My extroverted girlfriend has zero sense of boundaries — Is It really wrong to take her home right after we meet? - Episode 17

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After a little over an hour on the train,

the moment they stepped off the platform, the scent of seawater hit them. The tangled mess of emotions in his head instantly cooled down and calmed. For now, he called home to let them know he wouldn’t be back tonight, then searched on his phone for a place to stay.

“I don’t have much money, so somewhere we can just stay the night without meals would be good…”

“Huh? You’re seriously not going back?”

Muttering while staring at his screen, Kyousuke was met with Ayano’s wide eyes and shocked expression.

“If Sasagawa-san’s going back, then I’ll go back too. But if you’re not, then I won’t. Unless you’d rather I go home alone?”

Looking up at her as he spoke, she pressed her lips tightly together, her cheeks flushing before she slowly lowered her head. She squeezed his hand tightly and gave a small shake of her head.

Turning back to his phone, he resumed his search for lodging.

Depending on the school, summer vacation might have already started. Given the time of year, everywhere was fully booked, and the few places with vacancies were expensive. There was no way he could pay thirty or forty thousand yen.

In the end, while stopping by an old clothing shop to buy spare underwear and a T-shirt, they were introduced to a business inn by the shop owner.

He worried a little about whether high school students were even allowed to stay on their own, but the elderly woman running the inn mistook Ayano for his older sister, saying,『So it’s just the two siblings, right? How nice』and thus, they narrowly avoided trouble.

It was an eight-tatami Japanese-style room.

Aside from a CRT television, a small refrigerator, and a chair and table by the window, there was nothing else.

Outside the window stretched the sea, and since the sun was already beginning to sink, the beach was nearly deserted.

“Sorry, I couldn’t get two rooms.”

“Don’t worry about it.”

“I’ll sleep apart from you tonight.”

He was nervous and unsettled, but showing it in this atmosphere felt inappropriate. He took a deep breath, trying his best to remain calm.

“Wanna go look at the sea?”

He set down his bag and opened the window.

“…Yeah.”

The room, once filled with the scent of old tatami, was now carried through by the fragrance of summer.

How long had they been sitting on the sand?

The sea, dyed in twilight, rustled softly with the sound of waves. Streetlights flickered on, and the glow from nearby buildings spilled out across the beach.

Then, suddenly, her hand rested atop his on the ground.

When he looked up, he saw a fleeting smile blooming on her face.

“This is my first time seeing the sea at this hour. It’s nice—so quiet.”

“Really? It kind of scares me. I’ve only ever been to noisy beaches crowded with swimmers.”

“I’m fine. It doesn’t scare me at all.”

“Yeah? That so?”

“Because I’m with Fujimura.”

“…Yeah.”

They exchanged casual words and gentle smiles, just like always.

After a brief silence, Ayano slowly turned her face toward the waves, tightening her grip around Kyousuke’s hand. The warmth of her palm against the back of his hand was almost scorching.

“My mom… you know…”

As she murmured, a cool breeze tangled through the hair at the side of her face.

“My mom’s not around anymore. A long time ago… she disappeared on my birthday.”

He hadn’t known, but he had suspected as much.

The incident with the earrings had been a clear sign. Whenever it came to her mother, Ayano always showed a pained, lonely expression.

Yet hearing it said outright like this struck deeply. To Kyousuke, having a mother waiting at home was something natural—something he’d always taken for granted. He couldn’t imagine what it must feel like not to have that.

“The day before my birthday, I begged her to buy me those earrings. But she got mad and said they were too grown-up for me. So I said a lot of awful things to her… and when I woke up the next morning, she was gone.”

She gave a small, pained laugh—trying to mask her sadness.

“…That can’t be the reason, right?”

“Papa said the same thing. But I still don’t really know the truth. Still, on my birthday in my third year of middle school, I got a letter from Mama. Along with those earrings.”

Ayano continued,『She said she’d always been looking at the magazines I was in』but her voice lacked energy.

“I was really happy when the letter came, but Papa said it was just some cruel prank. We had this huge fight…”

“So that’s why you ended up living alone?”

She nodded, then briefly lowered her eyes before returning her gaze to the waves.

“That call the other day was from Papa. He said he’s getting remarried soon, and he wants me to meet my new mom if possible.”

“What?”

“…And he said Mama’s family is going to file for something called a ‘declaration of disappearance.’”

“Disappearance… what’s that?”

“It’s when someone who’s gone missing is legally declared dead. Mama’s family is rich, you know. The fewer people there are, the bigger each person’s share of the inheritance.”

She said it with a tone of resignation, then let out a faint, dry laugh through her nose.

Now Kyousuke understood why she had been so shaken when she received that call.

Being told out of the blue that a new mother was coming into her life, while being told at the same time that her real mother was about to be declared dead—how could anyone not be confused?

Above all, Ayano still loved her mother, even after she had disappeared. There was no way she could accept either of those things. Of course she would shout, shut herself away, or even become reckless.

“It’s just… I feel so stupid, you know? I thought Papa still loved Mama deep down, and that her family was still looking for her. But everyone’s just decided that they don’t need Mama anymore.”

Kyousuke had no way of knowing what anyone’s true feelings were.

Maybe Ayano’s father had thought long and hard and finally decided that remarriage was the best choice. Maybe her mother’s family believed that too—that this was the only way forward.

He could imagine that much, but even so, it made him furious.

Why did they have to tell her everything only after the fact?

Anyone could see that those were life-changing matters for her.

Sure, Ayano would probably oppose them, and things might get messy—but that would still be better than not even trying to talk it through.

“…But what hurt the most” she said softly, “was that my new mom turned out to be a good person.”

“You talked to her?”

“Over the phone, just a little. She was really worried about me and spoke so gently. She said,『Once things settle down, let’s meet in person』. She was so kind… just like a real mom…”

The emotions she had been holding back finally burst, and large tears fell onto the sand, disappearing as they sank in.

“I thought, why isn’t she a horrible person? I wanted her to make me hate her! But she’s been kinder to me than Papa or Mama’s family ever were. How can I blame her for that?! The fact that I’m even thinking like this makes me the worst person ever!!”

Her breathing grew uneven, and streams of hot tears ran down her cheeks again and again.

“…So I started thinking about all kinds of things. That maybe Mama really does hate me because I’m like this. That maybe that letter was actually just a cruel prank after all.”

She forced a laugh as she said it.

“I was scared of being alone, scared of being hated by anyone, so I used money or whatever I could to cover it up… But then I thought, maybe if I disappeared, Papa and everyone else would actually be happier without me.”

Her lips twisted into a pained line, her expression a mixture of resignation and desperation.

That hollow yet heartbreakingly beautiful face pierced Kyousuke’s chest like a blade.

“That’s not true.”

He stood up as he said it, his tone strong and filled with conviction.

Everything Ayano had said up to now had been about her family—things inside her home that Kyousuke had no right to interfere with, and maybe things she didn’t even want him to.

But this—what she had just said—was different.

He was certain it wasn’t something he could just ignore or quietly listen to.

“I’d be in trouble if Sasagawa-san disappeared.”

“…But I—”

“From everything I’ve heard, what exactly did Sasagawa-san do wrong? Anyone in your position would resent a new mother showing up. But the fact that you can still think she’s a good person means you’re not a bad one.”

Considering her situation, it would’ve been natural for Ayano to point at the new mother and call her the villain. And yet, she had chosen another path—something not everyone could do.

“…I like you, Sasagawa-san.” Ayano lifted her face slightly.

It might not help her at all, but Kyousuke still placed his hand gently on her head, running his fingers softly through her hair.

“So don’t talk badly about my friend. I’ll get mad, too.”

Those were the same words she had once said to him.

He stroked her hair again, from the crown of her head down to her ears. In the depths of her eyes, once dark like the sea, a spark of sunset light flickered to life. She blinked once, then pressed her lips closed.

“…Sorry.”

Her cheeks glowed red in the dim light, and with a heavy tone, she murmured while lowering her face.

“I told you, don’t apologize.”

He replied the same way again, lifting the corner of his lips into a small smile.

Perhaps because she was exhausted, Ayano fell asleep before ten o’clock.

Kyousuke, however, unfamiliar with the pillow, couldn’t sleep. For nearly two hours he lay wide awake, staring at the ceiling. The gentle sound of waves coloring the quiet night was soothing—but at the same time, it felt as if it could swallow everything whole, and that frightened him.

‘I really am staying the night here, huh…’

Now calm again, Kyousuke let out a small laugh at how ridiculous everything felt.

His mother hadn’t stopped calling in anger, and if he didn’t leave at dawn, he wouldn’t make it to school in time. Ayano probably wouldn’t go to school tomorrow anyway.

He never imagined his summer vacation would begin like this.

Climbing out of the futon to get a drink, he finished the rest of the sports drink he’d left in the refrigerator.

When he looked over at Ayano, she was sleeping peacefully, wearing an expression of bliss as if everything from a few hours ago had been a lie. She was still beautiful, and with a faint sense of guilt, he stepped closer and leaned over her. When his hand brushed her cheek and stroked her hair, she smiled softly in her sleep, as if tickled.

‘…Was that really the right thing to do?’

As he replayed the scene on the beach in his mind, Kyousuke combed gently through Ayano’s hair.

All he’d been able to do, even after following her this far, was tell her not to belittle herself.

He couldn’t interfere with someone else’s family matters, and even if he could, it would only make things more complicated. In the end, the only one who could solve the problem was Ayano herself.

He clenched his teeth in frustration, narrowing his eyes.

What could he possibly do?

Something big was impossible. So maybe something small—something only he could do, something that might make her happy, even a little.

One idea came to mind. It wouldn’t solve anything, but it might make her smile.

“…Ayano.”

When they’d watched that horror movie, she had told him she wanted him to call her by her first name someday.

Aside from family, this would be only the second time he’d ever called a girl by her given name.

He called everyone by their last name because he was afraid of getting too close.

If he built a wall between himself and others, he wouldn’t mistake the distance. And if the relationship ever broke apart, he could tell himself they were never that close to begin with.

Just the thought of saying her name made his face warm.

If he suddenly started calling her by her first name in the morning, it would feel awkward. Maybe he should do it gradually… or ask for permission first.

“Say it again.”

The sudden voice made him jerk back with a startled “Whoa,” as Ayano’s eyes popped open.

“Y-you’re awake?”

“I heard the fridge open. I’m a light sleeper.”

She sat up cross-legged on the futon, her drowsy eyes locking onto him.

“Anyway, say it again.”

“S-say what again…?”

“I didn’t hear it clearly the first time.”

“…Ayano.”

He said it aloud, enduring the heat rising from deep within his chest.

If he acted embarrassed, she might think he didn’t want to call her that. But that wasn’t it—he’d just been scared. Scared of crossing the line, and scared of letting someone cross it.

“Ayano.”

He said it again, louder this time.

Even in the dim room lit only by moonlight, he could clearly see the blush on her cheeks and her faint smile. The warmth of that sight made him feel both flustered and content, and he quickly averted his gaze.

“Why so suddenly?”

“I just thought… if there’s something I can do, I should do it. You said you wanted me to call you that, remember?”

Ayano’s lips moved softly, as if savoring the sound, then she nodded deeply, eyes shining.

“So, if something ever troubles you, tell me. If there’s anything I can do, I’ll do it.”

“Even if it’s cross-dressing again?”

“I’m being serious right now.”

“Kidding, kidding. I was joking.”

“Good grief…”

He sighed, scratching the back of his head—but he was relieved to hear her teasing again.

“Then… there’s one thing I want to ask.”

Lowering her eyes slightly, she spoke in a calm, serious voice.

“I… still can’t give up. Someday, I want to look for my mom. I want to find her, talk to her… I know I can’t make her come back, but at least I want to know she’s still out there.”

“…That’s fine, but how are you going to look for her?”

“In the letter she sent me, there was an address written on it. Papa threw it away, so I don’t remember the exact place, but I still remember the town name, at least…”

She trailed off, fidgeting a little as she spoke.

Despite how mature she looked, Ayano was, in truth, younger on the inside than her age suggested. Curious, but timid. Cheerful, yet lonely.

For a girl like that, being told to go search for her missing mother all alone was far too cruel. Maybe her mother had forgotten her. Maybe she really did hate her. Or maybe she simply couldn’t be found. And through that journey filled with endless fears, there wasn’t a single relative by her side to help her.

“If you’re okay with me, I’ll go with you. You couldn’t even make it to the cat café on your own, remember? And if you panic and lose sight of everything again like you did with the earrings, that’d be a problem too.”

He hadn’t meant to sound so blunt. If he could, he would’ve rephrased it more gently—but before he could even regret it, she had already wrapped her arms around him.

Soft. Warm.

His smaller frame couldn’t possibly embrace her fully, yet he still tried—extending his arms and holding her close around the back.

“…Thank you.”

Among all the apologies she’d said that day, those words were the first of true gratitude.

Her voice trembled. Something warm soaked into his T-shirt. Between faint sobs, she spoke again, desperate to get the words out.

“Thank you, Kyousuke.”

It was the middle of summer, too hot for anyone to be holding each other.

Yet neither of them cared about the sweat clinging to their skin—they simply held on, confirming through touch that the other was really there.