Chapter 561

She glanced at Matsuda. His expression was calm.

Her own heart was in turmoil... She wished he would at least drop a hint about what was going through his head.

Stepping out of the movie theater with that thought in mind, Miyuki pointed at the cafe across the street.

"Should we go over there and study?"

"Are you crazy?"

"Don't talk like that."

"Then don't give me a reason to. We just watched a movie—what do you mean, 'study'?"

"We finished the movie, so of course we should study."

"Is studying the only thing in that head of yours?"

"Then why don't you tell me what we should do, Matsuda-kun?"

"Now you're just being sarcastic."

"Yep, I am. You swore at me, so I think I'm allowed at least this much."

"When did I swear at you?"

"You asked if I was crazy. You said it ten seconds ago and you already forgot?"

"Is that swearing? I was just asking a question."

He never let her have the last word. It was infuriating.

Matsuda chuckled at the sight of Miyuki's exaggerated pout.

Fighting the urge to pinch his side, Miyuki said, "I'm going home."

"Are you mad?"

"No. But spending so much time with an idiot like you, Matsuda-kun, I think it's rubbing off on me."

"You're definitely mad."

"I said I'm not."

"Sorry."

"Don't give me a half-hearted apology."

"I apologize and you still throw a fit. Just tell me what we're doing next."

Even if it killed him, he refused to just tell her to leave.

She liked that about him.

"I already told you. Let's study."

"Anything but that."

"Hmm..."

If Matsuda had a car, they could have driven out of the city to see some nice scenery...

Not that she was disappointed. There was plenty they could do just by walking.

If they really wanted to go on a trip, they could always take public transit.

It was vacation, and they had all the time in the world.

The only problem was that Matsuda hated traveling far, though come to think of it, back when they were first flirting, he had gone the distance without a single complaint.

Sitting pressed up against each other on a bus or a train sounded pretty nice, too.

They could take in the peaceful countryside scenery, and when it got late and the buses stopped running, they could sneak off to a nearby...

"You're thinking real hard about this."

Caught daydreaming about a steamy night with Matsuda, Miyuki flinched at his words and frantically shook her head.

"W-who says I'm thinking hard?"

"Why are you so jumpy? I just made an observation."

"Because it felt like you were rushing me...!"

"Yeah? So where do you want to go?"

"I'm thinking."

"You just said you weren't thinking hard."

She had felt it a lot lately, but ever since she returned to the past, Matsuda's cheeky side seemed to have leveled up.

Why was that? Was it because she looked so appetizing... no, because her reactions made her far too easy to tease?

That was probably it.

"I could decide a lot faster if you would just stay quiet, Matsuda-kun."

"Got it."

Matsuda locked his fingers behind his head, his expression completely relaxed.

Would he stay that calm if she just pressed her lips against his?

Entertaining the thought for a brief moment, Miyuki finally answered.

"Let's just take a walk in the nearby Park."

She decided to keep it light today.

In truth, she really did want to go on a trip, but since she couldn't predict how Matsuda would react, she had opted for the safest route.

If it were the old, simpleminded Matsuda, she could have guessed his response, but the current him was like a man hiding dozens of snakes inside him.

At least, that was how she felt right now.

"You aren't planning to make us study there, are you?"

"No...! Ugh, if you don't want to, then don't. I don't care if we just go home."

"Should we?"

"...Are you that tired?"

"I'm kidding. I want to spend more time with you."

Flinch.

Miyuki's shoulders gave a faint, microscopic tremble at his words.

His attitude of just going along with whatever she wanted had suddenly shifted into open affection.

This was exactly why she couldn't predict him anymore.

"Well... alright, then."

Forcing herself to act coy, Miyuki fell into step with the snickering Matsuda, terrified that he would hear her pounding heart.

She walked with him every single day and had never felt like this before. She had no idea why her heart was suddenly fluttering so much today.

'This is driving me crazy...'

It really felt like she was being trained.

She needed to stay on her toes. No, was that right? She had decided not to play games with him anymore, so wasn't it better to just relax?

It was a dilemma. A total dilemma.

As she pressed a finger to the keyboard, the sound echoed through the spacious private lesson room.

Without exaggeration, it was loud enough to make her ears ring. Startled by the sheer volume and vibration, Miyuki clutched her chest.

"T-that startled me..."

Her synthesizer teacher chuckled.

"I warned you. I told you that turning up the reverb would make the whole room echo."

"I didn't expect it to be this loud... It completely blew past my expectations... It sounds majestic, though."

"Right?"

"Yeah. It's fascinating..."

"It's a great way to imprint the keyboard's sound on the audience. But you can't overuse it. You have to use it only when the keyboard needs to shine, making sure it stays in harmony with the rest of the band."

"Understood."

"So, how do you like learning it? Is it manageable?"

"It's fun. I think I enjoy it even more because it's completely new territory for me."

Just as she said, learning something new really was fun.

She had felt it during her very first lesson here, but broadening her horizons just felt good.

It felt like she was becoming a whole new person, someone much more vibrant than before.

She was glad she had followed Matsuda here.

"Really?"

"You look surprised. Do I not look like the type to be in a band?"

"Hmm... I don't mean this in a bad way, but honestly, I did think so at first."

She couldn't blame the teacher.

Band members usually had a bit of a flashy streak.

That was the stereotype. It might have been a prejudice, but she and the vast majority of people thought of them that way.

Meanwhile, anyone could see that she looked like a textbook honor student.

Her hair, her face, her clothes—everything about her was quiet and modest... Nobody would ever guess she was learning an instrument for a band.

"Right?"

"I'm sorry if that offended you."

"Not at all. I was the one who brought it up, anyway."

"Thanks for understanding. But my mind has actually changed a bit. I tried picturing it, and I think it would actually suit you pretty well. It's like your vibe has subtly shifted, I guess? Something like that."

The teacher's words resonated with her. She had stuck with this exact same hairstyle and makeup for a very long time.

But maybe it would be okay to change things up occasionally... no, maybe even often.

It would change her image, and give Matsuda a fresh look to admire.

'Alright.'

Now that the thought was in her head, she decided she would run to the salon today.

After enjoying her synth lesson, Miyuki took a short break to run to the restroom, stealing a glance at the guitar room on her way back.

Through the clear glass window, she could see Matsuda intently strumming an electric guitar.

He seemed to be repeating a single chord to get a feel for it. The way he focused so intensely was incredibly cool.

The fact that his guitar teacher was a highly mature and beautiful woman definitely made her anxious, but right now, Matsuda genuinely seemed interested in nothing but learning the guitar.

In a way, it was a relief. Matsuda looked like he could seduce any woman in the world if he put his mind to it, yet he was only paying attention to four girls, including Miyuki herself.

Now that they had returned to the past, he was entirely focused on her, but the real challenge was keeping his attention locked onto her.

Miyuki returned to her room to finish out the lesson, then met up with Matsuda, who finished at the same time.

He was strumming an invisible guitar in the air, trying to commit what he had just learned to memory.

She walked up to him and asked, "How was your lesson today?"

"Not bad. You?"

"I had a ton of fun."

"Yeah? Didn't you say you didn't think it would suit you?"

"I never once said that. Who are you getting me mixed up with?"

"I'm not getting you mixed up with anyone."

Playing it cool and subtly fishing for information never worked on Matsuda.

Today was no exception.

Was it just because he was simpleminded? Or was it because he could read straight through people's intentions?

Given that Matsuda acted like an idiot but was actually incredibly sly, it was probably the latter.

"Whatever, then."

The moment she mirrored his typical response, Matsuda looked down at her and let out a dry laugh.

"You really are starting to sound like me."

"Why are you insulting me?"

"Sounding like me is an insult?"

"Yes. A horrible one."

"That cuts deep."

"Your face says otherwise. Do you have time to study today?"

"No."

"Are you slacking off?"

"We agreed to only study at home anyway, how is that slacking off? And I'm not joking today, I really can't."

"Why?"

"I have to go somewhere."

"Where? Is it somewhere I can't go with you?"

"Yeah."

He was wearing the exact same expression he had when they ran into Samoyama outside last time.

He was dead serious about her not following him, trying to keep her from getting tangled up in whatever it was.

Had the situation escalated to the point where it was finally going to blow up?

She had hoped they could at least avoid this during vacation, when the Student Council had no authority to intervene... This was a disaster.

It felt like a heavy lump was stuck in her throat, the kind she desperately needed to wash down with something cold and refreshing.

Nothing was confirmed yet, so she needed to find out what was going on.

The problem was that Matsuda clearly didn't want to tell her, but she knew if she clung to him and annoyed him enough, he would reluctantly give her an honest answer.

She was absolutely sure of it. That was just the kind of person Matsuda was.