Chapter 109: Training Camp #2
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 109: Training Camp #2
"Have a good trip, you two."
Friday, after all the classes had ended, just before we were set to leave for the training camp.
Miyuki came all the way to the kendo club room to see Tetsuya off.
It pained me to think of her going home alone with that heavy bag.
So I had to give her a ride, right?
"We'll be back. Get home safe. Call me if anything happens."
Tetsuya said, flashing his usual silly smile.
He was delighted when Miyuki waved back with a bright expression, then quickly went inside the club room, saying he had a lot to prepare with Renka.
I waited until the guy was out of sight before I spoke.
"Let's go."
"Huh? Where?"
"To your place. I'm going to drop you off and come back."
"What...? You don't have to. I can just take the train."
Miyuki protested, waving her hands.
I grabbed her by the wrist and headed for the parking lot.
"Matsuda-kun...! I'm really fine, I promise...! Everyone else is waiting, what are they going to think if you do this?"
"They have a lot to get ready anyway, so it'll take a while."
"Then I should at least help Renka-senpai...! We're both managers."
"I finished everything yesterday."
"...Were you always this much of a planner?"
She said it like she was dumbfounded, but her face clearly showed how happy she was.
I smirked down at Miyuki and slowed my pace.
"What are you doing this weekend?"
"Um... I was thinking of meeting up with my friends. I've only been seeing you lately, Matsuda-kun, so I haven't seen them at all..."
"Don't get all excited because you haven't seen them in a while and stay out late. Go home early. Got it?"
"But... the only time I ever stay out late is when I'm with you, Matsuda-kun..."
"Answer."
"Ah, okay... I'll go home early..."
Satisfied with her shy reply, I nodded. We reached the parking lot and got in the car.
Was she that happy that I was looking out for her?
As soon as Miyuki put down her bag, she squeezed my hand and interlocked her fingers with mine.
"How am I supposed to drive like this?"
"You've always managed just fine before..."
"That's true. We're off."
"Okay."
* * *
Back at the kendo club, I saw Chinami checking the equipment in the bus's luggage compartment.
The way she was moving around in the lower compartment reminded me of a squirrel.
I walked over to the compartment and crouched down.
"What are you doing? Didn't we finish checking the equipment yesterday?"
"Oh, it's you, Junior. I was just double-checking, just in case."
"You're very thorough. But where's the captain? Why are you doing this alone?"
"Renka is finalizing the training schedule with the coach. The coach's opinion—that we should have some hell training under his supervision—is clashing sharply with Renka's—that it would be better to have more self-directed training time."
The way she said it made it sound like an international negotiation.
"Personally, I'd side with the captain. I want to train with you, Master."
"Oh...! I feel the same way."
"Is there anything I can help with?"
"No, it's alright. I just finished checking everything. The equipment, the supplies, it's all perfect."
As Chinami started to wiggle her way out, I held out my hand. She flinched for a moment, then took it and climbed out.
Then she straightened her back and stretched.
I gave her lower back a gentle pat.
"Good work."
"Ah! Ah...!"
She flinched and let out a strange little gasp every time my hand touched her.
When I patted her butt, she was like a happy puppy. Cute.
Finally, I put a hand on her shoulder, gave it a gentle squeeze, and asked.
"Should I get on the bus now?"
Chinami licked her lips as if she was a little disappointed, then nodded.
"Yes... You can go ahead, Junior. I have to go see the coach and Renka."
"Alright. You're sitting next to me, right?"
"Ngh...?"
Chinami's large eyes went even wider.
Seeing her reaction, I tilted my head and spoke as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.
"Of course we're sitting together. I even bought some jelly to share with you, Master."
"Ahem... I'd like that."
"You weren't planning on sitting somewhere else, were you? I'd be really disappointed if you were..."
At that, Chinami put her hands on her hips and chided me.
"Hey...! I brought peaches to share with you too, Junior. It's me who should be disappointed that you'd make such a wicked assumption...! I was just a little flustered because you asked so suddenly...!"
"Is that so?"
"That's right. Now, go on and get on the bus. I'll be there soon."
"Alright."
I watched Chinami's back as she trudged toward the club room, then boarded the bus.
The chartered bus was a 50-seater, much too large for the thirty-something club members.
Hasn't Tetsuya boarded yet? He's probably hovering around Renka.
After grabbing a bottle of water from the front and making small talk with some members who asked me to sit with them, I took a seat in front of the empty back row.
"Hey, Matsuda-kun."
It was the two second-year female club members sitting right in front of me.
It reminded me of those AVs where they sneak around on a bus late at night with the lights off, enjoying all sorts of play with girls.
I grinned and gave a slight nod.
"Hello. You got anything to eat?"
"We have matcha-flavored Pocky, want some? We have banana bread, too."
"Wanna trade the Pocky for some jelly?"
"We have jelly too, you know."
"Then why didn't you mention it?"
"Because we don't want to give you this one?"
"Hand it over."
When I stuck my hand through the gap between the seats, they giggled and placed a jelly on my palm.
They like it even when I'm being a jerk. This is why looks are so important.
My recent reputation probably played a part, too. The old me, they wouldn't have even tried to talk to.
Maybe I should make it my goal to sleep in the girls' dorm at next year's training camp.
As I was indulging in such fantasies and chatting idly with the female members, Chinami got on the bus, and I raised a hand.
"Master, over here."
She spotted me and trotted over, then hesitated.
It seemed she was a bit embarrassed to get past me since I was in the aisle seat.
"Um... Junior. Should I take the aisle seat?"
"No."
After my firm reply, I moved my legs under the armrest. Only then did a relieved Chinami carefully squeeze past, making sure not to touch me.
Then, she took a rectangular container out of the plastic bag she was carrying.
Inside the translucent container were neatly sliced peaches.
She opened the lid and said.
"Today, I brought Madoka, the most delicious of all the hard peaches."
"The scent is really strong, isn't it?"
"Mhm...! You have a sharp sense. It's one of the characteristics of the Madoka variety."
"Aren't peaches pretty much out of season now? You were lucky to find them."
"Hard peaches have the advantage of a long shelf life, so their shipping period can be adjusted. I'll have to freeze them soon for the winter, but they're still available for now, so it's fine."
She even freezes them? Does she have a dedicated peach freezer at home or something?
The more I learn about Chinami's love for peaches, the more incredible it seems.
It's a little scary.
"I see..."
"Hurry and eat them before they lose their color."
Chinami said, popping a slice of peach into her mouth.
I let out a chuckle watching her munch with her plump cheeks and replied.
"Yes."
While Chinami and I were savoring the peaches, the rest of the club members boarded the bus and filled the seats.
As for Renka, she saw me sitting with Chinami, her eyebrow twitched, and she sat down in the window seat across the aisle.
And Tetsuya took the empty seat next to her.
That son of a bitch... Look how smoothly he sits down.
What an eyesore.
The guy gave me a nod, and I tossed a joke at him in a voice too low for Renka to hear.
"Must be nice, huh?"
"What is?"
"Nah, nothing."
"You're weird... Hey, what's with your neck?"
"My neck?"
"It's a little red."
This? This is a little mark Miyuki made in the car while you were cluelessly wagging your tail at Renka.
"Really? Is it bad?"
"Not really."
"Then it's fine."
"The more I see of you, the more laid-back you seem. How can anyone be like that?"
Not as much as you, you fucker.
I answered with a dry laugh, then quietly asked Chinami, who was still nibbling on her peaches.
"So how did the showdown end?"
"Huh? Oh... they compromised. On the first day, we'll unpack and eat as soon as we arrive. After that, there's group training, but it won't be too intense."
"What about tomorrow?"
"Tomorrow's training will be a bit tough until lunch, but they agreed to let us relax afterward. We can do self-directed training, play in the stream near the lodge, or even watch a movie in the audiovisual room. The nearby walking trails are really nice, too."
"The lodge has an audiovisual room?"
"It's a pension-style lodge. It's a popular place for training camps and retreats, so the facilities are well-equipped."
If the facilities are well-equipped, there must be some private places too, right?
Like, a place where two people could give each other a massage...
It'd be great if there was a room with a private open-air bath, but that's probably asking for too much.
"I see. Good to know."
"It's a little disappointing that the training is less intense than last year's camp, but I think it'll be fine since we can make up for it during the self-directed training time."
From the sound of it, she's planning on training me under the pretext of improving my skills.
For the sake of pouring all my energy into the event with Renka, I'd better train moderately and focus on getting cozy.
"Everyone, quiet down. Starting the headcount."
Goro, who had boarded the bus at some point, spoke, and the noisy bus fell silent.
We're finally on our way. This will be the most important turning point in my conquest of Renka. I'll aim to squeeze out the best possible results.