Chapter 369: Please Just Listen to Me
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 369: Please Just Listen to Me
[Captain.]
A message received through AniShare.
Seeing it, Renka muttered under her breath.
“Dammit…”
The fact that she had no idea who was standing behind her was so hilarious I could barely contain myself.
I sent another message to Renka, who had irritably put down her phone and was now hanging laundry.
[You'll regret it if you don't answer. Reply with an emoji.]
“Ugh, seriously…!”
After checking her phone, Renka let out an exasperated cry. She raised a fist in the air, threatening to punch her phone screen.
She couldn't do a thing to me in person, so it looked like this was her way of venting.
Stifling a laugh, I approached Renka, who was taking deep breaths to calm herself. I reached my hand down low.
Sliiiide.
My hand slid under her loose martial arts uniform, pressing it against her skin, tracing the line of her firm buttocks before slipping between her legs.
Feeling the sensation, Renka shuddered as if she'd gotten goosebumps and whipped her head around.
Her pupils dilated the moment she saw my face.
“Hyaa…!”
I quickly covered her mouth before she could scream and said.
“Sorry. I didn't think you'd be so surprised.”
“Mmph…! Mmmph…!”
Renka mumbled, as if trying to say something.
Seeing her pretty eyebrows furrow as I held her by the waist, I whispered quietly.
“You're not going to scream?”
Renka slowly nodded.
Only then did I remove my hand from her mouth.
“How can you do that out of nowhere and then say you didn't think I'd be surprised?! Are you crazy?! You wanna die? You want me to hit you? Do I look like a pushover to you these days…?!”
I held back a laugh as I watched her burst with anger without actually raising her voice.
“I only did it because I like you… Did you not like it?”
“I-It's not that I disliked it, but why there of all places… You're trying to get me used to it so you can use that, aren't you…?!”
She knows me well. She's resisting hard now, but it seems she's already bracing herself for it. Getting her used to it shouldn't be a problem.
“Nope.”
“What do you mean, 'nope'?! Your hand was right there…!”
“By the way, Captain.”
“What now…?!”
“Why did you curse earlier? You looked like you were about to hit your phone, too.”
“…Y-You saw?”
The sharp-tongued Renka flinched. At the same time, all her momentum vanished.
As she darted her eyes around, not knowing what to do, I answered.
“Of course I saw.”
“Y-You have such a bad personality… Spying on people… That's not a good look.”
If she's going to be this shameless, she should at least learn to control her expression like Hiyori. Who would be fooled by that thick-skinned act when she has 'guilty' written all over her face?
Seeing such an honest side of her made me want to do it with her right then and there.
But I'll hold back for the grand finale.
“Is this a situation where I should apologize?”
“Of course it is…! You shouldn't startle people like that…!”
“Then I'll apologize, so will you say sorry to me too, Captain?”
“Why should I? You were the one in the wrong in the first place. You know how much I hate it when you send me messages on AniShare.”
“For someone who hates it, we've had quite a lot of conversations since way back, haven't we?”
“That's not what I'm talking about…!”
“Then what? You hate me messaging you after I found out your true identity?”
“Gh…!”
“Doesn't it remind you of the old days? Isn't it nice?”
“Nice? Who said it was nice?! Don't be ridiculous… Why are you here? State your business and get lost.”
“I came to decide what time we should meet this weekend.”
At my words, Renka's lips pressed together. Her ears started turning red.
She looked embarrassed, probably imagining all the things that would happen at the love hotel.
“What time is good for you?”
“…..”
“Should I just decide?”
“…..”
“How about noon, then? We can watch a movie and get something to eat.”
“Y-Your goal is the love hotel, so don't pretend this is some wholesome date…?”
“Aren't love hotels wholesome?”
“What kind of nonsense… How is that wholesome?”
“So you're saying a physical relationship between two people who like each other isn't wholesome?”
At that, the blush on Renka's bright red ears spread to her face.
Her sympathetic nervous system, stimulated, sent a flush starting from her cheekbones and covering her entire cheeks.
She let out a long breath through her nose, completely flustered. I grinned and continued.
“Am I wrong?”
“...I guess not, but...”
“But?”
“I don't like you, so… it's not wholesome…”
Who's going to believe that when you're making such an intensely embarrassed face?
“Is that so?”
“That's right…”
“I'm starting to feel a little hurt.”
“S-So what.”
“Really?”
“Well, no… I mean, if you say you like me, I guess you could say that… but that's just as a fellow kendo club member…”
She's adorable, rambling on like that after seeing the disappointed look on my face.
I figured as much. Ignoring Renka, who had started getting annoyed and asking what I was so smug about, I headed out.
Time to go heal myself by touching Chinami's plump butt.
* * *
“Matsumatsu!”
There it is, the nickname I was dreading.
It feels like the name that comes out of her mouth isn't even my name anymore.
Hearing Hiyori's energetic voice, I turned around and chuckled when I saw her approaching with the race walk I'd taught her.
I guess there's never a dull moment with Hiyori.
“Club activities over?”
“Yep.”
“What's that in your hand?”
“The club president printed out some fashion-related websites for me.”
“Where's Mitsushima?”
“The bathroom. But you know what's super weird?”
“What.”
“I feel like I've been running into you every day after club activities end lately, Senpai.”
“What's so weird about that? Club activities end around the same time for everyone, so it's only natural we'd run into each other often.”
“You could've just agreed with me, but you always have to ruin the mood.”
“Guess I lack empathy.”
“Yep. At least you know it.”
“Shut up. And didn't I tell you to keep your buttons done?”
Just as I said, Hiyori had two buttons of her shirt undone, just like this morning.
How many guys must have seen that cleavage… I don't think I'd have enough time to gouge out all their eyes.
“Dunno.”
What do you mean, 'dunno'? Is she doing this on purpose? Because I buttoned it for her this morning, is she asking me to do it again?
She's gotten a lot bolder since she started working out with Miyuki.
No, it seems to have started after I brought up how we met on the way to the kendo tournament.
That must have been a massive affection boost… I feel like things are progressing way too fast.
“Should we have our next workout tomorrow?”
Hiyori said, shamelessly ignoring my scolding.
I answered as I fiddled with her ahoge, which was drooping slightly like a waterlogged blade of grass, straightening it with my fingertips.
“Let's do it Friday evening.”
“Can't do that.”
“Why.”
“Why would I work out during prime hangout time?”
“It's better than stuffing your face while you're out having fun. You're definitely going to a cafe for cake, and then you'll buy more stuff to eat after. If you want to lose weight, you need to cut back on that.”
“That's scary, but I can't compromise on this. It'll be fine if I just double my workout time, right?”
“You were practically dying after yesterday's workout, and now you want to double it…?”
“My stamina's improved, so it's fine.”
“Your stamina improved after just two race walking sessions?”
“Just trust me for once. Were you always this negative?”
“It's because you only say ridiculous things, you brat.”
“Anyway, let's do it tomorrow.”
“Friday.”
Did she decide to back down after my firm refusal? Hiyori changed the subject.
“Waiting for Miyuki-senpai?”
“Yeah. Waiting for her.”
“Waiting for her every day?”
“Not every day, but often.”
“Why are you copying the end of my sentences?”
“Because I want to.”
“So childish.”
Just talking to Hiyori makes my hand rise on its own.
I didn't think I was a violent person… but maybe I was wrong.
Hiyori cackled at me as I swallowed the anger that had flared up.
“It's been a while since I've seen you seething like that, Senpai.”
“What are you talking about? Just button your shirt. Miyuki will give you demerits if she sees you.”
“Guess I'll undo one more.”
“Button it.”
“Guess I'll undo two more.”
“Just listen to me…”
“Should I undo three more~?”
“Why don't you just walk around naked at this point?”
“You like that? Should I take it off?”
“No… Ugh…”
“I want to get my belly button pierced. What do you think?”
The back of my neck is getting stiff.
I feel like I'm watching a pet dog at a dog agility competition that, instead of running the obstacle course, just begs for treats, thinking it's out for a walk with its owner, happily and distractedly running all over the place…
That's the kind of dog I'm looking at.
“Won't your parents say something?”
“They won't if they don't find out.”
“If you do it, I'll shave your head.”
“Why do you keep trying to suppress my freedom?”
I placed a hand on the chattering Hiyori's head and started ruffling the top of it with all my might, messing it up completely.
“Ah, what are you doing?! You're messing up my hair…!”
Her blonde hair was instantly disheveled.
Hiyori, whose head was pushed down by my strength, flailed her arms, but her blind attacks didn't even reach me.
I went a step further and snatched the paper with the fashion websites from Hiyori's hand.
Then I rolled it up and, while still messing up her hair with one hand, started smacking her waist and butt with it.
Thwack!
“Then just…!”
Smack!
“Listen to me…!”
Thwack! Smack!
“Just listen to me, please…!”
Only after five or six cheerful-sounding smacks did I let Hiyori go.
“Hwaaa…”
Disheveled hair, slumped shoulders, and a face that looked utterly vacant.
The half-exhausted Hiyori gave off the vibe of a shut-in who hadn't washed in days and did nothing but read comics in the corner of their room.
Seeing her looking so listless, I finally let out a satisfied smile. I smoothed out the crumpled paper and handed it back to Hiyori, who was glaring at me.
“Mess with me and you're dead.”
“This is violence…”
“See, people need to be hit. That's the only way they'll listen.”
“It just makes me want to rebel even more.”
“Then I'll just hit you again.”
“I'm going to go get my belly button pierced today.”
“You just try it.”
“I will.”
“Go ahead. See what happens.”
“I will… I'm telling you I will…! I'm gonna do it…!!”
“This kid's asking for it…”
Just as I was about to grab the head of Hiyori, who was raising her voice like a child demanding a toy at a department store, she slipped out of my arm's reach with a strange movement.
Then she shot me a triumphant look.
She has terrible motor skills, but her reflexes are damn good.
Thinking that, I made a 'come here' gesture with a weary expression. Hiyori approached me with wary, cat-like eyes.
“What.”
“Behave yourself. Got it?”
“Nope.”
“Good. As long as you get it.”
“I said I don't get it?”
“Just wipe the lipstick off your teeth.”
“It got on there because you were messing with me, Senpai.”
“I get it, so just wipe it off.”
Hiyori closed her mouth and moved her tongue around.
Then she showed me her now-white teeth and asked.
“Is it gone?”
“Do you just lick it off?”
“It won't kill me.”
“Right… That's so you.”
“Next time, you should wipe it for me, Senpai.”
With what? With my tongue, like you just did?
Anyone else would have meant with a tissue, but since it's Hiyori saying it, I'm not so sure.
Now that I imagine it, it's actually pretty hot. I'll have to make sure I wipe it for her next time.
“I'll just pull your teeth out so it doesn't get on them in the first place.”
“Okay~”
As we were chatting, Miho came downstairs.
Hiyori started complaining to her best friend about how I'd been bullying her.
Miho looked at her completely messed-up hair, flustered. She glanced back and forth between me and Hiyori, then made a face that said she understood.
Then she bowed her head to me.
“Hello.”
“Hey, Mitsushima. Heading home now?”
“Yes.”
“Get home safe.”
“Thank you. You too, Senpai.”
After we said our goodbyes, I chuckled as Hiyori, who was walking away, suddenly turned back and put a hand on top of her head.
“Bye-bye!”
“Yeah, see ya.”
“I'll send you a picture after I get my piercing!”
Getting on my nerves right to the very end.
Since it's Hiyori, I feel like she might actually do it, but I emphasized it so many times that she probably won't.
Feeling like a huge storm had just passed, I let out a deep sigh of relief and waited quietly for Miyuki.