The Correct Japanese Terms of Homestay Seems to Be Marriage - Chapter 1

Farewell

“Sniff… sob… sniff…”

In front of a certain private house, a certain girl is crying with her eyes swollen red.

The adults around her have troubled expressions on their faces, and the boy next to her, whose hand is being firmly held, looks even more distressed.

“We have to go soon, or we’ll miss the plane.”

“…I don’t want to… I don’t want to go back…”

Despite the boy’s attempts to persuade her, the girl refuses to listen.

She keeps her head down, shaking it and stubbornly throwing a tantrum.

“But you have to go back. Your family is waiting for you over there, right?”

“…I want to stay in Japan forever and ever…”

In a voice that seemed about to disappear, the girl murmured while sobbing.

“If you like Japan that much, you can just come back again.”

“…I don’t want to be apart… I don’t want to be without you…”

While tightening her grip on the boy’s hand, the girl repeatedly shakes her head.

“I want to be with you forever too, but it’s not good for you.”

“For me…?”

The girl looked up curiously at the boy’s words, tilting her head.

“If you keep staying with me, you’ll just rely on me forever, right? Is that okay with you? If that happens, you won’t be able to make any other friends.”

“I don’t care… I don’t need other friends…”

The girl shook her head again. Without hesitation, she firmly stated she didn’t need other friends.

To the stubborn girl, the boy exhaled softly.

“That’s not good. Then, when I can’t be by your side, you’ll be all alone. I’m not saying you have to get along with just anyone, but… if you can’t even have a casual conversation with other people, I think you’ll have trouble in the future.”

Lifting the golden bangs that covered the girl’s eyes with his free hand, the boy looked straight into her blue eyes, speaking in a persuasive tone.

“…Then… if I can make friends… can we be together forever and ever…?”

Finally showing a willingness to move forward, the girl asked the boy while gripping his hand tightly again.

“Of course. Then there’s nothing to worry about.”

“I understand… I’ll do my best…”

The boy smiled softly, accepting the girl’s wish.

The girl gripped the boy’s hand as if enveloping it with both of hers.

“…I’ll do my best over there… I’ll make friends…”

“…?”

The girl seemed to want to say something.

The boy quietly waited for her to continue.

“Sniff… If we meet again… will you make me your wife…?”

With teary eyes, the girl looked at the boy and asked with all her courage. It was what you’d call a reverse proposal.

Hearing this, the boy gently placed his palm on the girl’s head and said without any hesitation,

“Ah, of course.”

Without realizing the deep emotions behind those words, he agreed readily.

“It’s a promise, unbroken promise…”

“I promise, absolutely.”

The girl hugged him tightly, and the boy, being hugged, stroked her head.

After a while, urged by the adults around them, the girl reluctantly got into the car.

“Take care. Apart from making friends, make sure you can wash your hair and go to the bathroom by yourself at night. And well… do your best in various things. I’ll do my best too. Right!”

The boy said his farewells through the window. Giving a thumbs up, he flashed a carefree smile at the girl.

“…Yes, I’ll do my best… I’ll definitely come back here again…”

Holding back her overflowing tears, the girl tried her best to smile and nodded repeatedly.

“See ya! Take care!!”

With no time to spare, the car carrying the girl hurriedly drove off.

The car became smaller and smaller until it turned into something smaller than a bean and disappeared from sight.

Even after the car was out of sight, the boy continued to wave his hand, staring down the road where the car had disappeared.

The half-year-long homestay, which seemed long yet short, had finally come to an end at this moment.

“Alright… I have to work hard so I won’t lose to her!”

Clasping his fist tightly, the boy made a firm resolve in his heart.

Deciding so, he couldn’t stay like this any longer. Cutting off his lingering feelings, he turned around and went back home.

The house felt very spacious without the girl.