Chapter 60 – Overlapping Memories #2
“Matsuda-kun.”
Inside a movie theater with few people.
While eating popcorn with a box of popcorn sandwiched between Miyuki’s legs on top of my thighs, I turned my head at Miyuki’s call.
“Why.”
“My massage.”
“No.”
“Today, do whatever you want to do.”
“It is past twelve.”
Miyuki, who had a pouty expression at her firm words, tightened her calves and tightened the popcorn box until the opening was covered.
In the meantime, I reached into his hand and pulled out a piece of popcorn, put it in my mouth and chewed it.
Then he smiled at Miyuki.
“…..”
Was I really mean?
Miyuki’s expression crumpled.
She mumbled her mouth as if she wanted to curse at me, then gave up on her massage and tried to put her leg down.
But when I began to gently loosen his calf with one hand, he laughed.
“Really, I only look at you so far.”
“Yes. And my mom is asking me to eat next weekend… Is it okay?”
“It’s okay. Shall we go now?”
“Haven’t all the credits rolled yet? Aren’t you tired of giving me a massage?”
“You can do it anytime.”
“I want to get it now…”
“That’s it.”
Everyone who was left had escaped, leaving only the two of us in the theater.
The projectionist will still be there, but what kind of expression is he making?
Maybe it’s the look of displeasure.
By the time the credits rolled, the two of us came out of the theater.
The rain that had stopped is falling again.
At times like this, I have to ask her to sleep over at my house again…
“When I went in today, what didn’t the lady say?”
“What?”
“Like sleeping out too often these days… Or something like that.”
“Ah… I didn’t say anything…?”
So far, Miyuki’s behavior has been so good that she didn’t say anything.
I said, shaking her head.
“Go to sleep tonight.”
“I already told you that I was going to the movies with Matsuda-kun…”
“You can tell me you sleep over at my house.”
“No… Stupid… I’ll go early tomorrow instead…”
“You sleep tomorrow? Then we can go to the academy together.”
“How the hell do you hear me say that…?”
“That’s why I want to be with you.”
As she openly revealed her heart, Miyuki’s face was filled with joy and pensiveness.
It looks like he is seriously thinking about what to do.
Tired of it, I tapped Miyuki’s thigh.
“It was just something I said, so don’t worry too much about it.”
“Is that what you just said…?”
“Well. Take the one behind me.”
“Behind?”
Miyuki turned her head to the seat behind her.
She asked, noticing a few writing utensils lying haphazardly.
“It’s a pen and a sharpie, right?”
“Uh. It is a gift.”
“Suddenly…?”
While erasing all memories of Tetsuya, I will plaster the area around Miyuki with my traces.
For now, I start with trivial things like the school supplies I bought with him.
If I go to Miyuki’s house this weekend, I’ll have to change the maneki neko hanging on the door.
“Study hard.”
“No… Well… I’d appreciate it if you gave it to me… But isn’t the gift too sudden…?”
“The last time I saw it, the writing instruments were old. Write that down in the future.”
“When did you see that again…? Thanks I’ll write well, Matsuda-kun.”
“And eat lots of salmon when you get home.”
“Salmon? Why?”
I didn’t answer, so I took advantage of the signal and gently massaged the inside of Miyuki’s thigh.
Miyuki noticed that I was talking about foods good for sore muscles, and her face flushed red.
“Let’s go and buy your favorite strawberry cake.”
“…. Yes…”
“Put it in the fridge and eat it tomorrow. Don’t eat today.”
“Ah, okay… I’ll take care of it…”
Miyuki’s eyebrows crumpled a little as she blurted out the end of her words.
When I touched it, the pain came.
By the time I go to school, I’ll be mostly fine… But I was a little disappointed.
Why? Because I wanted to see Miyuki limping slightly in front of Tetsuya.
“Matsuda-kun… Green light… Let’s go…”
“There is no car behind you.”
“Still, you have to obey the traffic laws…! Hurry up and leave…”
“I get it. The nagging is…”
I tapped her on the thigh one last time and got behind the wheel while watching Miyuki’s body move.
You see her body is getting more candid.
No, this is a line that can only come out of hypnosis or teaching aid.
**
“Hello, Tetsuya-kun.”
“Hello, Miyuki. It’s been a while since I’ve seen you. Did you rest well yesterday?”
“Yeah… I’m sorry I couldn’t go for a walk yesterday.”
“No… It’s my fault for contacting you without looking at your condition. It’s fine now?”
“It’s much better.”
Tetsuya, who was sitting in the back seat talking to Miyuki, thrust his head into the space between the driver’s seat and the passenger’s seat.
“Matsuda, did you rest well on the weekend?”
“I rested well.”
Really, I had a good rest.
Together with Miyuki.
I scolded Tetsuya for looking sideways at her as she quickly managed her facial expressions.
“Look in the room mirror and clear your head.”
Then Miyuki lightly slapped my wrist.
“What’s the head… Do I really have to say that?”
“Isn’t the head and head the same thing?”
“It’s a vulgar expression… Hurry up again, speak softly.”
“Miura, clear your head.”
“Matsuda-kun, do you know how childish you are right now? Are you an elementary school student? You are past puberty.”
I know it’s childish.
But it’s nice to have a fight with you, so what should I do?
Instead of answering with her snort, I left for the academy while watching Tetsuya stop Miyuki.
As I pulled into the parking lot and headed for her school gate, I saw Miyuki adjusting her uniform shirt.
It was an act to cover up the kiss mark he had made near her collarbone during their first meeting.
Even though it’s not visible at all, it’s probably a bit of a concern.
Drooling.
I opened the classroom door and was greeted by the classmates including Bread Girl.
It’s kind of funny to see kids saying good morning while looking down.
After the cultural festival ended, even Monday sickness came together and it seems that they became lethargic.
I was sitting in my seat and having a conversation with Tong-tung in the front seat, but when Miyuki, who was talking about the cultural festival after-party with the vice-captain, came up to me and held out his hand, I put on a puzzled expression.
“What.”
“Give me the few chocolates you ate in the car earlier.”
“Why.”
“I want to share it with my friends.”
“Are you in the car? I’ll give you the key, so you can bring it.”
“Is it difficult for me to walk?”
I was momentarily dumbfounded by her confident demeanor and lowered my voice.
“I saw you walking just fine, what are you talking about? And don’t you think it’s the weekend? The time for you to listen to everyone has already passed.”
“I’m having a hard time.”
“Therefore?”
“Tiring.”
She raised one corner of her mouth, with her eyes as if she didn’t listen to her request.
It seems like you’re trying to teach me…
Watch it this time
I stood up from my seat with a face full of annoyance and spoke softly.
“This is the last one.”
“Yes.”
Seeing as he is fussing about despite warnings, he really likes me reacting like a tsundere like this.
If you pile up karma like this, it must be hard on the weekend…
I’ll scold you with cocks in your room, so know that.
I don’t know if I can be scolded or not.
I was about to leave the classroom, but I hesitated when I heard Tetsuya’s question to Miyuki.
“Uh… Miyuki, what is the sharpie in her hand? Is it new?”
“Ah… This? You got a present.”
“Gift?”
“Yes. The knob I used before didn’t work well… So I changed it to the one I got as a gift.”
“Let me tell you… I wish I could have gone shopping for a new one with you.”
“Sorry. By the way, Tetsuya-kun, do you have any leftover jelly from the car?”
“Oh, yes. I’ll give.”
Hearing Tetsuya’s voice filled with sadness, I left the classroom.
I think I was destined to fall here, seeing that he couldn’t even ask who he got the gift from, fearing that he might be wandering around.
**
“Kouhai Matsuda, did you have a good weekend?”
Chinami gave a lively greeting and smiled.
You’re full of energy even though it’s Monday.
Looks good.
“Good job. What about Master?”
“I had a good time too. What was the result of the Cultural Festival Competition? When I went with Lenka in the evening, it was really scary… I guess it’s first place, right?”
Of course.
Did you see that the cultural festival planned by the heroine failed to win first prize?
This is common sense of a love comedy.
“Yes.”
“Wow…! Congratulations!”
“How was the skewer shop’s income?”
“There was a surplus. It was shared among all participants. Oh, I overheard it today while cleaning around the director’s office… I think sooner or later the director will recognize Junior Matsuda as an official member.”
“Okay?”
“Okay? Rani? I think it was a great job… But don’t you think your juniors think so?”
She imitates my sullen tone of voice and puts her hand on her waist.
She’s wearing her face as if she’s scolding me right now, but it’s cute because her Maltese is fussing around.
“It can be done, and it can’t be done.”
“Kouhai Matsuda, the director acknowledged the troublemaker junior. It is also an opportunity to learn more about kendo than now. Aren’t you happy?”
“If I become a full-time member, will I stop working as a manager?”
Chinami’s head shook slowly.
“It will be so.”
“Then I won’t.”
“Yes?”
“I like being a manager and learning the upper ranks from my master.”
“Yes…? Do you like being a manager?”
Chinami’s large eyes blinked a couple of times.
I smiled condescendingly at her and I was her words.
“It would be accurate to say that I like being with Master.”
“Okay…? I’m happy, but I wish my juniors’ skills would improve significantly…”
“Does Master hate me? Would you like me to disappear from your surroundings?”
“Yes…? How could you say that without blinking an eye…! Is there a master in the world who hates his pupil…!?”
“That’s all right. Learning from Master is much faster than learning in the club room. I teach one-on-one, but I can’t help it. When the manager calls, he will say that he will continue as manager.”
“…Isn’t the job of manager difficult?”
“Yes. It’s fun.”
“Kouhai Matsuda is a strange person.”
Wouldn’t that be the same for you who claim to be doing chores?
“I was trained by Master because he treated me well.”
“Joe, training…?”
“If the words are a little bit, can we say that they are inspired? Anyway, Master is saying it’s okay too?”
“Hey, it would be nice if junior Matsuda-nim would be with me…”
“It’s decided. Shall we give you a massage to commemorate that you have become true priests? When I saw Miura’s introduction just now, it seemed that her shoulders were stiff…”
As she strode toward her Chinami and folded and opened her hands, she answered as she rolled her eyes.
“I’m fine now, so I’ll take my heart. Now, let’s go to work.”
“What shall we do today?”
“First of all, we check the status of the hukou. Then…”
Chinami babblingly explains what she has to do today.
There was a hint of joy in her voice.
He seems to be a bit thrilled with me for continuing his managerial job, but I’ll have to make him like it more later.
