172 - Story About Buying My Classmate Once A Week

Chapter 172 It's been a week since summer vacation started. Although we agreed to go somewhere together, we still haven't settled on a destination. There are options, but none feel just right. "Miyagi," I call, tugging at her hair as she sits on the floor reading a manga, while I lounge lazily on the bed. This small connection between us makes my heart race a little more. "Sendai-san, what's up with you?" Miyagi responds, giving my hand a light slap without turning from the bed. I understand her feelings; anyone would say the same after having their hair tugged three times within ten minutes. "I'm just bored," I admit. I can't ask her to look at me instead of her manga, nor do I think I could compete with it for her interest. Not that I don't want to be the most important in Miyagi's eyes. But for now, it seems better to maintain the current situation where she comes to my room without any particular reason. The first time we did something in this room that ordinary roommates wouldn't, Miyagi disappeared. But this time, she stayed. She continues to come to my room, spending uneventful but precious moments with me. "Why don't you read this?" Miyagi suggests, handing me a manga from a pile on the floor, placing it on the bed. "I've already read this one." "Then read it again." "I'm tired of manga. Let's go out." "Have you decided where to go?" Miyagi closes the manga she had been reading and glances at me. "A hot spring trip." "...Right now?" "Right now." "I don't think this is the right time for a hot spring trip." "Why not stay overnight?" While it's still before evening, enough time has passed since lunch that a day trip wouldn't cut it if we're heading to a hot spring. Considering travel time, we'd end up staying overnight at our destination. "Weren't we supposed to go somewhere for just a day?" "What if it's not just a day trip?" "Have you booked somewhere to stay?" "Even without reservations, there should be places we can stay." "Sendai-san, you're always so impulsive. If I'd known we were going on a trip like that, I wouldn't have agreed to go." I expected her answer, but asking doesn't hurt. Sometimes, even a faint hope deserves a chance to become reality. —Today's hope was dashed, though. "Sendai-san, think properly about where you want to go," Miyagi complains. "I am thinking, but—" The destination doesn't have to be a hot spring, nor do we need to stick to a trip. "What kind of place?" she probes. "Hmm. I'm still thinking. I'll let you know once I've decided." There are plenty of places I want to visit with her, but none feel like a must-visit, so I prefer choosing a place where Miyagi can enjoy herself. Yet determining this sort of place is proving too difficult. A movie isn't fresh, as we've done that before. Shopping works with college friends but not with Miyagi, given our differing tastes. I consider following her interests, but she would likely refuse such a suggestion. Even museums and art galleries seem too much like a date to comfortably invite her. Normally, choosing a place to hang out isn't so difficult. But if Miyagi is involved, indecision reigns. "How about we just don't go anywhere?" Miyagi suggests dismissively, opening her manga once more. Before her gaze returns to her book, I gently tug her hair to reclaim her attention. Just like last summer vacation, Miyagi is by my side. Our relationship has even progressed since last year. While being told to be content with that might suffice, given that we've made plans to go out together, listening to her words of "we don't need to go anywhere" feels wasteful. "The summer break has just begun, no need to rush. Let's wait a little longer," I propose. Unlike high school, our summer break continues into September, so there's no hurry. Our summer is longer than last year, and we'll spend even more time together. "You have a part-time job, Sendai-san. You don't have to force yourself to go out. Why not just work more?" Miyagi suggests lazily, pressing her hand into my stomach as I lie on the bed. "My part-time job is only on the same days as before. I'm still free," I counter. Indeed, I maintain my tutoring job through the break, but it doesn't require extra days. I've no intention of taking on more work. Initially, I thought about finding additional work, but concluded I could wait until after this summer break. If I want more of anything, it should be time spent with Miyagi. "If you're free, why not get another job? I'd rather stay home because it's hot," Miyagi insists, pushing my stomach again, as if mistaking me for a giant plush toy. Indeed, beyond the lace curtains, the summer heat asserts itself against the air-conditioned room. I understand wanting to stay inside rather than venture into the heat, but I don't want to accept that sentiment. "I'm not planning to take on more work for now. Besides, do you have a place you want to go?" I ask, though expecting no answer. "Wasn't it decided you would choose the destination?" Miyagi replies in a low voice, now lightly stroking my stomach. Her touch is similar to when she was pressing on my stomach, as though my clothes are a barrier between her hands and a large stuffed toy. Not that it's unpleasant; if anything, I'm pleased she seems fond of some part of me. But feeling like a plush toy, I can't help but wish she'd recognize me as a living person. "Miyagi," I say, halting her hand. I sit beside her on the floor, reach out to touch her hair, and place a kiss on her earring before pulling away. "Was that kiss necessary?" She asks with a hint of annoyance. "It was. It's a promise to make sure I don't break our agreement to choose the destination," I explain. "That's not something you need to promise." "It's more reassuring this way, don't you think?" When I smile, Miyagi opens her mouth as if to protest, but my finger on her lips steals the words away. She gazes at me, lips slightly parted. As I lean closer, she briefly frowns but then quietly closes her eyes, signaling permission for a kiss. I press my lips against hers. When I deepen the kiss, sliding my tongue forward, Miyagi accepts me without resistance. Our tongues intertwine fluidly. This summer, Miyagi seems more accepting. Last summer was the same—she allows me to touch her. If it's the season of summer that makes her this way, I wish summer would never end. I part my lips and engage her in a deeper kiss than before. Her lips and tongue are warm and soft, a pleasant sensation that makes me want to touch her even more. Grabbing her arm, I notice it's cool to the touch, perhaps due to the room's temperature being too low for her. I enjoy the warmth and coolness of Miyagi before finally pulling away. "Too many kisses," she murmurs, pulling back slightly from me. "If you'd let me kiss you more, I wouldn't mind not going out," I tease. Even though I don't want to dissolve our plans, I'd be willing to stay in given the right conditions. Last summer, after all, we spent most of our time indoors, and there's something enjoyable about that. "What do you mean by 'more'?" she asks. I touch her cheek, letting my fingers glide down to her neck. "Throughout the entire summer vacation, let me kiss you all over, not just today." I trace the neckline of her T-shirt, brushing my fingers over her collarbone. As I lean in toward her neck, Miyagi pushes me away by my shoulder. "You made a promise to decide on a destination, so keep it," she states with a glare, choosing going out over more kisses. "Miyagi, you're so stubborn." "I'm not being stubborn." "You are." "...It’s fine if it's not 'more'." Her voice is so soft I almost miss it. "What was that?" I ask, needing to hear it again. Though I heard and understood her words, I can't help but double-check. "Miyagi." She says nothing in response to her name, resolutely staying silent. So I lean in and kiss her again, confirming what I thought I heard. She doesn't reject the kiss. But when I try to move to her neck, she pushes me away. "That's enough for today." As expected, summer Miyagi is more lenient. And this version of her feels unfair—being allowed such intimacy makes it impossible not to think her feelings are directed at me. I weigh the lenient Miyagi who permits kisses—albeit not 'more'—against the future possibility of clarifying her feelings completely. Truly, without needing much thought, the existing reality of Miyagi consenting to kisses is alluring. I don’t want to risk losing that by seeking a definitive answer about her feelings. As I remain silent, Miyagi resumes reading her manga. The only sound is the soft rustling of pages turning. Recalling the cool touch of her arm, I adjust the air conditioner's temperature slightly higher.