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Chapter 280: The world may change, but Miyagi remains the same — 280

Translated by KaiesV

Edited by KaiesV

I would like to meet you once.

I heard those words from Kikyō-chan not only once but many times. Each time she smiled and gave me an uncertain answer, I never knew why she wanted to see Miyagi.

「Uhh, thank you very much.」

Kikyo’s cheerful voice was followed by Miyagi’s surprised「Eh?」reply.

「Sendai-sensei told me that she picked out my pen case with you. So I thought it would be nice to meet you and say thank you.」

Her smiling, happy face and crisp voice are directed at Miyagi, not at me. The friendly atmosphere that I feel when I teach her her studies every week has not changed. But her voice remains a little higher than usual, so maybe she is nervous in front of someone she is meeting for the first time.

「It’s not like I’m being thanked. I didn’t pick out the pen case with you, I just followed you, and I didn’t pay for it, so don’t worry about it.」

I hear a more cheerful voice than when it is just the two of us.

「Sendai-sensei’s cat pen case was chosen by Miyagi-san, wasn’t it? I heard it was a Christmas present. That is so cute!」

「I don’t think it’s as cute as it could be.」

「It was cute.」

「…Thank you.」

When I looked at Miyagi at the sound of annoyance in her voice, there were none of the wrinkles I often see between her eyebrows. Instead, the corners of her mouth were slightly lifted, as if someone had pulled a string on her lips.

Perhaps it is the word “cute” that is the cause of the problem.

「Miyagi-san, do you tutor as well?」

「I don’t do that kind of thing. I’m not good at studying.」

Miyagi’s voice is a little stiff.

I thought she was trying to create a softer atmosphere than when she was with me, but her voice was dry like a sponge cake that has lost its moisture. The air in the stream is also dry and my throat hurts.

This is not good.

This is not a good topic.

This is a conversation that should be terminated.

「Miyagi, you don’t work part-time, right?」

Soft and normal.

Calm and gentle at all times.

I’m used to that kind of thing, so my voice and words come out naturally, without being bland.

「Ah, I’m also in the camp that doesn’t want to. I’m with Miyagi-san.」

Conversation is uninterrupted.

Kikyō-chan’s interest continues to be directed toward Miyagi.

Her expression is almost lost from Miyagi.

And I have pain in my temple area.

We each have a role to play. If that were on your forehead, there would be a sticky note on mine that says『tutor,』on Miyagi’s that says『tutor’s roommate,』and on Kikyō-chan’s that says『tutor’s student.』

Although both parties are fulfilling their roles solemnly, the atmosphere is somehow bad. The air is not stagnant, but it is not very clean.

「Is that so…」

Miyagi’s voice, not low but not bright, is heard.

「I would rather hang out with friends than work part-time.」

「Maybe that’s why we’re not together. Miyagi, you’re always at home.」

I interrupt the conversation with the lightness of a skip, even though I know it’s futile.

Quickly, quickly, we need to get away from the part-time talk.

It’s not something you should be talking about doing in front of Miyagi, so the word “part-time” should be thrown on the floor of the grocery store and kicked to the curb as soon as possible and done someplace far, far away.

「Is that how you feel?」

Kikyō-chan asks Miyagi, not me.

「Yes.」

A dry voice comes from next to me and Kikyō-chan asks,「What are you doing at home then?」she said something like that.

Why is this happening?

My heart is heavy as if it were stuffed with stones.

I was curious as to why Kikyō-chan wanted to meet Miyagi, but I had a bad feeling about it, so I kept it vague and deceptive. It would be troublesome if I asked her and got a ridiculous answer. Since she was not going to meet Miyagi anyway, and I had no intention of letting her meet Miyagi, I should just smile and let it pass. That’s what I thought.

But, now——

A wise person does not come near danger.

What a word to stomp on and wish I had listened. If Kikyō-chan had known why she wanted to meet Miyagi, she could have avoided this situation.

I swallow the breath I was about to let out.

Next to me, Miyagi is giving an inaccurate answer to my question about what he is doing at home.

We can’t keep having this conversation forever, not knowing what it’s all about.

Kikyō-chan is a lovely student and I don’t mean to be mean to her, but it’s not good for this situation to continue. My spirit can’t take it and I have a feeling that Miyagi’s eyebrows will reach their limits.

「Kikyō-chan, you’re very interested in Miyagi.」

I move my facial muscles and smile.

「I had heard about Miyagi-san from Sendai-sensei and had always wondered what kind of person she was.」

「…Heard?」

My stomach churns as Miyagi bites into a part of my life that doesn’t need to be bitten.

If this continues, the conversation is going to take another ill-advised turn.

This kind of Kikyō-chan is not like Kikyō-chan.

If anything, she is more of an air-reader, and there is no way she is unaware of this subtle atmosphere.

「I heard that you have a lot of manga and that you and Sendai-sensei often watch anime together.」

「Is that what you’re talking about?」

Miyagi’s voice directed at me pierced my eardrums.

「Yeah, well…」

「I’d love to share a room when I go to college too!」

「Well then, Kikyō-chan. Let’s continue to study hard to become a university student.」

I curve my lips gently and make a soft sound.

I don’t want her to talk to Miyagi any longer.

「I wish Sendai-sensei would come more often.」

「I’ll need to discuss it with you.」

「Okay—.」

I made an exaggerated voice and told Kikyō-chan,「We have an appointment, so we’d better get going,」and made a disappointed expression on my face.

「Okay.」

I waved to Kikyō-chan, who made a cheerful sound, and said,『See you later.』

I call out to Miyagi,『Shall we go?』and put my feet forward.

One, two, three steps later, Miyagi walks out of the grocery store to overtake me. She takes one step ahead of me and pushes forward down the sidewalk without a destination in mind.

I increase my walking speed.

I go next to Miyagi and walk side by side.

The wind, too warm for April, caresses my cheeks.

The city, still early in the evening, is calm, if a little dusty. The air is calming compared to the gray paint dripping in the air a few minutes ago. But Miyagi didn’t seem to think so, and her brow was furrowed with deep, deep, very deep wrinkles.

「What’s the deal? You haven’t made any promises to anyone.」

Miyagi says in a low voice without restraint.

「My promise to watch a movie from now on.」

「I didn’t promise that, and I’m leaving. If you want to watch a movie, go watch it with the girl who just came in.」

I had noticed, but Miyagi had never called Kikyō-chan’s name.

She knows her name, but she never calls her Hanamaki or Kikyō.

「I’m kidding about the movie, but why don’t we go see something more?」

「I’m leaving.」

Miyagi says while avoiding people coming from across to her.

I keep pace with her to avoid being followed.

The sky is blue and there are no clouds.

It’s a feel-good day, appropriate for a day out with Miyagi.

But the too warm wind is uncomfortable and I put my hand on my neck.

I stroke my neck to wipe away the dust that tries to cling to it, then grab Miyagi’s arm, which seems to be about to run away.

「Then, what about the bookstore?」

「I didn’t promise to do that, so I’m leaving.」

Miyagi said in a strong voice and took a big step forward.