136 The Miyagi I Don't Know - Story About Buying My Classmate Once A Week

The Miyagi I Don't Know Chapter 136 "Nice to meet you." Half an hour had passed since we exchanged these common pleasantries, and I finally felt the concrete-like tension in my body begin to ease. My senior had told me that being a tutor wasn't as difficult as I imagined, but any first experience is enough to make anyone nervous. The tutoring job, which began as planned after the holidays, was not proceeding as smoothly as when I taught Miyagi. I was uncertain about the extent to which unrelated topics could be discussed and how close or distant I should be. My senior had advised me to act "teacher-like," but without a solid image of what that entailed, today had simply arrived. The first student I ever introduced myself to was a third-year junior high school student named Hanamaki Kikyo, who was now sitting across the table poring over her workbook until she was about to burn a hole in it. I sipped the barley tea her mother served. It was nostalgic. After school, Miyagi used to prepare barley tea for me as well. "Sensei?" Hanamaki-san looked up at me. The word "sensei," which I'd never been called until I started tutoring, felt ticklish and unsettling. "Is there something you don’t understand?" I directed my gaze to the notebook on the table, filled with her neatly written notes. Even within this short span, it was clear Hanamaki-san was a capable student, seemingly not in need of a tutor. While her mother had asked me to help prepare her for high school entrance exams, I couldn't help wondering if it was really necessary. "I don't have any questions, but why did you decide to become a tutor?" Our eyes met as Hanamaki-san directed her honest gaze towards me. Despite her active appearance with short hair, her voice was calm. Unlike Miyagi, her hair was tucked behind her ears. The uniform she wore made it clear she followed school rules, just like Miyagi. "Hmm..." I pondered aloud. "I like teaching others, I suppose." "Did you often teach people?" "I helped my friends." Although it wasn't the most accurate word to describe my relationship with Miyagi, being open with her about that wasn't an option here. I glossed over it with common words, steering the conversation away from the topic of "friends." "Are you the type who teaches others, Hanamaki-san? Or do you get taught?" "I'm the type who gets taught. My sister often helped me." I heard something I preferred not to, so I took a sip of barley tea. A more accomplished sister and me, adequate at best. As children, our parents adored us both, but once the gap between me and my sister became obvious, all their affection was directed solely at her. This altered parental attention drove a wedge between us sisters, one that's yet to be bridged. But still. In hindsight, perhaps it was for the best. Had my family remained unchanged from my childhood, I likely wouldn't have ended up living with Miyagi. With a deep breath, I drank the memories of my family along with the tea. "Is your sister not around to teach you now?" "She's at a high school with a dorm on a sports scholarship." "I see." I placed the empty glass back on the table. Hanamaki-san didn't strike me as someone whose sister would be athletically gifted, but that was trivial. What mattered was the atmosphere in the room had softened. A little tension isn't necessarily bad, but too much of it gets exhausting. Hanamaki-san and I weren't that many years apart. Yet, uncertain of where any commonalities lay, we continued with our studies amidst idle talk. Twice a week for ninety minutes. It seemed I'd need more time to grow accustomed to being Hanamaki-san's tutor. Nevertheless, just when we seemed to have warmed up to each other, the ninety minutes were up, concluding my day as a tutor. I exchanged pleasantries with her mother and headed to the entrance. As I put on my shoes, Hanamaki-san, whose height was similar to Miyagi’s, bowed slightly, saying, "Thank you," with a bright smile as she sent me off. It occurred to me that since living together, I hadn't seen Miyagi smile. I wished Miyagi would smile like Hanamaki-san did. I boarded the train home. Hanamaki-san was quick to understand, requiring little effort to teach. Unlike the not-so-straightforward Miyagi. Though, an overly honest Miyagi would also feel a bit strange. I found myself thinking uncharitable thoughts while swaying on an unfamiliar train. At the gate, I passed through and walked the familiar path. Climbing up the three flights of stairs, I opened the front door. Miyagi’s shoes were there, but she wasn't in the shared space. My stomach gave a low rumble. Miyagi knew I'd be late, so she should've eaten by now. Nonetheless, I knocked on her door just to confirm the obvious. Once, twice, three times. Miyagi peeked out momentarily before closing the door. "Have you eaten?" I asked before she could say anything. "I have." "What did you eat?" "Instant noodles," she replied, sounding disgruntled. "You should make real meals." "Does it matter what I eat? I'm by myself. Was that all you needed?" "Would you like to have some tea with me?" It wasn't my actual reason for knocking, but I decided to make it one for now. I would've invited her to dinner had she not eaten, but since she had, this would suffice. "What about your dinner, Sendai-san?" "I'll eat later." "You should eat first." "Then you can have some tea while I do." I pulled Miyagi to her seat before she could return to her room. I set the kettle to boil and opened the fridge. Although not Miyagi's preference, making something just for myself right now felt tedious. I boiled water in a pot to prepare some instant stew. While it warmed, I poured tea into a mug and served it to Miyagi. I ladled some rice onto a plate and topped it with stew. Though I'd usually serve them separately, today, I didn't want extra dishes. After the first tutoring session, I felt a fair bit exhausted. I decided to serve stew and rice together, just as Miyagi had done in the past. Placing it on the table, I sat down as Miyagi said, "Hey." "What was your student like at your tutoring job?" "She was a good kid. Seemed like she studies often and is well-mannered." "Interesting." Miyagi replied, sounding disinterested. "And, she seemed honest enough. Unlike you, Miyagi." I remarked teasingly, taking a bite of stew. After swallowing, I glanced at Miyagi, who lightly tapped the table with her fingertips. "I don't see a need to be honest around you." "Who are you honest with, then?" "Anyone but you." "Why am I not surprised?" A completely honest Miyagi would feel off, but every once in a while, I'd like to see her be straightforward. For instance, a Miyagi who would show me her ears if I asked. Unlike Hanamaki-san, Miyagi kept her ears hidden today as well. Her hair obstructed my view, preventing me from seeing the earrings she claimed to wear for me. I assumed she kept them hidden even at university, but if Utsunomiya expressed a desire to see them, Miyagi might reveal them willingly. A sigh threatened to escape, so I swallowed it along with my stew. After another spoonful, I spoke up. "Miyagi, you should show your ears since you're wearing those earrings," I suggested. Across the table, Miyagi furrowed her brow. After a moment of contemplation, she tucked her hair behind her ear. I almost dropped my spoon but managed to place it back on the plate. "Sendai-san, promise me something," Miyagi said, walking over to my side. "What kind of promise?" "Promise you'll cook tomorrow," she requested. "...Sure. What do you want to eat?" I reached out, touching her earrings in lieu of sealing the promise with a touch. Truthfully, I wanted to kiss her ear, but this Miyagi felt slightly different from the one I knew, leaving me unsure of how to proceed. "Whatever you like," she replied. As I considered various menu options in my head, I assured her with a simple, "Okay."