190 - Story About Buying My Classmate Once A Week

Chapter 190 I let out a sigh in front of the refrigerator. Before I knew it, the last day of summer vacation had arrived, and Miyagi's birthday was looming just around the corner. What should I do about the cake? Ideally, I'd like to make it myself, but having never baked a cake in my life, I'm not confident I could pull it off without a trial run. The only sweets I've made were chocolates for Valentine's Day to give to friends, and I never really felt the need to bake a cake for anyone before. I understand there's no need to force myself to make a cake. Yet, I bought the necessary tools and ingredients, thinking I might give it a try. But here I am, with summer vacation almost over and I still haven't experimented. "Trying it out is fine, but..." The person I want to serve the cake to lives in the same house. It's not that I want to surprise Miyagi by making it secretly, so it's okay if she knows. The issue is what to do with a trial cake. I open the fridge and look at the milk and eggs nearing their expiration date. I don't plan to make a large cake, but it won't be a single-serving size either. It might be okay if Miyagi and I eat it together, but then I'd be serving her the trial cake, and serving the same cake on her birthday doesn't sound fun. "I should just buy one." What's important for Miyagi's birthday isn't a handmade cake. Regardless of what kind it is, it's about sharing a whole cake together. I must ensure that Miyagi doesn't spend her birthday alone, and that the leftover cake doesn't sit in the fridge. With a sigh, I sit down in a chair. Even if I don't bake a cake, I still haven't decided on a gift. I recall the cake I had on my birthday and the cat-shaped chopstick rest I received the next day. It was clear the cake was chosen with my preferences in mind, and the cat-shaped rest was picked after careful thought. Just like Miyagi did for me, I want to ponder and trouble myself over how to celebrate her birthday. I glance at Miyagi's room door. She mentioned she'd be catching up on leftover assignments today and hasn't stepped out except for meals since morning. I wish she'd come out soon. The gift decision can wait, and since I won't be baking a cake, there's nothing pressing to do today. I could use the ingredients in the fridge to bake something else, but if I'm baking, I want to do it with Miyagi. Normally, I'd knock on her door by now, calling for her. But since she said she's got assignments, I can't really do that. I stand up and fetch a glass from the cupboard. After pouring some barley tea and taking a sip, the door opens, as if responding to my wish, and Miyagi walks out. "Are you done with the assignments?" I ask as she silently opens the refrigerator and pulls out a soda. Her curt reply is, "Finished." "What are you up to, Sendai-san?" With a disinterested expression, she sets a glass on the table and pours the soda. "I was thinking about what to make for dinner." Unable to confess I was agonizing over a cake, I substitute with a safe response. "We just had lunch." "It's been over an hour; it hasn't been that recent." "Yeah, but still." The conversation is trivial, something that could go on or end right here. Proof of that, Miyagi returns the soda bottle to the fridge and, glass in hand, turns her back to me. "What are you planning to do now, Miyagi?" "Nothing." Miyagi doesn't look at me. Since she's done with her assignments, I could probably just follow her back into her room. She likely wouldn’t refuse. However, today there's something I want to do more than visiting her room. "How about making cookies?" Watching a movie or playing games is fine, but I want to do something different for a change. "Cookies?" "Yeah. I was thinking it'd be fun to make them together." "No." Miyagi turns around and plainly rejects the idea. "Why not?" "I don’t like cookies." "But you've eaten them with me so many times before." Cookies aren't a must, anything we make is fine. But it's the first time I've heard she dislikes them. In fact, she can't dislike them. When Utsunomiya visited, she brought cookies for the two of us to eat, and Miyagi has served them before too. "I just decided I don’t like them now." Miyagi mutters, taking a gulp from her soda. "Is it okay to ask why you suddenly dislike them?" "Why do you want to know?" "Not many people dislike cookies, and it's rare to suddenly decide you do." As I respond to Miyagi, I consider why she suddenly claimed to hate them. I remember eating cookies recently, the day after my birthday, which were a gift from Kikyō-chan, one of my tutoring students. Miyagi rejected eating them with me that day, sounding annoyed. Miyagi tends to sulk when I talk about work. She has even asked me to quit before. "There's no reason." Her voice is low. Her usual displeased tone. It's just an ordinary snack with no reason to dislike it. But maybe... On contemplating, I quickly dismiss the thought. Yet, part of me believes it's not entirely impossible. —The feeling of jealousy I have towards Utsunomiya. Could it be that Miyagi feels the same way? Is it possible that some part of her, the part that still wants me as just her roommate, is transforming into something else? No, perhaps that's wishful thinking. "Why did you suddenly decide to make cookies anyway?" Miyagi says with obvious irritation, placing her soda-filled glass on the table. "Just felt like it." I want to probe about her sudden aversion to cookies, but pushing too hard might drive her away. She’s already turning back toward her room. Before she can leave, I grab her hand. As my lips touch her fingertips, she steps on my foot disapprovingly. "If it’s just a whim, there’s no need to make them." "There’s no need, but there’s no reason not to either. Let’s bake together." "I told you, I don't like cookies." Miyagi pulls her hand back toward herself, glaring at me. "I’ll eat them all if we bake them together." "Then what’s the point of me baking cookies?" "Well, what do you want to make, Miyagi? If there's something else you'd like, I'll make it." If making something other than cookies means she'll join me, I'm fine with that. I keep offering her words to hold her here with me. "It doesn’t matter what we make, just stay here. Once university starts, we won't have as much time together." I flash her a smile and take a sip of the soda Miyagi had left on the table. The fizz bursts in my mouth before settling in my stomach. It's cold, but I can't quite grasp the flavor. Even if it's something Miyagi likes, I'm not fond of carbonated drinks. Despite that, I take another sip of the soda and hear a small voice. "...How do we make them?" "I'll look it up now." I place the glass of soda back on the table and, to keep Miyagi from escaping, gently grasp her hand once more. Then, I reach for my phone from the table.