385 - Story About Buying My Classmate Once A Week

Chapter 385 Five minutes before the promised time. Neither I nor Sendai-san went to pick them up, but Maika and Mio-san still arrived, and the usually quiet space with just the two of us suddenly became lively. "Oh, it's starting to feel like a birthday!" Mio-san's voice resounded in Sendai-san's room as Maika looked at the wall. "Oh, what’s this? Did Shiori and Sendai-san decorate?" When Maika spotted the felt letters and star-shaped balloons celebrating the birthday, which Sendai-san and I had put up in the morning, I simply replied, "Yes," and Sendai-san added, "By Mio's orders." "Mio-san’s?" Maika shifted her gaze from the wall's letters to Mio-san. "Yep, since it's a party, I wanted to make the room look festive, so I bought them and had Hazuki put them up. Initially, I was going to give them one printed with 'Hazuki & Shiori', but I figured Shiori-chan might not like it, so I held back." I felt an overwhelming sense of gratitude towards Mio-san for her restraint, and when Maika chimed in with, "Maybe next year I'll make one and give it to Shiori," I immediately rejected the notion. "I'm definitely not decorating with that." "Aw, Shiori, you’re so boring." "I'm not boring. Just normal." "Then here's a present for the normally enthusiastic Shiori-chan." Even more excited than when she appeared on the intercom screen, Mio-san handed me a box with a cheerful expression. I was about to ask, "Is this a cake?" but before I could say anything, Mio-san announced it herself. "You can probably tell by the box, but it's birthday cake. I brought various kinds." "Thank you." "You're welcome. And Hazuki, this is for you. Open it." With a beaming smile, Mio-san handed a bag to Sendai-san, urging her like a child with a "here, here." "Thank you." Sendai-san took the bag and peered inside. Almost immediately she looked up, drawing her eyebrows in exaggerated confusion at Mio-san. "Feels like Christmas all of a sudden." The out-of-place words unexpectedly reached my ears, prompting an involuntary "Christmas?" from my lips. Beside me, Maika echoed with "Christmas?" as well. "It's a Christmas staple, but you can drink it anytime," Mio-san's bright voice resonated in the room. Curious about the bag's contents, I asked Sendai-san. "What’s inside?" "Chanmerry." The name of the carbonated drink, which I remembered from my childhood but hadn't touched since my mother left, reached my ears. I leaned over to peek into the bag Sendai-san held. Inside were two bottles of Chanmerry, encased in the gold packaging often associated with Christmas. "Do they sell Chanmerry outside of Christmas?" Maika asked, seemingly surprised. "They sell it normally. I wanted to bring champagne, but since we said no alcohol today, I brought this for the festive vibe." "I don't really like carbonated drinks." Sendai-san stated it as if it were nothing, which prompted an oblivious, surprised response from Mio-san. "Huh? That's the first I've heard of it." "Me too," Maika echoed, and Sendai-san chuckled lightly. "I just mentioned it now." Apparently, I was the only one who knew she disliked carbonation, and the satisfaction of being privy to this fact blossomed within me, but knowing it's now common knowledge reduces its importance, prompting me to clench my hand tightly. "Hazuki, you should say these things sooner. Want me to get something else?" "It's fine. There's something in the fridge that isn't carbonated." I gazed at Sendai-san. She had dressed up nicely for my birthday, but today she was in a normal blouse and skirt that she would wear to university. This is the usual Sendai-san I wanted. Her presence in this birthday-themed, unusually decorated room soothed my emotions, as I've been thrown into an out-of-the-ordinary circumstance. Though she looks beautiful in any attire, having her not dressed exceptionally today saves me from casting unpleasant thoughts toward Maika or Mio-san. "More importantly, let's sit down. I’ll bring the pizza and other food that just arrived. Oh, Miyagi, give me the cake; I'll put it in the fridge." Upon saying this, Sendai-san took the cake box from me and disappeared into the shared space, leaving us to gather around the table as directed. "Oh, I expected they might not even be used, but I'm glad they were," Mio-san chimed in delightfully from a diagonal position, and across from her, Maika said, "These things are nice," enjoying the birthday decorations as they started discussing them. I looked straight ahead at the empty space meant for Sendai-san. She rarely sits opposite of me in this room; her usual seat is beside me. Though her seat placement doesn't change who she is, it remains unsettling. "When Maika's birthday comes, let's all drink together," Mio-san suggested playfully. "Awesome! You all should come to my place next time," Maika responded enthusiastically. I felt like I couldn't just watch the empty space forever, so I shifted my gaze toward Maika, who quipped, "I'll prepare drinks for Shiori too, so be sure to come," causing me to reflexively respond, "Sure." Then, instantly regretting my automatic reply, I realized I had unintentionally agreed to participate in a gathering I didn't necessarily want. Celebrating Maika's birthday is fine, but the alcohol is unnecessary. However, unable to voice this sentiment in the given atmosphere, I merely gave vague nods to Maika and Mio-san's conversation until Sendai-san's voice called from beyond the door. "Miyagi, can you open it?" Upon being summoned, I stood up. As I opened the door, Sendai-san stood there holding pizzas and side dishes, and I received the salad and chicken from her. We organized the late lunch on the table together and were about to fetch the drinks when Maika enthusiastically offered, "Let me help," to which I replied, "It's fine, just relax." Heading to the shared space with Sendai-san, I retrieved orange juice from the fridge. As I poured the orange liquid into the glasses Sendai-san had prepared, a soft voice reached my ears. "Miyagi, is everything okay?" No, not really. Concealing the words I wanted to say, I filled the third glass with orange juice, before looking at Sendai-san. I should have left more marks. I reached for Sendai-san’s bare neck, pressing my fingertips strongly enough to feel the blood flowing before letting go. My fingers slowly touched her blue earring. "When Maika’s birthday comes, and everyone drinks, promise me you won't drink, Sendai-san." I know I’m being selfish. But the drunk Sendai-san is someone I want to keep for myself alone. A drunken Sendai-san isn’t something to be revealed to others, nor should anyone but me witness the inebriated version of her. "Promise. But is it already decided that we'll gather for Utsunomiya's birthday too?" "I don't know, but it's hard to say no when Maika wants us to gather for her birthday." Maika is my best friend. When your best friend wishes for you to come over on their birthday, it's something you can't refuse. "Miyagi's best friend, after all," Sendai-san said in a flat tone and lifted the corners of her lips, adding, "We have to celebrate." "Pour the orange juice, Miyagi. I'll take it over." Her bright voice prompted me to release my hand from the blue earring. I poured the orange liquid into the last glass and put the orange juice back into the fridge. Turning around, I saw Sendai-san placing the glasses on a tray, and as I watched her hands intently, she called my name. "Miyagi." No further words followed. Sendai-san's gaze was fixed on the glasses on the table. Suddenly, the air in the shared space felt thinner, almost suffocating. The orange hue that filled the glasses, reminiscent of a midsummer sun, appeared hazy. I called to her. "Sendai-san..." "Call me Hazuki," came her small voice, and I grasped her wrist where I had left a mark. Anyone who is Sendai-san's friend calls her by her first name. Just earlier, Mio-san had called her Hazuki. Even back in high school, she was often called Hazuki. So, it's not a name that only I use. However, because her name is something that belongs to me alone, I say her name so that only she can hear. "Hazuki." A four-leaf clover sparkles at Sendai-san's chest. The world isn't just ours; it's full of people other than us, but the Sendai-san adorned with the necklace and earrings I chose is mine alone. "Shall we take the orange juice over?" Sendai-san said in her usual voice. I opened the door to her room. Carrying the tray, she returned to the birthday-adorned space. After taking a deep breath, I stepped into the lively room where cheerful decorations and two smiling faces awaited.