209 - Story About Buying My Classmate Once A Week

Chapter 209 "Here, wear this today." With two knocks on the door, I showed a skirt to Miyagi, who peeked out. "...I didn't hear anything about playing dress-up." With a reply that was just as I expected, I smiled warmly. There was never going to be a time when Miyagi would willingly accept wearing a skirt to the school festival. I knew this, but I had a feeling that if I asked her just before we went out, she might wear it for me. So, on the morning of the school festival, I told Miyagi. "I didn't say anything, but I bought this skirt for you." "I never asked you to buy it, and I don't want it." Of course, she never asked, nor would she ever ask me. I knew she'd say she didn't want it, and I was fine with whatever clothes she wore. However, I have a certain sentiment towards this skirt. I love Miyagi's legs peeking from beneath skirts, and whenever I see her in one, it reminds me of our high school days. She doesn't have to wear one all the time, but it would make me happy if she wore one occasionally for me. "It's not expensive, so please take it." There was no lie in my words. The skirt I was offering was from the cheaper side if we were to classify it by prices. I didn't want her to return it just because of its cost, so I chose a brand from fast fashion. "You can just wear it yourself, Sendai-san." "I bought it in your size with both our money, so I'd be in trouble if you don't wear it." The skirt was bought with the savings from our high school days. Although it’s said to be money for both of us, since it was savings from the five thousand yen Miyagi gave me, it wasn't weird for it to buy something only for Miyagi. "That was your money, Sendai-san." Hearing Miyagi speak the expected words, I responded with those I had prepared. "We decided it was for the two of us, didn't we?" "Then why are you deciding what to buy on your own, Sendai-san?" "If you cooperate, it would count as something we did together." "Cooperate?" "A purchaser and a wearer. That's cooperation, right?" It's a flimsy reason for making her wear a skirt bought with both our money, but I have a feeling that, for the current Miyagi, I can push this through. If she genuinely found it annoying, the door would already have been shut. "That's not cooperation." Miyagi complained in a disgruntled voice while looking at the skirt. "If you're not going to wear it, then I won't let you leave this house. But it's fine if you're okay with making Utsunomiya wait." I didn't actually expect words like these to work as threats, nor could I afford to keep Utsunomiya waiting, but Miyagi muttered something that wasn't quite a complaint. "...What about the top?" "The top?" "What should I wear?" With furrowed brows, she lightly kicked my leg. The skirt I was wearing swayed a little, and Miyagi kicked my leg again, this time gently. "I think your hoodie would be fine. I can lend you one of my outfits too, if you'd like?" "I'll wear my own." "Then, come to my room once you've changed. I'll do some light makeup for you." I handed the skirt to a less-than-pleased-looking Miyagi, lowering her voice a bit as she spoke. "No need for that." "If you really hate it, I won't force you. Just let me know when you're ready." "Alright." With her usual displeased expression, Miyagi shut the door with a bang, leaving me alone in the shared space. A Saturday with many markings and a Sundays with even more markings. After everything, the marks have faded over time, blending back into me, and our life has returned to normal. —At least, on the surface. I let out a small breath and returned to my room. Sitting on the bed, I looked down at the leg Miyagi had kicked. Miyagi added a new rule to our usual routines. It wasn't something we discussed and agreed upon, and I haven't acknowledged it either. I rubbed above the collarbone through my clothes. There, a new mark made by Miyagi remains. A new rule. Or perhaps it could be called a ritual. While the many marks faded away, there were newer ones created on my body. The rule Miyagi made up on her own applies on days when I have a shift at the café and doesn’t on days I tutor. Thus, marking happens on café workdays. I'm not sure why some jobs earn me a mark while others don't, but it's likely that Miyagi dislikes the café job, which was added later. I glance at the door. Even though it's just putting on a skirt, Miyagi isn't here yet. I press hard underneath my collarbone. Without my conscious agreement, marks appeared in time with my part-time job, fading away as promises dictated. And probably, they won't appear anymore. The reason is simple—the new rule applied only until the school festival, and since my café job ended, there's no days left for the new rule. And that leaves me feeling a bit disappointed. The marks on my body make me feel strongly connected to the words Miyagi uttered: "All of you belongs to me." Miyagi's lips, marking me, stirs feelings I can't voice, but when she whispers that I belong to her, it feels good. It makes me want more marks. But the limited number of marks keeps me sane, ending before my reason snaps, which I find just right. Five minutes, ten minutes pass, and there's a knock at the door. I remain seated on the bed and say, "Come in." Miyagi enters the room, wearing the skirt I handed her. "I'm done changing." Standing by the door, Miyagi speaks in a bored manner, prompting me to get up and walk over to her. "It looks good on you." "You don't have to say that." "I think it's cute." "Sendai-san, shut up. You're annoying." Despite her grumbling, I reached out, tucking her hair behind her ear. After brushing her earring, I leaned in close to her ear, catching a hint of shampoo fragrance. "You smell nice." "It's your shampoo, after all." "Well, it's Miyagi's shampoo now too, right?" "...Yeah, I guess." Rather than buying a new one when she ran out, Miyagi started using my shampoo, leaving just one bottle in the bathroom now. It’s because she kept the promise made the day I picked up her lip balm from the shared space, making Miyagi carry my scent recently. I cherish such small things, so I stroke her hair. As I brought a strand to my lips, Miyagi pushed against my body before my lips could touch her hair. The closeness drifted apart slightly, and she undid two buttons on my blouse. Her hands traces over my collarbones, and my heart pounded. I could stop Miyagi if I wanted. But I don't want to. Her fingers brushed the mark under my collarbone, and she leaned closer. However, rather than placing her lips there, she pressed her teeth against my neck. After a slight pain, something soft adhered. It's not a place covered by clothes, yet her lips cling quite intensely. "Hey, now." As I try to push Miyagi's shoulder away, she doesn't budge. The warmth from Miyagi's body merged with mine at the nape of my neck, creating a singular heat that prickled my heart like a needle. I thought the ritual had ended with my part-time job, but it seems that wasn't the case. This ritual, which began as a penalty game, is difficult to resist. Even knowing there's a visible mark, I still feel the urge to embrace Miyagi. I slide my hand from her shoulder to her back. Just as I'm about to hold her tightly, clutching her hoodie, her lips finally part from my neck. "Is there a mark, Miyagi?" Even though I already know the state of my neck, I ask. "There is, here." While lightly tracing the spot with her fingertips, Miyagi responds in a voice devoid of apology. "That's visible, you know. Did you mark it there because you didn't want me to go to the school festival?" I share the blame for not stopping her, but having a visible kiss mark when we're about to meet Utsunomiya is problematic. While it’s unlikely she'd think Miyagi was responsible, it could still lead to complications. I might have to change my clothes. It's a hassle since I've already done my makeup, but it's better than having a visible mark. "Swear on the earrings, Sendai-san." As I feel like sighing, Miyagi speaks softly. "That I won’t go to the school festival?" Though a mark like this wouldn't bar me from attending, it does seem like a reason Miyagi might make a mark. "No, swear that Maika won't notice the mark." "Even if she does, I won't say it was you, so you can relax." "That's not what I'm worried about. I just don't want anyone to see the mark." "Then you should have put it somewhere less visible." "You're mine, so it shouldn't matter where I mark you." Miyagi's voice, steeped in displeasure, rings in my ear. Her voice could be considered angry, yet it carries a sweetness akin to caramel, leaving me speechless. All I can do is follow her command and, touching the plumeria earring with my fingertips, I utter the words of my promise. "I'll make sure Utsunomiya doesn't see it." Making me hide a mark that she placed in a visible area—it feels utterly unreasonable. Miyagi can be truly awful. Yet, despite feeling this way, I press a kiss to her earring.