BXBX NOVEL Chapter 119: The norm for me and Miyagi — 119
Chapter 119: The norm for me and Miyagi — 119
Translated by KaiesV
Edited by KaiesV
It’s spring and the move is over.
I am spending my days not receiving 5,000 yen from Miyagi.
Everyday is new, as the 5,000 yen that existed between us as a matter of course is no longer there. When I wake up in the morning, Miyagi is there, and when I say good morning, she says good morning back. It seems to me that I am living a more human life than when I lived with my family, who did not respond to my voice, even though they should have been able to hear me.
However, it doesn’t live well with Miyagi.
There are a number of problems, but Miyagi won’t let me solve them.
I pull the milk pan out from under the sink. After a little hesitation, I add enough water to make enough tea for two people and put it on the fire.
There is no electric kettle or even a kettle in this house.
I brought everything I needed, and what I lacked, I bought and got.
I thought so, but when I started this kind of living, I found that there were a number of things that were missing. The electric kettle is one of the things missing and I would like to go out and buy one. But I haven’t been able to go out and buy it. It is also Miyagi’s fault.
I sigh one more time and turn around when I hear footsteps.
I see Miyagi with a sleepy look on her face, and I call out to her.
.
「Morning.」
「…Morning.」
「Want to drink tea?」
「I don’t need it.」
「What about lunch?」
Jeans and a hoodie.
When I asked Miyagi, who was dressed not so differently from usual, her brows wrinkled as if it was not what she wanted to be asked.
We did our morning greetings, but in another hour it will be twelve o’clock. It’s Saturday morning, so getting up late is not a problem, and I’m not sure how much say I have in Miyagi’s life cycle. However, since we are living together, I think it is acceptable to at least ask if they eat together.
「I’ll eat at my own discretion.」
「Why don’t you eat with me? I’ll make you some tea.」
I ask as I take a mug from the cupboard.
「I have plans with Maika.」
I think Utsunomiya again.
I don’t feel very good about it. Miyagi seems to have met with Utsunomiya more than necessary since my arrival here.
「Do you eat here if it’s appropriate? You’re not going to eat?」
「I’m in a hurry.」
I get answers that are not answers.
Does she eat properly outside with Utsunomiya or does she eat properly and leave here because she was going to be late? Or is it a different kind of food?
I have no idea from Miyagi’s words.
But even if I pursued the question, she would not give me a clear answer.
「I see.」
After a vague reply, Miyagi disappears into the washroom.
I put the mug I had just put out back in the cupboard, as it seems that her lunch was to be eaten somewhere proper, not here.
It’s been this way since I got here.
Miyagi doesn’t say much.
I think it’s like going back to the old days.
When I first started going to her room, Miyagi didn’t talk much and I didn’t like the silence she created. Even now there is a similar air of it.
Both of us are still adjusting to our new lives.
With the loss of the five thousand yen that had always been between us, we have gained the relationship of roommates, but I am unsure of the suitable form for that relationship. A few weeks ago it was normal to be by her side, but now it feels too close to her. But when she leave, she was too far away to feel comfortable.
I dump the hot water from the milk pan.
I’m living with Miyagi.
I knew it would not be all fun and games, but I had no idea it would be so difficult.
I prepare the eggs and milk and get out the bowl.
Crack the eggs into the bowl and mix them with the sugar, then add the milk and mix even better. The bread should be cut with a knife, but today I tear it into four pieces by hand and throw it into a bowl. Miyagi comes out of the washroom as I look at the bread soaked in the egg mixture. But before I can call out to her, she returns to her room.
I decide to bake French toast, even though it’s a little early for lunch, and heat a frying pan to melt butter.
The kitchen is small compared to Miyagi’s house. But it’s easy to use and clean, yet uncomfortable.
This house has not yet become my home.
I lay the bread soaked in the egg mixture in the frying pan and stare at it.
Miyagi is in this house when I wake up in the morning, when I come home from college, and even before I go to sleep. When I enter a room, I am alone, but there is almost always Miyagi on the other side of the wall.
This makes me a little nervous.
Probably, Miyagi is the same way.
It should be better than a dormitory, though.
I let out a breath and turn off the gas stove. I take a plate out of the cupboard, put the finished French toast on it, and bring it to the table. Then, open the refrigerator. Almost reach for the orange juice and serve the cider. Pour it into a glass and place it next to the French toast. As I sat down in my chair with my fork, I heard the door open.
「Sendai-san, I’m going out.」
I hear a voice and shift my gaze from the French toast to Miyagi.
「Do you have time when you get back?」
I want to know what time she will be back, but it’s hard to ask her, as if I wants to know what Miyagi does for 24 hours a day.
「I’m not sure.」
Miyagi answers curtly and heads for the front door before I can say anything.
Simply put, she runs away.
I drink the cider that Miyagi always drinks.
It still doesn’t taste good.
I don’t like the sensation of carbonation popping in my mouth and pushing my stomach from the inside out, and I don’t know why Miyagi likes to drink it. For me, cider is uncertain whether it is even sweet, and it is not something I would prefer to drink.
I sluggishly take a mouthful of French toast.
This one is sweet, but has the taste of butter and eggs.
The fluffy, moist bread soothes my stomach.
I eat about half and drink cider.
College has just started and I haven’t registered for classes yet.
What kind of lectures will I choose and what kind of schedule will I have in college? I would love to talk about those things with Miyagi, but she keeps running away from me. She has escaped me many times in the past, but it is indeed hurtful when she does it in this small space.
The small table and two chairs that are supposed to be communal here have also been made for my exclusive use. I can hardly remember Miyagi sitting across from me.
Last summer, though, we made and ate French toast together.
I sigh one more time and shove the rest of the French toast into my stomach.
I pull a fluffy piece of paper from the box of tissues on the table and wipe my mouth.
The box of tissues is not covered.
If Miyagi wants a cover, we can go buy one together. Even an electric kettle is something I’d like to go buy, and there may be other things I need. If I go shopping in bulk, it makes my life easier.
But I still don’t know if Miyagi wants to cover a box of tissues, or if she thinks we need an electric kettle. I think it’s all due to the fact that we don’t have too much time to talk to each other.
And I don’t even know what she’s doing with her alligator tissue cover and her stuffed black cat. The reason was simple: I had yet to enter Miyagi’s room. I think Miyagi’s room is too far away, even though they are supposed to live together.
I plop down on the table.
I touch my neck.
The pendant, which had been there all along, was not worn because Miyagi said I didn’t have to wear it.
I want to open the closed door and enter Miyagi’s room. Like in high school, sitting next to Miyagi and kissing her——
「She’s going to be pissed, definitely.」
Now that the five thousand yen that existed between us as a matter of course is gone, we can no longer do the things we used to do as a matter of course. We haven’t kissed since the day we went to the movies.
I wonder if Miyagi ever thinks about kissing me again.
I always thought I didn’t need the 5,000 yen.
But now I wish I had 5,000 yen.
These fresh days are harder to spend than they used to be.
I would like to talk to Miyagi.
No, we must talk.
Perhaps we should not live together at this distance.
Sooner or later it will fail.
I knew before I moved in that living with Miyagi would be difficult. Since I forced Miyagi to choose to come here, I have a certain responsibility to change the current atmosphere.
If I don’t know the distance, I might just get something to measure the distance.
A ruler to find our new distance.
With such a thing, we can find the distance where we can be with each other. We should be able to live at an appropriate distance without too much interference.
When I first went to Miyagi’s house, we made a rule together.
If we make rules again that will serve as rulers, this life will become more comfortable.
I look up and pick up my phone, which I had left on the edge of the table. Then I send a message to Miyagi, who is not quite sure where she is.
『I’ll be waiting for you without dinner.』
After a short wait, a reply is sent.
『I don’t know what time I’ll be home.』
『I’m waiting. All the way until Miyagi comes back.』
It sounds like a threat, but it can’t be helped.
『I’ll get something to eat and go home.』
She doesn’t send me what time she will be home, but if she was buying food to eat, she should be home by the time I am hungry. I sent『I’ll wait for you,』and cleared away the plate and glass that had French toast on it.