262 - Story About Buying My Classmate Once A Week

Chapter 262 The blue skirt that Sendai-san picked hasn't seen the light of day. Part of it is because I've been lazing around at home, but since purchasing the skirt, there haven't been any outings, so it's remained in the closet. With a sigh, I close the closet door. The skirt hanging next to the blue one, which I received during the school festival, has had its fair share of outings. It was only useful because Sendai-san made a point of saying she bought it for me, but I think it served its purpose. Although the blue skirt was also chosen by her, I was the one who purchased it. Therefore, there's no need to force its use, but it irritates me that Sendai-san makes no effort to create an occasion for it. Even if she's asked me to go somewhere, I'm not planning to go out, but it's not interesting that she hasn't said anything at all. "I told you to act normal." Despite it being quite some time since then, Sendai-san has gotten no closer to being her usual self; she just continues to kiss me indiscriminately. Normally, she'd insist on going out somewhere together, or at least suggest a trip to the convenience store, but she's just been docilely staying home. Although she acts as if everything is normal, smiling away as if nothing's unusual, it just doesn't sit right with me. I lay down on the bed. I'm so bored, I could die. I dramatically type out a message on my phone and send it to Maika. Normally, she responds right away, but not today. With no other choice, I grab a manga from the bookshelf. I'm halfway through when my phone chimes, and I put the manga on the pillow to answer it. "I was having lunch." Maika's cheerful voice comes through. "A bit late, isn't it?" It's long past lunchtime and nearing snack time. "I had breakfast late. When you have no plans, it's tough to get up early." "I get that. On my days off, I just want to lounge around." "Yesterday, I got up at lunchtime." "I at least wake up in time to have breakfast." "Isn't it more like Sendai-san wakes you up?" "I get up on my own." Even during spring break, Sendai-san doesn't skip meals. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are like clockwork, so we eat together. "Oh, hey, you have someone to keep you company when you're bored." Maika suddenly seems to remember something and adds, "Right there." "Where?" "Isn't Sendai-san at your house? Is she out today?" "She's in her room." "Oh, did you two have another fight?" "No, and I'm not in the wrong." Not knowing what's on Maika’s mind, but not wanting to hear any suggestions about apologizing, I nip that notion in the bud. Besides, Sendai-san and I don't really have fights. "I haven't even said anything yet." "I said it first because it seemed like you might." "Jumping the gun like that makes you sound like someone who has a guilty conscience." Her voice on the other end sounds like she's slyly smiling. "Maika, you always paint me as the villain. Sometimes Sendai-san makes mistakes too, you know." "Maybe, but I'm betting Shiori does wrong more often." I don't know when or where this image of Sendai-san as a saint was created in Maika's mind, but it seems overly perfect. Certainly, she's not a bad person. But she's not so flawless that if we argued, it would undoubtedly be my fault. She kisses me without asking and tries to make weird promises. She may give off a pure and innocent vibe, but she's also an erotic demon. I could tell Maika about this different side of Sendai-san to change her image, but I can't. Doing so would change not just her view of Sendai-san but also her view of me. Telling her everything might also make it clear that Sendai-san is mine, that the clothes Maika wears are chosen by my Sendai-san when we go out, and that even if she walks beside Maika, she's still mine. If only I could say it right now... "Hey, Shiori?" Maika’s voice snaps me out of my unrealistic thoughts, and I hurriedly reply. "What?" "You just suddenly went quiet." "Sorry. Speaking of which, the live show you went to with Asakura-san was amazing, wasn't it?" I swallow the words I shouldn't say and steer the conversation back to something from a few days ago. "Yeah, they played a lot of songs I liked. You should've come, Shiori." "But I don't play that game." Asakura-san sometimes invites me to events related to anime or games. Sometimes I go, sometimes I don't. This time, it was a game-related event; Maika went because her favorite voice actor was appearing, but I didn't. At the live show, Maika went in clothes picked by Sendai-san and later messaged me that Asakura-san had complimented her outfit. Even now, Maika's gushing about the clothes chosen by Sendai-san on the other end of the call. Words I thought I had swallowed rise back up to my throat. I consciously choose different words to prevent the ones I shouldn't say from slipping out. When I no longer know how long I've been listening to Maika's story, there's a knock on the door, followed by Sendai-san's voice, "Miyagi, is now a good time?" "Sorry, Sendai-san’s calling me." I convey this to the person on the other end before getting down from the bed. "Alright, I'll hang up then. Just don't fight with Sendai-san, okay?" "I won't. Talk soon." I hang up after hearing Maika's "talk soon," and open the door to find Sendai-san standing with a smartphone. "Mio wants to talk to you." "Komatsu-san―" Just as I'm about to ask why, a loud "Heyyy" booms from the smartphone. It's the kind of voice that makes me regret ending the call with Maika. I glare at Sendai-san, who has the phone pointed my way. No one told me there was a call in progress. "Shiori-chan, I told you to call me by my first name, not my last!" Her unnecessarily cheerful voice echoes. When we met at the café, she indeed asked for that, and I intended to comply but forgot, as there's usually no need to call her "Mio-san" in Sendai-san's presence. "...Hello, Mio-san." Although she's not someone I actively wish to befriend, I opt to call her by name to avoid complications in the future. "So stiff. Loosen up, will you? Heyyy, Shiori-chan." "...Hey." "Yeah, that’s more like it. So, about the main topic: is it okay if I come over to your house tomorrow?" The shock of her words is enough to wipe away any memory of being forced to say "Hey," and as I glance at Sendai-san’s face, she presses her hands together in a gesture of apology, as if the words "I'm sorry" are scrawled across her forehead. This isn't her idea, I gather, but knowing that doesn't make me any happier. "We agreed on March, so I was thinking tomorrow might be a good option." "Uh, well..." While I did say March would be fine, and although it is already March, this is moving too quickly. Only a few days have passed since the month began. “Oh, is it too sudden? How about the day after tomorrow?” “The day after...” It’s still too soon. This is too abrupt. “It gives you more time than tomorrow, right?” “What about Sendai-san’s schedule—” “Oh, Hazuki said anytime is fine. Right?” Mio-san cuts in, taking over my sentence. “Yes, I’ll fit my plans around you two,” Sendai-san replies. “Shiori-chan, it’s okay, right?” Without any real option to choose another day, I reply, “Then, the day after tomorrow.” “Great! It's settled, the day after tomorrow.” “Mio, what time?” “Hmm, is the afternoon okay?” “Sure, but what time specifically?” “I'll let you know later. So, it’s a plan.” With that, Mio-san's voice fades, and the call ends. "...What was that just now?" I give Sendai-san’s leg a nudge, and she responds lightly. “Isn’t it fine? The day after tomorrow.” “It’s not fine.” “Whether now or later, Mio will still come over, so it’s just easier to have her come sooner.” “I get that, but... I shouldn’t have hung up on Maika.” Comparing the calls with Maika and with Mio-san, I'd rather have dealt with the uncomfortable conversation with Maika than be railroaded into agreeing to such an abrupt visit from Mio-san. “You were talking to Utsunomiya?” “We were on the phone, but I hung up.” “Sorry. ...What were you talking about?” She’s apologizing, but Sendai-san’s voice is lower than usual. She doesn’t sound upset, but it isn’t her usual bright tone. “She told me about the concert she went to with Asakura-san.” “I didn’t hear about that. Did you go to a concert with Asakura-san, Miyagi?” “No, Maika went. I was invited, but I didn’t go.” “You were invited?” “What's with the interrogation?” “I didn’t know about it.” That’s true. I haven’t told Sendai-san. If I had decided to go to the concert, I would have mentioned the outing to Sendai-san, including Asakura-san. Since I didn’t go, it wasn't worth sharing. “There was no need to tell you, Sendai-san.” “There is. I want to know who Miyagi talks to and what about.” “Why? It doesn’t matter who I talk to or what we talk about.” I don’t know everything about whom Sendai-san talks to and what she talks about either. Although I’m curious, I choose to remain ignorant. Since becoming roommates, we’ve established a few rules. However, there's no rule about sharing conversations with others. Even if we were to revisit those rules, I wouldn’t incorporate such a stipulation. If I knew everything that piqued my curiosity, I’d likely become even more intrigued by Sendai-san and have an increasing number of things I want to learn. The growing list of potential jealousy targets would become unmanageable and frightening. “It’s not okay. I want to know everything Miyagi talks about.” “It’s strange to share everything I talked about with friends.” “Even if it’s strange, I want to know.” “Why?” “...Would you believe me if I said it's because I’d feel jealous otherwise?” Sendai-san and I are different. Even if she knows everything, she won’t be jealous. That's probably why she insists on knowing whom I talk to and what I talk about when she’s not around. “...I wouldn’t believe it.” With my terse reply, Sendai-san doesn't push the matter further.