Chapter 19
“What’s with you today? You dressed up nice.”
It was a compliment directed at Miyuki, who had come over to give me a lesson.
As I’d said, Miyuki’s outfit today was different from her usual stuffy look.
Dark indigo, high-waisted shorts reaching just above her knees.
She had tucked a white T-shirt into them and was wearing white sneakers.
To finish it off, she had put on a light cream short-sleeved shirt made to be worn as an outer layer.
That huge black bag was the only blemish, but overall, it was a fresh outfit perfect for summer.
It was also a pure, innocent style that suited Miyuki’s image.
Seeing those long, snow-white legs made my possessiveness flare up.
I wanted to bruise those knees as soon as possible.
By the way, was this a situation where I could let my wishful thinking run wild and assume she had changed her outfit because she wanted to look good for me?
Let’s go with that.
“Thanks, Matsuda-kun.”
Miyuki thanked me brightly before entering the house.
I stepped aside and saw Tetsuya, who had followed Miyuki in, looking at me with admiration.
He was envious that I could say things he couldn’t without hesitation.
Tetsuya couldn’t say a compliment like the one I’d just given her even if you beat him to death.
He would only think, ‘Miyuki... pretty...’ pathetically to himself.
Or if Miyuki asked, ‘How do I look today?’ he would finally answer, ‘You look pretty,’ in a flat tone, and that would be the end of it.
“You put wax in your hair?”
That was my question after seeing his flattened side hair.
Tetsuya touched his hair carefully and asked in return,
“Yeah. Does it look okay?”
“It’s better than last time, but you shouldn’t just flatten the sides. Push them forward as you flatten them.”
“Like this?”
“Yeah, more or less. And don’t use too much. It looks a little clumped right now.”
“Got it. Thanks, Matsuda.”
Don’t mistake this for kindness.
If we’d been alone, I wouldn’t have taught him any of this.
Before entering the living room, Miyuki checked on the plants as was her habit.
She looked pleased as she watched the plants slowly regain their vitality and said,
“I should buy some more plant food soon and put it in.”
“Shouldn’t you be the one taking supplements first?”
“Why?”
“No, it’s nothing. I’m just worried about you.”
Realizing that I was talking about her height, Miyuki’s lips pushed out in a pout.
I needed to stop teasing her about her height so much.
Height wasn’t exactly a complex of Miyuki’s, but since most people were sensitive about it, she might feel bad if I kept bringing it up.
This was just the right level.
After chuckling to myself, I held out my hand toward Miyuki.
“Give me your bag.”
“It’s okay... I’m going inside now.”
“Already? Shouldn’t you take a little break? You should tend to your favorite plants, too.”
“It’s punishment. Want to start right away?”
“What crime did Miura commit?”
“For having a friend like Matsuda-kun.”
Tetsuya and I weren’t friends. We were rivals.
The gap between us was more like predator and prey, though.
Tetsuya, what about you? Did you think of me as a friend?
“It’s nice. I’ve been studying more thanks to Matsuda.”
Still such a blockhead. That was your flaw.
Grumbling, I sat at the round table and opened my book.
Miyuki then sat down between Tetsuya and me and muttered as if in passing,
“It’s getting hotter with each passing day... I want that mango ice cream we had yesterday again...”
We had eaten the mango ice cream after finishing the movie yesterday.
The customers had started whispering because of the cola the woman in the back row had spilled, and Miyuki had let out a small laugh.
You’re thinking about that, aren’t you? But you just made a mistake.
“Mango ice cream?”
At Tetsuya’s puzzled question, Miyuki’s face went pale.
Tetsuya didn’t know that Miyuki and I had gone on a date.
If she wasn’t going to be honest, she needed to think fast and come up with an excuse. What would she do?
I watched Miyuki with keen interest, and her eyes darted around before she put on an awkward smile.
“Um... I got some after we parted at the arcade... It was really good.”
“Really? I’ve never had mango ice cream before... Let’s have some together next time.”
“Th-then let’s do that...”
The fact that she had lied was proof that Miyuki’s feelings for Tetsuya were still stronger.
She must have worried that Tetsuya might get jealous or something if she told him the truth.
At the same time, it also meant that my presence was gradually finding a place in Miyuki’s heart.
If she thought of me as nothing more than a friend, she would have casually said that we had watched a movie and even eaten ice cream together.
This kind of tug-of-war was less upsetting than it was welcome.
If this ambiguous state continued, Miyuki would eventually fall into serious distress.
She would agonize over why she was meeting me even while lying to Tetsuya.
Then the day would come when she realized her true feelings.
I flashed my snow-white teeth at Miyuki, who was sneakily checking my reaction, and gave her a meaningful smile.
“Ahem...”
Miyuki cleared her throat and took a book out of her bag.
After clearing her throat several times, she said,
“It’s English today, right? Before we start, I’ll test you on the grammar we learned yesterday.”
**
Today, I especially hated to let Miyuki go home.
She had shown me her pure, innocent outfit for the first time, and I absolutely couldn’t send her home just like this.
As soon as our lesson ended, I pretended to look at my phone and sent Miyuki a message.
[Want to go get mango ice cream again today? With Miura.]
Brrr-!
A vibration rang out from Miyuki’s phone, which was lying on the tatami.
After checking the message, she kept her head bowed but angled it slightly toward me.
Then she turned her eyes back to the screen.
[I feel like Tetsuya-kun might think I ate ice cream near my house...?]
[The shop is near your house, though.]
[What if the clerk asks whether the two of us have come again?]
I brought up Tetsuya knowing you’d worry about every little thing like this.
I knew you wouldn’t go with him anyway.
[If you’re that worried, come by yourself.]
[I’ll think about it.]
[I’ll leave a little later, so say goodbye to Miura, drop off your bag, and come straight out.]
[I said I’d think about it, didn’t I?]
[I’ll be waiting.]
At my brazen message, Miyuki gave me an incredulous sidelong glance.
She looks sexy when she glares. Give me a blowjob with that expression.
“What are you two doing? You’re just staring at your phones.”
That was Tetsuya, who had finished getting ready to leave.
I put my phone down and answered nonchalantly.
“I was looking at cars.”
“You still haven’t chosen one?”
“As absentminded as I may be in everyday life, I need to be careful when buying a car.”
When I added a self-deprecating joke, Miura let out a soft chuckle.
“That’s true. What were you doing, Miyuki?”
“Huh...? I was... talking with a friend.”
“Who? Nanase?”
“No, someone you don’t know, Tetsuya-kun.”
“You had a friend I didn’t know about? Someone new you met at the academy?”
“Th-that’s right... You packed your bag, right? Let’s go now.”
When Miyuki stood up, shouldering her heavy bag, Tetsuya asked,
“Why don’t we stop by a manga café?”
Why did that bastard keep asking Miyuki to go places with him?
Go play fucking PlayStation with the few male friends you have.
After pondering what to do for a moment, Miyuki said,
“Hmm... I don’t think I can today. Sorry.”
This time she hadn’t lied; she had just refused?
It was a shame she hadn’t said she had plans with another friend, but since she seemed to be planning to meet me, I’d let it slide.
“Really? All right. Matsuda, we’re leaving.”
Tetsuya clicked his tongue disappointedly and waved at me.
While Miyuki couldn’t see, I answered by raising my middle finger. Then, as he left with a silly grin, I headed to the closet.
What should I wear? A shirt and shorts, with a belt and loafers?
It gave off too strong a dandyish vibe, so I didn’t like it.
I’d just dress casually enough to match Miyuki.
**
“Why is it so damn hot... This is pissing me off...”
As I complained while waiting for the light, Miyuki looked up at me.
“Enough to piss you off?”
“Yeah. It isn’t even raining... If it gets this hot by August, I might roast to death while walking down the street. Why is this light taking so long to change...?”
“Matsuda-kun, you’re too impatient. Be patient and wait. Also, Tetsuya-kun said you swore earlier when we were heading back to your house.”
“When did I?”
“You did. You gave him the finger.”
He’d already gone and tattled.
It probably wasn’t really tattling; he’d probably said it as a joke between friends... Either way, I didn’t like it.
You should jerk off on the floor while thinking about the heroines stolen from you. That’s about all you’re good for.
“I was joking. Can’t friends do something like that? Should I just tell you to live without even breathing?”
“I was joking too. I’ll let that much slide. Since you meant it as a joke...”
It wasn’t a joke, though. I meant it.
I grumbled, then, while Miyuki turned her head toward the traffic light, casually rested my elbow on her shoulder.
When I even crossed one leg in that position, Miyuki turned to look at me again.
“Matsuda-kun, you’re heavy.”
She hadn’t asked what I was doing or pulled away; she’d only said I was heavy.
I could take that to mean my behavior wasn’t bothering her too much, right?
I’ll do this often from now on.
I barely managed to hold back the cheer that was about to escape and said,
“Your shoulder is just the right height for resting my arm on, and leaving it unused would be... What’s the word...? A sin.”
“.... You’re trying to tease me for being short, aren’t you?”
“That’s your persecution complex talking. I had no such intention, so lend it to me from time to time.”
“No.”
“You’re decisive.”
“I learned it from you, Matsuda-kun.”
As we chatted quietly, the light changed.
When Miyuki saw it turn green and immediately started walking, my elbow slipped off her shoulder.
Since my center of gravity had been leaning slightly in that direction, I momentarily lost my balance and staggered.
Miyuki glanced at me putting on a one-man show, giggled, and turned her gaze forward.
I hurried up to her side and complained,
“You just left without saying anything? What if I’d fallen?”
“I was sure you wouldn’t fall because you have good athletic ability.”
“Well, I am pretty athletic.”
“I was only saying that, but you like it? You’re like a puppy.”
“Are you picking a fight? You’re surprisingly combative.”
“I think I could beat you like this.”
“You little— You want to come here?”
When I slowly reached for the collar of Miyuki’s shirt, she giggled and ran ahead.
It’s much more fun being with me than with boring Tetsuya, right? I knew it.
I look forward to spending more time with you.
Seeing her reaction, it seemed that Miyuki had erased from her mind the way she had glossed over the situation with Tetsuya at my house.
I shouldn’t bring it up and put her in a difficult position for no reason.
If I simply let it pass, her opinion of me would improve, even if only a little.
Instead, I should ask about something else and lighten the mood.
After catching up with her stride again, I asked,
“What made you wear this instead of that stuffy skirt?”
“Just... I felt like dressing up a little.”
“Keep dressing like this.”
“I don’t actually like it that much. Are you saying that so people will laugh at me?”
“I’m not joking. It really suits you. I said the same thing this morning.”
Had she sensed the sincerity in my subdued tone?
Miyuki gently turned her head and avoided my gaze.
Then she spoke so quietly that her voice was nearly drowned out by the noise from the people around us.
“.... Thanks. Matsuda-kun, you look good today too...”
Maybe I lived just to hear Miyuki praise me.
I felt like I could fly.
I frowned and pretended that I hadn’t heard Miyuki properly.
“Did you say your outfit would look good on me? Are you making fun of me?”
“That’s not what I meant... Haa... Never mind. Let’s just go.”
Miyuki let out a deep sigh and quickened her pace.
She must have been embarrassed.
As I followed behind her, I thought about the final summer-vacation event that would take place in August.
I’d take care of one more thing, meet Miyuki alone more often, and wait until the start of the new term.
Then I’d leave the club and reveal my feelings.
By then, it would have been about three months since we’d started building our relationship while seeing each other almost every day.
Wasn’t that enough time for love to sprout and catch fire between a man and a woman?
I believe in you, Miyuki.