247 The Usual Miyagi - Story About Buying My Classmate Once A Week

The Usual Miyagi Chapter 247 Our connected hands can't remain joined forever, and vacations inevitably come to an end. The more you wish that time would stretch out, the faster it seems to pass by. Perhaps it's because my mind is still stuck in the winter break, entering the lecture room doesn't make me feel like the university has truly resumed. Instead of feeling motivated, all I can do is sigh. Even though I managed to arrive early at the college, it seems quite pointless. "Ah, I should have taken a day off today." While I don't lay my head on the desk, I can't stop the backward-looking words from spilling out of my mouth. Although Miyagi also started university today, and going home wouldn't mean finding anyone there, my heart stubbornly wants to head home. "You're unmotivated from day one? It's rare for you to say something like that, Hazuki. Did something happen?" Mio, sitting next to me, remarks in a tone that's more amused than truly concerned. "I just wished the winter break could last forever." "Did you want to work more at your part-time job?" "I like working, but I also wanted to go out a bit more." "What? Hazuki, who usually avoids going out, saying this means there’s someone you want to hang out with? Did you get a boyfriend over the winter break?" Mio's eyes twinkle with interest as she leans towards me. Her curiosity is taking a turn for the worse. This is a bothersome topic that won't easily be believed even if I try to skirt around it. Gently pushing Mio's shoulder to create a bit of distance, I continue, "Come on, Mio, you know from work that I didn’t get a boyfriend. I just wish I had a little more time to go out, that's all." It's true that I don't have a boyfriend, but saying there isn't someone I want to go out with would be a lie. I wanted to go out with Miyagi. More and more and more. Our short winter break wasn't nearly enough for all the outings I craved. "You sure there's not someone special?" "There isn't. End of story." "Alright, if you say so. Oh, right, you mentioned you went to the zoo with Shiori-chan?" Shiori-chan. Hearing that name, which I dislike, I intentionally raise my voice's pitch to counteract my threatening drop in tone. "Yeah, I did." "And the souvenirs?" Mio flashes a beaming smile and holds out her hand. When we met at our job, I casually mentioned the zoo trip with Miyagi. Naturally, I told her there weren't any souvenirs. "I told you before, there aren't any." "Well, you might've just forgotten. It's okay to remember if you got something." "I didn't forget, and the zoo isn’t far enough to warrant buying souvenirs." "Then show me the pictures." "Pictures?" "Yeah, the ones you took at the zoo. You promised to show them, remember?" That promise was made during a break at work, and I never ended up showing them. "Alright then." I retrieve my phone from my bag, pulling up the photos. Handing my phone over to Mio, I wait as she flips through the memories from the zoo, whereupon she soon breaks into an ambiguous noise that is neither disbelief nor mere astonishment. "Did you, like, force Shiori-chan to go to the zoo?" Only Miyagi's friends are allowed to call her Shiori, and Mio is not among them. Of course, I'm not either, but just because I can't use that name doesn't give Mio the right to. I ball my hands into fists beneath the table. "Of course not." The unutterable name scratches at my voice. Though I want to admonish Mio's familiarity, telling her not to use "Shiori-chan" would only prompt her to question why. As a mere roommate to Miyagi, I don’t have a reason convincing enough to satisfy Mio. Therefore, I remain silent. It's undoubtedly better to stay quiet than to get grilled by Mio with "why" and "how come." "Shiori-chan looks like she's in a bad mood though?" I close off my ears to block out the unwanted name. How one refers to someone shouldn’t be that significant. After all, closeness and distance are not solely measured by names. I neither call Miyagi "Shiori" nor "Shiori-chan," yet we live together, share kisses, and have engaged in countless more intimate acts. Our relationship is undoubtedly deeper than Mio's. There's no comparison. I know that. Thus, there's no need for measurement. Being her roommate is good enough. "She just looks that way. She was actually having fun. There should be pictures where she looks more cheerful." Miyagi wasn't visibly cheerful that day, yet she was unusually animated for her standards. Mio might not understand, but those sides of Miyagi are captured in my phone. Or so I thought, until after we returned from the zoo and I went back through the photos, feeling the disparity between that image and reality. She doesn’t appear nearly as entertained as I’d imagined. I've been pretending it's my imagination all along, but now I’m not so sure. When I look at the phone Mio holds, a face not exactly cheerful nor grumpy glows on the screen. Miyagi behaved a bit strangely that day, asking me over and over about my favorite animals as well as ones I want to see again. It wasn't like her usual self, and perhaps she harbored some dissatisfaction towards me. Why dissatisfaction? I have no idea. If someone said it's all in my head, it might just be that. "Ah, well, there are a few where she looks kind of happy, I guess... But still, aren’t there too many of Shiori-chan’s pictures?" Mio’s voice at my side pulls me out from the depths of my thoughts. With a smile, I cover up the insecurities born during the winter break. Smile, and your feelings will align. Laugh, and the unease fades away. "Really? Isn't that about normal for a zoo visit?" Responding brightly makes Mio look at me as though she’s discovered a rare species. "Don't you usually also take pictures of the animals?" "There are some. Penguins, polar bears, and such." Stored on my phone, there are indeed photos beyond those of Miyagi. "There are, but don't you think the count is a bit off? Oh, what's this? Hab... Habsirocco or something?" "Hokobiroko." I correct Mio’s muttering mistakes as she looks at the photos. "Ah, that’s it. But isn’t there too many pictures of the Shoebill? You like them?" "I didn’t even know they existed." "I suspected as much since I’ve never heard you mention Shoebills. So, why so many pictures?" "I grew fond of them." The Shoebill, cherished by Miyagi, became something I came to like as well. There are numerous things I’ve grown fond of, things I had no interest in before. Miyagi encourages me to declare a fondness for various things. I sense she’ll continue expanding the list of things I like. However, questions like those I faced at the zoo trouble me. Favorite animals or the ones I want to see again. Providing a satisfactory answer to Miyagi seems elusive. Besides, I don't even know why she wants to know such things. Why. Why does she feel the need to ask? "That makes no sense at all." Mio echoes my sentiments in words, adding, "Hazuki, you don't seem the type to be interested in animals like Shoebills, do you?" "That's not true. Also, picture time is over." I snatch my phone back from Mio. Miyagi's incomprehensible actions aren't something that should concern me. After all, she's inherently mysterious and often does things that are unreasonable. It's not unusual for her to do things I can't grasp. Probably, or perhaps for sure, that's just how it is. More importantly, I just want to see Miyagi soon. Being with her is all that matters. I have so many things I desire from her, but the most crucial one is simply being together. As long as that's fulfilled, I can overlook everything else. "Oh, Hazuki, are you free today?" As I tuck my phone back into my bag, Mio's chirpy voice addresses me. "I was planning to head home early," I reply. "Aw, that's cold. You didn't hang out with me during the break either." "But we saw each other at work." "True, but can't you keep me company for once?" "As long as it doesn't get too late, it's fine." I'm not keen on detours, but I don't want to sever ties with Mio either, so some compromise is necessary. "Is there someplace you want to go, Hazuki?" "Anywhere you want to go is fine." "Once in a while, let me tag along to where you want to go." “Honestly, I don't have any place in mind right now.” "You always say that, don't you, Hazuki? Well, that's okay. Oh, then, how about I come over to your place? I'd love to meet Shiori-chan too." Mio's cheerful demeanor seems devoid of any ulterior motives. She genuinely wants to meet Miyagi, it seems, but it's not a very exciting conversation for me. "My room's a mess, and Miyagi will be home late, so maybe another time?" My room isn't messy, and Miyagi won't be home late. While I'd prefer not to lie, I'd rather avoid having Mio over, so I feel it can't be helped. "Alright then, invite me over once you've tidied up. Preferably when Shiori-chan is around too." "I'll try to get it cleaned up soon." I respond with a vague smile to Mio's teasing grin, and with that, the lecture begins. Today is shaping up to be a long day. I sit through what feels like an endless lecture, grab some lunch, and then attend my afternoon classes. Once my university tasks are complete, I accompany Mio on her shopping errands. I text Miyagi to let her know I’ll be home late, and have dinner with Mio. She suggests we catch a live concert together sometime, but I gently decline and head home. "Sorry I’m late." I call out to Miyagi, who's washing dishes in the shared space. "It's fine," she says plainly. "Have you eaten dinner?" "Yes." Her curt tone is unchanged from usual. Miyagi never hides her unreasonable displeasure. I long to see a happy Miyagi, but not the one incessantly asking questions I can't answer. Miyagi being preoccupied with me isn't her usual self. "I see. So what are you going to do now?" ".... Touch." "Touch what?" "Sendai-san." I don't understand. A flurry of question marks dance in my head as Miyagi finishes with the dishes and approaches me. Then, without warning, she places her hand softly on my chest. "Uh, what's with this hand?" There's no hint of impropriety. Her hand remains still, resting gently over my clothes. "Is it bothering you?" "It's just surprising, that's all." ".... Is there anything you dislike me doing to you?" Miyagi asks something I hadn't expected. This is not a very good Miyagi. "Not really." To prevent Miyagi from saying anything that might make me uncomfortable, I lean in and kiss her before she can say anything else.