Chapter 33
“Matsuda-kun, you can sit next to me.”
Following Miyuki’s lead, I nervously sat down and looked at the dining table.
A sumptuous feast had been laid out. Was the main dish sukiyaki?
Seeing that it was beginning to simmer, Miyuki must have turned on the induction stove as soon as I arrived.
There was also saba misoni, mackerel simmered in miso.
Most of the side dishes were home-style foods, including spinach and lotus root, but everything had been properly plated, making it obvious at a glance how much care had gone into it.
So Miyuki had told them.
That I hadn’t been eating properly.
That must be why she’d prepared all this.
Once everyone had taken their seats, Wataru, sitting at the head of the table, spoke.
“I’d like to start by thanking the benefactor who saved our Miyuki for coming over.”
The atmosphere suddenly became serious.
I didn’t think I should respond with, “Not at all,” and try to downplay it here.
I gave Wataru a slight bow.
“I’m the one who should thank you for inviting me.”
In ojigi, the Japanese style of bowing, eshaku is the lightest form of bow.
I’d already bowed several times at the entrance, so this much should satisfy them for now.
As expected, smiles bloomed on Wataru’s and the other members of Miyuki’s family’s faces.
Since I was here anyway, I had to earn as many points as possible before leaving.
“It’ll get boring if we keep going on and on, so shall we eat?”
At Wataru’s words, Midori, Miyuki, and Kana all said, “Thank you for the meal.”
As soon as they finished, I spoke in a plain voice with not the slightest hint of trying too hard.
“Thank you for the meal.”
“Wow... He has such a nice voice...”
That was Kana, who had let out the exclamation without realizing it.
Wataru shot her a stern look, then turned to me and smiled brightly.
“Eat plenty.”
“Yes, sir.”
What were Miyuki’s family’s dining etiquette rules like?
I had a rough idea from playing Dokiaka, but this was my first time having sukiyaki here, so I’d better figure it out.
Naturally, we held our rice bowls while eating.
When serving sukiyaki, everyone filled their own bowls as much as they wanted.
Rather than dipping the beef in the raw egg as soon as they took it out of the sukiyaki, they drained off the liquid first.
When eating the side dishes, they picked up a little of the garnishes, like the onions arranged on top, along with them.
Midori refilled the water whenever anyone’s glass ran low.
If I took it upon myself to pick up the water pitcher, I’d be overstepping and might make Midori uncomfortable, so I should act like a guest and simply accept whatever she gave me.
I conveyed how delicious everything was through my expression and by constantly helping myself to the side dishes.
The corners of Midori’s mouth twitched upward.
“Is the food to your liking?”
I quietly chewed and swallowed the food in my mouth before answering.
“Yes. I like it so much I’d almost want to live here.”
Midori and the rest of Miyuki’s family burst into light but heartfelt laughter.
Perhaps because I’d received a good evaluation at the previous meal, they were readily accepting lavish praise mixed with jokes.
“Come over whenever you’re hungry. Oh, peel the skin off the fish before eating it. It’ll be soft and greasy.”
Midori had handed me a perfect assist.
I immediately peeled the skin off the mackerel with my chopsticks.
“Yes, ma’am.”
From that point on, the conversation began to flow.
“Matsuda, do you drink?”
At Wataru’s question, I politely nodded.
“Yes.”
“Do you like it?”
“Honestly, I do. I haven’t been drinking much lately, though.”
Miyuki’s lips began to move restlessly.
Since there was no food in her mouth, she must have been itching to tell them about what I used to be like.
Pretending to adjust my clothes, I lowered my hand and secretly poked Miyuki near the hip.
Miyuki flinched, quickly regained her composure, then gave me a mischievous smile and nodded slightly.
She understood my signal to keep quiet.
Wataru, who hadn’t noticed what we were doing, asked again.
“Then how about having a drink before you leave today?”
“Dear, Matsuda-kun drove here today.”
Wataru realized his mistake at Midori’s reproach and said,
“Oh, right...”
The fact that he was even offering me alcohol meant he must think highly of me.
Keeping an eye on their reactions without making it obvious was exhausting, but the rewards were more than worth it.
Looks like I’ll be able to come here often.
**
“Ahem... Matsuda-kun. Have some fruit.”
I had been sitting on the living-room sofa chatting with Wataru when I turned around at the sound of Miyuki’s voice behind me.
“Fruit? I’d be happy to—”
But then I froze in alarm.
Kana was holding out a plate of fruit with a bright smile.
She must have imitated Miyuki’s voice, just like at Isshiki Beach.
Was it really that fun to tease me?
I quickly regained my composure, stood up from the sofa, and accepted the plate.
“I’ll enjoy it, Hanazawa-san.”
“Were you flustered?”
“A little. But why are you doing this...?”
“Because it’s fun. Matsuda-kun is so entertaining to tease.”
You’ve got way too much of the kind of appeal that makes me want to eat you.
Two sisters with identical voices... There was no way I could resist this.
“Kana, do you always play that prank? You did it to Tetsuya, too...”
At Wataru’s scolding, Kana gave him a sunny smile.
“Tetsuya-kun’s reactions are boring. He’s so shy that he doesn’t know what to do.”
“Then doesn’t Tetsuya have a much better reaction than Matsuda?”
“Matsuda-kun is more fun.”
“Why do you think that?”
Father and daughter had suddenly begun debating the matter right in front of me.
I was eating an orange to cleanse my palate and listening to their conversation when Miyuki, who had approached at some point, tugged on my sleeve, so I quietly slipped away from the sofa.
Miyuki led me out to a small flower bed and asked,
“Is the house too noisy?”
“No, it’s nice and lively.”
“I’m glad. I’d like to go for a walk to help digest the food, but...”
Miyuki let her voice trail off.
She seemed worried that Tetsuya, who lived in the same neighborhood, might spot us.
If she was that worried, she should have had my car hidden, too.
Or told me to walk here in the first place.
You keep deceiving Tetsuya, but if this goes on, the hurt he suffers later will only be worse, won’t it?
Of course, I liked seeing you act this way.
“I’m fine.”
“Aren’t you full? You ate an incredible amount...”
“I’ve still got room. Are you underestimating me?”
At my light joke, Miyuki gave a small laugh and changed the subject.
“Are you leaving right away?”
“Staying too long would be rude... Should we go meet Takashi or something?”
“He’s absolutely out of the question.”
That was decisive.
“Why? He seemed remorseful.”
“The way he talks is even more cheap and tacky than the old Matsuda-kun’s. That’s why I really hate it.”
“Then what about some of my other friends...”
“That’s not allowed either. A lot of your friends are pretty questionable, Matsuda-kun.”
“Why are there so many things you won’t let me do? Are you my guardian or something? My mother?”
“You wrote my name in the guardian section at the hospital. And don’t you remember calling me Mom last time?”
So she had been aware of that.
I’d assumed she’d dismissed it because our relationship hadn’t really developed yet... That was unexpected.
Or perhaps now that we’d grown closer, it had suddenly come to mind and made her sensitive about it.
Either way, Miyuki reacting like this was a good thing.
But now that she’d put it that way, I had nothing to say.
I awkwardly scratched the back of my head, looked beyond the wall, and challenged Miyuki,
“Then what am I supposed to do? Meditate?”
“Stay here. You can stay as long as you want.”
I slowly turned my head and stared at Miyuki.
Embarrassment tinged her voice.
Had my gaze made her uncomfortable?
She lowered her eyes and spoke in a small voice.
“It’s nothing like that... Just stay here for a while, then let’s go out together...”
This was the first time Miyuki had suggested a date herself.
On top of that, she’d said just me.
She had left out Tetsuya, who was always trying to look after her.
And she’d done so without even hesitating.
Why was she being so forward for once?
It felt unfamiliar, but my heart was pounding, too.
After watching her for a moment, I asked,
“Where are we going?”
“Just... anywhere... You decide, Matsuda-kun...”
Then let’s go to a love hotel.
“Why don’t we go inside and figure it out, then?”
“Yeah...”
Judging by the situation, Miyuki probably wouldn’t invite me to her room first.
Then I should take the initiative, in my own way.
“Can we think about it in your room?”
“My room...?”
Miyuki’s large eyes darted around.
She seemed to be thinking over several things at once.
After pondering for a while, her answer was...
“It’ll be hot...”
Not bad.
I’ll push a little harder.
“I want to see it.”
“There’s nothing to see...”
The way she fidgeted with her fingers was adorable.
“I still want to go.”
When I said that with an unabashed expression, Miyuki let out a helpless little laugh.
She shook her head as if I were impossible, then finally gave me her answer.
“Then... wait upstairs for a little while...”
“Why? Are you going to fold your bedding?”
“Huh, no...? I folded it as soon as I got up...?”
I saw your shoulders twitch. Don’t deny it.
I hit the mark, didn’t I?
**
Following Miyuki’s directions, I headed for the second-floor bathroom and took a chewable mouth freshener from my pocket, then emptied it into my mouth.
As I chewed it thoroughly with my lips tightly closed, the solid freshener turned into a liquid and tingled against my tongue.
After carefully cleaning my mouth, I left the bathroom.
Then I went to the door of Miyuki’s room, knocked twice, grabbed the doorknob, and pushed it open.
Sss...
The door opened smoothly.
Miyuki, who had been straightening the bedcover, looked toward me and practically jumped out of her skin.
“M-Matsuda-kun...! You’re supposed to wait until I tell you to come in before opening the door! What are you doing...!”
“Sorry. Should I close it and ask again?”
“.... It’s fine. You’re such an idiot... Come in already.”
I entered with slow steps and quietly closed the door.
Thump. Thump.
Then I heard something bumping against the middle of the door.
It was definitely the maneki-neko necklace Tetsuya had bought her.
I’ll have her throw it away later and put up a new one.
And those star stickers stuck to the ceiling over there, the ones Miyuki and Tetsuya put up when she was little... I’ll replace all of those, too.
Not only that, I’d replace every item in this room that held memories of Tetsuya.
Burning with determination, I looked around the room.
The scent of plums wafted through the air.
She must have shaken the air freshener while I was gargling in the bathroom, because the smell was fairly strong.
The shelves of the bookshelf-style desk were packed tightly with various books,
while a notebook and pencil case sat neatly arranged on top of the desk.
The view was exactly as I’d expected. It was so Miyuki.
“Don’t just stand there... J-just sit over there...”
When Miyuki pointed toward the desk, I crossed the center of the room, quietly pulled out the chair, and sat down.
Miyuki, who had demurely perched on the bed, asked,
“It’s really cramped, isn’t it...?”
It was cramped, but I liked the room.
The bed was a single, too, so it seemed like I could sleep while holding you tightly.
“It’s cozy and nice. Did you fold the bedding?”
“I-I told you, I folded it as soon as I got up...?”
“Then why were you tidying the cover just now?”
“It was... just crooked...”
“Fine, let’s say that’s true. What time did you get up today?”
“E-eleven...”
“You slept in, huh?”
“Is it wrong to sleep late on the weekend? It happens...!”
“Why are you getting angry when I’m not criticizing you?”
Miyuki’s lips jutted out.
Maybe she was sulking at my sly attitude; she glared at me and muttered something under her breath.
I felt like grabbing those soft-looking cheeks and stretching them out.
Ignoring her gaze, I looked at the notebook on the desk and called out to Miyuki as if I’d just remembered something.
“Hey, Miyuki.”
“What?!”
“You did something interesting at school the other day, didn’t you?”
“Something interesting?”
“You messed around in your notebook. With a drawing.”
“.... Wha—ah...!!”
She looked bewildered, then her eyes widened.
Her ears turned bright red in an instant, and she feigned ignorance in an almost tearful voice.
“I don’t know anything about that...?”
“You don’t know? Then what was that sigh just now? Anyway, you drew it well. Was that you and me?”
“Who knows... I don’t understand what you’re talking about... Did you peek at someone else’s notebook...? You shouldn’t do that... It’s bad...”
She began fanning her face with her hand, unable to keep her eyes still, and clearly didn’t want me to mention it.
Let’s let it go here. I can tease her about it again next time.
The atmosphere in the room had become slightly subdued.
Miyuki seemed different from usual today, too.
Was she vaguely aware of it as well?
That something important was going to happen today?
‘Good.’
From now on, I mustn’t act too casually.
If I did, Miyuki might get the wrong idea.
She might think I was doing all this because I considered her a friend.
Of course, given everything I’d done so far, Miyuki wouldn’t go so far as to think something that extreme.
Still, I should maintain just the right amount of tension and show her this side of me.
Even if I couldn’t kiss her today, I’d at least give her a peck.
That single determination was why I’d gargled so carefully.
And why I’d said I wanted to look around her room... If I just went home, I’d be so frustrated I wouldn’t be able to sleep.