Chapter 563

"Aren't you going to eat?"

"...Huh? Ah... I..."

"I'm taking a piece of your fried shrimp."

"Ah, yeah. Go ahead..."

At Miyuki's despondent reply, Matsuda chuckled and plucked a piece of fried shrimp from her gyudon.

"B-But if you eat something crispy..."

A sudden thought occurred to Miyuki and she tried to stop him, but more than half the shrimp was already in his mouth.

"It's good."

He chewed as if nothing were wrong, but his expression gave it away.

He was in pain every time he took a bite.

The inside of his mouth, busted up by Samoyama and his gang the day before, probably hadn't healed yet.

He could at least show it. He was keeping his mouth shut just so she wouldn't worry...

Deep down, Matsuda had a steadfast, stubborn streak.

That side of him clearly showed in matters involving her, the upperclassmen, or Asahina.

"If it hurts, just say it hurts. Why are you pretending you're fine...?"

"Who said it hurts?"

"You did, Matsuda-kun."

"Can you not nag?"

"I'm not nagging."

Did he sense the guilt in Miyuki's voice?

Matsuda scratched his cheek and spoke.

"It has nothing to do with you, so don't worry about it."

How could it have nothing to do with her, when he'd warned her the incident could blow up...

She felt she would be more at ease if he just snapped at her and blamed her, but Matsuda wasn't that type of person at all.

'This is driving me crazy...'

And so, Miyuki finished her meal with Matsuda and left the restaurant with him, barely registering whether she was tasting her food or just swallowing it.

Matsuda, who usually walked with his head held high and a slightly arrogant air, had his hat pulled down low today, his eyes fixed on the ground.

Was it because he didn't want others to see his face?

No, it seemed he was doing it because Miyuki was beside him—he was afraid people might think she was hanging out with a delinquent if they saw his battered face.

Of course, it could also just be because he was physically exhausted, but at least that was how it looked to Miyuki.

"Did you say you didn't want to meet today because you didn't want to show your face?"

"No."

"Yes, you did."

"If I really didn't want to meet up, I would have told you not to meet the day after tomorrow, either. It's not like these injuries will heal that fast."

"Is that so...?"

"I just genuinely wanted to rest, so don't worry about it too much."

"But I can't help worrying."

"Then come over to my place and put some ointment on me or something."

"Didn't you say you wanted to rest? Is it okay if I go to your house? Should I just apply the ointment and leave?"

"Why are you so excited?"

"Since when...!"

"Alright. Don't yell."

She wasn't excited; she just wanted to be with him because she was worried...

At times like this, it felt like Matsuda didn't understand her feelings at all.

No. Maybe he did know and was just teasing her.

Once they arrived at Matsuda's house, Miyuki immediately opened a kitchen cabinet.

She knew that was where he kept the first-aid kit.

Seeing this, Matsuda asked.

"How did you know the medicine was in there?"

"I saw it last time."

"Did you?"

He brushed it off like it was nothing.

Acting natural worked well. She should keep doing this from now on.

"Can I go brush my teeth first?"

"Why brush your teeth? Are you applying ointment inside your mouth, too? There's nothing in the kit for that..."

"No. I just want to. My mouth feels gross."

"Won't it hurt?"

"I still have to do it. I can't skip brushing my teeth entirely just because it hurts, right?"

"That's true, but..."

"Just sit and watch TV or something."

"Can I brush mine too?"

"Go ahead then. I'll give you a new toothbrush."

"No. I brought mine."

"Why on earth?"

"I thought we might study together today, just in case..."

"This is ridiculous."

Matsuda stared at Miyuki in disbelief, shrugged, and went into the bathroom.

Was it so strange to think they might meet by chance and end up studying together?

Treating this completely unrealistic scenario as a matter of course, Miyuki went into the small bathroom and finished brushing her teeth.

When she came out, she ran into Matsuda.

Come to think of it, they took about the same amount of time to brush their teeth.

She figured this must be destiny, too.

Spinning a happy little fantasy out of everything she could connect to fate, Miyuki sat down on the floor mat, patted the spot opposite her, and pulled the first-aid kit close.

"Sit down."

"Is this your house or something?"

"It's the Nurse's Office."

"Is it? That's a bit..."

Matsuda's mouth snapped shut instantly.

It looked like he'd caught himself just before saying something, but she could easily guess what it was.

He was definitely about to say, 'Isn't that a bit kinky?'

Since Matsuda had a slight interest in roleplay.

"A bit what?"

"Never mind."

Seeing him mumble his response, she was certain.

He was such a pervert. Still, it was somehow a shame. If he'd actually said it, she would have fired back without getting flustered.

Sitting down obediently across from her, Matsuda continued.

"Don't put it on too hard."

"Okay."

Seeing him up close from the front, his condition looked even worse.

The areas covered in scabs hurt her heart, but seeing his swollen eye made her chest ache terribly.

It felt as if he'd been beaten up all because of her, which only doubled her guilt.

"What happened to Samoyama?"

Miyuki asked as she dabbed iodine on a clean piece of gauze and took out a cotton swab to apply the antiseptic.

At that, Matsuda's gaze fixed intently on Miyuki.

He seemed surprised that Miyuki, who usually minded her manners when talking about upperclassmen, didn't do the same for Samoyama.

But what could she do? It was an undeniable fact that Samoyama was disgusting.

You can't fix people. Well, Matsuda could be fixed, but either way, Samoyama would act like trash wherever he went.

She actually hoped he would rot in prison for the rest of his life.

"I didn't get like this because of him."

"Don't lie."

"Alright."

"So what happened to him?"

"He broke his arm."

"Huh...?"

Startled by Matsuda's sudden, unexpected words, Miyuki's eyes went wide.

Then Matsuda waved a hand dismissively and explained.

"He fell down the stairs while he was trying to hit me."

"The stairs...?"

"That's where I got hit."

"T-Then wasn't it super dangerous?"

"Yeah. That's why his arm broke."

"No...! I'm asking if it was dangerous for you, Matsuda-kun, not Samoyama...!"

"Things always work out for me, so I'm fine."

"What kind of baseless optimism is that?"

"I'm saying it because I'm confident."

Was he saying he was confident in physical things... like fighting?

He was talking like a naive child.

Shaking her head at Matsuda, who was grinning broadly, Miyuki scooted closer to him.

Then, she carefully pressed the gauze against the wound on his face.

Dab, dab.

Even though the antiseptic must have stung, Matsuda's expression didn't change one bit.

His eyes trailed after Miyuki's moving hands, making him look somewhat like a little boy.

"It all got resolved."

When Matsuda suddenly spoke up, Miyuki, who had been tending to the cut near his eyebrow, asked:

"Are you sure it's resolved?"

"Why don't you believe me?"

"I'd believe you if you were believable."

"You'll see when the semester starts."

Hearing his confident tone, it did seem like the matter had been handled well.

That was a relief, but her feelings of guilt didn't fade easily.

'I shouldn't make a fuss trying to do unnecessary things.'

It was a lesson she'd learned since returning, and one she'd felt every single day lately.

"I'll put the ointment on now."

Miyuki said after meticulously finishing the disinfection.

In response, Matsuda simply nodded.

As she was applying ointment to Matsuda's wounds with a cotton swab, the corners of his mouth crept up into a smirk.

He had a look on his face like he wanted to pull some sort of prank.

"Hey."

Since she looked so gloomy, he seemed to be trying to lighten the mood. As long as it wasn't too extreme, she was willing to play along with whatever he said.

Just as Miyuki thought this and was about to look straight into Matsuda's eyes to reply...

"What is i... ah...?"

Matsuda's thick hand firmly grabbed the back of Miyuki's neck, and before she could say a word, he forcefully pulled her forward.

At the exact same moment, their lips met.

Terribly flustered by the sudden kiss, Miyuki's eyes shot wide open.

Her brain couldn't even function properly right now.

It was only natural, given that this kind of physical contact had come at such an unexpected time.

And while Miyuki was plunged into utter chaos, Matsuda's tongue was slowly sliding into her mouth.

Flinch.

At that, Miyuki's hands grabbed onto Matsuda's arms, which had somehow found their way around her waist.

It was a reflex reaction, happening before she could even think, driven by her need for support as all the strength drained from her body.

Frozen stiff like a block of wood in that state, Miyuki's entire body melted completely when Matsuda started kissing her even more boldly.

As her hands gripping Matsuda's arms slid down limply, he slowly pulled his lips away and grinned at her.

And then he spoke.

"See? Things always work out for me."