Chapter 562 – Side Story IF. Legal Tailing #2
‘Where are you going…’
Miyuki, who was walking behind Matsuda at a distance while walking through the city center, was startled.
“Ah…!”
It was because Matsuda suddenly turned around.
At that moment, Miyuki quickly crouched down on the signboard next to her and only looked at Matsuda, not paying any attention to what other people were thinking.
Fortunately, he was looking at the sign on the building behind.
Since no one had noticed her yet, Miyuki let out a sigh of relief and left the sign just as Matsuda started walking again.
But why does it keep spinning round and round?
Matsuda is not a guide… Could it be that Samoyama did not give detailed directions?
Just as I was thinking those thoughts, Matsuda disappeared into the crowd.
‘Oh, I can’t do that…’
Because there were so many people playing roulette on the street, Miyuki lost sight of him in the blink of an eye.
I rushed over and looked around where Matsuda was for the last time, but in vain.
Because there were so many people, it seemed difficult to find him.
“Haa…”
So then, did he do anything right when he came here?
After returning, it’s nice to be able to spend sweet time with Matsuda, but I feel like my self-esteem is plummeting.
Still, I wandered around for about 20 minutes to see if anything, but Matsuda wasn’t even visible.
Eventually, Miyuki trudged back home, watching a drama with her parents and older sister, and when it seemed it was time for Matsuda to return, she went into her room.
[Matsuda-kun.]
[Why.]
The reply came immediately.
Could it be that she was secretly waiting for his contact?
[Did you go to your appointment?]
[Uh. Somehow.]
[Then, are you going to study tomorrow?]
[No. I want to get some rest. You’ve been doing it every day lately.]
[Not every day?]
[You did it often.]
[Often and every day are completely different.]
[Anyway, let’s get some rest tomorrow. Don’t you know that if you try to forcefully teach something every day, you will only develop resistance?]
[When did I try to teach you something by force? Studying is done with mutual consent.]
[Don’t talk back.]
Since I have nothing to say, I don’t come out loud…
Still, looking at Matsuda’s tone, it seems like nothing is going on.
Was it resolved well? If so, I wonder if I can take a breather.
Sending Samoyama away is a different matter, but I’m really glad.
[Then what do you do the day after tomorrow?]
[Me? Or us?]
It’s a meaningful statement.
Either me or us… I feel like they are telling me to clearly decide on a route from now on, but I also feel like they are trying to subtly manipulate me.
[Us.]
As I thought before, from now on, let’s not do any push-and-pull.
That’s something that only experts do, so it’s right for someone like yourself who is in love with love to go straight ahead.
But why am I not receiving a reply?
Was Matsuda embarrassed? Because you said something uncharacteristic of yourself?
When you are constantly being pushed and manipulated, what are you supposed to do?
I think I was dazed for a moment because it was an unexpected reaction, but I might be surprisingly weak in this area.
[The day after tomorrow is still like that.]
After about a minute, I received an answer from Matsuda.
Miyuki’s eyebrows furrowed when she saw the sentence she didn’t like.
[Why? Should I go down to the countryside?]
It occurred to me that Matsuda never went to places like her grandmother’s house.
I knew that her parents weren’t there, but I never received a call from her parents or her mother’s family, and I just assumed that she didn’t have any family left because she didn’t return home for the holidays.
[No.]
If it’s okay with Matsuda, I guess I can see her anytime.
For now, that’s not important right now, so let’s focus on the conversation.
[Then?]
[Ah, why do I have so many questions? I sleep.]
There doesn’t seem to be anything major going on.
I guess I really want to rest, but I guess I’ll just pop in around lunchtime.
If he isn’t home when I go, I have to squat in front of the front door and wait miserably.
Then, Matsuda will feel sorry and ask her to come inside the house, and from then on, she will either watch TV or study while enjoying the cool air.
[I’m bored, let’s play.]
[Let’s meet?]
[No. Let’s talk and play.]
[What are you talking about?]
[Just this and that. Telling me what movie I saw recently or if there is a good restaurant…]
[I saw a movie with you recently, and didn’t we go to a restaurant together?]
[Ah… I’m just giving an example, but you can talk about other things as well.]
[I see. Are you going with Miura these days?]
Mmmm. It was about time I became curious about this.
[Don’t you know better about that, Matsuda-kun?]
[How do I know?]
[You’ve been spending a lot of time with Matsuda-kun recently.]
[If you break up with me and go home, you won’t know from then on.]
[Are you asking if I stuck around after that?]
[No. Are we still playing together?]
[I never met him after vacation.]
[What’s going on?]
[Well? How did it end up like that?]
In fact, I am keeping my distance in order to further win Matsuda’s favor and because I know Tetsuya’s dark intentions, but…
Even if we decided to be honest, I don’t think we’ll open all our hands, so let’s keep this a secret.
Miyuki, who was fiddling with her cell phone, had a bright smile on her face.
But she didn’t realize it, and focused all her attention on the conversation with Matsuda, crossing her legs and pounding the bedsheets.
**
‘Huh…?’
The next morning.
Miyuki, who was about to stop by a restaurant she often went to with Matsuda in the old world, saw a familiar back in front of her and looked for a place to hide around, just like yesterday.
A man is seen wearing a hat.
Broad shoulders, sturdy back, tall height, and gait…
When I thought about it all, it was clear that that man was Matsuda.
How could you not know when you see it every time?
I never thought I would see it at this exact time… I guess fate is fate after all.
In fact, the possibility of running into each other increased because I walked closer to Matsuda’s house, on the street where his favorite restaurant is located, but it’s true that I found it by chance.
Let’s think that good things are good things.
But why is Matsuda here at this time?
You said you were leaving Tokyo… Are you planning to leave around lunchtime?
Whatever it is, I have to follow it.
I found it by chance, and was curious as to where it was going, so I just followed it.
So this is legal tailing.
Miyuki, who was mentally victorious, waved one of his fists in the air in disappointment as Matsuda entered a nearby gyudon restaurant.
It wasn’t the restaurant he wanted to go to.
This is a bit of a waste. Next time, let’s broaden our thinking so that we can enter a restaurant like Matsuda.
Anyway, I have to change the menu.
Originally, he was going to eat udon, but since Matsuda went to eat gyudon, shouldn’t he eat the same?
That is correct.
Miyuki, who spoke proudly, soon opened the door to the gyudon restaurant where Matsuda entered.
And after greeting the employee who welcomed him, he first looked for a corner seat with walls on all sides.
It was because that was Matsuda’s preferred seat.
‘There is…!’
Matsuda can be seen looking at the menu with his back to himself.
I should say hello right away. Don’t forget to manage your facial expressions as if you just met by chance.
“Matsuda-kun, what are you doing here?”
I touched Matsuda’s broad back and called out to Matsuda as calmly as possible, and he immediately turned around.
“What? “Why are you here?”
And Miyuki was speechless when she saw him widening his eyes as if surprised.
“…”
It wasn’t because I was embarrassed by Matsuda’s question.
It was because his entire face had turned into a reddish bun.
It wouldn’t have been a problem if it was just swelling, but there was a bluish bruise on one of his eyes.
Not only that, he had a scab on his lip and bandages all over his face, so anyone could see that he looked like he had been beaten.
“Uh, why is your face like this?”
When he opened his mouth and barely made a sound, Matsuda scratched the back of his head in embarrassment.
“Well… Just.”
Matsuda met Samoyama yesterday.
It wasn’t said that they met directly, but it was certain given the circumstances.
In that case, the culprit who made Matsuda like that would have been Samoyama and that childish… Trashy circle he belonged to.
“No… It’s not just that, why is it like this…!”
Was the reason you said you wouldn’t meet today or tomorrow because you didn’t want to see this face?
If you think about it that way, it makes sense.
“Sit down first. Since we met, let’s start by eating together.”
Unlike Miyuki, who was becoming more and more excited, Matsuda’s voice was very calm.
Miyuki, affected by this, took a few deep breaths and sat down across from Matsuda.
“Who did this…? “Maybe in that second year…”
“Let’s calm down and eat first?”
After saying that, Matsuda handed out her menu.
Miyuki took it with slightly trembling hands and pretended to look at the menu intently, suppressing his anger.
This anger was directed at Samoyama and the Spree circle, but it was also anger that she blamed herself for.
This is because she remembered Matsuda’s words that the fact that she went to the rooftop with the physical education teacher and the student council would lead to a bigger problem.
It seems that Matsuda faced a situation that she didn’t have to face because of herself.
This is something she has been avoiding for so long, and she is shocked. And I get angry.
Until just yesterday, she thought she hated sweet potatoes, but she never thought she would be the cause…
I’m sorry, I’m so embarrassed that I can’t raise my face.
