Chapter 62: Waving to each other on a station platform with my childhood friend

Waving to each other on a station platform with my childhood friend

We remained connected, tightening our embrace, occasionally sharing kisses, waiting for the climax to subside.

Suddenly, I looked out the window towards the veranda and noticed the changing angle of the sunlight. The reddish tint in the air hinted that evening was approaching.

—They’re coming.

An intuitive warning echoed in my mind.

It wouldn’t be long before everyone returned.

I slowly exerted force in my arms, raising my upper body to gaze at Aya.

“Shall we take a shower soon?”

She raised an eyebrow in slight surprise.

“Huh… together?”

“Is that alright?”

“Well… um, if everyone comes back… it might be awkward.”

True, it would be quite uncomfortable if we were to step out of the bathroom together and run into her parents.

“Right. Then, should we go separately?”

“Yeah… separately.”

While saying that, neither of us attempted to move away from each other. We didn’t want to part from this warmth and comforting sensation. The conversation was also a way to buy more time, driven by that desire.

Oh well. If I don’t let go, we might end up greeting her family together like this.

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“Aya, you should go first.”

“Yeah… I’ll be quick.”

“Make sure not to fall asleep.”

“I won’t.”

“Okay then, I’ll pull out.”

“Sure.”

Lifting my hips, I withdrew my member from her vagina.

As we both slowly got up, we cleaned ourselves with tissues.

“I’ll be going to take a shower then.”

“Take care.” Thanks for reading on ManaNovel!

Aya left the six-tatami room, still wearing the same yellow knit outfit as before, holding her underwear and shorts.

“It’s getting quite chilly.”

I reached for the discarded clothes. As I was about to put on my boxer shorts, Aya popped her head out from behind the sliding door.

Whether it was because of my awkward posture or because she was about to say something embarrassing, her cheeks flushed crimson upon seeing me.

“Should we, after all, take a shower together?”

“Sure, let’s do that.”

I answered without hesitation.

The two of us headed promptly to the bathroom and turned on the shower faucet. Holding the showerhead, Aya turned back to face me.

“I’ll wash you.”

“Yeah, thanks.”

I answered promptly once again.

As Aya poured warm water over my shoulders and chest, her hands moved in gentle circles. The refreshing feeling of sweat and stickiness being washed away by the warm water, along with the sensation of her tender hands, felt incredibly pleasant.

I couldn’t help but let out a sigh.

…This is problematic.

Being touched by Aya’s hands as she stood naked before me was causing blood to flow to my groin.

Even though I had ejaculated quite recently, I wasn’t fully erect, but it was enough for Aya to widen her eyes in surprise.

“B-boyan… you’re still not satisfied?”

She looked more surprised than exasperated.

“Sorry. Seeing you naked, my body just…”

“…We’re short on time.”

Implicitly, I was told that we couldn’t engage in sexual activity anymore today. That’s only natural, isn’t it?

I just want her to stop making that wistful expression.

“I know. I can endure it easily.”

“Isn’t it tough?”

I wish she’d stop with that concerned look and those raised eyes.

I recalled the mountains I had been gazing at from the veranda earlier, trying to calm myself down.

“It’s fine.”

I smiled with a relaxed expression.

… However, when Aya lathered my pubic hair with soap and washed my member as if she were stroking it with her palm, I thought my legs might give out.

Is she aware of what she’s doing? Seeing the slight hint of urgency in her expression, it seems like it’s not intentional.

“Okay, done! Now I’ll wash myself, so wait a moment… Oh, you can go out now if you want!”

“No, this time I’ll wash you.”

“Huh… um, no…”

Aya hugged herself with the showerhead.

“Why not?”

“If you touch me now, I’ll feel weird.”

“…That’s true.”

After all the touching she had done to me… I was about to say that and then I stopped.

Despite conveying my intense desire for her, my lack of concern regarding the sensuality she exuded and her provocative words was noticeable.

Well, I suppose it’s only like that toward me.

It’s somewhat satisfying, but I wish she could understand what I’m going through, needing to endure when I’m filled with such lust.

And, as Aya mentioned, if she were to feel uncomfortable right now… I undoubtedly wouldn’t be able to hold back.

Lost in these thoughts, Aya, looking downward, muttered softly.

“When we’re back… shall we do it again?”

Her gesture of gently placing her hand on my chest was irresistible.

Feeling the urge to finally make a move, I kissed her forehead and decided to leave the bathroom first.

In the changing room, I took a deep breath.

Despite having embraced her so passionately, I still couldn’t seem to restrain myself. It felt like we were a brand-new couple.

… Well, in terms of days, we are.

Will there ever be a day when we can enjoy a simple shower together without being consumed by lust?

Pondering such things absentmindedly, I put on my wrinkled T-shirt.

Everyone returned just as Aya was finishing drying her hair.

“Boyan, I made you wait. I’ll drive you to the Shinkansen station.”

Aya’s father said this while raising the car keys, which combined with his sophisticated and dignified face made him look like a trendy actor.

“Thank you.”

“Oh, I’ll drive with you too. Wait a moment!”

Aya shouted and rushed up the stairs. It seems she’s going to change her clothes.

“By the way, where’s Haru-kun?”

When I asked, Hiroto-kun answered with a somewhat bored tone.

“It seems like he caught a cold.”

“Is that so?”

Somehow, I had a feeling that Haru-kun would say something to me at the end.

Maybe something like asking me to take care of Aya or something.

I don’t feel any sense of crisis towards him, but there’s a slight feeling of letdown.

“Sorry for the wait!”

Aya came down the stairs with a hurry.

She was wearing a white T-shirt under her yellow knit. Instead of shorts, she had on capri jeans.

Although her bold exposure from earlier had diminished, it was still there.

“You look cute. That kind of outfit suits you really well.”

“Huh?! Uh, thanks…”

Forgetting that her father was right there, we engaged in such a sweet exchange.

Inside the car, we carried on a conversation like childhood friends, perhaps to mask the sweet atmosphere from earlier.

As before, Aya explained the scenery outside and I responded with agreement. Occasionally, we exchanged jokes or teased each other.

“By the way, did you have fun at the pool? Aya, you went to swim practice with Haru, right?”

Aya’s father directed a question to the back seat.

“I enjoyed the waterslide…”, Aya muttered softly, evading something. She’s probably recalling the intense sex we had in the flowing pool and shower rooms.

“Aya has become a good swimmer now.”

“Wow, seriously?”

Aya’s father took on an unusual youthful tone. He must be genuinely surprised.

“Her athletic ability is good, so once she got the hang of it, it was smooth sailing.”

“I see, I see… Boyan, you’re amazing.”

Aya’s father looked at the distance in front of us with a deeply moved expression.

He’s probably recalling the incident when Aya nearly drowned in the river.

Upon hearing about her near-drowning, her father must have been extremely worried. They must have gone to the sea together and he’d been on edge worrying about Aya drowning again.

Through the rearview mirror, I could see that her father’s face had slightly relaxed.

A mix of relief and a tinge of sadness seemed to come across—a complex sentiment.

I guess when I become a father one day, I’ll probably have days when I’ll wear such a face, I somehow thought.

“Alright, Dad will wait in the car.”

“Thank you very much for everything.”

After thanking her father, Aya and I headed towards the ticket gate at the station.

We passed by the bench where she had been sitting when I arrived. It feels like I just reunited with Aya here not too long ago.

The short three-day trip was intense and fleeting.

We walked towards the Shinkansen ticket gate through the vast station. Neither Aya nor I spoke.

When we reached the gate, Aya stopped.

“Well then, Boyan.”

She was making a cheerful smile with all her effort.

In response, I handed her two Shinkansen tickets I had prepared in advance.

“Sorry, can you indulge a little selfishness?”

“Huh…?”

“If you could, I’d like you to see me off on the platform.”

“What’s that about?”

Aya smiled in apparent exasperation, then happily accepted one of the tickets.

We rode the escalator and emerged onto the platform.

There were surprisingly few people on the platform, bathed in the light of the setting sun.

Upbeat music played and announcements echoed.

The Shinkansen was supposed to arrive in about ten minutes.

Glancing at Aya, I noticed she had her palms tucked into the sleeves of her knit. Although she usually rolls them up, now she just peeked her fingertips out.

Through the chilly autumn air, I sensed her emotions.

―And we can meet again at school soon.

―It’s lonely.

―I don’t want you to go.

―To that veranda, together.

―I want to go back.

“Boyan, um…”

――Don’t go anywhere, okay?

Aya raised her face, looking like she was about to cry.

At moments like this, during farewells, she always makes this kind of expression.

She’s exceptionally prone to feeling lonely.

One of her few weaknesses and for me, one of her many charms.

“Aya, I’m…”

――not going anywhere.

I intended to say that, but I stopped.

Her strong emotions flowed into me.

――No.

――That’s not what I want to tell Boyan.

――So rest assured.

――I’m fine, Boyan.

A warm, almost certain feeling comes across.

Yes.

Aya and I are both fine. From now on, forever.

“Yeah, I know.”

I gently smiled and kissed her lips, which were also curved in a smile.

Aya made our parting bright. Now it’s my turn.

“Can I say something?”

“What?”

“I couldn’t give this to you earlier.”

I took out a velvet box from the side pocket of my backpack. I opened it vertically, revealing a silver shining ring inside.

“This…”

“Marriage… well, maybe it’s an engagement ring. We’ll choose the wedding rings together.”

I took out another box from the other side pocket and placed the ring inside on my own ring finger.

Aya’s face changed, not in the same way as before. She seemed like she was about to cry in a different sense. She bit her lower lip, as if she was trying to hold back.

“…Thank you.”

She muttered as if wringing out the words, looking up at me with teary eyes.

She gazed at the ring, then looked back at me and slightly parted her lips.

“Can I put it on?”

In a voice so delicate that it might be carried away by a gentle breeze, Aya asked.

“Sure.”

I’ll save putting it on for the wedding ceremony.

Aya hesitated, then reached for the box timidly and took the ring, holding it as if it were something precious.

A custom-made silver ring bought with the money saved from my part-time job.

The size should fit perfectly… yet I find myself chuckling, slightly anxious.

The ring fits onto her slender ring finger.

Aya seems like she’s on the brink of tears.

“…I’m so happy.”

She murmurs in a fragile voice.

“I’m happy, Boyan.”

This time, she put it into words firmly.

It’s not tears this time, but a broad smile that has spilled over.

“I’m glad.”

Truly.

Farewell moments, I’ll turn them all into happy memories.

Not even a moment of loneliness.

That’s what I’ve decided. From now on and forever, that’s what I’ll do.

Just as the announcement of the arriving bullet train resounds.

A sleek white body glides onto the platform immediately.

“Well, I’m off.”

“…Mm.”

―No.

―I shouldn’t cry at moments like this.

―I want to make our parting a joyful one.

―Crying can come after Boyan leaves.

Entering the narrow entrance of the bullet train, I glance back.

When our eyes meet, Aya smiles cheerfully.

I show her my palm and she raises her hand too.

Her white slender arm, which had been rolled up without me noticing, swings left and right.

I’ll never forget this sight.

Suddenly thinking about that, for some reason, I felt like crying.

No, that won’t do. If I start crying now, it won’t lead to anything good.

I lift the corners of my mouth and smile back.

With my usual composed expression, I convey that she doesn’t need to worry about a thing.

Like childhood friends saying goodbye in front of a house, we waved our hands at each other.

Sitting in my seat on the bullet train, I gaze absentmindedly at the outside scenery.

The sterile buildings quickly change into ordinary mountains and fields. In another three hours or so, my world will return to everyday life.

When Aya isn’t around, my field of vision always seems dull.

Yet now, for some reason, this unremarkable evening scenery seemed strangely radiant.