Chapter 366: Confrontation
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 366: Confrontation
“Junior, do you have any plans to participate in the National Sports Festival?”
Chinami asked, holding a basket full of the club members’ used uniforms.
I took the basket from her and answered.
“Not really.”
“Why is that?”
“I have no plans to make a living from kendo, so I feel like I’d just be in the way at a big tournament like that. I think it’s better to give the opportunity to someone else.”
“Hmm...!”
Just as Chinami let out a sound of admiration and was about to say something, Renka’s sharp voice came from behind her.
“Don’t be ridiculous. You just don’t have the motivation.”
“Friend, you shouldn’t make assumptions like that. It’s quite rude.”
“I’m just telling it like it is.”
“Now, now...!”
“I’m leaving.”
Sensing that Chinami was about to scold her, Renka gave me a pout and stuck her tongue out before walking away.
Watching her go, Chinami let out a sigh that was equal parts exasperated and affectionate.
“Getting back to what we were saying, I think your answer is very considerate, Junior. However, most of the male club members are like you, learning kendo as a hobby. And since there are other juniors who look up to you, perhaps you could consider participating in this tournament?”
“There are juniors who look up to me?”
“Of course. When you were sparring in the high stance last week, some of the juniors’ eyes were sparkling. A few of them even asked me about you.”
“Really? Were they girls?”
“The ratio of girls was higher, yes, but is that important?”
It’s very important. It’s a matter of motivation.
“That was a slip of the tongue. I won’t be participating in the tournament. It would be better to put in a friend who’s more passionate about kendo than I am.”
“Are you saying you aren’t passionate about kendo?”
“I just think it’s time for me to take a little break.”
“Hmm... You certainly did work hard during your first year.”
At that, Renka, who had reappeared behind Chinami at some point, scoffed in rebuttal.
“What do you mean, break? You’ve never even taken it seriously. Chinami, you’re too soft on him.”
“Hah!? When did you get here...!”
“Just now.”
“Are you bored?”
“B-Bored? Who said I was bored...!”
Looks like Chinami hit the nail on the head.
It was obvious to anyone that she was just wandering around here with nothing to do.
Then again, the club members did seem to be taking it easy today.
Probably because it was so hot outside.
“The National Sports Festival is just around the corner, yet the captain seems to be getting complacent.”
I said, having loaded all the uniforms into the washing machine and added the detergent. Renka’s face flushed as she raised her voice.
“Don’t be absurd...! The National Sports Festival is still a ways off, you know? Why are you just making things up...!”
“Didn’t you just make things up about what I said, both a moment ago and now?”
“.....”
Reminded of her own sharp-tongued behavior, Renka’s lips pressed into a thin line.
Finding her troubled expression quite refreshing, I asked.
“Nothing to say?”
“No...? I was...”
“Just telling it like it is?”
“...That’s right.”
Renka was a classic case of ‘it’s romance when I do it, but an affair when others do.’
Normally, that kind of attitude would be irritating, but coming from Renka, who wore all her emotions on her face instead of acting shameless, it just seemed cute.
“Hee hee... It’s nice to see the two of you getting closer as time goes on. I’ll go get the peach syrup I left in the lounge refrigerator, and we can all have some nice, cool peach tea together.”
Having started the washing machine, Chinami trotted off toward the lounge.
Was it the thought of having to drink that overly sweet peach tea again, just like yesterday?
Or was it the fear of what might happen if she were left alone with me?
Renka cleared her throat a few times and gestured toward the door of the laundry room.
“I’m going to go help the other members.”
“You’re not having any peach tea?”
“I had some yesterday... I’m sick of it.”
“Then you could have just said you didn’t want any.”
“Oh, shut up. I’m leaving.”
“Clear your schedule for this weekend.”
Renka, who had been about to walk out while swinging her long ponytail, flinched.
“...Why? What are you planning...?”
“I didn’t like your attitude just now, so I’m going to punish you.”
“What kind of punishment...! You’re planning to do that, aren’t you...!”
“That? You mean the plug?”
“I knew it...! I already told you I’d die before I do that, so you can forget it...!”
“I get it, just make sure you’re free. And don’t leave; stay and have some peach tea with your master.”
“When you say ‘I get it,’ do you mean you won’t do it? Or you will?”
“Is that important?”
“It’s incredibly important...! Don’t try to change the subject, answer me properly.”
“Well... I was thinking I’d decide based on the situation.”
“Why do you get to decide! I’m the one who decides...!”
Then why did you just ask me what I was thinking?
I was about to say that to Renka, whose submissive tendencies were already flaring up, but I decided it would be better to just try it secretly during foreplay this weekend. Just then, Chinami returned with the peach syrup, paper cups, and ice, and I went to greet her.
* * *
“Here, these are your clothes, senpai.”
Hiyori said, handing me the neatly folded clothes.
As I took them, the faint scent of fabric softener I often smelled on her wafted up. I brought the clothes to my nose and inhaled.
“Why are you smelling them?”
“To see if they were washed well.”
“They smell like me, right?”
“Yeah. Smells nice.”
One corner of Hiyori’s mouth curled up into a smirk.
My deadpan compliment seemed to have pleased her.
“Should I send you a picture of the fabric softener?”
“You don’t have to do that.”
“Why not?”
“Because my fabric softener is good, too.”
“But it’s even better if you use two good ones. It gets boring using the same one all the time.”
“Don’t you use the same one all the time?”
“Nope.”
“Is that so? Did you bring a change of clothes?”
“Right here.”
Hiyori lifted the regular-sized shopping bag in her hand.
A clear invitation to look. Without thinking, I glanced inside and immediately flinched.
Right on top was Hiyori’s underwear.
It was a basic set, with the brand logo printed on the band under the bra and on the waistband of the panties.
But the color, a vibrant orange, was incredibly eye-catching.
I tore my eyes away from the bag with a dumbfounded expression and asked.
“Why did you put your underwear on top? Don’t people usually hide it at the bottom?”
“It’s fine, since you can’t see it unless you’re deliberately peeking, right?”
“What do you mean, you can’t see it? If you lower your arm, anyone can see it from above. Don’t tell me you came here like this?”
“I did.”
“On the subway?”
“Yep.”
“Did it not occur to you to tape the top of the bag shut or something?”
“I dunno about stuff like that.”
Thwack-!
The moment I heard her irresponsible answer, I gave Hiyori a sharp forehead flick. She cried out, “Ow!” and covered the spot with her hand.
“Hey, why’d you hit me...!”
“Because you deserved it. Did it hurt?”
“Of course it hurt...! Didn’t you hear me?”
“Glad to hear it. Please, try to be a little more modest.”
“Now that you’ve resorted to violence, I don’t feel like listening to you.”
“Come here.”
Pouting heavily, she took a step closer to me.
I moved her hand away from her forehead and gently pressed on the spot with my own.
Then, seeing her still-sulky expression, I grabbed her head and shook it back and forth.
Her small face followed the direction of my hands.
Even as she completely entrusted her body to my hands, the way her eyes glared at me was both pretty and funny.
After shaking her head a few more times, I took the shopping bag from her and set it down in the living room.
“Time to stretch.”
“We’re just going race walking. Can’t we just go?”
“Stop being a contrarian and listen to me. You’re so stiff, stretching is essential for you.”
“How do you know if I’m stiff or not?”
“I can tell just by looking.”
“No, you can’t.”
“Yes, I can. Stand facing me and copy what I do.”
At my firm tone, Hiyori grumbled as if she couldn’t accept it, but stood in front of me.
Then she suddenly started moving her hips in a cross shape.
Up and down, then left and right.
I blinked, watching her forcefully thrust her pelvis in a way that was obviously intentional and creaky.
“What are you doing?”
“Stretching. I’m flexible, right?”
“Are you being serious?”
“Yes.”
“Stop that and bend over, reaching your arms down. Keep your legs straight.”
“Trying to test my flexibility? Like this?”
Hiyori obediently folded at the waist.
Her fingertips, barely reaching halfway down her shins, looked rather pathetic.
“That’s right,” I said, walking over to her. I placed a hand on her back and pressed down.
“Ah...!”
A short scream escaped her lips. As her torso went lower and lower toward the floor, it transformed into the cry of someone on the verge of death.
“Aaaaaahhh!!! It hurts!! Senpai!! It hurts!! I’m in pain...!!”
Hiyori’s voice grew louder as the muscles from her calves to her thighs stretched taut.
Finding her struggle to spread her feet apart to alleviate the pain hilarious, I released the pressure on her back.
She shot upright like a released spring and glared at me resentfully.
“What the hell was that...!! If you were going to do that, you might as well have just told me to spread my legs as far as I could!”
Spread your legs? That’s a very hot line.
I’ll have to try that for the next stretch.
“See? You are stiff. You need to work on your flexibility.”
“As long as it doesn’t cause problems when I exercise, it’s fine, isn’t it?”
I’m saying this because it could become a problem when we try various positions, I thought, swallowing the words.
Somehow, we managed to get through the stretches, with Hiyori complaining and rubbing the backs of her thighs the whole time.
Just as we left the house and were about to start our race walking, a voice pierced the air.
“Huh? Matsuda-kun?”
It was Miyuki’s voice, who was supposed to be out eating with her family today.
I turned my head in the direction of the sound and saw her. Dressed simply in a short-sleeved white t-shirt, a long skirt, and flip-flops, Miyuki was walking toward Hiyori and me with a bewildered look on her face.