LIGHTNOVELWORLD Chapter 69 - The Receiving End
“And what is she doing here?” (Kei)
“Oh my? Isn’t that a strange way to welcome your cute older cousin?” (Tenshi)
It was a weekday, and after parting ways with Arisa, I came home only to find my cousin Tenshi drinking tea along with some pastries.
“She came by about half an hour ago, she said she was in the area.” My mother, who was in the kitchen, answered my question as she finished with the dishes.
Tenshi then proceeded to get up and walked up to me, she suddenly grabbed me by my shoulders and in an excited tone talked as she shook me back and forth.
“Anyhow! I heard you got a girlfriend! I’m so proud of you, Kei!” She said, “To think that the boy who used to cling to me because he was afraid of thunder is now a grown man… Tenshi’s sad, y’know?” (Tenshi)
“We’re not talking about my fear of thunder, okay?!” (Kei)
It isn’t my fault that thunder’s horrifying!
“So? How is she? How did you confess? Tell me~ tell me~” (Tenshi)
“Ugh… get off me already…” (Kei)
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Arisa’s POV~
“Hmm… so if I add the price of the maintenance and time… I should get it ready before D-Day! Yay!” (Arisa)
There has been something on my mind for a while now. Ever since Kei and I started dating, I’ve been the happiest I could ever be. However, I realized that Kei has been taking the lead in our dates so far.
It wasn’t anything weird. However, I couldn’t help but feel uneasy. For once, I want to have Kei be at ease. I don’t want him to stress thinking about our date.
That’s why, I want to invite him out on a date. However, the meeting time wouldn’t be in plain daylight. Rather, I want to invite him late at night.
I want to take him stargazing. Back when we visited the planetarium, I couldn’t help but smile as Kei attentively listened to my explanations and all constellations and planets alike.
He genuinely seemed interested in what I enjoyed, and that made me so happy my heart couldn’t help but beat faster. Back then, we we’re in a more-than-friend-less-than-lovers type of relationship.
However, we were dating now, meaning that I had no reason to hold back.
“Stargazing, huh~? Sounds nice.” (Akina)
“?!” Hearing a voice behind me, my whole body jolted up, “Don’t just suddenly creep up behind me!” (Arisa)
“The hell you on about? I kept calling you but no answer.” (Akina)
“Oh, that’s so? Sorry, my bad.” (Arisa)
After bookmarking the website I last visited and sending a certain file to my phone, I closed my computer and placed it on the desk. I grabbed the coffee my mom handed me and carefully placed it on the desk too.
“So, stargazing.” (Akina)
“What? What’s with that look?!” (Arisa)
“No, it’s nothing. It’s just that I remembered how much stargazing meant to you.” (Akina)
“You can blame dad for that.” (Arisa)
Just like Kotone, who had a fondness for pictures, had a certain fondness for the night sky. Places with zero light pollution, places that are dead quiet… such places catch my attention the most.
After my father took us out to stargaze for the first time, I was completely enamored with everything related to astronomy. Now that I think about it, I wanted to go stargazing with someone special to me…
Hahaha… to think it’ll be with my boyfriend… Life’s funny sometimes.
“Well… I guess stars and such are quite important inside our family…” (Akina)
“Huh? What do you mean by that?” (Arisa)
After that one time we went stargazing for the first time, none of us really had the time to go again. If anything, I was the only one that still had something to do with it.
“Ah… you see… stargazing was kinda how my relationship with you father started you see…” My mother said as she scratched her cheek.
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Third Person POV~
“It’s so cold!”
“I told you to bring something warm, didn’t I.” (Akina)
As the brown-haired woman snarked at her younger brother, she turned to the one beside her.
“You good there, Itsuki?” (Akina)
“I’m good with cold environments, so it’s all good.” The black haired-boy said.
“Wait, really?! So that’s why you dress lightly during winter without problems…”
“Nah… he seems more of a masochist than anything…” (Akina)
“Akina’s crude…” (Itsuki)
Itsuki Kamihate, who was in his second year of highschool, came to some sort of camping trip with his best friend Akiya Akasaki and his older sister Akina Akasaki.
“Still, this place looks beautiful…” (Itsuki)
The place itself had a view over a huge lake, which reflected hundreds of glittering stars due to how late at night these three were awake.
“Right~ I was the one who had the idea to come to such a place~” Akina said proudly as she folded her arms.
“Heh~ Akina’s amazing~” Itsuki said as he oversaw the whole lake. Their parents were already making their preparations to head to bed.
They had three tents, one for their parents, one for Akina and one for Akiya & Itsuki.
“Alrighty! I’ve brought the snacks, sis! Shall we begin?” Akiya said excitedly. He placed all the savory snacks along with bottles of soda on a foldable table and brought up the chairs.
“It’s on!” (Akina)
For the next three hours, the three of them played cards as they chit-chatted and told stories to one another. The three were really close, for Akiya & Akina’s parents, it was a heartwarming scene to see the three of them being so lively and laughing without a care for what tomorrow brought.
Eventually, Akiya was the first to fall.asleep.
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“And then you know what happened? The idiot actually managed to eat a whole cake… To be fair, I was scared to death! I did whatever was possible to prevent him from eating any sweets for about two months after that…” (Itsuki)
“That brother of mine… It’s a miracle he’s still alive. Thanks for keeping him in check, Itsuki.” (Akina)
“Your wish is my command, Ms. Akina!” Itsuki playfully saluted Akina.
As she leaned against her seat, she let out a big sigh,
“Hah~ I feel much calmer now… God, I needed this…” (Akina)
“You seem stressed… everything okay?” (Itsuki)
As Itsuki poured some coffee for Akina, he asked her in a gentle tone. Itsuki had been hanging out with Akina a lot, whenever he was waiting for Akiya, he would always strike up a conversation with her. They really got along well.
“College’s just been rough on me lately… I somehow feel overwhelmed sometimes… Haha… what am I doing, venting out on you right now. You came to relax, not to hear my little sob story.” (Akina)
“…I can’t relax alone, you know? If you’re sad, I’m sad. So, until you feel better. What about relying on this healthy high school boy here~?” (Itsuki)
Akina was in her first year of college, while Itsuki in his second year of high school, the two were two years or so apart in age, however, the two really understood each other.
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Arisa’s POV~
“It took me a while to realize I was in love with him. When I realized I didn’t really know what to do… But eventually I managed and… well… solely by your presence I doubt I have to continue with the rest…” (Akina)
As my mother took a sip of her coffee, she continued going on about her love life. If anything, this was a side I rarely saw in her…
“To be fair… I was worried… I mean, I was always on the receiving end so I wanted a way to express my gratitude to him. I thought of a letter but eventually decided against it and hid it someplace far away…” (Akina)
As she continued, I suddenly saw a certain someone going behind her. I couldn’t help but grin ear to ear as he slowly made his approach.
“To think my wife was so shy~ Oh god, you’re as cute as you were back then! You never change~” My father said as he hugged my mom from behind.
“?! I-I-Itsuki?! How long have you been there for?!” (Akina)
“Hm~ Long enough~ Hey, hey. What about the letter? Can I go on a scavenger hunt?” (Itsuki)
“H-hey, get away… Itsuki—! Uuuu~” (Akina)
Huh… this is new… I thought as I saw my parents flirting right in front of me. I used to be uncomfortable with this view… however I somehow got used to it. Maybe it was because I could see myself in their place now?
I went up to my room, leaving the two of them alone. Once I closed the door behind me, I opened my computer and finished the remaining details.
I hope this could be enough… I could feel my face getting hotter, something that was no longer new. A feeling I knew all too well…
I don’t want to be on the receiving end. Just like how Kei goes out of his way and thinks about me, I also want to give him an experience we could both look fondly of.