Translator: RaidenTL
I glanced at the rearview mirror and scowled when I saw Tetsuya chatting with Miyuki.
He didn't even visit me when I was hurt, the shameless bastard.
Hah... This goddamn leech.
I'll give him this, though: his skill at getting in the way is truly masterful.
After parking the car in their neighborhood, I grinned as the two of them got out and said in unison,
"Thanks, Matsuda-kun."
"Thanks, Matsuda."
"Get inside, Miura. You too, Miyuki."
Tetsuya's mouth fell slightly open.
His head creaked as it turned toward Miyuki.
He must have been pretty shocked by the name I just used.
Miyuki gave Tetsuya an awkward smile and said,
"We've gotten a lot closer."
"...Ah... um... I guess so. I was just a little surprised."
What do you think of me, getting so close to Miyuki in less than three months?
You used to be the only guy who called her by her first name. What are you going to do now that there's another one? Sucks, doesn't it?
Landing a hit on him made me feel a little better.
Just as I was about to close the passenger-side window, Miyuki called out to me.
"Matsuda-kun, will you be okay getting home alone?"
"I just drove here alone, didn't I?"
I let a hint of disappointment show, reminding them how they'd left me out of their conversation.
Noticing my reaction, a look of apology crossed Miyuki's face.
She glanced at Tetsuya before taking a melon-flavored milk from her bag and placing it on the passenger seat.
"It won't take long, but... drink this on your way. If you feel dizzy at home, call me right away. Got it?"
Without a word, I opened the milk carton and chugged it in one go.
The sweet liquid disappeared down my throat.
After finishing it in an instant, I placed the empty carton in a stunned Miyuki's hand.
"That was good. I'm heading out."
"Ah, okay..."
And with that, I left them behind and drove home.
After a careful shower, making sure not to touch the wounds on my face, I flopped onto my bed, sleepiness washing over me.
I really did a lot of tiring things today.
Bzzzz-!
My phone, plugged into its charger, vibrated.
Must be Miyuki.
I waited a moment before checking the message.
[Matsuda-kun, is there anything you want to eat?]
Something I want to eat?
Is she thinking of meeting up right now?
I'm not particularly hungry... but a date with Miyuki is something I can't miss.
[Something fried.]
[Fried? How about tendon?]
[Tendon sounds great.]
[Okay. I'll bring some tendon tomorrow. Let's have lunch together.]
So she meant she was going to pack a lunch.
This is even better than a date.
My face instantly brightened, and I typed enthusiastically on the keypad.
[Should I prepare anything?]
[No, it's fine. I'm sorry about today, Matsuda-kun.]
She must still feel bad about whispering with Tetsuya in the back seat.
[I was just kidding. I'm going to sleep.]
[Already? Are you feeling dizzy or anything?]
[Nothing like that. I'm just a little tired, so I'm heading to bed.]
[Really...? Okay. Get some rest. And if anything happens, make sure to call.]
Miyuki, repeating what she said earlier... so adorable...
[I got it. I'll pick you up tomorrow. Tell Miura to be ready.]
[Okay.]
Normally, she would have nagged me to review what we learned over the break.
But today, she knows I had a rough time, so she's letting it slide.
After finishing my texts with Miyuki, I looked forward to tomorrow.
Miyuki's lunch, and joining the kendo club where Renka is...
Trying to win over two heroines from the same academy at the same time is an incredibly difficult task.
It'll be tough, but I can do it.
I'll focus more on Miyuki.
I've worked hard to build up her affection level, and right now, the tide is coming in strong.
This is the time to row.
Screech.
I entered the classroom with Miyuki and Tetsuya and quietly sat down.
Fear still lingered in my classmates' gazes, but it wasn't as bad as it was before first period yesterday.
It seems the rumor that I quit the club has spread...
Was it Miyuki who spread it? Or the student council?
"Matsuda."
Tetsuya called out to me while I was lost in thought.
I looked at him and answered.
"What."
"Did you see what Miyuki was holding today?"
"Yeah. Looked like a lunchbox."
"Considering how much she usually eats, that bundle was pretty big. It's probably for us. This is your first time trying a lunch she made, right?"
He's subtly trying to brag... What a pathetic provocation.
Tetsuya, Tetsuya. This is why you'll never win.
It's not very manly.
"Well... it is my first time."
Actually, I had some during the break.
Behind your back, too.
And today, I plan on eating with just Miyuki, leaving you out completely.
"It's really good, so you can look forward to it."
"Is that so? Should I go tell Miyuki right now? That you're super excited for her lunch?"
"That's... Please don't."
I chuckled at Tetsuya, who had instantly become flustered, and then laid my head on my desk as the professor walked in carrying a large box.
The professor placed the box on his desk and spoke.
"We had a serious incident yesterday, didn't we? And the star of that incident... I can't tell if he's sleeping or just pretending to."
I can't see it, but I can feel it.
Every student's gaze is fixed on me.
"Class President."
"Yes, Professor."
"Have the students pass these out. They're from Matsuda."
"What...? From Matsuda-kun?"
I hear the quiet scrape of a chair.
Lifting my head slightly, I saw Miyuki walking to the front of the class.
After checking the contents of the box, her mouth dropped open just like Tetsuya's did yesterday.
I stifled a laugh and buried my face in my arms again.
"Um... students in the front, please pass these back."
There's a hint of pride in Miyuki's voice.
She seems happy to see the gifts I bought—the notebook and ink pen sets.
They're not some high-end brand that costs tens of thousands of yen each, but I still put a lot of thought into choosing a good brand.
I heard the students whispering in low voices, along with some rustling, and a moment later,
Thump.
I felt a slight weight on my head.
Did the pig in front of me really just put the notebook on my head?
How dare he? He's dead.
Just as I was thinking that, the faint scent of plum drifted over and tickled my nose.
It's the scent of Miyuki's hair today.
I tilted my head to the side, and sure enough, Miyuki was looking down at me with a pleased smile.
So she came to deliver mine personally.
When I put a finger to my lips with an embarrassed expression, the corners of her eyes curved into crescents.
"Thanks, Matsuda-kun. I'll use it well."
Miyuki thanked me openly, in a voice loud enough for others to hear.
I sat up, pretending to give in.
Then, the other students hesitated for a moment before turning to me and saying their thanks.
I hate cringey stuff like this. All I need is Miyuki's affection.
I awkwardly accepted their thanks, forcing a smile, as Miyuki placed the notebook on my desk and scurried back to her seat.
That lewd back view... I love it so much.
I was scowling at the chubby guy in front of me, who was staring at me in surprise, when—
"You felt bad for disrupting class during second period, didn't you?"
Tetsuya said from beside me, and I sighed internally.
Do you really have to ask so directly?
"Think whatever you want."
"Thanks. I'll use it well."
I just shrugged in response and focused on the professor as the class officially began.
Lunch on the rooftop with the heroine is a classic love comedy cliché.
I thought I'd get to enjoy that cliché today, so I happily went up first to wait for Miyuki.
But... the rooftop door was locked.
There was a sign at the entrance saying it was temporarily locked due to yesterday's unfortunate incident.
A difficult situation. But there are plenty of ways around it.
I looked around and tried opening a window on the wall next to the hallway.
The window opened smoothly. I knew it wouldn't be locked.
Why? Because the protagonist climbing through here is also a cliché.
I jumped, placed my hands on the windowsill, and was about to pull myself up when—
"Ma-Matsuda-kun...! What are you doing...?! Get down from there right now...!"
I heard Miyuki's horrified voice as she came up the stairs, holding the lunchbox.
I gave her a grin and quickly climbed through the window.
I carefully navigated the ledge, landed on the rooftop floor, and opened the door from the inside.
Click.
Miyuki, who was waiting on the other side, immediately started smacking my arm.
"Are you crazy...? What if you fell? And if we get caught..."
"I didn't fall, so it's fine. And no one will know if we're quiet. So stop hitting me and come in. We're going to get caught if you keep this up."
At that, Miyuki glanced behind her, hesitated, then stepped inside with a deep sigh.
"You live so carefree... I feel like I brought this lunch for nothing..."
I leaned my back against the wall, plopped down on the ground, and said,
"It's thrilling, isn't it?"
"Thrilling? It's just nerve-wracking..."
We're going to fuck up here later, so you'd better get used to it.
I snorted and patted the spot next to me.
Miyuki brought a hand to her thigh, smoothed down her uniform skirt, and sat down demurely.
She began to set down the two-tiered lunchbox.
I suddenly wondered what Tetsuya was doing.
Miyuki probably made a good excuse to handle him, but I decided not to ask.
"I heated it up in the microwave before coming... but it's probably gotten soggy."
Miyuki said as she opened the lunchbox.
I picked up the pink chopsticks, took the container, and bit into a piece of fried sweet pumpkin.
Just as she'd said, the signature crispiness of the tempura was mostly gone, but it was still delicious.
I took a bite of rice, chewed, swallowed, and said,
"This is good. Bring some tomorrow, too. No... make some for me."
"No way. You'll just climb through the window again."
"I have to climb back out after we finish eating, you know. There's no other way to lock the door again."
"Then just leave without locking it. I'll get the key somehow and take care of it."
"So from now on, we can just use the key to get in."
"No. This is the last time."
Miyuki narrowed her eyes and glared at me, clearly displeased with my dangerous stunt.
But that only lasted a moment.
As I started to eat with gusto, she let out a weak laugh and began eating her own tendon.
After we finished our lunch, we packed up the containers and, without a word, looked up at the sky.
The clouds were beautiful. The weather was especially nice today, and a cool breeze was blowing.
So this was why Miyuki didn't suggest we leave after we finished eating.
"This feels nice..."
Miyuki closed her eyes gently, feeling the headwind.
Her long eyelashes are incredibly captivating.
I stared at her intently, then very quietly shifted my body until I was pressed right up against her.
Was she surprised when our arms touched?
Miyuki's eyes flew open, and she whipped her head around.
But she didn't ask what I was doing or pull away.
She just stayed still, watching my profile.
Pretending to be nonchalant, I turned my gaze to the sky while gauging her reaction and said casually,
"Let's come here again."
"...I said no."
"You like it up here, too."
"No, I don't..."
Anyone can tell she likes it. What does she mean, "no"?
"Then if not every day, how about once in a while?"
"...If the rooftop... door isn't locked... then maybe... once in a great while... might be okay."
Was she embarrassed for giving in to the temptation so easily?
Miyuki quickly changed the subject.
"Anyway, I'll say you did a good job today... I'm not talking about climbing onto the roof, I'm talking about giving apology gifts to our classmates. I liked what was inside, too. The notebook and pen... they'll last a long time, and they make you feel motivated to study..."
I chuckled at Miyuki, who was forcing herself to ramble on, and placed a hand on her head.
"But you must have spent a lot of..."
Her lips pressed shut.
Taking the opportunity, I gently ruffled her hair, watching her reaction.
"....."
She's still.
It seems like this level of skinship is okay.
Relieved, I praised her as if she were a child.
"Look at this little thing, praising a grown-up."
"I-It's just that you're too tall, Matsuda-kun... like a beanpole..."
Seeing her grumble while fixing her messy bangs made me want to laugh again.
I stood up, walked in front of her, and held out both my hands.
"I know an even cooler spot. Let's rest there for a bit before we go down."
"...Okay."
Even though she could have stood up on her own, Miyuki didn't. She slowly reached out and took my offered hands.
As I pulled her up, Miyuki's face wasn't exactly red, but it was slightly flushed.
'Let's keep it up just like this.'
I'll keep increasing the time we spend alone and the frequency of our skinship. Then, right when she seems to be getting used to it, I'll raise the intensity.
That's how I'll make my presence in her heart grow bigger while erasing Tetsuya.