156 - Story About Buying My Classmate Once A Week

Chapter 156 Miyagi pressed her shoulder against mine, yet she didn’t attempt to hold my hand, so I took the initiative. She didn't voice any complaints, and we watched the movie with our hands intertwined. Though I desired to draw closer, I knew any unnecessary movement might disrupt our shared moment, leaving us separated. So, I quietly continued to watch the screen. The film was a typical romance—not boring, but lacking something to call it captivating. Still, as Miyagi watched without a word, I too stayed focused on the characters moving across the tablet screen. Around us, the rumbling of thunder had ceased, and time flowed on silently. “Want to watch something else after this?” I asked as the screen neared the end credits. But there was no reply. I turned to see her eyelids closed, lingering longer than a blink would, unsurprising after nearly two hours of watching. I thought perhaps it was time for Miyagi to rest. However, if she were to sleep here, she'd have to use my bed, and I doubted she would. Suggesting she sleep would probably send her back to her own room. I didn’t want to say anything. I wanted her to stay here. Yet, I couldn't just leave her drifting off without a word. “Miyagi, if you’re sleepy, it’s okay to fall asleep.” I reached out to the tablet and paused the screen on a rather odd pose of the protagonist. A sleepy voice came from beside me. “I’m fine.” “You’re half asleep.” “I’m not. I’m awake.” “Will you be able to watch until the end?” “...I’ll go back to my room.” Predictably, she opted to leave, and I tightened my grip around her hand before she could get up. “I remember our promise—please use the bed.” “No, I’ll sleep in my room.” Sleepy as she was, Miyagi stated this clearly. I understood her hesitation to sleep here, yet I didn’t want her to leave. Unsure of how to keep her here, I held her hand even tighter. “When exactly is ‘now’ in Sendai-san’s terms?” The promise made with the earrings—no strange actions—came with the condition of “now,” but Miyagi wasn’t going to leave that undefined. I needed to choose my words carefully, lest she leave the room. “Until you leave this room.” Her hand slipped free of mine. Yet she didn’t rise. “I’ll keep watching the movie, then.” With my added words, a small voice came from beside me. “Until when?” “Until morning.” “...I’ll borrow the bed.” Miyagi muttered, moving to lie back on the bed. I dimmed the lights, leaving only a night lamp on. Plugging in my earphones to the tablet, I hit play. The protagonist, frozen in a strange pose, resumed their movement, and the plot advanced toward the end credits. Yet, I found myself unable to follow the story, my mind fixated on Miyagi behind me. The movie merely played on; my consciousness lingered on my back, preventing me from moving. I shouldn't focus on it. Thinking this didn’t make it any easier. My back felt tense. As I inhaled softly, attempting to exhale slowly, something bumped against my back. When I took out my earphones and turned around, I found it was my pillow and Miyagi sat up on the bed. “Sendai-san.” “What?” “Do you really remember our promise?” Her voice demanded assurance. "I do. I remember." I replied firmly, hoping she’d feel assured enough to sleep peacefully. She responded with a soft spoken offer. “...Use half of the bed.” “Half, huh? Aren’t you the one who called this room my territory?” “But the bed’s my territory now.” “Why’s that?” She hit me with the pillow as I reflexively asked. “You said I could use the bed, right? So, it’s my territory, and I’ll lend half to you, Sendai-san.” The ownership of the bed had apparently shifted to Miyagi. Yet, the ownership of the bed seemed trivial compared to the significance of sleeping beside her. “Are you sure it’s okay for me to use half?” “Watch the movie if you’d rather not.” Miyagi remarked curtly, turning her back to lie down. “I’m going to sleep.” I switched off the tablet. Miyagi occupied the wall side of the bed, leaving me to slip into the open space beside her. “It’s kind of cramped.” A voice of discontent sounded from beside me. Miyagi’s tendency to voice complaints despite offering half the bed made me think it was fairly typical of her. “It’s a single bed. Should we buy a double?” “No need. I won't sleep here again.” Awake now, her voice was much firmer. “Then perhaps I’ll share ghost stories every night?” “If you do, I’ll never speak to you again.” That prompted me to retract my suggestion, still, Miyagi curled her back, pulling the cover away. Although it wasn’t particularly cold, more like warm, the thought of not being able to watch Miyagi through the layers of blanket felt dull. I’d rather see Miyagi’s back than the blanket. Moreover, I wanted to touch it. Frankly, even remove the sweater and blanket, reaching beneath to touch her directly. But I couldn’t break my promise. Should I violate the vow sworn upon the earrings, Miyagi would surely be genuinely upset. Yet still desiring some contact, I nudged the blanket aside to grasp the fabric of her sweater. “Sendai-san, aren’t you going to sleep?” Came a low voice. “Not yet. Miyagi, would you turn this way?” “Why?” “I want to kiss you.” I voiced something I knew she wouldn’t agree to. “Not right now.” Just as expected, a soft refusal returned, but it was less rigid than anticipated, prompting me to gently touch her back over the sweater. “Miyagi, you’re stingy.” “Being stingy is fine.” She showed no sign of turning. When I tapped her curled back with my finger, Miyagi called my name, “Sendai-san,” in an unusually serious tone. “What is it?” “...About the earrings.” Her words trailed off. “What about them?” “Do they have a meaning?” She spoke softly enough that I almost missed it. “A meaning?” “The earrings, they’re based on plumeria flowers, right?” She replied with a question. “Yeah.” “I looked up the flower’s meaning.” “What did you find?” “...Nobility, and shy maidens.” “Sounds perfect for you, Miyagi.” “You don’t really think that.” An annoyed voice reached me. I withdrew my hand from her back, exhaling softly. I had anticipated she might look up the plumeria’s meaning. Therefore, the flower’s meaning itself wasn’t significant. "The earrings are there as a reminder of promises, nothing more. Don't worry about any hidden meaning. Or would you have preferred they held some significance?" "...No, it’s fine," Miyagi muttered, then fell silent. I felt a sense of relief that she didn't press further. Miyagi wasn’t wrong, though. The truth is, the earrings do have meaning. To be precise, it’s not the flower language but the essence encompassed within the plumeria motif in jewelry. It’s a wish for the happiness of someone dear. That’s the true intention behind the earrings adorning Miyagi's ears. Initially captivated by the small plumeria flower earrings, my research led me to the deeper meanings within Hawaiian jewelry. Thus, I chose them to adorn Miyagi’s ears. Yet, I didn’t want her to know they carried such a significance. “Just think of them as a charm of sorts,” I suggested nonchalantly, pulling back the covers that Miyagi had claimed, and draping them over myself. As long as I’m the only one aware of the meaning behind the earrings, it’s fine. If Miyagi learned of their significance, she’d never wear them. Even if she did catch on, I’d feign ignorance. “Miyagi, you were sleepy, right? You should get some rest.” “You should sleep too, Sendai-san.” “I will, you don’t have to tell me.” Knowing the meaning behind the earrings prompted reflection. I can accept Miyagi not falling for me, but I can’t accept her falling for someone else. Right now, she doesn’t seem to have someone special. If she were to love someone, it should be me. But should the day come when Miyagi falls for someone else... My heart isn’t generous enough to wish her happiness with someone other than me. In those moments when I cannot wish for her happiness, I hope the earrings do it in my stead. Simultaneously, I wish that, like the plumeria’s expression of reserved elegance, Miyagi remains too shy to confess, even if she likes someone else. I tugged on Miyagi's sweater. "Goodnight," I whispered, to which a soft "Goodnight" was returned.