Chapter 176: Reverse Ekiben
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 176: Reverse Ekiben
It was nearly midnight.
I was watching TV while waiting for Chinami to contact me, and the moment my phone rang, I glanced at the screen.
[I appreciate your offer, Junior, but I think I’ll have to refuse.]
An unfortunate answer.
But one I had expected.
[I’ll stick to just giving you a massage.]
[Oh! In that case, I’ll think about it again and let you know tomorrow.]
Her attitude changed in a flash.
An answer like that meant that when I’d offered her a massage, Chinami had also been thinking about sex.
As expected, my dear Chinami is a total pervert.
Her refusal just now must have been because she was worried about Miyuki watching.
A smile tugged at my lips at the mix of cuteness and perversion I could feel from her message, and I sent a reply.
[Sounds good.]
[Okay. Good night.]
We could have kept the conversation going, but I saw no need to drag it out this late at night.
Besides, Chinami and I had important business tomorrow, so I should let her get a good night's rest.
After ending the conversation, I looked at her profile picture.
It was still the heart-eyed Momo-nim… I wonder if Renka has seen it?
Judging by her reactions so far, it seemed like she still didn’t know.
This time, I sent a message to Renka.
[You sleeping?]
My phone remained silent, even after a long wait.
Just as I was wondering if Renka was ignoring my message or if she was already asleep…
[Not sleeping.]
A reply reeking of her tsundere nature arrived.
[Why not?]
[Just because.]
[What are you doing?]
[Lying down. What do you want?]
[So I can’t message you unless I want something?]
[It’s late right now.]
[So you’re telling me not to message you?]
[I never said that.]
Why is this so fun, even though her reactions are so lukewarm?
Is it because I like her? I feel like I could text her all day and not get bored.
It would be nice if Renka felt the same way I do… but that’s probably too much to ask for anytime soon, right?
[What are you doing?]
[I told you I’m lying down.]
[What are you doing while lying down?]
[Talking to you.]
[What were you doing before that?]
[On my phone.]
[If you were on your phone, you must have seen my message, but your reply was late.]
As if to prove that my comment had struck a nerve, my phone went silent again.
A moment later, her excuse-laden reply arrived.
[I was watching a video.]
[Alright. I’ll let it slide.]
[I don’t understand why I have to explain myself to you. Do I have to reply on time every single time I see a message from you?]
Making all her excuses, then trying to salvage her pride.
So cute.
[It’d be nice if you did.]
[No.]
[Thank you.]
[I said no, so why are you thanking me?]
[Anyway, Captain, what will you do for me if I win the tournament?]
[Don’t change the subject.]
[You’ll grant my wish? Got it.]
[I don’t think it’s possible to have a conversation with you.]
[Good night.]
After that final greeting, Renka sent no more messages.
Pushing down the urge to keep teasing her, I logged into AniShare and checked my inbox.
Nothing but a few spam messages. It seemed Renka hadn’t unblocked me yet.
Shrugging it off, I closed my eyes in anticipation of tomorrow.
* * *
“Matsuda-kun, you know we have a test first period, right?”
The next morning, in the classroom.
I pulled a book out from under my desk and opened it, only to furrow my brow at Miyuki’s out-of-the-blue comment.
“A test? What test?”
“I told you we had a math pop quiz. Don’t you remember?”
Come to think of it, I did recall something about a practice test for the final exams.
At the time, I’d been messing around with Miyuki in the middle of class and had let it go in one ear and out the other. Since Miyuki hadn’t mentioned it again, I’d forgotten… but it looked like we were having it now.
“Does it count toward our grade?”
“No, it doesn’t. You don’t have to worry.”
Then why the hell are we taking it?
Our teacher sure is passionate. Or maybe they’re just too lazy to teach and are using a test to get through the period?
“He said he wouldn’t make it too difficult… so you should probably get at least fifteen out of the twenty questions right, okay?”
The fact that I’m weak at math is a truth known not only to me and Miyuki, but also to Bread Girl, the vice president, that maggot Tetsuya, and even the rest of the class.
And she still wants me to get fifteen questions right?
I stared at Miyuki with a dumbfounded expression and asked.
“That’s a 75… Isn’t that setting the bar a little high?”
“I believe the Matsuda-kun of today can manage that much.”
She seemed to have high expectations, so I suppose I’d have to meet them.
I’d have to get this rusty brain working and earn myself that cowgirl position.
“Got it.”
“The cutoff for you is 75 too, Tetsuya-kun. Understand?”
Miyuki leaned over, looking at Tetsuya with expectation.
The guy, who had been doodling, flinched and gave an awkward laugh.
“I-I’ll try…”
“What? Not confident?”
“Of course I’m not… I’m bad at math, just like Matsuda…”
“Do your best.”
The old Miyuki would have asked Tetsuya which formulas or problems he didn’t know and offered to study with him until the test started.
But now, it was the opposite. She gave Tetsuya a simple word of encouragement, then turned to me, poking my side with her finger and urging me to open my notebook.
Did Tetsuya notice Miyuki’s behavior?
I hoped he saw it and that his inferiority complex would explode, just like it did before I slapped him across the face that one time. It would be great if he severed the tenacious bond of being Miyuki’s childhood friend with his own two hands.
Of course, I wouldn’t mind cutting it myself, either.
Pretending to give in to Miyuki’s nagging, I opened my notebook and crammed as hard as I could. When the teacher came in and the pop quiz began, I focused with all my might.
After first period ended, I checked the answers and couldn’t help but curse inwardly.
My score had fallen far short of her expectations.
What the…
I was sure I knew the problems, and my brain seemed to be working fine when I was solving them… so how did I end up with this score?
The human mind is truly a mysterious thing.
Anyway, at this rate, I’m worried about the final exams. I need to make sure I study whenever I have a spare moment.
“Matsuda-kun, what did you get?”
Miyuki, who had already finished grading her test, asked with a smile.
I forced an awkward smile back and answered honestly.
“40.”
“...40…?”
“Yep.”
Her smiling face, which had assumed I was joking, instantly hardened.
After confirming the countless X’s on my test paper, her nose wrinkled slightly.
“Why…? Haven’t you been reviewing…?”
“Nope.”
“Why do you say that like it’s the most natural thing in the world…?”
“I’ve got nothing to say.”
I really was an idiot. I forget things as soon as I learn them.
Miyuki, who seemed quite shocked by my score, was at a loss for words. She glanced sideways at Tetsuya, who looked just as troubled as I was.
“What about you, Tetsuya-kun?”
“Me…? Well, I…”
From the way he trailed off, that bastard must have gotten a low score too.
“This won’t do… for either of you… This is a big problem…” Miyuki muttered, shaking her head.
I had a feeling this would lead to her trying to set up a special tutoring session at my place.
Would she invite Tetsuya, too? If so, I’d have to make sure Miyuki and I did that sort of thing under the heated table I’d set up.
I should also get an air purifier. It would piss me off to have his filthy breath lingering in my room.
* * *
Chinami, having meticulously pressed the creases into her martial arts uniform pants, was on her tiptoes, hanging them on the clothesline.
I quietly entered the drying room and closed the door behind me. Chinami was humming a tune like a newlywed bride, thoroughly enjoying her chores. I called out to her from behind.
“Master.”
“Junior! You’re here!”
She turned her head, a wide smile blooming on her face. Her smile was so beautiful.
It was enough to make the cold, damp drying room, filled with moisture from the wet laundry, feel warm for a moment.
Feeling my heart soften, I approached Chinami and asked.
“Why are you doing this all by yourself? You should have worked with me.”
“I have to get it done beforehand so we can start our special training. The tournament is getting close, you know.”
“I see. Have you thought about what we discussed yesterday?”
At my words, Chinami’s innocent expression was instantly washed over with a blush.
“Ah… are you talking about the massage…?”
“Yes.”
“Ahem…”
She cleared her throat, avoiding a direct answer, but her expression said it all.
Observing her face, I gave a gentle smile. I took one of her fidgeting hands and lifted it to my chest.
Then, I turned her palm up and began to carefully massage each of her fingers.
“Ngh…”
Chinami squirmed, as if the sensation felt good.
Gazing at her shyly, I said.
“You’ll accept, won’t you?”
“...Yes… A-Actually, my body has been feeling a bit stiff…”
“Really? Where?”
“My shoulders… and, um, my back…”
“I’ll have to loosen you up then, right?”
“Y-Yes…”
The atmosphere, which had felt like a cool breeze, was rapidly heating up.
I continued to massage Chinami’s hand for a moment, fanning the flames even higher.
Swoosh.
I gently placed a hand on her soft bottom, patting the area where it met her lower back.
“This part feels a little stiff, too.”
“W-Wha…? Really…? I think it’s fine there…”
“No. It’s stiff.”
“H-How can that be… This is serious…”
“Let me just touch it a little.”
I tightened my grip on her lower back and pulled her toward me.
Our bodies pressed together, not even the slightest gap remaining between us.
With my arm wrapped around her waist, I began to massage the underside of her bottom and her thighs.
“Hhek… Junior… Don’t you think we’re a little too close…?” Chinami murmured, pressing her forehead into my chest.
I could feel her body trembling against mine. I reassured her that it was fine and continued the massage.
I needed to thoroughly loosen up Chinami’s lower body before we went to the hotel, and after we got there, too.
That way, she’ll have an easier time when we try the lift and thrust.