, almost as if saying, “I’m focused on the movie.”

In reality, it was clear that Kazemiya wasn’t that engrossed. She was just sulking. She used to be quite sensitive about being seen as childish or mature.

“Ka-ze-mi-ya.”

“…………………………..”

One option is to wait in silence until the movie ended, but that would likely worsen her mood even more. …I had no choice. It was like tightening the noose around my own neck, but I had no choice.

“Kazemiya.”

“…Mmmm”

I gently placed my hand on Kazemiya’s cheek, pulling them closer. Then, I pressed my lips against hers. Kazemiya’s delicate body trembled for a moment, but then she surrender and accept it all.

The world fell silent, and the volume of the movie playing on the TV seemed unnaturally loud. But what I heard even more clearly was Kazemiya’s soft voice escaping from our touching lips.

“We only have three more times, right?”

“Finally, you spoke.”

“It’s because someone closed my mouth earlier.”

“I apologize for that.”

“…”

“What are you thinking?”

“…If I go silent again, will you do it again?”

“Don’t think such foolish things.”

Kazemiya wasn’t really in a bad mood… She was just seeking affection.

And that made me happy. Above all else, the fact that this girl, who had been scarred, could seek comfort like this.

“…I didn’t really watch the movie at all.”

“Me neither. Should we start from the beginning?”

“Hmm… It’s fine. We’ve already seen it once, and it’s too much trouble to rewind multiple times.”

“How many times do you plan on doing it while watching the movie?”

“I don’t know.”

After a few more minutes, Kazemiya couldn’t resist and asked for a third kiss. Then, a few minutes later, as I was returning from getting juice from the refrigerator, I initiated the fourth kiss. By the time the end credits were rolling, we were fully engrossed in the fifth and final kiss.

“…Five times went by pretty quickly.”

“…It  didn’t even last through a single movie.”

“You’re making a face like, ‘I managed to keep my sanity.'”

“Don’t read people’s minds.”

“Great, great, great.”

“What do you think I’m enduring right now?”

“Isn’t it strange to endure for your girlfriend?”

“Well, that’s true.”

The desire to touch more and the desire to cherish collide and intertwine, entangling my limbs. It was frustrating, but I also felt that it was fine this way.

“…We just started dating today, right?”

“But I’ve liked you for a long time.”

“I feel the same way.”

I just wasn’t aware of it. My heart had long been immersed in Kazemiya.

“………”

“………”

The movie that was playing ended, and the TV remained silent, displaying the screen for “Recommended Movies to Watch Next.” Faint sounds of cicadas seeped in from outside the window, giving the illusion that time had slowed down. I knew that if we continued like this, it would be difficult to put a stop to various things. Yet, my hand naturally overlapped with Kazemiya’s hand, fingers intertwining with each other.

“…Narumi.”

“No.”

“I haven’t said anything yet.”

“I know what you were going to say.”

“…I want to kiss you.”

“That’s why it’s no.”

“Why?”

“You know why, don’t you?”

“…Because you want to take things slowly?”

“…Yeah, that’s right.”

Even so, my hand remained intertwined with Kazemiya’s, our fingers tangled together. I could let go, but I couldn’t. Ah, that was right. I was just a man of empty words.

“…Narumi, don’t you want to?”

“…Of course, I do.”

“Then let’s do it.”

“We shouldn’t because there won’t be any limits.”

In normal circumstances, it would be fine. But in the current situation, it felt like there would be no end to it.

“This kind of chance doesn’t come by often.”

“Even if it doesn’t come often, it’s still not right.”

She sweetly whispered, and I desperately tried to escape, but she wouldn’t let me go.

“Narumi, you’re being mean.”

“…It’s okay to be mean.”

…The truth was, I didn’t even know why I was running away like this.

Was it because it was embarrassing? No. There was some embarrassment and shyness, but that was not the main reason.

Was it because I value Kazemiya? That was closer. But I hadn’t been able to express it well.

My feelings were something more elusive. They were like a shapeless haze.

I felt something deep in my heart, but I still couldn’t put it into words. It was something vague.

The uneasiness I felt toward Kazemiya.

The emotions hiding behind her sweet whispers.

In this state where I hadn’t grasped them fully, I couldn’t let myself be carried away and go any further. My reason and instinct were pleading with me.

“…It’s already noon. Let’s grab something to eat.”

“…Hmm.”

It was a half-hearted suggestion, and it seemed that Kazemiya also sensed the need to draw the line here.

Reluctantly, we let go of each other’s hands.

After having lunch, I spent the rest of the day with Kazemiya as usual.

We watched another movie, played games, and worked on our summer vacation assignments.

The day flew by in no time, and after having dinner and taking turns to take a bath, I felt a sense of relief that I had managed to get through the day.

“Narumi, I’m going to the convenience store.”

“Oh, I’ll come with you.”

“I thought you’d say that.”

Even though the convenience store was close by, I couldn’t let her walk alone at night.

Especially considering Kazemiya’s current attire…

“Are you really going like that?”

“What’s the big deal?”

“It’s my T-shirt you’re wearing, after all.”

“It was just there.”

“You clearly pulled it out from my drawer.”

“Do you not like it?”

“I don’t dislike it, that’s why I’m troubled, you idiot.”

As we walked to the convenience store, enjoying the mild evening breeze, it felt like we reached our destination in an instant, even though it wasn’t a particularly long walk.

“What are you buying, Narumi?”

“Hmm… Ice cream and pencil lead. How about you, Kazemiya?”

“I’m getting ice cream too. And a few other things.”

“I see… Then let’s pick out the ice cream together, and then we can each buy the other things separately.”

“You’ll probably finish first, so wait outside the store for me.”

“Alright.”

After choosing ice cream together in the cool air-conditioned store, we separated to buy our respective items. I replenished the pencil lead, which had significantly decreased during the first semester’s intense studying and assignments. Once I purchased what I needed, I stepped outside the store. It seemed that Kazemiya was still searching for something inside.

“……phew.”

Today had truly been an overwhelming day for me personally. From confessing to Kazemiya in the morning, it tested my patience and self-control. It was not like I was rejecting her. It was just that I sense something from Kazemiya. I was just not sure what it was.

“………………”

The answer felt like it was on the tip of my tongue, yet it remained elusive. As I gazed at the summer night sky with that frustrating feeling of a formless cloud lodged in my chest—

“Good evening, Narumi Kouta-kun.”

It was the voice of Kazemiya’s older sister, who exuded an enigmatic presence and stood there, seemingly materializing from the gaps in the night.

“….Kazemiya Kuon-san.”

Kazemiya’s sister, Kazemiya Kuon, was there, with a smile that charmed many people.

“I didn’t intend to disturb the two of you, I apologize for intruding.”

“It’s fine, but what brings you here? If you’re looking for Kazemiya, she’s currently inside the store…”

“I have a strong desire to meet Kohaku-chan, but that’s not why I’m here.”

Kuon-san shook her head gently and quietly revealing her purpose.

“I came here today to talk to you. To someone who resembles me, someone like you.”