Chapter 207: Winter Break
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 207: Winter Break
“Put your weight on your heels and lift the edge. Think of it like leaning your back against a wall.”
“There's nothing to lean on, what are you talking about?”
“It means shift your center of gravity back a little.”
“Ah, shit… I feel like I'm going to fall.”
“Don't get mad, just try. I'll help you.”
Miyuki, who was teaching me the basic technique called a sideslip, came over and held out her hands.
An invitation to take them. After flailing my arms around trying to find my balance, I decided it was hopeless and quickly placed my hands on top of her gloves.
“From here, slowly… don't bend your knees too much, lean back… That's it.”
With Miyuki's help, I started to get the hang of it.
Seeing me manage a relatively smooth sideslip with her assistance, Miyuki nodded emphatically.
“You're doing great. I can let go now, right?”
“Don't let go.”
“Are you scared?”
“No.”
“You seem scared.”
“I said I'm not.”
“Then I'm letting go.”
“I told you not to. I haven't even been learning for ten minutes. Are you trying to kill me?”
“I said I'd let go because you're doing well, you idiot. Why are you so difficult?”
“Just don't let go.”
Miyuki had a wide smile on her face, as if she found it fascinating that I couldn't even do the most basic techniques.
Was I imagining things, or did she seem secretly pleased?
“So, we're going down like this?”
“Yeah.”
“Alright. You're such a scaredy-cat…”
As I went down the slope holding Miyuki's hands, I saw Tetsuya, who should have been on the intermediate course, watching us from the bottom.
Guess he got worried and came to check?
The distance was too great and he was wearing goggles, so I couldn't see his expression, but I could at least tell he must be seething.
Just imagine it. His childhood friend, holding the hands of a guy he dislikes, diligently tutoring him…
Add to that the sight of her giggling every now and then—how could he not be furious?
But what could he do? He brought this on himself by being so indecisive. It's what he deserves.
Of course, that bastard wouldn't be doing any self-reflection. He'd just be nursing his jealousy toward me.
That's the kind of guy Tetsuya is.
“Matsuda-kun…! Relax your body! You're going to fall…!”
Miyuki's urgent voice cut through my thoughts.
Seeing Miyuki stumble, I quickly bent my knees and shifted my weight back.
Then I fell on my butt, pulling Miyuki down with me.
“Ma-Matsu…! Kyaa!”
Miyuki let out an uncharacteristically high-pitched scream as she fell on top of me.
I chuckled at this rare, flustered side of her at the ski resort and patted her back with my thickly gloved hand.
“You okay?”
“...Yeah. What about you, Matsuda-kun?”
“I'm fine, but you're a little heavy.”
At my words, Miyuki pouted and started to get up, but then, for some reason, she suddenly pressed her lips against mine.
Then, as if incredibly embarrassed by her own actions, she buried her face in my ski jacket without a word.
Anyone would see us as an affectionate couple. I wonder if Tetsuya saw this?
He's still standing there blankly. He must have seen it.
Because of the distance, he might not know exactly what Miyuki did, but seeing us on the ground and not getting up would definitely piss him off.
If he didn't even see this, I can only assume God has robbed him of his senses.
It's about time you got out of the picture between me and Miyuki.
A guy like you, without the courage to do anything, is better off just loser-masturbating.
With that thought, I held out a hand to Miyuki as she grunted and got up.
“Help me up, too.”
“No way. It's sloped here, so we might fall again. Get up by yourself. You learned how.”
“I don't remember.”
“Then you can just stay sitting there.”
She put on her goggles, as if to hide her flushed red cheeks.
I gave a slight smile, stopped teasing her, and grabbed my board to get up from the slope.
And so, I spent the rest of the time on the beginner slope, having learned only the basics like the falling leaf.
It was nice being with Miyuki the whole time, but my pride took a bit of a hit.
I thought I was good at anything physical, but this felt kind of humiliating.
* * *
The next day, on the train back to Tokyo after staying at a different hotel and doing some group sightseeing.
“Matsuda-kun, what are you doing during the break?”
I was passing the time staring out the dark window when the vice class president, sitting across from me, asked a question that made my ears perk up.
The break… The time to train Renka is approaching.
My heart pounded with anticipation.
“Not sure.”
Just then, Miyuki, who had been about to doze off on my shoulder, rubbed her eyes and spoke up.
“He's going to study with me and Tetsuya-kun.”
“Oh, really? Should I look forward to your results on the second-year midterms then?”
Come to think of it, after the short and uneventful third semester with no exams, we'd be second-years.
Unlike most real-life Japanese schools, our class would stay the same as we moved up from the first year.
In a way, it was boring, but in another, it was easy to adjust to, so it wasn't too bad.
Having to keep seeing Tetsuya's face fucking sucks, but… I guess I'll have to live with it.
I can just tease him a bit and then ignore him.
“We'll have to see this exam's results first, right?”
“You're on the student council, so you know when they'll be out, right? Give us a little hint.”
“They'll be out before the break.”
Listening to Miyuki and the vice president's conversation, I glanced over to where Tetsuya was sitting.
He's passed out. The sulky expression he's had since this morning is still on his face even in his sleep. That's a talent in itself.
Tap.
As soon as their conversation ended, Miyuki once again placed a towel on my shoulder, leaned her head against it, and let out a long yawn.
The vice president watched her, shook her head as if to say "you're hopeless," and said.
“Can't you just recline your seat?”
“I'm more comfortable like this.”
“You two look good together. You were stuck to each other at the ski resort yesterday and during the sightseeing today, too.”
Miyuki responded with a faint smile and closed her eyes.
I draped my coat over her, then grinned at the vice president, who was clicking her tongue as if the sight was too much for her—just like on the way here—and made a gesture for her to be quiet.
* * *
The eventful trip was over, but the academy was the same as always.
We had classes like before, and club activities like before.
However, since the students' minds were already on the winter break starting tomorrow and final exams were over, the teachers gave them a lot of slack.
“Junior, Junior.”
Chinami called out to me as I came out of the club room after changing, the laid-back class having just ended.
Feeling like I hadn't seen her in a while, I beamed.
“Yes, Master.”
“Did you have a good trip?”
“Of course. Oh, and I enjoyed the photos you sent.”
“Ah, what did you think?”
“I was happy to see that you seemed to be having a fun time, Master.”
It was nice to see Chinami and Renka smiling brightly at the tourist spot.
But since Chinami had blushed when I asked her to send photos last time, I'd been secretly hoping for something more, so I was a little disappointed that there wasn't.
“Mufufu… I loved the warm weather in Okinawa. Renka felt the same way, so we decided to go together again sometime.”
Then I'll have to tag along.
I looked down for a moment at Chinami, whose eyes were hazy as if she were still drunk on the afterglow of her trip, and asked.
“What are you doing during the break, Master?”
She shook her head vigorously, snapping out of it, and answered.
“I was originally planning to just laze around at home, but I'm going to the countryside with my parents.”
“Oh? When are you coming back?”
“We haven't decided how long we'll stay, but I think it'll be for quite a while. Maybe ten days…? A fortnight, if it's long? I plan to be back before the next winter tournament.”
I need to see Chinami at least once every two days for my healing…
This is a bit of a problem. There are video calls, but I want to touch Chinami's soft, plump butt.
I was even planning to invite her over… But it's a family matter, so it can't be helped.
I'll just have to wait for Chinami to come back from the countryside.
“I see. Call me often while you're there.”
“Okay, I will.”
“Shall we get to work now?”
“Oh, I have to talk to the coach about the equipment we'll be using in the third semester, so you can start without me, Junior. Don't work too hard, and feel free to slack off a bit.”
Stretching her arm out, Chinami patted my shoulder, knocked on the coach's office door, and went inside.
As I watched her go, Renka approached me with her usual sullen expression, and I gave her a wide grin.
“Hello, Captain. Did you have fun with Master?”
“Yeah. I think it was great because you weren't there.”
She doesn't mean a word of that.
“I also had a great time because you weren't here, Captain.”
“Glad to hear it. You didn't forget about the one-day job, did you?”
“I remember. I just have to be at your uncle's place in three days by eight, right?”
“That's right.”
“Should we go together in my car then?”
“No. Thanks for the offer, but I'll politely decline.”
“Understood. I'll be in front of your house by six-thirty, so be ready.”
“Didn't I just say no?”
“Okay. I'll take that as a yes, then.”
Renka squeezed her eyes shut, then opened them.
It looked like my stubborn way of talking was giving her a headache.
Her reactions are priceless, but it's funny that she still acts like this when she should be used to it by now.
“Are you really going to come?”
“If you don't believe me, you can go on ahead.”
“...So you're just going to wait until I leave my house?”
“You know me so well.”
“Hah… Fine. We'll go together.”
“Great. It takes over two hours by public transport, so think of all the time we'll save. Isn't that nice?”
“Let's just say it is.”
“Are you going to start your part-time job right after helping at your uncle's shop?”
“...I'm starting it, but not right away.”
“Why not?”
“I have something to do.”
The "something" Renka mentioned was Comiket.
She'll probably buy a ton of merch for her favorite series, right?
I can't wait to see the look on her face when she runs into me, and what kind of excuse she'll come up with.
“Now, get to work.”
“There's not much to do. I'll take it easy.”
“What are you talking about…? There's a ton. Can't you see that mountain of towels over there?”
Renka pointed sharply to a corner of the club room.
She kind of feels like a nagging wife.
I let out a deep sigh as if I couldn't win, and started folding the towels, imagining all the different reactions Renka would show me during the break.
It's a shame there's no spring break, but the winter break is long, so it's fine.
I'll be satisfied with getting to spend some exciting time with Renka.