254 - Story About Buying My Classmate Once A Week

Chapter 254 "...Wasn't I just supposed to stay at home?" Not even five seconds after being summoned to the shared space, Miyagi speaks in a displeased tone. "I'm making chocolates, so help me out." "Why?" "Because it's February 14th." On the kitchen counter, I laid out chocolates I bought for this day, as well as a knife and a pot for preparation. "You mentioned being free today, but you never said to help make chocolates." "I didn't say it, but since you're home, lend a hand." "It's a hassle. Can't you just buy some chocolates?" "In that case, I'm going to buy some now. Will you come with me?" "No way." Miyagi's voice comes as a denial, but since it's only been about an hour since we had lunch, we have plenty of time to go out. "If you don't want to, then help out. We have ample time, and if we're not going to buy them, making them should be fine." I expected Miyagi to dislike both options. However, giving in now would make the effort of keeping Valentine's Day open meaningless. "Sendai-san can make them alone, there's no real reason for me to help." Miyagi expresses her discontent and lightly kicks my leg. "It's more fun to make them together. Plus, you can give some to Utsunomiya." I don't want to think about giving the chocolates we make to Utsunomiya. Truthfully, I don't want them given to anyone else either. But if I can provide some reason for making these chocolates, I feel Miyagi might relent. I want to make chocolates with Miyagi on Valentine's Day, and I want to eat them. The only way is to mention Utsunomiya. "Are you giving yours to Komatsu-san, Sendai-san?" Miyagi looks at me with a face like she's solving a difficult problem. "I’m not meeting Mio at the next shift, and I don't have plans to see her elsewhere either, so I’m not giving any to her." The chocolates I first gave Miyagi when I was in high school on Valentine's Day were the "casual friend chocolates" I handed out to Umina and the others. By the second Valentine's Day, it was no longer a casual gesture. And this third time, it’s become something I wish to give only to Miyagi and receive only from her. It's ridiculous, but even knowing Miyagi might not feel the same way, I still want to enjoy this widely celebrated yet often taken-for-granted event with her. "I'm not planning to see Maika for a while either." "I see. But I want to eat chocolate, so let’s make some. Miyagi, do you dislike truffles?" "Are you making truffles?" "If you don't like them, we can choose something else." "…Truffles are fine. How do you make them?" Miyagi moves closer to the sink and picks up the chocolate. "You chop that chocolate, melt it to make ganache, then coat it with cocoa powder or chocolate. First, let's chop this, so hand it over." I accept the chocolate from Miyagi and begin to finely chop it with a knife. Halfway through dissecting about two-thirds of the amount needed, Miyagi, who had been silently observing, speaks up. "Sendai-san, the chocolates sold in stores are made from cocoa beans, right?" "That's true. But... are you by any chance suggesting we start from cocoa beans?" "Not really. But if we’re just melting chocolate, wouldn’t it be better to eat them as they are?" "That's not better. Since we're making truffles, get the cream from the fridge." I couldn't let those specially bought chocolates, intended to be made into truffles, just be eaten as is. Miyagi, without complaint, fetches the cream, and I give her the next task. "Heat the cream until it boils, then turn off the heat." I give her the necessary amounts and heat settings, entrusting Miyagi with the cream. Soon, I hear "heat's off," and I pour the cream into the bowl of chopped chocolate and mix it with a spatula. Then, I have Miyagi strain it, and we set it in the fridge to chill. "How long do we wait now?" Miyagi asks, sounding bored. "About thirty minutes, maybe?" "Isn't that too long?" "Then let's chill it with ice." "Either way is fine." Her indifferent reply leaves me pondering our next move until Miyagi takes it upon herself to start washing the pots. "Do you like chocolates so much that you make them by hand, Sendai-san?" "Not really, but it's Valentine's Day." "Then do you love Valentine's Day?" "Well, I don't know if I'd say I love it, but it's on the calendar like any holiday. Like Halloween or Christmas." "Sendai-san, you sure love holidays." Deciding to chill the chocolates on ice, I remove them from the fridge and place them on the counter. The shared space is filled with the enticingly sweet aroma befitting Valentine's Day, but Miyagi's questions are less sweet. Her "do you love it?" is challenging for me, leaving me unsure if my answer is right. Even if simply questioned about favorites, the dual notions of "disliked" and "liked," concepts that Miyagi had me think over, linger in my mind. I drop my gaze to the lusciously melting chocolate. "...Do you like holidays, Miyagi?" "Not particularly interested." After saying this, Miyagi finishes washing and disappears from in front of me. "Where are you going?" Without answering me, Miyagi returns with a spoon in hand. Without hesitation, she dips it into the bowl. "Miyagi, what are you doing?" She must have heard me, yet she scoops some chocolate and raises the spoon to her mouth. "…Is it good?" Knowing there’s no point in telling her to return what's in her mouth, I ask for her opinion. "Yeah." "Let me try, too." I reach for the spoon Miyagi is holding, but the intended object eludes me. "Nope. I’ve already used this one; if you want to taste, use a new spoon." "It's just us eating, so isn't it fine?" "No, it's not." "Well then, maybe I’ll taste it directly." I draw closer to Miyagi, who only ever plays it stingy. Though she must realize I'm about to kiss her, she doesn’t close her eyes as she holds the spoon. I bring my lips closer, but Miyagi's eyes stay open, so I close my eyes instead. But before our lips meet, she steps on my foot. "I’ve already tasted it, so we're fine." How boring. Not fun at all. Last Valentine’s Day, we kissed for Miyagi's taste test. So this year, it should be my turn to taste through a kiss. I grab the spoon from Miyagi, holding onto her arm. Then, using the back end of the spoon's handle, I scoop some chocolate and let it smear on the palm of her hand. "Now there's chocolate on it." A voice full of displeasure reaches me, but I don't apologize. I lean towards her chocolate-stained palm and slowly run my tongue over it. I lick off what sullies Miyagi's palm, pressing the tip of my tongue against it. Sweet. The chocolate, mingled with cream, dissolves on my tongue. Miyagi calls out sharply, "Sendai-san." Her voice is firm, but I grip her arm tighter than her words, continuing to lick past where the chocolate disappears. Even without flavor remaining, Miyagi's body heat is sweeter than any chocolate, and I press my lips firmly against her skin. "Stop acting like a dog." Miyagi scoffs in a low voice, like she’s kicking a pebble far away. Reluctantly, I lift my head, and Miyagi speaks again, less than amused. "I'm washing my hands." "No, you're not." I tug on her arm, keeping her in place. "Is this payback for earlier?" "Miyagi, you like this kind of thing, don't you?" These exchanges have happened countless times before. It's often been on Miyagi's orders. So, there's no reason to be angry now. "...Sendai-san." Miyagi tugs my grip off her arm with deliberate force. "What?" "...Did you have someone in mind you wanted to give chocolates to for Valentine's?" Though eager to wash her hands, Miyagi stops to ask a question I hadn't anticipated. "Are you talking about friend chocolates?" "No." "If it’s about that, then no one." "And?" "Were you going to give someone chocolates, Miyagi?" "Of course not." "Truly?" "There’s no point in lying. But honestly, you're the one who seems like you're lying, Sendai-san." "I’m not." I reply succinctly and return the spoon to Miyagi, but she approaches with it, prompting me to evade. "Wait, Miyagi. You'll get me dirty." It was a careless comment, but Miyagi doesn't seem to appreciate it and glares at me. I take a step back from the sink defensively. Probably, she intends to do to me what I did to her earlier. Yet Miyagi, unlike me, wouldn't aim for a spot where the mess wouldn’t matter. No, she'd deliberately target a place where the mess would be troublesome. I call out to her softly, "Miyagi," and she sets the stained spoon into the sink. Relieved, I relax, only for Miyagi to grab my arm and bite my ear. "Ouch!" The reaction is instantaneous, my voice escaping before I can stop it. My earlobe, where her teeth pressed down hard, radiates warmth. Her bite is strong enough that it feels like she might tear it away, a tingling sensation left behind. Miyagi's actions are always unexpected. My body can't keep pace with her unforeseen actions, making my nerves overly sensitive, yet Miyagi’s warmth is so close that I want to enclose it, reaching to encircle her back. But before I can embrace her tightly, she releases my earlobe and steps away from me. "When will you learn the meaning of holding back?" "I was holding back." "That was holding back?" Ignoring my question, Miyagi turns her attention to the bowl of chocolate. "Sendai-san, is the chocolate ready?" Her voice is steady, prompting a small sigh from me. "Not yet." The chocolate can't be too soft or too hard; otherwise, it's a challenge to shape. Like Miyagi, I direct my gaze to the bowl of chocolate.