{My 20-Year-Old Girlfriend and 19-Year-Old Me (4-2)}

“If you’re saying that much, then you really should take her,” my mother’s voice came down from above us, sounding satisfied.

I looked up to see my parents exchanging glances before turning to us.

It was my mother who spoke first.

“Well, both your father and I are busy with work. I’ve always felt bad for leaving Atsushi alone so much.”

“I’m used to it,” I said, but my mother shook her head.

“It’s still true. Since this is the case, maybe it would be better for Atsushi to move out and live with someone nice.”

It’s not that I want to live together because I feel lonely being alone.

I don’t think that’s the case.

Well, maybe I hadn’t thought about it a little. I mean, it would be nice if Satou-san was next to me when I’m at home. Last night’s cold noodles would have been even more delicious if I’d shared them with Satou-san. Just that much.

“Although he’s surprisingly a bit of a lonely guy, take care of him, Satou-san.”

That’s not true! I wish she wouldn’t assign me a character like that!

“Yes! Leave it to me! I won’t let Atsushi feel lonely!”

Satou-san enthusiastically replied.

That’s my job. I won’t let Satou-san feel lonely. Although if it became a shared responsibility, it wouldn’t be a problem either way.

“However, there are conditions.”

Suddenly, my mother’s tone turned sharp.

I blinked, and Satou-san straightened up in response.

“First, you must wait until Atsushi turns twenty.”

I expected that one. As we both nodded, my mother continued.

“Second, your grades must not drop. Failing is out of the question.”

“I get it.”

I definitely want to avoid that. If living together has a negative impact on my grades, there’s no point in it. In fact, I should work harder to improve my grades.

“And third. This is the most important one—”

My mother looked at me and Satou-san, as if to build suspense.

“You must not have children until Atsushi graduates.”

My and Satou-san’s reactions to this third condition were incredibly contrasting.

I nodded, thinking it was obvious, while Satou-san panicked in an amusing way.

“W-wait! We’re not even thinking about that yet! Not at all!”

“But since you’re living together, you need to be careful.”

My mother responded with a calm smile, and after looking at me, Satou-san seemed to sink like she was in a swamp.

That sight was irresistibly cute, so I thought, “We really should be careful.”

After the lively dinner party, I walked Satou-san back to her house.

On the summer night path where we walked side by side, I brought up what had been on my mind today.

“Satou-san called me Atsushi just now.”

At my mention, Satou-san panicked again and looked down.

“Oh, w-was that strange…?”

“It wasn’t strange. I was happy.”

I had always been called “Yamaguchi-kun,” and while I didn’t dislike it, we had talked about wanting to transition to calling each other by our names, but it felt embarrassing and we ended up dropping it.

But being called by my name again made me happy.

Maybe this was a good opportunity—to call each other by new names on her twenty-first birthday.

“Do you prefer to be called by your name, Yamaguchi-kun?”

She looked at me shyly and asked.

I nodded honestly.

“I don’t just want to be called that; I want to call you by your name too.”

“Eh…? Me too?”

“Yes.”

I had been thinking about it.

If I were to call Satou-san by her name, how would I do it? “Miyuki-chan” feels too overly affectionate, and calling her that now that she’s twenty seems childish. Plus, it’s a bit awkward since others call her that too. But calling her “Miyuki” just doesn’t fit my character, and “Miyuki-san” feels too distant.

So,

“Can I call you ‘Miyu’?”

I proposed this to her.

“I want to call you in a way that’s just mine.”

She looked at me in a daze. Maybe she had never been called that before. Even though her name, Satou Miyuki, is beautiful, I really want to call her in a way that’s just for me.

“Miyu.”

As I called her that again, her expression softened and warmed up slowly. Her eyes glistened a little, and her lips curled into a melting smile. Eventually, her lips moved a bit to say,

“What is it, Atsushi-kun?”

Then she giggled shyly and added,

“I thought ‘Ak-kun’ would be nice too, but that’s the same as a mouse, right? I also want my own special name.”

Fortunately, for now, I’m the only one who gets called “Atsushi-kun.” Relatives I rarely see might call me that, but that doesn’t count.

“Call me however you like, Miyu.”

“Okay. I’ll do that, Atsushi-kun.”

“Miyu, let’s keep getting along.”

“Atsushi-kun… you too, stay by my side forever.”

On the night of her twentieth birthday.

Nothing has changed; I’m still next to her, and she’s still next to me.

Today had many events, but they were all for the purpose of being by her side in the future. I would do anything for that, and I can do anything.

And she feels the same way.

To be by my side, she has done many things too.

“I want to be by your side no matter the time.”

What I longed for so much in high school is now within reach.

Saying that dreams come true is a cliché phrase, but for me, it did.

Dreams do come true. I am by her side.

On this summer night, savoring happiness.

The now twenty-year-old girl and I, still nineteen, walked hand in hand.

I think we can keep walking side by side, wherever it may lead.