Episode 78 – Christmas Trip-Going Home

I wake up to the sound of birds chirping. My sister was sleeping on the futon I was lying on, and Natsuki was sleeping on the other futon with Riko in her arms as a pillow.
As I gazed blankly at them with my still-awake head, Natsuki mumbled something about [Yuuki kun……so intense……] in her sleep, which woke me up instantly.

Last night was a different kind of atmosphere that burned and turned out to be a moderately enjoyable time. Of course, I was tired in my own way, so my movements were a little awkward.

“There we go.”

I get out of the futon, put my yukata back on, and place the gifts around the heads of the three of them. Since it was Christmas, I had prepared the gifts in advance. Fortunately, I was the first one to get up, so I was able to surprise them.
The only other thing I was concerned about was whether they would be happy with the gifts, but I hoped they would be.

After watching the three sleeping faces for a while, I decided to take a morning bath and headed for the hot spring in secret so as not to wake them up.

☆

Yesterday, I couldn’t take a long soak in the hot spring, so I relaxed and soaked myself in the hot spring. It was still past seven in the morning, and it was so cold that I thought about quitting the bath when I went outside, but it was much warmer when I soaked in the hot spring.

After soaking for a while, I heard a sliding door open in the women’s bath and heard Natsuki’s voice saying, [It’s so cold !], forgetting about the time.

“Natsuki, good morning.”

“I knew you were here. Good morning, Yuuki kun. You’re up early.”

“You too, Natsuki. You seem energetic after all we did yesterday.”

“You don’t have to say that. As I think back on it, it makes me feel embarrassed….”

Judging from Natsuki’s voice, which gradually became more and more fading, I could imagine that over there, Natsuki’s face was red. It would be better not to talk about yesterday.

After a while of comfortable silence, Natsuki suddenly called out to me, and my vague consciousness became clearer.

“Hey, Yuuki kun.”

“What’s wrong?”

“Are you happy, Yuuki kun? How does it feel to be with us? ….Was I able to save you, Yuuki kun?”

“That’s so sudden. Well, I guess so……”

I thought about the sudden question, and this time there was an awkward silence. After a minute or two of thinking about it, I slowly speak to Natsuki.

“I’m happy every day, and I’m able to spend my time without any particular inconvenience or trouble. In other words, I’m happy to be with everyone. This time, I have a lot of people around me whom I can trust.”

“Yeah.”

“So, I was saved by Natsuki. It was great to have someone who didn’t throw me away. There were many surprises at first, but the fact that there were people who didn’t abandon me was enough.
And I think it was thanks to Natsuki that my emotions came back, or rather, that I was able to open up the things that had been closed up inside my heart. It all started with Natsuki.”

“Eh?”

That day when I first learned about Natsuki and my sister’s feelings for me. On the last ferris wheel I rode that day. I think that place was a big turning point for me. I think that I was able to do what I am now because I regained even one of my emotions there.

Without emotions, I would have been no different from an AI robot that only thinks and acts. I’m not “Nanase Yuuki” in such a state. So, even if my emotions had returned by chance, I would have been saved by Natsuki.

“I see. Hee.”

“What’s wrong, all of a sudden?

“No. I’m happy to think that I was able to save Yuuki kun as well. It took me a while, but I’m glad I was able to return the favor.”

“……? I see.”

I couldn’t ask Natsuki about what favors. My brain isn’t working very well, and maybe I just can’t remember. However, I felt a warm feeling somehow spreading through the air.

☆

In the cab on the way home, the three of them were sitting in the back seat looking at the gift I had given them as if they were licking it from various angles.

I chuckle at the ridiculousness of them, and I think back to the rest of the morning.
When Natsuki and I return to the room, I see my sister and Riko in yukata wandering around the room, holding the present I left in their hands without opening it. It was the kind of thing that made me wonder if it was the right one, but I thought I had put in the one that would bring them the most joy.

When he saw that I had returned to the shop, he brought Natsuki’s share and lined up in front of me,

[Can I open it?]

They asked me with a firm “Harmonious” tone. Natsuki, as if remembering, accepted the gift and looked at me, looking straight into my eyes, just like the two of them.
I couldn’t bear the pressure and replied, [Go ahead] and carefully peeled off the wrapping.

[This is……!]

“I thought that feelings were important. It was very childish, but I thought it would make you happy.”

“I’m so happy ! Thank you, Yuuki Nii !”

When Riko said that, she jumped at my waist, followed by my sister and then Natsuki.

I gave each of them three pieces of paper with the words “Tickets to listen to anything you say *really anything” written on them as a gift. Partly because I wasn’t sure what kind of gift they would like, but frankly it was the one that seemed to please them the most.
I wondered if it would be a good gift, but I convinced myself that feelings are more important than what kind of thing it is, so I brought it this time.

As a result, I’m happy to say that they were more pleased than I had imagined. I can only hope that the unexpected request will not come.

I remember feeling relief that they were pleased, but at the same time troubled that I couldn’t move. And I’m amazed that they’ve been looking at that paper all this time.

As the snow gradually disappeared, I felt that this overnight Christmas trip was coming to an end, and I went down the mountain feeling a little sad.