200 - Story About Buying My Classmate Once A Week

Chapter 200 Before heading to the lecture hall, I stopped by the restroom and stood in front of the mirror. I retrieved the lip balm that Sendai-san had given me from my bag. As I removed the cap, its sweet scent triggered a memory of the dream I had just experienced. In the dream, I called her Hazuki. I pulled Sendai-san toward me. The memory of her softness and smoothness resurfaced, and feeling as if I was thinking about something indecent, I shook my head vigorously. It's just lingering in my head, because I've had similar dreams twice in such a short time. Convincing myself of this, I looked into the mirror at my lips with nothing on them. As I touched them with my fingertips, they glided smoothly over the surface without any resistance. There's no chapping. I was considering applying lip balm but hesitated. I sighed, biting my lip. I closed the cap and stowed the lip balm back into my bag. If I use it at home, Sendai-san might say something, and that would be troublesome, so I apply the lip balm after arriving at the university. But today, I decided against it. Because of that odd dream, I'm just not in the mood. The sweet fragrance reminds me of kissing Sendai-san, prompting further thoughts. I dread that little dream could grow and consume me. I blame Sendai-san for all of this. I turned my back on my reflection in the mirror and headed for the lecture hall. Perhaps because the summer break was so long, it still feels like summer even though it's October. While not enough to warrant air conditioning, there are still days that feel warm enough to crave ice cream, making it feel even more so. Even at university, I can't shake off the feeling of summer, often finding myself wanting to lounge around at home or watch penguins at the aquarium. With a wandering mind, I walked down the corridor, opened the door, and entered the lecture hall. I glanced around the room, which was about two-thirds full and bustling, searching for Maika and quickly spotted her familiar face. "Morning," I greeted Maika, and she replied, "Morning," as I sat next to her. "Huh? You didn't apply the lip balm today," Maika noted softly upon seeing my face, and I replied similarly, "Yeah, I didn't." I'm using it since it was a birthday gift from Sendai-san. The first time Maika saw me with the lip balm Sendai-san had gifted me she asked, "Are you going somewhere after class?", but now the idea that I use lip balm became normal. It's nice that wearing it doesn't seem unnatural, but it's a bit annoying that people think it's unnatural when I don't. Whether Sendai-san is present or not, she influences my life. "That lip balm is nice. It's exactly what you'd expect from Sendai-san," Maika said in an upbeat voice. I replied, "Is it?" "It suits you, Shiori. Maybe I should have her pick one for me too," Maika added, cheerfully wearing her own lip balm in a lovely shade. In such moments, I know I should suggest something like, "Let's go shopping together," or "Stop by my place." But within me, there's a part that doesn't want to utter those common phrases. I don't want Maika to meet Sendai-san. I feel this strongly. Sendai-san makes my heart constrict exceedingly, preventing me from doing things that would be natural among friends. It's as if my words are sealed with glue. If I stay silent, Maika might contact Sendai-san, and they might go looking for lip balm together, which causes a knot in my stomach. Under the desk, I clenched my fist tightly. My nails dug into my palms, and yet I continued to hold my fist as Maika, as if suddenly remembering, said, "Oh, by the way, Sendai-san's birthday is in August, right?" "Yeah, August," I replied briefly, slowly unclenching my fingers. "What does Sendai-san like? It doesn't have to be things; it can be people or places," Maika asked. "Cats, maybe?" "Oh, cats! She loves them so much she'd go out of her way to find them on her days off, right?" "Seems that way," I confirmed. Maika was thinking if she should give cat-themed gifts for Sendai-san's birthday next year, judging by the flow of our conversation. Anticipating this, I posed a question to her. "Maika, do you want to grab dinner before heading home today?" Since Maika has become close enough with Sendai-san to be in contact, it wouldn't be weird for her to give a gift, or she could quietly send something. I understand that what Maika says now isn't particularly important, but I don't want to hear it if it's about gifts. "What about Sendai-san?" "She's working," I replied. "At the café job she recently started?" "Yes. She said she'd be home late today." Being home alone might only lead to excessive thinking, so I'd rather be with someone, if possible. "Sendai-san is incredible, isn't she? Holding down multiple jobs like that. University students seem to have so much free time, but in reality, they're quite busy." "I don't think she needs to work that much, but she said she wants to continue during winter break too." "Sendai-san is different from the image I had of her in high school. I wouldn't have imagined she'd have jobs like tutoring or multiple side gigs. Back then, I'd have thought she'd join clubs and just have fun." "True. Ibaraki-san and her crowd were flashy," I said, and Maika nodded. Sendai-san, who was always with the standout Ibaraki-san, appeared much like her during that time, even in my perception. That image no longer persists. I've reconstructed a version of Sendai-san known only to me. "Oh, I know! How about we have a meal at the café where Sendai-san works today?" Maika suggested suddenly, catching me off guard. "Why?" I asked reflexively. "Why not? I'd like to see Sendai-san at work. Wouldn't you, Shiori?" I'm curious about what she does at work. But it's not a must-see for me. If I become aware of the surroundings she's now part of, I might want her to quit even more intensely, making it hard to honestly admit my curiosity. "I didn't get the exact location, so I'm not sure," I lied. "Then let's ask. We might get a reply before the day ends," she said, pulling her phone from her bag. I hurriedly intervened. "I have a place in mind I'd like to try today." "Where?" "A place Asakura-san mentioned the other day," I said, naming a friend I met after entering university. "Oh, the café with cute cream sodas?" "Yeah, that's the one." "I'd been wanting to check that out too. Let's save Sendai-san's place for another time," Maika concluded. I nodded vaguely, and just then, the door opened, and our professor entered. The lecture quickly began, but I couldn't absorb the content. Having discussed Sendai-san just moments before, thoughts of her dominated my mind, leaving no room for the professor's words, nor could my hand record anything in my notebook. Unlike her tutoring job, her café work is a place I can actually visit. These thoughts had crossed my mind before, but Maika's comments prompted me to reconsider the idea. Sendai-san had casually invited me to come and eat there. Time that I cannot claim. Imagining myself merely observing from the sidelines was dreary. Trying to brush the idea of her job from my mind, I was instead greeted by the dream from this morning once more. Perhaps Sendai-san has experienced a dream similar to mine. If she sees such dreams, I wonder what version of me appears in them. I dwell repeatedly on thoughts I've never considered before. In the end, I can't focus on my classes, and the day passes without productivity. I end up going to a café with Maika that's not Sendai-san's workplace. While Sendai-san is working, Maika and I indulge in trivial chatter. Though I'm not familiar with the menu at Sendai-san's café, this place's cream sodas are as cute as Asakura-san described, and the meals are delicious. Spending time with Maika is enjoyable. This fact remains true despite Sendai-san being busy with her job. Time flies by, and I eventually part ways with Maika. Returning home, I switch on the lights in the shared space and take a seat. Sendai-san hasn't come back yet. Even though I know she said she'd be late, her absence irritates me. All day, my mind has been in turmoil. Because of Sendai-san, everything about me feels disordered. I was supposed to be comfortable being alone, yet I'm unsettled by Sendai-san's absence. I was supposed to be accustomed to waiting for people who promised to return but didn’t. Even knowing that Sendai-san would come back, her being late unsettles me. I was having fun just a moment ago, but now it's not fun anymore because Sendai-san is working part-time. Standing a tube of lip balm on the table, I call out softly, knowing no one is there. "...Hazuki." Quickly, quickly, quickly. As soon as possible. I wish for nothing more than Sendai-san’s return.