Extra 5: Co-dependency

December 24th—Christmas Eve.

At Sumire’s request, we decided to spend the holiday together again, just like last year.

This time, however, instead of her coming over to my place, I was the one visiting the Onodera household.

Having her stay over at my place two years in a row felt a bit excessive. Besides, to Shigekazu-san and the others, I probably seemed more like an intruder than a guest.

Just like last year, Sumire insisted on cooking. With Himari-san by her side, she busied herself in the kitchen, completely in her element. I had offered to help, but I was promptly dismissed and reassigned to dishwashing duty after the meal. Well, better than standing around doing nothing—it took some pressure off, at least.

While waiting for dinner, I passed the time chatting with Shigekazu-san. He had that effortless composure that made him hard not to admire. A calm, cool presence—one I secretly hoped to have someday.

The evening passed in warm conversation, and before we knew it, dinner was ready. Sumire’s cooking had improved even more since last year. It was hard to believe that, not too long ago, she struggled to crack an egg properly.

“This is amazing… You’re great at studying, cooking… Are you secretly some kind of superhuman?”

“Hehe, right?”

Puffing up with pride, Sumire grinned, her cheeks tinged pink.

Watching her, I couldn’t help but think—my girlfriend is way too perfect.

A silent resolution formed in my mind. I had to step up my game, even just a little, so I could at least try to keep up with her.

After finishing the meal and cleaning up, it was finally time for the main event. Bundled up in warm clothes, we stepped outside together.

“We didn’t get to go last year,” Sumire murmured, her breath visible in the cold night air. “So this time… I thought we should do at least something couple-like.”

With those words, Sumire took my hand, and we headed toward a nearby park.

It was fairly large and currently hosting a holiday light display.

Unlike last year, we had decided to see the illuminations together this time. When Sumire shyly said, "I want to go with you," I agreed before I even had time to think.

The park felt completely different from usual. Trees were wrapped in colorful lights, casting a soft glow over the night.

The last time I saw something like this, I simply enjoyed the ambiance without feeling particularly moved. But now, after confessing my feelings and finally finding some peace of mind, I was surprised by how breathtaking it all seemed.

I’m sure it’s because Sumire is right here beside me that everything looks so radiant.

When I glanced at her, even in the dim light, I could clearly see her smiling, looking completely at ease. Sumire is cutest when she smiles.

Maybe she noticed my gaze. She glanced at me, then quickly averted her eyes, cheeks slightly flushed. As if trying to distract herself, she linked her arm with mine and snuggled closer.

We walked slowly through the park, taking in the lights. She seemed a little restless. Eventually, we reached a fountain with a dreamy atmosphere and took some photos together.

Neither of us really knew how to properly enjoy events like this, but just being together made it fun. I planned to add the photos to our album once we got back.

After making a full lap around the park, we bought hot cocoa from a vending machine and sat on an empty bench. The park was bigger than we thought, and we were both a little tired from walking.

I wrapped my hands around the can, letting the warmth seep into my chilled fingers. The sudden temperature change made them tingle slightly. The can was hotter than I expected, so I switched hands to avoid burning myself.

Beside me, Sumire had taken off her gloves, holding her cocoa between her bare hands for warmth. Even with gloves on, the cold must have gotten to her.

Sumire, seemingly afraid of burning herself, cautiously brought the can to her lips. Her careful movements reminded me of a wary little animal—it was oddly endearing.

Come to think of it, she was sensitive to hot drinks.

It must have still been too hot. After taking a small sip, she let out a soft "ugh" and quickly pulled the can away. Then, noticing me staring at her the whole time, she shot me a half-hearted glare.

"What are you looking at…?"

"Nothing, just thinking how cute you are."

"Shut up."

With that, we fell into a comfortable silence, slowly sipping our cocoa while enjoying the view.

Yet, Sumire seemed restless, stealing glances at me every now and then.

I deliberately stayed quiet, curious to see if she’d say something first. But after a while, I couldn’t leave her hanging. Gently, I patted her head and turned her to face me.

"What’s wrong? You’ve got something you want to say, don’t you?"

"Hmm… you could tell?"

"Well, I am your boyfriend, after all."

I had noticed since we left the house that something was on her mind. Sumire always got fidgety like this when she was trying to work up the courage to say something. Even while we were walking through the park, she had been unusually antsy.

"Um, so…"

She started to speak but quickly fell silent, eyes shutting as if trying to gather her thoughts.

She always overthinks things like this.

"Well… uh… oh, right! Have you decided which school you want to apply to yet?"

In the end, she couldn’t seem to figure out how to say what was really on her mind, so she settled on an awkward, out-of-place question instead.

"Me? Hmm… I’m still not sure what I want to do in the future, so I haven’t decided yet. But I’m thinking of aiming for the best school I can get into."

"I see…"

"What about you, Sumire?"

She let out a small "hmm," closing her eyes again, deep in thought. Then, with a slightly pained expression, she finally spoke.

"I… I haven’t really decided either… but I think I want to go to the same university as you."

"Is that… really okay?" I hesitated. "It’s an important decision, and you could probably get into a better school, right?"

Honestly, I’d love nothing more than to go to the same university as her. If we could spend our campus life together, it would feel like a dream. But the idea of her narrowing her options just for me… it didn’t sit right.

I didn’t say it out loud, but the thought of Sumire someday growing tired of me scared me. If that ever happened, I knew I’d regret it endlessly.

Getting this insecure and doubting her feelings was probably the worst thing I could do as her boyfriend.

Lost in my thoughts, I suddenly noticed Sumire looking straight at me, her gaze soft and unwavering.

"Because… my dream, ever since kindergarten, has always been… to spend my life with you. I’d be happy… as long as I’m with you."

My heart skipped a beat.

She had no idea how much those words meant to me. It was as if she had effortlessly silenced all my worries in an instant.

"I… see."

It was a clumsy, awkward response—one completely unworthy of the moment. But right now, words failed me.

"And, um…"

Her voice trailed off, and for a few seconds, she fell silent. The softness in her expression from earlier was now tinged with tension.

"Even after we go to university… let’s stay together, okay? That’s… what I wanted to say."

Her words came out stiff, her unease obvious. She stared straight at me, her fingers gripping the cocoa can tightly.

"Once we’re in university… I’m sure there’ll be all kinds of girls—cute ones, kind ones… way better than me… But you absolutely can’t cheat on me, okay?"

Hearing that, I couldn’t help but laugh.

"Why are you laughing?! I’m being serious here!"

"No, no, I’m not making fun of you. It’s just… we’re so alike."

"Alike?"

"I was thinking the exact same thing just a moment ago."

We really were a couple cut from the same cloth. But even so, why did Sumire think so little of herself? She had to know how amazing she was. Maybe it was because of that guilt she mentioned before.

"I see… hmm… Well, don’t worry. There’s no way I’d ever cheat on you. Honestly, I can’t even see other guys as anything more than just… guys."

"Oh, uh… that’s a pretty bold statement."

"Shut up. I’m kind of embarrassed saying all these cheesy things, you know?"

"Well, it’s pretty normal for you."

I chuckled, and Sumire puffed out her cheeks in mock annoyance. Smirking, I poked her cheek, watching it deflate like a balloon.

Then, as I gently patted her head, I said,

"I’ve been hopelessly in love with you since kindergarten, you know. There’s no way I’d ever cheat on you."

She blinked in surprise before breaking into a small, relieved smile.

"Hehe… that’s good to hear… Well, I’ll do my best not to make you lose interest in me."

As I continued to pat her head, Sumire narrowed her eyes like a contented cat. I couldn’t help but wonder what was going through her mind.

She’s always loved physical affection. If I leave her alone for too long, she’ll start inching closer, nudging me like a needy pet—almost annoyingly so.

I made a silent promise to spoil her even more, to never let her feel insecure again. The fact that she even needed to say all that… it made me feel pathetic.

To melt away her worries, I gently stroked her hair. She sighed softly and leaned against my shoulder, and I instinctively wrapped my arms around her.

"I’m sorry for making you feel that way. But you don’t have to worry—I've always loved you, and I always will."

I whispered the words close to her ear, and as if a weight had lifted, I felt her body relax.

For a while, we stayed like that, lost in our own little world. Then, suddenly, Sumire pulled away, her eyes glimmering with mischief. Before I could react, she kissed me—quick and unexpected.

I blinked, stunned. She grinned at my reaction.

Then, she kissed me again, this time slower, savoring it.

"Alright, let’s head back."

With a satisfied smile, she hopped to her feet and grabbed my hand, tugging me along. It took me a second to catch up, my thoughts still scrambled.

And that’s when I finally noticed—people were watching.

Of course, they were. A couple sitting on a bench, stroking each other’s heads and kissing in the middle of a crowded park? We weren’t exactly being subtle.

Sumire must’ve realized it too, because she glanced around, flinched slightly, and then cleared her throat, trying to act natural.

I followed her lead, but as we hurried away, I caught sight of a girl with a bright red face staring at us. The second our eyes met, she whipped her head around.

Yeah… we probably put on a bit of a show.

Feeling the embarrassment creeping in, we quickened our pace, practically fleeing the scene.

After leaving the park, we walked down a quiet, dimly lit path. Neither of us spoke for a while, but it wasn’t an awkward silence—just the kind of peaceful stillness that felt right after a long, meaningful night.

The crisp air carried the faint scent of winter, and the only sounds were our footsteps against the pavement.

Just before we reached the house, Sumire suddenly leaned in close, her breath warm against my ear.

"That day, you told me you wouldn’t let me go… so you better not run away either, okay? Let’s stay together… forever and ever."

Then, she pulled away, a bewitching, almost mischievous smile playing on her lips.

For some reason, I couldn’t look away.

"Hehe. Sorry for being such a handful, huh?"