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Chapter 282: Satou is Sweet
🕑 Added 2025-04-12 08:47:15 +0000 UTC[To live in this world, love and emotions are not the only things that matter—future and ambition are just as important.]
[Focusing on only one while ignoring the other is merely exchanging one extreme for another.]
[You shared these thoughts with Matsuzaka Satou.]
[And you asked her if there was anything she wanted to do or anywhere she wanted to go.]
[She thought for a long time—but in the end, she still shook her head.]
[Now that she was slowly regaining her emotions, she was lost. Simply holding onto you had already taken all of her energy and thoughts.]
[Making her consider an independent goal for her future—something even most modern young adults struggled with—was naturally overwhelming for her.]
[But your words were like seeds, planted in the barren soil of her mind. They made her realize that beyond love, she had so many other possibilities.]
[Her heart trembled at the thought.]
[After a moment of hesitation, she held your hand and softly told you that, although she hadn't found a goal yet, she did have a place she wanted to go.]
[How old had she been back then? Matsuzaka Satou could no longer remember.]
[But she vaguely recalled her aunt, Matsuzaka Sayuri, once telling her—]
[That when her parents were alive, they had longed to see the scenery of Mount Fuji.]
[They would camp there often, take in the view, and even took many photos of the place.]
[It was during that time that her mother became pregnant with her and named her 'Satou.']
[Why had they chosen the name 'Satou'? Was it because they wanted her to live a life filled with sweetness and happiness?]
[Why had they been so drawn to the sight of Mount Fuji? Weren't there other places just as beautiful?]
[Perhaps it was these thoughts that moved her, Matsuzaka Satou wanted to see the scenery her parents had once admired.]
[Maybe, now that she had regained emotions, she could experience the same feelings they once had.]
[She wanted to understand.]
[Why had her parents been so devoted to the view of Mount Fuji?]
[Hearing the quiet hope in her voice, and seeing the anticipation in her expression—]
[You reached out and patted her head, agreeing to her small, insignificant request.]
[You researched and decided that the best place to view Mount Fuji would be near Lake Kawaguchi in Yamanashi Prefecture.]
[After confirming everything with Matsuzaka Sayuri, you booked a winter camping trip.]
[You checked the weather forecasts, planned the route, and ensured that everything was in place.]
[And in this process, the promised day arrived quickly.]
[You both woke up early and set off for Yamanashi Prefecture.]
[The winter wind was biting cold. Holding a map, wrapped in a scarf, and wearing gloves, you stepped out of the station and led Matsuzaka Satouu, asking for directions as you both boarded a bus.]
[The winter chill turned her ears slightly red, so you instinctively reached out and used your hands to warm them.]
[Seeing you carrying large camping bags, she quietly picked up part of the load to help you.]
[The two of you supported each other as you walked along the not-so-long mountain trail.]
[The Kawaguchi Lake campsite was quiet in winter, with only a few scattered campers braving the cold weather.]
[The best time to view Mount Fuji was at sunrise.]
[At that moment, the orange sun would rise behind Mount Fuji, making the mountain appear as if it were holding up a radiant, orange-red gem. The mirror-like surface of Lake Kawaguchi would silently reflect this breathtaking scene…]
[Checking the time, you saw that there was still more than an hour until sunrise.]
[Using the knowledge you had learned from camping books and practiced in real scenarios, you quickly set up the tent for the two of you and then led her on a walk through the forest.]
[In the dry pine forest, the ground was covered with pinecones that crumbled underfoot, and her mood seemed to settle into a peaceful calm.]
[Everything was supposed to continue smoothly like this.]
[But it seemed that yesterday's Japanese weather forecaster must have had too much to drink and misread the predictions.]
[Because at this moment, the sky unexpectedly began to sprinkle a light snow.]
[This was not good news for the two of you.]
[Due to this untimely snowfall, the sunrise view of Mount Fuji that Matsuzaka Satouu had been eagerly anticipating might be completely obscured.]
[You frowned as you watched the situation unfold, considering whether to stay overnight at a nearby inn by Lake Kawaguchi.]
[However, at that moment, her small hand slipped into your palm.]
[You instinctively turned your head and found the girl gazing at your face.]
[In a soft voice, she told you that just having you here with her already made her so happy she could hardly contain herself.]
[Even if she couldn't see the most breathtaking view of Mount Fuji, it was enough.]
[Sparse white snowflakes drifted from the sky, as if wrapping the world in a quiet embrace.]
[You took off your glove, extended your other hand, and watched as the delicate flakes melted in your palm.]
[Meanwhile, she nestled against your side, her eyes fixed on the snowfall before her.]
[You pulled her closer.]
[The weather was cold…]
[Yet, for the first time, your hearts felt so warm—so close.]
[Perhaps it was as if the heavens had sensed the emotions in your hearts.]
[Or maybe Japan's weather forecast hadn't been wrong after all.]
[The snowfall lasted only half an hour before gradually fading away.]
[The air was colder than before, but the sky—now wiped clean by the passing snow—was a brilliant, pure blue.]
[Mount Fuji's snow-covered peak looked even more majestic beneath the clear sky.]
[And then, as if on cue, someone in the distance called out in surprise—"The sun's rising!"
[You and she lifted your heads, turning toward Lake Kawaguchi—toward the distant Mount Fuji.]
[It was a breathtaking, tranquil sight.]
[The sun itself had yet to fully emerge, but the edges of Mount Fuji were already glowing with its orange brilliance.]
[Slowly, steadily, the fiery orb rose from behind the mountain.]
[The lake, like a vast mirror, reflected Mount Fuji cradling the sun in its snowy hands.]
[But then, a breeze stirred the surface, shattering the reflection into rippling waves of orange light.]
[A dreamlike radiance spilled across the world, splitting it into two realms—light and shadow.]
[You held Matsuzaka Satou's hand, gazing at the awe-inspiring sight, and excitedly began explaining the scientific principles behind it.]
[But at that moment… Matsuzaka Satou wanted to tell you something.]
[She wanted to apologize.]
[Because even though you had come all this way just for her—]
[Now that the moment had arrived—]
[Her gaze wasn't on the mountain at all.]
[Instead, she found herself staring at your profile, bathed in the golden sunlight… unable to look away.]
In the simulation, the scene played out in vivid clarity.
Bundled in a thick winter coat, Minami stood still, watching the sun crest over the mountain's edge.
Beside him, Matsuzaka Satou, also wrapped in a warm coat, remained quiet.
The cold air bit at their skin.
Everything around them was painted in misty hues of orange and red, casting an almost surreal glow over the landscape.
The girl's gaze lingered on Minami.
She saw his lips, faintly flushed from the cold—
She saw the soft light caressing the curve of his neck.
And in that moment…
She finally understood why her mother and father had loved Mount Fuji's scenery so much.
Looking at Minami, she realized—
Perhaps the scenery itself didn't matter at all.
What truly mattered was… who was standing beside you as you admired it.
Minami, engrossed in the mountain sunrise, didn't notice—
That the expressionless girl beside him… was smiling.
She said nothing.
She simply leaned against him, watching the sun ascend over the mountains…
[The sunrise over Mount Fuji didn't last long.]
[After watching it fade, you turned to ask her about her thoughts.]
[Mostly, you wanted to know if she had found the reason why her parents had been so enamored with this place.]
[And why they had given her such an unusual name—"Satou."]
"I think I understand now."
Matsuzaka Satou sat beside Minami by the tent, turning her head toward the distant Mount Fuji.
"Oh?"
Minami, peeling off his damp socks, raised an eyebrow.
"What's the reason?"
"It's probably nothing special."
Matsuzaka Satou handed him a pair of dry socks.
After watching him slip them on, she continued.
"I think… it's because the snowy peak of Mount Fuji looks like a layer of white sugar."
"White sugar?"
Minami turned to glance at the mountain.
The snow-covered summit stretched across the horizon.
From this angle—
It really did look like a delicate dusting of sugar.
"…That's it?"
Minami stroked his chin.
He still didn't fully understand.
Naming a child was a significant decision.
Could it really have been made over something so simple?
But beside him, Matsuzaka Satou suddenly chuckled softly.
Her laughter was gentle—her long, delicate brows arching slightly, her pink eyes shimmering in the morning light.
She looked—incredibly beautiful.
"I think… that's exactly why they named me 'Satou.'"
Yes.
Perhaps there hadn't been any deeper reason.
Maybe—
Her parents had simply lifted their heads one day while admiring the mountain,
Seen the snowy peak—
And named her "Satou" after it.
That was all.
And that name…
Was a keepsake of the happiness they had once shared.
Matsuzaka Satou tilted her head slightly.
The orange morning light streamed through the trees, forming ethereal beams.
Through those beams—
It almost felt like she was gazing through time itself.
She could almost see a woman with pink hair, smiling warmly, gently cradling her stomach.
That woman turned to the man beside her, pointing toward the mountain—
And with bright eyes, declared the name of their unborn child—
"Satou."
"…But I wouldn't name my child Satou."
The pink-haired girl turned to Minami.
"Shio… Minami-senpai, what do you think of that name?"
"…Shio Shouji?"
Minami gave her a weird look.
Satou (sugar) was already a strange name.
And now she wanted to name someone Shio (salt)?
Was she trying to start a whole seasoning family?
Seeing his confused expression, Matsuzaka Satou smiled.
She didn't mind his reaction and continued,
"Satou is sweet, but before meeting Minami-senpai, my life was never sweet."
"Salt is bitter and sharp… I want my child to live a happy life from the very start. Unlike me."
She spoke slowly, her gaze shifting back to Mount Fuji.
There was one more thought she hadn't voiced.
Both sugar and salt were white.
This name wouldn't just be a tribute to her parents.
It would also be a tribute to her encounter with Minami…
[She spoke about "salt" and "sugar." You didn't fully understand, but you didn't interrupt her.]
[Because you could clearly tell—this girl, more than ever before, seemed… free. As if she had let go of the burdens she once carried.]
[You shook your head and tossed firewood into the portable stove, preparing a simple breakfast for her.]
[Later, you took her on a quiet stroll through the campsite.]
[It was such a small, simple thing… yet she never grew tired of it. That day, she talked with you more than ever before.]
[And before long, night had fallen.]
[Thanks to the high-quality sleeping bags, you didn't feel particularly cold.]
[But that night—she told you her plans for the future.]
[She wanted to aim for the University of Tokyo, just like you.]
