On Christmas Eve, Umi and I officially became a couple.
I was sure that our feelings were mutual, given everything that had happened between us, but when I finally put my emotions into words and told her "I love you," a small, anxious part of me still wondered, what if she turns me down?
So when Umi accepted my confession, her eyes welling up with tears as she smiled happily, the first thing I felt wasn't joy, it was relief. The happiness followed a moment later, of course, but my honest first thought was, Thank goodness. I get to stay by her side.
"Ahh, I'm stuffed~ I don't think I have room for anything else."
"You and me both… I gave it my all, but I still couldn't finish everything."
"Well, that sounds like a tomorrow problem."
"You got that right."
After downing the last of our cola, we both flopped back against the sofa.
In addition to our usual junk food favorites—cola, pizza, and fries—we'd stuffed ourselves with all the party leftovers, from chicken legs to hors d'oeuvres. And right beside me, snuggled close, was my girlfriend, sharing this perfect moment.
Not just a friend anymore. My girlfriend. The most important person in the world to me.
"…Umi."
"…Maki."
Drawn together by some unspoken agreement, we gently pulled each other into an embrace.
Normally, we'd spend the time until Umi had to go home playing games or lazing around with movies and manga, but for some reason, that wasn't what I wanted right now. A big part of it was exhaustion, sure. The party had been surprisingly hard work, and dealing with our parents had been an emotional rollercoaster. But the real reason was much simpler: I just wanted to cuddle with the girl in my arms.
"Hehe. Your tummy's still as squishy as ever, Maki."
"I could say the same to you… except you've got nothing to pinch, so I've got no comeback."
"That's because I've been secretly working out… or so I'd like to say, but I've actually gained a little weight. Here, feel my upper arm."
Umi rolled up her sleeve, holding out a beautiful, fair arm.
"…Are you sure?"
"I don't mind. It's a little ticklish, but for you, Maki, it's okay."
"Is that… um… because I'm your boyfriend?"
"Mhm… That's right."
"Okay then… excuse me."
When I lightly pinched Umi's offered arm, I could feel a definite squishiness… or at least, I think I could. Her skin was incredibly smooth, and while her arm was slender, it felt surprisingly toned. I couldn't find a single thing wrong with it.
"…Honestly, I can't really tell."
"Jeez, Maki, you're hopeless. Gaining weight is a big thing for a girl. And for the record, saying 'I like it better this way, it's squishier' isn't the right answer either. This will be on the test, you know."
"What test…? And no, you can't say 'me university' or something lame like that."
"Aww…"
Knew it. It didn't seem like I'd be passing that test anytime soon, so I made a mental note to study up. It would probably take a while before I could give Umi the answer she was looking for.
We spent the rest of our Christmas Eve making small talk and sharing more physical affection than usual. It was a fun, incredibly happy time.
"Hey, Maki."
"Yeah?"
"…It's almost time for me to head out."
"…Yeah."
It was nearing midnight. When we'd finished our late dinner, the night had still felt young, but now, our long Christmas Eve was quickly coming to a close.
"…Nghh~" Umi murmured, burying her face in my chest and acting spoiled.
I don't wanna go home. I want to stay with her, just a little longer.
The curfew Sora-san had set for her was fast approaching, but we remained tangled together as if bound by invisible chains. Full, warm, and with the person I love right beside me. The combination of exhaustion, fullness, and pure happiness made me want to fall asleep together without a care in the world. I was sure we'd wake up to a perfect morning. I'd open my eyes to Umi's peaceful, smiling face and warmth, and wrapped in each other's scents, we'd sleep in until the afternoon. After all, winter break had just started.
How nice would that be?
"…Umi, you should probably get going."
"Nghh… I know."
But since we'd already messed up once by having her stay out all night, we couldn't let it happen again. Today might be a special occasion, but that was all the more reason to keep our promise and regain Sora-san and my mom's trust.
"Maki, hold me."
"You're suddenly acting like a baby, huh…? Not that I mind."
"Ehehe. Thanks."
I helped Umi to her feet while still holding her, and we got ready to leave. The table was a mess, but the leftovers were already in the fridge, so cleanup could wait until tomorrow. We were on winter break, after all. A little laziness was allowed.
We left the apartment hand in hand and took the elevator down to the first-floor entrance. The midnight air was chilly, but for some reason, I didn't feel the cold.
"Maki, you can just see me off here for today."
"You sure? I know there's no one around at this hour, but… I'm still worried."
"I'll be fine. I'll bolt away the moment I see anyone weird, and I'll be careful not to get into any accidents. The thought is enough, really."
"If you say so…"
It's true that even if I were with her, Umi is by far the faster runner, so in that sense, maybe it was fine if I wasn't there.
"…Hehe. Come on, don't look so obviously lonely. It's not that I don't want to walk home with you or that it's a bother. I just want to walk home alone for a bit. Just for today, as a special exception."
"Just for today…? Are you taking a detour somewhere?"
"No, that's not it… I just want to savor the happiness on the walk home alone… you know, the fact that I'm now in a relationship with the person I love."
"…I see."
In that case, I felt the exact same way.
Right now, standing in front of Umi—the girl I love—I was trying to act cool and maintain my composure, but on the inside, I was bursting with so much happiness I felt like I could jump for joy. She's always fun to be with, I miss her when she's not around, she gently accepts me even when I show my uncool side, and on top of all that, she's an incredibly cute and responsible girl who can sometimes be unbelievably clingy when she's with me.
I was so incredibly happy that Umi and I felt the same way, and that we were a couple now. We both just needed a little time alone—to fidget in bed, unable to contain our emotions, or to jump up and down on the spot for no reason.
"Got it. Then, I'll just see you off here for today. But be careful on your way home, okay?"
"Okay. You too, Maki, make sure you take a bath and sleep warm, 'kay? It's supposed to get especially cold later."
"Roger that. Well then… see you tomorrow."
"Yeah. And the day after, and the day after that, too, of course."
"…Right."
That's right. As she just said, winter break starts tomorrow, so if we wanted to, we could see each other every single day for a while. I no longer had to make up excuses to see Umi, like pretending it was the weekend or I had some small errand.
Because I want to see her, because I want to hear her voice, because I'm lonely—even without a major reason, it was perfectly fine for me to talk with her whenever I wanted.
Because Umi and I are a couple now.
Finally, to get our fill of each other to last until tomorrow, we held each other in a long, tight hug for several minutes before heading back to our own homes.
"…Hehe."
The moment I was alone, a soft laugh escaped my lips. Umi is now my girlfriend. The reality of it made it impossible to stop the grin from spreading across my face. I was so happy and a little embarrassed that my head felt fuzzy.
"Umi told me to, so I guess I'll just take a bath and rest up."
She said we'd see each other tomorrow, so I had to be ready for whenever she might come over.
I spent the late hours of the 24th (or rather, the 25th, since the date had already changed) alone, soaking in the bathtub and relishing the day's events, hoping that tomorrow would bring another fun day with Umi.
…And so, the night passed, and Christmas Day, the 25th, arrived.
It was the first day of winter break, free from the hassle of commuting to school. Right after waking up, I thought to myself, Alright, time to start lazing around from today—
"—Huh…?"
The moment I opened my eyes, I knew something was wrong.
The first thing I felt was an incredible chill accompanied by an ache in my joints. Last night, right after getting out of the bath, I had done as Umi told me and gotten straight into bed, snuggling up warmly under the blanket and futon that Umi sometimes uses. Or so I thought.
"My… body feels so heavy."
I tried to head to the kitchen for some water, but just getting out of bed and walking a few steps was incredibly difficult. I already had a bad feeling, but for now, I drank some water to catch my breath, then dragged my body back to grab a thermometer. I didn't have a headache, sore throat, or a cough, but it was almost certainly a cold.
After about ten seconds, the thermometer beeped. With my vision still blurry, I squinted to see the number on the digital display.
[39.6]
"…Whoa."
Apparently, the reason my head felt fuzzy in the bath yesterday wasn't just out of happiness, but a warning from my body telling me, You're getting sick. Hurry up, take some medicine, and go to sleep.