120 - Story About Buying My Classmate Once A Week

Chapter 120 "Isn't this a bit too much?" I placed a slightly larger-than-usual bag on the table and looked at Miyagi. She came back earlier than I expected, which was a relief. I had hoped she'd return quickly. But when she handed me the bag with a "Here you go," I found more bread than two people could possibly eat inside. It was so surprising that I couldn't help but remark. "I bought extra because Maika said the bread from that shop is delicious." Hearing Utsunomiya's name made my temple twitch involuntarily. Miyagi kept her promise to "bring something to eat" and I hadn't specified what that "something" should be. So, it wasn't a problem that the bread Utsunomiya recommended was in the bag, but I wasn't in the mood to hear her name. "Bread is something you eat in the morning or at lunch, not really at night, right?" I directed these unreasonable words at Miyagi, who stood a few steps ahead with a rather indifferent expression. "Then don’t eat it," she replied in a low voice, filling the not-so-spacious dining kitchen with a tense atmosphere. I wasn't trying to start this kind of conversation. The bread wasn't at fault, and neither was Utsunomiya. The problem was my mood, and this wouldn't lead to a discussion if I continued like this. Calm down. I told myself. "I'm hungry, so let's eat. I'll get us something to drink. Miyagi, is soda okay?" Without waiting for her reply, I headed to the fridge. I took out some orange juice and soda, pouring them into glasses. Though we could just bite into the bread straight from the bag, it wouldn’t feel like a proper dinner. I took two plates from the cupboard and handed one to Miyagi. After setting the glasses down and sitting, Miyagi sat on the opposite side of the table. "You can pick whatever you like, Sendai-san." "Okay," I said, placing a ham and cheese croissant and a croquette bun on my plate. "And you, Miyagi?" When I asked her, as she was looking intently at me, she placed a potato salad bun and a sausage roll on her plate. "Let's eat." Though it wasn't synchronized, our voices overlapped. "Miyagi, did you tell Utsunomiya that you live with me?" Instead of diving straight into the main issue, I brought up something that had been bothering me for a while. "I told her." "Did she say anything?" "Not really." Miyagi replied curtly and took a bite out of her potato salad bun. "You're definitely not telling her about me, are you?" Utsunomiya, who was curious about the nature of my relationship with Miyagi, wouldn't just say nothing upon finding out about our living arrangement. "I told her." Miyagi munched on her bread without lifting her gaze from the plate, avoiding my eyes altogether. No matter how I think about it, I doubt Miyagi talked about me with Utsunomiya. But there’s no point in grilling her about how she explained our situation to Utsunomiya. Pressing her would only lead to more evasions, and I don't need to know the truth. It's just a minor itch of curiosity. "...Did you wait for me today because you wanted to ask about that?" Miyagi asked without lifting her gaze. I took another bite of croissant, swallowed, and then spoke. "Talking about Utsunomiya was just a prelude. Let's talk about the main issue now. How about we set some rules?" At my words, Miyagi finally lifted her head. "Rules?" "Yeah, rules for living together. It'll be easier if we have some things established, don't you think?" "Sendai-san, you can decide. Just let me know afterwards." Miyagi responded nonchalantly, standing up with the sausage roll still on her plate. This reaction was within my expectations. I half-expected that she might not even eat dinner with me, so having her sit across from me and eat bread was enough to make me want to praise her. But if she runs now, we'll fall back into the same old routine. "You're okay with me deciding? So if I make a rule that we have to kiss every day, you won’t complain?" I sipped some orange juice and put the glass back on the table. "Of course I'd complain." "Then join in on the discussion." "...What sort of rules are you thinking of?" Miyagi sat back down and looked at me. "Things like trash disposal, cleaning duties, meal arrangements. Stuff like that." In truth, I wanted to know if it’s still okay to kiss like before, or to touch each other. I’m dissatisfied with this current life where everything from Miyagi's room seems to have vanished. But probably, it’s better if I don’t voice those thoughts yet. We need to get used to a completely normal life now. We need to establish rules essential for a shared living space and learn to live as roommates without feeling stifled. "Then I’d like a rule about not entering each other's rooms without permission." Miyagi murmured, taking a bite of the sausage roll. "I haven’t entered your room, but having that rule is a good idea. Any other rules you think we need?" "Other rules? Let me think..." Miyagi mumbled as if to herself. When I suggested a few rules, it prompted some ideas from Miyagi as well. We decided on allowing friends over but not for sleepovers, and informing each other about overnight plans. As we set necessary rules and some that seemed less essential, time passed—not too long but not short either—before Miyagi spoke with a slightly fatigued voice. "We don't need any more rules, do we?" I took another sip of orange juice and then looked at Miyagi. "How about having a meal together at least once a week?" I asked as casually as possible. "Just once a week?" "Yeah." "I'm okay with that..." Her words trailed off. But she seemed to want to say more, so I prompted her with "But?" "Not just when you’re staying out overnight, but let me know when you'll be late too... That way, we can have meals together on other days as well. We used to eat together before." Miyagi spoke quickly and in a soft voice. "So you're okay with having meals together more than once a week?" "If you don’t want to, we won’t." "We'll make that a rule, so let's have meals together on other days too. Then make sure to tell me if you'll be late, Miyagi." A small "Okay" came back in response. I hadn’t expected Miyagi to express a desire to share meals more often than once a week. It was a minor thing, but I felt relieved that she still sought something unchanged amid our new lifestyle. "Then, Miyagi, if we break a rule, there’s a penalty game." I doubt Miyagi would break any rules, but having a provision might make it harder to forget them. Most of the rules we made aren’t serious if broken. But I at least want to ensure we share meals together once a week. It's a trivial rule, but it's one I hope she sticks to. I hope she feels the same way. "What kind of penalty?" "Well... How about the one who breaks it has to do one thing the other says?" The content of the penalty game should have enough weight to hold meaning, rather than being too easy or trivial. It ought to be somewhat cumbersome to serve its purpose. "That's fine, but don't forget—it's you, Sendai-san, who's going to break the rules," Miyagi stated with a hint of cheekiness, staring straight at me. Well, I suppose I don't exactly have her trust. When I reflect on my past actions, I can understand Miyagi's words. However, I can't readily admit to being the one who'll break the rules. "I won't break them, it's fine," I asserted, finishing off the remainder of my croissant in one bite. The mix of ham and cheese settled in my stomach as I reached for the croquette bun. "Hey, Sendai-san." "What is it?" While taking a bite of the croquette bun, I glanced at Miyagi. "When we eat together, who’s going to cook?" "Since we're eating together, we'll cook together." After I answer matter-of-factly, Miyagi gave me a weary look. "By the way, Miyagi, I want to buy an electric kettle. Is it okay if I do?" I shifted the conversation to avoid Miyagi suddenly deciding she wouldn’t join me for meals. "You don’t have to tell me that. Just go buy it yourself." "I can't just buy it on my own—it’s something we'll both use." "Fine, buy it then. I'll pitch in for the money." "You don’t need to. Since we'll both use it, we’ll buy it with that money." Miyagi furrowed her brows at my suggestion. "But that's your money, Sendai-san." "It's our money now." "But it was originally given to you." The money we referred to was originally from my savings jar, and Miyagi's statement wasn't incorrect. While it wasn’t all of it, some of that money was used when signing the contract for this place. Miyagi’s parents eventually returned it before we moved in, though. It's a straightforward idea without much need for reflection—of course, Miyagi’s parents wouldn't simply ignore the situation when their daughter decided to share a room. They reimbursed exactly half of the money involved in the contract, covering what I had spent. Even knowing that, I don’t want to use that money for myself. Yet, even if I offer to return it to Miyagi, she wouldn’t accept it. So, I’ve been keeping it for both of us, despite Miyagi’s dissatisfaction. "Well, either way, let’s just go buy it together." Leaving unresolved problems aside, I returned to the topic of the electric kettle. "What if I say I don't want to go?" "Then you'll be stuck boiling water for me with a saucepan forever." I gave her a bright smile, at which Miyagi grimaced as if she’d bitten into something sour. "...When are we going to buy it?" "Tomorrow. Do you have plans with Utsunomiya?" I didn’t want to put off our plans, thinking it would render today's agreements pointless if delayed. "...No, I don’t have plans. Tomorrow's fine." Miyagi mumbled, finishing off the remaining sausage roll. "Hey, Miyagi. Why don't you wear a skirt tomorrow?" The tense air had softened a bit, so I threw out a trivial suggestion. "No way." "You answered too quickly, don’t you think?" "I have no reason to wear a skirt." "Because I like your legs, Miyagi." Since coming here, I haven’t seen Miyagi in a skirt. I don't wear skirts often myself, and even today I’m not in one, but I find myself wanting to see Miyagi’s legs again. Spending quite a bit of time in uniforms back in that room made her skirt-clad appearance more familiar to me. "I'm absolutely not wearing one." "Figured as much." "Do you really want to see them that badly?" "If you'd let me." I can’t tell her now, nor do I plan to, but truthfully, I want to touch her legs. Not just her legs—I want to casually touch Miyagi, like I routinely did back in high school. I find myself missing those orders as much as I regret they have ceased to be. "You're such a pervert, Sendai-san." I expected her to say that. But honestly, I prefer a Miyagi who speaks her mind like that.