Chapter 111: Conspiracy #2
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 111: Conspiracy #2
“Ugh… I’m dying…”
“This is fucking exhausting…”
Groans of pain echoed from all corners of the lodge.
They came from the club members, who had just finished their showers in the communal shower room after training.
True to the nature of the mountains, the sun set incredibly fast. By the time we finished dinner and went outside, it was already dark, casting an eerie atmosphere over the place.
The weather wasn't just chilly; it was cold.
But Goro seemed to enjoy the dramatic shift of the mountain lodge. He ran us ragged in an open lot where the only light came from a large lamp installed by the lodge.
The training was light after a simple stretching session to let our food digest, but after that, he gradually ramped up the intensity. The last forty minutes were absolute hell.
What was even more maddening was that Goro was an expert at adjusting the training intensity to match each member's condition.
Thanks to him, though we were exhausted, not a single person collapsed. Everyone made it through the training safely.
“My legs hurt… my legs…”
Next to me, Tetsuya was lying flat on his back, gasping for air.
Why the hell did this bastard lay his bedding next to mine? I couldn't understand it.
Was he planning to find some fault with me and snitch to Miyuki?
Whatever it was, it was fucking annoying.
I was drying the rest of the water from my hair with a towel when—
Bzzzt-!
My phone, sitting on the shelf, vibrated. I checked the screen.
A picture had arrived from Miyuki. She was in her pajamas, one hand on her cheek in a gesture that said she was about to sleep, smiling brightly.
I stared at it for a moment before sending a reply.
[Pretty. Anything else?]
[Like what?]
[Anything.]
[Tell me specifically what you want.]
So she’s still thinking about our conversation on the rooftop.
It was funny how she was beating around the bush, trying to play this game with me.
[Really, anything is fine.]
[Oh? Just a sec…]
Not long after Miyuki’s suggestive reply, a new picture arrived.
My brow furrowed slightly when I saw it.
It was because blood was rushing south.
She had sent a picture of herself with the hem of her pajama top lifted just slightly, subtly revealing her navel.
She was sitting cross-legged, her back perfectly straight to create defined lines on either side of her navel…
Even better, it was a perfect picture, with one thumb pulling the hem straight up.
She wasn't showing her chest or anything below, but it was far more stimulating than that.
[Going to bed now.]
Miyuki’s text followed.
I could almost feel the coyness in her words.
[What about a call?]
[My family and I are going hiking early tomorrow.]
[What does that have to do with a phone call?]
[It’s obvious we’ll talk forever if I call you, Matsuda-kun.]
[We can keep it short.]
Bzzzzzt-! Bzzzt-!
Suddenly, a long vibration came from my hand.
The person calling was none other than Miyuki.
I pressed the answer button and brought the phone to my ear.
“Hello.”
And then,
—Good night.
The call ended with that single phrase from Miyuki, her voice thick with embarrassment.
She must have been incredibly shy about sending me that picture.
“What was that? Why’d you hang up so fast?”
Tetsuya’s question, directed at me as I let out a dry laugh, completely shattered the sweet mood, and a wave of irritation washed over me.
“None of your business.”
I answered in a flat tone, getting up and putting on my jacket.
Tetsuya looked at me, bewildered.
“Where are you going?”
“For a walk.”
“A walk…? Aren’t you tired? It’s cold out, too…”
“It’s my business, asshole. You wanna come?”
“No way. I can barely move. The seniors are playing cards, so I was thinking of joining them.”
“Yeah? Alright. Make sure you stretch out your legs. Unless you want to be sore during self-directed training tomorrow.”
“Right… Ah, speaking of self-directed training… any idea what it’ll be like?”
Since he brought up training himself, I figured I’d poke him a little.
I shrugged and replied, “Beats me. I have no idea.”
“The captain said she’d let you have the duel you wanted. You think it’ll be you and me?”
“I doubt it.”
“Why?”
“Are you kidding? What kind of duel would it be with the skill gap between us? The captain will probably just step in herself.”
“A skill gap? Don’t tell me you think you’re better than me?”
Tetsuya swallowed the bait whole.
His reaction was a little more intense than I’d expected. He must have a lot pent up.
I snorted, as if mocking the scowl on his face, and talked around the point to belittle his skills.
“I’ll admit your fundamentals are better than mine… but you’re weak in a real match. You were rolling on the floor during our first duel…”
“That was when I was a beginner who didn’t even know the footwork. I did pretty well in our second duel.”
“So, you’re saying you’re different now?”
“I am. I don’t think I’d lose to you.”
Right now, Tetsuya was probably picturing a classic cliché from a slice-of-life youth story, where he beats my arrogant ass and knocks me down a peg.
But that wasn’t going to happen.
Not because I’m the true protagonist of this DokiAka world and have some weird divine protection, but because that’s just reality.
The skill gap between us is immense.
That’s a fact even a third party could see.
The wall was far, far too high to overcome with passion alone.
If I got cocky, he might be able to land a hit on me.
But I was going to crush him with everything I had.
I would do my best to make sure his inferiority complex finally explodes on that day.
“Ah… is that so?”
“It might sound absurd to you, but honestly, I don’t think it’s impossible. Sorry if I offended you.”
“Nah. I’m not offended at all. In fact, I feel bad for misjudging you. I didn’t realize your skills had improved enough for you to be this confident.”
“Want to have a match tomorrow? You can see for yourself.”
Thank you for moving exactly as I predicted.
You really are the classic protagonist who gets everything taken from him.
“Sure, why not.”
“Great.”
I looked down at Tetsuya clenching his fist, steeling his resolve, then gave a nonchalant nod and left the room.
* * *
“Junior, look at this.”
Chinami, who had been strolling along the path, tilted her head up slightly.
“Haaaaah…”
She let out a long breath into the air.
A faint, white puff of vapor was visible.
As she watched it get swept away by the wind and vanish in an instant, she spoke in an excited voice.
“It’s a bit early in the season for your breath to fog up, isn’t it fascinating?”
Her cheeks, turned up towards me, were flushed red from the cold.
She looked incredibly cute. For a moment, I wished winter would come sooner.
I wanted to see Chinami all bundled up in a coat, wearing mittens and blowing puffs of air toward the sky.
“It’s proof that you’re warm-hearted, Master.”
“Is that really true?”
“It’s a joke, but since it’s true that you’re a warm person, I suppose it could pass as the truth.”
“N-Ngh…! Is that so?”
Chinami twirled a still-damp strand of hair around her finger.
It was obvious she was pleased, and watching her made me want to burst out laughing.
I let out a small smirk and pointed to a streetlight casting an orange glow.
“Doesn’t the light look similar to the lighting in that massage room we went to last time?”
“W-What…? No, it doesn’t…? It’s completely different…? It’s much brighter than back then…”
Chinami instantly reverted to her shy self, stammering.
Her constantly changing expressions were truly captivating.
The cold wind must have made her body a little stiff, right? I’ll soften you up real quick.
“Today’s training was tough, wasn’t it?”
“Mmm… Kendo is mostly an indoor martial art, so… it was a bit difficult. But I do basic stamina training every day on my own, so it was bearable.”
“Are your legs sore?”
“They’re not sore, but they feel a little weak. They might turn into floppy squid tentacles at this rate.”
“Should I give you a quick massage then?”
At those words, Chinami’s whole body flinched.
“A-A massage…?”
“Yes. We have training again tomorrow morning, right? And I’m scheduled for self-directed training with the captain at lunch. It’ll be a problem if your muscles get sore, so we should loosen them up.”
“F-For tomorrow’s self-directed training, I was planning on focusing on teaching you and Junior Miura…”
“I’ve even found a good place to give you a massage. Are you not interested?”
“No… it’s not that I’m not interested… Hmph… Where is this good place…? Is it indoors? Or outside…?”
Her ears perked up.
The chance to get a massage for the first time in a fortnight must have tempted her.
I smiled brightly and answered.
“It’s indoors. A place where we can be alone. I didn’t bring my oil massage supplies, so I’ll just give you a regular one.”
“Mmm… I understand. But will you do a face massage, too…?”
“Of course.”
“...Hmph… In that case, I suppose I could receive a little…?”
She was trying hard to hide her feelings, but it was all over her face.
My dear Chinami… you were really looking forward to this, weren’t you?
“Shall we go, then?”
“Yes…”
* * *
The place I took Chinami to was the parking lot.
To be more precise, it was an empty, unlocked bus.
I entered with Chinami and pressed the switch to close the door.
Pssh-!
Chinami, who had been looking bewildered until then, asked,
“Why did you close the door? Didn’t you come here to get your massage supplies?”
“I told you I didn’t bring them.”
“Then why did we come here?”
“I’m going to give you one here.”
“Wha…?”
Hearing the unexpected words, Chinami took half a step back.
“H-How are you going to give me a massage when it’s so dark…? And in a bus, of all places…”
“Thanks to the light leaking from the main building, it’s not like we can’t see. And there’s a place to lie down.”
I pointed to the very back seat, which had no armrests. Chinami swallowed nervously.
“That’s true, but… what if someone comes…”
“I’d say the chances of that are zero. It’s late, after all. And the training was hard. Everyone is probably exhausted and asleep. Besides, so what if someone comes? It’s just a student giving his master a massage.”
“I-I don’t want the massage to be interrupted… I want to enjoy it at a leisurely pace.”
She’s got principles. I like that.
I nodded, turned on my phone’s flashlight, and drew all the curtains on both sides of the bus.
Then, I placed a hand on Chinami’s back and gave her a gentle push.
“I failed to consider your feelings again, Master. My apologies. I’ll make it up to you by working extra hard.”
“Hmph… If you say so, I’ll let myself be fooled this once…”
Acting as if she were reluctantly giving in, Chinami went to the back seat, neatly took off her shoes, and lay down on her stomach.
I noticed her fluffy, apricot-and-pink-colored Momo-nim socks.
“Alright, I’ll start right away.”
I said in a gentle voice and crouched down near Chinami’s legs. I pulled down the top of her sock slightly and wrapped my hand around her ankle.
At that,
“Hyaah…?”
She let out a surprised yelp, feeling the sudden cold.
I gently stroked her calf up and down and said,
“My hands are a little cold, aren’t they?”
“I-It’s fine… I was just surprised…”
“Tell me anytime if you’re uncomfortable.”
“Okay…”
It was a shame I couldn’t touch her bare legs because of her long pants… but given the location, it couldn’t be helped.
And so, I began to massage Chinami’s legs with great care.
I didn’t mix in any ulterior motives. I focused solely on loosening the calf muscles that had grown tired from the strenuous training.
Then, just as Chinami let out a languid sigh of appreciation,
Sliide.
I moved my hand up to her thigh and tapped the space between her legs with my fingertips.
As if it were an accidental touch during the massage.
“Nngh…?”
At that, Chinami’s pelvis slowly, slightly, rose and fell.
Her sensual moan, mixed with a hint of confusion, was a bonus.
Seizing the opportunity, I gave the back of her thigh, right where it connected to her buttocks, a firm squeeze while she was still confused.
“Ngh…”
This time, she tensed her legs.
I placed my hand under her bottom and asked,
“What’s wrong? Are you uncomfortable somewhere?”
“N-No… Mmm… it’s good… it’s a good massage…”
“I’m glad.”
“But, Junior… I think my legs are loose enough, so maybe we can stop here… and you could do my face…?”
“You want your face done?”
“Yes… my face feels very tight after being in the cold wind…”
I wanted to heat things up a bit more since it’s been a while, but I guess it can’t be helped.
My goal for today was just to give her a small taste of something sexual, and I’d already achieved that, so I should back off for now.
I just need to get her addicted slowly. That’s what I’ve been doing all along, and Chinami’s reactions have been good.
So there’s no need to rush things.
“Understood. Then lie down facing me.”
I sat down on the corner-most seat. Chinami grunted as she pushed herself up, then laid her head on my lap.
As if it were the most natural thing in the world.
With a fond, fatherly smile, I looked at Chinami, who had placed her hands demurely over her navel, and poked the tip of her nose with my finger.
Afterward, I used the pads of all ten fingers to gently stroke the crown of her head.
“Heeh…”
Chinami immediately let out a pleased sigh, her lips parting slightly.
Her eyes were gradually losing focus. She must be incredibly comfortable.
“Let’s head back in a little bit. It’s gotten very late.”
I said after massaging her face for a period of time that was neither short nor long. Chinami, who had been on the verge of falling asleep to the sound of her own soft breathing, opened her eyes.
“Mmm… I want to sleep here…”
“The captain will be worried.”
“You’re right… Please continue, quickly…”
Does that mean yes? Or no?
Does she really like the face massage that much?
At this rate, she’ll just ask me to touch her face even when we meet up separately…
I’ll have to find the right timing to cut it short.
It’s important to leave Chinami feeling just a little bit wanting.
So that next time, she’ll be the one to pester me for a massage.
Our last exchange showed signs of that happening… I just need to control the pace.