Chapter 75: Handmade
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 75: Handmade
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“Haaah!”
Chinami flopped onto her bed, letting out a loud sigh tinged with worry.
Pulling up the duvet, emblazoned with a large picture of Momo-nim, she replayed the events that had happened on the way to the parking lot.
[Because you're cute.]
[You're cute.]
[I said, you're cute.]
Her junior, Matsuda, who had looked down at her from his tall height, complimenting her with the smile of a dapper gentleman.
His deep, resonant voice stuck in her ears, replaying in her mind.
She also remembered his large hand, big enough to wrap around her wrist with room to spare, catching her when she was about to fall.
Did I thank him then? I feel like I just stood there looking dazed...
She’d been so flustered, she couldn't remember clearly.
Unconsciously, Chinami placed a hand on the back of her neck, trying hard to recall what she had said before burying her face into her pillow.
Then she let out a long, meaningless sound.
“Uwaaaaaaah...”
Her face grew hot, and she pushed the pillow away.
It had felt hot like this when Matsuda called her cute, too... Why was this happening?
Maybe it was just because the weather suddenly got warmer?
Oblivious to the blush creeping up her cheeks, Chinami picked up her phone.
And sent a message to Renka.
[My friend Renka. Hello. Are you busy by any chance?]
A reply came back almost immediately.
[Hey, Chinami. I'm home now, so it's fine. You're messaging late today. Did you meet a guy or something?]
‘Huh...?’
Chinami’s eyes widened.
Blinking her deep pink eyes, she tapped the screen.
[How did you know? Did you happen to see me outside?]
The moment she sent the message, her phone buzzed.
Seeing Renka’s name on the caller ID, Chinami answered the call.
“Hello?”
- You met a guy? What are you talking about?
Renka’s voice was filled with urgency.
Wondering why she was acting like that, Chinami realized this was the first time she had ever met a man who wasn't family in a private setting.
“I had yogurt peach ice cream with my junior, Matsuda.”
- ...Matsuda?
“Yes, the same Matsuda Ken you know, my friend Renka.”
- .....
Silence on the other end of the line.
After waiting for a while with no response from Renka, Chinami tilted her head and spoke.
“Hello? My friend Renka? Renka-chan? Are you listening?”
- I-I'm listening... Why on earth did you go get ice cream with Matsuda?
“Well, what happened was...”
Chinami took her time explaining the whole story.
She could have just given a simple summary of the important parts, but she didn't. Instead, she recounted every detail of the incident.
It was because, deep down, she wanted Renka to have a good opinion of Matsuda.
- Ah... so that's what happened?
“Yes. Matsuda said it was fine, but I insisted on buying him something.”
- Because you hate being indebted to people?
“Um... something like that.”
- But why did Matsuda text you first?
“He sometimes sends messages to check in.”
- Don't you think he's trying to make a move on you? His reputation is a little... you know.
Chinami let out a small laugh.
Renka worried so much.
“My friend Renka, you shouldn't speak so ill of people.”
- But the rumors about Matsuda...
“The rumors weren't good, I know. But people are saying his attitude has improved now. And he's a really kind junior to me. He helps me a lot with my manager duties, too.”
- Has he ever done anything weird to you? Not even once?
“Of cou—”
Chinami started to say ‘of course’ but hesitated.
She remembered the strange feeling she got whenever Matsuda massaged the back of her neck.
Catching her hesitation, Renka quickly pressed.
- I can tell from your hesitation that something happened. Right?
“N-No. I was just lost in thought for a moment. He's never done anything strange.”
- Really?
“Yes, really.”
- Is that so...? Well, that's a relief... So what are you up to? Bored? Wanna go out? Or you must be getting hungry now after only having ice cream... want to get dinner together?
“Oh!? In that case, would you like to get Miso Katsu with me?”
- Alright. Should we meet in an hour?
“Yes! Sounds great!”
After setting a meeting place with Renka and ending the call, Chinami was about to head to the living room when she stopped dead in her tracks.
What was it she wanted to ask Renka?
She’d completely forgotten while talking to her.
It felt like she had Internet Lost Child Syndrome.
After a moment of thought, Chinami decided to just let it go.
I'll probably remember later, right?
Right now, satisfying her hunger was more important.
She was meeting Renka in an hour, so she should eat just enough peach to tide her over until then.
Hard peaches are more filling than soft ones, so half a soft peach should be just right.
[You're cute.]
Humming to herself, Chinami headed to the kitchen, replaying Matsuda's earnest voice in her head.
* * *
“....da-kun.”
“.....”
“....tsuda-kun.”
A refreshing voice tickled my ear, and a cool breeze hit my face.
Curled up under a thick duvet, I opened my eyes.
“....What?”
“What do you mean, what? It's me.”
Miyuki was in front of me. It seemed she'd already been to the bathroom, her hands and feet still damp.
“Ugh...”
Letting out a sleepy sigh, I shifted and asked.
“Why are you here so early...? I thought you said you'd arrive around eight...”
“It is eight o'clock, you idiot. Didn't you hear me open the door?”
“Didn't hear it...”
“The sound of me washing my hands in the bathroom, either?”
“Nope...”
“You didn't even know I was changing?”
“That's a shame. I should've seen that...”
As I licked my lips in disappointment, Miyuki let out a dry laugh.
I gave her a faint smile and looked outside.
It was dark.
The last time I talked to Miyuki on the phone was three in the afternoon, wasn't it?
I only meant to take a short nap, but I ended up sleeping soundly...
Yesterday, too, I just crashed after parting with Chinami. I feel like I've been sleeping a lot lately.
I rubbed the sleep from my eyes, shaking off the drowsiness, and looked up at Miyuki.
“How did you get here? Taxi?”
“No, the bus.”
“I told you to call...”
“I did call. Three times, but you didn't pick up... I figured you were sleeping, so I just came.”
“You did...?”
I scratched my head, embarrassed. Then Miyuki slipped into the duvet and left a trace of her pinkish tint on my lips, making me chuckle.
“How was your trip?”
“Yeah. The temple was amazing. It had an old-fashioned feel, but it was really nice.”
“That's a boring review. What did your sister say?”
“About what?”
“You said you were going to talk to her.”
“Ah...”
Letting out a short gasp, Miyuki’s eyes drifted upward.
She seemed to be mulling over Kana's reaction before saying with a mischievous look, “It was... a little fun.”
Judging by her expression, it looked like it was a lot more than ‘a little’ fun.
“Why? What did you talk about?”
“Just... lewd stuff...”
“What kind of lewd stuff?”
“The stuff I said I'd tell her...”
“Are you going to keep being coy? So what was the stuff you said you'd tell her?”
“Ah, stop prying...! I don't want to talk about it...”
Miyuki whined.
I guess she was still uncomfortable talking about it.
I can just picture it... Miyuki shyly talking about the things we did, and Kana's face turning red as she gulps and listens to her story. Yeah, I can see it.
“Just look at the pictures. The ones we took at the temple.”
“Ah, yeah...”
Miyuki fumbled for her phone and showed me the pictures she took with her family.
Inside the traditional temple, which blended harmoniously with nature, Miyuki’s family was smiling brightly, dressed in something akin to hiking gear.
As I silently scrolled through the photos, I asked.
“Are there any pictures taken at a torii?”
“Torii are gates you only find at shrines...”
“Why do you say that like I'm pathetic?”
“When did I—Heek!”
Miyuki let out a surprised yelp, her eyes widening.
It was because I had pulled her on top of me.
I patted the back of Miyuki, who was scrambling to get off, to calm her down and said with a stern expression.
“You were looking down on me, thinking I was an idiot.”
“What, are you paranoid or something? I wasn't...!”
“Yes, you were.”
“I said I wasn’t...”
Miyuki started to deny it, then pressed her lips shut.
She must have noticed my thing between her hips getting hard.
She placed her hands on my chest, pushed her upper body up, and looked down.
“.....”
She shook her head, then put a hand in her pocket and fumbled around.
Then she pulled something out.
“Here, put this on first... you pervert...”
It was a suju (数珠). The kind they call prayer beads.
It looked like she bought it at the temple... It was coated to a glossy shine and the quality was quite good.
“Prayer beads?”
“Yeah... give me your hand.”
I held out my hand without a word, and Miyuki stretched the prayer beads and slipped them onto my wrist.
The elastic cord, which had stretched slightly, shrank back, and the beads, each about half a finger-joint wide, settled snugly together with no gaps.
I examined the perfectly fitting beads on my wrist and said in a tone of wonder.
“It's not too tight, not too loose... it's a perfect fit. That's not easy with regular prayer beads... How'd you know my size?”
“I see and touch it every day, how could I not know? How is it? Is it okay?”
“It's nice. Comfortable.”
“What about the design? Is it too plain?”
“No, I like it better because it's simple.”
“Is there anything weird about it? Like something's misaligned... or the beads are bad...”
“Not really. But why are you asking all this?”
“No reason... just...”
Observing Miyuki’s reaction, I was certain these weren't just any prayer beads.
Judging by her embarrassed expression, it didn't seem like she was asking for feedback to get a refund on a product she'd bought.
And given how she'd just trailed off...
“Did you... make this yourself?”
It had to be a handmade bracelet.
“Yeah... there was a course on how to make them... so I made it for you, Matsuda-kun...”
A positive reply, quieter than a mosquito's buzz, escaped Miyuki's lips.
I stared at Miyuki with a deadpan expression for a moment. Just as her gaze shifted away, likely feeling burdened, I spoke.
“Miyuki.”
“.....”
Miyuki squeezed my waist tightly, as if pinching me.
She looked like she was about to die from happiness just from me calling her name in a low, trembling voice.
I gently stroked Miyuki’s back, from top to bottom.
“Thank you. I'll wear it every day.”
Perhaps she liked the sound of my sweet, affectionate voice, because Miyuki pressed her forehead against my chest and rubbed it from side to side.
Was she that embarrassed about making me prayer beads?
I patted Miyuki's bottom, which felt especially delicate today.
“....Hnngh...”
Hearing the distinct, heated nasal sound Miyuki makes when she's feeling really good, I smiled indulgently.
The atmosphere had become incredibly cozy. It might be nice to just relax like this for today.