Chapter 314: Kindred Spirits #2
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 314: Kindred Spirits #2
“Here.”
Hiyori held out two of the five Suichu she’d bought.
As I took them and went to put them in my pocket, she let out a short “Ah!” and stopped me.
“You have to eat it now.”
“Why?”
“You have to review it. Tell me how it tastes.”
I couldn’t exactly tell her I’d already tried it.
“Are you going to buy me something else if it’s bad?”
“Nope. I’m just going to keep giving you this one until you say it’s delicious~”
What a terrifying thing to say. You sly girl.
I let out a dry laugh and unwrapped the Suichu Hiyori had given me right then and there.
I made a show of tearing off the wrapper and popped the small, rectangular, yellow treat into my mouth.
The moment I bit down, a sharp sourness and sweetness burst on my tongue.
The texture wasn’t bad. I’d thought it was pretty decent yesterday, and my opinion hadn’t changed.
As I winced from the sourness and chewed, a pleasant smile spread across Hiyori’s lips.
“You can’t handle sour things?” she asked.
“That’s not it.”
“It looks like it.”
“I said it’s not.”
“Okay, okay. So? It’s good, right?”
It’d be rude to the person who bought it for me if I said it’s the kind of thing I’d only crave when my mouth is bored, right?
I swallowed the now-softened Suichu and replied.
“It’s good.”
“Then why’d you swallow it without chewing it all the way?”
Was she trying to fluster me, or was that a genuinely innocent question?
“Isn’t this how people normally eat it?”
“No.”
“Well, I do.”
“Can you chew the next one all the way?”
“You want me to eat another one?”
“Yup.”
Why did I suddenly feel so exhausted?
It was like dealing with a five-year-old full of curiosity.
“My? Is that not my junior?”
Just as I was about to say I’d eat it later, I heard Chinami’s voice from behind me.
Hiyori peeked out from my side, spotted Chinami, then stepped out and bowed deeply.
“Hellooo~”
“Mmm…?”
Chinami blinked, seemingly taken aback by Hiyori’s lilting speech.
They must not have spoken during the club orientation, so this was probably her first time hearing it.
Chinami’s own way of speaking was far more peculiar than Hiyori’s. You should feel a kinship with your own kind, not be surprised by it.
“Greetings.”
Chinami quickly composed herself and bowed back. Hiyori, with a bright smile, asked her.
“You’re the kendo club’s manager, right?”
“Indeed. Ah, come to think of it, the lovely young lady before me… I believe we met at the orientation.”
The pure-hearted compliment made Hiyori’s smile widen.
“That’s right.”
“Might I be so bold as to ask your name?”
“Of course. I’m Hiyori. Asahina Hiyori.”
“It is a pleasure to meet you again. My name is Nanase Chinami.”
Chinami gave another polite bow.
It was a bow so deep her head nearly touched the floor, and Hiyori hesitated for a moment before mimicking the gesture.
I’d never seen Hiyori act like that before.
She was probably a little flustered by Chinami, who radiated an untainted innocence.
Watching them, I had a feeling Chinami might be Hiyori’s perfect counter.
I could already picture it: Chinami taking Hiyori’s teasing at face value, and Hiyori having to explain it was a joke and apologize.
I chuckled at Chinami as she slowly straightened up.
“What brings you here, Master? Came to buy some peach milk?”
“Indeed. Is it by any chance sold out?”
As if.
The peach milk section is always fully stocked.
“Nope. There’s plenty.”
“I see. And what might you and junior Asahina be doing here?”
“Asahina offered to buy me a Suichu. You know this? It’s pretty good.”
I showed Chinami the long, bright yellow wrapper, and she gave a simple nod.
“Mm. Yes.”
“Have you tried it?”
“No.”
For a student who usually got so worked up over the school store’s menu, her reaction was surprisingly lukewarm.
It was probably because it wasn’t peach-flavored.
“Would you like to try one?”
Hiyori, who had been listening to our conversation, chimed in as she tore open a new wrapper.
Chinami’s eyes, which had held no interest just a moment ago, darted around.
Did she read the pure goodwill in Hiyori’s gaze and find it hard to refuse?
A gentle smile formed on Chinami’s face as she replied.
“You are a very kind junior. If you are offering, I shall gratefully accept.”
Surprisingly, the two of them made a good pair.
They seemed like they wouldn’t get along, but at the same time, like they’d get along great… It was an ambiguous but positive feeling.
Hiyori was the lemon-flavored Suichu I’d just eaten, and Chinami was a peach. They were definitely worthy rivals.
* * *
The rhythmic thud of a bouncing ball echoed in my ears.
“Here! Pass!”
The voices of my classmates enjoying their game of basketball grated on my nerves.
It was especially irritating to see Tetsuya, who had rolled up the short sleeves of his gym uniform to his shoulders, subtly showing off his new physique to the girls.
No, no. Think positive.
It’s natural for a young guy full of vigor to want to show off when he notices changes in his body.
It’s just because I hate Tetsuya that everything he does seems annoying.
As I’d thought before, it’s best to just ignore him.
Swoosh.
Just then, I felt a slight pressure on my eyes, and my vision went black, as if a curtain had been drawn from above.
Someone had covered my eyes with their hands.
At the same time, the distinct scent of plums filled the air.
Realizing Miyuki was behind me, I asked.
“What are you doing?”
“What do you mean?”
She disguised her voice well, but her gentle tone was the same as ever.
I slowly ran my hand over the back of Miyuki’s, which were still covering my eyes from her easily foiled prank.
“Your sweaty hands feel nice.”
Miyuki recoiled in horror and snatched her hands away.
“What the… Are you a pervert?”
“How is wiping your sweat for you perverted?”
“It just is.”
“Well, you’re not wrong.”
My quick admission made Miyuki giggle.
She wiped her forehead with a towel and sat down next to me, pulling her knees to her chest.
Then, she rested her chin on her knees.
“Matsuda-kun, aren’t you going to play with your friends? Shimizu-kun asked you to join them earlier.”
A heroine looking at me in a cute pose… a scene straight out of a romantic comedy.
Leaning against the gym wall, I answered.
“Nah.”
“Why not? Can’t you just try playing? You’re tall, so you’d probably be good at it.”
“Too much trouble.”
“Do you even know how?”
“Of course. I’m good at anything that involves using my body.”
“…You didn’t mean that in another way, did you?”
Miyuki’s already flushed face turned an even deeper shade of red.
I wondered why, but then I realized she must have had a dirty thought at the part about being good at using my body.
Looks like she’s the pervert, not me. I was just bragging, and she had to take it the wrong way… Unbelievable.
“Another way? Like what?”
“No… I mean… just…”
“You want to do it now?”
“H-How could you possibly interpret it like that?!”
She jumped, completely startled, and glanced around to see if anyone had heard me.
I snickered.
“Weren’t you the one who took it weirdly first?”
“No, I wasn’t…”
“If you say so.”
Annoyed by my nonchalant act, Miyuki pouted.
One moment she’s pretty and gentle, the next she’s cute and prickly…
She truly has a thousand faces. Miyuki seems perfect in every way.
Thwack!
“Ugh!”
While we were bickering, a dull thud followed by a pathetic yelp echoed through the gym.
Wondering what happened, I turned my head toward the sound. Tetsuya was clutching his face, and a few people had gathered around him.
“Tetsuya! Are you okay?”
A classmate who had recently gotten close to him asked with concern.
It looked like he’d hit Tetsuya with the ball while trying to pass.
Tetsuya rubbed his temple and forced a smile.
“I’m fine.”
“Sorry. But why’d you suddenly look away?”
“My bad, my bad. Let’s go again.”
He looked away?
I bet he was sneaking a peek at Miyuki and me having our innocent little squabble.
His body might have gotten better, but his gloomy personality is the same as ever.
Thump, thump—!
Miyuki watched Tetsuya start dribbling again, a worried look on her face.
“Looks like he got hit by the basketball. I wonder if he’s okay. I should ask him later.”
“Go ahead.”
“The kids in our class have been complimenting Tetsuya-kun lately.”
“Complimenting him for what?”
“They say he seems brighter. I’ve been feeling that way too, recently.”
Brighter? Did you not just see what happened?
I swallowed my words and just shrugged.
“Working out tends to brighten people up.”
“Is that so? Then why are you still so sinister, Matsuda-kun?”
“I’m brightly sinister. Anyway, good for him.”
“Yeah. He might even get a girlfriend. If he does, the four of us should hang out.”
It’s highly unlikely, but if… just if Tetsuya were to get a girlfriend, she’s fated to be stolen by me.
Not the four of us. The three of us, minus Tetsuya, should have some lewd fun together.
“Sure, whatever. Want a Suichu?”
I pulled the snack Hiyori had bought me from my pocket, and Miyuki’s eyes widened.
“What? You bought one?”
“Nah. Asahina gave it to me.”
“Asahina? Why?”
“Yesterday, while I was waiting for you, I saw her standing in the rain, so I shared my umbrella. She bought me this today to thank me.”
No need to go into too much detail.
That explanation was just right.
“Oh, really? That was nice of you. But why was she standing in the rain?”
“It suddenly started pouring right when club activities ended. She must have been outside then. So, you want it or not?”
“I want it.”
Opening her mouth to be fed, she looked just like a baby bird.
She didn’t seem to care in the slightest that there were other students around.
Without a word, I tore open the wrapper and placed the Suichu in her mouth.
“Is it good?”
“Not really.”
“But your eyes are smiling like it is.”
“How can you express taste with your eyes? Give me another one.”
“You said it was bad.”
“It’s edible.”
She’s just as bad at being honest as I am.
I snorted and handed Miyuki the whole Suichu.
Then, after checking to see if there were any teachers in the gym, I flopped down right there on the floor.
I wanted to rest my head on Miyuki’s lap, but that would pretty much force her to sit out of class, so I held back.
“Who said you could sleep during class?”
Ignoring Miyuki’s scolding, I folded my arms. She muttered in a low voice.
“I swear, you’re impossible…”
Mmm… a peaceful day.
So peaceful that a lazy yawn escaped my lips.
I wonder what’ll happen during lunch. I should sleep to make the time pass faster.