Chapter 23
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Late at night.
Having finished getting ready to go home, Matsuda flashed Miyuki a grin.
“Get some good rest.”
“Yeah...”
If she had her way, Miyuki wanted to stroll along the beach at night with Matsuda and talk about all sorts of things.
Later, she wanted to invite Tetsuya too, eat yakitori together as a group of three, and deepen their friendship.
But asking for something like that would be shameless—far too shameless.
She was already grateful that he'd saved her, and she'd stopped him from going home because she was hungry... If she asked for yet another favor, he would think she was selfish.
But did he really have to go?
Her family had even offered to arrange a hotel room for him, yet he'd stubbornly refused.
They hadn't even been able to enjoy themselves properly today because of the accident... It left her feeling strangely disappointed.
Or perhaps he'd completely lost all affection for her because she'd grabbed his head instead of the tube he'd thrown her and tried to pull him underwater...?
No, that wasn't it.
If it were, Matsuda would have gone home without even eating with her, given his personality.
Lost in all sorts of fantasies, Miyuki—
“Well, please take good care of me on the way home, Mr. Wataru. I'll impose on you just one more time.”
—snapped out of it when she heard Matsuda speaking politely to Wataru.
He was good at asking for favors.
Completely unlike the time he'd furiously cursed at a beggar.
Thinking about it, she realized just how much Matsuda had really changed.
“It's nothing to impose on me... It's only natural... You must be tired, so let's get going.”
“Yes.”
Matsuda made an eating gesture toward Miyuki.
He meant that she should take good care of herself and eat healthy, light food instead of greasy dishes.
When Miyuki nodded to show she understood, Matsuda gave her a faint smile and left the hospital with Wataru.
‘I wanted to go too...’
If she couldn't have any more fun, she at least wanted to go with Matsuda as far as his house.
She wanted to tease Matsuda, who was restraining his usual antics as much as possible in front of an adult.
But she couldn't, since the hospital prohibited her from going out for long.
It had been such a good opportunity... What a shame.
Miyuki clicked her tongue quietly, returned to her hospital room, and fidgeted with her phone.
[Miyuki, are you asleep?]
Tetsuya's message was waiting for her.
It had arrived about an hour ago.
Feeling sorry for him, Miyuki sent a reply.
[Sorry for getting back to you so late. Matsuda-kun said he was leaving, so I was late seeing him off. I'm still awake.]
[Then do you want to come out for a short walk? I'll bring the yakitori you like.]
Yakitori... She did want some.
But it was late, and more importantly, Matsuda had told her not to eat greasy food.
Since he'd said it out of concern for her health, she would restrain herself today.
[I don't want yakitori. A short walk near the hospital would be okay, though... Do you want to come?]
[I'll be there right away. Wait just a little.]
[Okay.]
After finishing her conversation with Tetsuya, Miyuki sat up.
For some reason, she had no energy. Everything felt like a chore.
Maybe it was because Matsuda, whom she wanted to tease, wasn't there.
Still, Tetsuya was coming because he cared about her... She had to pull herself together.
Miyuki dragged her slippers out of the hospital room like a zombie.
**
It was the morning two days after Miyuki's accident.
“.... da-kun!”
Half-asleep, I tossed and turned on my floor mattress when—
“Matsuda-kun! Are you home?”
Ding-dong-!
Miyuki's bright voice and the doorbell pierced my ears, and I shot upright.
I got up from the futon in the living room, roughly shoved my feet into my shoes, and headed for the front door, clearing my throat.
Then I opened the door.
Click.
Through the crack in the door, I saw Miyuki looking at me with a sunny smile.
I was glad to see that she looked completely recovered.
Keeping my face as sleepy-looking as possible, I motioned toward her with my chin.
“What the...? What time is it...?”
“Seven.”
“Did you come this early to nag me...?”
“Class starts in two hours. At seven, it's time to get up.”
“Class...? Didn't we agree to start classes tomorrow?”
“School starts in less than two weeks, so we need to pick up the pace. Don't you agree?”
“Even so, you came without even calling...?”
“I'm sorry about that. You didn't answer even after I called several times, so I just came over. Besides, I had something I wanted to give Matsuda-kun...”
Something she wanted to give me? What, her body?
Come to think of it, Miyuki was holding a large bundle.
Was it a present for me?
“Is Miura coming later?”
“I left him a message to come when he wakes up. But your hair is sticking up like crazy... You must talk in your sleep a lot.”
Tease me all you want. I'll let it slide because you brought a present.
But if I don't like it, spread your legs.
I went into the living room with Miyuki, sluggishly set up the round table, and dropped into a seat.
Seeing the futon and blankets strewn about haphazardly, Miyuki scolded me.
“You should've straightened the futon before going to sleep...”
“It got messed up while I was sleeping. Stop nagging and open the present.”
After grumbling at me over my nasty attitude, Miyuki placed the bundle on the round table.
A faint aroma of food wafted through the room.
Could this be... the very thing I'd been waiting for?
When Miyuki untied the neatly bound bundle, a large bento box emerged.
“I brought you a packed lunch. Eat this for breakfast today.”
A packed lunch just for me! At last...!
Everything I'd done up to now was finally paying off!
How long I'd waited for this day...
I forced down the urge to leap for joy and asked,
“A packed lunch?”
“I figured you'd eat soy-sauce egg rice again.”
When I opened the box, I saw vegetables like stir-fried carrots, broccoli, and spinach, along with meat glazed with teriyaki sauce and rice.
Various other side dishes were packed tightly into the box as well.
It was a shame there wasn't a character drawn on top of the rice, but overall, I absolutely loved the present.
Miyuki, you can keep your legs demurely closed today.
I stared at Miyuki in astonishment.
“This must have been a lot of work to make...?”
She averted her eyes shyly and mumbled,
“Most of it was already at home... Oh, and Mom said we should have you over for a meal sometime. She really wants you to come.”
Really? So the main courses will be you, Kana, and Midori?
I'll walk in and find the three of you wearing nothing but aprons, legs spread as you welcome your master.
Midori and Wataru's bedroom would be the perfect place for it.
The sense of depravity would be incredible.
“I'll pick a date and come over.”
“Isn't that just a vague promise? We need to set a definite date.”
You must want me to train you soon too.
“Then you decide.”
As if she'd been waiting for that answer, Miyuki immediately nodded.
“Okay. Then I'll choose a date. Hurry up and eat before the lunch gets cold.”
I used the cute chopsticks Miyuki had brought to eat the rice and side dishes, chewing as I went.
“How is it...?”
Watching Miyuki, who looked anxious, I swallowed the food.
Then I brought more rice to my mouth and asked,
“Will you pack this for me tomorrow too? It's really good...”
With a satisfied look, Miyuki turned her eyes upward.
She looked as if she were thinking.
After staying like that for a while, she answered.
“I'll think about it.”
What do you mean, think?
Once you've tasted my packed lunches, you can't go back to how things were before...!
“Pack it.”
“Matsuda-kun, I've told you time and again, you need to ask properly. Ask me to pack one for you.”
Isn't that something you should be saying?
Facial, mouth shot, creampie... Just say the words.
“I believe our good Hanazawa will pack one for me.”
At the word ‘our,’ Miyuki flinched and pressed her lips tightly together.
Strange, isn't it? You can't help imagining what I meant by that, can you?
Once school starts, subtly complain about it to your same-sex friends.
I watched Miyuki's eyes roll around as I ate the packed lunch.
**
Miyuki brought me four more packed lunches by the day before school started.
I wanted one every day, but I understood how hard it was to get up before dawn, so I didn't whine; I simply ate every lunch Miyuki brought me with great relish.
She didn't seem to want Tetsuya to know about it.
Every time I finished the lunch, she quickly washed the container and put it in a separate bag she'd brought, as if hiding it.
Was she worried Tetsuya would get jealous,
or was she deliberately hiding it because she thought he'd ask her to pack one for him too? Only Miyuki knew.
‘Is today the last lesson?’
I looked at the calendar and stretched, feeling pleased.
I'd gone on plenty of dates with Miyuki and studied hard.
I'd handled both the existing events and the additional ones I'd created.
Now it was time to make a serious push toward romance.
And it was time to meet Renka, who had returned from her injury, and raise her affection to a certain level.
“Matsuda-kun! What's this!?”
I heard Miyuki's astonished voice outside; she'd arrived exactly on time.
I trudged out and opened the door,
“Whoa... this...”
I cast a sidelong glance at Tetsuya and Miyuki, who were looking over the car that had arrived yesterday evening.
“What are you guys doing?”
Tetsuya, who had been gawking at the car, asked,
“M-Matsuda... You bought a car?”
“I told you I was going to buy one. The one I ordered arrived yesterday.”
“I thought it had fallen through because you never said anything... This is no joke... Isn't this an expensive car?”
“It was fairly reasonable. The design's pretty good, right?”
The car I'd bought was an SUV.
The trunk was big enough for camping—and car sex...
It had plenty of room for playing naughty little games with Miyuki in private, too.
With so many advantages, why would I buy an ordinary sedan?
“Yeah... The design is pretty...”
“Come here the morning after tomorrow. I'll drive you to school.”
For now, I'd pretend to be generous to my friends and give even a piece of shit like Tetsuya a ride, then dump him somewhere later.
“Really? Is that okay?”
Miyuki asked while intently examining the car's color.
That's the color you picked last time, right? Do you like it?
“Yeah. The train's a pain.”
“I've never really found taking the train a pain... But why didn't you say anything?”
She seemed hurt that I hadn't told her about this major development.
“I told you.”
“But... you never said you'd signed the contract...”
“I'll make sure to keep you posted from now on. Happy?”
“.... No, I mean... You don't have to go that far... But if something big like this happens in the future, give us a heads-up or something... You startled me...”
Not us. Just you.
I smirked at Miyuki, who looked embarrassed but was secretly pleased, then told them to wait and went inside to get the car keys.
Beep-!
When I pressed the button, the doors unlocked with a crisp sound.
I opened the driver's door and said,
“Get in.”
“Matsuda-kun...! Our lesson...”
“It's not even five minutes away. What's the big deal? Get in.”
I said it like a command, got into the driver's seat, and closed the door.
Miyuki and Tetsuya then fumbled around and exchanged a few words.
They seemed to be wondering who should sit in the passenger seat.
In the end, they opened the rear doors on either side and climbed in beside each other.
Bang!
What the fuck is this asshole doing, slamming someone else's car door like that?
You keep making yourself more unlikeable, but if you pull that shit one more time, I'll worm my way into your family.
To be precise, your little sister and your mother.
Our Miyuki, on the other hand, closed the door demurely.
I like you so much... You don't belong with a guy who doesn't have even a speck of manners.
So from now on, let's have a beautiful relationship.
Seeing the two of them sitting stiffly in the rearview mirror, I chuckled and said,
“Put on your seat belt.”
“O-okay...!”
They answered in unison, then hurriedly searched for their seat belts.
After frightening them, I released the parking brake, shifted gears, and carefully lifted my foot from the brake.
The car began to move smoothly.
I leisurely made a circuit of the neighborhood to ease their nervousness.
How is it, Miyuki?
Is this good enough for you to suck me off from the passenger seat?
I'll be looking forward to it.