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Lovey-Dovey

“It’s been a while, Director Ando.”

“Please, drop the ‘Director,’ Gunjo-san. I’m not a director anymore.”

“No, no, at least for this year you are still a director, right? Besides, you haven’t officially announced your retirement yet. To me, you’ll always be ‘Director.’ And if we’re being precise, I’m Shiozaki now, not Gunjo.”

“You’ll always be ‘Gunjo’ to me.”

The two of them were catching up over drinks in a certain bar.

“So, Ando, any plans to get married?”

“Haha, marriage is a distant dream for a free-spirited guy like me.”

“Really? I thought you liked kids.”

“Oh, I do. Love them. But the problem is finding a wife. And I’m already 50. How about you and your wife? How are things?”

“Not much has changed. We’re doing well. Oh, speaking of marriage, my daughter just got married.”

“Really? Is she already that old?”

“She got married on her 18th birthday.”

“A student marriage?”

“Yes.”

“Wow… I didn’t expect Marin to beat me to it… Is her partner also a student?”

“Yes, and in fact, you might know her husband better than I do.”

“Why would I know Marin’s husband?”

“…If I said ‘the unfortunate former child prodigy,’ who would you think of?”

The hand reaching for the glass paused.

“…Aoi Yamaguchi?”

“According to Marin, they’re planning to perform your work, ‘Flower of Vengeance,’ at their school festival. Why not wait to retire until after you see that?”

“…Yeah. That sounds like a good idea.”

◇Living Room

“Jyumumumumumu…”

“What kind of sound is that?” Marin said, glaring at the script next to me as I studied for my exams. Apparently, she had used her father’s connections to get the script and was now figuring out what parts could be cut-out.

“Need help?”

“I’m fine! Aoi-kun, you focus on your studies!”

“O-Okay.”

Once I finished my studies, I started making dinner. Marin was still completely engrossed in the script, showing impressive concentration.

“Dinner’s ready!”

“…Huh!? You made it?”

“Yeah. I made yurinchi today.” (Japanese-style Fried Chicken with Scallion Soy Sauce)

“It looks delicious! Thank you!” she said, beaming.

We ended up staring at each other for a moment.

…Oh no. She’s so cute. I want to hug her. Even though I thought calling her an angel was an exaggeration, since the school trip, she’s been getting cuter and cuter by day.

Her face, filled with loyalty and affection, looking up at me like a dog looking at its master, was irresistibly adorable.

I want to hug her… But if I suddenly hug her, will she be weirded out? And she looks tired… Fear of being rejected made me say, “Le-Let’s eat,” while averting my gaze.

“…I thought you were going to kiss me,” she murmured.

“…What?”

“Stop reacting like some clueless protagonist,” she said, scolding me in her black Marin mode.

“…Sorry. I actually wanted to hug you, but I couldn’t muster up the courage…”

Then, she stood up, pressed her head against my chest, and hugged me.

“Just so you know, I wouldn’t mind if you completely ravished me. In fact, I want you to. I want to be desired by you. Otherwise… I get anxious. I start wondering if I’m the only one in love. If my feelings for you are different from yours for me,” she said, holding me tighter.

“…I’m sorry.”

“I don’t want you to apologize.”

“…Okay,” I said, hugging her back.

She looked up at me slightly and asked, “Do you love me?”

“…I love you. Even when I’m studying, I keep glancing at you.”

“…Me too. I want to watch you forever. And I want you to watch me forever.”

“…”

Then, we kissed, looking into each other’s eyes.

“…I’m happy.”

“…Yeah. But it wasn’t a deep one.”

“…!!// F-Forget about that…//”

“I can’t forget. It was my first kiss.”