Chapter 121

The next morning.

Waking up early as usual and heading to Miyuki's house, I unbuckled my seatbelt as soon as I parked the car.

It was because Midori was standing right beside Miyuki.

I quickly got out of the car and bowed in greeting.

"Hello, ma'am."

"Hello, Matsuda-kun. It's been a while, hasn't it?"

Midori wore a solid-colored, semi-fitted dress with a cardigan draped over it.

The fit didn't hug every curve, but it showed enough.

It accentuated her already large breasts, narrow waist, and wide hips. Suppressing the urge to discipline her for the inappropriate attire, I replied.

"Yes, it has. Have you been doing well?"

"We've been doing great. By the way, you haven't visited lately... I'm a little disappointed."

"I'm sorry."

"I'm just joking. Let's have a meal together when you have some time. And here, take this."

Midori held out two long, wrapped bundles.

Accepting them reflexively, I tilted my head.

"What's this?"

"My husband brought home a lot of cleaned eel yesterday, so I made some seasoned grilled eel. Have it for lunch with Miyuki today. The pink one is yours, and the blue one is for Tetsuya-kun."

Why would you make something like this?

Don't bother sleeping tonight; just come out and wait for me around one or two in the morning.

I'll leave the back seats folded down for you.

"Grilled eel? I've actually been craving that lately... Thank you, I'll enjoy it."

"Don't mention it. Thank you for continuing to drive Miyuki, even though it must be a hassle."

"Not at all. It's no trouble."

"I'm even more grateful to hear you say that. Please take good care of our Miyuki."

At the somewhat suggestive phrasing, Miyuki grimaced and nudged Midori's waist with her elbow.

"Mom...!"

"What are you doing?"

"Nothing...! It's just because you're saying weird things..."

"How is that a weird thing to say? Hurry up and go to school."

"Okay..."

Drooping her shoulders at her mother's scolding, Miyuki trotted over to the car.

After I said goodbye to Midori and got in, Miyuki opened the passenger door, climbed in, and spoke as soon as she shut it.

"I didn't ask her to make that."

She meant the grilled eel lunchbox.

Since the food Midori had made was practically synonymous with stamina-boosting, Miyuki seemed worried I'd get weird ideas.

Carefully placing the bundles in the back seat, I shrugged.

"Did I say anything?"

"...So annoying."

"Are you cursing at me?"

"I wasn't cursing...!"

The way she whined, pitching her voice up at the end, was cute.

Chuckling, I pulled away very slowly and remarked in passing.

"It seems your mom vaguely suspects something between us, so just tell her you're sleeping at my house from now on."

"What are you talking about... Mom doesn't know yet, okay?"

"That's just what you think. Did you ask her directly?"

"I don't know... Just drive..."

A coy Miyuki right from the morning... not bad.

But did Kanna already leave?

She'd probably panic if she saw me after that last incident, but considering she used to always mess with me, I did want to see the drastic change in her attitude.

Maybe I should stop by Miyuki's house this weekend for a meal.

"Hey, Bread Girl."

"Cough! Y-yes...?"

"What kind of bread is it today?"

"T-this... It's a tomato pasta croquette..."

"Doesn't eating fried food this early in the morning make you feel sick?"

"It's f-fine... Cough! It's fine, though..."

While I was talking to the ever-timid Bread Girl, Miyuki smacked me on the back rather forcefully.

"Ow! What was that for?"

When I exaggerated my pain and glared at her, Miyuki scolded me with a stern look.

"Why are you bothering her while she's eating? You're making it hard for Masako."

"I'm just talking to her?"

"Matsuda-kun, your face is so intimidating that just talking to her is a bother."

"You're being unreasonable again."

"I'm not being unreasonable, it's a fact. Stop bothering her and review what we learned yesterday before class starts."

"What review... It's not even exam season."

"You need to consistently review and drill things into your head if you want to do well on the finals. You've been getting cocky lately just because you did well on the midterms, but if you keep that up, you'll end up dead last again."

"Don't jinx it..."

Perhaps finding my grumbling yet obedient behavior amusing, Bread Girl and the Vice Representative sitting in the front row covered their mouths and giggled.

You'll be whimpering when I'm pounding into you later, so laugh it up while you can.

"Miyuki, I'm a bit confused about the solution you taught me over the video call yesterday... could you explain it to me again?"

Did he dislike the harmonious atmosphere on our side?

Holding a math book in one hand, Tetsuya dragged his chair over and sat right behind Miyuki.

At that, Miyuki offered a kind smile and nodded.

"Of course. What are you wondering about?"

"This."

"Ah... that part? You did struggle with it a lot yesterday. Well, first..."

Miyuki started meticulously tutoring him.

It felt like Tetsuya's attitude toward Miyuki had grown weirdly proactive... but seeing a cockroach like him act that way was just ridiculous.

"Do you understand?"

When Miyuki finished her detailed explanation and asked the question, Tetsuya scratched his head.

You're going to drop dandruff, you fucker.

"I think I roughly get it."

"Then try solving it on your own from here, and if you really don't get it, ask me again."

"Okay."

"Do you have any other questions?"

"Hmm... that's all for now. Thanks."

Standing up, Tetsuya offered a bright smile, then glanced at me before returning to his seat.

It was obvious he was trying hard to give Miyuki a refreshing smile just now...

Why is he doing something that doesn't even suit him?

Did they happen to talk about their ideal types while studying over the video call yesterday?

Is he acting like that because Miyuki said she likes guys with nice smiles?

Whatever it is, him constantly watching me is only tolerable once or twice. Since he keeps doing it, it's as annoying as a buzzing fly.

I feel like smashing him in the mouth would make me feel a lot better. I wonder if I'll get an opportunity.

"Ah... so that's why you strike downward in this situation."

"Yeah. It's not easy to recover your stance, right?"

"Yes. Thank you for the great lesson again today."

"Not at all. Since your attitude is so good, it's satisfying to teach you. Let's keep working hard."

"Of course, President."

Renka and Tetsuya exchanged warm words of encouragement.

Watching the two of them while carrying water bottles, I gave a slight bow when Renka turned her gaze toward me.

"Hello, President."

She shuddered, as if recalling what had happened yesterday.

And then there was Tetsuya, who looked back and forth between Renka and me with a bewildered expression before his face turned somewhat serious, likely conjuring up some weird delusion...

It was a very satisfying scene.

"...Hello."

Smirking at Renka, who reluctantly returned my greeting, I finished my work and opened the door to the Storage Room where Chinami was.

Then, "Mwah? Yew hewe?"

Chinami, who was chewing vigorously, welcomed me.

Seeing her puffed-up cheeks, it looked like she had stuffed something huge in her mouth...

Furrowing my brows, I approached her and asked.

"What were you eating all by yourself?"

"Huk."

"What did you say?"

"Huk."

"Rice cake?"

A very strong peach scent wafted from Chinami as she nodded vigorously.

She just ate a piece of rice cake, so why are her cheeks so puffy?

Is it a big one?

"Ih's harh."

"It's hard?"

"Yeth..."

It sure looks like it.

I pulled two tissues from the box in the Storage Room, placed them on my palm, and layered them.

Then, I held my hand up to Chinami's mouth.

"Spit it out."

She shook her head side to side; it seemed she thought it was a waste.

"If you don't spit it out, your jaw is going to turn square, you know?"

"What...?"

Shocked by my teasing remark, Chinami snatched the tissues from my hand and turned around.

Then, struggling with all her might, she began to spit out the rice cake that was completely filling her mouth.

"Blegh..."

Making a bizarre sound, Chinami wrapped the rice cake in the tissues and tossed it neatly into the trash can.

"Phew...! That was a tough battle... though it was one I brought upon myself."

"What kind of rice cake were you eating that you couldn't even chew it properly?"

"This one."

Chinami pulled something out of a Black Plastic Bag in the corner of the Storage Room and held it out to me.

It was an enormous, apricot-colored rice cake.

A type I had never seen before in my life. Poking it, I found it was incredibly hard.

While I was inspecting the rice cake with curious eyes, Chinami moved her jaw from side to side and explained what it was.

"It's a rice cake my elementary school nephew made at school. He said he made it peach-flavored just for me."

"...Is that so? Then you should have just torn off little pieces to eat. Why go out of your way to shove the whole thing in at once?"

"My nephew said he wanted to see me eat the rice cake in one bite... I was going to put it in my mouth, take a picture, and then spit it back out, but it got stuck. I tried chewing it up, but it was way too hard."

Her nephew is quite the prankster.

Then again, all elementary schoolers are like that.

"I say this every time, but you're too naive for your own good, Master."

"Is it really that bad? That's quite a big problem. I'll try my best to be wicked from now on."

Even if you did something wicked, you'd still look cute doing it, you know.

You give off the vibe of a villain who plots conspiracies but fails every time, so it might actually suit you better.

"I'll be cheering you on. By the way, are you free the day after tomorrow?"

"If you're going to give me a heart-pounding massage, then I am."

"I plan to do that next time."

"I see... Then what are you planning for tomorrow?"

"I was thinking we could grab some ice cream with Miyuki—just the three of us."

"With Junior Hanazawa? I'd absolutely love that!"

She couldn't hide her excitement, even clapping her hands together. It seemed she genuinely enjoyed making new connections.

"So it's a promise?"

"Yes! Tomorrow, I'll have to have an in-depth conversation with Junior Hanazawa about Momo-sama."

"Why about Momo-sama?"

"To recruit Junior Hanazawa as a member of the Momo Squad, of course. Mm-hm... It's a very noble cause."

Corrupting Miyuki... what grand ambitions you have.

I won't let that happen.

"I'll be rooting for you. Then, the day after tomorrow, let's head back together after club activities end."

"Understood."

"Matsuda."

Tetsuya called out to me while I was waiting for Miyuki in the Parking Lot.

His voice was low, making it seem like he had something he wanted to say.

"What."

"Did something happen with the President?"

Here it comes.

I get a strong feeling that Tetsuya is about to make a fool of himself—that his inferiority complex is going to explode.

Leaning against my car and killing time on my Cell Phone, I stood up straight and looked at him.

"What do you mean, did something happen?"

"When you greeted her earlier, the President's eyes looked unusual... The President said it was nothing, but it didn't seem like nothing."

"Is that so? I guess you can read people's minds just by looking at their eyes?"

"How could I do that? It's just a feeling."

"Nothing happened. You're worrying about the most useless things."

"That's a relief then. The grilled eel we had for lunch... it was delicious, wasn't it?"

"Yeah. It was good."

"Grilled eel isn't something Miyuki's mother makes often, so we got lucky today."

He was subtly implying that he was someone who often ate the food Miyuki's mother cooked.

I nodded nonchalantly.

"I guess so."

"Anyway, it's surprising."

"I didn't think you and Miyuki would get this close. Miyuki has such clear likes and dislikes that she won't even look at someone once she's decided she hates them..."

Clear likes and dislikes?

If you knew how indecisive Miyuki was when we were doing 'that' kind of stuff, you wouldn't be able to say that.

"I guess she didn't hate me enough to want me dead."

"Come on... That's not it."

Tetsuya waved his hand dismissively, as if to say I was talking nonsense.

He was slowly starting to get on my nerves, which was interesting.

Letting out a light chuckle, I patted him on the shoulder.

"Is there something you want to say?"

"No, well... there comes Miyuki. Let's talk later."

Tetsuya said, looking over my shoulder.

Looking back, sure enough, Miyuki was approaching at a brisk pace, just as he'd said.

Just a little more, and I would have had an excuse to slap him across the face... What a shame.

Soothing my disappointment, I opened the driver's side door.