355 - Story About Buying My Classmate Once A Week

What Sendai-san Chooses Chapter 355 "Happy Birthday!" The loud voice of Ami flows out of the smartphone. On the screen, a smiling Ami and Maika, who has returned home and is visiting Ami's house, are visible. "Save that for Sendai-san, not me," I say to Ami, who seems unnecessarily cheerful. She responds with a quick, "I was planning to, but since she’s not around, I thought I’d tell Shiori instead. Your birthday’s next month, right?" Ami adds me as a kind of afterthought and repeats, "Happy Birthday." "That's way too early," I protest. "Don’t worry, I’ll say it again next month," Ami assures me, thumping her chest dramatically and making herself cough. Next to her, Maika giggles, making me feel like I've returned to our high school days. So nostalgic. I remain seated on the bed, stretching out my legs. Though I’m not wearing a school uniform skirt, it feels like I can see that familiar skirt. But now, having become accustomed to a certain someone always being around, I don’t wish to go back to those times. "Shiori, hasn’t Sendai-san come back yet?" When Maika asks, I tell her the truth with a “Don’t know,” prompting Ami to speak in an exaggerated tone. "Maika, this is serious. Our plan to celebrate Sendai-san's birthday might fall apart." "It's not that serious. You only just brought it up." "With things like this, you have to act immediately when you think of them!" Eager to congratulate Sendai-san via video call, Ami doesn't realize that the one to be celebrated is away and nowhere to be seen. And where she's gone remains unclear. After having breakfast together, she said she was going out for a bit, and it's been over three hours since. Left alone, I'm staying in the room as if on house-sitting duty. "Ami, why not give up? Sendai-san doesn’t seem like she’ll be back soon." I suggest, and Maika agrees on the other side of the smartphone, "Yeah, probably." Ami makes a whining noise. I tell her again. "Ami. Seriously, I have no idea when Sendai-san will be back." "Ehh–" It sounds like the petulant voice of a whining child. Yet I’m the one who feels like complaining. This isn’t right. Three hours is definitely not "a bit," and if "a bit" wasn’t doable, she should have said "a while" or given a return time, something more accurate. Besides, even though she said she was heading out alone, after over three hours without coming back, I’m starting to doubt if she's really by herself. Maybe she’s meeting up with Mio. Or someone else. Or perhaps meeting her tutoring student. These silly thoughts bother me. If she had returned in just a bit as she claimed, I wouldn't feel this way. It’s really frustrating and maddening. I don’t know what she’s doing, but she should quickly come back and let Ami celebrate her. Listening to Maika and Ami chat, I keep hurling my grievances against Sendai-san into the void where she is absent. Instead of kicking the floor, I kick my own heel and glance at the door. Of course, there won’t be a knock, nor the sound of approaching footsteps. Only Maika and Ami’s voices are audible. The voices from the smartphone continue, filling the room with their chatter. Ami talks about wanting to visit during winter break, Maika laughs and says that would be impossible. I chuckle, knowing it's unlikely. Ami had mentioned something similar before summer break, but couldn’t save enough money to make it happen. Considering that, I doubt she'd manage to save enough by winter to visit. On the other side, Ami suggests I return home, too, but that's not feasible. I have no plans to go home during winter either. "Ah, I think I should hang up soon," Ami suggests. Maika agrees with a "Yeah." Just then, a knock resounds on the door and Ami exclaims, "Wait." "Isn't that Sendai-san coming back?" On screen, Ami beams from ear-to-ear. Another knock comes from the door, and Maika asks, "Aren’t you going to answer it?" Terrible timing. I thought she should have been back sooner, yet now isn't the moment. Though I figured she should be congratulated by Ami, I now don't want that to happen. Sendai-san should knock after I finish the call; she should just stand still in front of the door for now. Yet, since there’s a knock on the door, I can't ignore it. I tell the unseen person behind the door, "I'll open it now," trying to keep my voice gentle as I stand, walk slowly, and open the door. I hand over the smartphone showing Maika and Ami to Sendai-san and say, "Here." "Huh, what’s this?" "They want to talk to you," I reply, adding, "Maika and Ami." Immediately, enthusiastic voices cheer from the smartphone, "Happy Birthday, Sendai-san!" "Thanks so much!" Sendai-san responds with a voice as bright as today’s sunshine. Not amusing. Maika had already sent a birthday message for Sendai-san in the group chat with Mio, so there was no need for a celebration now. Ami isn't that close to Sendai-san to necessitate congratulating her on her birthday. Therefore, there’s no need for Sendai-san to chat happily with these two. Yet she does so joyfully. It truly isn’t amusing. "When are you coming back here, Utsunomiya?" "Planning for September." "I see." Their lively voices bounce around like ping-pong balls. Maika and Ami aren't doing anything wrong. They genuinely wanted to celebrate Sendai-san's birthday and are sincerely enjoying their conversation with her. In moments like these, I’m always the odd one out. I can’t stand anyone getting close to Sendai-san, even if it’s my friends. "Miyagi." Sendai-san taps my shoulder, pulling me back into the consciously shut-off world. She hands back the smartphone and says, "I’ll be in my room, let me know when you’re done talking." Nodding like a broken machine, I acknowledge, "Okay," as Ami’s loud voice takes over. "Shiori, we got to celebrate with Sendai-san as planned, so I’m hanging up. See you." "Yeah, see you." I raise my voice to sound energetic, and Maika waves goodbye on the screen. Then both of them disappear. "Sendai-san, it’s over." I call out to stop Sendai-san, who was on her way back to her room. She turns around and approaches with a solemn look on her face. "Hey, Miyagi... Do you have some time right now?" The face she's making makes me want to say I don't. "I think you can tell just by looking." "Then, could you come to my room with me for a bit anyway?" "What about lunch?" "Can we do that after we’re done?" "…No." "Why not? I'll make lunch later, just come with me." "I won't. I have a bad feeling about this." Matters that require us to be in Sendai-san's room instead of here... Such things can hardly be good. "It's about tomorrow," she says. "The festival? I'm going, don't worry." "I'm not worried about that. Anyway, just come to the room." Sendai-san smiles brightly. My sense of foreboding doubles, and my body feels heavy. I don't want to move an inch from here. But Sendai-san grabs my arm and pulls me. "It's nothing big." She says, maintaining her smile. It feels as if my feet are glued to the floor. That's how it feels, but there's nothing I can do about it. I feel extremely, extremely reluctant, but I have no choice. I leave the room with Sendai-san.