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“In that case, let’s change the question. I’ll go straight to the point, do you like Sakura?”
“Yes, I like her a lot!” Kanata replied with a carefree smile, a complete change from how he’d just been.

Sakura involuntarily blushed.

“Do you want to marry her in the future?”
“…Oh, in that kind of meaning? C-Can I speak freely?”
“No one else can see this, just voice your thoughts¹.”
“…Really? In the future… if Sakura feels the same way and… uhm, if no one gets between us and we properly start dating… I guess.”

Sakura made sure to commit the contrast of the boy speaking so seriously while nervously fidgeting to memory. At the same time, it filled her with happiness to learn that he held those feelings for her, even when he’d been so young.

“This might be a rude question, but won’t your daily life be incredibly difficult with her and-“
“Didn’t I say earlier that I’ll protect her?” Kanata interrupted the researcher, giving a stare that was closer to a glare. “I resolved myself to do that ever since I can remember.”

While the question had been led with an apology, it was clear that it enraged the boy.

“S-Sorry… So, you like her that much.”
“I do… But she doesn’t know. I don’t think she sees me like that.”

“(Now that he mentions it… how did I feel back then?)”

Sakura thought back to the past and recalled things bit by bit. The recording was paused.

“How did you feel back then, Sakura? About Kanata, I mean.”
“…I think it’s like he said it. I probably had feelings for him since I remember.”
“Friendly ones… or those of love?”
“Th-Th-The latter…”

Mrs. Joujou looked at the blushing girl with a grin and then resumed the video playback.

“Hm~, I wonder about that. If you ask me… no, I shouldn’t bring my own feelings into this. By the way, what is your dream for the future, Kanata?”
“To find a way to restore eyesight. Be that via drugs, on the cellular level, or with technology. So Sakura can see again.”
“Right, you mentioned that before.”

Sakura had also known about that dream. This was another thing he did for her sake.

“That will be the final question, then… If Sakura were to find someone else she likes in the future and were to marry them, how would you feel about that?”
“…Give me a moment.”

Kanata’s expression turned serious again. Sakura swallowed as she gazed at the screen. Kanata’s mother was grinning.

“I would be fine with it, if they make her happy. But if they made her cry, I’d never forgive them. For me, Sakura is like a-”
“Like what?”
“Like a princess… I guess?”

Sakura caught a glimpse of the true feelings of the little boy on the screen, who looked so much like an innocently smiling girl. It brought her profound happiness.

“Does that mean you’re her knight?”
“A knight! Heh-heh, I like that, it makes me feel all excited!”
“E-Excited?”

At this point, the recording ended. Kanata’s mother pulled the storage device from the TV with a somewhat warm expression.

“So, are you going to let him protect you from now on, too?”

Sakura nodded with a smile. She couldn’t help but feel that she finally understood how her childhood friend, who always seemed too smart for her to grasp, really thought.

“In the end, I can’t imagine being with anyone but him, either…”
“I see! I guess that means the day we get to see our grandchildren won’t be far.”
“G-G-G-Grandchildren!? W-We’re still too young to have children… A-Anyway, won’t Big Sis and Ayu-nii be before us?”
“That’s true…”

As Sakura blushed for what felt like the fifth time, there was a shadow on the porch. Moments after Kanata’s mother noticed it, the door opened.

“I’m back.”
“Welcome home, Kanata!”
“K-Kanata!!”
“Huh? You’re here, Sakura?”

The girl rushed over to him. The moment he had entered her field of vision, she’d gone for a hug.

“Kanata… I love you…!”
“Uhm, yes. I love you, too… Mom, what happened to Sakura?”
“She seemed bored, so I called her over and told her stories about how devoted you are to her.”
“Eh…”

Even though her future mother-in-law was watching, Sakura, in a rare case, didn’t show any embarrassment as she let the boy keep spoiling her. Kanata seemed to be at a loss, as he was stroking her head.

“For now, let’s go upstairs,” she proposed.
“My, I’m sure your older sister told you that too,” the older woman interjected, “but at least wait until you’re in high school before you do that kind of stuff.”
“I… I know that!”

Still in a tight embrace, Kanata dexterously slipped of his shoes and entered the house. It was a skill he’d acquired over the past decade he spent with the then blind Sakura.

“Kanata~…”
“I wonder what your mother would say if she saw you so clingy, Sakura…” Mrs. Joujou teased.
“Heh-heh!”

Before long, the two of them were in Kanata’s room. Sakura immediately hugged the boy again.

“Can I… kiss you?”
“S-Sure.”

Kanata suffered an instant knock out, as his childhood friend asked him that with upturned eyes while in his embrace. He almost automatically accepted her request. As usual, they simply pressed their lips together, but that was enough for them.

“Eh-heh-heh-heh.”
“I guess I can indulge you every now and then. Though it also helps that you’re so cute. Ah, before I forget, there was another matter.”
“Hm? What is it?”

Kanata turned serious like he had done in the recording.

“Lately, it feels like there’s someone following us, so you should be careful.”
“Really…? Alright.”
“Yeah, I noticed it since the start of this week…”

He felt certain that someone really followed them, and that it wasn’t caused by something he’d seen on TV. He moved his eyes to Sakura, who was still clinging to him.

“This time, can I kiss you?”
“Bwuh… Kanata…? Sure, that’s fine with me!”

1. And then they send it to the parents. I can’t imagine much trust was left after this.

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