Chapter 558

“Ah...”

His slightly bronzed bare skin was visible inside his yukata.

Startled, Miyuki quickly turned her head.

“Why aren't you wearing anything underneath...!”

“Do I have to? I'm boiling alive here.”

“Well, no, but... you should have told me before I started fixing it...”

“I forgot.”

“How do you forget something like that?”

“I did.”

In truth, Miyuki was just acting.

She was already practically starving for him, so getting a glimpse of Matsuda's bare skin thrilled her.

But she wanted to seem proper in front of Matsuda, so she feigned embarrassment.

It also helped hide her excitement.

“Ahem...”

Clearing her throat, Miyuki feigned trembling hands as she somehow managed to adjust his yukata properly.

She then tied his obi securely and followed through on her earlier resolve—pretending to brush off some dust so she could feel his broad chest through the thin fabric.

“All done...”

“Good work.”

“Aren't you going to say thank you?”

“Is that necessary?”

“Of course it is...! Any normal person would naturally say thank you right now...!”

“Thank you.”

“You sound like I'm forcing you at gunpoint...”

“You're imagining things.”

“Fine.”

“So, what now?”

What else? Enjoy the festival, of course.

They were going to look around and go on a proper date.

“Follow me.”

Gesturing for him to follow with a confident air, Miyuki led Matsuda toward a food stall selling yakitori.

“I'm getting chicken thigh. What do you want, Matsuda-kun?”

“Anything.”

“Then have the same as me. Two thigh skewers, please.”

After paying, Miyuki received the skewers and held one out to Matsuda with a dignified air, like an older sister buying a snack for her little brother.

“Here.”

Was her pose that funny?

A soft chuckle escaped Matsuda's lips.

She felt happy just seeing him already enjoying himself.

Tucking her rising excitement away, Miyuki headed straight for the stall her dad operated.

“You're here?”

“Yeah. Let me introduce you to my friend. This is Matsuda-kun...”

I'm planning to invite him over to spend the night soon.

Barely suppressing those words, Miyuki was about to speak again when Matsuda bowed a full ninety degrees and greeted Wataru.

“Hello, my name is Matsuda Ken.”

Even though he usually acted like a delinquent, he was extremely polite to adults.

Of course, he still had a rebellious streak and didn't just blindly obey, but he had a good heart.

Thinking about how he carried a beggar on his back while cursing, or how he grumbled yet still cleaned the bathroom when the teacher told him to, made the answer obvious.

And that was one of the reasons she liked Matsuda.

“R-Right... You're an energetic one.”

In the past, her parents had known Matsuda well.

They had mentioned him many times, calling him a delinquent.

Come to think of it, before they started speaking well of Matsuda, they had often expressed their dislike for him, and Tetsuya had always been present during those conversations.

Not that she wanted to condemn Tetsuya for it.

It wasn't as if he had pushed them to badmouth Matsuda.

It just left a slightly uncomfortable feeling. She also felt vaguely sorry toward Matsuda.

Still, it was true that the Matsuda of that time had been a massive delinquent.

Besides, did the past really matter? She just needed to focus on the present.

Adopting a carefree mindset just like Matsuda, Miyuki gently tugged on his yukata sleeve as he made somewhat stiff small talk with Wataru.

“What is it?”

When he turned to look at her, she pointed toward the path leading outside the Shrine for Wataru to see.

“Dad, there's an orphanage outside. Can Matsuda-kun and I deliver some takoyaki to them?”

Rather than waiting for the kid to show up, she figured it would be better to just drop the takoyaki off first.

She didn't want to waste her cozy time with Matsuda chasing down a fleeing kid.

It seemed like an excellent idea. She could ease her conscience and still enjoy a date with Matsuda.

“That's very thoughtful of you. But did you two agree on this beforehand?”

“Huh?”

“Matsuda looks like he's hearing this for the first time.”

Just as Wataru pointed out, Matsuda was staring at Miyuki in visible bewilderment.

He seemed surprised that she was deciding things on her own so suddenly, but he looked handsome doing it.

“Ah, it's fine.”

“Fine?”

“He agreed to do whatever I say in exchange for tutoring him.”

“I-Is that so...?”

Wataru looked back and forth between Matsuda's bewildered face and Miyuki, then started making the takoyaki for the orphanage while ringing up the occasional customer.

After boxing up about twenty orders, Miyuki split the load evenly with Matsuda and leisurely headed out of the Shrine.

“I didn't know you were such a good liar.”

At the sound of Matsuda's voice beside her, she played dumb with a serene expression.

“What lie?”

“The part about me agreeing to do whatever you say in exchange for tutoring. When did I ever agree to that?”

“It's just the rule of give and take.”

“And my total obedience is your 'take'?”

“Yep.”

“You're pushing it.”

“I learned it from you, Matsuda-kun.”

“Real clever.”

“Thanks for the compliment.”

“It wasn't a compliment.”

Bickering playfully as they exited the Shrine, Miyuki and Matsuda delivered the takoyaki to the orphanage.

After bowing in return to the deeply appreciative director, she walked out feeling refreshed.

So this was why people did good deeds.

But why wasn't Matsuda checking out the nape of her neck?

She had put so much effort into dressing up, but he showed no sign of even looking.

It was disheartening... but it wasn't like she could just order him to look... How frustrating.

Maybe he'll look without realizing it if I walk slightly ahead?

While she was thinking that, Matsuda pointed off in the distance to ask what something was, revealing a slight scrape on his palm.

“That...? It's just a ball-tossing game. But hold on a second...”

Grabbing Matsuda's wrist without warning, Miyuki ignored his protests and carefully examined his hand.

“What happened here? Did you scrape it?”

“I got it from drumming.”

“You didn't have this the day before yesterday, did you?”

“Yeah. I messed up trying to show off at the academy yesterday.”

“What exactly did you do to get a scrape like this? Does it sting?”

“Not really. Ah—! Are you kidding me?”

“Sorry.”

Matsuda flinched and furrowed his brow even though she had barely brushed it.

Miyuki quickly apologized and pulled his hand closer to her face to inspect it.

Her breathing grew heavy.

Staring at his large palm, she felt an intense urge to lick it.

She wasn't a pervert or anything... but her desires felt so much stronger since returning to the past.

“What are you doing?”

Matsuda's suspicious tone snapped Miyuki back to her senses, and she quickly dropped his hand.

“I was just checking if I could put some ointment on it. Want to stop by my place for a bit after the festival?”

“Your place?”

Was she coming on a bit too strong?

No, people these days were very open-minded.

Matsuda was the same. He might seem surprisingly conservative, but he had an open mind when it came to things like this.

“Yeah. Just pop in for a second, put some ointment on, and go.”

“I have ointment at my place too.”

“Then put it on yourself.”

“Why are you getting mad?”

“When did I get mad?”

“Weren't you just mad a second ago?”

“You're imagining things.”

“Whatever you say.”

“Matsuda-kun, you know...”

“My problem is the way I brush people off with a 'whatever' attitude?”

“...So you do know.”

“I've heard you say it so much I could recite it in my sleep.”

Mhm. The atmosphere wasn't bad.

She had a feeling something good was going to happen.

Embracing that feeling, Miyuki explored the rest of the Shrine with Matsuda.

They helped out together at her dad's food stall;

laughed and got frustrated playing various traditional games;

and she even squatted next to Matsuda as he exaggeratedly complained about the pain in his feet, teasing him about how ugly they were...

After spending some time like that, the people gathered beneath the dreamlike lanterns began to move in small groups toward a single destination.

They were going to watch the fireworks.

Tonight, I have to get him to at least hold my hand... no, put his arm around my shoulder.

Making that resolve, Miyuki pointed toward the gathering crowd.

“Looks like the fireworks are starting. Let's go.”

“Do we really have to watch?”

It was funny how he complained but stood up anyway.

He was such a tsundere.

Miyuki led the way up a small hill in the Shrine's backyard that offered the best view of the fireworks. The first firecracker went off the moment they arrived, and she thought the timing was perfect.

In her opinion, the mood was absolutely perfect.

The crowd was completely distracted by the fireworks, and she and Matsuda were standing at the very back.

Given how secluded they were, it was only right for her relationship with Matsuda to progress another step right here.

She had been absolutely certain of it... but she was sorely mistaken.

Matsuda leaned against a thick tree with his arms crossed, and his posture didn't change as the minutes ticked by.

He maintained that exact stance, doing absolutely nothing else.

“Oh... that's cool.”

He even let out an exclamation of awe as the fireworks exploded with a bang.

He didn't so much as rest an arm behind his head; it was as if he genuinely only cared about the fireworks.

What is he doing...?

He could at least stand next to her to watch them.

What was with that pose? Was he messing with her?

Did he want to see her fly into a fit of rage?

Hurry up and do something while I'm playing nice.

Contrary to her wishes, Matsuda remained completely motionless.

Until the fireworks ended, and until Miyuki's heart burned to ashes from frustration.