Chapter 301: Positive Karma #2
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 301: Positive Karma #2
“Matsuda-senpai!”
I was sitting on a sloped boulder, drinking a peach milk I’d bought from the school store, when a welcome voice made me turn my head.
Hiyori and Miho were walking toward me.
Did they come out right after the second orientation session ended? Judging by the time, that had to be it.
I stood up, dusted off my butt, and greeted the two of them with a smile.
“Is the orientation over?”
“Yep.”
“What about the captain and the manager?”
“They’re getting ready for the third session now. It looks like they’re going to talk about the Judo Club incident after the orientations are done.”
Her voice sounded normal. Considering she was the one who called out to me first, it seemed she hadn't taken the earlier incident to heart.
It’s not like I scored any points with her.
Hiyori isn't the type to view something like that positively.
Since she and I barely have a relationship, she’d judge the rights and wrongs of the situation from a completely neutral standpoint.
And this ordinary attitude must be the result of her judgment.
The one good thing, however, is that I was in the right this time, and Hiyori saw that I'm the type to step in when I see injustice.
The important thing is that she learned I have a good side to my personality, not just a delinquent-like one.
Of course, if you looked at the whole story, a lot of different things were tangled up in it.
“How was it?”
“The manager was super nice and funny, so I think we paid close attention. Right, Miho?”
Startled at the mention of her name, Miho quickly nodded her head.
“Yeah. I mean... yes. The peaches were delicious.”
She was a little scared, but the look in her eyes was friendly.
Is she one of those girls you can win over with snacks? I have a feeling conversations with her might be surprisingly fun.
Feeling a bit awkward under their gazes, I scratched the back of my head and asked.
“Aren't you going to the Archery Club orientation? Didn't you say you were interested?”
“We were planning on going after a short break.”
“Oh, really?”
“Yep. But is that peach milk? That stuff is good...”
Hiyori recognized the peach milk in my hand.
She must have tried it before... The whole world is filled with peaches. Chinami would love this.
“Want some? I can buy you a new one.”
“No, it's okay. But are you alright?”
She was referring to the incident from before.
Wouldn't most people who aren't close hesitate to bring up such a sensitive topic?
Trying to satisfy her curiosity with those clear eyes, completely devoid of any malice... that's Hiyori for you.
“I'm fine. What about you two?”
“We were just watching, so of course we're fine. But, Senpai.”
“Yeah?”
“Your uniform is ripped~”
“This part on my chest? I can get it repaired later.”
“Nope. Not there, your pants.”
“Huh...?”
Startled, I looked down, and sure enough, the crotch of my pants was split open.
How did I not notice? Was it because I'm wearing thick underwear?
When did it rip? Don't tell me it happened while I was fighting that guy.
No. If it had, I would've felt the cold breeze when I came outside. There's no way I wouldn't have noticed.
Maybe the seam was already strained and sitting on that boulder just now was the final straw?
I really hope so. I don't want to be embarrassed any further.
The only saving grace was that you couldn't see the rip when I was standing.
Hiyori must have only seen a loose thread sticking out and told me.
My red underwear... I almost got exposed.
But wow, our Hiyori is pretty bold.
Usually, people pretend not to see something like this. I didn't expect her to point it out.
Please don't do this to anyone else but me.
“Th-thanks.”
As I stammered out my gratitude, Hiyori gave me an innocent smile and said.
“Don't mention it. But are you going to class like that?”
“I have a spare, so I should go change...?”
“Right?”
“Right...”
Why is she grilling me like this? It's so embarrassing...
It feels like my events with Hiyori are going to be a lot more unpredictable than I thought.
“We have more places to check out, so we'll get going now.”
“Alright, see you.”
“Yep. By the way, Senpai, do you use the school store often?”
“I guess so.”
“Do you like bread, too? What's good? Can you recommend something? I'm thinking of buying some.”
Didn't you just say you were leaving?
Why do you keep glancing at my ripped pants while talking to me?
It's not like my dick is pointing the wrong way or anything... Is she teasing me?
It's a bit much, but it's also kind of turning me on, so stop looking.
* * *
After getting a message from Renka, I headed to the first-year hallway. When I saw Chinami standing at the entrance to Class D with a tearful expression, I panicked and ran over.
I crossed the now-quiet hallway, the orientations over, and stopped right in front of her.
“Why do you look like you're about to cry?”
Don't tell me that Judo Club member retaliated.
If so, I'll run over to that bastard right now and sentence him to death.
Just as I was thinking that, Chinami let out a deep sigh that seemed to come from the bottom of her heart and said.
“A lot of prospective freshmen came... so I couldn't give peaches to everyone...”
“...Is that it?”
“Yes... If I'd known, I would have brought more...”
Seriously? She's making that face just because she ran out of peaches? You scared me for a second.
Still, I'm relieved it's nothing important.
Though, by Chinami's standards, this is probably a serious matter.
“Are you alright, Junior? You weren't hurt anywhere when you were fighting earlier, were you?”
“Yeah, well... I'm fine. My pants ripped, but I changed.”
“Your pants ripped? Don't tell me that man...”
“No, not that... I think it happened when I sat on the big boulder in front of the school store.”
“Whatever the case, it's his fault.”
Chinami's sky-piercing rage, blaming him for everything!
It's not scary at all, just cute.
“Where's the captain?”
“She's talking with the Judo Club captain. I think it will be resolved smoothly. Neither of them wants this to get to the Student Council.”
“That bastard who swore at Master... no, just thinking about that man makes me uncomfortable.”
“More than that, I'm worried about you, Junior. I would be so, so sad if you got disciplined because of such a shameless person. Sigh...”
Chinami let out a sigh like a world-weary old man.
Biting my lower lip to suppress the laughter rising in my throat, I said.
“As long as this doesn't reach the Student Council, it should be fine. Master also said it seems like things will work out, right?”
“Still, I can't help but worry about the 'what ifs'. Would you like a peach?”
“You said you ran out.”
“I saved one for you, Junior.”
“Then shall we share it?”
“I think that's a wonderful idea.”
With a sly smile, Chinami went into Class D and came back with a tiny plastic box containing a single slice of peach.
We squatted in a corner and secretly shared the peach, like survivors who'd just managed to find food in an apocalypse. Just then, Renka and the Judo Club captain came out of a classroom, and we stood up.
“I'm the captain of the Judo Club, Chiba Takeshi.”
He introduced himself as soon as he saw me.
The surname Chiba sounds tough, but Takeshi feels like the name of a guy who'd get NTR'd easily.
“Matsuda Ken.”
“The member who caused trouble with you was a regular member. He was skilled and personable, so I gave him an important position. I never imagined something like this would happen. From now on, I'll be sure to properly vet character-related issues as well.”
He not only gave a polite apology but even mentioned preventative measures... His judgment of character might be poor, but I like his personality.
But for a student, he talks like a middle-aged man.
The leader of that Supuri Circle was like that too... What was his name again? I can't remember.
“That member will be expelled from the club. I'm truly sorry.”
As Chiba Takeshi continued, I slowly nodded and asked.
“How are you planning to handle this incident?”
“Inoo and I agreed to end it here, between us... but the coaches will have to be informed.”
“Then I have nothing more to ask.”
“That's a relief. By the way, I heard from one of the prospective freshmen at the orientation that you used a judo technique... Have you learned it before?”
“A long time ago.”
“For how long?”
“For a good while.”
“As a hobby? Or seriously?”
His eyes seem friendly. Am I imagining it?
This is a completely unexpected situation. Suddenly, he's starting to look like that Judo Club senpai from a famous basketball manga who kept chasing after the red-haired protagonist.
“Why do you ask?”
“It's just that we're short on talent in your weight class, so I was wondering if maybe...”
Did Renka not like Chiba subtly revealing his true intentions?
Renka, who had been quiet, jumped into the conversation.
“What do you think you're doing? Why are you trying to poach another club's member?”
“Poach? There's no rule that says you can only be in one club.”
“What... Of course, it's not against the rules, but joining another sports club that requires daily attendance is impossible...”
“I know. It was just a joke.”
“...Are you sure it was a joke?”
“Yes.”
“It wasn't funny at all.”
“That's a little hurtful.”
Seeing his pitiful expression, he looks genuinely hurt.
Renka, apologize.
The Judo Club members soon left the hallway and returned to their club.
And it seemed like Renka and Chinami weren't going to make a big deal out of this incident.
Since the cause and effect were clear, they were planning to treat it as self-defense.
You could say the matter was resolved well.
Even if not with Hiyori, I think I scored some points with Renka and Chinami... Could it be that guy was part of God's divine plan to make me look good?
Ah... I'm sorry, God. I doubted your intentions.
That doesn't mean I won't go after that bastard's family, though.
I'm going to make them strike his name from the family register.
“What now?”
I asked, standing in the hallway by the stairs.
Renka, who was dusting off Chinami's shoulder, answered.
“I'm going to see the coach, and Chinami's heading to class. What about you?”
“I've got nothing to do, shall I go with you?”
“It's not that you have nothing to do, you're just planning to skip class.”
“Let's just say that's true.”
“Do whatever you want.”
She's playing hard to get even though she likes it. I'll have to punish her on the way.
“Well then... I'll be heading up first.”
Chinami placed her hands neatly on her lower abdomen and gave a deep bow.
I gave her a grin and said.
“If you run into that guy, call me immediately.”
“I think it will be fine. I heard he was summoned to the Judo Club room. And even if I run into him later, I doubt he's stupid enough to pick a fight with me in front of others again.”
It was so scathing, I could hardly believe it came from the innocent and kind Chinami.
That's how much she must hate him.
“Well, that's a relief.”
“Yes...! I'll see you later, then.”
As Chinami went up to the third-year hallway, she kept looking back at me.
It seems she found me very dependable for stepping up for her.
Seeing this makes me feel that acting without thinking can be helpful sometimes.
Things always turn into positive events for the protagonist, but sometimes I forget that I am the protagonist.
“Hey.”
As Renka and I were walking to the club room alone, her call made me turn my head.
“What?”
“You said you quit sports. Was that judo?”
“Yeah. Didn't I tell you before?”
“Did you...?”
“You don't remember? I'm disappointed.”
“D-don't be ridiculous...! I probably just never heard it...! Anyway, why'd you quit? An injury?”
“None of your business.”
“Come on...! If you quit because of an injury, you need to be careful when you exert yourself, that's why I'm asking...!”
“When I exert myself?”
“D-don't get the wrong idea...! I was talking about kendo...!”
She's the one having weird thoughts...
It's funny how she's shooting herself in the foot and then trying to blame me.
Pat.
“Heek...!?”
I patted Renka's butt as we crossed the well-kept path between the sports field and the school grounds. She tensed up, and I chuckled as I thought about what would happen next.
Miyuki is going to find out about this.
The Judo and Kendo clubs will keep it a secret if asked, but there's no way to shut the mouths of all the prospective freshmen.
It's only a matter of time before it reaches Miyuki's ears... It'd be better if I confessed to her myself first, right?
Still, I feel at ease.
Because I'm sure that, just like Renka and Chinami, Miyuki won't treat this as a big deal.
This is why your image is so important.
Back in my delinquent days, getting into a fight would earn me dirty looks, but after showing them for so long that I've turned over a new leaf, no matter what I do, the incident flows in a positive direction.
I feel so proud. You really have to live life on the straight and narrow.