287 The Place Where Sendai-san is - Story About Buying My Classmate Once A Week

The Place Where Sendai-san is Chapter 287 Denying something is simple. Just say words like "no" or "I can't," and that's often enough. The world is full of such simple acts. Like saying hello, playing rock-paper-scissors, or even knocking on a door. These are all things one can easily do. Yet today, such simple actions feel inexplicably difficult, and I find myself unable to knock on Sendai-san's door. In the eerily quiet morning, so silent one could almost hear the sound of a pin drop, I sigh inwardly. I happened to wake up early. It was the beginning of Golden Week, a day that promised good weather and seemed perfect for a walk to shed some extra weight. That's all there was to it. So, there's no need to knock on Sendai-san's door. She’s likely still asleep, and it would be a pity to cut into her sleep time since she's working even during Golden Week. Moreover, a walk doesn't warrant waking up someone who's sleeping just to take part together. If it's something I can do alone, I should do it alone. Returning to my room, I slip a 500-yen coin into my denim pocket just in case, grab my smartphone, and adjust the position of the black cat guarding my bookshelf so it faces straight ahead. As I step into the shared space, my eyes inadvertently land on the neighboring door. I quietly approach and press my ear against it. —Nothing. It seems she’s not awake at six in the morning during the break. Leaving the shared space behind, I put on sneakers at the entrance and step outside. Although I'm wearing a hoodie, the early morning chill bites my skin. Tempted to turn back to my room, I instead take a step forward. One step, two steps, and I continue walking down the stairs and along the sidewalk. Occasionally, I pass by other people. People out for walks, or jogging. Whether it's enjoyable or not, they all seem energetic. I'm neither walking nor jogging, but with each step I take, my body warms up. I pass by both small and large dogs. However, the dogs out for walks are the usual breeds like Shiba Inus or Labradors, and there's no Borzoi in sight. Naturally, neither is there the calico cat that Sendai-san often spots. Only the gentle morning sun shines down on me. It’s a pleasant morning, I would say. Normally bustling with cars, the streets are mostly empty, and the slightly chilly breeze caressing my cheeks feels nice. The bright world created by the sun brightens my spirits. But, if I had to choose between interesting or uninteresting, I'd choose the latter. Being alone is dull. —But what if it were the two of us? I don't know. Mechanically, I move my legs. Though my body's moving forward, it's at such a slow pace that the fat doesn't seem inclined to burn off. At this leisurely pace, I don't get tired, but it leaves me wondering what the point of this walk is. I'm almost tempted to use the 500-yen coin in my pocket to buy a pudding and head back. It's surely the hamburg steaks that are to blame. Sendai-san has been cooking hamburg steak so much that they’ve cast a spell of fat on me. While her care for me is endearing, it also leaves me anxious. She constantly prioritizes me, focusing only on what matters to me, which leaves me wondering what’s on her mind—much like the unyielding fat that sticks around. I let out a deep breath and take a large step forward. But my pace doesn't speed up. A person walking from behind overtakes me. The pace of my forward motion slows down. Soon, a brown dog ambles ahead, with its owner following behind. People and dogs alike pass me by, as though I'm the only one not moving forward. "Maybe I should just go back." Murmuring under my breath, I turn around. I glance around, but the calico cat is nowhere to be found. I figure it's a bad cat, showing itself only to Sendai-san. Reanimating my stopped legs, I stretch them forward. Why does it always end up like this? Even when I'm away from Sendai-san, I can't stop thinking about her. For instance, I find myself thinking about how the house I'm returning to is an important place to Sendai-san. It's surprising that Sendai-san, who doesn't seem to have any likes or dislikes, has a place that's important to her. But since she works part-time because she doesn't want to go home to her parents, it's not surprising that she would cherish a place that lets her avoid going home. There’s one thing I find puzzling, though. To continue living in that important house, she could have used the 5,000 yen I, as a high schooler, gave her in exchange for orders. Yet she doesn't. It's a way to protect something important to her so I wonder what goes on in her head. Even after graduating university, it's possible to keep what she holds dear. "Idiot." I murmur quietly and kick the pavement. Even if I do this solo walk she suggested, I won’t find answers to what I don't understand. Hence, it's no wonder I can't fathom why she suddenly referred to a simple outing as a "date." Up to this point, she wasn't someone who would say such things to me. Yet suddenly, she tosses around the word "date" — how could I possibly understand her? If only Sendai-san were a dog. If her tail was wagging, it would mean she's happy. If her tail was hidden, it would mean she's frightened. If it were that clear, I wouldn't have to walk alone. But if she were a dog, we couldn't live together in that house, and I'd still be alone in an empty home, just like when I was in high school. "Idiot." Saying it to no one in particular, I quicken my pace, heading home faster than I walked here. Before I can make it back, the phone held in my hand starts buzzing. "Miyagi, where are you?" Answering the call, I hear Sendai-san's irritated voice. "Outside." "I meant, where outside are you?" "Around the neighborhood. Looking for a cat." It's an obvious lie, but I don’t want to admit I was just out for a walk, so I throw out a plausible excuse. "A cat?" Her dubious voice echoes in my ear. "The calico cat you like." "Did you find it?" "Not, I didn't." "The calico cat is Mike-chan, right? If you’re out for a walk, wait there. I’ll change quickly and join you." Ignoring my denial, Sendai-san hurriedly insists. At this rate, she sounds ready to hurl herself outside in five seconds flat, so I quickly respond to stop her. "I didn’t find it, and I’m heading back with pudding instead." "Pudding?" "For the calories burned. Do you want some pudding, too?" "I'd like one, but aren’t you going for a walk?" "I’m tired, going back to eat breakfast." Sendai-san is mine, but she’s not my pet. So, unlike the people I passed by, I won’t be taking a walk with her. It’s better to head back and have breakfast together sooner. Besides, I already declined her offer for a walk. Golden Week has only just begun. There are days Sendai-san is absent because of her part-time job, but since that house is something important to her, she'll always return if I wait. Plus, we have plans to go see the penguins, so I won’t be alone on that day. "Alright, I'll prepare breakfast, so come back quickly," she says, her voice coming through the phone—slightly displeased, but still gentle. "I'll come back soon, you don't have to tell me," I reply. "And don’t forget the pudding." I respond with a "Got it" and end the call. There's a single 500-yen coin in my pocket. Thinking about which pudding to buy, I head towards the convenience store.