Chapter 105: Midterm Exams
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 105: Midterm Exams
“More, more, more!”
Chinami’s cold tone cracked like a whip.
It was absurd, swinging my shinai through the air until I was drenched in sweat, despite the cold weather.
“Not good enough! Are you planning to embarrass your master at the training camp!?”
She pushed me relentlessly, as if I'd requested some kind of Spartan training. I’d have to pay her back with a massage later.
“Hup!”
I don’t know how long I’d been swinging the shinai, tensing my core.
Chinami, expressing satisfaction with my unwavering form, finally spoke.
“That’s enough for now. Let’s take a short break.”
No matter how strong you are or how well you know how to use that strength, swinging a shinai for that long is exhausting.
Especially while wearing the kendo armor.
I wasn’t completely wiped out, but my arms were sore.
And since the armor wasn’t fully broken in yet, my ears and chin hurt too.
I took off my mask and sat on the bench, gasping for air, when Chinami offered me a towel.
Taking it, I said, “Thank you, Master.”
“Don’t mention it. Your stance and movements were flawless, but there was just one thing missing.”
“What’s that?”
“Your kiai. The ‘ki’ in ‘ki-ken-tai-itchi’—the unity of spirit, sword, and body. You’re still lacking that fundamental and crucial spirit. Now, try to follow me. Hyaat!”
Chinami tensed her core and let out a sharp shout.
Shaking my sweat-drenched hair, I couldn’t help but let out a laugh at her incredibly cute yet powerful voice.
“Why are you laughing? Is my kiai funny to you?”
“No. It’s because you’re cute.”
Chinami flinched, her eyes widening.
I could see a blush creeping up her plump cheeks.
She looked like a girl who, after being out in the cold winter wind, had just stepped into a warm room with a kotatsu, her face flushed with delight.
“Ahem... Junior. I appreciate the compliment, but now is the time to listen to me seriously. The kiai is an extremely important part of kendo.”
“I know. But I feel like my throat would go hoarse if I shouted like that every day.”
“It might be like that at first, but you’ll get used to it. And that’s also part of the training. It’s how you shed your skin, one layer at a time.”
“Alright. I’m too tired today, but I’ll give it a try starting tomorrow.”
“Promise? Pinky promise?”
She held out her pinky finger.
I linked my own finger with her small, cute, and delicate one.
“I promise.”
“Ahem... Good.”
“My hands are a bit sweaty, aren't they? I’m worried the smell will rub off on you, Master.”
“It smells nice, though.”
“So do you.”
“O-Oh... Is that so...?”
Chinami ducked her head low and fidgeted.
As she was squirming with embarrassment, showing her honest reaction, a voice called out from the bottom of the hill.
“Chinami! Are you there?”
She jumped in surprise at the sound of Renka's voice.
“Hah!? Yes! I’m here! What is it?”
“The coach is looking for you! There’s a meeting about the budget for supplies and the itinerary for the training camp. Can you come down?”
“Okay! I’ll be right there!”
After replying, Chinami straightened her already pristine uniform.
“Ahem... You heard her, right...? I have to attend the meeting, so you can rest for three more minutes and then resume practice. If you think you can slack off just because I’m not here...”
“I’ll work hard. Should we make another promise?”
“N-No...! I’ll trust you...”
Chinami patted my shoulder, telling me to do my best.
I couldn’t tell if she was genuinely trying to encourage me or just trying to soothe her own racing heart.
I watched her back as she trotted down the hill, then I put on my mask and stood up from the bench.
Time to practice. Practice.
* * *
“Why is your skin so dry? Both of you?”
Miyuki, who had been waiting for me and Tetsuya, made a fuss.
I scratched my cheek with my index finger, about to answer, when Tetsuya beat me to it.
“We just got out of the shower. You know how dry the air is today.”
This guy... What a pathetic move. Well, go on, give it your best shot.
“I guess so... but come here. I’ll spray some essence on you.”
Miyuki rummaged through her bag and pulled out a bottle of essence.
After spraying it on Tetsuya, who was shamelessly sticking his head out, Miyuki came over to me.
“Stick your face out.”
“Don’t want to.”
Miyuki let out a small laugh at my lighthearted teasing.
She soon stood on her tiptoes, positioned the spray bottle a suitable distance from my face, and pressed the top.
Pfft-!
A mist of moisture spread out in a wide radius.
Hit squarely in the face, I scrunched up my face and closed my eyes.
Miyuki giggled and sprayed me a couple more times before speaking.
“You have to moisturize. You don’t want to get skin trouble like dead skin cells later. It doesn’t look good. I’ll recommend a product for you later, so buy it and use it.”
“Why bother with all that stuff? It’s such a hassle. One bottle of lotion is enough.”
“Says the person who didn’t even put on lotion... Matsuda-kun...! What are you doing! Don’t rub your face with your hands...!”
“If you put it on, you have to rub it in.”
Was she frustrated by my nonchalant reply?
Miyuki grabbed my wrist and pulled with all her might.
“It’s a spray type, so you don’t have to rub it in...!”
“You should have said so earlier, then.”
“....Why are you being such an idiot today...? What are you doing, touching your face with your dirty hands...”
“Dirty? Isn’t that a bit harsh?”
“You had your hands in your pockets on the way here, didn’t you? What else would you call that but dirty? I swear, I can’t believe you...”
Miyuki scoffed in disbelief and took out a handkerchief.
It was the same design as the one she had tried to give me after I beat up the pervert who tried to touch her on the train.
“Is this... that?”
“It’s exactly what you’re thinking, Matsuda-kun. Wipe your face.”
The corners of Miyuki’s mouth crept upwards.
She seemed pleased that I had recognized the handkerchief instantly.
So you remember all our memories, just like I do.
It wasn’t that long ago, of course, but it makes me happy.
“What are you talking about? What is it?”
Tetsuya chimed in cluelessly.
Taking the handkerchief and carefully wiping my face, I answered.
“A keepsake.”
As if pleased with my choice of words, Miyuki nodded, her face brightening.
I could see Tetsuya’s eyes darting around nervously as he studied her expression.
“A keepsake?”
Yeah. A keepsake from what was also the most important turning point in our lives.
“Something like that. Just get in.”
“Ah, okay...”
* * *
“Well, you should head in.”
Even though we’d stopped in front of her house, Miyuki showed no sign of getting out.
She just stared at me blankly, not reaching for her bag or unbuckling her seatbelt.
I gave her a warm smile and asked, “What’s wrong?”
“You didn’t even take it, you only saw it for a second. How did you remember it?”
“What are you talking about?”
“The handkerchief.”
“Because I’d never seen one so pure white.”
“Really...?”
“And it was the first favor you ever showed me, back when you treated me like an enemy.”
“Wh-Who treated you like an enemy...!?”
Miyuki denied it, flustered.
I scoffed, leaned over, and pressed the buckle on her seatbelt.
Then, with the back of my head almost touching the headrest, I grinned at her wide-eyed face.
“Am I wrong?”
“....It’s true that you were a delinquent, Matsuda-kun... You still are...”
“Still am?”
“W-Well, you’re getting better, but... you still have a long way to go...”
“A long way?”
“Of course... You’re always trying to touch me in front of people... and you swear sometimes.”
“The swearing, maybe, but I feel wronged about the touching part. You enjoyed it too, so why do you make it sound like it was all my fault?”
“Wh-Who said I enjoyed it...!?”
Startled, Miyuki pushed my chest away and grabbed her bag from the back seat.
She then opened the passenger door and stuck one foot out as if to leave, but then she turned back to me and asked.
“Do you want to come over for a bit?”
“Why? Did you tell them you were bringing me over today? For dinner?”
“No...! I was planning on having that dinner after midterms... but since you’re going to the training camp, we’ll have to reschedule...”
“Then why are you asking me over now?”
“Midterms are right around the corner, and you’re not studying...?”
“There are still two weeks left. What do you mean, ‘right around the corner’?”
“That’s only two weeks. You’re already an idiot, Matsuda-kun, so you need to study hard for these two weeks. If you get last place again this time, like last semester, you’ll get a warning at the very least, and in the worst-case scenario, you’ll be expelled...”
“Expulsion? Isn’t that a bit much?”
“It just means you’re in a precarious situation right now, Matsuda-kun...”
Click.
Miyuki pulled her foot back in, closed the door, and pointed behind Wataru’s car with her long finger.
“Park over there. I’ll tutor you at my place.”
“Why are you being so pushy?”
“I guess I’m starting to take after you, Matsuda-kun... Hurry up and park.”
“Your parents will be there, won’t they? I’d feel bad for just dropping in unannounced.”
“If anything, they’ll be happy. They won’t mind.”
“Really? Then I’ll just study for a little while and go, okay?”
“Okay.”
If I’d known this was going to happen, I would’ve brought something to leave in Miyuki’s room.
Maybe I should just leave a pair of my underwear there.
“I’m not asking for much. I just hope you can get around 20th place in class.”
Miyuki said as she got out of the car.
I snorted, showing my confidence as I walked beside her toward the front door.
“20th place? That’s easy.”
“You fell way behind Tetsuya-kun during the break... You talk big, don’t you? Tetsuya-kun ranked 15th on last semester’s finals.”
“Then I’ll just have to beat him this time.”
“I’d like to see that. Let’s work hard together.”
She patted my back.
Her expression said she didn’t expect anything at all, but we’ll see about that.
To be honest, I’m not very confident in fields that require using your brain.
Still, if I get a better score than she expects, it’ll give me bragging rights in front of Miyuki. I’ll have to work hard, if only for the reward.
And I’d get to see the look on Tetsuya’s crumpled face, too.