284 Where Miyagi Is - Story About Buying My Classmate Once A Week

Where Miyagi Is Chapter 284 "Hazuki, aren't you getting tired of hamburg steak? You've been eating it all the time lately." Words I heard just yesterday spill from Mio's mouth. So, I respond with the same line as yesterday. "Not really." Having the same conversation as yesterday, we find ourselves once again in the university's café space. On the table are a half-eaten hamburg steak and two-thirds of a taco rice bowl, our meals unchanged from yesterday. The only difference is the time; yesterday was during the lunch rush, while today, we're dining together long past the bustling lunch hour. "Are you planning on eating hamburg steak again tomorrow?" "Probably." Demi-glace, cheese, mushroom. Today it’s grated radish hamburg steak. Even something like hamburg steak comes in a variety of styles, so if you rotate them, you'll never get bored. April is coming to an end, but even if I continue ordering the same menu until Golden Week, I don’t think I'd get tired of it. Besides, Mio, who’s chiding me about my lunch choices, has been eating taco rice three days in a row, so she shouldn’t be one to talk. "If you eat that much hamburg steak, your brain might turn into one." "If that's the case, wouldn't your brain turn into taco rice?" "Sounds delicious. If you run out of things to eat, I'll share my special taco rice with you, Hazuki." With that, Mio took a big, delighted bite of her taco rice. It's just like her. If her head were full of taco rice, she wouldn't care, and she'd probably share the taco rice in her head with me. "I'll pass." The taco rice concocted in Mio's mind seems like it could change the eater’s personality to be exactly like hers. Her easygoing, carefree nature is charming, but if asked whether I want to be like that, my answer would be no. "Too bad, it's delicious." In a tone that didn’t sound the least bit disappointed, Mio said, "By the way," and continued. "Why did you suddenly start liking hamburg steak? You didn’t eat it that much before." "I’m trying to make delicious hamburg steak." I give a response that isn't exactly right but isn't wrong, either, and take a bite of my hamburg steak. The taste of the hamburg steak here isn’t bad, and it's affordable while filling. However, there's not enough grated radish on top, so if I were going to make it for Miyagi, I'd increase the amount. "What's that about? Do you have someone you want to make it for?" "It's for Miyagi." There's nothing to hide, so I answer honestly. Though, it's not entirely accurate. While it's true I have someone I want to make it for, and that person is Miyagi, the core reason for my fixation on hamburg steak isn’t there. Miyagi said hamburg steak was something important. That's the main reason. If something is important to her, it is also important to me. That's why, ever since that day when I cooked hamburg steak for Miyagi, I’ve been eating nothing but hamburg steak. And ever since then, even though Miyagi never asked me to make it again, I've been making it countless times for her. "You could've at least given me a more exciting answer. I thought you might say it was for your boyfriend." "Mio, you knew I wouldn't give you that kind of answer when you asked." "True. Does Shiori-chan like hamburg steak?" "Enough to suddenly demand I make it for her." "Then she really must love it." "I figured if I'm going to make it and eat it, it might as well be delicious." The things that are important to Miyagi and me don't overlap. There are times I feel disappointed about that, but I've come to accept the status quo. As long as the place I live with Miyagi is maintained, and she remains there, that's enough. I don't desire anything more because wishing for more would be futile. Even so, Miyagi’s words about hamburg steak being important, and her actions of requesting me to make it, hold significant weight. Her words and actions keep me eating hamburg steak. We don't progress, but we don’t regress either. Always standing in place. As long as that place is still home, it's fine to stand still. I can continue to compromise with a relationship that won't improve. "You two have such an incomprehensibly good relationship," Mio said thoughtfully before taking another bite of her taco rice. Then, after chewing, she added, "But eating so much hamburg steak every day might make you gain weight." "I’m making a decent effort, so I’m fine." "Really?" "More or less." I smiled and then picked up my chopsticks to eat the hamburg steak. As talkative as Mio was, she continued to eat her taco rice, and our conversation paused. But the silence didn’t last long. "So, what's the hamburg steak maniac Hazuki planning for the long weekend?" Golden Week is approaching. Even without asking, I could predict what words would follow such a question at this time of year. So, I tell her about the unchangeable plan I have. "Tutoring." "That’s another boring answer. It's a long-awaited break; why not go out somewhere? People are asking for me to bring you along." Mio doesn't forget to continue eating her taco rice with a spoon as she talks. "I’m busy with work." While some teachers and students take a break from tutoring during Golden Week, neither my students nor I are taking a break. We plan to continue studying through the holiday. When I mentioned this to Miyagi, she made a sour face but didn't tell me not to go. That’s good, but also a bad thing. Despite wanting to go to work, I actually want Miyagi to stop me and tell me not to go. I realize I'm being selfish, but Miyagi’s lack of interference makes me feel restless and uneasy. "Why not go all out and expand your social circle during this opportunity?" "I don't need to go ‘all out.’ Having Mio is enough for me." I directed a broad smile at Mio, who seems to know just about everyone. There’s no falsehood in my words. When someone approaches me at the university, I respond with a smile, and I do sometimes hang out with people other than Mio. However, I'm not intent on expanding my social network here; I prefer staying within a limited circle. "You always say things like that. It makes me happy, though." Mio said, unusually embarrassed, before clapping her hands and turning curious eyes toward me. "Aren't you spending time with Shiori-chan during the break? You should go do something." "The way you're putting it, it sounds like Mio plans to come along." "Of course, I'm definitely going. Where should we go?" "Well, I have work, and Miyagi doesn’t leave the house, so we probably won’t be going anywhere." To be precise, I don’t want to let Miyagi go anywhere. She probably has plans to go out with Utsunomiya during the break, but I wish to cancel even that. Presumably, Utsunomiya also has work during the holiday so they'll likely meet less often, but still, I’d rather they not meet at all. Last year, Miyagi left marks on me, keeping me confined to the house. So, I think it's only fair if this year, I keep Miyagi confined at home. Like last year, I want to fill the golden moments of the holiday with watching movies and doing makeup together in that house. Miyagi should just stay home and eat the hamburg steak I make. "Your tutoring sessions won't last the entire break, right? You should bring Shiori-chan out into the sunlight." "If Miyagi is forced outside, she'd turn to ash." "She’s not a vampire. Just tell Shiori-chan she should come out with us." "Well, I’ll mention it at least." "Convince her." "Don’t expect a positive response." If I could use persuasion as a command with Miyagi, I would have done it already. But it has no effect. If she were someone who listened to me, we wouldn’t merely be roommates by now. "Isn't Shiori-chan kind of too cold? She needs to be more amiable if she wants to be an idol." "She’s not the type to aim for idoldom." Miyagi is adorable. I love making her even cuter. And while I enjoy going out with her and would love for everyone to know how charming she is, part of me wants to keep her all to myself. So, having her aspire to become an idol would be troubling. I take a bite of the hamburg steak that Miyagi loves so much. "Hazuki, what are you really doing for the holiday?" "If I find myself with some free time, I’ll let you know." "Which means, you’re never going to contact me." Mio said, heaving a theatrical sigh.