Chapter 22 Chapter 22 The Most Special
"It's time to go to college."
After hearing several classmates at the back table talking about cram school and university, Momozawa Airi, who was about to pack her schoolbag, lay down on the desk and let out a long breath.
The weather is getting cooler and exam season is drawing closer.
I remember that at this time last year, many people were still chatting about cultural festivals, club activities, etc.
She resigned from her job to the coffee shop owner before school started, citing her busy studies and need to prepare well for the exams.
The boss lady waved her hand and said in a domineering manner, "Don't worry, Airi, just study hard. You can continue to work here after you graduate. I'll keep a position for you."
Airi Momozawa burst into tears: "Wow, sister is so nice! Thank you, sister!"
Without her part-time job, Momozawa Airi's daily schedule became increasingly dull, basically just studying and running the store.
Her phone vibrated and she picked it up to check.
It's news from Jinpei Matsuda.
【Matsuda Jinpei: Are you done with get out of class?】
...Well, one of her daily activities is "chatting with Mr. Matsuda."
Since the start of school, she and Jinpei Matsuda have seen each other much less often, and basically only communicate through text messages and phone calls.
Whether it is home or school, the distance between them is not close, and a lot of time is spent on the road.
She kept the little goldfish given by Matsuda Jinpei in a fish tank and would send him photos of the little goldfish from time to time.
Jinpei Matsuda persistently called the most lively little goldfish "Huahua".
Momozawa Airi: "..."
I somehow feel like I'm raising goldfish with him.
[Momozawa Airi: get out of class is over]
After typing this line, Momozawa Airi switched apps and took a look at the calendar app.
Today's learning tasks have been completed ahead of schedule.
She looked around and found that she had nothing to do today.
You can take a night's rest.
When Momozawa Airi accidentally glanced at the calendar, she realized that tomorrow was the weekend.
It happened to be my birthday.
...I was so busy that I completely forgot about it.
She recalled her grandmother's mysterious behavior during this period and felt that everything had an answer.
He must be preparing a gift for her, hehe.
The phone vibrated again.
【Matsuda Jinpei: Then when will you come out? 】
[Jinpei Matsuda: I'm almost becoming a fossil at the entrance of your school]
Momozawa Airi: "?"
She was originally lying on the table, but she suddenly stood up and subconsciously looked out the window.
It's the playground.
...Oh, the school gate in the distance cannot be seen from this teaching building.
Momozawa Airi couldn't wait to see Matsuda Jinpei, so she quickly packed her schoolbag and moved towards the school gate.
Sure enough, I saw Jinpei Matsuda leaning lazily against the road sign from a distance.
He was tall and dressed in black clothes and black pants, standing out among a group of high school students in school uniforms.
"Matsuda-senpai, here, here."
Momozawa Airi waved at him from a distance and skipped over happily.
Hearing her voice, Matsuda Jinpei slowly raised his head, and when Momozawa Airi ran in front of him, he casually reached out and rubbed her head.
"Everyone else has left, what is Momozawa still doing in school?"
【I seem to have lost some weight.】
Momozawa Airi dodged Matsuda Jinpei's hand and explained seriously, "I'm a little tired. I wanted to lie down in the classroom and rest for a while before getting on the train. I'm not losing weight! I feel like I've gained weight recently!"
Dodge failed.
The hair was messed up.
Looking at the angry Momozawa Airi, Matsuda Jinpei placed his hands firmly on top of her head and rubbed it a few times, smoothing it back to its previous shape. "Your face has shrunk, and you still say you've gained weight—are you tired? How tired are you?"
Momozawa Airi: "I'm a little sleepy."
Matsuda Jinpei nodded obediently: "That's fine, it doesn't affect anything, let's go."
Momozawa Airi: "?"
She stared blankly at Jinpei Matsuda, who had suddenly appeared from nowhere and was taking her somewhere, wondering, "Where are we going?"
Matsuda Jinpei curled the corners of his lips and said calmly, "Celebrating your birthday in advance."
Momozawa Airi: "??"
Momozawa Airi was surprised: "How did you know it's my birthday tomorrow? I didn't tell you."
Matsuda Jinpei raised his eyebrows disapprovingly and said mysteriously, "I know everything."
…In fact, they used coercion and bribery to torture (?) an insider who wished to remain anonymous, Takeshi Maeno.
Momozawa Airi was frightened and nodded: "Oh, I see."
Matsuda Jinpei: “…”
What's going on? There's no feeling of pretending to be deep pleasure. Instead, it feels like hitting soft cotton.
He naturally took Momozawa Airi's hand and said the lines he had learned online, trying to create a romantic atmosphere: "Then... give me your time tonight."
...It was the first time he said this, and his tone was a little stiff, as if he was asking for someone's opinion before kidnapping.
Momozawa Airi shook her head and refused very principledly: "No, I have to go home tonight."
Matsuda Jinpei: “…”
Matsuda Jinpei explained, "I mean the time before and after dinner."
Momozawa Airi blinked: "Oh, that's fine."
She looked at Matsuda Jinpei's complicated expression and couldn't help but chuckle.
...It's so fun to tease Matsuda-senpai.
After just a few words with him face to face, Momozawa Airi's heart, which had just been a little tired and heavy, suddenly felt a little more energetic.
Feeling much happier.
hey-hey.
*
Jinpei Matsuda took Momozawa Airi to the same shopping mall as last time.
He originally wanted to take Momozawa Airi to the amusement park, but when he heard her say that she was a little tired, he immediately switched to plan B.
Although a bit old-fashioned, the "early birthday" plan has a slow pace and does not require too much physical effort.
——Eat and watch a movie.
"...Senior, I really can't afford this store qvq"
Momozawa Airi looked at the super delicious restaurant in front of her, which Matsuda Jinpei euphemistically called "I got a number last time but couldn't come, so I must come this time if I get one", and trembled with fear while holding the strap of her schoolbag.
If she were to wash the dishes here, how long would it take her...?
Matsuda Jinpei held her hand nonchalantly, calmly holding Momozawa Airi in place and completely eliminating any possibility of her escaping. "It's your birthday, so of course I'll treat you."
Seeing that Momozawa Airi had already made the gesture of refusing, Matsuda Jinpei quickly added: "-Next time it's my birthday, just treat me to a meal."
Momozawa Airi's expression changed slightly: "But..."
Matsuda Jinhei continued to talk nonsense without changing his expression: "I treated you to this restaurant because it's special. Just treat me to something special next time."
"..." Momozawa Airi hesitated for a moment, then finally nodded, "Okay, then I'll treat you to something very special."
*
Momozawa Airi's confusion disappeared the moment the waiter served the dish.
The fragrance destroyed her reason and the color blinded her eyes.
The delicious taste made her unable to utter any words except "delicious", "very delicious" and "super delicious".
Matsuda Jinpei pushed the dessert in front of her while she was wolfing it down, saying, "It's okay. Eat slowly. No one will snatch it away from you."
"This is really a good place—" Momozawa Airi took a break from her busy schedule to scoop a spoonful of pudding dessert into her mouth, and then continued to work on the front line of preparing the roast chicken. "Senior, you are so good at choosing a restaurant...!"
Momozawa Airi devoured the food in front of her and wiped her mouth contentedly: "I feel like all the fatigue I've been feeling lately has cleared away."
Her life has been a bit depressing lately and she hasn't gone out to eat, drink and have fun for a long time.
Jinpei Matsuda looked at Momozawa Airi, who had a satisfied look on her face, and the corners of his mouth curved up subtly.
He had long wanted to find Momozawa Airi to hang out with, but was afraid of disrupting her rhythm.
I finally found out the other person's birthday from Maeno Takeshi, and it happened to be the eve of the weekend.
It is rare to come across such an excuse with the right time, place and people, so naturally we cannot let it go.
Considering that Momozawa Airi was used to celebrating her birthday at home with her grandmother, Matsuda Jinpei thought about it and finally chose to visit her the day before Momozawa Airi's birthday.
It seems that this choice was quite right.
Jinpei Matsuda glanced at Momozawa Airi and found that she had not only lost weight, but there was also a faint blue-black color under her eyes.
Just now at the school gate, before Momozawa Airi noticed him, he had already seen Momozawa Airi.
The other person had a dull expression and didn't look particularly happy.
...It's been pretty hard lately.
He paused and deliberately teased her: "I wanted to say this when we were eating ramen last time. You look very appetizing when you eat."
Momozawa Airi held the straw between her fingertips and drank the juice slowly: "?"
Matsuda Jinpei continued: "Eat fast and a lot."
Momozawa Airi: "..."
She held back, thinking that the other party might say something like "little greedy cat".
...After all, the male protagonists of girls' comics seem to like saying this! It's an ambiguous pull!
Momozawa Airi continued drinking her juice and looked up at him expectantly.
Jinpei Matsuda played steadily: "Like a pig."
Momozawa Airi choked: "......"
She raised her leg and wanted to kick Matsuda Jinpei lightly to express her dissatisfaction.
It was not convenient to look down at the table from this seat. She did not control the angle well and kicked blindly, but missed Matsuda Jinpei.
Before she could retract her strength, her calf rubbed directly against Matsuda Jinpei's calf.
Jinpei Matsuda seemed to be not afraid of the cold, as the pants he wore were not thick.
And she was wearing long stockings for autumn and winter.
Through the thin cloth, Momozawa Airi almost felt like their skin was touching.
She had gotten somewhat used to holding hands with Jinpei Matsuda, but hadn't gotten used to any other contact.
At the moment their knees touched each other, she could even feel that Matsuda Jinpei's originally leisurely sitting posture suddenly stiffened.
“…”
Momozawa Airi quickly retracted her legs as if she had stepped into a pit, and sat up straight, almost squeezing the straw with her fingertips.
Damn it, no matter how long it has been since she last saw Senior Matsuda, her heart still beats faster and she loses all her rationality.
...It's really affecting her studies! Luckily, she hasn't seen Matsuda-senpai much lately!
Momozawa Airi comforted herself with lingering fear.
She lowered her head and didn't notice the strange behavior of Jinpei Matsuda across from her.
Jinpei Matsuda was stunned for a moment.
The cup had been empty for a long time, but he was still inhaling air unconsciously.
...The flesh on her legs is also soft.
*
After dinner, it was "a very old-fashioned movie-watching session."
——That’s what Momozawa Airi thought.
Going to the movies on a date is mostly about romance and horror movies.
Romance films set the mood, while horror films promote emotional development.
She watched Jinpei Matsuda buy the ticket and made a bet in her mind, wondering whether he would choose a romance or a horror movie.
Hmm...if it's Mr. Matsuda...according to his train of thought, he should be afraid--
"Senior, let's watch this one...?"
Momozawa Airi stared blankly at the paper man poster next to the theater, holding the ticket that Matsuda Jinpei stuffed into her hand.
Matsuda Jinpei held a large bucket of popcorn in one hand and two drinks in the other: "Ah, I'm quite interested."
——A theatrical version of a silly daily anime.
Momozawa Airi: "..."
I didn’t expect it, I really didn’t expect it.
But she quite likes this one. I didn’t expect that Senior Matsuda also likes it.
"What a coincidence! I like it too."
Momozawa Airi sighed.
"We really are in tune with each other."
Matsuda Jinpei, who had gone to Maeno Takeshi's place to cheat in advance, feigned calmness and commented, "Childish."
Although the movie chosen has nothing to do with the romantic atmosphere, the seat chosen by Jinpei Matsuda still has some connection with it.
Momozawa Airi pursed her lips and slowly sat down in one of the couple's seats.
There were very few spectators in this show, and there was basically no one sitting around them.
"Did you only buy one bucket of popcorn, Senior?"
She looked at the big bucket of popcorn in Jinpei Matsuda's hand.
It also exudes fragrance.
"You can't finish two buckets."
Jinpei Matsuda raised his eyebrows.
"You ate a lot for dinner, little pig."
Momozawa Airi: "…………"
A movie started playing on a screen not far away. She wanted to fight back, but in the end she could only lower her voice and said sinisterly, "I'm going to eat all the popcorn and not give it to you."
Matsuda Jinpei snorted and immediately picked up a handful of popcorn and put it in his mouth: "No way."
Momozawa Airi: "..."
*
It really looks good.
The art style is good, the production is excellent, and the voice actors perform well.
Momozawa Airi was very happy watching this and kept smiling foolishly.
Halfway through, she reached out to grab some popcorn.
The popcorn bucket was placed between her and Jinpei Matsuda.
Just as she reached into the bucket to pick up a few popcorns, her prey was snatched away by another hand.
Momozawa Airi: "?"
She turned her head in shock.
Jinpei Matsuda stared at the screen very seriously, as if he was completely unaware of what was happening.
“…”
It's a coincidence.
Momozawa Airi turned away angrily and reached for the popcorn again.
Still got snatched away.
Momozawa Airi turned her head sharply.
Jinpei Matsuda continued to stare at the screen intently.
“…”
When her popcorn was snatched away for the third time, Airi Momozawa finally couldn't help herself: "You——"
She lowered her voice and leaned close to Matsuda Jinpei's ear: "You deliberately stole my popcorn!"
In the dark cinema, her warm breath gently fell on Jinpei Matsuda's ear.
It's a little itchy.
Matsuda Jinpei paused and smiled: "Yes."
Momozawa Airi was extremely shocked.
He actually admitted it shamelessly?
She opened her mouth and was about to denounce Matsuda Jinpei's bullying behavior when he suddenly stuffed a few popcorns into her mouth.
“Don’t talk during the movie.”
Matsuda Jinpei lectured her righteously and slowly withdrew his hand.
“…”
Momozawa Airi was stunned when she was suddenly fed by the other party.
She ate the popcorn in her mouth stiffly, her mind full of the other person's extremely natural feeding movements just now.
...Oh no, she probably didn't bite Matsuda-senpai's finger just now.
When Momozawa Airi finished eating the popcorn, new popcorn appeared around her mouth.
She tilted her head and saw Matsuda Jinpei still staring at the screen intently, his hand firmly placed at her mouth.
She acted as if she wouldn't take it away unless she ate it.
“…”
Momozawa Airi tentatively ate the popcorn from the other person's hand.
This time, Matsuda Jinpei held the popcorn in a somewhat casual manner, with most of the popcorn being pinched between his fingertips.
Momozawa Airi tried carefully to avoid the other person's fingers, but was inevitably touched.
The moment she felt the fragrant smell of popcorn blooming in her mouth, Momozawa Airi's ears became hot.
I guess Matsuda-senpai didn't feel it... After all, it wasn't a tooth...
【…I want to kiss her.】
The film just happened to play the transitional empty shot segment.
Without the interference of dubbing and BGM, the voices this time are several times clearer than those in the previous summer festival.
In the pitch darkness, Momozawa Airi clutched the corner of her clothes in a daze.
...Suddenly, she turned her head and gestured an extremely precise number to Matsuda Jinpei who had just withdrawn his hand.
It was a number she had recently memorized and was decreasing every day.
A countdown.
"Matsuda-senpai, you don't have to wait until your birthday next year."
She leaned close to his ear again and whispered.
"In a few days, I'll treat you to a bite of something very special."
"But you can only take one bite."
If it's a kiss, one kiss should be... enough, right?
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