Chapter 342: A Date Without Peaches
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 342: A Date Without Peaches
“Ugh...!”
Renka scowled, trying to avoid me.
She did the same thing when I walked into the club room earlier. Is she really that embarrassed?
Still, she didn’t have to act like she’d seen something utterly repulsive.
I was starting to feel a little hurt.
“Why do you keep avoiding me?”
I asked, stepping closer to Renka with a hint of disappointment in my voice. She flinched before putting on a prim expression.
“D-Do you even have to ask? When we meet, you...”
“I what?”
“I’m worried you’ll do something weird again...”
“You think I’d do that with so many people around? Or is that your thing?”
“M-My thing?! Do you want to die?”
Her voice was quite loud, and the nearby club members turned to look at us.
Startled, Renka’s eyes went wide. She offered the others an awkward smile.
“It’s nothing, just get back to what you were doing...”
Then she turned back to me, still grinning from ear to ear, and continued.
“Stop smirking. This was all your fault.”
I think she meant dealing with the aftermath was a pain.
“Was it that bad?”
“Yeah.”
“I’m sorry.”
“.....”
Did my straightforward apology soften her up?
Renka’s stiff expression relaxed, and she let out a deep sigh before speaking in a quiet voice.
“It’s fine... Now just go.”
“I have nowhere to go.”
“Find something to do...! You’re the manager...! If there’s nothing, make something...! Or go train...! Ask Chinami to teach you...!”
Her skill at shutting down any backtalk has improved.
I should praise her for it.
“Alright.”
I secretly ran my hand down Renka’s waist one more time. She clapped a hand over her mouth as if to stifle a gasp. Giggling at her reaction, I went back to my manager duties.
After a pleasant end to club activities, I was on my way to the school building.
While waiting for Miyuki, I was debating whether or not to go to the school store when...
“Matsumatsuken-senpai!”
Just then, Hiyori and Miho came out of the building.
Unlike Miho, who bowed her head politely, Hiyori was calling me by a rather strange nickname.
I returned Miho’s greeting and tilted my head.
“Matsumatsuken?”
“Matsumatsuken feels more affectionate than Matsuken. Isn’t it cute?”
Even though it was just about my name, Hiyori was the first person to ever call me cute.
It was absurd, but at the same time, refreshing.
“No, it’s not.”
“Yes, it is. I’m going to call you this from now on. I won’t back down on this.”
She’s being stubborn about the weirdest things.
Is she going to start calling me Matsumatsu next?
The thought is genuinely terrifying because it seems so plausible.
“When have you ever backed down on anything?”
At my casual remark, Miho let out a little ‘pfft’ and covered her mouth.
Proof that she secretly agreed.
Faced with her best friend’s heartfelt laughter, Hiyori gave a hollow laugh.
“I guess no one’s on my side.”
“Are you going through a phase or something?”
“Be quiet.”
“Got it.”
“What are you doing here?”
“You told me to be quiet.”
“You can talk now.”
“Waiting for Miyuki.”
“Hanazawa-senpai? Do you always wait for her like this?”
“Dropping the formalities?”
“It happens.”
“Where are you two off to? Going out to have fun again?”
“Yup.”
“Aren’t you going to study?”
“Ugh, why are you bringing up studying again...!”
Her pouting tantrum is cute.
It makes me want to stick a single finger in that tiny mouth of hers.
Suppressing the impulse, I said, “It’s going to rain, so make sure you have an umbrella.”
“Oh, really? It’s going to rain?”
“Yeah. From seven o’clock. By the way, did you ever give me back the umbrella you borrowed last time?”
“I dunno~. Didn’t I give it back?”
“If you gave it back, you gave it back. What’s with the ‘didn’t I’?”
“Well, if you got it back, you should know. Why are you asking me?”
I squeezed my eyes shut, pretending to have a headache, then nodded in resignation. Hiyori grinned and waved.
“We’re leaving. See you next time.”
“Just go already.”
“That just makes me want to stay longer... but I’ll let you off the hook for today.”
Hiyori gave me a look that said, I’ll get you next time, her eyes narrowed to slits, and then she and Miho left.
How does she never lose a single argument?
It feels even more intense than my conversations with Renka.
Is there any way to fluster Hiyori?
When I act like an old man, she just gets annoyed instead of flustered...
Maybe I should just be super forward with her.
As I was seriously contemplating this, I was pulled from my thoughts by the sight of Miyuki coming down the stairs, looking utterly exhausted.
* * *
The weather was cool, and my heart felt light.
It was the perfect day for a date.
I was sitting in an ice cream shop with a gentle smile on my face, watching people pass by on the street. Then, I saw Chinami approach from outside, place her hands on the window, and peer inside, which momentarily flustered me.
She could have just come inside to see if I was here. Acting like that makes her look like a total stalker.
Just as eccentric as ever.
As I thought that, our eyes met, and I was horrified.
The chest of the blouse Chinami was wearing was pressed firmly against the window.
Worried someone might see, I shot up from my seat. Chinami tilted her head as if to ask what was wrong.
I gestured for her to come inside, and she nodded before opening the door and entering.
A thin, white, long-sleeved blouse, a very pink skirt, and sandals with a slight heel and rounded toes.
And to top it off, a glossy pink polish on her pretty toenails.
It was an unbearable cuteness. Why is Chinami herself like an angel?
I want to take her home and sleep with her in my arms like a body pillow.
Momoka too, if possible.
“Hello, Junior.”
She greeted me, her tiny hand clutching the strap of her crossbody bag.
Seeing her pure innocence practically dripping off her, I smiled like a proud father and said, “Hello. Did you have any trouble getting here?”
“Nope. The bus was pretty empty.”
“I should have just picked you up.”
“Don’t say that. It would have been a long detour for you.”
The detour wasn’t the issue; I was just worried about other riffraff taking an interest in Chinami... but I’ll let it go.
“You look pretty today.”
“Wha-!? S-Saying things like that so suddenly is truly... quite troubling...!”
My heart melted watching Chinami squirm, not knowing what to do with herself after a simple compliment.
Convinced that going on this date was the right decision, I asked, “Should we get the ice cream in cones to go?”
“Oh, are we eating outside?”
“Yes. The weather’s so nice, I thought it would be better.”
“In that case, I will follow your lead, Junior. I’ll have the peach-flavored ice cream...”
“I already asked when I got here, but unfortunately, they don’t have peach.”
“Hmph.”
A smile naturally formed on my face as I watched Chinami’s expression instantly turn disgruntled.
I placed a hand on her back and patted it gently.
“The soft-serve cone with a chocolate syrup coating looks good. How about that?”
“Alright. Since you recommended it, Junior, I’m sure it will be delicious. I’ll have that.”
“Okay.”
“How much is it?”
“I’ll pay, so why don’t you buy some other snacks, Master?”
“Aha. Okay.”
After paying with the sweet, docile Chinami, we took our freshly made ice cream and left the shop, strolling down the street.
The weather was perfect for a walk, so I headed toward a famous nearby park, glancing down at Chinami, who was cautiously eating the tip of her ice cream, which was taller than her face.
“Is it good?”
“Yes. It’s sweet, so it’s very good. Perhaps it tastes even more delicious because you recommended it, Junior.”
“Can I have a bite then?”
“Wha-!?”
“I can’t?”
“N-No. Of course you can...”
Chinami was fidgeting.
I wondered why she was reacting like that, but then I realized it was because it was an ice cream cone, so she couldn’t just break off a piece for me.
If I took a bite, my lips would touch it, and if she put her mouth there afterward, it would be an indirect kiss.
Even though she and I have French kissed, my Chinami is still so innocent.
Looking down at her, her thoughts plain as day, I opened my mouth. Chinami carefully held out the cone with both hands.
I glanced once at her eyes, which were a mixture of curiosity and anticipation, before taking a small bite from the top of the ice cream.
“S-So, how is it...? Isn’t it delicious...?”
I answered Chinami’s trembling question with a smile in my eyes, then brought my own cone close to her face.
A silent offer to eat.
Her eyes grew twice as wide. Chinami swallowed hard, then opened her tiny mouth and took the smallest of bites.
“Ahem... It has an excellent flavor. I would say I’ve made a new discovery in the world of vanilla...”
Chinami’s absurd review as she mumbled.
I decided to just go with it and held out a hand to her.
“Should we hold hands?”
“Y-Yes!?”
Her reactions have been so dramatic... It’s like we’re in a haunted house together.
“Come on.”
I prompted Chinami, who was unnecessarily tense. As if making a great resolution, she stared intently before slowly taking my outstretched hand.
This feels like I’m luring an innocent kid away with ice cream to kidnap her.
I feel like I’m committing a crime.
Arriving at the park with Chinami, I saw a Ferris wheel in the near distance, slowly rotating.
I lifted our intertwined hands and pointed toward it.
“After we walk around a bit, want to ride that?”
“Oh... the Ferris wheel?”
“You don’t want to?”
“N-No...! I’d love to...!”
A bit of melted ice cream had dripped onto the back of Chinami’s other hand as she nodded eagerly.
It seemed she couldn’t get a handkerchief or tissue out because she was holding my hand.
No, it was more like the thought of wiping it hadn’t even occurred to her.
I watched Chinami for a moment as she stared straight ahead, her eyes wide with concentration, then I brought her hand to my mouth.
And I licked the melted ice cream off her skin with a little slurp.
“Myaaaaah...!?”
She reacted so strongly she even staggered.
If she’s like this from a simple expression of affection, I wonder if she’ll just faint when we’re alone together on the Ferris wheel.
I gave the pale-faced Chinami a gentle smile and deliberately started swinging our joined arms widely as we began to wander through the park.
Wandering around like this without a plan isn’t so bad.
I wonder if Chinami thinks so too.
I hope she does.