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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Nekorune
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I glanced at the rearview mirror and frowned, looking at Tetsuya chatting with Miyuki.
The shameless bastard didn’t even pay me a visit when I was stuck in the school infirmary.
Ugh… this little leech…
I had to admit, though, he had mastered the art of interference.
After parking the car in their neighborhood,
“Thank you, Matsuda-kun.”
“Thank you, Matsuda.”
I heard them laugh after realizing they had spoken at the same time as they got out of the car.
“Later, Miura. See you later, Miyuki.”
Tetsuya’s jaw dropped.
His head creaked as it turned towards Miyuki.
He was clearly surprised by the way I addressed her.
Miyuki gave him an awkward smile and said,
“We’ve gotten pretty close, you know.”
“…Ah… um… Yeah, that’s true. I was just a little surprised, that’s all.”
I wonder what he thought of me, someone who had gotten so close to Miyuki in less than three months.
He used to be the only one who called her by her first name, but now there was another one. Feels bad, doesn’t it?
Ah, looking at him being put in his place made me feel a little better.
As I was about to close the passenger window, Miyuki called out to me.
“Matsuda-kun, are you sure you’ll be okay driving alone?”
“I just drove here alone, didn’t I?”
I subtly expressed my annoyance at being excluded from their little conversation in the back seat.
Miyuki’s expression softened with guilt as she noticed my reaction.
She glanced at Tetsuya and took out a melon-flavored milk carton from her bag, placing it on the passenger seat.
“It’s not a long drive, but… drink this on the way. If you feel dizzy at home, call me right away, okay?”
I silently opened the carton and gulped it down in one go.
The sweet liquid quickly disappeared.
I handed the empty carton to Miyuki, who was staring at me in shock.
“That was good. I’m leaving now.”
“Oh, okay…”
I left them behind and returned home.
After a careful shower, avoiding getting my bandaged wounds wet, I collapsed onto the bed and felt sleepiness wash over me.
This had been quite the hectic day.
Bzzzt!
My phone, which was plugged into the charger, vibrated.
It was probably a message from Miyuki.
I waited a moment before checking the message.
[Matsuda-kun, is there anything you’d like to eat?]
Something I wanted to eat?
Was she asking me out?
I wasn’t particularly hungry, but… I couldn’t say no to a date with Miyuki.
[Tempura.]
[Tempura? How about tempura with rice?]
[Tempura with rice sounds good.]
[Okay. I’ll bring you some tempura with rice tomorrow. Let’s have lunch together.]
Ah, so she was planning to pack me lunch.
That made me even happier than a date.
My face brightened instantly, and I enthusiastically typed a reply.
[Do you need me to bring anything?]
[No, it’s fine. I’m sorry about earlier today, Matsuda-kun.]
She must have felt bad about leaving me out of her back-seat conversation with Tetsuya.
[I was just joking. I’m going to sleep now.]
[Already? Are you feeling lightheaded or anything?]
[Nah, I’m fine. Just a little tired, that’s all.]
[Really…? Okay. Get some rest. Call me if anything happens.]
Miyuki repeated her earlier words, expressing her concern… She was so adorable…
[I told you I’m fine. I’ll pick you up tomorrow. Tell Miura to be ready.]
[Okay.]
Normally, she would have nagged me to review the things we studied during the break.
But she let it slide today, knowing how much I had gone through.
Having finished texting with Miyuki, I eagerly waited for tomorrow to arrive.
Miyuki’s homemade bento, and joining the Kendo Club, where Renka was…
Simultaneously pursuing two heroines from the same academy was a difficult task.
It would be tough, but I could do it.
I would focus mainly on Miyuki for now, though.
I had worked hard to raise her affection points, and they were flowing in as if the floodgates had been opened.
This was a current I had to ride.
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*slide*
I entered the classroom with Miyuki and Tetsuya and quietly took my seat.
Fear was still evident in my classmates’ gazes, but it wasn’t as intense as before the first period yesterday.
It seemed word had gotten around that I had quit the circle…
Did Miyuki spread the rumor? Or was it the student council?
“Matsuda.”
Tetsuya called out to me as I was lost in thought.
I looked at him and replied,
“What?”
“Did you see what Miyuki was holding today?”
“Yeah. It looked like a bento box.”
“It’s bigger than what Miyuki usually eats. I think it’s for us. It’ll be your first time eating Miyuki’s homemade bento, right?”
He sounded like he was subtly bragging… What a pathetic attempt to provoke me.
Tetsuya, this is why you can’t win.
You’re not manly enough.
“Well… it is my first time, yeah.”
Truth be told, I had already had one before, during summer break.
And behind your back, too.
And today, I was planning to have another one of those, alone with Miyuki, without you.
“It’s really delicious, so you can look forward to it.”
“Really? Should I tell Miyuki ‘Hey, I’m really looking forw bento’?”
“That’s a little… Please don’t do that.”
I chuckled at Tetsuya, who became flustered in an instant, and slumped over my desk as the teacher entered the classroom, carrying a large box.
The teacher placed the box on the podium and said,
“I’m sure everybody knows about yesterday’s incident, correct? The person involved is… either sleeping or pretending to be asleep.”
I couldn’t see them, but I could feel it.
All eyes were on me.
“Class representative.”
“Yes, teacher.”
“Give these to everyone. Matsuda-kun bought them.”
“Excuse me…? Matsuda-kun?”
I heard the quiet scraping of her chair as she got up.
I slightly lifted my head and saw Miyuki walking towards the podium.
She looked inside the box and gasped, just like Tetsuya yesterday.
I snickered inwardly and lowered my head once again.
“Um… students in the front row, please pass these to the back.”
Miyuki’s voice was filled with pride.
She seemed happy with the notebooks and ink ballpoint pen sets I bought.
They weren’t expensive, high-end brands, but I had carefully selected them from a good brand.
I heard the rustling of paper and quiet whispers as the students passed the gifts around. A moment later,
*thud*
I felt something slightly heavy on my head.
Did that fatass that sits in front of me really put the notebook on my head?
How dare he? He’s dead.
Just as I was thinking that, a faint scent of apricot tickled my nose.
It was the scent of Miyuki’s hair today.
I peeked to the side and saw Miyuki looking down at me with a satisfied smile.
She had come to deliver mine personally.
I put my index finger to my lips as if embarrassed, and her eyes curled up into a smile.
“Thank you, Matsuda-kun. I’ll put these to good use.”
Miyuki expressed her gratitude in a clear, fairly loud voice.
I sat up, pretending to be exasperated.
The other students hesitated for a moment before thanking me.
I hate this kind of cheesy stuff. All I ever cared about was Miyuki’s affection points.
I awkwardly accepted their thanks, forcing a smile, when Miyuki placed the notebook on my desk and skipped back to her seat.
That lewd sway of her hips… I loved it.
I was about to glare back at the chubby guy in front of me, who was staring at me with surprise, when I heard Tetsuya say,
“Did you get these because you feel bad about disrupting yesterday’s second period?”
I inwardly sighed.
Did you really have to ask that directly?
“Think whatever you want.”
“Thanks, I’ll use them well.”
I shrugged in response and focused on the teacher as the class officially began.
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Having lunch with the heroine on the rooftop was a classic romantic comedy cliché.
I thought I would be able to enjoy that cliché today, and I happily went up to the rooftop first with the intention to wait for Miyuki there.
But… the rooftop door was locked.
There was a sign at the entrance, saying it was temporarily locked due to yesterday’s unfortunate incident.
This was a problem. But there were plenty of solutions.
I looked around and tried the window on the side of the hallway.
It opened smoothly. I expected it to be unlocked.
Why? Because the protagonist climbing through the window was also a cliché.
I jumped up, grabbed the windowsill, and was about to pull myself up when,
“M-Matsuda-kun…! What are you doing…?! Get down from there…!”
I heard Miyuki’s panicked voice as she climbed the stairs, carrying the bentos.
I grinned at her and quickly climbed through the window.
I landed on the rooftop, barely managing to balance myself on the railing, and unlocked the door.
Click.
Miyuki, who was waiting on the other side, slapped my arm repeatedly.
“Are you out of your mind…? What if you fell? And if we get caught…”
“But I didn’t fall, did I? And no one will know we’re here if we keep quiet. So stop hitting me and come in. We’ll get caught if you keep doing that.”
Miyuki looked around and hesitated for a moment before finally letting out a heavy sigh and stepping out to the rooftop.
“You’re so carefree… I feel like I wasted my time packing these…”
I leaned against the wall and sat down with a thud.
“It’s thrilling, isn’t it?”
“Thrilling? It’s nerve-wracking, that’s what it is…”
We’ll be having sex here in the near future, so you’d better get used to coming here like this.
I scoffed and patted the space next to me.
Miyuki adjusted her skirt with her hands and sat down gracefully.
She started to unpack the double-layered bento box.
I suddenly wondered what Tetsuya was doing.
Miyuki must have come up with a good excuse to get rid of him, but I decided not to ask.
“I warmed it up in the microwave, but… it’s probably soggy now.”
Miyuki said as she opened the bento box.
I picked up the pink chopsticks, grabbed a piece of pumpkin tempura, and took a bite.
As Miyuki said, it wasn’t crispy anymore, but it was still delicious.
I swallowed a mouthful of rice and said,
“This is good. Make me some tomorrow too. I mean… Could you make some more tomorrow, please?
“No way. You’ll climb through the window again.”
“I’ll have to climb back in after we’re done eating, you know? I have to lock the door from this side…”
“Just leave it unlocked. I’ll get the key somehow and lock it later.”
“Ah, then we can just use the key from now on.”
“No. This is the last time we do something like this..”
Miyuki frowned at me, clearly displeased with the dangerous stunt I pulled.
But her annoyance was short-lived.
As I started to devour the food with gusto, she chuckled and started eating her own share of tempura with rice.
After finishing our lunch, we packed up the bento boxes and looked up at the sky without saying a word.
The clouds were beautiful. The weather was perfect, and a gentle breeze was blowing.
This must be why Miyuki didn’t want to leave right after we finished eating.
“It’s so refreshing…”
Miyuki closed her eyes, enjoying the breeze.
Her long eyelashes were so captivating.
I stared at her and slowly scooted closer, pressing myself against her.
Did she get startled when our arms touched?
Miyuki’s eyes flew open, and she turned her head sharply.
But she didn’t ask what I was doing or pull away.
She just stared at my profile.
I pretended to look at the sky and gauged her reaction.
“Let’s come back again,” I said casually.
“…I said no.”
“You like it here too, don’t you?”
“No, I don’t…”
She was obviously enjoying it.
“Then how about coming here sometimes, even if it’s not every day?”
“…If the rooftop door is unlocked… I guess it’s okay… once in a blue moon.”
Was she embarrassed that she had been so easily persuaded?
Miyuki then quickly changed the subject.
“Anyway, good job today… I’m not talking about climbing through the window, but about giving those gifts to our classmates as an apology. I liked what you chose. Notebooks and pens… things that last a long time and motivate you to study…”
I chuckled at the rambling Miyuki, and placed my hand on her head.
“But you must have spent a lot of mon…”
Her lips pressed together.
Seizing the opportunity, I gently ruffled her hair, looking to see how she’d react.
“…”
She remained quiet.
It seemed this level of skinship was okay.
Relieved, I praised Miyuki like a child.
“You’re such a good girl, aren’t you? Complimenting a grown-up like that.”
“Y-you’re just too tall, Matsuda-kun… You’re like a giant…”
She grumbled as she fixed her messed up bangs. I couldn’t help but smile.
I stood up, walked in front of Miyuki, and held out my hands.
“I know a cooler spot. Let’s rest there for a bit before going back down.”
“…Okay.”
Even though she could have stood up on her own, Miyuki didn’t. She slowly reached out and took my hands.
Her face, as she was pulled up from the ground by my strength, wasn’t exactly red, but it was slightly flushed.
“Let’s keep this up.”
I would increase the time we spent alone and the frequency of our skinship, and then start turning things up as she gets more and more used to it.
That way, I would expand my presence in Miyuki’s heart and gradually erase Tetsuya from the picture.
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