333 - Story About Buying My Classmate Once A Week

Chapter 333 Mio-san is kind and reliable. Though I can't exactly get along with her, there's no denying she's a good person. At work today, she backed me up when I suddenly had to take orders. Even though, after working for three days, I can't say I've found the job fun, I feel like I can manage a month because of Mio-san's support. The problem is Sendai-san. Sendai-san continues to occupy my mind, even while I'm at work. And, as usual, she's been in a foul mood since morning. Tomorrow is the Sunday she wanted, the one I gave to her, yet her mood hasn't improved. It occurs to me that maybe I was like this when Sendai-san first started working. Thinking that way makes it seem like she's done nothing wrong and that I should be kind to her. But when she's in a bad mood, it's just dull. I know I'm being selfish, but Sendai-san should be cheerful around me. Even if I say no, I think it would be perfect if she kissed me regardless. After returning from my shift, I find it unsatisfying that Sendai-san follows the rules, eats her dinner as instructed, and then remains holed up in her room. This isn't something I can allow. I want her to be in the common space when I come home, and I want her to complain about my part-time job. Before I started this job, there were times Sendai-san wouldn't be in the common space. She would exist without complaints, without trying to kiss me. But I can't accept those norms anymore. I can't help but dislike my selfishness, but I am dissatisfied when Sendai-san isn't in front of me. This is Sendai-san's fault. Usually, she's so carefree and elusive, yet she suddenly turns into a weary puppy, making it impossible not to be concerned. That's why, even without a reason, it's fine for me to knock on the door in front of me. Even if I'm exhausted from this unfamiliar job and want to relax since I have to give tomorrow to Sendai-san, it’s okay to knock without hesitation. Today, it doesn’t matter if there isn’t a reason or anything to say. After a small inhale and exhale, I knock softly on the door once. "Sendai-san, open up." Though I add a word, the door doesn’t open. I hear, “You can come in,” in response. Since it's not an order, I have no right to complain that she didn’t open the door, but I’m still displeased. But I can achieve the goal of entering the room, so I open the door myself to find Sendai-san glaring at what seems to be a reference book on the table. I approach her and glance at the book on the table. "…Is this for tutoring?" The book before my eyes doesn't even need further recollection; it’s something I recognize from my high school days, suggesting that what Sendai-san is doing right now isn’t for me. "I was preparing materials for Kikyō-chan." As I expected, and in a flat tone, she adds, “And what are you up to, Miyagi?” "Nothing in particular, but it's okay not to have anything." I sit next to Sendai-san and close the book on the table. “I haven’t finished yet.” Her voice carries a note of discontent. I reply, “You’ll still meet the deadline if you continue, right?” "I can meet it, but I'm in the middle of something." "…Then, go ahead and continue." "And while I'm continuing, what will Miyagi do?" I pull down the penguin plush on the bed, hugging it. "Talk to this." The prize from a crane game that Sendai-san couldn’t win but I did and gave to her might make for easy conversation. However, before I can start talking to the penguin, Sendai-san speaks up. "If you're going to talk to Pen-chan, why not talk to me instead? How was work?" "Busy." "That's all?" "Mio-san is nicer than I thought." Upon hearing that, Sendai-san furrows her brow. Again, I think. Since I started this job, I’ve mentioned Mio-san a few times, but Sendai-san never seems pleased. However, for Sendai-san, Mio-san could become someone like Maika is to me. The fact that Mio-san is "nice" is significant; it's not something to frown over. Though It really, really, annoys me. “Well, Mio is pretty reliable, and fun to be around.” Sendai-san says lightly, then pats the penguin's head, which I’m holding. This kind of Sendai-san isn’t amusing. Just as I wish she wouldn’t talk about tutoring, I also wish she wouldn’t talk about Mio-san. Although I’m the one who told her to get along with Mio-san, I still find myself hoping she wouldn’t meet with Mio-san. It doesn’t matter if Mio-san is a good person or not; I can't feel good about Sendai-san meeting with her. I don't want to feel good about it. Perhaps it was a mistake wishing for Sendai-san to become normal. This feeling seems like a thorn that won’t disappear anytime soon. “I’m done talking about work.” I cut off the conversation heading in an unpleasant direction. Discussing the café inevitably brings Mio-san into the mix. That isn't ideal, so ending this conversation swiftly is best. “That’s fine, but just one more thing.” I'm not inclined to say it’s fine. But before I can say no, Sendai-san adds, “...Has Noto-senpai been around?” “She’s been there.” “Did you talk?” “We didn’t. I'm in the kitchen, plus it seems like she comes to talk to Mio-san, so even if I weren't in the kitchen, I probably wouldn’t speak with Noto-senpai.” “I see. Like I said before, even if you do get a chance to talk with her, don’t take what Senpai says too seriously. She tends to talk nonsense.” Sendai-san, speaking in an unreadable tone, takes the penguin from me, holding it the way I did. “…Do you talk with Noto-san often, Sendai-san?” “We talked a lot when I was working, but at university, not so much.” “You talked a lot, huh.” With nothing left to hold, I hug my knees. “She approaches me to talk.” “Hmm.” I squeeze my hands, then release them. I place my hands flat on the floor. It feels as if staying here might lead the floor to give way beneath me, dropping me from the third floor into some unreachable place below. “I’m going back to my room for today.” I didn’t come to Sendai-san with anything specific to talk about. I had no purpose, so there’s no point in lingering. I push against the floor to stand up. But Sendai-san grabs my wrist. “Stay over tonight. You’re giving tomorrow to me, right?” She quietly says, tightening her grip on my wrist. "I told you before, staying over in the same room is no good. Besides, I’m giving you tomorrow, not tonight." "But it's almost tomorrow, so what's the harm?" "It's not okay. There are still about two hours left. Besides, you're such a perv, Sendai-san." "Miyagi, do you really think I'd do something?" "I don't want you to do anything." "…You really wouldn't want me to?" Sendai-san asks something unserious in an annoyingly serious tone, and I glare at her. "As if I'd ever say I want that." I peel off her hand stuck to my wrist and shove her shoulder hard. "Miyagi, that hurts." "It’s supposed to. I'm going back to my room, so stop saying weird stuff." "Hold on. Tell me what it would take for you to stay." "No matter what you do, I won't stay. Why do you even want me to stay over so badly?" "It’s lonely sleeping alone." "Haven't you always slept alone?" "There are just days like that." It’s not that I can't relate. Though not to the point of feeling lonely, there have been numerous nights in the past when I didn’t want to be alone. Most of those were before I moved here, and since I started room-sharing with Sendai-san, such thoughts have been rare. Yet, there are still occasional nights when the room feels unusually vast. A room with no one but me. Nights that are too quiet. Nights filled with thoughts I'd rather avoid. Nights that make me want to gather up the labels I've peeled off or never stuck on my memories. Sendai-san's words remind me of those nights and make it hard to dismiss her. "...If you can face the wall and sleep quietly without looking at me, then fine." As I declare my maximum compromise while staring at the floor, a complaint shoots back from beside me. "Staring at the wall with my eyes open, I won't be able to sleep." "…If you're going to be nitpicky, I’ll sleep in my own room." "Okay, okay. I’ll sleep facing the wall with my eyes open if that’s what it takes." "You’re annoying." "It's fine. I promise I'll be well-behaved and sleep." With that quiet promise from Sendai-san, not only did I end up giving her my tomorrow, but also the time leading up to it. "I’m going to take a bath, so wait for me." "Hurry." She didn't set a specific time, but she urged me on, placing the penguin she'd been holding down onto the floor.