Chapter 27
I glanced at the rearview mirror and frowned when I saw Tetsuya chatting away with Miyuki.
He didn't even come to visit me in the hospital, and he has some nerve.
Ugh... This leeching bastard.
I'll give you this: when it comes to getting in the way, you've reached the pinnacle.
After parking the car in their neighborhood,
“Thanks, Matsuda-kun.”
“Thanks, Matsuda.”
The two of them said that in unison as they got out of the car, so I grinned.
“Go inside, Miura. Take care, Miyuki.”
Tetsuya's mouth fell slightly open.
His head creaked around as it turned toward Miyuki.
He must have been pretty shocked by the way I'd just addressed her.
Miyuki gave Tetsuya an awkward smile and said,
“We've gotten pretty close.”
“.... Ah... Yeah... I guess we have. I was just a little surprised.”
You'd gotten so close to Miyuki in less than three months—what did he think of me?
You used to be the only guy who called Miyuki by her first name, but now there's another one. That must really sting, huh?
Landing that blow made me feel a little better, at least.
I was about to close the passenger-side window when Miyuki called out to me.
“Matsuda-kun, can you make it home by yourself?”
“I just drove here by myself, didn't I?”
I let my disappointment show at the two of them having a conversation that deliberately left me out.
Miyuki noticed my reaction, and guilt clouded her face.
After sneaking a glance at Tetsuya, she took melon-flavored milk out of her bag and placed it in the passenger seat.
“It shouldn't take long... but drink this on the way. If you feel dizzy at home, call me right away. Okay?”
Without saying a word, I tore open the carton and drained it in one go.
The sweet liquid vanished gulp by gulp.
After finishing it in an instant, I placed the empty carton in Miyuki's stunned hands.
“It's good. I'm off.”
“Ah, okay...”
Leaving the two of them behind, I returned home.
After taking a careful shower without touching the wounds on my face, I flopped down and began to feel sleepy.
I really did go through some exhausting things today.
Bzzzt-!
My phone, which was plugged into its charger, began to vibrate.
It must be Miyuki.
I waited a little before checking the message.
[Matsuda-kun, is there anything you want to eat?]
Something I want to eat?
Was she thinking about meeting me separately right now?
I wasn't particularly hungry... but I had to go on a date with Miyuki, no matter what.
[Fried food.]
[Fried food? Would tendon be okay?]
[Tendon sounds good.]
[Okay. I'll bring tendon tomorrow. Let's have lunch together.]
So she meant she was going to pack me a lunch.
That made me happier than a date would have.
My face lit up immediately, and I enthusiastically tapped away at the keypad.
[Do I need to prepare anything too?]
[No, it's okay. I'm sorry about today, Matsuda-kun.]
She must have felt bad about whispering with only Tetsuya in the back seat earlier.
[I was just joking around. I'm going to sleep.]
[Already? Are you feeling dizzy or anything?]
[Nothing like that. I'm just a little tired, so I'm going to sleep.]
[Really...? Okay. Get plenty of rest. If anything happens, make sure you call me.]
Miyuki was reminding me again of what she'd said earlier as she urged me to take care of myself... She's so adorable...
[I said I know. I'll pick you up tomorrow. Tell Miura to come out ahead of time.]
[Okay.]
Normally, she would have badgered me to review everything we'd learned during vacation at this point.
But today, she knew how hard I'd worked, so she let it go.
After finishing my messages with Miyuki, I looked forward to tomorrow.
Miyuki's packed lunch, and joining Renka's kendo club...
Pursuing two heroines from the same academy at the same time was extremely difficult.
It would be hard, but I could do it.
I should place more emphasis on Miyuki.
I'd worked hard to raise her affection, and now the current was rushing in.
This was the time to keep rowing.
**
Rattle.
I entered the classroom with Miyuki and Tetsuya and quietly took my seat.
There was still fear in my classmates' eyes, but not as much as there had been before first period started yesterday.
It seemed word had spread that I'd quit the club...
Had Miyuki spread it? Or the student council?
“Matsuda.”
Tetsuya called out to me while I was lost in thought.
I looked at him and answered.
“What?”
“Did you see what Miyuki was carrying today?”
“Of course. It looked like a packed lunch.”
“Considering how much Miyuki usually eats, that bundle was pretty big. I guess it must be for us. This is your first time eating a lunch Miyuki made, right?”
He seemed to be subtly bragging... What a pathetic provocation.
Tetsuya, this is why you're no good.
You lack manliness.
“Well... it is my first time.”
Actually, I'd eaten one during vacation.
I'd done it without you knowing.
Today, I'd be eating with Miyuki alone, leaving you out again.
“It's really delicious, so you can look forward to it.”
“Is that so? Should I tell Miyuki right now? Tell her that you're really looking forward to the lunch?”
“Could you... please not?”
I snickered at Tetsuya, who instantly became restless, then laid my head on the desk when the professor entered carrying a large box.
The professor set the box on the lectern and said,
“There was a serious incident yesterday, wasn't there? The person at the center of it is... I can't tell whether he's sleeping or pretending to sleep.”
I couldn't see them, but I could feel them.
The gazes of every student were fixed on me.
“Class president.”
“Yes, Professor.”
“Have the students distribute these. Matsuda bought them.”
“What...? Matsuda-kun?”
I heard the quiet scrape of a chair.
I raised my head slightly and saw Miyuki walking toward the lectern.
After checking what was inside the box, her mouth fell open just like Tetsuya's had yesterday.
I stifled a laugh and buried my face in the desk again.
“Um... Students in the front rows, please pass these toward the back.”
There was pride in Miyuki's voice.
She seemed delighted by the notebooks and ink ballpoint pen sets I'd bought as gifts.
They weren't high-end brand-name products costing tens of thousands of yen each, but I'd still carefully chosen items from a good brand.
After a while, amid the students' quiet whispers and the sound of rustling,
Thud.
I felt something slightly heavy land on top of my head.
Did the pig in the seat in front put a notebook on my head?
How dare he? You're dead.
Just as I was thinking that, a faint plum scent drifted in and tickled my nose.
This was the smell of Miyuki's hair today.
I turned my head slightly to the side and, sure enough, saw Miyuki looking down at me with a pleased smile.
She'd come to hand mine to me herself, just for me.
With a bashful expression, I placed an index finger over my lips, and the corners of her eyes curved into crescents.
“Thanks, Matsuda-kun. I'll put it to good use.”
Miyuki openly thanked me in a fairly loud voice.
I sat up as though resigned to my fate.
The other students hesitated, then began thanking me too.
I hate this kind of thing because it's so embarrassing. All I need is Miyuki's affection.
I raised and lowered the corners of my mouth as I accepted their thanks like some terribly awkward person, while Miyuki placed a notebook on my desk and hurried back to her seat with quick little steps.
That lewd view from behind... I love it.
I was glaring at the chubby guy in front of me, who was looking at me in surprise, when
“You were apologizing for disrupting class during second period, right?”
When Tetsuya said that beside me, I sighed inwardly.
Did you really have to ask so directly?
“Think whatever you want.”
“Thanks. I'll put it to good use.”
I answered with a casual shrug, then focused on the professor once class got underway.
**
Eating lunch on a rooftop with a heroine is one of the quintessential romantic-comedy clichés.
I thought I could enjoy that cliché today, so I went up first, eager to wait for Miyuki.
But... the rooftop door was locked.
There was a sign at the entrance saying it had been temporarily locked because of yesterday's unfortunate incident.
It was a difficult situation. But there were plenty of ways to overcome it.
I looked around, then tried opening the window in the wall beside the corridor.
The window opened smoothly. I knew it wouldn't be locked.
Why? Because the protagonist climbing over here was another cliché.
I jumped lightly, braced my hands on the windowsill, and began pulling myself up when
“M-Matsuda-kun...! What are you doing...! Come down right now...!”
I heard Miyuki's horrified voice as she climbed the stairs carrying the lunch container.
I flashed her a grin, then quickly climbed through the window.
After precariously making my way over the railing and stepping onto the rooftop, I opened the rooftop door.
Click.
Miyuki, who had been waiting on the other side, began smacking my arm repeatedly.
“Are you crazy...? What were you thinking, climbing up there? What if you'd fallen? And if we're found out...”
“I didn't fall, so it's fine. Nobody will know if we keep quiet. So stop hitting me and come inside. We'll get caught if you keep this up.”
At that, Miyuki whipped around, fidgeted uncertainly, then came inside and let out a deep sigh.
“You really do live so carefree... I feel like I packed this lunch for nothing...”
I leaned my back against the wall and plopped down.
“It's thrilling. That's what makes it fun.”
“What's thrilling about it...? It just makes me anxious...”
Later, we're going to have sex up here, so start getting used to it now.
I snorted and tapped the spot beside me.
Miyuki placed a hand on her thigh, straightened her uniform skirt, and sat demurely beside me.
She began setting down the stacked two-tier lunchbox containers.
I suddenly wondered what Tetsuya was doing.
Miyuki had probably come up with a convincing excuse and dealt with him, but I decided not to ask.
“I warmed it in the microwave before bringing it... but it must have gone soft.”
Miyuki said that as she opened the lunch.
I picked up the pink chopsticks, lifted the container, and bit into a piece of kabocha tempura.
As Miyuki had said, almost none of the tempura's characteristic crispness remained, but it was still delicious.
After chewing and swallowing a mouthful of rice, I said,
“It's good. Make it again tomorrow. No... Make it for me.”
“No. You'll just climb through the window again.”
“I have to climb back over once we've finished eating, too, right? It's unavoidable if we're going to lock the door again.”
“Don't lock it. Just leave through it. I'll somehow get the key and take care of it.”
“Then I can just come in with the key from now on.”
“No. This ends today.”
Miyuki narrowed her brows and glared at me, clearly displeased that I'd done something so dangerous.
But that lasted only a moment.
When I began eating with great relish, she let out a weak little laugh and brought some tendon to her mouth as well.
After we finished the packed lunch, we neatly put the containers away and looked up at the sky without either of us saying anything.
The clouds were beautiful. The weather was especially nice today, and a cool breeze was blowing.
So this must be why Miyuki hadn't told me to go downstairs after finishing her meal.
“It's refreshing...”
Miyuki closed her eyes gently as she enjoyed the breeze.
Her long eyelashes were incredibly attractive.
I stared at her, then very quietly moved until I was pressed completely against Miyuki.
Maybe our arms touching startled her?
Miyuki's eyes flew open, and she whipped her head around.
But she didn't ask what I was doing or move away.
She simply stayed still and looked at my profile.
Pretending to remain calm, I turned my gaze toward the sky and watched Miyuki's reaction as I said casually,
“Let's come up here again sometime.”
“.... I told you I don't want to.”
“You like it up here too.”
“I don't...”
As if.
“Then even if we don't come every day, it would be okay once in a while, right?”
“.... If the rooftop door isn't locked... I think once in a while... Very occasionally would be okay.”
Had she been embarrassed that she'd fallen completely for my temptation?
Miyuki hurriedly changed the subject.
“For now, I'll give you credit for today... I'm not talking about climbing onto the rooftop, but about giving your classmates gifts to apologize. I liked what was inside, too. The notebooks and pens... They're things people can use for a long time, and they make you feel motivated to study...”
I snickered at Miyuki as she laboriously drew out her words, then placed my hand on top of her head.
“But you must've spent a lot of money...”
Her lips pressed tightly together.
Taking advantage of the opening, I gently tousled her hair and watched her reaction.
.....
She was being docile.
It seemed that this much physical contact was okay.
Relieved, I praised Miyuki as one might a child.
“A little pipsqueak like you is praising an adult?”
“M-Matsuda-kun is just too tall... You're so gangly...”
Seeing her grumble as she fixed her mussed bangs made me want to laugh again.
I stood up and extended both hands toward Miyuki.
“I know a cooler spot. Let's rest there for a little while before going downstairs.”
“.... Okay.”
Even though she could have stood up by herself, Miyuki didn't. Instead, she slowly reached out and took the hands I offered her.
With my help, Miyuki lifted herself off the ground. Her face wasn't exactly red, but it was slightly flushed.
‘Let's keep going just like this.’
I'd keep increasing the time we spent alone together and the amount of physical contact between us, then raise the intensity once she seemed fully accustomed to it.
That was how I'd enlarge my place in Miyuki's heart while erasing Tetsuya from it.