Episode Seventy-Two: First, I’ll Teach Your Body
The skin-scorching heat of summer had, at some point, quietly passed, and now a pleasant breeze blew through — an autumn day.
Spending weekends at Yui-san’s house, the same one we’d lived in together back in college, had gradually become a habit. A calm Saturday evening. The chaos of summer already felt like some distant memory.
Watching Yui-san standing in the kitchen — a sight I’d grown so used to back in college — felt oddly fresh, seeing it again after four years apart. Glancing sideways at her tearing lettuce and arranging it on a plate, I pulled a tomato from the fridge too.
“Hey, Kanata. Takoyaki… do we need rice with it?”
Yui-san suddenly stopped her hands and said that, and, caught off guard, I stopped mine too.
Today, we’d promised to have a takoyaki party with Ritsu-san and Yuuri. Ritsu-san’s idea, originally.
Apparently, when she left Osaka, her first posting, a coworker had given her a takoyaki maker as a parting gift.
“Isn’t takoyaki more of a side dish? I mean, it’s carbs…”
“Right… guess just salad’s fine, then. Well, if we actually need something else, Ritsu will probably just buy it on the way.”
Saying that, Yui-san laughed. Checking the clock, it was almost the agreed time — six-thirty.
This would be the first time seeing Ritsu-san and Yuuri since telling them we’d officially gotten together.
Thinking about finally being able to give news like this to the two of them, who’d looked out for me in so many ways since college, filled me with quiet, welling feeling.
Having friends who genuinely, wholeheartedly celebrated our relationship — I felt, truly, how fortunate that was.
Lining up chopsticks and small plates on the table, lost in that thought, I was suddenly hugged from behind, and I turned to look back, just with my face. Yui-san pressed her lips close to my cheek and hugged me tight, tight.
“Come on, Yui-san. Ritsu-san and everyone will be here any minute.”
“Yeah, so let me get in plenty of hugs before they show up.”
Since we started dating, Yui-san’s been almost exactly like she was back in college.
Right after we reconnected, she’d been so restrained, so hesitant toward me.
But once our feelings connected, she’s been touching me freely, without a shred of holding back — even at the office — expressing her love straight ahead, no detours.
Every time she does that, my heart races, and something in my chest feels ticklish. Maybe it’s a cliché thing to say, but I found myself thinking, savoring it — this is probably what people mean by “happiness.”
Since meeting Yui-san, I’ve come to know so many different feelings. There’s been suffering, there’s been pain, but the happiness I feel right now outweighs all of it, easily blowing away every bit of hardship that came before.
Turning within her arms, I faced her properly.
“Then, as a special treat, I’ll hug you back too, Yui-san.”
Since we were at it, I went to hug her back properly too — right as the intercom chimed, perfectly timed.
“Ah, that’s Ritsu-san and everyone.”
The hand I’d been about to wrap around her back stopped dead, and I gently pushed Yui-san’s shoulder back. Slipping smoothly out of her arms, Yui-san let out a small “ah,” brows drooping, disappointed.
But it couldn’t be helped. Hug postponed. Can’t keep guests waiting, after all.
“I’ll go let them in.”
Telling that to a visibly deflated Yui-san, I headed for the entryway.
Opening the door, there stood Ritsu-san, a large tote bag holding the takoyaki maker in one hand, and Yuuri beside her, both hands loaded down with what were probably bags full of alcohol.
＊＊＊
A sizzling sound rose from the specially made plate, pockmarked with round hollows like little pitfalls. Watching Ritsu-san skillfully roll the takoyaki with bamboo skewers, Yui-san — apparently with zero intention of lifting a finger herself — was already gulping down a highball in her usual glass.
“Ritsu-san, that’s amazing. You’re really good at making takoyaki. Like a street vendor.”
Watching the batter get poured onto the plate, I’d genuinely wondered whether an amateur could really manage those perfectly round balls — but that worry turned out unfounded. Rolled around and around with the skewers, they steadily rounded into perfect spheres, browning nicely.
“Three years living in Osaka’ll do that to you. Lost count of how many takoyaki parties I’ve thrown. Yuuri and I did this once too, remember, when you came to visit?”
Seated beside Ritsu-san, Yuuri, cheeks full of salad, said, “Oh yeah, we did do that.”
Those two had first gotten close because of that time I fought with Yui-san and ran away from home, years ago.
Even after Ritsu-san moved to Osaka for work, Yuuri had apparently gone to visit her sometimes — I vaguely remembered seeing a photo of the two of them, taken at some famous theme park, posted on Yuuri’s social media.
“Alright, should be good to eat now.”
Right as Ritsu-san said that, Yui-san’s skewer shot out, quick. And the first takoyaki, its surface crisped golden, went straight onto my plate.
“Here, Kanata’s. Careful, it’s hot.”
Smiling, holding it out to me, I said “thank you,” a little bashful, and Ritsu-san and Yuuri exchanged a glance and grinned, sly.
Why is Yui-san so blatant about prioritizing me like that.
I could tell exactly what those two, seated across the table, were thinking, and it left me a little embarrassed.
Covering my embarrassment, I topped mine generously with sauce and mayo, finished with bonito flakes, and bit into the piping-hot takoyaki.
Ritsu-san’s secret recipe, apparently taught to her by a coworker during her Osaka posting. The faint scent of dashi spreading through my mouth pulled an unstoppable, appreciative groan out of me. Tasted just like something from a proper shop.
“Kanata, good?”
I nodded, quick, and Yui-san watched me, delighted, and smiled — “good.”
“Hey, Yui. I’m the one who cooked that. Why are you looking so proud of yourself? That’s my achievement, you know. Praise me first.”
Ritsu-san shot back, sharp, and Yui-san stuck out her tongue, laughing, mischievous.
“Takoyaki lady, thank you so much for making delicious takoyaki for my cute girlfriend.”
“Yeah yeah, thanks for the meal, sure. Geez, the second you two finally get together you’re already this sickeningly sweet about it. …Are you two always like this, glued together like this? It’s so saccharine I might get heartburn.”
Ritsu-san, now demoted to “takoyaki lady,” said that while eating her own handiwork. “Glued together” — well, from where I’m sitting, this is just Yui-san’s normal mode — but watching Ritsu-san’s reaction, it seemed like the usual Yui-san isn’t quite this way, at least not around other people.
“So this is what Ichinose-senpai’s actually like… no wonder even ice-fortress Kanata fell.”
Yuuri said it, sipping the beer she’d brought.
“It’s not ‘Ichinose-senpai,’ just Yui’s fine. Yuuri-chan’s a friend of Kanata’s and Ritsu’s, no need to be formal.”
Not the least bit bothered by the two of them watching, Yui-san said that and went right back to her takoyaki.
“Then, as Kanata’s best friend, I’ve got a request. Is that okay?”
At Yuuri’s sudden question, Yui-san, blinking, stopped eating.
Yuuri drew a deep breath, like she’d steeled herself for something, then turned to face Yui-san properly.
“Next time, absolutely do not make Kanata cry, okay? While you two were apart, Kanata was genuinely, really hurting. I tried dragging her to mixers to help her forget faster, but in the end, Kanata never stopped loving you, not once, couldn’t forget you no matter what.”
“…Mixers…?”
I didn’t miss it — Yui-san’s brow twitched, faint.
“A-ah, Yuuri, that’s enough about me, really…”
Bad. I needed to stop Yuuri before she said anything else strange. Thinking that, but between the alcohol and whatever fire was burning behind her eyes, Yuuri kept going, ignoring my attempts to stop her entirely.
“Kanata’s actually really popular, you know. Enough that I’d envy her — she’s been pursued by plenty of genuinely great guys, more than once or twice. And even so, she kept thinking only of you, this whole time, without fail. I know you care about Kanata, senpai. But if you ever make her cry again, I will never forgive you.”
Wh— what do I do. Reflexively, I looked to Ritsu-san for rescue. Meeting my eyes dead-on, Ritsu-san narrowed her eyes, amused, delighted.
I recognized that look on Ritsu-san’s face. The exact mischievous glint she gets whenever teasing Yui-san. No intention, apparently, of stepping in to stop Yuuri.
“Yeah… thank you for worrying about her. But it’s fine. I’ll never make Kanata cry again. I promise.”
Saying that, under the table, Yui-san gripped my hand tight. Inwardly, I let out a breath of relief.
Satisfied, Yuuri nodded. “Take good care of Kanata. Make sure you make her happy, okay?” — and went back to eating her takoyaki.
*
Not something she says out loud very often, but realizing just how much Yuuri genuinely treasures me, I felt honestly, deeply moved.
Yuuri never once asked probing questions, never once spoke ill of Yui-san, just stayed quietly by my side through it all — and it’s precisely because of that that I managed to protect this feeling of mine, carefully, for four whole years.
So this happiness I hold now — it’s thanks, in part, to Yuuri, who stayed by my side. That’s how I felt.
*
“Well, don’t want to keep bothering the newlyweds, so we should probably head out. Thanks for today.”
After eating our fill of takoyaki, catching up over nostalgic old stories, the fun evening had passed in what felt like no time at all.
Ritsu-san stood, tucking the takoyaki maker under one arm. Today’s takoyaki really had been delicious. Might want to do this again sometime. Maybe I should buy my own takoyaki maker too.
Thinking that, I walked the two of them to the entryway.
“Ah, right. Almost forgot to say the important part.”
Slipping her shoes on, stepping outside, Ritsu-san suddenly turned back like she’d remembered something, and flashed a bright, unguarded, white-toothed grin.
“Congratulations, both of you, Yui and Kanata-chan, really. There’ll probably be all kinds of things ahead… but I think you two will be fine now.”
Eyes crinkling with genuine warmth, Ritsu-san said it. Something in the pit of my chest warmed, slow. There are people who understand our relationship. Just that alone made me feel like the luckiest person alive.
“Well, take care and be happy forever~!”
Saying that, waving, Ritsu-san started to walk off, and Yui-san called out — “Ritsu” — stopping her.
Ritsu-san turned back, eyes wide.
“Thank you. I mean it. This is thanks to you.”
Yui-san said it, without a trace of embarrassment.
＊＊＊
After seeing Ritsu-san and Yuuri off, alone together now in the living room, the sound of the dishwasher and the hair dryer filled the quiet.
After my bath, Yui-san dried my hair for me, and I found myself replaying the day.
When Yuuri brought up “mixers,” I’d thought Yui-san’s reaction had seemed a little off — but since she never brought it back up after they left, I’d relaxed, thinking it was fine.
I’d braced myself for being pressed on it, so it felt almost anticlimactic.
It’s true I’d gone to mixers, but that’s all in the past, and Yui-san’s fundamentally the clean, unbothered type — maybe, now that we’re together, she just doesn’t care much about what happened before.
The dryer switched off, and Yui-san’s hand smoothed my hair, gathering it lightly. Her usual signal — done.
“Thank you.”
Saying that, Yui-san nodded, and skillfully wound up the dryer’s cord. Checking the clock, it was nearly midnight. Maybe from getting too worked up tonight, I felt a little sleepy.
Yui-san hadn’t bathed yet, and if I waited for her on the sofa I might just fall asleep there. Might as well go to bed first. Just as I thought that and started to stand, a warm palm caught my hand and stopped me.
That’s when it hit me. Come to think of it — normally, Yui-san would always suggest we bathe together. But today, she’d let me go alone, easy, without a word.
And ever since Ritsu-san and Yuuri left, she hadn’t hugged me, hadn’t kissed me, not even once.
Startled, I looked into her eyes, and caught my breath at the heat pooling there. Instinct told me, immediately — ah, this is a genuinely dangerous one. Behind her eyes, a jealous flame, one that had seemed dormant until now, flickered, unmistakable.
“…Yui-san, um, I’m going to bed first.”
I’d been sleeping in Yui-san’s bed almost every night lately, but I think my old bed was still there, unsold, in the room I used to use.
Scrambling to flee toward my old college room, that hand refused to let go. I looked at her, troubled, and Yui-san smiled, bright.
“What’s wrong, Kanata? That’s not my room, is it?”
A cold, unpleasant sweat ran down my back. What do I do. My eyes wandered, unbidden.
“That’s… well, I just thought, maybe, sleeping in my own bed for once…”
“No.”
Said flat, sharp. Just being looked at with those eyes felt like having my heart seized. Pressing a hand to my chest, tight, Yui-san let out a small sigh.
“…Hayakawa-kun, and Niiyama-san at the welcome party too — you really are popular, Kanata. Always getting pursued by men. You’re cute, so I get why they’d want to court you, can’t really be helped, but…”
Ah — a nostalgic name. Startled she still remembered Hayakawa-kun’s name even now, something in me stirred, oddly moved.
“But I’ve never once responded to any of them…? And besides, if you’re going to bring that up, weren’t you way more popular than me, Yui-san? Did you forget?”
I won’t let her forget her own conduct back in college. Lips pursed, I said it, and Yui-san gave a wry laugh, then stood.
Deflecting, she pulled my body into a tight, tight embrace.
“Hey, Kanata.”
“…What?”
“You’re so cute, it makes me anxious, thinking about what if someone else took you from me.”
“That’s… never going to happen…”
I almost said, there’s no way I’d ever fall for anyone but you — and stopped myself. Saying love that plainly out loud felt a little too embarrassing, even now.
I gently stroked the back of the sulking Yui-san, nuzzling insistently against my neck.
I love you this much — how do I make that reach you? How do I make you understand?
“That’s exactly why… I need to properly claim you, once and for all.”
Pulling back slightly, Yui-san looked into my eyes.
Looking back into that gaze, watching me so fondly, deep black like a nighttime sea — Yui-san smiled, bright.
“I’ll make sure your body understands… it has to be me. First, I’ll teach it.”
“Eh?”
Yui-san, what did you just—?
Before I could ask her to repeat it, she’d already caught my waist and, in one smooth motion, pushed me down onto the sofa, and then — smiled, like a devil.
*
Maybe Yui-san’s possessive streak runs so much deeper than I ever realized —
Startled by this unknown side of her, discovered only after becoming her girlfriend, I found myself thinking — being loved this much is its own kind of happiness — and knew, already, I must be thoroughly swept up in it myself.
*
Autumn holds Yui-san’s birthday. That promise we made, four years ago, could finally, at long last, be kept.
This is going to be a wonderful season. Accepting her heated, gentle kiss, that’s what I found myself thinking.