Volume 4 - Me, Her, and our Changing World
Chapter 3
Chinatsu's relatives were genuinely good people. Despite being suddenly introduced as their girl relative’s boyfriend, they treated me kindly, which I greatly appreciated.
I mean, having only ever been close to my uncle, who didn’t have any permanent residence, I rarely experienced typical family gatherings. So, seeing relatives come together at a picturesque, rural grandparents' house was a new experience for me.
The oyaki that Chinatsu's aunt served surprised me; I expected sweet red bean paste, but instead, it was filled with nozawana. Once I got over the initial surprise, I found it quite tasty. Chinatsu’s grandmother had also recovered to an extent, so our conversations were quite pleasant and enjoyable.
As the evening approached, Chinatsu and I decided to visit her grandmother's room before leaving.
“Thank you, Hajime. Because of you, I was able to do all these things.”
"That's not true. All I did was take you here and everything was because of your own efforts, Chinatsu.”
Chinatsu looked at me and smiled brightly, insisting, "Still, it's all thanks to you, Hajime." Her smile was dazzling.
Yep, my girlfriend is cute today, too.
After some hesitation, we called out from outside the room. Unlike a door, you can’t just knock on a sliding door, so we had to be careful. Soon, a surprisingly strong voice responded, inviting us in. We opened the sliding door and entered.
"Nice to meet you, I am Satou Hajime. Pardon us for intruding in such a late hour.”
“Grandma, this is Hajime, my boyfriend. Ehehe. Being able to finally introduce him to you makes me happy.”
I sat down properly on the cushion next to her futon and greeted her grandmother. After Chinatsu introduced me, her grandmother looked at us both, smiled warmly, and began to speak.
"My, thank you for greeting me so politely. Fufu. So, you're Hajime-kun, right? You look like you really get along well with Chinatsu-chan, I’m thankful."
"No, no. It's thanks to Chinatsu-san that I can spend my days in such a fun way… If possible, I’d like it if it's the same for her too, is what I think.”
"Of course it is!"
"...My, my, that's wonderful. Chinatsu-chan, I'm glad for you. I feel like I'm gaining strength just from seeing you two.”
Her grandmother said, reaching out her hand, which Chinatsu held with both of hers. I was relieved to see her looking healthier than I had expected.
"Grandma, I'm so glad. I almost want to cry because I'm so happy to be able to talk to you like this.’
"Fufu. Thank you. I've already told Suzuka-san, but I'm grateful that you were born, Chinatsu-chan, and that your mother became my daughter-in-law. It's a blessing, not a misfortune… So, as long as I'm healthy, come and see me anytime. I won't let anyone complain. Of course, you too, Hajime-kun."
"...Thank you very much, it's an honor.”
We enjoyed a pleasant chat for a while, but since it was important not to overexert her, we soon excused ourselves. She asked us to visit again, and we left the room.
Back in the room where we had been staying, we began packing our things. After closing the sliding door quietly, Chinatsu suddenly hugged me tightly. She drew closer and kissed me, a bit deeper than a peck, clearly wanting to do something even more. After a moment, she reluctantly pulled away, letting out a sweet sigh.
“I already told you this earlier, but… thank you, Hajime.”
Chinatsu said, her voice filled with emotion. Her words made my heart race.
These past few days, Chinatsu had been driving my heart crazy. Trying to steady my breath, I responded, "I understand why you love your grandmother so much. She seems to have aged beautifully. I'm really glad she's feeling better."
Chinatsu nodded and looked at me.
"Yeah, the doctor said her willpower had been a very big factor... And you know, if it weren't for you… if I had been alone… I might not have come here and would have regretted it forever.”
"....."
Listening to her, I remained silent.
"Of course, I don't want this to be grandma’s last. I want her to live a long long life, but I also know that we will eventually say goodbye. That's why, until then, I want to make sure to clear any potential regrets one by one before it's too late."
"Yeah."
"I'm so glad I met you, Hajime. I'm glad you're my boyfriend. I'm so happy you're here with me now... I love you probably a thousand times more than you think."
"....."
Overwhelmed by her straightforward affection, I found myself at a loss for words.
"I love it when you get embarrassed too.”
"...Do you want me to die of embarrassment, Chinatsu?"
I muttered, unable to bear it any longer.
You have to live a long life, or I'll be in trouble, Chinatsu replied.
"...If you leave me, Hajime, I won't be able to go on."
And then, she whispered those words with tearful eyes, making me wonder why it had to be here and now. With that thought lingering in the back of my mind, I collapsed headfirst onto the futon I had just folded.
What should I do? My girlfriend is too cute for me to handle.
