345 - Story About Buying My Classmate Once A Week

Things That Suit Sendai-san Chapter 345 I sit on the bed, staring intently at my hands. Before I headed to university and now that I’m back, they remain unchanged—my hands, looking the same as always. Yet the day Sendai-san visited my part-time job, these hands were marked as a “memory,” suddenly feeling different than usual. I clench and unclench my hands. I look at the photo captured on Sendai-san’s phone, also stored on mine. For her, it’s a “memory of visiting Miyagi’s part-time workplace,” and although I said I didn’t want the “photo of the day Sendai-san came to my workplace,” it was shared with me anyway. Sighing, I toss the phone onto the bed. When I give Sendai-san the necklace, will that day become a “memory” too? The thought tightens a knot in my stomach. To me, the word “memory” still doesn’t hold much positive meaning. It inevitably weighs on me. And thinking about choosing and giving the necklace makes me even more melancholy. Selecting, buying, and gifting the necklace is a definite future. Yet, for me, choosing and giving it feels unbearably difficult. July is nearing its end, and summer vacation is approaching. That also means my part-time job is nearing its conclusion. To be precise, there’s just one more shift. Only one more, and my part-time work will be over. I need to decide on the necklace for Sendai-san soon. What should I do? Back in high school, when I gave her a necklace, the decision of whether to buy it was a dilemma, but I knew which one to choose. Now, though I’m not hesitant about buying, I’m uncertain about which necklace to choose. Compared to back then, I’ve changed while still remaining the same. “Sendai-san would look good in anything, but…” Anything won’t do. I let out another sigh. I could ask her directly what kind of necklace she likes, but she seems unlikely to answer if I ask what she "likes." Moreover, I've resolved to decide for myself. Even so, a part of me thinks it’d be best to reflect Sendai-san’s taste somewhat, making choosing a necklace all the more difficult. “Hmm…” While there’s no rush to decide quickly, this indecision makes it feel like I’ll never reach a decision, and I start to panic. I let out a breath, just as footsteps echo from the shared space—yet there’s no knock on my door. A frown etches onto my forehead. Ever meticulous, Sendai-san first went to report to the crocodile before coming to my room. To keep her promise to me. Today, she was working at her part-time job, leaving me to wait for her return. Though thinking endlessly about the necklace after dinner made time flow somewhat quickly, it wasn't a short amount of time. Nonetheless, it seems cruel for her to prioritize reporting to the crocodile over simply saying "I'm back" to me. I pick up the platypus lying on the floor and place it on my lap. Giving its head a small tap, I say “welcome home,” just in time to hear a knock at the door. Placing the platypus back on the floor, I stand up. As I approach the door, I hear a knock followed by, “Miyagi,” calling my name. Inhaling, then exhaling, I open the door. “Welcome home.” I say these words, meant for someone returning, to Sendai-san, who didn’t immediately come to my room. “I’m back.” “Sendai-san, have you eaten?” “I ate before my shift. I made sure to report to the crocodile.” Sendai-san explains why she first went to her room. “If you want to talk, why not come in?” As I turn my back to Sendai-san, I hear the door close. Instead of returning to her own room, she sits beside me. As she attempts to grasp my hand, I push against her shoulder. I place the platypus between us and give her a stern look. “The crocodile said it wanted to meet Miyagi.” Sendai-san speaks, stroking the platypus’s head. “There’s no way the crocodile would say that.” “It said it did.” “Crocodiles don’t talk.” “This one’s quite chatty.” “...Sendai-san, you’re not the type to talk to stuffed animals.” “I do. And not just to the crocodile.” Sendai-san smiles. That unnaturally bright expression seems suspicious, making it hard to believe she’s speaking the truth. She’s always like this, easily sidestepping people. “Lies, all lies.” “It’s true. I even kissed it.” With a smile, she kisses the platypus. “Why are you doing that to the crocodile?” “To get along better.” Sendai-san says lightly, like the paper tissues sprouting from the platypus's back, kissing the tissue cover again. Truly, she’s thoughtless. Kisses aren’t things you casually give to a platypus, nor should you be giving them to my crocodile. The one she should be kissing— I give her shoulder a firm push. Infuriating. Sendai-san does these strange things, making me think unnecessary thoughts. “Miyagi, instead of pushing, why not pull me closer?” “There’s no need to pull.” “I want to get closer to you.” At this, Sendai-san places the platypus on the bed, closing the distance between us. She holds my hand, and warmth mingles between us. The hand she claimed as a “memory” becomes warm again. “Are you stupid?” I complain about her irrationality while my hand instinctively grips hers, grasping onto her warmth. Like this, it feels as if our hands being connected is the way it's supposed to be. “Miyagi. Do you remember us talking about going somewhere during the summer break?” Sendai-san says abruptly, yet casually like small talk. “I remember. ...But I’m not going to a hot springs.” “Where would you like to go, if not to a hot springs?” “Even if you ask now, I don’t know, and we don’t need to go anywhere.” “Let’s go somewhere. Your job is ending soon, and you’ll have some free time, right?” “I do, but…” I also discussed summer plans with Maika and Asakura-san and plan to go out with them. Even excluding these plans, I have time to spare. But thinking about summer break with Sendai-san is beyond me now. That’s because I haven’t decided on the necklace yet. The necklace holds higher priority than planning summer activities with Sendai-san. “Then, let’s go to the ocean.” Apparently having a place in mind, Sendai-san suggests, observing my reaction. “Absolutely not.” “Then how about a pool?” “That’s also a no.” “Where would you go, then?” With a calm voice, she grips my hand tightly. It seems she has no intention of giving up on going somewhere, but I can’t concede either. “I don’t know, but I don’t want to.” Now isn't the time to plan out the summer holiday. More importantly, the places she suggested pose their own issues. Both the beach and pool are crowded and not places where you can comfortably stay fully clothed. Going to such places with Sendai-san doesn’t sound fun. Without a doubt, Sendai-san would be stunning in anything, standing out even in such places. In moments like these, rather than sharing Sendai-san with the eyes of many people, I want to have her all to myself. "...What about your plans with Utsunomiya and the others?" Sendai-san asks in a slightly lower voice, gazing at me intently. "I have plans." "And with me?" Her hand reaches out, brushing against my lips. Her fingertips press lightly, as if urging me to respond. Though it's impossible, the spot she touches feels as though it’s being scorched by the sun. "...I want to stay here." At my softly spoken reply, her fingers retreat. Going to an aquarium or zoo once in a while might be fine, but I'd rather avoid places where someone might approach Sendai-san. More than going anywhere, I find comfort in just the two of us being in this space. This small world, disconnected from university and work, is precious. Though it offers the freedom to go out, it also grants the liberty to choose not to. By choosing not to venture out, I can keep Sendai-san's summer secluded within this world, separated from everything that surrounds her outside. "Miyagi, don’t you want memories of going out together?" "You don't need to leave to make memories." "True, but weren't we talking about going somewhere?" Sendai-san says, sounding a bit discontent. If we were to go out, a necklace would be necessary for Sendai-san. I release our connected hands and begin unbuttoning Sendai-san's blouse, one, two, and then three and four more buttons. As her neckline opens, I think about what kind of necklace would suit her. "Miyagi, what’s this about?" "I'm looking at Sendai-san." Trailing my fingers along her neck, I trace the imaginary necklace chain that isn’t there. "I get that, but—" I caress her collarbone and gently place my lips a bit higher. As I softly bite down, her body flinches. I pull away, instructing her. "Stay still." I press my tongue against the spot where a silver moon once rested during our high school days. Clutching her blouse tightly, I bite gently at her neck, careful not to leave a mark. She calls my name softly at my ear, her whisper tickling me. I suck harder on her skin, leaving a faint red mark. "Sendai-san, during the summer break—" As I lift my head, Sendai-san's lips silence my words. The rest of my sentence vanishes, swallowed by her kiss. I lightly tap her shoulder in protest, prompting her to break the kiss. "I didn’t say you could kiss me." "Well, you didn't say I couldn't, so I did. What were you saying?" "...Let’s discuss the summer break plans once it's actually summer break." "Okay." Easily agreeing, she kisses me again, unreservedly.