Spring break is fun.
I will definitely be spending more time with Miyagi in this house, and it will be fun to just hang out in the same room. It is more fun to think that perhaps an aquarium or zoo might go with them.
I thought so, but Mioâs phone call made the first day of spring break a depressing one.
ãSendai-san, are you not eating?ã
I heard a voice from across the table and looked at Miyagi, she was staring at me with a piece of toast with butter and jam in her hand.
ãEh, ah, Iâll eat.ã
The simple breakfast of toast and ham and eggs placed before me has not diminished one bit.
Miyagi bites into a piece of toast. I watched as Miyagi bit into a piece of toast, then took two bites of the white of the fried egg, and then bit into a piece of toast with butter and jam on it.
If I do not complete the mission of telling Miyagi about the promise I made to Mio yesterdayââ or more accurately, the promise I was forced to makeââ and if possible, get Miyagi to agree to meet with Mio, I will spend my spring break with a feeling that is far from pleasant.
ãMiyagi, you donât have any special plans for spring break, do you?ã
With a fork, lightly poke the semi-cooked yolk.
ãI donât want to go anywhere.ã
ãI havenât said anything yet.ã
ãI only said that because youâre about to start asking me to go out with me.ã
ãWhat about the zoo or the aquarium?ã
ãIâm not going. You have a part-time job anyway, arenât you, Sendai-san?ã
The answer is boring, and I poke and tear the yolk of my fried egg again and take a bite of the yellow-covered ham.
ãI said Iâd work part-time during spring break, but not that much.ã
I told Miyagi that a few days ago, and Iâm sure she got the message, but her mood is not so good.
Iâm supposed to get a part-time job at a cafe, as I did during the winter break, but I donât intend to work so much that I lose most of my vacation time. And the tutoring job is as good as gone. KikyÅ-chan has finished taking the entrance exam for the school of her choice and will know the results soon. If she had passed safely, there is nothing more for me to do.
She has asked me to continue tutoring her after she goes on to higher education, but the details will be discussed after she passes.
ãMiyagi. You donât have to go out, but I need you to do me one favor.ã
I really want her to go out with me, but I have to take care of more difficult issues first.
ãâ¦One favor?ã
Miyagi wrinkles her brow before I spoke of the contents.
The promise I made to Mio might be something that could be misrepresented by saying something appropriate, but considering her character, even if I pretends that this conversation never happened, Iâm sure that she will try to get me to make another promise.
There are plenty of holidays. Golden Week, summer vacation, and even just Sundays can take the place of this appointment.
Perhaps the coming of Mio is something inevitable, and I would like to get rid of it as soon as possible.
ãDonât look so disgusted, just listen to me. Mio will come here to playââã
ãIâm meeting Maika that day, so let me know when you decide. Iâll be out of your way.ã
Miyagi says without hearing me finish.
ãThatâs not what I meant. I want you to be there on the day Mio comes, Miyagi.ã
ãWhy? Komatsu-san is a friend of yours, right, Sendai-san?ã
ãYes, but she wants to see you, Miyagi.ã
ãI absolutely donât want to.ã
The wrinkles between Miyagiâs eyebrows deepen.
If I could, I would want to wrinkle my brow too, but I consciously smile.
ãDonât worry. Itâs only for half a day. You should meet Mio.ã
Despite the cheerful voice I am letting Miyagi hear, a low voice in my heart is saying,ãI donât want Miyagi to meet Mio.ã
Iâm the only one Miyagi sees during spring break and there is no need for her to be friends with Mio. I accept Miyagiâs words that she doesnât want to see Mio and I want to tell Mio right now that she will not see Miyagi.
But once I put up with it, my future college life will be peaceful. It may not be perfect, but it will get me closer to that kind of life. If Mio isnât allowed to see Miyagi unnaturally, it would give her a sense of distrust and allow unnecessary scrutiny.
ãEven if we meet, we have nothing to talk about, so I donât want to. In general, what does she want to see me or what does Komatsu-san want from me?ã
ãHer purpose? Mhm, doesnât she want to be friends with you, Miyagi?ã
The words that came out of my mouth weâre very pleasant and made my heart swell. Itâs not Mioâs fault, but itâs not funny.
Miyagi that doesnât belong to me shouldnât belong to Mio.
Thereâs no such possibility, but itâs not zero, and it makes me feel as bad as if I had oil splashed on my chest.
Miyagi should not belong to anyone, not only Mio.
ãItâs the same as when Utsunomiya came to visit, and you should stay home. Iâll do whatever you say.ã
I drink orange juice to push away the oil that has built up deep in my body.
ãDoes that mean I can order you around?ã
ãYes.ã
ãSendai-san, if you stop selling your orders cheaply.ã
ãIf Miyagi doesnât want to order me to do something else, Iâll do it. Any requests?ã
ãI donât have any, so you and Komatsu-san should meet alone.ã
ãThatâs not good enough. Iâll make any exchange you want. Just give me half a day.ã
As if following my voice, I hear the sound of a fork hitting the plate with a clink. It wasnât a loud noise, but I was curious and looked at Miyagiâs hand and saw a small tomato as an accompaniment stuck in her fork. But she didnât eat it and let out a small breath.
ãâ¦Then, when me and Maika go out to play, Sendai-san, you can come too.ã
A voice, neither small nor loud, echoes in my ears.
ãWith Utsunomiya?ã
ãRight. An exchange condition. In exchange for seeing Komatsu-san, the three of us can go out together anytime.ã
I canât say I donât like it, not that I donât want to.
Itâs just that it makes my heart flutter just a little bit, somehow.
I know that this is my trivial jealousy and that Utsunomiya is not at fault. And if I accept this proposal, the case with Mio will be cleared up and everything will be settled.
ãYou donât have to make it an exchange, I donât mind going out to play.ã
ãTerms of exchange are fine.ã
ãIf you want, Miyagi, fine, but where are we going?ã
I bite into my toast and look at Miyagi.
ãShe hasnât decided, but she said she wanted Sendai-san to pick out some clothes for her.ã
Miyagi snacked on the mini-tomatoes with gusto, as if she had a grudge against them.
ãDo you want me to pick out clothes for you too, Miyagi?ã
ãYou donât have to choose for me.ã
ãWhy not? Iâll pick something cute for you. I mean, let me choose for you.ã
ãI donât need any clothes, and I donât need pretty ones.ã
ãYou looked like you donât like it when I say youâre cute, but arenât you like cute, Miyagi?ã
ãI donât care about my story. Weâre talking about Maika now.ã
I hear a grumpy voice and I maturely return to the subject.
ãI know. Iâll ask Utsunomiya later what kind of clothes she wants.ã
ãââYouâll talk to Maika?ã
Miyagi asks in a low voice what is obvious.
ãItâs hard to choose if I didnât know what she like. So, when do you want it, Miyagi?ã
ãWhen?ã
ãYou know that. The day to meet Mio.ã
Take a bite of ham and wait for a reply.
But Miyagi doesnât open her mouth.
I remained silent as I bit into my toast and ate all the fried eggs, then asked,ãMiyagi, when would you like to meet her?ãI heard a muffled voice when I urged her to reply.
ãAs soon as possible.ã
ãWhen is that? Like the end of February?ã
ãâ¦March.ã
ãAlright. Iâll tell Mio that it will be in March. Oh, one more thing. Keep the day of the dried fish.ã
ãâ¦Why do you say it that way? Why donât you just say February 14th?ã
ãWhen we were in high school, you told me that February 14 was Dried Fish Day, Miyagi. Did you forget?ã
Valentineâs Day during our sophomore year of high school.
I remember well that when I tried to give Miyagi a friendâs chocolate, she told me so.
ãThat kind of thing, thatâs not in character.ã
ãLeave it open, even if itâs out of character.ã
No reply from Miyagi.
But she will tell me if she doesnât want to, so the fact that she hasnât responded means that she doesnât mind, which confirms one of my spring break plans.