Chapter 46 – Traces of You and Me
“… Tsuda-kun…”
A sleepy voice tickles my ears.
Something warm is wriggling in your arms.
“Mmm…”
I let out a sleepy groan and raised my heavy eyelids. I asked as Miyuki tried to escape from my arms.
“What are you doing…?”
Did he like his slightly hoarse voice, completely sunk in sleep?
Miyuki’s body trembled.
“Five o’clock… I have to get up now…”
“Has it already happened…?”
“Yeah… I set the alarm but didn’t hear it…?”
“I didn’t hear you.”
I hugged Miyuki tightly so that she wouldn’t run away.
Miyuki, who had just woken up, was very soft.
It feels like touching mochi. Severely addictive.
“I-I have to get up…”
“But isn’t it cold?”
“Don’t talk back… Get up quickly… Ah, why is your strength so strong…”
Miyuki whimpers, but can’t move.
I let go of her and lifted her upper body.
She lowered her heavy head and blinked her eyes, clearing her mind a little as she heard the grass bugs coming from outside in the dark.
The sound of the rain had stopped, but only the sound had stopped, as if it was still drizzling.
Turning to the open window, I
Took.
Miyuki turned her head slightly as she leaned her head on my shoulder.
Her tousled hair tickled against her cheek.
Active expression of affection for Miyuki.
I burst into laughter and said.
“Let’s stay like this for 5 minutes and then go wash your face.”
“Yes…”
So we enjoyed the taste of dawn for a while and headed to the bathroom sink.
Afterwards, they looked into each other’s eyes like a couple who had just started living together and smiled, and after washing their face and brushing their teeth, they took Miyuki’s things and went outside and got into the car.
Is it because you drank water all night? It’s cold inside the car.
Miyuki, as if thinking the same thing as me, fastened her seat belt and rubbed her own shoulder.
Then, as if I was embarrassed by my gaze, I started to tidy up the jagged hairs on my head.
“Hey.”
When I called out to Miyuki in an awkward tone, her neck creaked.
“Why…?”
“Let’s eat and go.”
“Rice…? Suddenly…?”
“Isn’t it time for that?”
“Is there a restaurant open at this time…?”
“I’ll be there in a little while.”
“Then…”
Miyuki nodded her head, blurring the end of her words.
She grinned at her as she put her hands between her own thighs, and I drove her car to her 24-hour ramen shop.
**
A quiet shop with only a few customers commuting early.
Sitting at the table in the corner, Miyuki looked around and the corner of her mouth went up in satisfaction.
“The atmosphere is nice… I didn’t know there was a place like this nearby. By the way…”
Miyuki pointed to the post-it notes on the walls of the store.
“The old-fashioned interior because of the post-it…”
“Aren’t you distracted?”
“No… It looks colorful… I’m not saying it’s bad, I was just trying to say it’s good because I look young… Don’t pass it on to yourself…”
She was obviously trying to say it was a distraction out of context, but the pretense…
I giggled as I looked at Miyuki, who noticed the shopkeeper’s notice and answered in a voice that was not even like a mosquito’s.
As if embarrassed by my behavior, she waved her hand and continued her words.
“I will wash your clothes. And…”
Seeing her hesitating again, she seems to be worried about what to do with the underwear I bought her.
I decided to help her with her distraught.
“You can take her underwear.”
“…Do I really have to say it openly like that…?”
“Isn’t it better than measuring?”
“Even so… I got it anyway… Thanks.”
“But was it comfortable?”
“What…?”
“Underwear. It was written on the wrapping paper that it was very comfortable.”
“Oh really…! Matsuda-kun…!”
A groan escaped from Miyuki’s mouth.
It’s embarrassing to play a sly joke.
Even so, there was no hint of displeasure at all.
Rather, he soon relaxed his expression and even smiled as if he couldn’t stop it.
I overcame the situation by smiling face to face, ordered two bowls of miso ramen from the owner, and rested my elbows on the table.
Miyuki was examining the post-it notes posted all over the store.
With very bright eyes.
“Why? What do you want to write too?”
“It’s just… You’re a little interested…? Do I have to bring my own post-it notes?”
“No. I’m behind you.”
I pointed over Miyuki’s shoulder, and she turned around and took a post-it note and pen from her.
Then, with a graceful hand movement, he began to slowly draw something.
A picture that is gradually taking shape.
Miyuki, who drew both male and female characters in less than three minutes, picked up a thumbtack from inside her shop and stuck a post-it note in the far corner of our seats.
It is a cute picture of two characters sitting together and admiring something.
It’s similar to the graffiti I saw at school the other day, but…
Unlike that time, this time the uppercase alphabet was embedded above the character’s head.
H.M, and M.K.
Those were the initials of Miyuki Hanazawa and Ken Matsuda.
It’s nice to see that Miyuki’s current feelings are revealed.
The characters are cute too… I like them.
I asked, looking at the picture in silence.
“Why is there nothing on the table?”
“Food is difficult to draw… But isn’t it better because it looks… Abstract?”
“Is it?”
Seeing me tilt her head, Miyuki smiled and covered her post-it note with one hand.
It means don’t look any further.
He only chooses cute things, but I want to tell him to go to sleep today.
Anyway, it’s okay to leave our traces like this. Pleased.
In the past, I couldn’t think of anything when I saw something like that, but I think I’ll think of Miyuki when I look at post-it notes in the future.
I stared at Miyuki, thinking about this and that, and licked her lips when the ramen was served just as her cheeks turned red.
“Let’s eat.”
“Yes.”
Must come again next time
It would be just right for me to come the day after Miyuki and I had an affair.
**
“Such a dog…”
Seeing the state of the front door, I frowned.
There are not only fallen leaves, but also snack bags, cigarette butts, chewing gum…Even shoes and broken bottles.
During the night, all sorts of things came rushing in and devastated the front door.
No matter how much it rains, it’s not even a flood. How can this happen?
I just need to fill my time with other volunteer activities.
I thought,
“Are you Matsuda?”
Hearing Lenka’s voice from behind, he immediately relaxed his expression.
I greeted Lenka and asked when she accepted her greeting.
“Are you here early? What about Nanase-senpai?”
“I overslept, so let’s go first. He said he went to bed at dawn watching the drama yesterday. Are you going to clean all of this by yourself?”
“No. I have to clean it up with the guards. Why? Can you help me?”
“No.”
“It’s sad that you turned it down so abruptly. Even if it’s just empty words, I’ll tell you that I’ll help you.”
Lenka ate at the light giggling accompanied by a joke.
“It’s raining, why don’t you use an umbrella?”
The drizzling rain that fell at dawn is now a foggy rain.
This was enough to be right, so I smiled as if it was okay.
“Yes.”
“Yes, good job.”
Coolly encouraging me, she headed for the school gate without looking back.
It’s still a long way off, but I’m still getting some recognition.
Same with Miyuki today… Same with Lenka…
The response is very good.
I looked at Lenka’s back as she walked away with her long legs stretched out, and when her guards came with a broom, I had a nonchalant conversation with them as I cleaned up.
After that, I entered the classroom in time for class, gave a rough answer to my classmates who were greeting me awkwardly, and then lay down on my desk.
“Matsuda, class starts soon.”
I mean, on days when I’m in a good mood, Tetsuya interrupts and annoys me.
As I was lying on my stomach, I stretched out my hand and raised my middle finger toward him, enjoying the little break I had left.
**
“Kouhai Matsuda, thank you so much for yesterday.”
Chinami’s polite greeting.
Seeing her playfulness, I picked up her shinai as soon as she finished her rendition.
“Then, teach me the top three.”
“That doesn’t work. I will teach junior Matsuda step by step from the middle age.”
“All right.”
“Yes…?”
Chinami’s eyes widened.
Up until yesterday, I sang the top three, top three songs, but I was surprised to give up quickly.
After a moment, Chinami’s eyes changed suspiciously.
“You certainly don’t intend to study on your own, do you?”
“Can’t we?”
“Kouhai Matsuda…! You mustn’t be impatient. All learning has stages.”
You are determined when it comes to disciple education.
I just need to prove that I have talent in the upper class.
When are you going to do sparring? I want to challenge myself with curiosity.
I think it would be a good match if I had a fight with Tetsuya, but I hope the coach will quickly acknowledge me and accept me as an official member.
Should I quit my manager job then?
I’m getting close to Chinami rapidly, but I can’t pour cold water on her, so even if I become an official member, I have to continue as a manager.
I still have a lot of time to be alone with Chinami, but it would be foolish to miss this opportunity with my own hands.
Chinami crossed her arms and met her eyes, I shrugged.
“I heard from the manager that you overslept while watching the drama?”
“Right.”
“What kind of drama was it? Can you tell me too?”
“Um…! Promise me you won’t learn the top tax until the foundation is laid, and I’ll let you know. You have to cross your fingers.”
You want to put your finger on it?
This is what I said to Miyuki yesterday… It’s very unfortunate.
“Are you so upset that I’m trying to learn the top tax?”
“I’m not upset, I’m worried. Now, I promise you.”
Chinami sticks out her own little little finger in front of me.
The sleeves of her kendo uniform slide down, revealing her thin, immaculate cuffs.
Barely resisting the temptation to engrave a kiss mark there, I moved the bamboo sword to my waist and changed the subject.
“I will start by cleaning the hogu. I turned on the dehumidifier yesterday, but it rained all night and the storage room must have been damp.”
“Kouhai Matsuda…! The idea is admirable, but first, the promise… Ah! Where are you going!? I’m not done talking yet! Now wait…! Go a little slower…! Too fast…!”
As I strode toward the hukou storage room, Chinami followed me.
It feels like a frightened puppy running after seeing the owner who is about to leave him and return home…
Cute.
