Chapter 143: Renka, Who's Fun to Hit
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 143: Renka, Who's Fun to Hit
“Matsuda-kun. Why did you buy a laptop?”
Is that really the first thing you’re going to say after waking up?
Are you that curious about what’s inside?
You’ll find out soon enough.
After wiping under Miyuki’s eyes, I rubbed my own and answered.
“It’s nice to have a computer.”
“Well, yeah, but… isn’t this a bit random? You never said you were going to buy one.”
“I don’t think it’s that random.”
“You don’t?”
“Nope. Did you have a good time at your relatives’ house?”
“Yeah. I got some meat for yakiniku, so let’s eat it at my place later. Mom said she’d like it if you ate with us.”
“Sounds good.”
“Oh, and Mom said something weird. She said I…”
Miyuki told me what had happened at her house before she came here.
After listening to her whole story in a sleepy daze, I grinned triumphantly.
“See? I told you she knows everything. How could she not when you’re so obvious about it?”
“...You have such a smug look on your face right now…”
“So, what are you going to do now?”
“What do you mean? The cat’s out of the bag, so I might as well be confident about it. I just hope she doesn’t meddle.”
Unless you’re the one asking for relationship advice, there’s nothing more annoying than unsolicited input on your love life.
Anyway, does this mean we’re family-approved now? It’s about time.
I smoothed down Miyuki’s hair, which was sticking out in every direction, and said, “She won’t do that. But it seems like she knows you’ve been sleeping out, too. Won’t it be awkward when you go back?”
“I think Mom was being considerate and didn’t bring it up. I’m not going to be the one to mention it first.”
“Good idea.”
Pitter-patter.
As I was having a leisurely chat with Miyuki, the sound of rain from outside made my ears perk up.
Miyuki heard it too. She even opened the window a crack, welcoming the downpour.
“It’s been a while. This is sudden, isn’t it? The forecast didn’t say anything about rain.”
Miyuki’s face lit up as she got up.
I squeezed her calf over her jeans and nodded in agreement.
Miyuki gave me an exasperated look and chided me.
“What are you doing the moment you wake up?”
“Touching your calf.”
“I know, but why are you touching my calf…?”
“I’m hungry. Want to go out to eat? How about that ramen place?”
The one with the post-it note with our characters drawn on it.
At the mention of it, Miyuki’s face brightened.
“I love that place.”
“Let’s go, then.”
“Okay.”
* * *
The rain that started yesterday was so heavy it felt like the monsoon season had returned, and it showed no signs of stopping today.
This would have been the perfect weather to sleep with Miyuki… I couldn’t help but feel a little disappointed.
After sitting through class in the humid classroom, I headed to the cafeteria with Miyuki and Tetsuya for lunch.
We ate while making small talk.
“Miyuki, can you come to the school store with me for a sec? I’ll buy you a strawberry milk.”
“Huh? Okay.”
“Want to share an umbrella?”
“No. I have my own.”
“Oh, right…”
I watched Tetsuya get shot down after trying to hit on Miyuki and smirked at him.
He’s not even my rival anymore, so why is it so satisfying to see him squirm?
What a mysterious guy.
“Matsuda-kun, want to come too?” Miyuki asked, moving closer as if to shield me with her umbrella—a completely different attitude than the one she had toward Tetsuya.
She seems to have gotten more assertive lately… It’s a great look on her.
I waved a hand at her.
“Nah. I have to stop by the club room with Nanase-senpai to turn on the dehumidifier. Can’t let the armor get damp.”
“You guys work hard. Okay, see you later. Say hi to Nanase-senpai for me.”
“Will do.”
As I watched the two of them walk away, my eyes gleamed.
They’re walking together, but they’re not as close as they used to be.
Of course, part of that is because they’re using separate umbrellas, but…
The way Miyuki just flatly rejected Tetsuya’s offer, it’s like she’s putting up a wall herself. I like it.
I tilted my umbrella back slightly to look up at the gloomy sky, inhaling the earthy scent in the air, and was about to head back to the classroom.
But just then, I spotted Renka coming out of the cafeteria and changed my mind.
“Hello, Captain.”
I walked toward her and gave a nonchalant greeting, which made Renka scowl.
“Hmph…!”
Her face twisted as if she’d just been stabbed by her mortal enemy. It was quite a sight.
Why didn’t I see her in the cafeteria, though? Renka and Chinami are always together, and they usually stand out.
Did they eat in a corner? I guess so.
“Nice weather we’re having.”
“...What’s so nice about it when it’s pouring like this?”
“I take it you’re not a fan of the rain?”
“It’s gloomy. I hate it.”
We were facing each other under our own umbrellas, like a scene from a teen drama, but our conversation was anything but.
“I like it.”
“So what…?”
“I’m saying I’d like you to start liking it too, Captain.”
“That’s never going to happen.”
Then I’ll make you like it.
“When is a good time for the cosplay?”
At my words, Renka frantically glanced around.
She was trying to hide her face with her umbrella, but did she really think no one would recognize her? Not with that long hair.
She has a surprisingly clumsy side to her.
The area around the cafeteria was filled with nothing but the sound of rain.
Relieved that no one was around, Renka strode up to me and warned, “Shut your mouth…! Why are you bringing that up now?”
“It’s better than talking about it in the club room, isn’t it? I only brought it up because no one’s here.”
“.....”
“So, when are you going to do it?”
“It hasn’t even been that long since the wish was granted, what’s the rush…? Just wait a bit.”
“I’m getting excited.”
“Wh-What…?”
She became visibly flustered when I expressed my desire so openly.
Her face went pale as she took a step back, pushing away the rain-soaked dirt.
“E-Excited…?”
“Yes. I want to see it soon.”
“Are you insane…?”
“I’ve already ordered the costume. It should arrive by tomorrow.”
“Hey…! Why would you order it without discussing it with me…!”
“We only need to discuss the date and time, right? As I recall, the decision on the costume is mine and mine alone.”
“Well, that’s true, but… what did you order…?”
She lowered her head slightly, her eyes darting up to look at me. It was cute.
I gave her a sly smile and said, “You’ll see when it gets here. I’m sure you’ll like it, Captain.”
“I highly doubt that… A-Anyway, let’s talk about that later… You could have just texted me.”
I’m going to call you. I want to hear your voice.
I swallowed those words and broke into a wide smile as I saw Chinami walking this way, wiping her mouth as she left the cafeteria.
I ran over to her and held my umbrella over her head.
“Master, did you enjoy your meal?”
Chinami smiled sweetly and nodded.
“Yes. How about you, Junior?”
“I did, too. Oh, Miyuki says hi.”
“Oh! Hanazawa? We haven’t talked much lately. I should get in touch with her.”
Renka, who had joined us by now, was scoffing repeatedly.
She seemed dumbfounded by my gentle tone and attitude, which was a complete one-eighty from how I treated her.
I wonder if she’ll get jealous later.
Noticing Renka’s reaction, Chinami tilted her head about fifteen degrees.
“Hmm? What’s wrong?”
Renka flinched and waved her hands dismissively.
“Oh, it’s nothing.”
“Okay. Friend, would you like to head back to the classroom first? Junior and I need to get things ready for cleaning.”
“I’ll help too.”
“You really don’t have to. We just need to turn on the dehumidifier for the whole club room and do a quick check on the shinai and armor. It won’t even take fifteen minutes.”
“More hands make for lighter work, right?”
“Well, that’s true, but…”
“Then it’s settled. Let’s hurry up and go. You can share my umbrella.”
Her desperate attempt to rescue Chinami from my clutches was almost touching.
May that friendship of yours never change.
* * *
Pretending to check the armor, Renka watched Chinami and me like a hawk.
It seemed her guard had gone way up after I revealed my preferences on Saturday, but did she realize that I only acted that way toward her?
I’m pretty sure I even told her that I was only like this with the captain.
I jutted my chin toward Renka, whose eyes were on the armor but whose attention was fixed on me.
“Captain.”
“...What.”
“The armor you’ve been staring at for the past two minutes? I already checked that one.”
“You don’t have a good eye for this yet. I’m just double-checking because you’re still inexperienced.”
She’s pretty good at thinking on her feet. She retorted smoothly without batting an eye.
“Is that so?”
“That’s right.”
“Then could you teach me? I’d like to learn what parts I should focus on.”
With that, I took a large step to the side, closing the distance between us.
Renka gasped, and her arms trembled.
For a moment, all the strength left her.
She barely managed to keep her grip on the armor she almost dropped by tensing her wrist, and she gritted her teeth.
“G-Get away from me…! Do you have a death wish…?”
Renka scolded me in a tiny voice, quiet enough that Chinami couldn’t hear.
She must not want her best friend to hear her talk so harshly.
“Why? I’m asking you to teach me. By the way, what shampoo do you use?”
“Why do you need to know that…?”
“It smells nice.”
At my casual compliment, Renka’s face turned bright red.
The look of utter humiliation on her face was so beautiful.
I chuckled, about to tease her more, but then…
“What are you two whispering about? Is there something wrong with the armor?”
I turned to Chinami, who had approached us with a puzzled look, and gave her a gentle smile.
“I was asking the captain to teach me how to properly inspect the armor. Of course, you’ve taught me well, Master, but I think I can improve by seeing things from another person’s perspective. Besides, the captain is just as experienced as you are… I want to learn from her and absorb as much as I can.”
“Ooh…! That’s a wonderful mindset…! I can see your virtues as a kendo practitioner growing day by day…!”
Chinami even clapped her hands, delighted.
Watching her innocent display, Renka let out a sigh that could have cracked the earth.
“This is driving me crazy… What other perspective is there for looking at a set of armor…?”
Renka muttered to herself, almost inaudibly, then snapped her head up.
She irritably grabbed a glove from in front of her and pointed to the inside.
“Stick your hand in first. Check if it’s damp.”
“Understood. But this glove is yours, Captain, isn’t it?”
“It’s mine?”
“Yes. You just took it from the shelf that says ‘Inoo Renka.’”
“What…?”
Startled, Renka checked the name tag and the glove.
Seizing the opportunity, I quickly thrust my hand inside her glove.
All while wearing the slyest smile I could muster.
Sliiide…
My hand invaded the slightly cool interior.
It felt as if I were inserting something into Renka’s clean, soft flesh.
“Hmm… it’s a little damp. I’ll clean it up for you today.”
Did she sense something strange in my suggestive words and actions, as if I were checking something on the inside?
Renka’s face flushed red and purple.
I did intentionally say something that could be misunderstood, but seeing her reaction, it looks like she really did have that kind of thought… You’re quite the pervert yourself, aren’t you?
Her reactions have gotten so much better since that day. It looks like my life at the academy is about to get a lot more interesting.
And since it’s about time I gave Chinami her final massage, I’ll have to be even busier this week.