Chapter 43: Wish

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Translator: Soafp

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You hadn’t really been on a proper trip until now, huh? That's surprising.

(I've been waiting for so long.)

“A trip?” (Natsu)

“Yeah, you’ve got time off during Golden Week, right? Once I start working next year, who knows if our schedules will match?” (Haru)

“True. I do have irregular days off. Oh, but don't worry about the honeymoon—they’ll make sure we can take time off for that.” (Natsu)

“We should start thinking about that soon too. If we wait until I'm settled, it might be tricky to go next year.” (Haru)

“Hmm, no need to rush for the honeymoon.” (Natsu)

“Really? I thought you’d be eager to go as soon as possible, knowing you, Na-chan.” (Haru)

(Like a little kid, huh?)

You can be like that sometimes, right?

(Muu~)

See?

“So, is there anywhere you want to go? You traveled a lot during university, didn't you?” (Haru)

“Mostly just walking around cities. I only did a few overnight trips each year. But this time, I want it to feel like a proper trip!” (Natsu)

“Something classic?” (Haru)

“Yeah, like Abashiri Prison or Goryokaku, for example.” (Natsu)

“Wait, you want to go to Hokkaido?” (Haru)

“That was just an example. Or Arashiyama, or the Big Buddha.” (Natsu)

“Kyoto, Nara, huh?” (Haru)

“Or maybe Sanzen-in Temple in Ohara, Kyoto.” (Natsu)

“Feeling heartbroken?” (Haru)

“Not at all! I'm not even close to being tired of love! Even if I'm tired from work, love never tires me! Tomorrow's a day off! No work! No early mornings!” (Natsu)

“Are you sure you're not tired? Or am I the only one sensing a rhythm to your words?” (Haru)

“Hmm? I don't think so.” (Natsu)

“Must be me. I guess I'm the one who's tired.” (Haru)

“Is that so? Well then, here you go.” (Natsu)

“Here you go? Wait, a lap pillow?” (Haru)

“Yep, come over here, I'll help you relax.” (Natsu)

“Well, don't mind if I do. Here we go!” (Haru)

“Hey, Haru-kun, can you not say ‘here we go’? It makes you sound like an old man.” (Natsu)

“Ahh, so soft. And your skin is so smooth.” (Haru)

“Hey, don't just casually lift my skirt and rest your head on my bare skin like that! You're such a perv.” (Natsu)

“Oh? Was that a no? But it feels so nice this way.” (Haru)

“Haha, well, I'm glad you think so, but if you turn this way, you'll end up seeing right under my skirt.” (Natsu)

“Well, isn't it a little late for that? Either way, it feels so nice I might fall asleep.” (Haru)

“In that case, I'll add a head-pat option for you.” (Natsu)

“Mm? This must be paradise.” (Haru)

“This is Chikusa-ku.” (Natsu)

“Ah, I see. There's a place called Gokuraku in Meito-ku, right? So are we going to Gokuraku for our trip?” (Haru)

“By the way, did you know there's a Gokurakucho in Kyoto?” (Natsu)

“So, Kyoto?” (Haru)

“Meito-ku doesn't have one, but Kyoto's an option. Should we head to the bookstore tomorrow to plan?” (Natsu)

“Sounds good. But no early mornings, okay? Let's go around noon.” (Haru)

“Yep! Then I'd better hop in the bath right away. Care to join me?” (Natsu)

“I'll pass on that.” (Haru)

“Such a shy guy.” (Natsu)

---

“Hmm, at this point, both the bullet trains and flights are probably fully booked.” (Natsu)

“It's only a week away, after all. Even finding a hotel will be tough.” (Haru)

“At worst, we could stay at a hotel near the highway?” (Natsu)

“That's the last resort, right? Only if there’s no other option.” (Haru)

“The highways are going to be packed too. What do you want to do?” (Natsu)

“How about we take the back roads to Kyoto? If we leave in the middle of the night, we'll be there by morning.” (Haru)

“Kyoto, huh… Yeah, let's do that. A ryokan might be tough, but I'll ask around at work.” (Natsu)

“That's where Na-chan’s connections come in handy.” (Haru)

“Leave it to me! I'll find a hotel that's popular with couples!” (Natsu)

“Is that a regular hotel or a ryokan?” (Haru)

---

“Hey, we’re not on the highway, right?” (Natsu)

“Not right now. It used to be a toll road, but it’s been made free. There aren't any traffic lights, so it's a smooth ride, right?” (Haru)

“Just make sure you don’t go too fast, okay?” (Natsu)

“Got it. I’ll keep my speed down and take breaks when needed.” (Haru)

“Good.” (Natsu)

(Taking breaks is important, you know?)

It's easy to forget when you're feeling good.

“Hmm hmm hmm, hmm hmm hmm, hmm hmm hmm, hmm hmm~” (Natsu)

“Na-chan, you’re in a good mood.” (Haru)

“Hehe~. I even started humming.” (Natsu)

“That's the theme song from a local commercial, right?” (Haru)

“Yep! You know it well.” (Natsu)

“Yeah, it’s the one about going to Kyoto, right?” (Haru)

“Mm?” (Natsu)

“But where are we going?” (Haru)

“…Nara.” (Natsu)

We couldn’t book a ryokan, right?

(Yeah, even though a hotel near the interchange would've been fine.)

“Right. Be careful not to get body-slammed by a deer.” (Haru)

“We’re going to meet Sento-kun after all!” (Natsu)

---

“We’re here~!” (Haru)

“Haru-kun, thanks for driving!” (Natsu)

“No problem at all. So, Kasuga Taisha was the place you wanted to visit most?” (Haru)

“Yeah. Well, more specifically, the sub-shrine, Meoto Daikoku Shrine.” (Natsu)

“Meoto? Like ‘husband and wife'?” (Haru)

“Yep, it's known for blessings in matchmaking and marital harmony.” (Natsu)

“Matchmaking is a bit late for us, and isn’t it a little early to worry about marital harmony?” (Haru)

“Ugh! Don't say things like that! Come on, let's go pray!” (Natsu)

“No need to rush, we've still got plenty of time.” (Haru)

“A memorial?” (Natsu)

“Yeah, they say if you write your wishes on it, they’ll come true. Want to write something together?”

“Sure. Marital harmony?” (Natsu)

“Hmm… I don't think we need to wish for that.” (Haru)

“Maybe not.” (Natsu)

“How about family safety, then?” (Haru)

“Isn't that a bit too typical? Hmm… Oh! How about ‘one girl, one boy’?” (Natsu)

“I get what you’re saying, but is that really something to wish for?” (Haru)

“Why not? I want two kids, and I want the first to be a girl.” (Natsu)

“Yeah, I've heard that girls are easier to raise at first.” (Haru)

“Right? And when she grows up, I dream of talking about love stories with her.” (Natsu)

“That sounds fun. Won’t I be included in those conversations?” (Haru)

“Girls-only secrets.” (Natsu)

“Then please, I hope the second child is a boy. Otherwise, I'll be left out.” (Haru)

“I want to go on triple dates with our daughter's and son's partners.” (Natsu)

“I'm pretty sure they'd hate that.” (Haru)

“If we start early, they'll get used to it.” (Natsu)

“Don’t brainwash them!” (Haru)

“It's not brainwashing. It’s sharing the same perspective.” (Natsu)

“Sure, let's go with that.” (Haru)

---

“Sorry for the wait.” (Natsu)

“You didn't have to make me wait. We could've just left the room together.” (Haru)

“I wanted to make it feel like a date.” (Natsu)

“Ah, I see. Well, in that case, I can’t complain.” (Haru)

“Exactly! Now, what should we eat?” (Natsu)

“Wait, didn't we just have dinner?” (Haru)

“But since we're here, we've got to do some food touring! You know, just because!” (Natsu)

“‘Just because,’ huh?” (Haru)

“Oh, look, Haru-kun! There's gelato with a deer on it!” (Natsu)

“It sure is a deer. I think I could handle that much.” (Haru)

“Let's each pick a different one and share, okay?” (Natsu)

You ordered raspberry and lemon.

(And you got matcha and milk.)