195 - Story About Buying My Classmate Once A Week

Chapter 195 "Yes. It looks great." Sendai-san says in a cheerful voice while using a hand mirror to admire her freshly pierced ears. Although I also have earrings, they seem to suit Sendai-san more naturally. "What do you think, Miyagi?" Sendai-san puts down the hand mirror and looks at me. "The earrings?" "Yes." The earrings on her ears are the same kind that I wore until a few months ago. It's not surprising since she used the same piercing kit that I did, and many others who used the same kit have similar earrings too. Therefore, it's nothing special that Sendai-san has the same earrings I once wore. Although they symbolize an agreement we made for the future, their appearance is quite ordinary. Even so, I find that the earrings look exceptionally beautiful on her. "With earrings, it seems harder to bite now." Unable to express my true thoughts, I vocalize a minor, peripheral idea instead of the one at the forefront of my mind. "Even if it’s harder to bite, you'll still do it, earrings or not." "I think it’s fine if I bite them since Sendai-san's ears belong to me." Not wanting to touch the newly pierced earrings, I gently tug on a part of her ear above the earlobe and let go. "When I said you could have my ears, that's not what I meant. You know that. Besides, that's not what I wanted to talk about." With a quiet voice, Sendai-san touches my earring. Her fingertips caress the small flower and lightly press on my earlobe. She asks me to answer seriously, and I take a small breath. "... The earrings suit you." I answer as I exhale. Although my voice was not very loud, it seems to have reached Sendai-san, as a gentle smile spreads across her face. "I see. That makes me happy." The earrings suit Sendai-san remarkably well, as though they'd been there all along. Given her demeanor, it wouldn't have been strange if she had pierced them back in high school. It feels like she's finally become her true self. "As a thank you for the compliment, take this. It's the second part of your gift." With those words, Sendai-san pulls out a small, finer bag than the one containing the piercer and places it in front of me. "Why two gifts?" "Because you gave me two gifts, Miyagi. You listened to my wishes and gave a chopstick rest the next day. So I'm also giving you two presents." She says with a cheerful grin and adds, "Open it." Inside the bag is a neatly wrapped small box. As I take it out gingerly, I see it’s a rectangular shape with a ribbon, typical of a gift. I don’t need it. But I doubt Sendai-san would heed my words. Ideally, I want to return it—because the shape of the box suggests its contents. A long, rectangular box. It won’t contain a glue stick. Nor will it be batteries. Most likely, it holds something I rarely use—something out of my comfort zone. "Miyagi, hurry up and open it." Prompted, I reluctantly untie the ribbon and unwrap the paper. Inside is an expensive-looking lip balm, and I let out a small sigh. "No need to make that disappointed face." Sendai-san remarks, sounding slightly disgruntled. "It's not my thing, you know." I dislike the sticky feeling of lip balm on my lips. I'm not fond of makeup to begin with, and Sendai-san knows that. "I thought you'd say that. But this one, you'll want to use, Miyagi. Even if you're not into makeup, I think you’ll like it." Sendai-san smiles, recalling the times she persuaded me to wear makeup in the past. "I doubt that." "Not at all. It smells nice. Delicious, even." "Like strawberries or something?" Though uninterested in the lip balm, my curiosity about the scent leads me to remove the cap, only for Sendai-san to snatch it away. "I'll put it on for you." "I can smell it without you doing that, so give it back." "That's no fun." "It’s fine being boring." "Use it in front of me just once." "No way." "I’m using the chopstick rest you gave me, you know." In an unusually plaintive tone, Sendai-san looks at me sulkily. She's doing it on purpose. Definitely on purpose. She's using a grudging tone to make me comply, pretending to sulk just to get her way. "Miyagi." It’s my birthday today, so I shouldn’t be the one compromising. Still, Sendai-san kept her promise of eating a whole cake with me and promised to do so again next year. She gave me the piercings I had longed for. I exhale deeply and turn towards Sendai-san. "Stay still." She insists, removing the lip balm cap. She then places her hand on my cheek and presses the lip balm to my lips. It's not unusual for me to be near Sendai-san. Being close enough to touch shoulders, or nearly touching lips, always happens. But today, with Sendai-san too close, I don't know where to direct my gaze, so I close my eyes. In darkness, something sticky covers my lips. Even unseen, I feel her gaze on my lips. Without needing to sniff hard, a sweet fruit-like scent wafts in. "Alright, done. You look very cute." The voice tells me to open my eyes. Sendai-san is staring intently at me, causing me to avert my gaze. "Enough with that." "It’s the truth." "Sendai-san, you're noisy. Be quiet." I slap her thigh in protest and am asked, "It smells good, right?" "It does." I reply tersely, touching my lips. The sweet scent transferred to my fingers when I touch the lip balm. I couldn't clearly say what kind of fruit the scent mimics, but it definitely has a nice aroma. "Apparently, it tastes good too." Comes her joyful voice. "Apparently?" "I've never used it. I researched one Miyagi might like and confirmed the smell at the shop, but not the taste. Try licking it." Following her suggestion, I lick my lips, sensing the lip balm on my tongue and tasting a faint sweetness. "... It’s tasty." "Really?" "Yeah." "Then, a taste test." Before I can object, Sendai-san brings her face closer. Reflexively closing my eyes, her lips, which smell of sweet fragrance attach to mine, bringing a soft, moist sensation. Despite claiming it’s a "taste test," the moist sensation doesn't just stop on my lips—it tries to enter me. To express my protest, I grab her arm, leading our lips to part momentarily. But only for a moment—the second kiss is more forceful, with her tongue seeking entry to entwine with mine. Her tongue is sweeter than the lipstick or even the cake. Our tongues touch, then part. A small breath escapes. Despite feeling like an intruder, Sendai-san dissolves into my world, becoming a part of me. The warmth flowing into me is comforting. Her lips pull away, and she licks the freshly applied lip balm from her lips. "It was delicious," Sendai-san says with a smile. "The lip balm's coming off," I point out. "You’re right," she answers lightly, once again bringing her face close. I push against her shoulder. "I'm saying the lip balm is going to come off." "It won’t disappear just from a little kissing. Besides, there’s plenty more." "Just because there’s more doesn’t mean you can kiss endlessly." "You’re really stingy, Miyagi. What's wrong with kissing a lot?" "I'm fine with being stingy. Anyway, how many times do you intend to kiss?" "The lip balm I gave you won’t be enough at this rate," she replies with a serious face. It's troublesome because she genuinely tries to act on things that seem like jokes. I don't dislike kissing, but more can wait for another time. "Sendai-san, are you an idiot? We're done for today." I push her body away forcefully. Though I expect a complaint, she quietly pulls back and leans against the bed. Then, as if remembering something, she calls my name. "Oh right, Miyagi. In about a month, you can bite my ears again." "Once the piercing holes have stabilized?" "That's right." Sendai-san says in a quiet voice, then smiles warmly.