***
"What's the occasion? How come you're dressed all pretty today?"
It was a compliment meant for Miyuki who came to tutor.
As I said, Miyuki's fit today was different than the usual uncomfortable looking one.
A dark blue, knee-length, high-waisted denim shorts.
A white t shirt that was tucked into that, along with white sneakers.
With a light cream-colored short-sleeved shirt designed specifically for outerwear to finish off.
The large black bag was a bit out of place, but it was the perfect fit for a summer day.
It very much fit Miyuki's image.
Looking at her stretched snow-white legs, my desire to have her skyrockets again.
I want to make those knees bruised already.
Anyways, it should be alright to think that you changed your outfit to look good in front of me right?
Let's just think of it like that.
"Thanks Matsuda-kun."
Miyuki came into my house with a cheery thanks.
As I shuffled to the side, I saw Tetsuya look at me as if I did something amazing.
He must have been jealous that I just did something he never could.
Tetsuya would never be able to compliment her like I just did, even if his life was on the line.
He'll just lamely think on the inside 'Miyuki… Pretty…'
Only if Miyuki asked 'how is it?', then he will reply 'it's pretty' and that's it.
"You gelled your hair?"
I asked when I saw the sides of his head.
Tetsuya carefully touched his hair and asked.
"Yeah. Does it look okay?"
"A little better than last time, but you also have to press from the front, and not just the sides."
"Like this?"
"Yeah, kind of. Also don't put on too much. Your hair looks a little weird right now."
"I understand. Thanks Matsuda."
Don't think that I'm being nice to you.
If it was just us two, I would never tell you anything.
Before Miyuki walked into the living room, she decided to check on the plants first.
She looked happy as she saw that the plants were slowly reviving.
"For the time being, I think I need to buy some more nutritional supplements and place them."
"Shouldn't you be the one to take the nutritional supplements instead?"
"Why?"
"It's nothing. I was just worried about you is all."
After realizing I was talking about her height, Miyuki pouted a bit.
You have to limit how much you make fun of someone's height.
It wasn't a soft spot for Miyuki or anything, but as many people are sensitive about the subject, it will ruin her mood if I keep bringing it up.
Around this much was the max.
I laughed alone at Miyuki and put my hand out to her.
"Give me your bag."
"I'm fine… I'm coming in now."
"Already? Shouldn't you rest a bit? Don't you have to take care of the plants you love so much?"
"It's a punishment. We're starting now."
"What sin did Miura commit?"
"The sin of having friends like Matsuda-kun."
Me and him aren't friends, we are competitors.
Well, more like predator and prey, but whatever.
Tetsuya, what do you think? Do you believe we're friends?
"Thanks to Matsuda, we get to study more, so I don't mind."
Still an idiot I see. This is your flaw.
I muttered and sat down by the table.
Miyuki sat in between me and Tetsuya, and quietly spoke to herself.
"It just keeps getting hotter and hotter every day… I want to eat the mango ice cream I had yesterday again…"
Mango ice cream was what we had after the movies.
Because of the coke spilt by that woman, people were talking about me, and Miyuki quietly laughed at me.
You're thinking about that right now. However, you just made a mistake.
"Mango ice cream?"
At Tetsuya's question filled with curiosity, Miyuki's face turned pale.
Tetsuya doesn't know that I went on a date with Miyuki.
If you don't want to be honest, you'll gonna have to come up with someone on the fly. What'll you do?
I was looking at Miyuki with an amused look on my face, as she rolled her eyes and smiled awkwardly.
"I… got some after we parted from the arcade… It was delicious."
"Really? I've never had mango ice cream before… Let's try it together next time."
"Y-Yeah. Let's do that…"
The fact that she lied, means that she still cares a lot about Tetsuya.
She was probably worried that he would get jealous or something.
On the other hand, it must mean that I'm also becoming more important to Miyuki.
If we were just friends, she would have no problem telling him we watched a movie and had ice cream together.
So this development is something I should celebrate, rather than be sad about.
If this continues on, Miyuki will think about this deeply later on.
Why she felt like she needed to lie about meeting with me to Tetsuya.
And then, she will realize her feelings about me one day.
I flashed a meaningful smile, revealing my white teeth, towards Miyuki who was glancing over at me.
"Ahem…"
Miyuki cleared her throat as she pulled out books from her bag.
She rubbed her neck with her hands a couple times before speaking.
"Today is english right? I'll test you guys on what we learnt yesterday before we get started."
**
I don't want to let Miyuki just go home today.
She showed off such a refreshing fit for the first time today, so I definately can't just send her off like this.
I pretended to go on my phone as soon as the tutoring ended and texted Miyuki.
[Do you want to get ice cream again today? With Miura.]
Buzz!
Miyuki's phone began vibrating on the tatami floor.
After checking the message, Miyuki moved slightly towards me and tilted her head downwards.
Then I looked back towards my phone.
[Tetsuya-kun probably thinks I went to an ice cream place near by house though…?]
[It is kind of close to your house anyways.]
[What if he asks 'Oh you two are back again today?']
I predicted that you were going to say this when I mentioned Tetsuya.
I already knew you weren't going to bring him.
[If you feel that worried, come alone.]
[I'll think about it.]
[I'll leave a little later, so leave your bag at your house, ditch Tetsuya and come out.]
[I said I'll think about it?]
[I'll be waiting.]
When Miyuki read my forceful message, she looked at me in disbelief.
The way she glares is so sexy. Give me head with that expression.
"What are you two doing just staring at your phones?"
I put my phone away and answered naturally.
"I was looking at cars."
"You still haven't picked one out?"
"Even if I normally act thoughtlessly, you need to be careful in picking a car."
At my self deprecating joke, Miura laughed a little.
"You're right about that one. What were you doing Miyuki?"
"Huh…? I… Was talking with a friend."
"Who? Nanase?"
"No, it's someone you don't know. Tetsuya-kun."
"You had friends that I didn't know about? I guess someone from the academy?"
"T-That's right… You're ready right? Let's go."
As Miyuki put on her heavy bag and got up, Tetsuya asked her.
"Do you wanna go to a manga cafe on the way back or something?"
Why does this bastard keep trying to take Miyuki to places.
Go play on a playstation with with your same-sex friends.
Miyuki wondered what to do for a moment.
"Hmm… I don't think I can today. Sorry."
This time, she didn't lie, she just straight up rejected him?
I'm a little sad that she didn't say she was going to meet another friend, but since it looks like she wants to meet with me, I'll forgive her.
"Is that so? Okay. Matsuda-kun, we're going."
Tetsuya licked his lips as if he was disappointed, then waved to me.
When Miyuki wasn't looking, I responded to him with a middle finger.
Then, I headed to my wardrobe.
What to wear. A dress shirt with shorts, and a belt?
I think it feels a bit too formal.
I'll match Miyuki and dress casually.
**
"Why is it so hot… So annoying…"
When I complained waiting for the signal, Miyuki looked up at me.
"It's annoying?"
"Yeah. It doesn't rain either… If it stays like this until August, I might just die. Why doesn't the damn signal change…"
"Matsuda-kun is too impatient. Just wait. Also, Tetsuya-kun told me on the way home. You swore?"
"When."
"You did it with your fingers."
He already snitched on me.
Well, he probably meant it as banter between friends instead of tattling… But I still don't like it regardless.
For this, you'll be living our your final days punching the flooring thinking of the heroines that were taken from you.
"I was just joking. Can't friends do this much? Are you gonna tell me to stop breathing too?"
"I was joking too. I'll look past this much. Since you were joking…"
I wasn't joking though? I was being sincere?
Biting my lips as if I had complaints, I naturally leaned my elbow on Miyuki's shoulder while she turned her head towards the traffic light.
When I lifted a leg off the ground this way, Miyuki looked towards me again.
"Matsuda-kun, you're heavy."
She didn't ask what I was doing or dodge my elbow. Just said it was heavy.
So am I to think this much is alright?
I'll do it often from this point on.
I held back my screams of celebration as I spoke.
"Your shoulder is perfect to lean on, so just leaving it be would be… what is it… a crime."
"… You're making fun of me for being short right?"
"You're being delusional. I didn't mean it that way, so just lend me your shoulder once in a while."
"I don't wanna."
"Quite stern."
"I learned from Matsuda-kun."
As we talked, the signal changed.
When Miyuki began walking, my elbow slid off her shoulder, and I was sent spinning.
Miyuki glanced at my one-man show, then turned forward while giggling.
I walked quickly to catch up, and began complaining.
"You're just gonna leave without saying a word? What if I fell?"
"Since Matsuda-kun is athletic, I was sure you wouldn't fall."
"Well, I am pretty good at sports after all."
"You liked my empty compliment that much? You're just like a dog."
"You wanna go? You're surprisingly combative huh?"
"If it's the new Matsuda-kun, I think I could win."
"I'm gonna kill you… come here."
When I tried to grab Miyuki's shirt, she laughed and ran away.
It's much more fun being with me than that boring Tetsuya right? I know it is.
I hope that you take good care of me from now on.
But looking at her right now, I guess she forgot about the stuff that happened with Tetsuya earlier.
Let's not bring it back up and make her uncomfortable.
I'll ask different things to make the atmosphere very lovey dovey.
I caught up to her again and asked.
"What made you want to wear this instead of that uncomfortable looking skirt?"
"I just… felt like it."
"Keep dressing like this from now on."
"Are you saying this because it actually looks bad and you wanna make fun of me?"
"I'm not kidding. It really looks good on you. I told you so in the morning too."
Could she feel my sincerity from my tone?
Miyuki turned around and avoided my gaze.
Then, she spoke so quietly that it was almost unintelligible because of the sounds around us.
"… Thank you. Matsuda-kun… you also look good today too."
I almost feel like I am living just for Miyuki's compliments.
I feel like I could fly.
I grimaced to act as if I misheard what Miyuki said.
"You think your outfit today is going to look good on me? Are you messing with me right now?"
"No that's not it… Haah… Whatever. Let's just go."
Miyuki sighed and walked away.
She must have been embarrassed.
I followed her while thinking about the final event in the summer break that will happen on August.
After that one, I'll just meet with Miyuki often and wait for school to start.
Then, I'll quit the circle so I can tell Miyuki how I feel.
By then, we would have been seeing each other almost daily for 3 months.
That's more than enough time for a boy and a girl to fall in love right?
I believe in you, Miyuki.
***