Chapter 126: Plum, and Peach #2
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 126: Plum, and Peach #2
“Whoa...! This is actually really good...?”
The Yogurt Peach, nestled between the chocolate and strawberry.
That was Miyuki’s review after her first bite.
Chinami, looking satisfied by the heartfelt admiration, nodded and said, “Right? It’s delicious, isn’t it?”
“Yes...! To be honest, I wasn’t expecting much, but I had no idea it would be this good...”
“Hehe... Renka was the same way when she first tried it.”
“Renka... are you talking about Inoo-senpai?”
“That’s right. Do you know her?”
“I’ve met her two or three times. I even ran into her outside the other day and said hello. She was very nice.”
“Isn’t she? She might seem a little stiff on the outside, but she’s a very deep and caring friend.”
They were starting to chat away, and I couldn’t figure out how they had so much to talk about when it was their first time really getting to know each other.
I sat next to Miyuki, sipping my coffee, but when Chinami, who had been jumping between all sorts of topics, brought up massages, my ears perked up.
“Junior Hanazawa, have you ever had a massage from Junior Matsuda?”
“A massage? Yes, I have.”
I had given her one.
Right after we did the deed, or sometimes when Miyuki was feeling whiny.
“Didn’t your body instantly go limp, leaving you all dazed and groggy?”
It was just a typical Chinami thing to say, but why did it sound so lewd?
Miyuki must have felt the same way, because she paused mid-ice cream and looked up.
“Um... limp... and groggy...?”
“It means you feel languid,” Chinami clarified.
“Ah... languid... I wouldn’t say I felt languid, more like... um... I’m not sure how to explain it. Nanase-senpai, you’ve gotten a massage from Matsuda-kun too, right?”
“Yes.”
“I guess you felt languid then?”
“I did. I passed out the moment I got home. Oh, and this...”
Chinami rummaged around in the front pocket of her bag and pulled something out.
It was a round object, about half the size of her palm.
Handing it to Miyuki, Chinami smiled brightly.
“It’s a Momo-nim badge I brought from home. It’s really cute on a bag or a wallet. I’d be happy if you’d accept it.”
Miyuki took the badge, which was steeped in the nefarious energy of Momo-nim, and examined it before asking, “Are you just giving this to me?”
“Of course. I have several at home, so you can ask for more if you need them.”
“Thank you so much...! Just a moment...”
Miyuki excused herself and pinned the badge to the front of her bag.
Then she held the bag up for Chinami to see.
“How does it look?”
“It suits it perfectly. A picture of perfection.”
The bag was quite large and had a plain black design, so I couldn’t honestly say it suited it well.
Still, it did add a cute little touch.
Miyuki’s expression brightened as she looked over her bag, now corrupted by Momo-nim.
Chinami grinned and continued, “I also have some stickers for decorating diaries, so let me know if you’re interested.”
“Is that okay?”
“Of course. You’re welcome anytime.”
The two of them looked so happy. They looked like close sisters, and it wasn’t a bad sight.
It seemed like Miyuki was playing along with Chinami... or was I mistaken?
She seemed to have a knack for handling Chinami.
* * *
“I had a really great time today. I hope we can meet again soon.”
Having arrived at her apartment building, Chinami bowed deeply.
Miyuki, who had gotten out of the car, returned the bow.
“Me too. Get home safe, senpai.”
After a bit more small talk with Miyuki, Chinami gave me a quick nod and went inside the building.
“Matsuda-kun, your senpai is bowing so formally. You should at least get out of the car, not just wave your hand. What’s wrong with you?”
The moment I got back into the passenger seat, Miyuki chided me with a stern tone. I shot her a weary look.
“Do you really have to be that strict about it?”
“I’m kidding. She seems like a genuinely sweet person.”
“She is. How was it today?”
“It was fun. But...”
Miyuki’s voice trailed off as she narrowed her eyes.
“What is it now?”
“What kind of massage did you give your senpai to make her feel so ‘languid’?”
It was the kind of massage you could get at a professional shop, but not something you’d typically see between a regular guy and girl... it was definitely that kind of thing.
Thank god Chinami didn’t mention oil when they were talking about it.
I gently stroked the hair of Miyuki, who was showing a hint of jealousy.
“I’ll give you one tomorrow. And on Saturday, you should go home. I’ll come pick you up at night.”
“Saturday? Why?”
“Inoo-senpai summoned me for that day.”
“Really? What for?”
“I’m not sure either.”
“Will it take long?”
“Probably?”
“Oh...? Okay.”
She seemed surprisingly willing to let it go. She probably thought Renka was calling me in her capacity as the club captain.
“Is there anything you want to buy? Or should we catch a movie before I drop you off?”
“No. Mom wants me home early today. Because of... staying out last night.”
“Alright, heading straight there then?”
“Yeah.”
After dropping Miyuki off, I was on my way home.
By chance, I spotted Tetsuya.
He was jogging around the neighborhood in workout clothes, sweating buckets. It looked like he’d been running for a while.
I’d thought his gut had shrunk a little lately. So he’d been exercising consistently.
Beep!
I gave a very short honk of the horn. He turned around, recognized my car, and stopped.
I pulled up beside him and rolled down the driver’s side window.
“You working out?”
“Yeah. Are you... on your way back from getting ice cream?” Tetsuya asked, peering into the passenger seat.
I let out a short laugh at his attempt to find Miyuki.
“Yup. Miyuki’s already home.”
“I see... Are you heading home now?”
“That’s the plan. By the way, you can get to school on your own tomorrow, right?”
“Why? Something come up?”
This bastard’s audacity is off the charts.
Is he acting like this because I’m being nice? Should I have just told him straight up that I wasn’t giving him rides anymore?
Or is he trying to keep me in check, to stop me from getting closer to Miyuki?
Don’t you realize you’re already too late, buddy?
It felt like talking to someone who completely lacked social skills.
Who was it that said if you keep doing favors for someone, they start thinking it’s their right?
That saying was really hitting home.
In any case, you’re out.
You get on my nerves, you slam the door... only a saint could put up with driving someone with zero manners.
No, even Buddha would probably smash your head in with his wooden fish if you acted like that.
“Nothing came up, I’m just tired. It’s cutting into my sleep time.”
“Ah... well, can’t be helped then. Alright.”
I gave a wave to Tetsuya, who was nodding with a disappointed look, took my foot off the brake, and drove away.
I slowed down as I approached the corner.
A pretty woman with a healthy-looking tan was walking toward me.
Our eyes met, and she raised a hand in thanks before walking past my car.
I pressed the accelerator again and watched the woman in my rearview mirror.
I could see her talking to Tetsuya, who had started jogging again in the distance...
Could that be Tetsuya’s older sister? The one who was only mentioned in a few lines of text when I played DokiAka?
When you remember that in the rom-com... no, the NTL genre, it’s a classic trope for the loser’s sister or mother to be beautiful, it’s not an impossibility.
Blood suddenly rushed to my lower regions, but she could just be a friendly neighbor, not his actual sister.
This is a really busy time, and I haven’t even been able to see Hiyori yet. I can’t just go around swinging my dick at everything.
So hold it in, my dick.
* * *
The next day, during club activities in the afternoon.
“Matsuda.”
I was alone in the storage room wiping down a shinai when the door opened and a blunt voice called out. I turned my head.
“What is it, Captain?”
“Where’s Chinami?”
“She went to hang the laundry.”
“I see... I sent you the location for my uncles' restaurant... did you check it?”
“I did. 8 AM tomorrow, right? I won’t be late. But I have a question.”
“Go ahead.”
“When will it be over?”
“If you’re talking about the wish... I can’t give you a definite answer.”
“That just makes me more anxious.”
“You don’t look anxious at all.”
That’s because you only have a few wishes you could possibly make, and I can guess all of them.
I shrugged and put away the shinai I’d finished cleaning.
“Are we done here?”
“We’re done.”
“Then I’m going to go see my Master.”
Ssk.
Renka silently stepped aside from the door.
As I passed her, I grinned and said, “See you tomorrow.”
“...Yeah.”
I left the club room and headed up the hill, where I saw the back of Chinami, sitting on a bench and giggling at something.
“Hnnngh...”
She was leaning her head back on the bench, looking up at the sky. She looked sleepy.
I approached Chinami and leaned my face over her shoulder to make my presence known.
“All done with the laundry?”
“Myaah!?”
Chinami yelped in fright.
She jumped, startled, and the slightly damp towel in her hand flew from her grasp.
I snatched the airborne towel and held it out to her.
“Here you go.”
“Ah... th-thank you... And Matsuda-kun...! You shouldn’t scare people like that...! Sneaking up on me from behind... As a kendo practitioner, you should be more forthright...!”
“I didn’t exactly sneak up on you...”
“Ahem... anyway, what is it?”
“I finished cleaning the shinai, so I came to help my Master.”
“Is that so? I’m all finished here, too. By the way, was Hanazawa-san satisfied yesterday?”
“She was very satisfied. She loved the Momo-nim badge you gave her, said it was cute... She even wore it to school today.”
“Hehe... I’m glad. Shall we head back down to the club room together now?”
“Let’s rest for a bit. We’ve got nothing else to do.”
I plopped down right next to Chinami. She flinched and gulped.
She seemed surprised by how close we were, our hips nearly touching.
I picked a leaf out of her hair and asked, “Were you tired from doing the laundry?”
“No...? It’s what I always do...?”
“You look tired.”
“Huh...? No way... Ah...! Come to think of it, my shoulder muscles do feel a little tight...? I suppose it’s time for a heartfelt massage from my disciple.”
Having completely fallen for my leading question, Chinami turned her back to me and wiggled her shoulders one by one.
I placed my hands on her shoulders and began to massage her with light pressure, whispering softly.
“I’ll give you a proper one soon.”
“Mmh... I hope you’ll call me soon...” she murmured, her voice already growing languid as she confessed her true feelings.
Her anticipation was clearly running high. I’d have to call her first thing next Monday.