The sound of cicadas in the early evening had passed its peak before I knew it, and as if to take its place, the cries of Autumn insects could be heard coming from here and there among the plants.
The heat still hadn’t gone away, but the season was certainly about to change.
“Finally those cicadas have quieted down a bit, huh.”
“You’re right,” said Tendou Tsukasa, walking next to me and squeezing on our intertwined fingers. “From the way you talk, you don’t like cicadas, Iori-kun?”
“Yeah, ‘cause they’re a bit too much doing whatever they please.”
“I think it’s a great mistake to think that you’re allowed to do anything if you’re gonna die soon anyway.”
“Like I said your words. They’re that kind of creature, right? They’re just doing their best for courting.”
“Like, if a virgin’s continuously screaming ‘someone please go out with me. I will die immediately if not, okay!?’ isn’t that too annoying?”
“Why did you go out of your way to personify it? Geez.” Now with an amazed face, Tendou swung our still connected hands in a big swing.
Even an ordinary scene, like a walk home from the supermarket, would instantly become a captivating portrait the moment Tendou Tsukasa was placed in the center of it.
As I was stealthily burning every single moment of it into my memory, her smile changed its nature to something a little mean.
“As for me, it wouldn’t bother me if you put your love into words for me as passionately as the cicadas do, though.”
“It appears that my eyes just speak louder than my mouth, so I think that should be plenty.”
Even though we’re in a relationship where we have already laid bare many things to each other, it doesn’t mean the bashfulness has completely disappeared.
Can’t say anything about unconsciously putting it into words, but my blood sugar level hasn’t risen high enough to be able to spit out sweet words regularly.
Tendou didn’t even seem to be displeased with such useless struggle—if anything, her expression was increasingly making more of an impression of a predator, and she entwined her arm and pressed her soft body closer.
“Hey, a caught fish also needs to be fed, you know? If you don’t properly take care after it, then—”
“It might jump out of the tank on its own.”
“You called that a fish, but it’s not something cute like a goldfish, but something like an arowana, don’t you think?”
Or it could be a lungfish. Anyway, unmistakably the type that would not merely die after jumping out of water the tank, but one that would go on a rampage and leave a trail of carnage in its wake.
Seems like it could just bounce itself back into the water if it prefers. It’s strong.
“But you know, Tsukasa-san, I don’t think I’ve ever neglected you enough to warrant being told I’m not feeding you in the first place, though.” Just as I finished saying this, the streetlight suddenly came on.
Tendou’s excessively good face, which was just entering the shadows of dusk, got clearly illuminated.
Her expression was a smile; one I’ve gotten used to seeing, and when she’s thinking about something not so good.
Well, no matter what it is, her charm is not one bit cluded, though.
“You are always following me with your eyes after all, Iori-kun.”
She said it proudly, but I had no choice but to nod because that is in fact true.
From around early summer to the rainy season, and then summer adorned with ups and downs—every sight of Tendou in these several months has been vividly etched in my memory.
The many places I’ve gone out with Tendou, the time we’ve spent together, and even the several days period when she wasn’t present where the lights seemed to have gone out from the world; I think I will never forget it my whole life, the season I’ve spent with the first girl I’ve ever loved.
Along with all of the expressions she has shown.
“—Iori-kun, were you listening to me?”
“Sorry, I was being absent minded.”
“Geez, that’s a bad habit of yours.”
And that will surely be the same for the seasons to come.
I have such a feeling that is stronger than a hunch, something close to a conviction.
Tendou stopped her swinging hand, intertwined her arm, and leaned her supple body against me.
“Tsukasa-san? It’s kinda hard to walk, though.”
“You see, guys would normally be happy with this, you know?”
“Ah, I feel like I haven’t heard that in a long time…”
And even in that season, I’m sure that Tendou Tsukasa will be by my side.