362 - Story About Buying My Classmate Once A Week

**Chapter 362** As soon as I step into the shared space, Sendai-san grabs my arm. "What are you planning to do now, Miyagi?" she asks softly. "I'm going back to my room." "Then, can I come to your room?" "What will you say if I say no?" "I'll keep asking until you say yes." "That makes saying no pointless." "It does have a point. If you say absolutely not, I won't come." Does she think I won't refuse her? Sendai-san says this with a smile and again asks if she can come to my room. It's little things like this about her that really get on my nerves. We just got back from the cafe where Mio-san invited us, and I'm exhausted. Sendai-san's antics today have been over the top, so I have every right to tell her no. I could kick her in the shin and just head back to my room—case closed. "Miyagi," she murmurs, brushing her fingers against a four-leaf clover necklace. I grip her hand tightly, meeting her eyes. "That hurts," she complains. "It'll hurt more," I retort, gripping her hand harder and harder. A frown appears on her forehead, but she no longer complains about the pain. Leaning her forehead against mine, she asks, "Can I kiss you?" in her usual ridiculous manner. So, I kick her shin. "...You’re making hamburg steak for dinner tomorrow, Sendai-san." I've already eaten at the cafe, so there's no need to prepare dinner tonight. Hence, Sendai-san will be responsible for tomorrow's meal. "Tomorrow's hamburg steak?" she asks. "If you don't want to, then forget it." "It's fine. I'll do it." Her soft voice brushes against my ear as her lips lightly touch the charm on my earring, sealing our little promise for tomorrow’s dinner. "Is barley tea alright for you, Miyagi? Once I put down my bag, I'll bring some tea to your room." I hadn't explicitly said she couldn't come to my room, but I never said she could either. Yet, she seems intent on coming all the same. It’s not worth arguing about, so I simply respond, "I'll have soda," and head back to my room. I set my bag down and sit on the bed. Meeting Maika and Mio-san at the cafe wasn't entirely unenjoyable, but if they ask me to meet up again tomorrow, I'm tired enough to decline. Seeing Sendai-san smile so accommodatingly for everyone is not particularly entertaining, nor is just listening to her accommodate everyone with her words. *Sigh.* I exhale deeply and tug at my hair. There's so much I want to say to Sendai-san about today, but I don't even know where to start. I sigh again, absentmindedly moving my feet, pondering the most pressing issue. Maika and Mio-san come to mind. There were plenty of subjects they brought up today that I wish had been left unsaid. Pressing my feet against the floor, I exhale once more when a knock sounds at the door, and Sendai-san's voice follows. "Miyagi, may I come in?" "Just a sec; I'll open it." I stand up from the bed and open the door. Holding glasses in each hand, Sendai-san comes in saying, "Thank you," and places the glasses on the table. As I sit in front of the soda, Sendai-san naturally sits beside me and takes a sip of her tea. "Are you not tired?" Her gentle voice reaches me. I take a sip of soda and gaze at her chest. "Of course I'm tired. But more importantly, why did you tell them it was a birthday present from me?" "What do you mean by 'it'?" Feigning ignorance, she asks with exaggerated innocence, prompting me to put my glass down and tug at the four-leaf clover pendant. "This." "The necklace?" "Yeah." "Would it have been better to tell the truth?" "...No, it wouldn't." "I thought you would say that, which is why I said it was a birthday present." "There was no need to say that, though. You could have just chosen not to say who it was from." I release the four-leaf clover and glare at Sendai-san. "Would you have preferred that I said it was from a friend?" Such a lie would be intolerable. I press my hand against Sendai-san's chest, firmly securing the necklace. "This necklace still signifies that you belong to me, doesn't it?" "I will never forget. That's why I wanted to say it was from you, Miyagi. If I had to say anything, it had to be that it was a birthday gift. I don't want anyone else to misunderstand." Her words resonate with me through the palm of my hand. Her words align with my feelings. There's no way what I gifted could be mistaken as something from someone else. There are things one wants to hide with truth rather than the lies they wish they didn't have to tell. Sendai-san shows me how to differentiate between what should be protected by truth and what should be shielded by lies. "Hey, Miyagi. How did you feel when I said the necklace was from you?" Sendai-san secures my hand. Our hands are intertwined, the four-leaved clover pressed close to me. "Why do you even want to know?" "I simply want to know your feelings." "Feelings...?" Her intent is unclear, and I lower my voice. I try to withdraw my hand from the necklace, but she clasps it even tighter. We are incredibly close now. The emblem of mine, the warmth that belongs only to me, transmits truthfully to me, suffocating me. But as our hands remain entwined, I can't escape contemplating. Earlier, Maika expressed curiosity about who gifted Sendai-san the necklace and, smoothly, Sendai-san answered, "Miyagi." Calling it a birthday present was a lie, but there was truth in the word "Miyagi." Back then, I— "Did it bother you, or did it upset you?—or perhaps, were you happy?" Sendai-san breathes calmly, asking me, "Which was it?" while gripping my hand around the necklace. Looking up, Sendai-san meets my gaze, and I draw closer to her with my lips. Instead of conveying the mixed feelings from truth wrapped in lies, I long for a kiss. Barely brushing against her lips, I bite her neck. My lips trail along the chain to the four-leaf clover, where I leave a kiss. "...Does this mean you don't want to say?" A soft voice reaches me, and I kiss Sendai-san again. Over and over. Repeated kisses that merely touch. "Miyagi, that's unfair." I don't quite understand what she finds unfair, but in between kisses, Sendai-san mutters under her breath before pressing her lips more firmly against mine. Her warm, wet tongue slips inside, blending our body heat together. Without resisting, I intertwine my tongue with hers, and she hugs me so tightly that I can barely breathe, our kiss deepening and deepening. Running out of oxygen, I push against Sendai-san's shoulder. Yet she still won't let me go. Only when I bite her tongue does she finally release both her hold and her lips. "I never said you could kiss me this much," I protest. "You were the one who started it, weren't you?" she counters. "Still, kissing until I can't breathe? That's just stupid." Grabbing the tail of the crocodile under the table, I swing its oversized mouth towards Sendai-san. "Ouch." "That doesn't hurt, does it? And anyway, what was that all about, Sendai-san?" "What do you mean by 'that'?" "...The birthday." "The birthday? What about it?" "We ended up deciding on a gathering for the four of us under the pretext of celebrating a birthday, and now it looks like I'll have to wear a yukata again next year." "The birthday isn't my fault. It was you who suggested we should all meet up, Miyagi." It's true; when Mio-san proposed, "Let's celebrate both birthdays together sometime," I responded with, "Let's all get together." But it was Sendai-san who set the stage for me to say something unnecessary. "All because you said you already had plans for my birthday." A celebration for Hazuki & Shiori's birthday—I had to suggest it after Sendai-san casually mentioned to Mio-san, "We already have plans on Miyagi's birthday." "I didn't want to make up some excuse about your birthday, so I had to tell the truth. We agreed last year to eat a whole cake and drink together for your birthday, right?" Sendai-san holds my hand and leans against the bed. Her hand in mine is warm. "Miyagi, let’s go somewhere together for your birthday." Her gentle voice reaches me. "We’re not going anywhere." "Since we already went to the festival, I guess it's okay. But on the actual day, you'll help with the cooking?" "What? So I'm cooking again this year? I already helped with the dishes on your birthday too, and all I seem to do is cook." "It's more fun cooking together, right? Also, can we sleep together tonight?" Sendai-san cheekily sneaks in a question I almost miss. "Why do I have to sleep with you, Sendai-san?" "Because I feel like I haven't had enough time to feel like I'm yours." "What does that even mean?" "It’s just sleeping together, so it’s fine, right?" "...Promise it on the earring." "Alright," she agrees. Then she whispers, "We'll only sleep and chat," followed by a kiss on my earring.