184 - Story About Buying My Classmate Once A Week

Chapter 184 The blissful reverie ended in a heartbeat, with the dawn revealing that my birthday had quietly slipped away. In bed, I stretched my arms toward the ceiling, wishing that the happiness of today, tomorrow, and the days after could extend forever. Perhaps it was precisely because birthdays come but once a year that Miyagi celebrated it with such care. Surely, she had pushed herself a bit. It's hard to imagine Miyagi going out of her way for me, ordering pizza, preparing cake, and even making promises for the future. Though I wish she wouldn’t overexert herself, in a way, I’m glad I became someone worth that effort. With a wide yawn, I climbed out of bed and sat on the floor. I picked up the small paper bag from Kikyō-chan, a birthday gift, and opened it. Inside were cookies, lovingly described as homemade but looking as perfectly wrapped as those you’d find in a shop. Reluctantly, I untied the ribbon and took a bite of one. “Delicious.” After indulging in pizza and cake yesterday, I hadn't had room for anything else. Though irregularly shaped, these cookies tasted better than any I’d received before. I reached for another, savoring it. Back when I was in my third year of junior high like Kikyō-chan, I spent all my time studying. If I’d had the leisure to bake then, perhaps I might have grown into the person my parents hoped for. But if that were the case, I never would have met Miyagi. Realizing it was by being my busy, non-cookie baking self that led to Miyagi celebrating my birthday with me, I find some meaning in my past self. Now, I can bake whenever I wish. It wouldn’t be so bad to bake cookies with Miyagi. “She’d probably say no,” I mused, picturing her knitted brows and smiling wryly. Just then, my stomach growled. I decided it was time to wash up and prepare breakfast, so I stood and approached the door. As I opened it, a small sound drew my attention outside to a bag hanging from the doorknob. I took it back into my room and peered inside. Inside the bag was a flat, wrapped object and a card. When I inspected the card first upon returning to the room, I found a print illustration of a cat with the words “HAPPY BIRTHDAY.” “A birthday card?” Miyagi had mentioned yesterday that she hadn’t prepared a birthday gift. For a moment, I entertained the possibility of it being from someone other than Miyagi, but then remembered I was at home. It would be unsettling to find a gift from anyone else in my house. So, logically, this bag contained Miyagi’s birthday present to me, and I removed the wrapped item. Carefully peeling away the wrapping paper, I revealed a thin box, within which sat five little cats. “Chopstick rests, I think.” A calico, a black cat, a white cat, an orange tabby, and a tuxedo cat. These cat-shaped chopstick rests were so adorable, they’d serve as nice decorations too. It would have been nice if she’d handed them to me yesterday. If I’d received these chopstick rests yesterday, I might not have gotten the two wishes Miyagi made come true for me, as a stand-in birthday gift. Even so, I would have liked to receive them directly from her. Even if she seemed grumpy, even if she were curt, receiving them from her hands directly would let me hug her, kiss her, and maybe even—. Well, not that she’d let me. I carefully raised the calico and black cat from among the five in my palm. “Maybe I should wash some rice.” I’d planned on having toast for breakfast, but now switched to a menu where these chopstick rests could be used. I left my room with the cats in hand, placing them on the communal table. After washing my face and dressing, I rinsed rice and set the cooker. It was a bit early to start preparing side dishes, so I settled in a chair, watching the pair of cats as Miyagi's door opened. She emerged in sweats, greeting me with a “Morning,” to which I replied in kind. “Thank you for the chopstick rests. They’re my birthday present, right?” I pointed to the cats on the table. “You like cats, don’t you, Sendai-san?” Miyagi neither confirmed nor denied, her tone indifferent. “I do. I love cats, which is why I’m happy about them.” “I didn’t know what you’d want, so I went with something practical featuring cats.” Miyagi retreated to the washroom, her words sounding like excuses. I could have grabbed her arm to stop her or held her, keeping her from going anywhere, but there’s no way she’ll stay in the washroom forever. Plus, she wouldn’t leave the house in sweats. Before long, she’d return to this spot, so I waited for her with the cats. Something practical, huh. I did wonder why chopstick rests, but her earlier remark hinted that she’d thoughtfully chosen it. Apparently, a birthday is a day that entitles me to command Miyagi’s time and thoughts, filling them with me. August 23rd, often forgotten amid summer break—even by me—has transformed into something I eagerly anticipate, all thanks to Miyagi. I can’t wait for the next birthday to arrive. I can’t help but think that. Picking up the calico and black cat figurines, I made their noses touch. “What are you doing, Sendai-san?” After a round of cat-induced kisses, Miyagi’s voice reached my ears. “Playing with the chopstick rests.” When I looked at Miyagi, she averted her gaze. Returning the calico and black cats to the table, I get up. Before she could dash away, I caught her arm. “Let go.” Miyagi replied in irritation. “I’ll let go if you’ll sit.” “I’m going to change, so let go.” “You can change later, but let’s talk for a bit first.” “...Okay, but just a bit.” Releasing my hold at her pointed insistence, Miyagi reluctantly took a seat. “What about the rest of the chopstick rests?” Her unenthusiastic voice reached me as I sat across from her. “The white, tabby, and tuxedo are for display in my room.” “Use them.” “Chopstick rests are good for one apiece, and I’ve set out the ones I’ll use here.” Pointing to the two cats, Miyagi nudged the black one and raised her brows. “That’s one too many.” “The black cat is for you, Miyagi.” “I gave them to you, Sendai-san.” Miyagi’s voice was low as she pushed the black cat toward me. I suspected having five chopstick rests was mere happenstance, rather than any intention to have us match. Still, out of five, designating one for Miyagi isn’t so bad. “No harm, right? We’ve got five, and one can be yours.” I placed the black cat back next to the calico, but Miyagi stayed silent about using it. “I want you to use it, so please.” “...Why the black cat?” I caught her whispered question as she looked at me. “It just seemed right for you, Miyagi.” Miyagi neither confirmed nor complained. However, from her silence, it seemed she didn’t see herself akin to the black cat. "If you don't like the black cat, I can choose another. What do you think?" "This one’s fine." With a murmur, Miyagi stood up. “Wait. There’s something else I’d like to ask.” “What is it?” “Is there anything you want for your birthday?” “No.” I didn’t expect her to answer earnestly, but her curt reply cut through my inquiry. “Then, tell me, do you prefer sunny-side-up or omelets?” “Why do I have to answer that?” “We agreed to talk about trivial stuff, remember?” Yesterday, I promised Miyagi that we’d share conversations about mundane and trivial things. This was just the beginning of those seemingly inconsequential, yet significant talks that we’d continue to have. “...I like both, but today, I’m in the mood for sunny-side-up. What about you, Sendai-san?” “Sunny-side-up for me too. So, sunny-side-up eggs it is for breakfast.” I grinned at her, and she replied in a soft voice, "I’d prefer them runny."