277 - Story About Buying My Classmate Once A Week

Chapter 277 "Where are we going today?" Sendai-san gently placed her chopsticks on the calico cat-shaped chopstick rest and asked. As I cursed my past self from a few days ago, I took a bite of my breakfast toast, slathered in butter and jam. After slowly chewing and swallowing, I refrained from looking at Sendai-san as I posed my question. "Where?" "We're going out today, aren't we?" Her lively voice returned my question with a question of her own, yet I found myself unable to respond. I must have been out of my mind back then. I'm not the kind of person who would tell Sendai-san that I wanted to go somewhere together on a Sunday. Being alone at home for so long had made me a bit strange, causing me to say something odd. If I could, I'd swallow those words like I do with toast, making it as though they never existed at all. But words that have been spoken can't simply be devoured and vanished into thin air. "Isn't there anywhere you want to go, Miyagi?" Sendai-san wouldn't let me get away with saying nothing. "...No." I reluctantly gave a short reply and took another bite of toast. If it were Maika, I could easily list several places I'd like to visit. But when the other person is Sendai-san, nothing comes to mind. "So, can I choose then?" When I looked at Sendai-san, who didn't get upset at my indecisiveness, I saw her smiling from across the table, having eaten half of her toast and half of her salad. "Wherever you want to go is fine, Sendai-san." I passed the responsibility of today's plans back to her. "Let's see... How about the zoo or the aquarium?" "Why would you want to go somewhere like that?" "If we're heading out in the morning, shouldn't it be somewhere reasonable? Besides, didn't we promise to go together?" "I never said anything about going in the morning, and I'm not in the mood today." "Well, we don't have to go to the zoo or aquarium. How about starting in the afternoon?" "...Actually, let's not go anywhere." I reclaimed the right to decide what was now my plan and communicated my intention. Morning or afternoon makes no difference. Since there's no job monopolizing Sendai-san's time today, I won't end up alone here. So, staying home seemed like a good option. Here, I can do what I want whenever I feel like it. Moreover, even though I originally had the notion of going somewhere, I couldn't think of an alternative to the zoo or aquarium, nor could I come up with a place Sendai-san might find appealing. "You were the one who suggested going out on Sunday, so take responsibility for it, Miyagi." Dismissing my suggestion, Sendai-san took a sip of orange juice. "I don't have anywhere I want to go." "Then let's go eat something. We haven't had a leisurely meal together in a while." Apparently, "not going out" wasn't an option for her. Even though she goes to university and works part-time, she still wants to go out on her days off instead of relaxing at home. Despite not having mentioned going anywhere this Sunday since then, she wouldn't give up on the idea. So, I relented and asked, "What kind of 'something'?" "Hamburg steak?" She said, chewing on her toast. "Do you want to eat that, Sendai-san?" "I thought you might want to." "What about something you want?" In these situations, she never shares her own desires. She prioritizes me, setting her own preferences aside. I don't dislike that about her, but every now and then, I'd like her to express what she truly wants. Yet, Sendai-san never volunteers such information. "Well... Maybe pudding, or cheesecake?" "Is that really what you want to eat, Sendai-san?" I recall that she has mentioned liking cheesecake before, but she doesn't seem eager to eat it now. "I know you like it, Miyagi." As expected, that's her reply. She never says her true thoughts. Even when asked, she never offers genuine answers, so it's hard to get to know her beyond what I already do. All I have imprinted in my memory are things like the feel of Sendai-san's lips or the softness of her chest — things that can be understood through touch alone. "It doesn't have to be what I want to eat." I took a large bite of my toast. Tossing the remaining crumbs into my mouth, I savored the taste I wouldn't have known if it weren't for her. "Since you were the one who suggested going out on Sunday, let's go with what you want, Miyagi." It wasn't the most exciting suggestion, so I stuffed my mouth with salad instead. As I chewed on lettuce, I searched for a suitable answer for us to share for a meal. Cakes and parfaits danced in my mind, with pancakes swirling around. Yet, none of them quite clicked. After another bite of salad, I voiced the final dish that came to mind. "…French toast." Since Sendai-san had gone out of her way to buy the ingredients and make it before, it shouldn't be something she dislikes. "Alright, then French toast it is. Oh, and please come with me to buy new nail polish." "What?" "You're free anyway, right? Plus, you said, 'Sendai-san's choice is fine,' remember?" "I did, but—" "Then, do me this favor and come with me." Sendai-san smiled, making a decision about my schedule without my input. "Throwing that in is sneaky." "If I told you upfront, you'd never leave the house, Miyagi." Her words weren't entirely wrong. Yet, if I were to firmly say, "Absolutely not," she would comply. She'd cancel the tentative plans and spend the day with me at home. I know that's the kind of person she is, but today, it's hard to voice it. "...As long as we come back right after we buy the nail polish." I was the one who proposed this plan. Complaining about the additional shopping felt childish. "That's absolutely fine." Sendai-san gave a beaming smile. She's in a good mood today. Not that she's ever really in a bad mood, but the extent of her cheerfulness today is almost unsettling. I emptied my salad plate and poured the bright orange liquid into my stomach. Placing the glass back on the table, I noticed Sendai-san had also emptied her plate. "Miyagi." Her voice was even brighter than before, and I couldn't shake a sense of foreboding. Before even heading out, the prospect of what could further improve her mood seemed ominous to me. "Once we clean up, I'm coming to your room, okay?" "...Why?" I had an inkling of what was to come but felt compelled to ask. "I'm going to help you pick an outfit and do your makeup." "No way." "Oh, come on." "I don't need it. We're just having a meal and running a quick errand. There's no need for all that." Whenever there's something going on, Sendai-san always insists on doing my makeup or helping me choose an outfit. If she wants to get dressed up, she should keep it to herself, but she always tries to do something for me too. It's annoying. Yet, in moments like this, she doesn't relent. She's truly a hassle. Why did I ever suggest going out together on a Sunday in the first place? "Since we're heading out, just let yourself get dressed up and made up." As expected, Sendai-san smiled, looking quite pleased. Reflecting on the day I suggested we go out today, I wished that version of myself could be tossed into the boiling cauldron of hell and simply melt away. I looked at Sendai-san. She was indeed in a good mood, savoring her orange juice.