339 - Story About Buying My Classmate Once A Week

I've Been Too Lenient with Sendai-san Lately Chapter 339 "Good morning." Our morning greetings never change. Whether it's before or after a Sunday where we spoke too much, Sendai-san and I exchange our "Good morning." Of course, "Good night," "I'm leaving," and "I'm home" are also part of our unchanged routine, bringing me a sense of relief in such consistency. I'm glad that Sendai-san has returned to her usual self. While it wasn't entirely unpleasant to have her undivided attention when she wasn't feeling well, it's naturally better when she’s full of energy. "Shiori, do you have work today?" I turn to Maika, sitting beside me, as she speaks. Our last lecture of the day has just finished, and Maika is as energetic as ever. I wish Sendai-san could feel similarly invigorated at university. "Yeah." I respond briefly, prompting Maika to put on an exaggerated grin and curiously say "Oh, really," leading me to ask, "What?" "It's just that, I think it's amazing you're keeping up with your job, Shiori." "It's not amazing. It's just normal." Working part-time is something anyone can do and usually continues, so it's no surprise that I'm managing to stick with mine. It's not something that should draw amazement now. "You seemed so reluctant during the cultural festival café. It's hard to believe you're still working at a café." "Well, it wasn't exactly fun," I admit. Working at the café during the cultural festival doesn't hold the fondest memories. Sendai-san, who said she'd come, didn't show up, and acting as a staff member was overwhelming. "I enjoyed it, though. Still, why didn't you pick a convenience store or a bookstore instead?" "Even at a convenience store or bookstore, you still have to deal with customers." "True. But if you can work at a café, once you're done with Mio-san's place, how about working with me?" Maika gives me an innocent smile. I'm only working because I have to, and once that reason's gone, I won't be working anymore. So there's no chance I'll be working with Maika, and this conversation isn't heading in a good direction. Reluctantly, I decide to use the opportunity presented by the mention of a name. "Speaking of Mio-san, Maika, what about her mixer? You were considering going, weren't you?" Sendai-san, Maika, Mio-san, and me. The four of us recently started exchanging messages in a group chat created after Maika and I swapped contact information with Mio-san when we gathered in Sendai-san's room. Mio-san later named the group "Strange Birds," a cryptic moniker, but we still communicate through it. The mixer invite from Mio came through "Strange Birds" yesterday. "Well, I'm still on the fence." "Why?" "Because you and Sendai-san aren't going." Maika looks at me intently with something to say, then stands up. I rise as well, and together we exit the lecture room. "Well, actually..." As we walk down the corridor, Maika continues. "When I asked Sendai-san about it, she mentioned that Mio-san's friends aren't weird." "You asked Sendai-san about the mixer?" I hadn't heard anything about this. Sendai-san hadn't mentioned it. "I was curious." Maika did nothing wrong. It’s obvious she asked directly since it's not something we can discuss in "Strange Birds." But hearing about Sendai-san from Maika’s mouth isn’t pleasant. A black haze clouds my heart, threatening to blur my vision. "Was Sendai-san doing okay?" Neither Maika nor Sendai-san is at fault, but as we talk, they start seeming that way, making me wish for the necklace sooner. Putting a necklace around Sendai-san's neck won't solve everything. I know that, but if I had something tangible, I'm sure I would be able to become a better version of myself. "She was okay. But Shiori, shouldn't you know better without asking me?" "I'm just a bit concerned because Sendai-san seemed unwell lately due to her busy schedule." "Is that so? She seemed okay, not just yesterday but before that too. Is Sendai-san alright?" Apparently, Sendai-san has been talking to Maika normally all along. Mio-san mentioned the same thing when I spoke with her at work. Sendai-san has been behaving "normally." So, the Sendai-san who claims to feel lonely only exists in front of me, which makes me feel special as a distinct presence in her life. Thus, I end up saying things I wouldn't to others, and doing things I wouldn't normally do with them. "It's okay. She seems lively these days. I just wanted to check." Smiling softly, I assure her, at which Maika looks relieved and says, "Alright then, as long as she's fine." "You're definitely not going to the mixer, right, Shiori?" "I'm not. But since they're Mio-san's friends, I'm sure they're fine." Having worked together, I've learned that while Mio-san can be forceful, she never crosses any lines to make people uncomfortable. Her friends, who occasionally drop by the café, though lively and unlike those I usually associate with, all seem genuinely nice. "I suppose I'll continue to mull it over for a while." Maika murmurs, and after we leave the university chatting about work and recently bought manga, we part ways at the station. Today’s my second shift since spending Sunday with Sendai-san. She has work today too, so she probably won’t feel lonely. Days when Sendai-san has work used to be tough on me, but now, I think they're not so bad, as they help her forget her loneliness. *Sigh.* Entering the train, I exhale lightly. I never realized just how vulnerable I am to the word "lonely." Even during extended periods lacking something that should be there, I could get by curling up under the covers. After all, you can ignore the void in your heart by simply closing your eyes, making the idea of always lacking seem normal, and wanting fulfillment seem trivial and foolish. Always, always, ever since my mother vanished. I've always tried to think this way, and I believed I succeeded. So, hearing the word "lonely" wasn't supposed to affect me; it was something I'd just roll around in my mind, turning a blind eye. But because Sendai-san deliberately used "lonely," things went awry. The train sways gently, filled with a fair number of passengers. The scenery outside shifts, causing a sigh to escape. Though I'd considered confiding in Sendai-san eventually, I certainly didn’t expect “eventually” to be that Sunday. I have no regrets about sharing, yet I feel a little uneasy because I've never shared my past with anyone before. Sendai-san, has gone back to the way she was before she said she was "lonely." Listening to the story of my mother hasn't changed anything. She doesn't look at me as though I'm a "pitiful child." Being beside her is comforting, yet it feels strange, as if the child who once curled up under the covers has been exposed. The train sways again and, after a while, stops at a station. I pass a few stations, then exit the train and head towards my part-time job at the café. Entering through the staff entrance, I head to the locker room to change into my uniform. "Morning, Shiori-chan!" As I finish putting on my apron, Mio-sans's voice cheerfully echoes in the locker room. "Technically, it's 'Good evening' around this time." "It's a bit early for 'Good evening,' and 'Good afternoon' doesn't quite fit, so 'Morning' works. Anyway, looking forward to working with you today!" Mio-san comes up beside me, speaking in an unnecessarily loud voice, and I return a moderately loud, "Looking forward to it as well." "Shiori-chan, your energy is just as low as ever." "Isn't it just that Mio-san has too much energy?" "This is normal. You're the one with low energy, Shiori-chan." "I don't think that's true. Anyway, I'm heading out." If I kept talking with Mio-san, she'd probably insist on a loud "Looking forward to it!" from me. I intended to get to work a bit early, but Mio-san grabbed my arm. "Wait a moment. How about inviting Hazuki over here?" "Here, to this café?" "Yes." "For what purpose?" "Hazuki mentioned wanting to visit you. I told her she could come if she wanted, but she said she doesn’t want you to see her when you're busy working. So, how about inviting her?" Mio-san quickly explains, releasing my arm as she finished. "Did Sendai-san tell you to say that to me?" "Hazuki didn't say anything. This is just me talking. It doesn't matter to me whether she comes or not, but just think about it." With a beaming smile, Mio-san said this, giving me a playful pat on the back.