121 The Rules Sendai-san Must Follow - Story About Buying My Classmate Once A Week

The Rules Sendai-san Must Follow Chapter 121 I didn’t set an alarm before going to sleep. Even so, I woke up a little after six, which is quite early for a Sunday morning. “...I’m still sleepy.” I pull the black cat plushie that was lying beside my pillow into the duvet with me and place it on my chest. Gently stroking its head, I close my eyes. I always feel sleepy at night. Yet, I never sleep well, and I find myself waking up ridiculously early in the morning. It’s been like this ever since I moved here, leaving my mind feeling foggy. I wish I could blame Sendai-san for this, but the truth is, the problem lies with me. I’m not used to always having someone else in the house. Whenever I wake up in the morning, Sendai-san is there. Whenever I come back from university, she’s there too. Even on my days off. I had gotten used to being alone at home, so having another person’s presence constantly around in this new place makes it feel like I’m intruding in someone else’s house. Nevertheless, having things I brought from my previous room nearby, like the black cat, seems to help me sleep a bit better, so I've been keeping it by my pillow. I heave a deep sigh and open my eyes. On the floor, there’s an crocodile flaunting tissues from its back. Little things like having items in their rightful spots make this place feel like it’s really my home. I hope that this room will quickly feel like my own. I sluggishly get up and open the closet. Mornings always leave me indecisive. I never know if it’s okay to leave the room in sweats or if I should change first. Before moving here, I’d always do things like eat breakfast or brush my teeth in my lounge wear right after getting up. But now, with Sendai-san around, I feel awkward wandering around in sweats that I use as pajamas. Sendai-san is probably still asleep. What to do? After some thought, I grab a cut and sew top and denim pants, changing into them. Just as I'm about to leave the room, I pick up the black cat from the bed. Entering each other’s rooms without permission isn’t allowed. While this is the rule, Sendai-san tends to break rules occasionally. To prepare for whatever may happen, I place the black cat on the bookshelf. It might not matter where a plush toy is kept, but if Sendai-san knew I kept the black cat by my pillow, she might make comments I’d rather avoid. The black cat relocated from its usual spot. The crocodile on the floor. The made bed. I check over everything before leaving the room. There’s no sign of Sendai-san in the shared dining kitchen. Even after brushing my teeth and washing my face, she’s still nowhere to be found. I open the fridge and take out some orange juice. Pouring it into a glass, I glance across the table. There’s a bag with the remainder of the bread. I take a seat and place my glass next to the bag. Not knowing Sendai-san’s preferences, I picked out a bit of everything, which resulted in more food than needed for just the two of us. I don’t mind bread, but it was certainly an over-purchase. “Morning.” Along with the voice, a just-woken Sendai-san enters my field of vision. “Morning.” “I’m going to wash my face.” She mutters sleepily, disappearing into the washroom. I take a sip of my orange juice. Time seems to drag on. It feels like a minute is as long as during a boring class. Even if I were to climb back into bed, I wouldn’t be able to sleep. Yet staying here, there’s nothing much to do. I’m debating returning to my room when I hear Sendai-san’s voice. “Is this okay for breakfast?” Turning towards her voice, I see Sendai-san lifting the bread bag while looking at the glass, not at me. “It’s fine.” “Isn’t Miyagi waking up a bit early?” “So is Sendai-san.” “I just happened to wake up.” Dressed in oversized sweats and denim pants, likely her lounge wear, she says this as she stretches before sitting down. Her gaze remains fixed on my glass, and reluctantly, I ask, “Do you want some?” “Just a sip would be nice.” “Go ahead then.” Without waiting for a reply, I hand the glass to Sendai-san. Without looking at me, she says “thanks” and takes a sip of the juice. True to her word, she only takes one sip before placing the glass back on the table. Mornings sometimes pass like this, with Sendai-san and I not meeting each other’s eyes. Perhaps it’s just my imagination, or maybe she’s just not fully awake yet, lost in her sleepiness. Either way, it doesn’t feel particularly pleasant. During such moments, I can almost hear a creaking sound deep inside me as if my bones are grinding. “Sendai-san, just finish it.” “I don’t need anymore.” “What about the rest?” “You can drink it, Miyagi.” Though, unusually, the conversation continues somehow. Perhaps this is thanks to the rules we established yesterday. It seems there will still be time before Sendai-san seamlessly fits into my life, but it’s a lot better than before. However, I don’t think this conversation will last, so I voice a method to pass the time without needing to converse before an awkward silence can settle. “I’m going to eat breakfast. How about you, Sendai-san?” Upon declaring this, Sendai-san stands up. “I’ll eat. I’ll get some orange juice; are you staying, Miyagi?” “No, I don’t need anything. Also, no plate.” “Why not?” “Less to wash.” “Well, true.” An unsatisfied voice reaches me and shortly after, Sendai-san returns with a glass of orange juice. “Sendai-san, you choose first.” “I chose first yesterday. Miyagi, you go first this time.” “I’ll take whatever’s left.” I slide the bag of bread over to where Sendai-san is seated. The bag glides smoothly across the table to a stop. After glancing at me briefly, she pulls out a walnut roll and a sweet butter anpan from the bag and then pushes the now lighter bag back to me. “Thanks for the food.” Saying this, Sendai-san bites into the walnut roll. I echo her words, pulling out a cream-filled bread. Ever since my mother left, I had more time alone. Now, Sendai-san spends more time with me than anyone else does. —Despite not having paid five thousand yen. Being roommates, I know that five thousand yen isn’t necessary between us. I take a bite of the cream bread and glance at Sendai-san. Things are different from before. I understand that. Sendai-san arranged this roommate relationship, and I accepted it. However, even in this new arrangement, I couldn’t help but wonder why she complied with my demands for a five thousand yen she never used. To me, the five thousand yen was necessary to keep Sendai-san close, something I couldn’t afford to lose. For Sendai-san, it had to be a reluctant reward to follow orders. Something not to be saved up unused. If it were unused like that, I would start to feel as if I had worth beyond the five thousand yen. Despite knowing that shouldn’t be possible, I start to believe it. There were times I wondered if she just wanted to kiss or touch me because she was interested in those things. However, I knew I wasn’t worth that much. In fact, a person like Sendai-san wouldn't have trouble finding someone to spend time with, regardless of gender. Back in high school, I heard rumors a few times that Sendai-san had been confessed to. I even confirmed with her once, so it’s undeniable that she has her fair share of admirers. Would Sendai-san have spent the same amount of time with me even without the five thousand yen? Would she still have let me give her orders? I don’t know anymore. But even now, with the five thousand yen out of the picture, Sendai-san remains by my side. When I start wondering why, my mind becomes uneasy and restless. However, if I were to ask her the reason, it feels like it might change our current relationship once again. Since I chose to continue rather than end it, it’s vital for our roommate relationship to persist. “Miyagi, if that’s not tasty, do you want to switch with this?” Sendai-san picks up the sweet butter anpan. I take a bite of my cream bread, having barely eaten half of it. “It’s fine. I was just spacing out because I’m sleepy.” “How about having lunch outside?” With that suggestion, Sendai-san finishes off her remaining piece of walnut roll in one bite. “I’m okay with that. After I finish this, I’ll be in my room until it’s time to go.” “Got it.” We chat in bits and pieces, exchanging unimportant remarks as we eat. We don’t necessarily share common interests. In the past, a pause in conversation didn’t bother me. However, ever since moving here, the silence feels heavy. In search of topics, we try to keep the conversation flowing, all while finishing the remaining orange juice and bread. “What time should we leave here?” “If we go at twelve, we might get hungry, so let’s say around eleven?” “Alright, eleven it is.” I leave those words with Sendai-san and return to my room. I pass the time lying on the bed or reading manga. Even though it feels uncomfortable, leaving the room isn't an option. Heading out to the shared space is even more uncomfortable. Focused solely on passing time, I stay holed up in my room until the appointed time approaches. I open the closet and eye a spring-colored skirt. Since purchasing it after graduation, I had never worn it. I pick it up and lay it on the bed. I wonder. If I leave the room wearing this skirt, it will seem like I wore it because Sendai-san told me to. Even if it was just by chance that I noticed it in the closet and decided to wear it, it would appear as though I dressed like this for her. I end up putting the skirt back into the closet and opting for a knit sweater instead. Wearing the sweater over my cut and sew top, I leave the room. “Are you ready?” Sendai-san, who seems to have been waiting for me, calls out, to which I reply, “I’m ready.” Her oversized sweatshirt has been replaced with a blouse. “Then, let’s go.” Without saying anything about me not wearing a skirt, she leads the way. I know her words yesterday were just whims. Her comment wasn’t meant seriously; she didn’t actually have a desire to see me in a skirt. With her bag in hand, Sendai-san starts walking. I follow her out the door.