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“It’s such a pain!”
“What’s wrong, all of a sudden?”

Inazuki let out a loud voice as she stared at her laptop.

It was April of our first year in university, and instead of living in the house we had stayed in back then, we decided to rent a place together.

We could have stayed in that old house, but we thought it would mean more if we chose this together and split the cost.

Though the apartment was a little smaller than the place where Inazuki had been living alone, I thought it was cozy. The furniture and kitchenware we bought together made it feel like it truly belonged to just the two of us.

In the end, I chose to attend a different university from Inazuki.

It wasn’t like I no longer cared about living up to my parents’ expectations… not entirely, anyway.

More than anything, I wanted to test how far I could go on my own abilities. As a result, I managed to get into a reasonably good university, but Inazuki wasn’t too happy about it.

I had told her that going to the same university wasn’t the only way to be together, but she didn’t seem entirely convinced.

As long as we came home to the same place, it wasn’t likely our hearts would drift apart.

Besides, we had promised to always be together.

“Why does course registration have to be such a hassle? I want all easy classes, but I don’t want any that start first period!”
“Just go to class properly. You managed to show up on time in high school.”
“That was then. This is now. The university is for having fun!”
“You’re so irresponsible.”

I chuckled. Even as a university student, Inazuki hadn’t changed much.

Inazuki was still Inazuki.

I probably hadn’t changed much either. Because the foundation of our relationship—our love for each other—was so solid, I didn’t think anything would drastically alter our bond, no matter how much we grew as individuals.

But still.

“Inazuki, you really should take things more seriously. You’ll have a hard time once you’re out in the real world.”
“Ahhh, not listening, not listening. Stop nagging me, or I’ll kiss you.”
“Go ahead.”
“Now that you said that… I don’t want to.”

I couldn’t help but think that she was such a child.

Not that I wasn’t childish myself, but I couldn’t beat Inazuki in that department.

I leaned over and kissed her on the lips as she turned away. They were as soft as they had been the first time we kissed.

No matter how many times we kissed, my heart would still race as if it were the first time. It was strange—simple, maybe. Or something like that.

Honestly, I was just as childish.

“There. I kissed you.”
“…You know, lately, You’re not as shy anymore. This Misora-chan’s disappointed.”
“Have you fallen out of love with me?”
“Don’t ask mean things like that. You already know the answer.”
“I can’t know how you feel unless you say it out loud.”
“…Ugh, you’re so annoying. I love you, obviously. There’s no way I’d ever hate you.”
“Thought so. I love you too.”

I think, emotionally, I didn’t change much from three years ago.

But now, I had a bond with Inazuki strong enough to convince me that we’d always be together, so I no longer felt overwhelmed by loneliness the way I used to.

Still, I did get jealous. I called her “Inazuki” even now because I didn’t want to be compared to the other me. I still didn’t want her to look at anyone else. I guess that made me childish and jealous.

But, well, Inazuki was no different.

She was a kid too—sleepy, surprisingly clingy, and just as jealous.

Maybe that’s why we latched well with each other like teeth.

…Teeth.
We literally left tooth marks on each other. But that’s not the point right now. As for how we were still leaving bite marks on each other around our hearts or other places…

Let’s stop.

It’s not something to think about in the middle of the day.

“Oh, this class gives you credit just for watching Indian movies and writing reviews. Want to come with me sometime, Iroha?”
“If I went, you’d probably get even lazier, so no.”
“Then can I sit in on one of your classes?”
“Well… if it’s in a big lecture hall, sure. But don’t do anything weird.”
Inazuki pouted. “I won’t! What do you think I am, some kind of animal in heat year-round? I do have some self-control.”
“Kisses only when we’re outside.”
“I know that! Geez, don’t you trust me at all?”
“Sometimes you do the strangest things out of nowhere.”
“Like what?”
“Like when we were watching that movie, and you licked my neck.”
“That was, um… because it looked so pretty.”
“…Yeah, you’re not helping your case.”

I didn’t dislike physical affection.

I didn’t dislike it, but sometimes Inazuki went a bit overboard. I didn’t mind the gestures themselves, but I did wish she’d tone it down when it might bother others.

I knew she loved me.

Even before we started dating, we’d touch each other’s throats or hug like it was nothing. Maybe we’d become so desensitized that our behavior had grown a bit… unconventional.

Hmm.

If we kept this up, I feel like a lot of things could go wrong. And yet, I caught myself thinking that as long as it was with Inazuki, I didn’t mind going off the rails. I couldn’t help but sigh at myself.

“But it’s fine.”
“Licking your neck?”
“No. I mean, trusting you this time.”

I wrapped my arms around Inazuki from behind. She leaned her back into me, her weight a comforting presence that made me smile softly.

As I ran my fingers through her hair, it felt as silky as ever, slipping through my hands like flowing water.

Recently, Inazuki had dyed her hair golden.

It was different from how it used to be in high school, and I couldn’t help but feel that the new color symbolized how far we’d come, starting university together. I really liked it.

“If you’re being sincere, I’ll believe anything you say.”
“There you go again…”

She turned away from her laptop, her eyes locking onto mine.

I kissed her softly on the earlobe.

“I love you. Even if you do something strange, I’ll forgive you and trust you. …Though if it’s too strange, I’ll be mad.”
“And what exactly counts as ‘too strange’?”
“I think you’d know that better than anyone.”

I closed her laptop and stood up.

“More importantly, Inazuki, let’s have lunch. You’re going to help me, right?”
“Yeah, let’s make it together.”

She stood up and took my hand.

It’s not like we needed to hold hands just to walk to the kitchen.

Even as I thought that, I squeezed her hand tightly in return. The familiar warmth in her grasp hadn’t changed, and neither had the love I felt.

I could easily picture us holding hands like this, unchanged, next year and the year after that.

Much more vividly than I could recall anything from the previous timeline—or even the one before that.

I smiled.

And Inazuki smiled back.

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