384 - Story About Buying My Classmate Once A Week

Chapter 384 "…Sendai-san, what is this?" Even without asking, I understand. But it's something I don't want to understand. The things that are laid out on the floor of Sendai-san's room cause the words in my head to spill into the outside world. "Felt letters spelling out 'HAPPY BIRTHDAY' and star-shaped balloons. It's a common decoration set for room decorations." She's not wrong. Before my eyes are the letters for celebrating a birthday and star-shaped balloons without any air in them. Considering what today is, it's not strange for such things to be on the floor. —The promised Sunday. This afternoon, Maika and Mio-san are coming to this house to celebrate my and Sendai-san's birthday. Even though nothing is incorrect, it doesn't mean I can understand it. My mind recognizes this situation as something unacceptable and refuses to comprehend it. "Are you decorating with this?" I shift my gaze from the items on the floor and look intently at Sendai-san. She asked me to help her, so I came to this room. So, considering there's a decoration set, without even asking, I know it must be for decorating, yet I can't help but ask. "With just the two of us, Miyagi. It'll be quick, so help me out." "...I didn't hear about decorating like this." I've accepted the day itself, but the room should stay as it always is. I struggle with this party-like atmosphere. I can't bring myself to enjoy actions that transform a birthday to stand out from other days. After all, it's the second time I'm celebrating a birthday. Even with Maika and Mio-san coming, there's no need to go out of the way to decorate the room. "Did you buy this, Sendai-san?" It seems unlikely, but I ask anyway. "Mio bought it. At the university, she asked whether I preferred her bringing it and decorating it herself, or if I'd do it, and when I said I'd do it myself, she handed it over." "What about the option of not decorating?" Though Sendai-san isn't at fault, my tone unwittingly comes off as accusatory. "I told Mio we didn't need anything, but she had already bought it and insisted on giving it to me." Imagining the interaction between Sendai-san and Mio-san, I feel an urge to hold my head in my hands. I'm sure Mio-san, with one hundred percent good intentions, wanted to make our birthday a joyful one. The choice of a decoration set reflects the brightness of Mio-san's personality, which illuminates even the corners of a room, dazzling only me. Decorating a room for a birthday must be common for most people, and if someone was asked if they'd like decorations, most people likely wouldn't refuse. Therefore, it makes sense that Mio-san lightly handed Sendai-san the buoyant letters and restless balloons. "…Why didn't you say anything when you were given them?" Even understanding the situation, complaints slip from my mouth. "Because I thought you'd make this face, Miyagi." For once, Sendai-san frowns with a troubled expression and touches my cheek. I don't know what kind of face she's referring to. But apparently, it's not a good one, as I hear a gentle "I'm sorry." "Let's skip decorating then. When Mio comes, I'll convince her." Sendai-san's hand warmly holds my cheek. "…Where will we decorate?" Though my voice comes out small, I convey the words I should say, and the hand touching my cheek moves away, her fingers gently combing through my hair. "You don't have to push yourself." "It's fine. Let's decorate. I get that Mio-san means no harm." Though I'm not enthusiastic about it, having accepted a second birthday, I should accept the accompanying "decorations" as well. It's unbecoming to sulk and disregard Mio-san's kindness by refusing to decorate. "Where should we decorate?" I ask, holding the buoyant letters from the floor, noticing they are all connected by strings. The phrase "Happy Birthday" dances on the floor, and with a gentle tug, it slides into my hands. "On the wall by the bed." Sendai-san points toward the middle of the wall around there. "Got it." Standing on the bed with the birthday letters in hand, Sendai-san joins me, holding the final letter "Y" of the "Happy Birthday" phrase. Together, we attach the buoyant letters to the wall, step down from the bed, and check their positioning. It seems slightly crooked, so after adjusting it, we blow up the balloons. "Where do they go?" When I ask, she replies, "For now, let's set them on the bed," so I toss the inflated star-shaped balloons onto the bed with a light lob. "It suddenly feels like a party." Observing the letters on the wall and the scattered balloons, Sendai-san comments. "Feels very much like Mio-san." "Indeed. It feels like Mio is here even before she arrives." We agree, and as Sendai-san chuckles, she sits on the bed. Surrounded by the sparkling star-shaped balloons, I instinctively grab her arm. "Miyagi?" She softly calls out, and I squeeze the arm I'm holding. Giving a gentle tug, I pull her towards me, making Sendai-san stand up. "What is it?" When she asks, I simply reply, "It's nothing." Pulling with a bit more force, I touch her necklace. "…Hazuki." The name I didn't mean to say spills out. "What?" "We'll keep these decorations until Mio-san leaves, right?" The decorations unfamiliar to this room separate this birthday from all other days, and suddenly, they transform Sendai-san's room into something unknown to me. "I'm planning to have her take them back." Sendai-san states firmly. "Really?" "Really." Since moving to this home, we've never been surrounded by things purchased by others. We lived amidst our own belongings, seldom letting anything else disrupt that. It was natural for our home to be composed of things chosen by us. But today is different. Things not chosen by us adorn the wall, and things not chosen by us are scattered on the bed. It's unsettling. Though this room is Sendai-san's, it's also my place, a once comfortable space, now a source of unease. "Hazuki." This time, I call her deliberately. With my lips touching her neck, I bite down gently. I press down with just enough force to not leave any marks and she whispers. "A mark?" I press down on the four-leaf clover. "It's right here." "Wouldn't it be more reassuring if there were more?" The alluring voice reaches my ears, prompting me to trace my fingers along her neck. Marks that signify she's mine alone—there can never be too many. Right now, this room is too saturated with Mio-san's presence. This sensation will persist for a while. Though Sendai-san also has her blue earrings and necklace, perhaps that's not enough. "Miyagi." "...That's not it." That's not the word I want to hear right now. Gently biting Sendai-san's lip, I aim to draw out the word I long for. "Shiori." Her soft voice echoes in my ears, and I grasp her hand. Rolling up her sleeve, my fingers glide along her veins. I press my lips against her wrist and suck hard. "Shiori." Sendai-san's voice rains down from above my head. I feel a strong desire to remove her clothes and leave marks all over her body. But not now. This room is filled with things that are not ours. Others might see what should be seen only by me. Slowly, I pull my lips away from her wrist. After confirming the faint mark left behind, I tell Sendai-san, "Stay in your usual clothes today."