Lonely Me And The Lonely Caring Goddess - Chapter 198: Birthstone.

Birthstone.

Like a sprint at the start of a race, our conversation time kicked off with Nishikawa-san’s scream echoing through the room. While sharing updates on each other’s lives, the topic naturally shifted to my part-time job.

Among everyone here, the one who helped me the most was Toudou-san, so it made sense that she knew the most about my job as well.

Toudou: “To be honest, I really wanted you to quit that job. You were always so tired and looked half-asleep, and even when you injured your right hand, you still wouldn’t stop working.”

She didn’t sound angry, but hearing her speak with a hint of complaint was rare. I could tell she’d been genuinely worried about me, but her tone still made me feel a bit guilty, as if I was being scolded.

Natsumi: “Come on, Toudou-san, that’s just a guy’s stubborn pride, you know.”

Nishikawa: “Indeed. Even if he pushes himself too hard, wanting to make someone happy is just part of being a man. I believe it’s a woman’s role to accept that feeling and heal him afterwards.”

Thanks to Natsumi-senpai and Nishikawa-san’s intervention, it seemed like the conversation was settling down smoothly.

Natsumi: “Huh?! Eririn, you actually get that?”

Nishikawa: “What exactly do you mean by that?”

Oh no. Natsumi-senpai’s unnecessary comment made Nishikawa-san snap back, and now the conversation seemed to be taking an unexpected turn.

Incidentally, I was in the middle of getting my right hand treated at that very moment. I’d told Sara-san that she could take care of it after the party, but—

Sara: “Knowing you were hurt and that I couldn’t do anything for you… it was just too painful for me…”

Hearing her say that with tears in her eyes, there was no way I could refuse.

Before starting the treatment, she examined my hand carefully, her face pained as her fingers gently brushed over the calluses that had already burst… it tickled a bit.

Sara: “You hurt yourself this badly… just for me… I will take care of this hand every single day until it’s fully healed, okay?”

Honestly, I felt like it would heal on its own if I left it alone, but if this made Sara feel better, then I was happy to let her do as she wished.

Chu…

!?

Without warning, Sara-san brought her face close and pressed her lips softly against my palm. The unexpected sensation made me shiver slightly.

Nishikawa: “S-Sara!? What exactly are you doing?”

Sara: “Eh? Oh… I just… when I think about how he hurt himself for my sake, I couldn’t help but feel so much love for him…”

It seemed she didn’t even realise what she was doing until Nishikawa-san pointed it out. Seeing her like that made all my hard work feel worth it.

Natsumi: “See, Toudou-san? These two are always flirting like this, so you really don’t need to worry.”

Toudou: “Ahaha… well, I’m just glad everything turned out okay. By the way, Satsukawa-senpai… ah! That pendant you’re wearing, is that from Takanashi-kun? Can I see it?”

While watching Sara cradle my hand protectively, Toudou-san suddenly noticed her pendant.

Natsumi: “Yeah, I was curious about that too. Sara, show us.”

Hana: “I want to see it too.”

Tachikawa: “Me too!”

Nishikawa: “Then let me have a look as well.”

Surrounded by the eager voices of all the girls, Sara looked slightly troubled as she took off the pendant hanging from her neck. She first laid her handkerchief neatly on the table and then gently placed the pendant on top.

Sara: “Please… try not to touch it too much. This is my most precious treasure…”

Even without looking at her face, her tone alone showed just how much it meant to her. Knowing she treasured it that deeply filled me with happiness, and I couldn’t help but smile.

Nishikawa: “Leave it to me.”

Taking out her own handkerchief, Nishikawa-san wrapped the pendant carefully before picking it up. So that’s her way of avoiding direct contact. Her smooth movements suggested she was quite used to this. She lifted the pendant to eye level for everyone to see.

Hana: “Wow… the engraving is beautiful. Is this a gemstone?”

Tachikawa: “Takanashi-kun, is this custom-made?”

Me: “Yeah, it is.”

Following Nishikawa-san’s example, Hana and Tachikawa also used their handkerchiefs to handle the pendant gently as they examined it.

Of course it was custom-made.

Nishikawa: “Sorry, let me take a closer look… Ah, this is sapphire, isn’t it? Sara’s birthstone… wait, sapphire? Um, Takanashi-san, this doesn’t have any… other meaning, does it?”

Suddenly, Nishikawa-san’s expression stiffened awkwardly. Other meaning? What was she talking about?

Me: “Other meaning?”

Nishikawa: “Ah, no, it’s nothing… (I’m probably just overthinking it…)”

Me: “?”

I had read about sapphires in the catalog, so I knew at least a little. It said sapphire was September’s birthstone and carried meanings related to love, making it a perfect gift. But was there something else I was missing?

Hana: “Hey, what about the photo?”

Of course, that unavoidable topic came up. Hana seemed unusually curious.

Nishikawa: “Ah, right. Sara, may I open it?”

Sara: “Yes, please.”

As expected, everyone leaned forward eagerly as Nishikawa-san opened the locket. I hadn’t put any weird photos inside, but it was still embarrassing. Still, if I had placed just my own photo in there, it might have seemed narcissistic and cringeworthy… so perhaps this was for the best.

Toudou: “Wow, it’s beautiful! So romantic!”

Toudou-san suddenly exclaimed in delight upon seeing the inside.

Natsumi: “Ah, this is from that time, isn’t it? I was so moved that I couldn’t even take a photo properly.”

Hana: “That time?”

Natsumi: “When Takanashi-kun confessed to her and Sara was crying her eyes out. Right, Sara?”

Sara: “Yes… I’ve never been that happy in my entire life.”

Looking slightly embarrassed, Sara glanced at me briefly before hiding her face against my arm. Honestly, I felt just as embarrassed about this topic…

Nishikawa: “Still, to get a custom-made locket from a specialty store with a sapphire accent… you really went all out, Takanashi-san.”

Natsumi: “You can tell he was desperate to make her happy.”

Toudou: “Definitely. And sapphire… wait, Takanashi-kun, are you… proposing…?”

Nishikawa: “Toudou-san, stop right there!!”

Suddenly, Nishikawa-san shouted to cut off Toudou-san’s words. She had been acting strange about this for a while… was there really something behind it? The two of them exchanged mysterious eye contact before nodding to each other.

What on earth was going on…?

Tachikawa: “U-um, Satsukawa-senpai… did you… do it today…?”

Tachikawa-san, who had been itching to speak up, suddenly blurted out a rather difficult question. In a group full of girls, I knew love stories were bound to be a hot topic. I knew that, but if possible, I wished they would at least let me excuse myself first.

But Sara wouldn’t let me go. Meanwhile, Yuji and Hayato had already made their escape…

Sara: “…Yes.”

Toudou: “Kyaaa!”

Hana: “I knew it.”

Tachikawa: “I’m so jealous…”

Natsumi: “Honestly, I’m more surprised it hadn’t happened yet.”

Nishikawa: “…………”

While some of the girls squealed with delight at Sara’s shy reply, Nishikawa-san emitted a dark aura. This was… unbearably awkward.

Natsumi: “Geez… look how happy you are. Come to think of it, despite all your flirting, you two hadn’t even kissed on the lips until now. Were you… waiting for it?”

Sara: “…Yes. I’ve been waiting all this time… waiting for you to take my first kiss, Kazunari-san…”

Even though Natsumi-senpai asked the question, Sara answered it while looking straight at me, her cheeks flushed.

It was as if she were saying it directly to me.

Toudou & Tachikawa (in unison): “Kyaaahhh!!”

Hana: “Ueeeh… this is getting too much for me.”

Natsumi: “She’s usually scarily assertive, but when it comes to this, she wants Takanashi-kun to take the lead…”

Sara: “Because… I wanted my first to be from you. But… next time, it will be my turn, okay? Right, Kazunari-san?”

Me: “Eh!? W-Well…”

Seeing her say that, blushing happily, made my heart pound.

Nishikawa: “Aaaahhh, I can’t take this anymore!! Yes, yes, I’m jealous! Natsumi is suspicious too, and why am I the only one stuck with that worthless jerk!?”

Ah…

Nishikawa-san had finally snapped.