Translator: RaidenTL
"Let's call it a day. Good work, you two."
As soon as the lesson ended, I flopped backward and glanced at Tetsuya.
He'd been fishing for compliments about his short hair all break, so I figured I should say something nice to score some points with Miyuki.
"It looks better now that you got rid of that stuffy-looking hair."
At that, Tetsuya scratched the back of his head, looking a little shy.
"It's the first time I've had it this short since I was a kid, so I'm still not used to it."
I'll give you a special tip, you simpleton.
Not that it'll make you look any less goofy...
"You should use some wax to press down the sides."
"Oh, should I? Any products you'd recommend?"
"Get something matte, with a strong hold."
"I'll give it a try."
"Sure."
"Can I use your bathroom?"
You should've just used the one at the train station.
"Why are you even asking? Just use it."
"Thanks."
After watching Tetsuya get up and head to the bathroom, I helped Miyuki, who was putting her books into her bag.
Miyuki stared at me and said.
"Thanks, Matsuda-kun."
"I'm just helping so you'll leave faster."
"I know that's not true. By the way, Matsuda-kun, why were you staring at your phone during the break?"
"Is there a problem with that?"
"Not really, but… I was just curious since it's not something you usually do."
So you've been watching my usual behavior?
Thanks.
"I'm thinking of buying a car. So I can drive it when school starts."
I'm buying it so I can touch your thighs and chest on the way to school.
We'll have to go on trips, too. Without Tetsuya, of course.
Miyuki blinked her large eyes and gave an awkward smile.
She seemed a little surprised that I was talking about buying an expensive car so casually.
Financial power is also a part of one's charm.
But if I just flaunt my wealth, Miyuki will think I'm an obnoxious show-off.
So it's better to just let it pass naturally.
"Ah… a car…?"
"Are you going to nag me again? There's no school rule against driving a car to the academy."
"I-I wasn't going to nag… But Matsuda-kun, do you have a license?"
"I do. Though I've never actually used it."
"When did you get it…?"
"I made time to get it before I enrolled in the academy."
"I see…"
Once all the books were in Miyuki's bag, I glanced toward the bathroom.
Tetsuya was taking a long time.
If he doesn't air the place out, he's dead.
Looking at the calendar, I saw it was almost August.
That meant it was time to trigger an event.
There was one condition to start this event.
A date with Miyuki.
There must have been a positive change in Miyuki's feelings since we took that picture two days ago.
Yesterday, on Sunday, she even sent me a personal message first, and we had a long, enjoyable conversation… Let's give it a shot.
"Hey, Hanazawa."
"Yes?"
"You must be getting tired of teaching me, right?"
"Not at all. Why?"
"I just… feel bad about it."
The corners of Miyuki's mouth crept upward.
"I feel like I'm seeing a lot of new sides to you lately, Matsuda-kun. I'm really fine. It's fun to teach you because you're so passionate about learning."
"You think so?"
"Yes. So you don't have to worry about it. If you really feel sorry, could you buy me an ice cream tomorrow?"
"Ice cream? Is there a flavor you want?"
"Anything is fine."
That graceful smile of hers is so captivating.
Like a proper lady. I want to make her mine, fast.
"Then let's see a movie together after class tomorrow. I'll buy you one on the way home."
"A movie? I'm fine with it, but… shouldn't we ask Tetsuya-kun too…"
"What are you talking about… I'm asking you to go with me. Just the two of us."
"Huh…?"
Flustered, Miyuki's mouth fell slightly open.
She was just staring at me blankly. She must be pretty shocked.
I gave her a smirk and said.
"I saw there's a movie theater not too far from your neighborhood. I'll head over there. Go home and rest after class. Eight o'clock should be fine, right?"
"Uh…? Eight o'clock…? I guess that's fine, but…"
Before Miyuki could say anything else, I held her bag out to her.
She took it with a bewildered look on her face and put it on her back.
I stood up, and as I headed for the bathroom, I said.
"Then it's settled. Thanks for the lesson today. I'm going to go wash up, so when Miura gets back, you two can see yourselves out."
@@
"Phew…!"
After burying her face in her pillow for a long time, Miyuki exhaled the breath she'd been holding and flipped over.
How should she describe this feeling? It was like a huge boulder had been dropped into a calm lake, creating not just ripples, but waves.
Lately, Matsuda had been making her feel incredibly strange.
'He wants to see a movie…? Tomorrow…? Just the two of us?'
Was this… a date invitation?
Thinking back on Matsuda's casual attitude, it didn't seem like he thought of it as a date...
Then why did he say 'just the two of us'?
It was the first time she'd ever received such a proposal, and since Matsuda had said it more like a notification, it was hard to grasp his true intentions.
The thought of it somehow made her angry.
'Seriously… would it kill him to ask a little more nicely…?'
Miyuki grumbled to herself and picked up her phone.
She opened her messaging app and was about to start a conversation with Matsuda, but she hesitated.
She had no idea what to send.
Asking him outright, "What did you mean by asking just the two of us to go?" felt kind of embarrassing.
But if she tried to beat around the bush, the dense Matsuda probably wouldn't get the meaning…
As she agonized over what to do, she ended up sending a meaningless message.
[It's hot...]
Even after the phone's 30-second standby time passed, the message screen remained quiet.
Just as Miyuki, who was staring intently at the dark screen, was about to feel a little disappointed,
Tiring-!
A reply came from Matsuda.
[I'm cold.]
He was so mischievous. But it suited him perfectly.
Miyuki let out a small laugh at the concise message and tapped on her phone's keyboard.
[You might catch a cold if you sleep with the AC on.]
[It's fine, I'm under a thick blanket. What are you up to, anyway?]
[Just at home. Did you pick out a car?]
[I keep looking, but I'm not sure what kind to get. Let's pick one out together for a bit before the movie tomorrow.]
Should she ask him about it now that the topic of the movie came up?
No. It might make Matsuda feel pressured… it was probably better to just let it go.
[Okay. But what movie are we going to see?]
[Something fun.]
[You haven't decided yet?]
[We can decide now. Is there a genre you like?]
[I'm not really picky. So I'll leave it up to you, Matsuda-kun. Did you review today's lesson?]
[I'm going to bed.]
Seeing as he was avoiding the conversation, he probably didn't review it.
I'll give him a pop quiz tomorrow, and if his score is low, I'll lecture him in that prim and proper tone he hates.
[You promised you'd work hard before we started studying together, Matsuda-kun. Review it.]
[Give me a break today. Why are you so cruel?]
[It's all for your own good, Matsuda-kun.]
[Don't you think I need a day to cool my head?]
[Didn't you cool it all weekend?]
[....Do you really want me to review it?]
The tone of his message made it seem like he would actually do it if she told him to.
She wanted to make him do it as punishment for confusing her, but… she'd let him off the hook for today.
[You don't have to. Just focus tomorrow.]
[You keep messing with me. I can't take it anymore. Meet me at that playground. Let's throw down.]
[Okay. I'm always ready, so let me know when you get to my neighborhood.]
Miyuki spent a long time joking around with Matsuda.
Even trivial conversations were fun when she was having them with him.
Time flew by so quickly. So much so that it felt a little sad.
After ending her conversation with him, Miyuki looked up at her ceiling, which was covered in little star stickers.
The ones she and Tetsuya had put up when they were kids showed no signs of falling off.
For a moment, Miyuki found herself wondering what it would be like if Tetsuya had a personality like Matsuda's, one with no brakes.
Tetsuya asking her to a movie in such a one-sided way… it didn't seem to fit him.
Then what if Matsuda had an innocent personality like Tetsuya?
That didn't fit either.
Thinking about it this way, she was struck by how their personalities were polar opposites.
It made her happy to see that they seemed to be getting along surprisingly well, despite being like oil and water.
It was probably all because Matsuda had approached him with sincerity.
Just as her own opinion of Matsuda was changing, Tetsuya's probably was too.
She hoped they would erase their old grudges one by one and become even closer in the future.
As Miyuki pictured a happy future, she suddenly remembered what happened yesterday and opened her photo gallery.
The most recent picture, the one with Matsuda, was right there.
She tapped the photo to zoom in and stared at Matsuda's face.
'He's handsome…'
It wasn't a joke; he was genuinely handsome.
The corners of Matsuda's full lips were turned up in a faint smile.
His face was practically glowing; you could even call it the picture of a lifetime.
If he could make an expression like this, why did he always walk around with a scowl on his face…
Miyuki's lips twitched into a smile without her realizing it, and she swiped to the next photo.
A picture of her and Tetsuya at the hair salon appeared.
He wasn't as handsome as Matsuda, but he was still plenty cool.
But just as she'd thought before, his old hairstyle seemed better.
As she flicked through her gallery, she realized that aside from a few pictures with her female friends, almost all of them were with Tetsuya.
We've taken so many pictures.
Maybe next time, the three of them could take a picture together with Matsuda.
'I'm sleepy…'
Miyuki's eyes slowly closed as she quietly looked through the photos.
The only sound in the room was the whirring of the electric fan.
With that sound as her lullaby, Miyuki drifted off to sleep.
"Miyuki, want to play some games at the arcade before we go home?"
The next afternoon, after class ended, Tetsuya made the suggestion to Miyuki.
Miyuki glanced at the clock, then shot a look at me before answering.
"Then maybe we can hang out… for about an hour?"
She was being mindful of our appointment time.
Seeing their contrasting reactions, it seemed Miyuki hadn't told him that she was going to the movies with me.
Miyuki and Tetsuya were the type who had no secrets from each other.
But recently, several secrets had started to form.
For instance, my actions during the festival…
In the past, Miyuki would have told Tetsuya everything, asking him what it could mean and discussing it with him.
But she hadn't.
It was the same now. She had hidden her movie date with me.
It was proof that Miyuki was vaguely sensing that our relationship wasn't that of ordinary friends.
Since she has zero dating experience, she hasn't realized it yet, but she'll definitely figure it out once school starts.
"Well… I'm heading out, Matsuda-kun."
Miyuki's awkward farewell.
I gave her a grin and said.
"Yeah, see ya. You too, Miura."
After seeing them off, I went back inside.
I was about to head to the bathroom for a shower when my pocket vibrated.
I checked my phone and couldn't hide the smile that was trying to break free.
It was because of a message from Miyuki.
[I'll be there on time. Don't worry.]
She must have sent it in a hurry. You don't have to do this; I trust you…
Our Miyuki has such a kind heart.