344 - Story About Buying My Classmate Once A Week

**Chapter 344** The ideal distance is side by side. If that's not possible, then a step or two ahead. If we're walking together, that's the kind of proximity I'd prefer, but Miyagi is walking about five steps ahead of me. And she's walking quite briskly. Not as slow as a tortoise, but if possible, I wish she'd walk at a normal pace. However, she's not planning to listen to me. Five minutes ago when I suggested, "How about slowing down?", she refused. And a minute ago when I asked, "Could you walk a bit slower?", she rejected that too. Miyagi continues to walk through the evening streets without looking back. Meanwhile, I keep walking behind her. "...I told you there's no need to wait for me." A voice that sounds overly displeased comes from about five steps ahead. "When I was working part-time, you came along, so when you're working, shouldn't we go home together to be fair?" When I worked at that café on New Year's Eve, Miyagi came and we went home together. That's why I wanted us to return home together today. "Why are you trying to be fair about that? It has no meaning." Miyagi still doesn't look back. I speak to her back. "It does have meaning." "What kind?" Miyagi stops and turns around. "I'm having fun." Of course, I want Miyagi to enjoy it too. But I know that's a tough ask. "I'm not having fun." As expected, Miyagi says something unamusing and turns her back on me again, walking ahead briskly. "Miyagi, you're walking too fast. Don't speed up on purpose." "You're just too slow, Sendai-san." Even though there are quite a few people around, Miyagi's monotone voice comes through clearly. It seems like she's unwilling to slow down. Helpless, I throw my voice to her back. "Miyagi, your hair is sticking up." "That's obviously a lie." Miyagi replies coldly. I want to retort with 'that's mean,' but since it was a lie just to make her turn around, she's not wrong. "Oh, by the way, the cold brew iced coffee was delicious. Is there a reason you recommended it?" I ask a silent Miyagi. If left alone, she won't speak at all. "What brought this on suddenly?" "I was just curious." This time, it's not a lie. At the café, I missed the opportunity to ask, but I wanted to know why she recommended the cold brew iced coffee from the many menu options. "No particular reason." "So, it was just random?" "...It seemed like it would suit you, Sendai-san." "Seemed like it would suit me?" "Kind of stylish." Miyagi states a vague reason and continues walking, leaving me behind. Fast. Maybe she wants to get home and relax as soon as possible, but she's too fast. Perhaps she really does want to leave me here and go home. "Miyagi, hold on." "I'm not waiting." "Isn't this the kind of time where you walk a bit slower and enjoy chatting?" "I don't have that kind of culture." Her reaction seems too cold to me. While I'm not expecting a lively conversation, I'd rather the conversation doesn't end, sinking to the ground. "Why not create that kind of culture now?" If we're together, I want to have conversations with Miyagi. "I'm tired and don't want to talk." "Then I'll talk by myself, and you can just listen." With that preamble, I say, "Today, you were cute, Miyagi. Can I come again?" "No. Don't come anymore." "Then, can I come quietly next time?" "Absolutely not. And stop asking questions." "Why?" "Because I'd have to answer." "Then maybe I should ask more questions." "You're annoying, Sendai-san. Stay silent until we get home." With those words, Miyagi takes a big step forward. Her pace quickens significantly. Even calling her name, she doesn't look back or respond to me. The station closes in, the ticket gates approach, and we reach the platform. The train arrives, and we step aboard. Miyagi remains silent. We sway in the silence of the moving train. "Miyagi." We could stay silent the whole way, but I call out to Miyagi standing next to me. No response. Even though there wasn't a significant sway, I brush my arm against Miyagi's. She furrows her brow and glares at me, then whispers quietly. "...What were you talking about earlier with Mio-san?" "At the café?" Since it's been a while, I confirm. "Yeah. You two were talking about something, right?" "We were talking about how cute you are, Miyagi." "You always say random things like that." She taps my arm with a light smack. When I said "Ouch" in an exaggerated manner, she responds, "I didn't hit you that hard." What were Mio and I talking about? I'm glad she cared even a little about that, but Miyagi mentioning Mio's name doesn't make me happy. Especially because Miyagi seems to be getting along well with Mio. Mio seems fond of Miyagi. She frequently invites people to meetups, but nothing unpleasant occurs at those gatherings. Mio doesn't like those kinds of people. So, if Mio is around while Miyagi is working, she can keep unsavory people away from Miyagi. While that's reassuring, having Mio constantly by Miyagi's side at work isn't appealing. "――Miyagi, it seems like you've been getting along with Mio, huh?" I say without looking at her, and she nonchalantly replies, "Just normal." Then adds an undesirable remark. "...But she's kinder than I thought." "How so?" My voice drops lower when I ask. "Various things. When I took water over to Sendai-san, Noto-san wasn't around." "What do you mean by not around?" "Mio-san said Noto-san usually returns to her seat quickly after getting water, so it should be fine. I didn't believe it, but that’s exactly what happened." "Mio said that, huh?" "Yeah, she did. She even laughed, saying she told Noto-san to 'not get too close to Shiori-chan.'" "Huh." The conversation halts, and silence envelops us. The scenery flows outside the window, the familiar platform comes into view, and we get off the train after a ride that was neither long nor short. The walkway is devoid of Mike-chan. For whatever reason, the usually social cat rarely appears when Miyagi is around. Though I'd wish for it to show up for Miyagi, who loves animals, it seems unlikely today. I glance at the black cat walking beside me. Though she behaves almost like a cat herself, unlike Mike-chan, she only shows her cold side to me. I understand that's just how she is, but there are times when I wish she could borrow some of Mike-chan's friendliness—like now. I match my pace with Miyagi and nudge her shoulder. "Miyagi. ...Is it okay if we hold hands?" "No." The unfriendly black cat wouldn’t even let me touch her hand, let alone her belly. "Then, let me take a picture." I tug on Miyagi's sleeve. Her walking pace slows and she turns to look at me. "'Then' doesn’t really fit here. Where did the idea of a photo even come from?" Miyagi looks undeniably displeased, her voice low. Photographs don’t capture souls or anything like that; they simply show Miyagi as she is, without anything ominous. Yet, she has an extreme aversion to being photographed. "It's a memento of me visiting your workplace. Ideally, I wanted to take a picture of you while you were working, but I figured you'd definitely get angry." Maybe it’d be kinder not to take pictures at all, but I want to keep a few more memories of her in physical form. I’m trying to be considerate, so I hope she’d at least allow me to take a photo from time to time. "Of course I’d get angry if you did that." "That's why I didn’t take any while you were working. Can I take one now instead?" I take my phone out from my bag and show it to her. "No." "Come on, it’s just for memories." "I absolutely don’t want that kind of memory." "Then how about just your hand?" "My hand?" "Yes, your hand. Stretch your arm out, Miyagi." I smile warmly at her, but she looks suspicious. She clearly has no intention of extending her arm. I stop walking and grab her wrist, giving it a little swing. Our entwined hands swing towards the setting sun. Miyagi’s hand and mine are both bathed in the light. Snap. My phone, held in one hand, makes a satisfying clicking sound, capturing the day I visited Miyagi’s workplace. "A memory for today. I’ll send it to you later, Miyagi." I release her hand and place my phone back in my bag before she can snatch it away. "That was sneaky." Miyagi says, sounding annoyed, and gives my arm a light slap. "Oh, come on, it's fine." "It’s not okay. You’re really annoying, Sendai-san." There’s an audible frustrated sigh as Miyagi steps forward aggressively, marching towards home. The Miyagi who was beside me is now five or even ten steps ahead. So, I quicken my pace to make sure I keep up and don’t get left behind.