371 - Story About Buying My Classmate Once A Week

Thoughts on Miyagi Chapter 371 "Good morning, Hazuki! How was Shiori-chan's birthday?" Although Mio's voice wasn't loud enough to fill the whole lecture room, it hit my ears with enough force to make me want to bury my head. Mio briskly walked into the room, radiating her usual energy, and I sighed quietly. Before I even met her gaze, she asked the one question I most wanted to avoid. "You look dead tired, Hazuki. Are you okay?" Without waiting for an answer, Mio sat in the seat next to mine. Her taking the seat beside me was routine and nothing to fuss over, but her opening question today was enough to make me sigh. "Yeah, I'm fine." It came out low and muttering. "Doesn't sound like you're fine. Did something happen on Shiori-chan's birthday?" "Nothing in particular. Like I said yesterday, we enjoyed some delicious food and had a great time." Awakening in the dead of night, I turned my otherwise idle phone back on and found a message from Mio. It was about how Miyagi's birthday went, and I gave a brief summary of the nice parts before going back to sleep. "I figured since you said you drank, maybe you got so loud and drunk that the neighbors complained." "I didn't have that much, and I was knocked out pretty quick." Mio had asked if I celebrated turning twenty with alcohol, and I had said yes. In hindsight, I wished I'd held back. Alcohol impacted me into saying things I normally wouldn't. It's likely to become troublesome, from this morning on. Mentioning alcohol to Mio never leads to anything good. "Hazuki, since you're finally allowed to drink now, why not join us at the party tonight?" A bubbly voice piped up next to me, confirming my suspicions. "I've got a tutoring session today." "Too bad. Maybe next time, then." "Sorry, but I'm firm on refusing drinking parties." "Never drink outside." That's what Miyagi told me yesterday. I thought about it deeply too, so going out to drink is really something I shouldn't do. "Why the sudden refusal? Didn't you say yesterday that the alcohol was delicious?" "Well, I get tipsy pretty fast." Alcohol may taste pleasant, but it's no good for me. I become reckless and end up saying careless things. I found myself telling Miyagi things she didn't need to know. Last night, I turned into quite the drunk; she must have found me difficult to handle. Thankfully, the important memory of "Miyagi's Birthday" remains intact in my mind. But I do remember clearly displaying the childish antics of a drunkard to her. If I'd forgotten, I might have felt even more miserable, digging a deeper pit within my soul. Though remembering clearly isn't exactly uplifting either. "Hazuki, you’re weak with alcohol? You seemed the type who'd handle it without changing a bit." Mio gave me an unexpected glance. "I wish! But for now, drinking outside is a no-go. Who knows how I'd act, being drunk." Miyagi warned me sternly not to drink, and the prospect of being 'drunk'—the absence of being myself—is downright terrifying. The words that should stay inside slip out unwittingly, increasing the likelihood of telling Miyagi things I shouldn't. —I love Miyagi. Those are words I absolutely can't say while influenced by alcohol. This "love" hidden within my heart waits for when I choose to let it be known. Alcohol shouldn't decide that. Moreover, drinking something this dangerous outside could lead to confessing my feelings for Miyagi in front of others. Miyagi should be the first to hear my confession. "Even if you get drunk, I'll bring you home safely. So, next time, join me for drinks." "I'll think about it." Despite knowing my answer won't change, I give an ambiguous reply. Continuing the conversation risks Mio insistently creating unwanted drinking plans. "Well, I'll invite you again, and I want to hear a positive answer then," Mio smiled cheerily, so I returned the gesture with, "I'll think it over seriously." "By the way, is Shiori-chan much of a drinker?" "Well..." If I had to categorize her, Miyagi is more on the strong side with alcohol. I awoke to find all the half-consumed cider gone, and she confirmed she'd finished it. Not only that, the fridge was suddenly lacking in booze, which she also confessed to drinking up. And she had no trace of hangover, showing she wasn't putting up any pretense about it, so she definitely isn't weak. I was curious why she drank the drinks that didn’t seem to match her taste. When I asked, she deflected with, "it felt wasteful not to." "So, what's the rest of that thought, Hazuki?" Mio pried with visible intrigue. I fiddled with the necklace chain, slightly pulling it. "She’s kind of weak. Drinking parties are probably too much." Lying isn't ideal, but I didn't want to share the truth. If I said she handles alcohol well, Mio would relish in inviting her out for a drinking session. I can't allow that. Even if Miyagi is good with alcohol, I don’t know her limits, and if she was forced to overdrink, anything might happen. Furthermore, I can't stand the thought of Miyagi among a drunken crowd. I don’t want to see her harassed by a drunk, nor would I rest easy knowing it happens when I'm not around. "Seeing drunk Shiori-chan sounds great. But, don't worry, I won't overdo it. How about we all have some drinks together sometime?" Mio said something she didn't need to say, and I reply with a smile. "Miyagi didn’t seem to particularly like alcohol, so it's unlikely." "I see. But I'd like to at least try drinking with everyone, even if just for the vibe, whenever Maika-chan can join in." "Next year, I guess." Offering a neither yes nor no, vague response, the lecturer entered the room, and Mio turned forward, softly mentioning, "Perhaps we'll celebrate Hazuki and Shiori-chan's birthdays first." Turning forward myself, I pressed my hand to my forehead. This morning, Miyagi treated me as if nothing had happened. Even when I confirmed my recollection of last night, she neither complained nor nagged about drinking. And obviously, we hadn’t kissed. Letting the thoughts spill out like a dam breaking due to alcohol is something I must avoid, yet there's a part of me that wishes to experience Miyagi's gentle side once more. Maybe today, I should buy more cider. Perhaps a sweet drink that Miyagi might enjoy. If by any chance we could share drinks and get tipsy together... As my mind floated to such ideas, I let out a sigh. 　　　※※※　　　※※※　　　※※※　　　※※※　　　※※※ The first volume of the manga adaptation of "The Story of Buying a Classmate Once a Week: Five Thousand Yen for Excuses and Our Time Together" is now available. I've contributed a short story and an afterword to it. For information on paid bonuses and other extras, please check my update notes. 　　　※※※　　　※※※　　　※※※　　　※※※　　　※※※