Chapter 547

Seeing Matsuda's completely disheveled hair, Miyuki brought a hand to her mouth.

He had been running his hands through his hair every time he got stuck while studying, turning it into a complete bird's nest. Combined with his unfocused eyes, he looked like he had just woken up. It was hilarious.

Having seen that look almost every day, her reaction to it had been fading, but after returning to the past, it felt like she was getting sentimental again.

Resisting the urge to fix his hair, Miyuki put her book away.

"How was it? Easy to understand, right?"

"It's hard as hell. I think I'll just give up."

"You were understanding it perfectly fine earlier. Don't be like that. Why don't you try for real?"

"What do you mean, 'try for real'?"

"Studying. If you build up step by step from the basics, I think you could score above average."

"Me?"

"Yes. You, Matsuda-kun."

"That's ridiculous."

"How can you give up without even trying? You seem to have a knack for it, and I'll help you, so let's do this together."

"You'll help? With my studying?"

"Yes. Watching you over the past few days, I thought there was plenty of room for you to change."

"Oh, really?"

Staring at Miyuki with a dumbfounded expression, Matsuda went on.

"Is something wrong with your head?"

Seriously, why was he asking if she had lost her mind when she was the one offering to help?

That was the problem with Matsuda. No, that had been the problem.

It wasn't that his personality itself was flawed; it was probably his environment that had made him that way.

She needed to purify him as soon as possible.

"How can you say that to someone who's offering to help you?"

"No... don't you think you're acting a little weird too?"

"About what?"

"Even just a few days ago..."

"I told you. I thought there was room for you to change, Matsuda-kun. So, are you going to do it or not?"

Cutting him off, Miyuki cornered him in a half-threatening tone.

At that, Matsuda let out a hollow chuckle and shrugged.

"Fine. Let's do it."

"Great. It's decided. Don't break your promise."

"Does this really count as a promise?"

"You said you'd do it, so it's a promise."

"Sure, whatever."

The thought of dragging the dead-last student up the rankings made her feel like her vision was already going dark... Actually, no, it felt great.

This time, she would study with Matsuda alone, without Tetsuya.

"Have you thought about joining any club activities, Matsuda-kun?"

"For now."

It was obviously the Kendo Club.

"Really? Which one?"

"The Kendo Club."

Miyuki planned to send Matsuda into the Disciplinary Committee instead of the Kendo Club.

Although the Academy didn't currently have a Disciplinary Committee, she planned to actively push the idea once she joined the Student Council so they could establish one.

The reason a delinquent group like the Superi circle existed in this Academy was that the Student Council was too busy.

Since it was hard to manage Public Morals, she intended to create the Disciplinary Committee, empower it, and ensure that violent circles could never even emerge.

Of course, the primary goal was to pull Matsuda away from the circle and the Kendo Club.

With the overlap between the Disciplinary Committee and the Student Council, the two of them would be able to meet frequently, too.

Regardless, there was so much to do.

The events might not even flow according to the original timeline, which made her feel all the more thrilled.

Glancing out the window, she saw the heavy rain had subsided a bit.

She was slowly getting hungry; she ought to grab a meal with Matsuda.

"I see. Aren't you hungry?"

"A little bit."

"I want to eat ramen."

"Ramen? Do you like it?"

"Hmm... I don't particularly like it, but I'm suddenly craving it."

"That happens sometimes. Now that you mention it, I kind of want some too."

"Really?"

"Yeah."

It was ridiculous how Matsuda absolutely refused to be the one to suggest going out to eat.

Was it because he assumed she wouldn't agree to eat with him?

Considering she had been treating him amiably, studying with him, and even exchanging light jokes from time to time, that didn't seem to be the reason...

Could it be that Matsuda was trying to string her along?

Just as she was trying to play a little hard to get, Matsuda might be approaching her the exact same way.

He must have noticed that she was acting affectionate.

She had tried her best to hold back, but she kept brushing her arm against his while teaching him...

Furthermore, even if they hadn't been pressed entirely together, they were still sitting quite close... It made sense that he would notice.

Am I doomed...?

This made her look like an easy girl who fell in love at the drop of a hat.

To borrow one of Matsuda's cruder phrases, she was acting like a total amateur. She should probably restrain herself.

Wait, did she really have to restrain herself? Why couldn't she just throw herself at him?

Even if their relationship progressed rapidly, as long as they didn't go all the way, couldn't she still enjoy those sweet feelings?

Of course, it was a shame to lose the unique, heart-fluttering tension of the talking stage, but she felt like it wouldn't be a bad idea to just go for it...

If one choice was good and the other bad, she would unconditionally pick the good one, but with two happy options, she didn't know what to do.

"Where are we going to study?"

Miyuki shook off her stray thoughts at Matsuda's subsequent question and replied.

"I don't care where. But my house is off-limits."

She had made a mistake.

She really hadn't needed to add that last part...

Now it sounded like she was leading him into suggesting they do it at his house.

"Guess you don't want to invite me over."

Matsuda had taken it completely differently.

Her heart pounded at the thought that a rebellious guy like him would change again because of her.

Suppressing those feelings, Miyuki deliberately put on a coy attitude.

"For now."

"Then let's meet halfway and do it at a cafe."

"Huh?"

"I said let's do it at a cafe. Any quiet place works, right?"

He should have just asked to do it at his place like before... He kept making things difficult for her.

"Isn't a cafe a bit much for studying? We'd have to order something, and it might be a nuisance to the people around us..."

"Then, should we go to a study cafe or something?"

Just say your house is spacious and we should do it there!

Swallowing those words, Miyuki forced a rather unnatural smile.

"We'd have to be quiet there."

"Do you study loudly?"

"No. But we might chat during breaks... and then we'd have to walk on eggshells around the other people..."

"Are you not even allowed to chat in a place like that?"

"You can in a low voice, but some people are sensitive to even that. Plus, it's basically a place people go alone."

"That's strict. Do you just want to do it at my house, then? It's a detached house, and it's cool inside."

He finally said what she wanted to hear.

She felt a little relieved.

"Really?"

"Yeah. I live alone, so it'll be quiet."

"Oh, really? Okay. Let's do that."

Miyuki decided not to bring up the topic of Matsuda's parents.

She couldn't even begin to describe how awkward she had felt back then when she had asked without thinking, only for him to bluntly state that his parents had passed away... no, that they were dead.

"Sure. I'll send you the address. I can just text the number you used to contact me last time, right?"

"Yes."

"Starting next week?"

"Hmm... let's do that."

"Got it. Should we call it a day and head out, then?"

Head out?

What about food? What about the ramen?

Was he hesitating to ask her to eat together just in case she refused?

Looking like someone who would shower attention on multiple women... and having actually been exactly like that, yet here he was, playing coy.

"Aren't you hungry?"

"I am."

"Then let's go eat ramen together."

"Sure, then."

What the...?

He was accepting it just like that?

Had she just gotten wrapped around Matsuda's finger?

It didn't really matter, but for some reason, it felt like she had lost. It was frustrating.

She puckered her lips into a pout, then pulled them back in.

Muttering to herself where Matsuda couldn't hear, Miyuki packed away her books and stood up.

What should they talk about while eating?

She already knew everything there was to know about Matsuda.

Still, she should talk about everyday things to build intimacy.

Since she already knew so much, it would be easier to empathize with him, which would likely bring them even closer.

Parting ways with Matsuda downtown and returning home alone felt pretty awful.

Not that it was a bad feeling. It was just empty.

If there was a takeaway, it was that she had shared a rather affectionate conversation with Matsuda and gotten him to save her phone number. But that alone wasn't enough.

"Haa..."

And why was it so hot today?

She wanted to blast the air conditioner at Matsuda's house and sleep tightly embracing him while feeling a slight, dusky chill.

Was it at least a relief that she felt sleepy?

She should just go to sleep early.

Even though it was a bit early to go to bed, Miyuki forced her eyes shut to end the day. The next morning, she shot up in bed at the sound of her alarm.

Today was the weekend. The weekend was a day off for all educational institutions.

The reason she was thinking about such an obvious fact was that she had made up her mind to go to the Academy today.

Why? To see Matsuda.

Back then, Matsuda had cleaned the bathrooms even on weekends.

Although he gave off a delinquent vibe, he also had a diligent side to him, so he...

Seeing Matsuda back then, she had thought it was quite unexpected, but after seeing his true colors, it felt entirely natural.

Of course, he had probably aimed for the weekend when cleaning was relatively easier just to shorten his penalty period, but simply not skipping out and lying about it was praiseworthy in itself.

Taking a shower while happily pondering what to talk about with Matsuda today, Miyuki got dressed. But just as she was about to leave through the front door, she froze.

Something had just occurred to her.

"Ah, right."

Unlike before, the current Matsuda had only been assigned three days of bathroom cleaning.

As of yesterday, his cleaning duties were completely finished. Even if she went to the Academy, she wouldn't be able to see him.

She needed to keep even these trivial details in mind... She was worried for the future.

"What are you doing just standing there? Aren't you going out?"

At the question from her mother, who was now a year younger, Miyuki lightly scratched her cheek and replied.

"I am going to head out, but..."

"But what? Did you forget your Cell Phone?"

"It's nothing like that."

Taking off her shoes, Miyuki climbed the stairs and went into her room.

Then, she called Matsuda.

"What is it..."

After three or four rings, Matsuda's sleep-addled voice came through.

Miyuki pulled her Cell Phone away from her face, took a few deep breaths, and asked.

"Were you sleeping?"

"Yeah."

"But it's eight-thirty?"

"Isn't it normal to still be asleep at eight-thirty...? It's the weekend."

"No. I think it's about time to wake up. Let's study together."

"Didn't we agree to start next week?"

"Do you have plans today?"

"Not really, but..."

"Then I'll head over there. It's the address you texted me yesterday, right?"

"No... hey."

"See you soon."

"Wai—"

Hanging up before Matsuda could say anything else, Miyuki glanced at her full-body mirror and opened her wardrobe.

She should dress a little more casually. Right now, it was too obvious that she had put a lot of effort into her outfit.

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