Chapter 31
“We’re here. Get out.”
“.....”
Miyuki sat staring blankly straight ahead.
She’d been holding my hand for nearly five minutes, so it was only natural that she looked dazed.
I’m nervous too, so I can only imagine how you feel.
I’d held Miyuki’s hand a few times before.
For example, when we went to the hospital after Samoyama beat me, or when we got up after eating lunch on the rooftop.
But back then, I’d only held it lightly; it wasn’t like today, when we shared each other’s warmth and I could even feel the sweat gathering on our palms.
How I feel right now...
My heart is pounding.
That’s the only way I can put it.
After watching Miyuki for a moment and calming my surging emotions, I raised my hand in front of her and snapped my fingers.
Snap!
“Huh...?”
Her eyes came back into focus.
She looked around, like someone who had just woken from hypnosis.
So does that make me, who snapped my fingers, a hypnotist? This is a pretty good skit.
I let out a light laugh and said,
“I said we’re here.”
“Already...?”
“Why? Disappointed?”
“W-who said I was disappointed...!”
Miyuki, who had overreacted, grabbed her handbag.
She opened the passenger-side door, got out, and looked back at me.
“.... Matsuda-kun. Um...”
“What?”
“N-no, never mind... Get home safely...”
You’re hesitating and saying something so bland. You’re plotting something, aren’t you?
I don’t know what it is, but if it’s good for me, it can’t possibly be bad. Right?
I flashed Miyuki a grin and started the car.
A faint plum scent lingered in the car.
It was the smell coming from my right hand, the one that had held Miyuki’s.
We... shared hand cream?
Chuckling to myself like a pervert, I called Miyuki as soon as I got home.
After the phone rang two or three times,
-Yeah. Matsuda-kun. What is it?
Miyuki answered the phone.
Her voice echoed. Was she in the bathroom?
If she was about to shower... could you send me a nude photo?
“What do you mean, why? I just called.”
-Ah... Are you home?
“Yeah. What are you doing?”
-I’m going to wash up... Did you get home safely?
So she really was in the bathroom.
Miyuki’s voice sounded especially demure today.
She looked like she was about to die of embarrassment, but I didn’t mind this reaction, either.
“I just got here.”
-I see... But you haven’t forgotten about us eating together, right?
“The dinner your parents invited me to?”
-Yeah.
“I remember.”
-Then, do you want to come to my house this weekend...?
Talk about terrifying initiative.
I’m really glad I reached out to her on the carousel.
“Ask your parents first.”
-They said anytime is fine.
“Really? Saturday? Or Sunday?”
-Hmm... Saturday sounds best.
“Okay. I’ll keep the time open.”
-You’re usually free anyway. Why pretend you’re busy...?
Miyuki was starting to get back into her teasing.
I clicked my tongue in displeasure and said,
“There you go fooling around again. Want to get scolded?”
A small laugh came from the other end of the phone.
Her tension must have eased, but once she lay down in bed, she’d remember holding hands.
More than that, she’d imagine what happened today whenever she saw something resembling a carousel.
For example... the spinning platform at a playground—the kind kids call a spinner.
-Sorry. I have to shower, so I’ll contact you later.
“Suit yourself.”
-You’re always so prickly... You’re such an idiot.
“What? You little—”
Click.
Before I could say anything, Miyuki hung up.
What a cheeky girl. I’m adding that to the list, too.
**
“Miyuki.”
“Yeah...?”
“Why are you so listless today? Did you study late last night?”
In response to Tetsuya’s worried question, Miyuki, who had been walking with her shoulders drooping, shook her head.
“It’s nothing... I just have a lot on my mind...”
Miyuki had dark circles under her eyes from the moment she left home.
Proof that she hadn’t slept properly.
She had probably been lost in fantasies by herself and stayed awake until dawn.
Miyuki’s gaze subtly shifted toward me.
After checking the expression on my face, she pouted.
She must have felt indignant seeing me look so carefree while she had so much to worry about.
“You should get some sleep before class starts, at least.”
At Tetsuya’s kind words, Miyuki gave a weak smile and answered,
“I’m okay... Thanks for worrying.”
“I see... Then should I get you a warm drink?”
“In this weather...?”
“Maybe that’s a little much?”
As I silently followed behind them, listening to their pointless conversation, I secretly opened the front pocket of Miyuki’s bag and slipped in some gummy candy.
We split up at the lockers in the hallway.
I took the books related to class and entered the classroom, where I saw Miyuki holding the gummies even though she was already sitting at her desk.
She was holding a wrapper with a big plum printed on it. When she spotted me, she gave me a bashful smile, and she was so beautiful I could hardly look away.
I sat down with an intentionally indifferent expression, and my phone vibrated.
[Thanks for the jelly, but you shouldn’t open someone else’s bag without permission.]
The message was very Miyuki, with her straightlaced, inflexible side.
I gave a quiet laugh, tapped the keypad, and replied.
[Give it back, then.]
[No.]
Along with her firm refusal came a cute emoji of a smiling rabbit.
I raised my head slightly and looked at Tetsuya, who was opening his book, completely unaware.
Somehow, I was getting excited. Was it because it felt like I was secretly dating her behind his back?
As I leaned back in my chair and stretched,
“You’ve been arriving early lately, Matsuda.”
I straightened my shoulders and answered the professor, who had come in at some point.
“Because I’m a student.”
“Last semester, were you not a student, then, that you were late and absent all the time?”
Back then, I was a complete piece of trash.
I’m still the same in that regard, though.
I awkwardly rubbed the back of my neck, and small laughs broke out around the classroom.
Even if students in other classes and the second- and third-year students didn’t rate me highly, at least in this classroom, much of the wariness directed at me was fading.
It was nice, but I also felt a little wistful, as though my identity were disappearing.
**
Miyuki’s head slowly rose, then dropped again.
She looked cute nodding off.
“Should I wake her? We have to go eat...”
That was Tetsuya, watching Miyuki from behind.
“We have plenty of time, so let her sleep a little.”
“Okay. I’m off to the cafeteria. I should at least get her an energy drink.”
“Go ahead.”
After sending him off, I moved in front of Miyuki, my eyes lighting up.
There was a drawing on the edge of the notebook atop her desk.
A female character coyly rejecting a date invitation from a mischievous-looking male character.
It was a cute doodle that used the printed fields in the upper-right corner of the notebook, where the date and number could be entered.
I couldn’t hide my smile as I examined the drawing up close.
It was obvious at a glance.
These two characters were me and Miyuki.
If there was one flaw, it was that the characters’ hairstyles differed from reality... but that must have been an unavoidable choice to convey the adorable art style.
‘She’s really good at this.’
It looked like she’d drawn it with a few quick strokes, but the quality was good.
So that was what she’d been scribbling during the break before third period.
She was so adorable it was driving me crazy.
I gazed at Miyuki, who had fallen into a light sleep with her lips slightly parted, then pulled my textbook over and covered the drawing.
“Mmm...”
Had she sensed someone’s presence because of what I did?
Miyuki’s eyes opened blearily.
She rubbed at the corners of her eyes and looked around.
“Whyyy...? Why is everyone gone...?”
“It’s lunchtime.”
“What...? Really...? What about class...?”
“You fell asleep. Don’t you remember?”
“I-I didn’t know... Why did the professor just leave me alone...?”
“You started dozing off five minutes before class ended, and the professor said to leave you alone instead of waking you.”
She let out a small exclamation and asked,
“Where’s Tetsuya-kun...?”
“He said he went to the cafeteria to buy you an energy drink.”
“Really...? He didn’t have to...”
Trailing off, Miyuki began tidying her desk.
Then she noticed that a textbook had been placed over her notebook and made a puzzled face.
She seemed unsure whether she had covered the notebook herself or left it uncovered.
Let’s pretend I didn’t notice for now.
I’ll tease her about it at her house this weekend.
“Why are your fingers fidgeting?”
Miyuki flinched at my question and twisted a strand of her hair.
“N-no... I’m hungry...”
“Let’s go eat when Miura comes back.”
“Yeah... Ah, Matsuda-kun. Here...”
Miyuki rummaged through her desk drawer, pulled out a small wrapped container, and held it out to me.
I took it, opened it, and found three cookies inside.
“Where did these cookies come from?”
“.... Since you gave me a cake... I wanted to give you a thank-you gift too... The one on top is chocolate, the middle one is cranberry, and the bottom one is plain.”
“Really...? I’ll enjoy them.”
“Tell me if it’s not enough... I have more at home.”
I was about to pick up a cookie, thinking nothing of it, when I stopped.
A thought had just flashed through my mind.
‘She has more at home?’
Examining the cookies, I saw that the edges were uneven and lumpy in places.
They were fairly pretty in their own way, but they weren’t good enough to sell in a shop.
That meant Miyuki had made these cookies herself.
“Hey, Miyuki.”
“What...?”
“Did you make these?”
“Yeah... They’re ugly, right? But they taste good, so try one.”
Was this why she had been so lethargic today and dozed off during class?
And yesterday, when she hesitated after getting out of the car... she had probably been trying to ask whether I liked cookies.
She had gone this far for me... I was touched.
Buying her that cake was turning out to be well worth it.
I glanced at Miyuki’s eyes shining with anticipation, picked up the chocolate cookie, and brought it to my mouth.
Then I started chomping down on it with loud crunches.
Miyuki recoiled and asked,
“W-why are you eating it so aggressively...?”
After making one cookie disappear in an instant, I nodded.
“I was hungry. This is damn good.”
“Is that a compliment?”
“Of course it is. Bring every single one you have at home tomorrow.”
Miyuki understood the sincerity hidden in my crooked way of speaking.
Her tired face brightened instantly.
“Since the day after tomorrow is the weekend, I’ll give them to you when you eat at my house and leave.”
“Then what about tomorrow? Are you telling me to starve?”
“Starve...? They’re just snacks...”
“Are you going to take me seriously again?”
“Your expression is so serious that I can’t help it...! A-anyway, as long as you liked them... I should have Tetsuya-kun try one and give me his opinion, too.”
She was saying something I couldn’t just let slide.
“What are you talking about? Why are you giving them to Miura?”
“Why...? I made a lot, so of course...”
“Weren’t you making these for me?”
“Th-that’s true, but I can give some to a close friend too...”
Tetsuya isn’t a friend; he’s a love rival.
Frowning as I looked at Miyuki, I spoke as though I were doing her a favor.
“Then give me just one.”
“.... Why are you being so mean-spirited?”
“One.”
“Matsuda-kun, do you realize how childish you’re being?”
“One and a half. No more.”
“Wouldn’t it be better to give me just one rather than half...? Of course, I’m not saying I’ll actually do that...”
“Then that settles it. One.”
“You’re unbelievable...”
“But what time should I come on Saturday?”
I smoothly changed the subject, and Miyuki answered quickly.
“Oh, I asked Mom this morning, and she said noon should be fine. What about you, Matsuda-kun?”
“Noon? Fine by me. I’ll come then.”
“Yeah. You know noon means twelve, not one, right?”
She still remembered how ignorant I’d acted during vacation.
I must have made quite an impression.
With a resigned expression, I silently ate the second cookie.