Chapter 195: What I Saw on the Way to the Tournament
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 195: What I Saw on the Way to the Tournament
Perhaps because the kendo tournament was just around the corner, a palpable tension filled the club room today.
But that didn't apply to the places where I did my manager duties... like the storage room, the hill, or the drying room.
“Eek!”
Any tension that might have existed was shattered by Chinami, who shrieked as if she’d seen a ghost and ran away.
I strode over to where she was hiding among the scattered kendo uniforms and asked, “Why are you running away? We just had peaches together at lunch.”
“...Th-that's because Hanazawa was with us then...”
“So you're uncomfortable being alone with me?”
“N-No...! That's not what I meant...!”
“It's not?”
“No... it's not.”
“You seem uncomfortable.”
“I said I'm not...!”
Chinami put her hands on her hips, her long eyelashes fluttering as she glared up at me.
If I pushed her any further, she'd probably start nagging me under the guise of a lecture.
I gave her a warm smile, patting her on the back as I changed the subject.
“Alright. You'll watch me for a bit today, right?”
“W-Watch you? Watch what...?”
“My kendo.”
“Oh... Of course, I can watch that...”
What was she thinking?
Don't tell me she was imagining Miyuki and me... getting it on?
Knowing Chinami, that's entirely possible.
“Are your legs okay?”
“Huh? My legs?”
“You were shaking a lot during lunch. Did you overdo it last time?”
As I subtly brought up that incident, Chinami gasped with a little hic! and her shoulders trembled.
I quickly pulled her into a hug, placing a hand on her stomach and rubbing it in a clockwise circle as I continued.
“Well, I'm glad if that's not the case.”
“.....”
She started to squirm shyly, and I gently rested my chin on the top of her head, just like I always do.
“We should all hang out with Miyuki again sometime.”
“Whaaat...?”
“You don't want to?”
“N-No... It's not that I don't want to... It's just, I need to mentally prepare myself...”
I just suggested we hang out, and she needs to mentally prepare?
Of course, I did intentionally phrase it to bring a threesome to mind, but it's scary how accurately Chinami picked up on it.
Her freaking out when I asked her to watch me, this reaction now...
If Chinami, who's having lewd thoughts all the time, ever truly awakens, her sex drive would probably be several times stronger than Miyuki's.
Looking down at her as she fidgeted with her fingers in embarrassment, I said, “Let's drop this for now. Will you watch my kendo?”
“Ah, yes... I should. Of course... It's cold outside, should we do it in here...?”
“In here?”
“Ngh...!? This place is dangerous, let's do it outside...!”
“What's dangerous about it?”
“There just is...! Now, let's go get your shinai...!”
She keeps having these weird delusions, it's making me want to do it right here.
Resisting the impulse, I obediently let Chinami go and opened the door.
Just then, a third-year senior who was participating in the tournament called out to me.
“Matsuda, the coach wants to see you.”
“Right now?”
“Yeah. He said to gather everyone participating in the men's team competition.”
Of all the times to call me, it had to be when I was supposed to be having a nice, cozy practice session with Chinami.
My resolve not to mess with my wife is about to break.
Smacking my lips in disappointment, I entered the coach's office and bowed to Goro.
Before long, the other club members started trickling in.
Among them, of course, was Tetsuya.
He was being rather clingy during our match today... I suspect he still hasn't gotten over his troubled feelings from Christmas, but Tetsuya's fighting style is like a swamp to begin with, so it's hard to tell.
“What's going on?”
Tetsuya asked quietly, wiping his face with a towel.
I shrugged nonchalantly and replied, “Beats me. How's practice going?”
“I'm trying my best. What about you?”
“Same here.”
“Let's do our best together.”
He's not saying anything to get on my nerves today.
He's been quieter than usual lately, as if he's finally learned his place. Maybe he just doesn't want any unnecessary conflict before the tournament?
I don't know if that's a good thing or not.
While I was exchanging a bit more idle chatter with Tetsuya, Goro stood before us, holding a sheet of paper from the printer.
“Quiet.”
Instantly, the office became so silent you could hear a pin drop.
Goro definitely has a powerful presence. Then again, with a face like that, it'd be weird if he didn't.
“I called you all here because today is the final day to submit the roster. Matsuda, Miura, Mori, Ikeda, Yamazaki, in that order, with Yoshida and Fujii as substitutes... Correct?”
At Goro's question, the tournament participants gathered in the office answered in unison.
““Yes.””
“There should be no more changes after this. If anyone has anything to say about the order, speak now.”
““We don't.””
“Then I'm submitting it as is. You can all leave. If you have any individual questions, ask them now.”
At his words, everyone except Tetsuya and one second-year senior turned to leave.
Their eyes were full of passion.
As long as the team wins, I don't care whether Tetsuya loses or not, but seeing him try so hard makes me think he'll get good results.
* * *
The tournament was scheduled for not long after Christmas, so the day arrived quickly.
Since it was held on a weekday, we could legally skip class, but it only amounted to missing the first period of the afternoon, so it wasn't particularly good or bad.
Goro had said he would handle the manager duties today, so Chinami and I boarded the bus right away, though we sat separately.
I'd originally planned to sit with her, but she said the girls' division participants needed to discuss tactics.
And it was the same for the men's division.
“Matsuda, hurry up and get over here.”
Seeing the guys from the men's division waving from the back seats, I sighed internally.
Having to sit with a bunch of smelly guys... How humiliating.
I deliberately took an empty seat by myself and listened carefully to the tips from the third-year senior in the team-captain position.
Then, Renka got on and started a headcount. The moment her eyes met mine, I gave her a wink.
“One, two, three, four, five... Ugh...!”
Renka frowned at the sight.
She looked me over as if she'd seen something she shouldn't have, cleared her throat, and started counting again.
Her reactions are always fun. I'm looking forward to the day she does a one-day shift with me at the uncles' store.
While I was lost in thought, Renka finished the headcount and stopped by the seat where Miura was sitting. Then she encouraged the guy.
“Miura, do your best today.”
“Thank you, Captain!”
“It's a regional tournament, so you know there will be a lot of matches in one day, right? You have to pace yourself.”
“I won't let you down!”
“Good. I'm counting on you.”
So loud my ears are gonna fall off. Is hearing a woman's sweet voice really that great?
Just as I was about to curse Tetsuya in my head,
“Matsuda, you do your best, too.”
Hearing Renka's words as she looked at me, my disgust melted away like snow.
It really is nice. I'll let it slide this time.
“Yeah.”
“You're not going to say thank you?”
“Thanks.”
“...I don't know why I bother.”
As Renka grumbled quietly and walked to the front, Goro, having just finished loading the supplies, got on the bus and said,
“I won't wish you luck. You win with skill.”
Win with skill?
It's a little cringey, but it's the kind of line that fires up the passionate spirit of youth.
If DokiAka had been a hot-blooded sports story, Goro would have had a much bigger role, wouldn't he?
I turned toward the seats where the girls' division was sitting and made a fist to Chinami, who was in a meeting with her eyes wide open, as a sign of encouragement.
When she saw me, Chinami broke into a bashful smile and pulled her hands in close to make a 'fighting' pose.
Not long after, the bus departed.
Their brief meeting over, I took up two seats by myself, leaned against the window, and looked up at the sky.
It was quite warm. It would be a stretch to call it spring, but for this time of year, the weather was great.
On a day like this, I should be going on a picnic with Miyuki or Chinami... What a shame.
Bread Girl and the vice president said they were coming to cheer us on. Maybe the four of us can hang out after the tournament?
As I was thinking that, I opened the window and scanned the bustling downtown street,
“Bye, Hiyori!”
The bus stopped at an intersection, and just as the crosswalk light turned green, I heard a loud shout from a mixed group of high school students. My eyes shot open.
‘What?’
Hiyori?
Did I just hear that right?
Thinking it couldn't be, I turned my gaze in the direction the group of students was looking.
And I saw her.
“Bye-bye!”
In the middle of the crosswalk, turning back to wave goodbye to her friends with a cheerful pose... It was Hiyori, smiling so brightly it seemed to light up her surroundings.
‘I-It's really her...?’
The bright blonde hair, the expression that could make anyone who saw it feel happy, and her lively demeanor.
It was definitely the Asahina Hiyori I knew.
Thump!
My heart was pounding.
More than being flustered by the random encounter, I was thrilled to finally see the Hiyori I had only ever known in 2D.
After parting with her friends, Hiyori quickly disappeared.
Actually, it wasn't that she disappeared, but that the light turned green and the bus sped away from the intersection.
For a moment, I almost shouted for the driver to let me off, but I calmed myself down.
Even if I got off and met Hiyori now, what could I do? I'd be lucky if she didn't just give me a weird look.
But isn't she cold? Her cheeks looked a little red...
Even if the weather is warm, she's dressed too lightly.
What if she catches a cold like that... I'll have to take good care of her next year.
In any case, it wasn't a fateful encounter at all, which is a bit of a letdown.
If you asked whether it was fitting for a romantic comedy... well, it is a classic way for a heroine to make her first appearance, so I can't really argue.
Still, I should look on the bright side.
I'll just consider it confirmation that she's exactly the same as the Hiyori I know. For now, I need to focus on Renka.
That's what I told myself, but the pleasant pounding in my chest wouldn't subside so easily.
The situation was just that absurd.
Just like the free spirit she is, even her entrance had a huge impact.
I never, ever would have expected her to show up at a time like this.
I have a strong feeling that the academy is going to get a whole lot noisier next year.