305 Miyagi's Things and Mine - Story About Buying My Classmate Once A Week

Miyagi's Things and Mine Chapter 305 "That's mine――" It shouldn't be the first thing to say upon entering the house instead of a simple "I'm home." However, what confronted me as soon as I stepped into the shared space practically demanded it. "What?" In front of Miyagi, who spoke in a flat tone, were a cup of instant noodles and a chopstick rest. I find it odd that she would order me to come home quickly so we could eat pudding together, only to find her eating instant noodles. Yet, Miyagi eating instant noodles is not all that uncommon. The issue lies with the chopstick rest. She is currently using a calico cat chopstick rest, which is mine and not Miyagi's. "What do you mean...?" I hesitate whether to point out that the chopstick rest she's using is mine. If I mention it, she will definitely be in a bad mood. Yet, I want to ask. “Did your chopstick rest break?” I change to a less confrontational phrasing and comment on the item before her, bringing her gaze to it. "Chopstick rests aren't the kind of things that break, you know?" Miyagi says, a frown forming on her forehead. "I know, but still..." "I'm done eating, so I'm going to clean up now. Have a seat, Sendai-san. Oh, and welcome back." "Thanks. We're going to eat pudding soon, right? Why not wash everything together later?" "I'm washing them now." The reason she used my calico cat chopstick rest instead of her own black cat one remains unexplained. Instead, Miyagi noisily pushes back her chair, stands up, and begins tidying away the finished cup noodles, chopsticks, and chopstick rest. “Didn’t I tell you to sit over there, Sendai-san?” She scolds as I stand watching her bustle around. Knowing it's pointless to argue, I obediently sit in the chair as instructed. The sound of water flowing from the faucet reaches me. I can’t tell if she deliberately chose the calico chopstick rest or if it was just a coincidence. But for Miyagi, it seems like something she's awkward about, as she takes an inordinately long time to wash the chopsticks and rest, not facing me at all. Perhaps she has changed a little. I reflect on these thoughts in regards to Miyagi, who is no longer my roommate. Miyagi eating instant noodles was no different than usual. But the chopstick rest was something different. Even a slight change would make me happy if something within Miyagi is evolving. I think it would be nice if Miyagi continues to use my things as if it were normal, starts wanting my things, and eventually wants me too. "Shall I prepare the pudding?" I ask Miyagi, who still faces the sink. "Not yet." "How long are you going to stay there?" Her using my calico cat chopstick rest and refusing to face me makes me curious about the expression on her face. "I'm coming." After her grumpy response, the sound of flowing water ceases. However, Miyagi still does not look at me. "...Is it true that you told Mio-san about the mark I left yesterday?" A small voice reaches me. I understand immediately what she's referring to and respond with a simple "Yes." Though I had concealed the mark Miyagi left on me yesterday so it wouldn't stand out, it wasn’t done perfectly. It wasn't surprising that Mio noticed, and I wanted it to be noticed. So, when Mio asked about the mark on my neck, I answered that Miyagi was the one who left it. “Mio-san really didn't believe you, right?” “She didn’t. She asked to see my boyfriend instead.” That seems understandable. I expected Mio to say something like that, and it was natural for her to think I was trying to cover it up when I said it was Miyagi. "...Are you going to show her your boyfriend?” “I can’t show what doesn’t exist. I already told Mio I don’t have one.” “Did she believe you?” “She didn’t." Mio insists that I have a boyfriend. It’s turned into quite a hassle, but it would have been equally troublesome if she had believed that it was Miyagi who left the mark. Honestly, I shouldn’t have told Mio, even jokingly, that Miyagi left it. I should have covered it up by pretending I have a boyfriend. Asking someone to act as my boyfriend would have settled things. But I didn’t want to lie about it being a “boyfriend-made mark,” and I really didn’t want to go through the trouble of finding someone to pretend to be a boyfriend. “What about your tutoring students?” “They didn’t notice… I think. Even if they did, they wouldn’t connect it to Miyagi, so it’s fine." “Then that’s okay.” "You don’t sound okay with it.” Since she won't look at me, I can't tell what expression Miyagi is wearing. But her tone is utterly displeased, indicating a source of dissatisfaction. “...Even though it's a mark I made, it’s irritating that others think someone else did it.” Miyagi still won’t meet my gaze. Though she finished washing, she just stands there, avoiding eye contact. I want to know what kind of face Miyagi is making when she says such things. I stand up and move closer to Miyagi. “If it's fine with you, I’ll tell Mio again that the mark was made by Miyagi, not anyone else.” As I tug at her clothes, Miyagi looks at me. “You’ll say it because she won’t believe you.” A monotonous voice reaches my ears. Our change is subtle, merely the fact that we are no longer roommates. Yet, a change means what wasn’t allowed yesterday might be allowed today. That’s what I’m hoping for. I want to know how far I can push the boundaries with the current Miyagi. “…Maybe I should try harder to convince Mio.” If the reason doesn’t matter, I could make it known that the mark on my neck is "Miyagi’s." For instance, saying Miyagi sleepily bit me. As absurd as it is, if I could make Mio believe such an anecdote, the mark on my neck would become "Miyagi’s" in her mind too. “No need for weird efforts.” The idea to make an effort so Mio acknowledges the mark as “Miyagi’s” is promptly dismissed. I think it’s understandable. Miyagi is that kind of person. “More importantly, Sendai-san…” Changing the subject, Miyagi sits down. Naturally, I sit across from her. She nudges my leg saying, “Penalty game.” “Why? I came home early.” If I had come at my usual time, there would be a penalty game. Having insisted I come home early this morning, Miyagi set this condition, and I assuredly returned home earlier than usual today. It’s essentially a ridiculous claim to say I was late. “You were late. I was so hungry from waiting for you that I ended up having instant noodles.” "I ran back home today.” “But you were still late.” Miyagi is steadfast, seemingly having something she wants to impose through this penalty game. Yet, given that there was a reason for my rushed return, I am equally unwilling to concede. If I get home at a time Miyagi considers early, she must do as I say. We had such an agreement, and I intend for it to be honored. “Then, let’s settle it with rock-paper-scissors.” “Settle what?” Miyagi asks with a puzzled look. “Whether I was early or not." The judgment of whether I'm late or early is up to Miyagi. It depends on her mood, which means no matter how quickly I return, she might say it's late. But it’s not impossible to overturn her verdict of "late." “If I win, let’s agree I was early.” I just need to propose a condition she finds reasonable. With the randomness of rock-paper-scissors, if I win, I hope she'll accept it. Besides, what I want her to do isn't something Miyagi would dislike. “No.” A short, clear refusal echoes back. “Miyagi, I’ll throw rock.” “Eh?” “Here we go. Rock, paper, scissors!” I override her with sheer momentum, and as I continue with “scissors,” Miyagi throws paper. My hand takes the shape of scissors, and the match is decided. “Sendai-san, why did you throw scissors? You’re a liar.” “I didn't lie. I meant to throw rock, but scissors came out instead.” “That’s unfair.” “Even if it’s unfair, a win is a win. Besides, I really did come back early, so just accept it.” I nudge my foot against Miyagi’s, eliciting a disgruntled sound. “…What do you want me to do?” “Give me the last Sunday of this month. I’ll make the plans. Let’s go see penguins together. Last time we said ‘sometime,’ but didn’t set an actual date. I think we should settle that.” I smile at Miyagi, but she only stares back with a serious expression, silent. I don’t believe she’s forgotten the postponed promise to “go see penguins” due to the fever, nor do I think she’ll refuse, but without a verbal “let’s go,” there's a lingering unease. To avoid a refusal, I add, “It’s a promise, so let’s go.” “…Okay, let’s go,” Miyagi mutters reluctantly. No longer being roommates, I wish to renew the old promises made while we still were. Today, that’s the promise I wanted to remake. Miyagi, who seems to have left her spirit somewhere, isn't smiling. Yet she is precisely who I want to see penguins with. “Alright, shall we eat the pudding?” I stand up and head toward the refrigerator.