Translator: RaidenTL
"Matsuda-kun, you can sit next to me."
Following Miyuki's lead, I hesitantly took my seat and looked at the dining table.
A grand feast was spread out before me. Was the main dish sukiyaki?
Seeing it just beginning to simmer, I guessed they must have turned on the induction stove the moment I arrived.
There was also saba misoni, mackerel simmered in miso.
The side dishes were mostly home-style, like spinach and lotus root, but they were plated so carefully you could tell at a glance how much effort went into them.
Miyuki must have told them.
That I haven't been eating properly.
That must be why they prepared all this.
Once everyone was seated, Wataru, sitting at the head of the table, spoke.
"To the benefactor who saved our Miyuki, I first want to say thank you for coming."
The atmosphere suddenly turned serious.
I knew this wasn't the time to say, 'It was nothing,' and look uncomfortable.
I looked at Wataru and gave a slight bow from the waist.
"Thank you for having me."
The eshaku, the lightest bow in the Japanese custom of ojigi.
We'd already exchanged greetings several times at the entrance, so a simple gesture like this should be enough to please them.
As expected, smiles bloomed on the faces of Wataru and the rest of Miyuki's family.
Since I'm here, I might as well score some major points.
"Long-winded speeches will just get boring, so shall we eat?"
At Wataru's words, Midori, Miyuki, and Kana all said their thanks for the meal in unison.
Timing it just as they finished, I said in a simple, unaffected voice,
"Thank you for the meal."
"Wow... listen to that nice voice..."
Kana had let out the exclamation before she could stop herself.
Wataru shot her a stern glance before turning back to me with a broad smile.
"Eat up."
"Yes, sir."
I wondered about the dining etiquette in Miyuki's house.
I had a rough idea from playing DokiAka, but this was the first time sukiyaki was served, so I decided to observe.
Of course, you hold your rice bowl when you eat.
When serving the sukiyaki, everyone takes as much as they want in their own bowls.
The beef from the sukiyaki isn't dipped in raw egg right away; you let the excess liquid drip off first.
When eating the side dishes, you pick up a little of the garnish, like the onions, along with it.
Midori was refilling our water glasses whenever they were empty.
If I tried to fill them myself, it would be overstepping, and Midori might feel burdened. I should just act like a guest and accept what's offered.
I conveyed how delicious everything was with my expression and by constantly helping myself to the side dishes.
At that, the corners of Midori's mouth twitched into a smile.
"Is the food to your liking?"
I quietly chewed and swallowed the food in my mouth before answering.
"Yes. It's so good I feel like I could live here."
Midori and the rest of Miyuki's family let out a light but genuine laugh.
Perhaps because I'd made a good impression earlier in the meal, they took my joke-laced compliment well.
"Come over whenever you're hungry. Oh, and peel the skin off the fish before you eat it. It's soft and might be a bit greasy."
A good assist from Midori.
I immediately used my chopsticks to peel the skin off the mackerel.
"Yes, ma'am."
That remark broke the ice, and the conversation started to flow.
"Matsuda, do you drink?"
I nodded politely at Wataru's question.
"Yes."
"Do you like it?"
"To be honest, yes. Though I haven't been drinking much recently."
Miyuki's lips started to move.
Seeing her do that with nothing in her mouth, she must be itching to talk about my old self.
Pretending to straighten my clothes, I lowered my hand and secretly poked Miyuki near her hip.
Miyuki flinched but quickly regained her composure. She gave me a playful smile and a small nod.
She'd understood my gesture telling her not to.
Wataru, not noticing our exchange, asked again.
"In that case, how about a quick drink before you go?"
"Honey, Matsuda-kun drove here today."
Realizing his mistake at Midori's gentle scolding, Wataru said,
"Ah, right..."
The fact that he even offered me a drink must mean he has a very good impression of me.
It was mentally exhausting trying to read the room without being obvious, but it was definitely worth it.
I'll be able to come here often from now on.
"Ahem... Matsuda-kun. Have some fruit."
I was sitting on the living room sofa chatting with Wataru when I heard Miyuki's voice from behind me and turned my head.
"Fruit? Thanks, I'll have..."
But then I froze in shock.
Kana was holding out a plate of fruit with a wide grin.
She was mimicking Miyuki's voice, just like she did at Isshiki Beach.
Is teasing me that much fun?
Quickly regaining my composure, I got up from the sofa and took the plate.
"Thank you, Hanazawa-san."
"Were you surprised?"
"A little. But why do you keep doing this...?"
"It's fun. You're fun to tease, Matsuda-kun."
And you're delicious enough to devour.
Two sisters with the exact same voice... I can't resist this.
"Kana. Do you always pull that prank? You did it to Tetsuya, too..."
At Wataru's chiding, Kana just beamed.
"Tetsuya-kun's reactions are boring. He's so shy he doesn't know what to do."
"Doesn't that mean Tetsuya's reaction is much better than Matsuda's?"
"But Matsuda-kun is more fun."
"Why do you think so?"
The father and daughter suddenly started a debate with the subject of their discussion standing right in front of them.
As I listened to their conversation while cleansing my palate with an orange, Miyuki, who had approached me unnoticed, tugged on my sleeve, and I quietly slipped away from the sofa.
Miyuki led me out to a small flower bed and asked,
"Is my house too noisy?"
"No, it's lively. I like it."
"That's a relief. I was thinking of going for a walk to help digest... but..."
Miyuki trailed off.
She seemed worried that Tetsuya, who lives in the same neighborhood, might see us.
If she was that worried, she should have had me hide my car. Or just told me to walk here in the first place.
She keeps trying to deceive Tetsuya, but that's just going to make him hurt more later, isn't it?
Of course, I like that you're doing this.
"I'm fine with it."
"Aren't you full? You ate a ton..."
"I've still got room. Are you underestimating me?"
At my lighthearted joke, Miyuki chuckled and changed the subject.
"Are you going to head back right away?"
"It'd be rude to stay too long... Should I go meet up with Takashi?"
"Absolutely not him."
So firm.
"Why? He said he was reflecting on his actions."
"The way he talks is way cheaper than the old you. I really don't like it."
"Then I'll go to my other friends..."
"That's not allowed either. A lot of your friends are bad influences, Matsuda-kun."
"Why are there so many things I can't do? What are you, my guardian? My mom?"
"You wrote my name in the guardian section at the hospital. And don't you remember calling me 'Mom' that one time?"
So she was conscious of it.
I thought she'd just let it slide since our relationship hadn't really developed back then... This is unexpected.
Or maybe it just suddenly came to mind and she's become sensitive about it now that we're closer.
Either way, it was a good thing. A reaction like that from Miyuki.
But when she puts it like that, I'm left speechless.
I scratched the back of my head awkwardly, looking out over the fence as I retorted to Miyuki.
"Then what am I supposed to do? Meditate?"
"Stay here. You can stay for a long time."
I slowly turned my head and stared at Miyuki.
There was a hint of shyness in her tone.
Was my gaze too much for her?
She lowered her eyes and said quietly,
"I don't mean anything by it... Just... stay here, and then let's go hang out... with me..."
This was the first time Miyuki had suggested a date.
And she only said 'me'.
She'd completely left out Tetsuya, whom she always tried to include.
Without a hint of hesitation, at that.
What's with her being so forward?
It feels unfamiliar, but it's also making my heart race.
After watching her for a moment, I asked,
"Where are we going?"
"Just... anywhere... You decide, Matsuda-kun..."
Then let's go to a love hotel.
"Should we go inside and think about it then?"
"Yeah..."
From the looks of it, Miyuki probably wasn't going to invite me to her room first.
In that case, I'll make the first move, just like I always do.
"Can we think about it in your room?"
"My room...?"
Miyuki's large eyes darted back and forth.
She looked like she was having a million thoughts.
After thinking for a moment, her answer was...
"It'll be hot..."
Not bad.
Time to push a little harder.
"I want to see it."
"There's nothing to see..."
The way she's fidgeting with her fingers is cute.
"I still want to go."
When I said that with a sly look, Miyuki let out a laugh of disbelief.
Shaking her head as if to say she couldn't win, words of consent fell from her lips.
"Then... wait on the second floor for a bit..."
"Why? To make your bed?"
"N-No...? I made it as soon as I got up...?"
I saw your shoulders jump. What do you mean, no?
Hit the nail on the head, didn't I?
Following Miyuki's directions to the second-floor bathroom, I took a chewable mouthwash tablet from my pocket and popped it into my mouth.
As I chewed it thoroughly with my lips sealed, the solid tablet turned to liquid and tingled on my tongue.
After meticulously cleaning my mouth, I left the bathroom.
I then went to Miyuki's door, knocked twice, and immediately grabbed the handle and pushed.
Creeeak...
The door opened smoothly.
I could see Miyuki, who was straightening her bedspread, look my way, so shocked she looked like she might faint.
"M-Matsuda-kun...! You're supposed to wait until I say you can come in! What are you doing...!?"
"Sorry. Should I close it and ask again?"
"...Never mind. You're such an idiot... Just come in."
I entered with slow steps and quietly closed the door.
Clink. Clink.
A sound came from the middle of the door, as if something was hitting it.
It was definitely the maneki-neko necklace Tetsuya had bought her.
I'll have to make her throw it away later and hang something new.
And those... those star stickers on the ceiling that Miyuki and Tetsuya put up when they were kids. I'll have to get rid of all of them.
Not just that, I'm going to replace every single thing in this room that holds a memory of Tetsuya.
My resolve burning, I looked around the room.
The scent of plums filled the air.
She must have sprayed some air freshener while I was gargling in the bathroom; the smell was a bit strong.
The shelves of her bookcase desk were packed with various books,
and on the desk itself, a single notebook and a pencil case were neatly arranged.
It was exactly as I'd pictured. So very Miyuki.
"Don't just stand there... H-here, sit down for now..."
At Miyuki's words, gesturing to the desk, I crossed the center of the room, quietly pulled out the chair, and sat down.
Miyuki, who had perched demurely on the edge of her bed, asked,
"It's really small, isn't it...?"
It's small, but I like it.
The bed's a single, too, so it'll be perfect for holding you tight while we sleep.
"It's cozy. I like it. Did you finish making the bed?"
"I-I told you, I made it as soon as I got up...?"
"Then why were you fixing the bedspread just now?"
"That was... it was just crooked..."
"Right, let's just say that's true. What time did you get up today?"
"E-eleven..."
"Slept in, huh?"
"Is that not allowed on a weekend? It happens...!"
"I'm not criticizing you, why are you getting so worked up?"
Miyuki's lips jutted out in a pout.
Annoyed by my teasing attitude, she was glaring at me and muttering something.
It makes me want to grab those soft-looking cheeks and stretch them out.
Ignoring her glare, I looked at the notebook on the desk and called out to Miyuki as if I'd just remembered something.
"Hey, Miyuki."
"What...!?"
"You did something interesting at school the other day, didn't you?"
"Something interesting?"
"You doodled in your notebook. A drawing."
"...What's that... Ah...!!"
She went from confused to wide-eyed.
Her face flushing red all the way to her ears in an instant, she tried to play dumb, her voice almost a whimper.
"I don't know what you're talking about...?"
"You don't know? Then what was that gasp just now? Anyway, it was a good drawing. Was that supposed to be you and me?"
"Well... I don't understand what you're saying... Did you perhaps peek at someone else's notebook...? You shouldn't do that... That's a bad thing to do..."
She started fanning her face with her hand, her eyes darting all over the place. She really seemed to hate this topic.
I'll let it go for now. I can just tease her about it again later.
The air in the room was now a little subdued.
Miyuki's mood today was also different from usual.
Could it be that she was also vaguely aware?
That something important was going to happen today?
'Good.'
From now on, I can't act too nonchalant.
If I did, Miyuki might get the wrong idea.
That I was doing all this because I just thought of her as a friend.
Of course, given everything we'd done so far, Miyuki probably wouldn't jump to such an extreme conclusion.
Still, I should maintain a suitable level of tension and show her that side of me.
Even if we don't kiss today, I'm going to at least get a peck.
That was the whole reason I'd so meticulously gargled and asked to see her room...
If I go home empty-handed, I'll be too frustrated to sleep.