Chapter 108: Training Camp
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 108: Training Camp
No matter how many times I looked, it was 14th place.
Just a hair above average.
I was blinking, staring blankly at my rank, when—
Smack! Smack!
Miyuki, a bright smile plastered on her face, started whacking my back, snapping me out of it.
“Matsuda-kun… you really studied hard, didn't you…?”
My eyes still fixed on the poster, I nodded and said, “Looks like it…”
“You seem uncharacteristically flustered. Are you that surprised?”
To put it simply, yes, I was very surprised.
Honestly, I thought I’d done well, but I never imagined I’d rank this high.
I felt like letting out a cheer. Is this why people study?
For some reason, I felt like I could understand Miyuki’s love for it.
Some people might suspect I cheated.
The guy who got last place on the finals last semester is now in the middle ranks?
Anyone would be suspicious.
But I was innocent. This grade was the result of my sincere effort.
And the various professors who proctored the exam knew it, too.
They had seen me diligently working on my test papers as they walked around the classroom.
I can still vividly remember the proud expression on the face of the proctor who passed by while I was intensely solving problems on my math test.
Word had been going around among the professors that I’d been working hard lately, so even if someone snitched, the suspicion would quickly die down.
“I’m surprised.”
The hallway in front of Class 1-A had gone quiet ever since Miyuki checked my rank.
Everyone was staring at me with wide eyes, and most of them held a look of goodwill.
It seemed that not causing trouble after leaving the club and greeting people first, even if it was a bit awkward, had finally paid off in a big way.
A few students whose ranks I’d surpassed were glaring at me with jealousy, but I didn’t care.
That’s their problem for not being good enough. No need for me to worry about it.
I glanced at Tetsuya and saw a complicated expression on his face.
His pride looked absolutely crushed…
For now, I should probably just walk past him quietly instead of taunting him.
Ignoring him is way more infuriating than throwing a fit and making fun of him.
I looked down at Miyuki and said, “Hey.”
“Hm?”
“This is way higher than the 20th place you predicted, huh?”
“I’m amazed, too. I didn’t think you’d do this well.”
Getting praised is nice, but I want a reward.
Aren’t you going to give me a voucher for one creampie, or a family invitation ticket… something like that?
I’ll have to press her for it later.
“Congratulations, Matsuda-kun.”
At Miyuki’s words, I grinned so wide my teeth showed, and I walked into the classroom amidst the congratulations of my other classmates.
* * *
There’s a minor cliché in youth stories.
Whenever something good happens to the main character, the surrounding environment, like the weather, brightens up.
It was just like that now.
The weather, which had been growing chilly, was as warm as spring today, and the sky was clear without a single cloud.
It was the perfect day for sunbathing, so I plopped down on the rooftop floor, not caring if my uniform got dirty.
It was a childish thing to do, but who cares?
I’m in a romantic comedy. Acting on my emotions like this is what a protagonist does.
As I was soaking up the warm sunlight, I heard the rooftop door creak open and lifted my head.
Miyuki’s small face peeked through the crack in the door.
“Wh-what are you doing…?”
Miyuki looked dumbfounded at the sight of me lying on the ground.
I beckoned for her to come over.
“Come lie down, too. Let’s look at the sky together.”
Miyuki stared at me as if observing a strange object, then let out a light laugh and closed the rooftop door.
She walked over and crouched down beside me.
After a quick glance at the sky, she said with a smile, “There’s nothing in the sky.”
“That’s what we’re looking at—the nothing.”
“Why are you so sentimental today? Is it because you’re happy about getting 14th place?”
“It was six ranks higher than you predicted. Of course I’m happy.”
My voice was, if not completely, at least somewhat excited. Miyuki gave a gentle smile and smoothed down my bangs.
“I was so proud. I mean it.”
“You have every reason to be.”
“You’re already getting a little too confident, aren’t you…? You’ll be in big trouble if you get arrogant. It only takes a moment to fall.”
“Are you trying to jinx me? Just let me be arrogant today.”
“Alright. But you’re surprisingly talented at studying, huh? How about aiming for the top 10 on the finals?”
“Are you serious?”
“Why? It’s only a four-rank difference.”
“Even so, the amount of knowledge the top-ranking students have is on a different level.”
“That’s true. I’m not actually expecting that much.”
She said, a mischievous look on her face.
I clicked my tongue, lifted the hem of her skirt that was touching the floor, and stuck my head underneath it.
Horrified by my action, Miyuki shouted, “Wh-what are you doing…!”
“I can’t see anything.”
“Of course you can’t…! You’re such a pervert…!”
Aren’t you the bigger pervert for not even thinking of moving away?
Swallowing those words, I blew a puff of air upwards.
“Heek!”
Miyuki flinched hard and slapped my chest with a loud smack.
Then she shot up to her feet and scolded me.
“Stop doing weird things…! What are you doing at every possible moment!?”
“I’m expressing my affection.”
“What kind of affection is this?”
“I think it’s possible if you like someone. Now hurry up and lie down. Don’t ruin the mood.”
“You’re the one ruining the mood, Matsuda-kun…!”
Miyuki, about to argue in an exasperated voice, clamped her mouth shut.
Her eyes darted around as if she was briefly recalling all my bizarre antics up to this point. Then, she let out a faint smile and straightened her skirt.
She came over and lay down beside me, then pulled my arm to use it as a pillow.
“My arm hurts. Let go.”
“No. I don’t like getting dust in my hair.”
“The side of your hair is already touching the floor.”
“I don’t like getting it on the back of my head. Other parts are fine.”
Her preferences changing to fit the situation was just absurd.
Would it kill you to just admit you wanted to use my arm as a pillow?
I bent the arm supporting Miyuki’s head and gently massaged the top of her head.
A curve formed on Miyuki’s lips.
Seemingly pleased, she let out a long breath with a slightly sweet, nasal sound and snuggled up against me.
“So I have to spend this weekend alone, huh?”
“Should I try to come back on Saturday if I can?”
“I’m not whining, so don’t even think about it. I was just saying it because I’ll miss you… You’ll call me often instead, right?”
“I’ll call every time you send me a picture.”
“What kind of picture? A picture of me?”
“Yeah.”
“...Matsuda-kun, you’re not talking about a lewd… picture of that sort, are you…?”
She catches on so quickly now.
“Think it over and send one.”
“I-I’m definitely not sending one. Why are you putting conditions on calling me…?”
“It’s not a condition. It’s just a suggestion.”
“The way you say it, it sounds more like a demand than a suggestion…?”
“I said it was a suggestion.”
“See…! Your tone is scary…!”
I turned my body toward Miyuki and placed a hand on her abdomen.
Then, as if giving a soothing rub, I began to stroke it clockwise, slowly, very slowly.
“I said it wasn’t.”
Did my touch calm her down?
Miyuki let out a long breath through her nose, turned on her side to face me, and shifted her hips to press closer.
An invitation for a hug.
Lately, Miyuki has been getting much more affectionate, and her libido seems to be through the roof. It’s a very good look.
* * *
Inside the kendo club changing room.
I frowned as I watched Tetsuya sluggishly changing into his uniform.
He’d been wearing a long face all day. Was he that pissed that I outranked him?
Or was he upset that Miyuki didn’t say much about his own grades today?
Whatever it was, it was getting on my nerves. I stopped in the middle of throwing off my clothes and nudged Tetsuya.
“Why are you so down today? Are you sick again?”
“No… it’s not that…”
“Then what is it?”
“I’m just not feeling well.”
What a wimp… Ugh… Live your whole life like that.
On another note, Tetsuya’s body had bulked up a bit.
He looked bigger.
He must be working out on the sly. Good for him.
I’ll cheer you on. So please, for the love of god, show some competitive spirit.
This is starting to get frustrating.
“Buy yourself a fatigue recovery drink on the way home or something. I’m heading out first.”
“Ah, okay. Thanks for your concern, Matsuda.”
It’s not concern, I’m mocking you, you bastard.
It’s what you do all the time.
I gave a dismissive wave and left the club room, where Chinami, humming a tune, greeted me.
“Junior! Did the first-years have the ranking posters up on the bulletin board too?”
Her voice was cheerful, her energy high.
It was almost tickling my ears.
Tightening the chest straps of my freshly changed uniform, I walked closer to Chinami and answered, “I did well. I got 14th place.”
“What? 14th place? Didn’t you say you were bad at studying, Junior?”
“I used to be, but I guess not anymore.”
“What’s with that vague answer? It sounds like you’re bragging… Am I right?”
“Of course not. How were your grades, Master?”
At my question, a sinister laugh escaped Chinami’s lips.
“Mhuhu… I did better than last semester. I finally surpassed a classmate I could never beat. I was nervous because the self-scored results were so close, but it turned out just as I’d hoped.”
Chinami puffed out her chest with a proud expression.
She looked happy to have taken down a rival.
Winning a mud-fight does feel good.
Nodding deeply as if I understood her feelings, I asked, “Would it be rude to ask what place you got?”
“Not at all. It’s posted in the hallway for anyone to see anyway. For the first time since I enrolled at Yebonie Academy, I managed to take second place.”
“...Excuse me?”
“Second place.”
Did I hear that right?
Chinami… got second place?
Did she mean second from the bottom…?
A rank I had never even imagined popped out, and for a moment, my brain felt like it had shut down.
“Master. Are you sure you mean 2nd place…?”
“Huhu… You look like you can’t believe it. That’s right. I’m number two.”
This was a twist as unexpected as my own rank.
My dear Chinami… she was much smarter than Renka.
I was so prejudiced. I’m sorry.
I want to apologize with the heart-pounding massage you like so much.
But still, for someone smart enough to get second place, how can she be so naive…?
Of course, being smart doesn’t mean you’re wise… but it’s a little baffling.
I blinked once to clear my dazed mind and said with a broad smile, “My sincerest congratulations.”
“Ahem…! Thank you. You worked hard for 14th place too, Junior. It feels like just yesterday you were memorizing math formulas while doing your manager duties, and now you’ve shown the results. I think you’re really amazing, Junior.”
“Thank you. Since it’s a day to celebrate, should we go get some ice cream and do the cleaning later?”
“Ooh…! I’d love to…! But have you packed everything you need for the training camp?”
“I finished yesterday.”
“Very good…!”
Chinami clapped her hands like a kindergarten teacher praising a child.
She seems to be looking forward to this training camp a lot.
Just like me.