354 - Story About Buying My Classmate Once A Week

Chapter 354 Perfectly cooked sunny-side-ups with perfectly toasted bread. The ham was exquisitely grilled, and the tomatoes were neatly sliced. Breakfast preparation was going smoothly. I slept well last night, and as a twenty-year-old, I feel great. Humming a cheerful tune, I place a calico cat chopstick rest in front of Miyagi, prompting her to say, "Sendai-san, let me help, after all." "Miyagi, just sit and relax. It's my way of thanking you for yesterday." I place a black cat chopstick rest on the breakfast-laden table and pause just as I was about to take out a glass from the cupboard. My eyes move to the black cat and calico cat mugs that Miyagi gave me yesterday. I usually drink orange juice from a glass, but that doesn't mean it can't be enjoyed from anything else. Taking out the two brand-new mugs, I set them on the table. After fetching the carton of orange juice from the refrigerator and filling the mugs, Miyagi looks at me and asks, "Sendai-san, do you really enjoy preparing breakfast this much?" "I do," I reply. Everything around me is the same as always except for the mugs. The familiar table and chairs, the refrigerator, and the cupboard—all are the same as before my birthday. Miyagi hasn't changed either. As usual, she sits in the chair with a slightly grumpy expression. Yet, because of this unchanged scene, I feel joyful and happy. The fact that today is just like yesterday lifts my spirits. "Here you go, Miyagi, your mug." I place the calico cat mug in front of her. "…Thank you." "You're welcome." I return to my seat, placing the black cat mug in front of me, and put the carton of orange juice back in the fridge. Taking my seat, I say to Miyagi, "Shall we eat?" We both say "Let's eat." Small things like this are delightful and joyous. My birthday was yesterday, but the happiness continues today. I spread butter and jam on the toast and take a bite. Despite using the same bread, butter, and jam as always, it tastes three times better. I savor the egg, ham, and tomatoes. Everything tastes so good; I almost feel as though my cooking skills have improved. "Sendai-san." Miyagi calls while quietly munching on her toast with butter and jam. "What is it?" "…Did you receive any birthday presents?" She mumbles, taking a sip of the orange juice from her calico cat mug. "You mean from friends?" "…Yes." "I haven't received any." "Why not?" "Since summer break started, I haven't had the chance to meet with them. They've promised to give me something once the university resumes." Some friends invited me to hang out over summer break, but I declined. Even those who wanted to meet solely to give me a birthday present were turned down, so there's no "present from friends" in my possession. The only present I received was the mug set from Miyagi, who isn't a friend or a roommate. "…What about Mio? You did meet her over the summer break, right?" Miyagi quietly asked. "Mio wanted to meet on my birthday, but I declined. She's been insisting on giving her present directly and celebrating my birthday, but I told her she could wait." "Was she okay with that?" "Not really. She kept asking how long she should wait." My friends from university are generally accommodating, or rather, they don't pry too deeply. If I say I have plans or am busy, they usually give up after two tries. But Mio is different. She keeps contacting and trying to meet up without giving up. Miyagi seemed to expect this, commenting, "That's just like Mio." "Really is quintessential Mio." Despite her persistence sometimes being a hassle, I don't dislike her. Her constant care and oddly nonchalant manner make it hard to resent her. "…Anyone else?" Miyagi mumbled as she ate her sunny-side-up. "Anyone else?" "You received something last year, didn't you?" Something I received for my nineteenth birthday. Even when she mentioned it, nothing came to mind. I open several drawers in my memory, sifting through last year's birthday, and soon a cookie rolls into view along with the image of a tutoring student. "…Kikyo-chan?" Last year, Kikyo-chan gave me homemade cookies as her birthday present to me. "Doesn't matter who. Was there anyone else?" "If you're talking about Kikyo-chan, she gave me the same cookies as last year, a bit early for my birthday, though." "I see." Miyagi replies in a low voice, taking another sip of orange juice. No further words follow. As for what happened to those cookies—Miyagi didn't ask, and they ended up in my stomach. I'm glad the gift from Kikyo-chan wasn't something that stayed in this house. Likely, the sentiment behind the "homemade" aspect was too heavy for me to bear, neither suitable to remain here nor to be shared with anyone else. Last year, I'd thought about sharing them with Miyagi, but it was good that she declined. "Oh, right. The festival is this weekend, by the way." As she quietly continues with her toast, I remind Miyagi about the summer vacation plan I was looking forward to—her promised birthday present to me. The topic of my tutoring job isn't one Miyagi likes. Although she isn't visibly upset, it's better to shift the conversation from something that shouldn't be continued. "…This weekend?" Miyagi furrows her brows, looking at me. "Yes, on Saturday." "That's quite sudden." "Didn't I say it’d be after my birthday? Whether I said it early or late, it doesn’t change the fact we're going." I smile broadly at Miyagi.