Chapter 294: Getting Used to Spanking
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 294: Getting Used to Spanking
“Well, take care! Hope to see you again soon!”
Hiyori’s energetic and cheerful farewell.
Her friend, stopping her from waving both hands in a rather frivolous manner, bowed deeply.
“Goodbye, senior.”
Miyuki then offered an incredibly awkward smile and waved a hand near her chest.
“Yes, you too. See you again.”
Watching Hiyori walk away, Miyuki suddenly let out a sigh.
It wasn't out of worry or sadness, but from the sheer exhaustion of keeping up with Hiyori's high energy.
“She’s... how should I put it... It feels like a typhoon just passed through.”
Miyuki muttered her impression of the encounter.
Shaking her head to show how tired she was, she called out to me.
“Matsuda-kun, it seems you knew Asahina-san?”
This was the first time I’d heard Miyuki use a suffix like ‘-san’.
She probably wouldn't call her that to her face, but it had a subtly old-fashioned feel that, at the same time, seemed to suit her.
“She came to the cafe a few times when I was working there. I also ran into her at the bookstore when I went to buy that math book you mentioned.”
“I see... Does she live nearby?”
Not really. It wasn't far, either, but compared to where Miyuki, Renka, and Chinami lived, Hiyori's house was the most isolated.
“Hmm. I’m not sure about that.”
“The really pretty girl I mentioned earlier was her.”
“I figured as much.”
“Why’s that?”
“Because when I saw her from the front, her skirt was way too short.”
“Do you spend all your time staring at girls’ legs?”
“This is what you call having a sharp eye.”
“Not being a pervert?”
“Want me to show you what a real pervert is?”
“Hey, what are you talking about...!”
Miyuki placed her hand on my wrist.
I grinned at her affectionate touch, but then my brow furrowed as I felt an unpleasant sensation on my other arm.
Right, Tetsuya was here too.
His presence was so faint I’d forgotten about him.
Having unintentionally bumped into the guy, I said, “My bad. Didn’t mean to.”
“Huh? Oh, right... It’s fine.”
Had he started to feel a sense of alienation, one he hadn't felt before the break?
Tetsuya’s expression stiffened slightly.
Sometimes Tetsuya seemed mature, but then there were moments like this when he just exuded a total loser vibe.
I wondered which was his true personality.
Not that I gave a damn. I just wished he’d get lost.
I wanted to enjoy this romantic comedy all by myself now.
“Let’s hurry up and get in line.”
Miyuki’s cheerful voice pointed toward the cafeteria.
Just as I was about to answer, Tetsuya beat me to it.
“Alright. Do you know what’s on the menu today?”
“I’m not sure either. From the smell, it seems like some kind of braised dish?”
“That’s not too bad. If they have fish, which you like, I’ll give you mine.”
“Huh? No, you don’t have to. It’s fine, I can just steal some of Matsuda-kun’s.”
“...Oh, really?”
“Yeah. You like fish way more than I do, Tetsuya-kun. So you should eat a lot.”
Miyuki’s tone was like she was cooing over a small child.
Normally, Tetsuya would have loved it, but his face remained grim.
He’d tried to score points by being considerate, only to come away with nothing.
It seemed Miyuki could now expertly fend him off on her own, without me having to do a thing.
I could probably start paying less attention to Tetsuya and just ignore him.
Having made up my mind, I feigned a complaint playfully.
“Why are you stealing my food?”
“Because I want to.”
“Well, can’t be helped then.”
“Nope, it can’t be helped.”
“Stop copying me.”
“I’m not copying you, I’m just giving you a kind reply.”
“Fine, whatever.”
I shrugged, and Miyuki giggled, hurrying her steps to get in line first.
As I followed the lovely girl, I started to glance back at Tetsuya but stopped myself.
Just as I’d thought, I should stop deliberately looking for his reactions from now on.
* * *
“Junior, Junior. Over here, quickly.”
After afternoon classes ended, I headed to the club room alone and saw Chinami, already in her uniform, beckoning to me from a corner just outside.
“What is it?”
“Hurry...!”
Hearing the urgency in Chinami’s voice, I approached at a brisk walk. She glanced around before crouching down between two small trees.
Then, she held out a beautifully wrapped, pink mochi she’d been holding.
I took it without thinking and asked, “What’s this?”
“It’s mochi dusted with peach powder. It’s quite rare, so I brought it for you, Junior.”
Mochi dusted with peach powder... It sounded incredibly sweet.
Did she really need to be this secretive just to give me this?
No one else would know if it was rare or not, and even if they did, they probably wouldn't try to take it... Just like the quirky Chinami.
“If it’s that rare, you should have had it, Master.”
“I already had one earlier, so I’m fine.”
“Still.”
“I debated whether to eat it myself several times, but I held back for you, Junior. Please, eat up.”
It made me want to feed the mochi to our kind-hearted Chinami with my own mouth.
I unwrapped the packaging and popped the mochi into my mouth all at once.
Then, I moved my jaw with exaggerated chomps, offering a smile to Chinami—who was asking with her eyes how it tasted—in place of a review.
“Hehe... I’m glad you seem to be satisfied.”
I had a feeling she’d bring another one tomorrow.
Honestly, it was good, but I didn't really want to eat it again.
But what could I do? I didn't want to give a negative review of food Chinami gave me.
If she brings one tomorrow, I’ll just have to eat it.
After thoroughly chewing and swallowing the sticky mochi that clung to the inside of my mouth, I said, “Shall we get to work now?”
“Should we? Junior, you can just set out the protective gear for the club members to use during the semester. I’ve already cleaned the display shelves, but please give them one more check with your own eyes.”
“Understood.”
“Is your throat not dry? Would you like some peach milk?”
“...No. I’ll have some water.”
“Why is that?”
“Because... water is an important nutrient for the body...?”
“I see. That’s convincing.”
I’d narrowly avoided getting trapped in a peach orchard.
Relieved, I parted ways with Chinami, who said she was going to check the changing room. After changing into my uniform, I headed for the storage room.
A little later, as I was carefully inspecting the display shelves,
“Hey.”
Renka, who had entered the storage room at some point, called out to me.
Without taking my eyes off the shelves, I answered, “What.”
“...If you’re going to call me, could you at least look at me? Do you know you have mochi powder on your cheek?”
I brought a hand to my cheek, and sure enough, just as Renka said, a fine pink powder came off on my fingers.
I straightened up and looked at Renka, asking, “How did you know it was mochi powder?”
“Because I had some too. Chinami split one and gave me half.”
“Our Master really is kind.”
“What’s that supposed to mean? Are you putting me down for showing kindness to someone who didn't need it?”
“It seems your persecution complex is acting up again.”
I clicked my tongue at Renka’s defensive attitude and took a bold step toward her.
She flinched as the distance between us closed.
I gave her a smirk and pulled her into a hug.
“Hey, stop...! What’s with you again...?! Get away...!! Piss off...!”
Renka struggled, wildly shaking her hands, feet, and even her head.
The way she twisted her whole body, rejecting my touch, was a bit... like a chihuahua having a nervous breakdown.
When I released my tight grip, she stumbled away from me, flailing as if she’d just seen a bee, before freezing mid-motion.
“Are you done?”
“.....”
Renka’s face turned red as she realized what she’d just done.
She fixed her disheveled bangs and side hair, retying her hair tie as she subtly averted her gaze.
“I asked if you were done.”
“Shut up.”
“That was cute.”
“Shut your mouth.”
“Do it again.”
“I said shut up...! You wanna die?”
“Captain.”
“What...!”
“I have a gift for you, Captain.”
“A gift...? I don’t want it.”
“How can you refuse without even seeing it?”
“I don’t need to see it. It’s probably something perverted.”
I always feel this way, but Renka is sharp when it comes to these things.
Does that mean she can prepare herself mentally?
“Wh-what’s with that weird look...?”
Renka took half a step back, her question laced with fear.
My expression must have been incredibly lecherous.
“It’s nothing. By the way, are we having club activities today?”
“...Didn’t you come here for club activities?”
“No, that’s not what I meant... I mean, are we doing kendo?”
“The tournament just ended not long ago, and school just started, so I’m letting everyone rest. If anyone wants to practice or spar, the third-years, including me, Chinami, and Yamazaki, will supervise them individually.”
“Really?”
“Don’t even think about resting. You’re practicing.”
“Why do I have to?”
“Why are you asking so many questions? If the captain tells you to do something, you just do it.”
Such boomer-like nagging. I guess she needs to be taught a lesson.
I approached Renka, who was glaring at me haughtily with her arms crossed.
“Wh-what are you looking at?”
I slapped the thigh of the girl who was pretending to be tough.
Thwack—!
“Hyaang!?”
The sound of the baggy uniform pressing against her skin, forcing the air out, and the rather high-pitched, sensual scream that instinctively escaped Renka's lips.
Savoring the harmony created by the two sounds, I watched her toes on the slapped leg adorably curl up, a corner of my mouth lifting.
Clack.
Just then, the storage room door flew open and Goro entered. I quickly changed my expression to one of concern.
“What was that! What’s going on!?”
Renka’s scream had been quite loud, so he must have come running.
Startled by Goro’s loud tone, Renka blurted out an answer.
“I-I almost fell... The... the floor was slippery...”
At her words, Goro’s face twisted in confusion, his gaze dropping to the floor.
The kendo club room required bare feet, so the flooring was made of a non-slip material.
He’d probably never seen a club member slip before, so Renka’s excuse made him suspicious.
“Um... there was a dry cloth under the threshold... and I stepped on it and my foot slid. I put it back now, so it’s fine...”
Realizing her mistake, Renka quickly corrected herself, pointing at a display shelf.
Seeing the cloth lying on it, Goro nodded in understanding.
“Be more careful. Matsuda, I get that you’re busy cleaning, but you should at least put the cloths away properly.”
I glanced at Renka, having been unintentionally scolded.
Then I turned my eyes back to Goro and put on a silly smile.
“I’ll be more careful.”
“Good. Keep up the hard work. When you’re done cleaning, stop by the coach’s office and grab a drink.”
“Yes, Coach.”
As soon as Goro left the storage room, Renka carefully closed the door and shot daggers at me.
“Are you crazy!? Seriously...?! What do you think you’re doing, pulling that stuff in here...!”
“More importantly, why did you throw me under the bus? I got yelled at because of you, Captain.”
“...You can’t say it was because of me...! You’re the one who hit me all of a sudden...”
“So it’s just desserts?”
“It’s just... it couldn’t be helped... And I wasn’t throwing you under the bus, I was just trying to handle the situation...!”
“Couldn’t you have handled it with a different excuse?”
“Oh, shut up...! Just clean...! You’re so annoying...”
“Annoying?”
“No...! I’m not annoyed...!”
Renka seethed with her entire body, trying her best to keep her voice down.
How could she not be cute, huffing and puffing with her face red with frustration?
When I get home today, I’m sure I’ll be hit with a storm of angry messages from Ino-chan.
I can see the future so clearly.