Thirty minutes have passed since Miyuki and I began walking in complete silence.
As we walked down the deserted road, all I could hear was the sound of our trudging footsteps.
I've wanted to talk to her for a while, but Miyuki's expression was too serious for me to strike up a conversation.
I don't think she cares that much about me touching her chest…
Does she feel nervous? Is she thinking about how I rescued her?
"Haaah…"
I let out a long exhalation and tried to scratch my bandaged head.
However, Miyuki stopped me by grabbing my wrist.
"Don't touch it… Why are you sighing?"
Finally, the conversation started.
I should've done this from the start.
"Why is the atmosphere so awkward… I'm really sorry for touching your chest."
When I openly mentioned the embarrassing incident that happened earlier, Miyuki's face turned beet red.
She shook her head as she hugged the book that her bookstore owner had given her for free as an apology.
"Th-That's not it…"
"Then, what is it?"
"… Just… Just… A little embarrassed…"
"So, I'm right. I think this is the first time I've seen you lie?"
"I-I'm telling you it's not…?"
"What do you mean it's not… It's obvious from just looking at you…"
She grumbled and scratched the back of her neck. Then, Miyuki, whose lips were pursed, suddenly kicked one leg out to the side before quickly returning it to its original position.
I asked, slightly opening his mouth at her inexplicable behavior:
"What are you doing?"
"I was trying to hang a leg… because I thought that Matsuda-kun's body was not in good shape."
"I'm fine other than my head, though?"
"Hmmm…is your head okay, though?"
Now, you've also begun speaking in the same manner as me.
It may have been an inadvertent statement, but I'm proud.
I answered with a grin:
"It doesn't hurt at all. And since I'm originally an idiot, so what if I get hit on the head a little bit?"
"Don't say that… Why are you deprecating yourself like that?"
"It is a joke. Why are you always serious when I'm messing around?"
"I-I didn't think you'd even be joking in a situation like this…"
"Are you going to report me?"
"Huh…?"
Miyuki's large eyes blinked a couple of times.
She figured out that I was talking about me touching her breast then scolded:
"Matsuda-kun, I really don't care. You should stop caring as well, Matsuda-kun."
Then can I grope your breasts one more time?
Is what I'd like to say, but I shouldn't be making those jokes in this situation
"Alright, but aren't you hot?"
"I'm not…? Are you hot, Matsuda-kun?"
"I'm not either. I was just asking."
"Ah…Okay."
After Miyuki's answer, we went back to being silent.
In silence, we walked somewhat slowly, eventually reaching Miyuki's neighborhood.
I wanted to go to the playground and have a conversation with Miyuki, but I'll be patient because today was a very sensitive day.
I'll just send Miyuki away for today.
So that she can quietly chew on what happened to her today.
"This is my house."
Miyuki stopped in front of a small two-story detached house.
I looked up and admired the house:
"The house is cute. I like the orange roof."
"Isn't it much smaller than Matsuda-kun's house?"
"I didn't think it was that small? How many people did you say you have in your family?"
"Four people including me. I live with my mom, dad, and sister."
So, I can have a threesome with the mom and Miyuki, a threesome with Miyuki and her sister, and even a foursome. Nice.
"I think it'd be fun to live in a nice house like this with a family."
"Ah…"
Miyuki was at a loss.
I could see that she was carefully thinking of what to respond with, considering my home situation.
Laughing, I lightly tapped her on the back.
"What are you being so fidgety for? By the way, are you secretly selfish?"
"What…?"
"You brought me here while treating me like a guard dog. Are you going to stop an injured guard dog like me from resting?"
"A Gu-Guard dog…! That's absolutely not the case…!"
"It's a joke. You took it seriously again. I'm going now. Rest up."
As I waved my hand and turned around, Miyuki called me from behind.
"Ma-Matsuda-kun…!"
"Yes?"
"Thank you… For saving me… Today."
"You're always so grateful for all the mundane and normal things. Have a good one."
"Get home safely…!"
I smiled lightly at Miyuki and left the neighborhood deep in thought.
Miyuki's attitude was too timid for someone who was just grateful.
It's not because I touched her chest.
Then, is it because she's sorry for causing me trouble?
Of course, since Miyuki's a really king girl, she probably did think like that, but there's one thing that I now know for certain:
She recognized me as a man
Maybe not right now, but she definitely saw me as a man the moment I rescued her and right after that.
Otherwise, I can't explain her attitude.
This is a good situation.
But, even with all the hard work I've been doing, I can't let my guard down once or my hard-earned favorability will decrease.
To prevent that from happening, let's keep taking care of Miyuki.
"I'm back."
At the weak greeting, Miyuki's mother came out of the kitchen and asked:
"You're home early? Did you buy the books?"
"Yes, I bought them."
"Are you perhaps exhausted from the heat? You seem to be in a strange state today…?"
"What do you mean by 'strange'… I'm the same. I'm gonna head upstairs."
"Turn on the AC and call Tetsuya."
"Did Tetsuya-kun call?"
"It's not like that, but I ran into him on my way to the market today. There was worry all over his face.
Worry? Are his studies going badly?
After resting for a bit, I should go meet him.
Thinking so, Miyuki moved to her own nest on the second floor.
"Haah…"
Lying down on her bed, she reflected on what had happened earlier in the bookstore.
It was the first time I had ever seen Matsuda, who was always so laid-back, so desperate.
It was impossible to forget the sincere concern on his face for her.
She also vividly remembered how he was more concerned for her own well-being than his own when all the books had fallen on him.
Honestly… She thought he was a little cool.
I-I admit that he's handsome…
His short hair perfectly matched his angular, distinct features.
It's nice to see him slowly changing in a positive direction these days…
With her eyes closed, Miyuki brushed her hair while thinking about Matsuda who was completely different from usual then shook her head.
She was sure that she was just getting caught up in the moment. Nothing more, nothing less.
In that situation, any man would look like a knight on a white horse.
Still, she was truly grateful, so she felt like should give him something.
After scouring through her app, she bought a gift card code for a convenience store in Matsuda's neighborhood.
Then, she sent Matsuda a message telling him to eat well and sent the gift card code to him along with a cute emoticon.
Next monday.
I had spent the weekend tediously studying the things Miyuki taught me diligently.
Now, I opened the front door when Miyuki and Tetsuya arrived.
"You guys came?"
Miyuki's face is… Expressionless, but it seems to be subtly mixed with excitement.
"Yes. Did you review the material?"
"I did, but… There were a lot of things I didn't understand."
"You could've just asked me."
"I figured I should try as much as I can by myself."
"It's a good mindset, but it's better to ask for help than to stubbornly fail on your own. From now on, just ask me. Anyway, can we come in? It's really hot out today…"
Well, it rained yesterday, so the humidity today is no joke.
I stepped aside to make it easier for the two of them to enter.
Miyuki casually crossed the stone path and headed for the flower bed, and she smiled brightly as she saw the plants whose leaves were gradually coming to life.
I left her behind and went to the living room with Tetsuya, bringing out pre-cut melons.
"Eat."
Then, Tetsuya thanked me and began stuffing his mouth with the melons.
Well, at least, he's really fucking good at eating.
I sat down across from him and asked:
"Aren't you very hot?"
"Yes. It was no joke today. But, now, it's alright because I'm here…"
"Then, why don't you cut your hair?"
Miyuki, who had just arrived in the living room, agreed with my words.
"Yes, Tetsuya-kun, why don't you cut your hair short like Matsuda-kun? It's summer, so isn't it frustrating to have long hair?"
Miyuki likes the moppy haired Tetsuya.
But, the fact that she wants him to cut it all off…
That's quite significant, isn't it?
Tetsuya, who had been eating the melon, looked at Miyuki with puzzled eyes.
"Now? You haven't said anything until now."
"No… I'm worried because it's especially hot this summer."
"Is that so…? Well, maybe I should get my hair cut? Matsuda, which barber do you go to?"
You're a man, yet you always obediently listen to Miyuki like a dog… Tsk Tsk…
I snorted inwardly and answered:
"There's one just outside my neighborhood. Why don't we go together after studying?"
"Then, please do me this favor."
Tetsuya's face was better suited for longer hair than short.
So, if one of this bastard's good points disappeared, it'd be good for me.
I replied that I understood, and thanked Miyuki.
"Yo, I used the gift card code well. Thanks to you, I bought many bentos and ate them until my stomach exploded."
Tetsuya stopped eating the melons.
He turned to Miyuki and asked:
"Gift card code?"
"Ah… Didn't I tell you that Matsuda-kun saved me at the bookstore?"
"Yes."
"At that time, I sent a gift to express my gratitude. Matsuda-kun, you didn't just buy greasy food, did you? There are salad bentos too nowadays."
It was a normal conversation, but somehow it felt as if Tetsuya was being excluded.
No, let's not overinterpret things.
The current Miyuki was absolutely not such a person.
Let's just be thankful that the subject of the conversation was me.
And listening to her talk, it seems that she didn't mention that I had touched her breasts unintentionally.
Well, it's not the kind of thing you go around telling people.
It's good that there were now secrets between the two people who usually told each other everything.
"I only bought karaage bentos."
"You have to eat greens to take care of your health."
"I'm eating fruits instead."
"…Alright, do as you please. Today's lesson is math, right? I'm giving you a test."
At those words, Tetsuya and I looked at each other with despair in our eyes.
Seeing us like this, Miyuki giggled and continued.
"There will be 10 questions like last time. Tetsuya-kun, you have to answer at least seven questions this time. Matsuda-kun… You'll be let off easy, so just five questions."
"Wait, Miura only needs to get two more correct than last time, so why do I have to hit four more? This is blatant discrimination."
"Aren't you ashamed of yourself for only getting one right?"
"I'm actually super proud that I even got one answer right though?"
"Then, let's try to raise your self-esteem even more by getting five right this time."
Miyuki took out two sheets of A4 paper folded in half and a thick notebook she had prepared in advance from her bag and placed them in front of Tetsuya and me.
"The problems have been set according to your level. The time limit is 40 minutes. That's more than enough time, right? So, don't give up if you're stuck, and keep trying different methods."
"Do we start now?"
"No, let's finish eating the melons first."
Miyuki smiled and sat down.
She stabbed a melon with her fork and took a bite, slowly savoring the flavor.
It looks like she's become even friendlier with me.