372 - Story About Buying My Classmate Once A Week

Chapter 372 Kikyo-chan is always a good girl. She studies diligently and is very understanding. Thanks to that, my tutoring job concluded smoothly today as well. Even though she timidly mentioned the upcoming school festival and shyly asked if I could attend, she was sensible as ever and backed down when I claimed to have "plans." She is such a good student, which is why it pains me a little. But even so, I can't go to the school festival. Although I haven't peered into her heart, it's best not to get too deeply involved. A tutor and a student. That's the extent of my relationship with Kikyo-chan, so there's no need for me to attend the festival, and I already know how to spend my time. I only need Miyagi. If I had to attend a festival, I'd want to attend one from the past. The one back in high school, when I couldn't go to Miyagi's classroom. "But still..." I halt my hurried steps home and gaze up at the night sky. Even if I went back to being a high schooler, I suspect I'd do the same thing again. I'd probably hang out with Umina and the others and call Miyagi out after the festival ended. I glance around the street illuminated by streetlights. Mike-chan isn't here. They aren't there whether I look to my right or left. It's natural since it's not Mike-chan's time, but looking for them on my way home has become a habit. It's a new habit I didn't have in high school. I take a step forward. Moving slowly. One step, then another, I continue and look at the sky. The stars are far away, unreachable lights from the past, but I am getting closer to the home where Miyagi waits. Even if it's at a slow pace, I'm definitely getting closer. I met Miyagi when I was a high school sophomore, and now I'm a second-year university student, and I've turned twenty. It seems like we haven't changed, yet we have. Beside Miyagi, where there was no need to put on a facade, sometimes I feel like showing off or regret exposing my vulnerable side. It's because my feelings for her have changed over the years, but those changed feelings remain locked inside my heart. I wish I could move forward faster, but I can't increase my speed. Still, we've become friends who eat whole cakes and drink alcohol together. Even when I'm careless or foolish, Miyagi forgives me, and she eats breakfast with me. It feels slow, but it's not bad. I climb the stairs to the home where Miyagi awaits, standing in front of the door. I take out my keys from the bag and gaze at the identical key case, except for the engraving, with Miyagi's. I stroke the cat on the key case with my fingertip and softly press my lips to it. These are important, precious keys safeguarded until we graduate. I unlock the door with the key that I hope to continue using forever and enter the home where Miyagi resides. "I'm back." I say in a small voice as I take off my shoes. When I go to the shared space, Miyagi is there, and I repeat, "I'm back." "Welcome back." Miyagi, who is drinking something from a calico cat-patterned mug cup, says, looking at me. "Sendai-san, dinner?" "I ate before going to work. How about you, Miyagi?" "I ate." "I see." On tutoring days, we rarely have dinner together, so this exchange doesn't hold much meaning. But it's unusual for Miyagi, who sometimes stays in her room when I get home, to be in the shared space. It often signifies something. “Sendai-san.” Miyagi says, tapping her feet slightly and glances at me. “Yes?” “There’s pudding in the fridge.” A small voice reaches me, and I understand the reason she was in the shared space. “Let’s eat it together. Wait a moment.” There was no pudding in the fridge this morning, indicating Miyagi bought it to share with me. I set my bag in my room and quickly return to the shared space. Opening the fridge, I spot convenience store pudding, remove two, and place one with a spoon in front of Miyagi before sitting down. “Let's eat.” Somehow, our voices align, and we both open the pudding lids. Scooping a bite with the spoon, the firm pudding offers a strong egg flavor yet tastes delicious. I glance at Miyagi, who takes a sip from her calico cat mug before tasting the pudding. “Sendai-san, what was with that today?” A low voice comes from across. “That?” “Obviously, the weird lie you told Mio-san.” The weird lie, likely referring to when I mentioned to Mio that “Miyagi is weak with alcohol.” Right after, I messaged Miyagi, saying, ‘Just told Mio you can’t handle alcohol,’ which is likely what she’s referring to. “I admit it wasn’t right to lie, but if I said you’re strong with alcohol, Mio might invite you to drinking parties. Are you okay with that?” Miyagi furrows her brows at my words. “Well, I…” “Lying isn’t right, but you don’t really like parties, right?” “Yes, but…” “Then it’s better to pretend you’re weak. If the lie bothers you, should I correct it?” “...No need.” She softly replies, adding in a small voice, “Will you go to the parties, Sendai-san?” “I won’t.” “Even if Mio-san invites you?” “Do you want me to go, Miyagi?” Returning the question makes the crease between Miyagi's eyebrows deepen. “I said no alcohol, remember?” “I remember. So, I won’t drink outside.” “You don’t need to drink at home, either.” “Isn’t it okay to have a little?” “Not even a little.” “Why?” “Because you’re someone who shouldn’t drink, Sendai-san.” Miyagi states firmly, taking another bite of pudding. I also eat a spoonful and voice what I’ve been wondering. “Miyagi. Did you really drink all the alcohol in the fridge?” “I have no reason to lie.” “You don’t even like the taste of alcohol, right?” “Even if I don’t like it, I can still drink it.” I hear her irritated voice from across. Indeed, even if someone dislikes something, they can eat it if they choose to, and the same applies to drinking. I dislike carbonated drinks, yet I can consume them. “...It’s the same as the whole cake.” Miyagi says while looking at her pudding. Her soft voice is easy to miss without paying attention, so I strain to hear and ask again. “Is leaving it unfinished not an option?” “I don’t like seeing it in the fridge the day after my birthday.” “Even so—” Before I could suggest she shouldn’t force herself, Miyagi interrupts. “Sendai-san. You bought it because it was my birthday, right?” “Yes, but…” “I don’t want to waste stuff like that.” In a flat voice, Miyagi said the words, savoring her pudding with caramel. After commenting "It's delicious" and taking another bite, she exclaimed theatrically, "Oh right," and continued speaking. "Sendai-san, is Mio really planning to throw a birthday party?" "Seems like it. She asked us to let her know when we're available." Mio is someone who acts in haste, and right after class ended, she sent a message to the "Strange Birds" group, announcing that they'd hold a birthday party next month. "Sendai-san, you remember everything from yesterday, right?" "I do, but why?" "It was hard dealing with you yesterday, you know." "Yeah, sounds like it." From what I remember of yesterday, I was exactly the kind of drunkard who would cling to Miyagi. I can easily imagine how tiresome handling someone like me must have been. Thanks to that, I've etched into my heart the lesson not to drink excessively. "So, could you do one thing for me?" Miyagi said softly, looking at me. Her words might not explicitly contain the word "order," but I understood that what she just said held the weight of one. I also realized that I had no right to refuse her request. "Just one thing?" "Just one thing." Upon saying that, Miyagi placed the spoon she had been using to eat her pudding down.