Chapter 358: A Light Skirmish
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 358: A Light Skirmish
“Hanazawa-senpai, do you ride in Matsuken-senpai’s car often?”
“Every day.”
“Every day? Morning and evening?”
“Yep.”
“Whoa.”
After letting out a soulless exclamation, Hiyori turned her gaze to me.
“Matsumatsuken-senpai.”
“What.”
“Want some candy?”
“I’m not really craving anything sweet.”
“Then save it for later. Here.”
Hiyori stretched her hand out between the front seats.
I reached back while keeping my eyes on the road. As Hiyori’s fingers placed the candy in my hand, the keychain on her phone clinked against its case, and I flinched internally.
“You’re welcome, right?”
To Hiyori’s request for a thank you, I placed the candy in the cup holder and replied.
“Yeah, thanks.”
“Why is your reaction so bland?”
She was acting so friendly, not even minding that Miyuki was holding my hand. Could she be into netori, just like me?
Whatever it was, I just hoped she wouldn't say anything weird today.
Of course, I didn't think a major incident would occur, but Hiyori was so unpredictable that it made me nervous for no reason.
Rolling the tangy orange-flavored candy in my mouth, I glanced at Hiyori through the rearview mirror.
“It’s because I’m driving.”
“I don’t think so.”
That was a very meaningful statement.
Was it intentional? A fox like Hiyori was more than capable of it, but it could have also been a thoughtless remark.
Still, it did seem like Hiyori was toning down her personality a lot today.
I could say with certainty that she wasn't being intimidated by Miyuki’s presence; it was probably more like she was sizing her up.
“What do you mean, you don’t think so? Instead of chatting, you should be studying like Mitsushima.”
True to my words, Miho had a book on her lap and was staring at it intently.
It didn't look like she was actually studying... It seemed more like she had instinctively read the atmosphere in the car, where a subtle battle of wills was brewing between Miyuki and Hiyori, and was pretending not to notice.
“Ugh, why do you always bring up studying...! I’ll do it on my own, okay?”
“But you don’t.”
As a pouting Hiyori leaned back against her seat, Miyuki, who had been listening to our conversation, asked.
“What do you want to do today?”
“Weren’t we going to play a game?”
“Let’s go buy some things at the supermarket before that. I promised I’d make you a bento.”
Her tone seemed to be a final confirmation for Hiyori’s benefit, emphasizing just how close we were.
Why do I feel like I’m caught in the crossfire?
No, I can’t get scared. If I get intimidated by a trivial conversation like this, how will I ever build a harem?
“Alright.”
“A game? What game?”
Hiyori’s ears perked up as she jumped into the conversation.
As I looked for a place to pull over nearby, I said.
“Animal Forest.”
“Oh, that? Should I give you some items today, too?”
“If you have any extras, give me a few.”
“Okay. But where are we playing? Are we taking our consoles to a cafe or something?”
“No. At home.”
“Home? You mean your house, Matsuken-senpai?”
Just as I was about to answer Hiyori’s curious question, Miyuki spoke for me.
“Yeah. We live together.”
“I see. So you’re cohabitating?”
Surprisingly, Hiyori showed no sign of shock.
Maybe she has a few friends who live with their partners?
Seemingly taken aback by her nonchalant reaction, Miyuki paused for a moment before shaking her head.
“Not exactly cohabitating... more like, halfway...”
“That sounds fun.”
“F-Fun...? No... I wouldn’t go so far as to say it’s fun...”
Looks like Hiyori got the better of her.
Then again, Miyuki probably doesn't have much resistance to that kind of forwardness.
Having arrived at the station, I turned on the hazard lights and stopped the car. Hiyori beamed.
“Thanks for the ride. See you tomorrow.”
“Yeah. Get home safe.”
After receiving a polite thank you from Miho as well, I watched Hiyori wave until she entered the station, then drove off.
I guess you could say Hiyori was the winner of today’s light skirmish.
In any case, it was a relief that Hiyori’s leash was on tight.
Will she hold something over me later? Knowing her personality, it seems likely.
“She’s cute.”
Miyuki muttered, looking out the window.
That was clearly a trap, and agreeing would earn me a glare, but I decided I should praise Hiyori here.
If I’m always walking on eggshells around Miyuki, my goal will remain a distant dream.
So, I figured I needed to be a little selfish.
“She’s a bright kid.”
At that, Miyuki whipped her head around and shot me a look. She unwrapped the candy in the cup holder and popped it into her mouth.
Then she said.
“It’s okay if I eat this, right?”
“You already did.”
“So I did. I really like Mitsushima, though.”
“Why? Because she seems like a model student?”
“Yeah. She’s polite and gentle.”
It sounded like a backhanded compliment aimed at Hiyori. Or was I just imagining it?
“I see her around sometimes. She’s very well-mannered.”
“Right? By the way, Matsuda-kun.”
“Hm?”
“Is it true you kept telling Asahina to study?”
“I do tend to mention it whenever we meet.”
“But you hate studying, Matsuda-kun.”
“Maybe I’m starting to take after you, since you’re always asking me to do that.”
“Really? When did you get so close to Asahina?”
“We ran into each other a lot at the academy.”
“I see. And what was that about game items?”
Miyuki’s tone was currently similar to that of a police interrogator.
Though she herself didn't seem to realize it.
Feeling a heavy weight of pressure settle on my back, I answered.
“We were talking and the topic of games came up. Asahina said she plays it too and would give me her spare items. So I took them.”
“Were they helpful?”
“They weren’t really useful for the early game, so I’m just holding onto them for now...”
“Must be nice using them by yourself.”
Her words were definitely barbed.
I was hoping for a bright future, but reality seems to be quite dark.
Still, let’s not give up just yet.
No, I never intended to give up in the first place.
“What do you mean, by myself? I was planning to give them to you when we played together.”
“Is that what it was?”
“That’s what it was.”
“I see.”
I thought she would give me a huge lecture, but she let it go surprisingly easily.
Is it because she already knows about my womanizing tendencies from the 3P with Chinami?
No, it’s more likely that she’s backing down for now because she doesn't have any concrete evidence.
* * *
“Matsuda-kun.”
When I came out of the shower, Miyuki was occupying the center of the futon and calling my name.
I scrubbed my hair dry with a towel, tossed it into the laundry basket, and sat down, my hip brushing against her waist.
“What is it?”
“What’s this?”
“What’s what?”
“Someone named Bang-poof-poof left a message in your guestbook.”
Bang-poof-poof was definitely Hiyori’s character nickname.
When did she even leave a message?
Did she write it while I was organizing the items I received?
Tilting my head, I took the game console Miyuki held out and blinked at the message: [:P ♡].
It was a phrase that could be interpreted as either very deep or very light, depending on how you looked at it.
“Oh, would you look at that? This is Asahina’s character name.”
“Her name is Bang-poof-poof?”
“Yeah. I guess she just made it up on the spot.”
“What’s with the heart? Why would she leave something like this?”
“Who knows? Maybe she just added it as a little joke?”
“You think so?”
“Considering Asahina’s personality, that seems likely.”
“I don’t like this.”
Finally revealing her true feelings, Miyuki changed her position.
She lay face down on the futon and began to diligently draw something on the touchpad in my guestbook.
I scooted closer to her and watched the screen. A cute drawing was taking shape.
It was the SD version of me and the SD version of Miyuki that she had drawn at the ramen shop late at night, back when we first started.
After finishing the drawing of the characters holding hands and smiling brightly, she looked up at me.
Her eyes were asking what I thought.
Understanding her gaze, I smiled brightly and said.
“You drew it so well. Brings back memories.”
Miyuki silently posted the guestbook entry, then slowly wriggled over like an earthworm.
She looked like she was pouting.
I let out an involuntary chuckle, carefully wrapped my arm around her waist, and pulled the thin blanket over us.
Then, as I gently combed through her still-damp, long hair, I said.
“Aren’t you going to make the bento?”
“I can’t be bothered.”
“Even after you picked out all the ingredients so carefully?”
“I suddenly don’t feel like moving.”
“Then I’ll do it, just tell me the recipe.”
Without answering, Miyuki bit my chest.
Unlike her usual affectionate nips that were light enough not to leave a mark, this time, there was force behind her teeth.
I think she was doing this because she was a little disappointed with how I’d acted toward Hiyori earlier.
As I felt a slight, stinging pain, Miyuki’s hand suddenly slipped inside my shorts and began to fiddle with me, making my body tremble.
Her hand glided over my boxers.
As I tried to pull my hips back slightly from the sensual feeling, Miyuki slowly lifted her head and said.
“Wanna play a game?”
She was provoking me.
What kind of game was she talking about after giving me such blatant pleasure?
I answered by holding her head tightly. In response, she gently, teasingly scraped her nails against the skin at the bottom of my boxers.
A ticklish sensation spread through my entire body, and my desire exploded.
I thought I’d be fine today since we’d had plenty of fun yesterday, but I guess I was wrong.
My hips twitched every time Miyuki’s fingers moved.
Swoosh.
I grabbed Miyuki by the waist, laid her flat on her back, and climbed on top of her.
Then, I pulled the shoulder strap of her thin camisole to the side.
Today, unlike yesterday, I decided I needed to be a little more ferocious.
It seemed like Miyuki wanted me to do just that.
She didn't say it, but I could feel it in her eyes... a look that was asking me to love her more, much more passionately than before.