Chapter 283: Witness
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 283: Witness
“So, for this part, what you do is…”
Miyuki, who was in the middle of explaining with her mechanical pencil, suddenly turned to Tetsuya.
Seeing that he couldn't seem to focus at all, she said, “Tetsuya-kun.”
“.....”
“Tetsuya-kun...!”
“.... Huh? What?”
Only when Miyuki used a stern voice did Tetsuya finally snap out of it.
He answered with his mouth slightly agape, a dopey look on his face.
“Did you call me?”
He seemed to have a lot on his mind... or maybe he was just really sleepy.
The more I looked at him, the less I understood him.
Not that I had any intention of getting to know him.
“What did I just say?”
At Miyuki's playful question, Tetsuya scratched the side of his head.
“Just now...? Uh... that the answer is number 3?”
“Not even close.”
“O-Oh, really...?”
“Why have you been so out of it?”
“Sorry... I'm sleepy... I'll focus.”
Tetsuya stretched, raising his arms to his chest and twisting his body from side to side.
Does he even realize there's a cup on the edge of the table?
I have a bad feeling it's going to spill.
Thump.
Just as I thought that, Tetsuya's elbow hit the cup.
It teetered, about to fall off the table.
Sensing my fear was about to become reality, I shot my arm out just as Miyuki's gaze shifted to the tipping cup.
And snatched it mid-air.
“M-Matsuda-kun...! Are you okay?” Miyuki cried out in alarm.
Since Tetsuya had ordered regular coffee, not iced, and some of it had spilled on my hand, she looked worried I might have gotten burned.
Fortunately, quite some time had passed since the coffee was served, so it only felt slightly warm.
I told Miyuki I was fine, grabbed all the tissues I could find, and started wiping the drink off the table and the parts that had soaked into the book.
“Be careful.”
As I busily wiped down the book, Tetsuya flinched and apologized.
“S-Sorry.”
It's true that I hate Tetsuya, but that was something that could have easily happened. It's a common mistake anyone could make when they're groggy, whether their mind is shot or not. Besides, his apology felt sincere, so I had no intention of saying anything more about it.
“I'm really sorry to both of you.”
Fine, you made a mistake, but if it's your fault, don't just apologize. At least pretend you're going to get some napkins.
This is why I can't stand the guy.
He acts all nice, but in reality, he's the most selfish one of all.
“It's okay. These things happen. Did you get any on your clothes?”
“Huh? No...”
“That's a relief.”
Miyuki also seemed to have no intention of scolding Tetsuya, giving him a bright smile.
She told the awkward Tetsuya it was fine one more time, then went to the counter to get wet wipes and tissues to clean the coffee off the floor.
Then, she suddenly grabbed my wrist, pulled my hand toward her chest, and started wiping it with a fresh wet wipe.
“Go to the restroom and run your hand under cold water. I'll finish cleaning up the coffee.”
“I'm not burned. Why go through the trouble?”
“Just listen, you idiot.”
I could just wash it with water, but she was carefully wiping each of my fingers.
Even her scolding tone was full of affection, and I was happy to feel how much she cared for me.
“Alright.”
“Hurry back.”
After meticulously cleaning my hand, Miyuki patted my butt as I stood up, as if coaxing a disobedient child.
That's something I do a lot. She must have picked it up.
Anyway, why is Miyuki showing her affection for me with this kind of skinship?
Even if she's no longer trying to hide our relationship, patting my butt—a sensitive area for most people—was unexpected.
Could it be that she knows Tetsuya is interested in her and is telling him to give up?
Or is she conscious of how Renka acts around me?
Neither seemed right. The reason for Miyuki's actions was definitely because of me.
It was probably because she was proud of me for letting something like this slide, when just a while ago I was a delinquent with zero patience.
As I walked to the restroom, I glanced at Tetsuya's face. It was completely crumpled.
He couldn't control his expression at all.
He quickly returned to a neutral expression, but Miyuki's actions seemed to have really gotten to him.
Now that he's fully aware Miyuki and I are dating, I wonder how he'll react.
Considering he was hitting on Renka even while he had feelings for Miyuki, I doubt he'll be a crybaby about it.
* * *
The studying Miyuki had hoped for didn't last long and fizzled out.
It was because Tetsuya just couldn't focus.
“Is spilling the coffee bothering you that much?” Miyuki finally closed her book and asked.
Tetsuya flinched at her question and reluctantly nodded.
“U-Uh...? Yeah.”
He agreed, but he looked for all the world like someone who'd just been rejected.
Whether she knew what was on his mind or not, Miyuki chuckled and said, “You're showing your childhood self a lot today, aren't you?”
“My childhood self?”
“Yeah. Back then, whenever you made a mistake, you'd get all flustered just like now.”
“I-I did...? I don't really remember.”
“I get it. They say other people remember your childhood better than you do.”
“Ah, I guess that's true. I don't remember my own childhood very well, but I still remember yours vividly.”
It was ridiculous how he perked up the moment Miyuki brought up old memories, as if he thought they'd found some common ground.
Miyuki wasn't reminiscing; she was just trying to comfort him.
“Well... let's stop studying for today. Should we make up for it tomorrow?”
That's not happening.
“You promised we wouldn't do this tomorrow. Why are you breaking your promise?”
“That was on the condition that you both focused.”
“You never said that. You just said if we studied today, we'd take tomorrow off.”
“I don't seem to remember that. What should I do?”
Look at how shameless she is. First the butt pat, and now this. It's like she's catching it from me.
I let out a disbelieving laugh, and Miyuki giggled, waving a hand.
“I'm kidding. But it's true we didn't get much done today, so take pictures of the workbook and solve the problems on your own. Then I'll check them.”
To be blunt, it's not my fault we couldn't focus... How cruel.
Still, that's so Miyuki.
“Do we really have to go that far?”
“Yep. That's fine with you too, right, Tetsuya-kun?”
At Miyuki's sweet-toned question, Tetsuya dazedly nodded his head.
“Huh? Me...? I don't mind.”
“Then it's decided... Should we rest a bit before we go? Let's each get one more drink. What do you want?”
“I'm good. I'm full from the dessert earlier.”
“Really? Okay. I'll have a matcha latte, so Matsuda-kun, you get a cherry ade.”
I, who had been listening quietly to their conversation, retorted, “Why don't I get a choice?”
“Because I want to steal sips from it. Is there something else you want to drink?”
“No.”
“See? I knew you'd say you'd drink anything, so I chose for you.”
“A second ago you said it was because you wanted to steal sips.”
“Here, take my card.”
It was funny how she changed the subject when she was cornered.
I let out a chuckle, told her it was fine, and headed to the counter.
There, Chinami, who had been chatting with Renka, greeted me with a smile.
“Do you need more tissues?”
“Tissues?”
“Didn't you spill coffee on the floor? I offered to clean it, but your junior, Hanazawa-san, insisted on doing it herself, so I was a bit worried.”
“Ah... that's all taken care of. We cleaned it up. I'm here to order drinks now.”
“Is that so? What would you like to drink?”
“A matcha latte and a cherry ade.”
“Not having a Peach Iced Tea?”
She says that every time I come to order. Today was no exception.
Chinami seems like she's starting to feel a little hurt... I should probably smooth things over.
“We're planning to leave soon. I'll order two then.”
“Oh, okay! By the way, are you done studying already?”
“Yeah.”
“Why is that?”
“Well... we just got distracted.”
After finishing my order and our little chat, I was about to head back to my seat when Renka, after excusing herself to Chinami, suddenly called out to me.
“Wait.”
“What is it?”
“.... Um...”
Renka hesitated.
She glanced at the corner table and then at Chinami before jerking her head toward me.
She wanted me to come to the changing room. It looked like she had something to say.
I followed Renka closely as she opened the door to the changing room. When she turned to glare at me with her arms crossed, I shrugged.
“What? Want some candy?”
Renka's serious expression instantly turned to one of disbelief.
“.... You brought that with you?”
“Of course. Want to see?”
As I reached into my pants pocket, Renka heard the characteristic crinkling of a candy wrapper and freaked out, stopping me.
“N-No, I don't want any...!”
“Then I'll give you two next time I'm here.”
“I said I don't want any. And if you're going to give me some, you're off until tomorrow, so you should give me three—one for today, one for tomorrow, and one for the day after. Is your brain not working?”
“So you want three?”
“No... that's not it. I'm saying you're stupid.”
“Alright. I'll give you three. I can give them to you for breakfast, lunch, and dinner like last time, right?”
“Jeez...! I said I don't want any...!”
“Fine, whatever. Why did you call me over?”
At my words, Renka, who had been getting flustered by me, regained her composure.
She stared at me for a moment before speaking in a low voice.
“Hey.”
“Spit it out.”
“.... I saw it.”
“Saw what?”
“Hanazawa... doing that to you...”
She was being vague, just saying 'that', but her meaning was clear.
She had seen Miyuki pat my butt and was now interrogating me about it.
So she saw it. She was glancing at the corner table pretty often, so it would have been strange if she hadn't.
“What's 'that'?”
“Don't play dumb...! You two aren't just normal friends, are you...?”
I knew she'd say that.
After all, she thought I was only dating Chinami.
Miyuki's sudden skinship must have been incredibly confusing for her.
In any case, Renka seeing that scene was exactly what I wanted.
I've achieved one of the goals I had in mind when I came here.
Now, what should I do?