Capítulo 18: Chapter 16 – First Picture
***
The next morning.
"Ah fuck…"
When I tried moving my toes, the area between my big toe and index toe stung.
I grimaced as I looked down at my phone.
[Matsuda-kun, what are you up to?]
Miyuki had sent a message.
Was this the first time that she asked if I was free first?
I did receive an injury from wearing that gates for too long, but it was a meaningful day, and since I even received the first text, let's think of it as a wound of glory.
I rubbed my eyes as I moved my fingers.
[I just woke up.]
[It's eleven-o-clock. When did you sleep last night?]
The reply came insanely quick.
Could I assume that you were waiting for my message?
I feel like today's gonna be a good day.
[I slept as soon as I came back, but when I woke up, it was this late. What are you doing?]
[I just came back from the barbershop with Tetsuya.]
Oh fuck. You guys went by yourselves?
Forget having a good day, it's just depressing.
[Did you get a cut?]
[I didn't, but Tetsuya-kun did. Super short.]
[Then is the mop hair finally gone?]
[Yeah. It looks very refreshing. However, I liked Tetsuya's hair from before better. Do you want to see a picture?]
[Send it.]
Not long after, I received the picture Miyuki sent.
The picture had the two of them sticking real close and making a V pose.
The fact that Miyuki, who was smiling innocently, had her head touching with that beggar-like Tetsuya's forehead made me feel like a little shitty, but there was something funny about the whole thing.
Tetsuya's new hairstyle was very similar to mine.
'It doesn't suit him at all.'
Every person has a hairstyle that suits them, but Tetsuya didn't think about that and just cut the sides short just like me.
The side of Tetsuya's head is high, and you can see the curves.
The hair on the side of his head puffed up like that of a mushroom.
Did he feel jealous of me because of yesterday's event?
If that's true, Tetsuya just did himself a disservice.
He got rid of one of his good points on his own.
Laughing like a mad man to myself, I sent a message.
[I'm not a fan. Maybe if he pressed the sides of his hair down and lifted the top it might be ok. Does Miura have gel at his house?]
[I'm not sure myself, but probably not? Tetsuya was not someone that cared about hairstyles in the first place… Is it reallyl that bad? I thought it was alright…]
[If it was really alright, you wouldn't say that Tetsuya's hair was better before.]
[I guess there's some truth in your words. How about when we study next week, you teach Tetsuya-kun how to style his hair Matsuda-kun?]
I have no reason to do such a thing.
Anyways, thinking about Miyuki's reactions from yesterday, I think we can easily go out and eat together at this point.
I think the odds are very favourable, so it's worth trying at least once.
[I'll think about it. What are you doing right now?]
[I'm at home.]
[Are you busy later?]
[No.]
[Did you shower already?]
[Why are you asking me about that? Just what are you imagining?]
Now you immediately think that I'm thinking of something lewd.
Sad. Even if it's true.
[Did you or did you not. Just tell me.]
[I did.]
[Why did you already shower?]
[Because I came back from going out?]
I ran my hand all over my hair.
Why do I keep pussyfooting around? Is Tetsuya rubbing off on me?
Let's just ask directly.
[Did you eat with Miura?]
[No, we separated without eating. I was gonna eat at home right now.]
[Don't eat and just come out. Eat with me instead.]
[Now?]
[Yeah. Meet at the station near the weird bookstore.]
[Matsuda-kun. You can't just order people around like that. Shouldn't you ask for the other person first?]
[Let's eat. I'm hungry.]
[Ask nicely.]
[Food.]
[… Alright. I'll get ready and head out.]
I clenched by fist when I received the text.
It was right to be direct about it after all.
I suddenly stood up and ran to the bathroom.
**
"Matsuda-kun!"
Miyuki waved cheerfully from a distance.
I made my way toward Miyuki, but was disgusted upon seeing her wearing a long skirt.
"You always wear that skirt. Isn't it hot?"
"No. It's comfortable."
When we start dating, I'm going to make you wear a miniskirt and hot pants that show off your thighs.
Obviously, you'll also be wearing a tight t-shirt with a black bra that will be visible from time to time.
Then, when Tetsuya sees you changing to be all sexy and gets flustered, I'll secretly grab your ass.
Next, we'll go into a love hotel while making fun of Tetsuya's reactions while rolling around lazily.
"How many stars does that restaurant have?"
"Five stars."
"That's a lot… Let's go quick. I'm hungry as f… hell."
"What are you gonna get?"
"I was thinking ramen. Did you want something else?"
"Nah, I like ramen too. But Matsuda-kun, you will also order vegetables on the side right?"
"That's a defilement of any fatty food."
Miyuki shook her head like she was sick of it.
"Yeah… At least you aren't eating soy sauce egg rice… For someone like you ramen might be considered a healthy food…"
Don't give up, Miyuki.
Make me a bento for my health.
We joked around like friends who haven't met in a while and headed towards the ramen shop.
I sat on the counter and ordered, looking at Miyuki who was holding her chin with one hand and sticking out her lips after putting the straw on her philtrum.
She normally does this when she's deep in thought.
Looks like she is contemplating something.
I want to talk to her, but I'll leave her be.
I just passed the time looking at my phone, when Miyuki poked me with her fingers, so I turned my head towards her.
"What."
"Matsuda-kun, the fireworks yesterday were pretty right?"
Upon hearing what Miyuki said, I was celebrating inside.
Asking a question she asked yesterday again… That means she's conscious of the event that occurred during the fireworks.
I guess she's confused on if I called the fireworks pretty or her pretty, just as I intended.
Her asking just now was her trying to figure out what happened yesterday.
I shrugged and answered simply.
"Sure."
"Which was the prettiest? The purple one?"
Purple was in the middle… About when I looked away from Miyuki, it exploded with the yellow one.
And she was focused on the purple one specifically?
It can only mean that she's trying to figure me out.
I won't fall for your fox like tactics.
I'll make my feelings clear right after I leave the circle when the break ends.
It's weaker than one that's been created over the last 15 years, but stronger than just friendship.
I'm not quite ready just yet to take on the love between the two of you.
I'll work hard during the summer vacation instead, so you just have to feel that there is a quiet, and vague but also sweet… feeling about me.
At least I was brought into Dokiaca in the first half, before Miyuki and Tetsuya got too close.
Even if I got here just a little bit later, I would have had to work like a dog because I missed the most important event.
Even just thinking about it tires me.
"Weren't they all pretty?"
"Yeah… They were."
"Well that's that but why did you leave me out and go to the barber by yourselves?"
"Ah. Sorry about that. I was gonna call you… But Tetsuya said he was going to eat out with his family…"
Is that true?
Or was he making an excuse to avoid me?
The odds of either being true are both high.
Miyuki and Tetsuya's family know each other well, and live near each other.
If Miyuki ever asks if they had a nice meal, the truth will be revealed instantly.
Even if Tetsuya is stupid, he probably wouldn't have said a lie that would have exposed that easily.
On top of that, I told Tetsuya to go to the barber together.
But the fact that he still chose to go with Miyuki alone means that he is seeing me as a threat.
It looks like Tetsuya is slowly feeling the pressure, but I'm not worried in the slightest.
To figure out why, you just have to see Dokiaca's ending.
I was pissed back then… But now, I'm glad that it was that way, and not pissed at all now that I'm actually here.
"What are you thinking about? Are you mad?"
I retorted to Miyuki.
"Do I look like that kinda guy?"
"Yes. Matsuda-kun has a childish side to him."
"It feels like you're going to say I'm immature."
"One of Matsuda-kun's issues is that he's pessimistic about everything."
Miyuki smiled brightly and started making fun of me.
After getting past the fireworks incident, the briefly weird atmosphere turned normal again.
**
We ate the delicious ramen, and didn't part at the station. Instead, we walked to Miyuki's neighborhood together, just talking.
My foot hurts a little, but for spending time with Miyuki, I can always handle something of this level.
"Before meeting us, what did you do on weekends Matsuda-kun?"
Matsuda Ken goes to a high ranked prostitution ring by Gabukicho on weekends.
He was a regular, and if he was too lazy to go, he called over a masseuse Deriharu.
No matter how loose my lips are, I can never speak of this.
Let's just spin a lie.
"Drink with the boys… Play some pool… Stuff like that. How come you're asking all of a sudden?"
"Tetsuya-kun and I lived in a different world from you. So I was just curious."
Well, just as you said, I did come from a different world.
"It's an embarrassing past, so you don't need to know much about it."
"Just by realizing that, you should know that you have matured."
If you keep giving me carrots like this, I'm gonna become prideful.
You have to whip me here and there.
I coughed, pretending to get flustered by the compliment, and changed the topic.
"The weather's nice today isn't it?"
"Yeah. The wind is nice, and the sky is pretty."
"Do you wanna take a picture together?"
"Picture? Alright."
Miyuki accepted the offer easily, and pulled out her phone from her bag.
I did not like the keyring of the cute character that popped out.
It should be my initials, or perhaps an SD picture and it would be perfect.
Miyuki looked around and found a place that would have a nice background.
Then signaled me to hurry up.
I approached Miyuki, and made a face as soon as the camera app came on.
Different from the prankster or angry faces, a light smile with a slight pressure on my eyes. A serious face.
I tried my best to mimick the angle Tetsuya and Miyuki had in their picture using my memory.
Then I saw Miyuki's pupils move towards me on the phone screen.
It must be the first time seeing me like this right? It must be fresh to her.
"Should I get closer? The side of my face is being cut off."
At my question, Miyuki, who was thinking about something else, stumbled around a reply.
"Hm? Ah… Yeah… Can you get a little closer?"
I got close enough to touch Miyuki with the side of my head.
This was about the same as the one in Tetsuya's picture.
When Miyuki gets home, I hope she compares the two pictures.
Now that I'm so close to her, I can smell her shampoo.
Later on, we'll share shampoos and body wash.
Even though we found a good spot, the only thing that came out of the picture was our faces.
But Miyuki didn't say anything about that.
She just fixed up her clothes and her expressions.
She slightly looked over to me and spoke.
"I'm gonna take the picture ok?"
"Go quickkk…"
Maybe me being unable to speak properly due to holding a smile was funny, but she let out a small laugh.
Then, upon seeing that my expression was slowly breaking, she quickly fixed her expression and took a picture.
Click!
That's how after we got ramen, we took our first monumental selfie.
***
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