176 I Want to Keep Watching Miyagi - Story About Buying My Classmate Once A Week

I Want to Keep Watching Miyagi Chapter 176 I was taken aback. Miyagi was completely unexpected. I never thought she'd bring up the topic of someone I like at this point. To calm my heart, which had nearly stopped, I took a deep breath in, then out, and continued walking slowly. I didn't want to lie, so I honestly answered "Yes," when she asked if I had someone I liked, but that might have been a mistake. Though I thought I managed to act like my usual self, Miyagi didn't seem satisfied with my answer, and I could feel her gaze intensely on my back. Afraid she'd say something if I turned around, I pointed ahead for a change of topic. "Miyagi, look, it's the jellyfish section." I hoped she'd be more interested in the aquarium's exhibits than our personal affairs. We approached the dimly lit area where the jellyfish floated, their luminous bodies casting a mesmerizing glow. There were more jellyfish than I anticipated, drifting gently. The ethereal atmosphere, where the blue space encompassing us seemed to blend with the interior of the tank, made it feel as though we, too, were floating. "They sting, but they're beautiful when you look at them like this. It's calming," I said, trying to initiate conversation with Miyagi as we admired the jellyfish. She stepped closer to me and responded softly. "Yeah. I could watch them forever." Glancing at her, I saw she was absorbed in watching the drifting jellyfish. Moments ago, had I admitted that "the person I like is you, Miyagi," instead of mentioning Mike-chan, what would have happened? Even now, if I clarified that "what I said was about you, Miyagi," would it make a difference? In my current state of not wanting to jeopardize what I have, I couldn't bring myself to voice such thoughts, yet the ideas lingered in my mind. If I confessed my feelings, would Miyagi admit she felt the same? I know she doesn't dislike me and she probably holds some affection towards me, but it's unclear exactly how she classifies these feelings. It would be nice if we felt the same way. We do things that might as well be considered dating. Normally that satiates me, but sometimes I crave for Miyagi's heart, too. But to gain it, I'm scared of saying something that risks everything we currently have. No matter how many times I consider it, the conclusion remains unchanged. Though things might change in the future, for now, I just want to enjoy watching her in this way. "Miyagi. There's a seal upstairs. Are you still looking at the jellyfish?" I make my voice cheerful, trying to shift my mood. "Let's go upstairs," comes an enthusiastic reply from beside me, making me glad we came to the aquarium. I had contemplated going to the zoo since Miyagi seems to like animals, but I couldn't choose the zoo because I'm not good with the heat. At one point, I considered seeing a platypus and a crocodile from our tissue covers, but apparently, platypuses don't live in Japan, and crocodiles didn't seem like something worth going out of our way to see. In the end, I chose the aquarium, which housed creatures connected by water, and it was likely the right choice. ...It felt like asking someone out on a date, which made it difficult to suggest, though. "Feels like a jungle. Are there really seals here?" Miyagi murmured as we ascend the stairs. This area mimics a tropical environment, not somewhere you'd expect to find seals. I pull out a brochure from my bag to check where the seals are located. "Seems like they're a bit further in. Want to go see them first?" "No, let's take our time seeing everything in order." We leisurely wander, observing both large and small fish, and even a turtle and iguana along the way. Finally reaching the seals, Miyagi's face lights up. She doesn't shout with excitement, but the way she eagerly approaches the tank, almost knocking her head against it, shows she's more fond of mammals than fish. It's rare to see Miyagi look so delighted, so my gaze ends up on her rather than the seals. On the rooftop, they have sea lions and otters. Perhaps I'll witness an even happier Miyagi. Thinking this, my spirits lift. I stealthily watch Miyagi gaze at the seals. Wishing it were just the two of us, I note the aquarium is crowded for summer break. Next time, I'd like to visit together when it's less busy. While pondering these thoughts, Miyagi turns to me. "Sendai-san, aren't you hungry?" "...I am." Until prompted, I hadn't realized how hungry I was. Checking my phone, I see it's past lunchtime. Reluctantly bidding goodbye to the seals, we seek to satisfy our hunger. "There's a café upstairs. Want to grab a bite there?" Miyagi's affirmative "Yeah" comes from next to me. We climb to the rooftop, passing by clownfish hiding in anemones and river fish, then head to the café, postponing the sea lions and otters for later. We decide to have hot dogs and iced tea and also order a pancake, splitting it between us. With a simultaneous "Let's eat," we both bite into our hot dogs. Starving, I find that both mine and Miyagi's vanish quickly. Miyagi takes a sip of her iced tea and stares at the exclusive pancake. "This is cute," she comments softly, more talkative than usual, which matches her good mood. I understand the urge to comment. The pancake, decorated with an otter face, is indeed adorable. Yet, to eat it, the otter must face its demise. "Want me to cut it?" Miyagi responds, "Go ahead." I plunge the knife into the otter's face, slicing it in half. Though I hear Miyagi's small "Ah," I continue, cutting it into bite-sized pieces. "Sendai-san, you have no heart, cutting it like that," Miyagi sighs, then takes a piece of pancake I’ve divided. "There's no mercy for those destined to be eaten. If it bothers you, should I eat your share, Miyagi?" "...I'll eat," she concedes. "Great. Shall I feed you, then?" "I'll do it myself.” "Too bad." We finish the pancake and leave the café. Outside, the rooftop is warmer compared to inside. Nevertheless, Miyagi is full of energy, walking a bit further ahead with a light step. I alternate my gaze between the sea lions, then Miyagi, the otters, and back to Miyagi. She doesn’t jump with joy but seems as happy as she did with the seals. Watching Miyagi's cheerfulness brings me joy, too. Still, I can't help but wonder if she had come with Utsunomiya instead, would she talk more, exclaim over seals coming close, coo at the adorable sea lions, and be more lively, proposing to check out various exhibits? I sigh softly, pressing my temple. Envying others only leads to dismay. I know this, so I promptly evict Utsunomiya from my thoughts. Miyagi, it seems, prefers the otters because she lingers longer there than with the seals or sea lions. "Don’t you think otters kind of look like platypuses?" I asked Miyagi as I watched the river otter snuggled up asleep. "Not at all." "Really?" "If you see a resemblance between otters and platypuses, you might want to visit an eye doctor." Miyagi started walking with her usual sharp tongue. As we followed the path through the aquarium, her voice rang out with more enthusiasm than usual from beside me. "Sendai-san, look at all those penguins!" She pointed to a tank designed to resemble a grassy plain. Indeed, there were numerous penguins. "You know, if you go a bit further, you can see the penguins from below," I mentioned, recalling the information I had researched before coming. "From below?" "Yeah. Penguins swim above you." "I want to see that. Where is it?" After checking the pamphlet, I pointed in the direction with an "Over there." Miyagi grabbed my arm and said, "Let's go," pulling me along. Though we didn't hold hands, she tugged on my arm, and we walked in tandem, her skirt fluttering as she took the lead. Soon, we were greeted by the sight of penguins swimming through the air. Of course, they weren't truly swimming through the air. It was a protruding tank structured like an awning, allowing us to look up at penguins swimming overhead when standing beneath it. "Wow, it’s like they’re flying in the sky," Miyagi said, releasing my arm and gazing upwards. Being on the rooftop, the penguins indeed appeared as if soaring through the sky. But I couldn’t take my eyes off Miyagi. There was something before me far rarer than the sight of flying penguins. She was smiling. Miyagi was. And she seemed truly happy. Even back in high school, she would smile at school or when Utsunomiya visited, but when it was just the two of us, she rarely did. Often, she’d wear a displeased expression. Yet here was Miyagi, smiling in front of me. The penguins paled in comparison. I wanted nothing more than to keep watching her. Though the smile wasn't meant for me, seeing Miyagi smile while we were alone made me happy nonetheless. "Do you like penguins?" I asked Miyagi as she gazed up at the tank. "I'm not saying I love them, but they're cute." Her voice was light and bouncy, as if she adored them. Oblivious to her own smile, she continued to watch the penguins gliding through the air. "Miyagi?" "What?" "They're very cute, aren't they?" "The penguins?" She asked, still looking at the tank. "Yeah." The penguins are cute. But Miyagi is even cuter. I wanted to say it, but I feared her smile might disappear, so I held my tongue. Under the blue sky, the white bellies of penguins repeatedly passed by overhead. I pretended to watch the penguins, but my gaze was fixed on Miyagi. The smiling Miyagi, so bright and vibrant, was something she never showed at home. Outside, it was hotter than before. Even so, I wished I could watch Miyagi like this forever.