Chapter 199: Kendo Tournament Wrap-up #2
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 199: Kendo Tournament Wrap-up #2
“Yeah, yeah. You were really good. It was cool.”
Miyuki agreed with the heroic tale Tetsuya was rambling on about.
Her attitude wasn't lukewarm. Every one of her replies was sincere.
She was genuinely complimenting Tetsuya.
It was just that her attention was focused on me as I approached.
Tetsuya, like the clueless idiot he was, failed to notice her reaction and just kept talking.
“By the way, Miyuki.”
“Hm?”
“Are you wearing makeup these days?”
“Makeup? I do.”
“You didn’t use to wear it much.”
“Didn’t I still wear it often when I went out?”
“Did you? I don’t think so…”
Just like creepy Tetsuya, his stalker tendencies were starting to show.
As I got closer to the two of them, I said to Tetsuya.
“Hey, Mori-senpai is looking for you. You should go.”
“Oh, really? Okay. Good work today.”
“You too.”
After sending Tetsuya on his way, I took Miyuki behind a bus parked by one of the academies.
“Did you see everything?”
“The match? I saw it all. But Matsuda-kun, did you get fouled?”
“Fouled?”
“That’s what Tetsuya-kun said. That you stumbled because you were fouled. He said he even advised you to be careful when you switched in because those guys are known for playing dirty.”
Tetsuya said that? Did the sun rise in the west today?
I thought he’d conveniently leave out the advice I gave him, but I never dreamed he’d actually mention it.
Maybe he had a lot of realizations today? Or was he just in a good mood because I was being nice to him?
I really wanted to take a peek inside his head.
“Yeah, something like that happened.”
“Aren’t you mad?”
“Isn’t it enough that I got my revenge during the match?”
Miura, on the other hand, couldn’t, which is why he was so pissed off and probably grumbling to you about it.
Miyuki gently ran her fingers through my bangs, which were clumped together with sweat, and said in a small voice.
“You were so cool today.”
“I thought so, too.”
“What do you mean, ‘you thought so, too’? Is the kendo club having a team dinner today?”
“I don’t know. Probably? We have to go back and put away our equipment first.”
“That’ll take a while? Then I’m just gonna go hang out with my friends, okay?”
“What are you guys gonna do?”
“Get something to eat and walk around.”
“Are you staying out late?”
“I don’t know. I’ll see how it goes.”
“Then call me when you guys split up. I’ll come pick you up.”
Miyuki nodded, then suddenly wrapped her arms tightly around my waist.
She even arched her back and buried her face in my stomach.
I pressed down on her small head with a single finger and said.
“You’ll get all sweaty. Let go.”
“You smell good…”
We were in a secluded spot, but for Miyuki, who usually refrains from public displays of affection, to go this far, I must have looked really cool doing kendo.
It suddenly made me want to compete in the next tournament.
After calming down Miyuki, who refused to let go of me despite the sweat, I parted with her and headed back to the club members.
While chatting with them, I spotted Masako buying soboro bread and walking toward her group. I waved at her happily.
“Hey, Bread Girl!”
“Huh…?”
“What’s up? No coughing today?”
“Cough!”
The moment I asked, she started coughing.
The timing was just too perfect. Was she doing this on purpose to mess with me?
But judging by her expression, she really looked like she was choking.
I offered a bottle of water to Bread Girl, who was patting her chest in frustration. She took it, coughing nonstop.
“Th-tha… cough!…nk you…”
“Are your bronchial tubes weak or something?”
“N-no, not really… kehek! Keck!”
She really had a knack for making people feel bad.
It was embarrassing, as if her coughing was somehow my fault.
I scratched my head and called over the vice president from a distance to come get Bread Girl.
* * *
“Where should I put this?”
“Over there.”
“This one?”
“O~ver there.”
“Then this one?”
“That one goes o~ver the~re.”
“Where is o~ver the~re?”
“Second shelf from the bottom, in the corner.”
“Here?”
“Yep. Right there. Pfft…”
Chinami and I giggled as we cleaned and organized the equipment we used today.
The girls’ team won, the boys’ team took second, and on top of that, the master and disciple both went undefeated. Chinami seemed to be in high spirits from it all, her energy level exceptionally high today.
“By the way, does your wrist hurt?”
“My wrist?”
“It looked like your wrist twisted sharply when you went for that torso strike earlier. It might seem fine now, but I’m sure it was strained. Just a moment.”
Chinami rummaged through a black bag in the corner of the storage room and pulled something out.
It was a thin, rectangular object with a picture of Momo-nim on it.
I squinted to read the text and made a baffled face.
“A Momo-nim pain relief patch…?”
“Yes! It’s my favorite. Here, hold out your hand.”
Is there anything Momo-nim doesn’t have? This is ridiculous.
I bet there’s even a peach-flavored drink called Momo-nim’s Holy Water.
When I obediently held out my arm, Chinami carefully applied the patch to my wrist.
Then, she looked at my forearm, which was twice as thick as hers, and marveled.
“Your arm is so thick.”
“It’s thick?”
“Yes, it’s brawny.”
Was it because Chinami said it? The line sounded strangely suggestive.
A sudden surge of desire washed over me, and I was about to reach for Chinami’s butt when—
Click.
The door opened and Renka peeked her head in. I licked my lips in disappointment.
“Need any help?”
Renka asked, frowning as she saw me close to Chinami.
Chinami shook her head nonchalantly and replied.
“Not really. We can handle it all ourselves.”
“Really…? Still, more hands make the work go faster, so I’ll help.”
Renka stated it as a fact, not waiting for our reply before walking into the middle of the storage room with staccato steps and sitting down.
She must be worried Chinami and I would get up to something lewd again.
I wonder when that meddlesome nature of hers will ever shrink.
“What are you glaring at me for? You should be grateful I’m offering to help.”
Renka shot me a condescending rebuke for staring at her.
I shrugged and asked back.
“Who said anything?”
“You have a look of complaint on your face.”
“No, I don’t.”
“Just give me some equipment that hasn’t been cleaned.”
“Get it yourself.”
“It’s right next to you. Would it kill you to hand it over?”
“Try asking politely, like, ‘Could you please pass me the armor?’”
“I’ll just get it myself.”
Renka scoffed and stretched her upper body to grab the armor next to me.
Seizing the opportunity, I picked up an uncleaned head protector and held it out to Renka.
She scowled and asked.
“What are you doing?”
“You asked for it, so I’m giving it to you.”
“Why are you giving it to me now?”
“Because I’m a slow mover.”
“You replied quickly enough.”
“I’m not a slow talker.”
“You’re banned from the team dinner today.”
“That’s so childish.”
“You’re the one who started acting childish.”
Chinami, who had been looking back and forth between us bickering, clicked her tongue and cut in.
“Ahem! Why are you two growling at each other on such a wonderful day? Both of you, just quietly wipe down the armor.”
“We’re not growling. We’re just joking around because we’re close.”
“Oh, is that what it is?”
“Of course.”
Perhaps taken in by how casually I smoothed things over, Renka got worked up and denied my words.
“What do you mean, close? Don’t say such ridiculous things.”
Ignoring her, I spoke to Chinami again.
“As you know, Master, the captain has a tendency to be secretly pleased but act prickly on the outside.”
“Hmm… My dear friend certainly does have that side to her. Still, you should thank her.”
“Me?”
“Yes. Renka came to help because she was thinking of us.”
“Understood. Thanks, Captain.”
Was she annoyed that I argued with her at every turn but readily obeyed Chinami?
Renka thumped her chest.
Seeing her act so delighted made a smile creep onto my face.
Getting a rise out of Renka is always the best.
* * *
Mori and Ikeda, who had competed as the middle and final members, were extremely apologetic to me and Yamazaki.
After I had built up our momentum by scoring points, they had crumbled and lost early on.
Team competitions are based on the premise of winning and losing as a team, but being human, it was impossible not to feel guilty.
Even clueless Tetsuya’s voice was quieter than usual, which made me realize the dilemma of team matches.
Still, we had achieved the unexpected result of second place, so the mood at the team dinner quickly improved.
“You all worked hard today, so eat a lot.”
Renka sat next to Tetsuya, taking care of him.
In response, Tetsuya straightened his back and shouted.
“Yes! Thank you, Captain!”
His disciplined voice drew the attention of the other customers in the barbecue restaurant.
They weren’t unfriendly stares. They just seemed to think it was a typical club team dinner and chuckled amongst themselves.
Anyway, instead of wagging her tail next to me where she belongs, she’s paying attention to a guy like Tetsuya?
I’ll have to raise the level of her training. I’ll make her wear a bunny girl outfit, tie her hands and feet to the bed, and whip her ass with a cane.
Renka’s Training Log, Part 2. I’ll start writing it soon.
“My proud junior, please eat a lot.”
Next to me, Chinami picked up a piece of meat for me.
I returned her gentle gesture with a smile and put the meat in my mouth.
It melted on my tongue. Was it because Chinami cooked it? It was delicious.
“It’s final exam season now. Are you preparing well?”
I nodded at her question and replied.
“More or less. How about you, Master?”
“I am also doing so-so.”
At the mention of final exams, I could see Renka’s ears perking up.
Was she concerned? Well, she’ll be a third-year next year, so it’s about time she started managing her grades.
Her rank was definitely lower than mine during midterms, right?
If it happens again this time, I’ll have to tease her about it.
No, suggesting a bet on our ranks seems like a good idea too.
I’ll have to bring it up the day before.
With that thought, I enjoyed the simple after-party with the club members, bringing this tournament to a complete close.