Chapter 381: Prelude to the School Trip
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 381: Prelude to the School Trip
“Board markers? In assorted colors?”
“Yes.”
“Just a moment.”
The kind teacher opened his desk drawer, pulled out a few board markers, and handed them to me.
Then, he offered some words of encouragement.
“You’re doing great these days. There’s plenty of room for you to grow, so let’s keep up the hard work.”
I’d been hearing things like this often whenever I stopped by the faculty office.
It was because my grades were good and I wasn’t causing any trouble.
It made me happy, of course. But it would’ve been even better if a female teacher had been the one praising me. A shame.
“Yes, sir.”
“Right. By the way, have you ever thought about joining the disciplinary committee? I can recommend you to the student council.”
Hmm. That was a surprisingly bold offer for a teacher who’s known me this long.
Come to think of it, didn’t Miyuki also suggest I join the disciplinary committee the other day?
I shook my head without a second thought.
“No, I haven’t.”
“Why not?”
“I hate waking up early.”
“I see. You can go.”
“Thank you for your time.”
With a slight bow and a nod, I left the faculty office and headed back to the classroom.
I placed the markers I’d gotten on Miyuki’s desk, where she was in the middle of a cheerful conversation with the vice class president.
“What’s this? Is that all they had?”
“Yeah. I just took what he gave me.”
“Really? Okay. Thanks for going.”
Miyuki patted my back and pulled out my chair for me.
I chuckled at her suddenly acting so mature. As I sat down, she abruptly placed a hand on my thigh.
I flinched and glanced at her, but she was still talking to the vice president, seemingly unaware of what she’d just done.
In other words, it was instinctual… an act of seeking something to lean on.
Why is it that the more affection Miyuki shows me, the fresher it feels?
Her repertoire is almost always the same.
I suppose it’s because I find her so lovable.
After afternoon classes ended, Miyuki and I left the classroom together.
We were about to part ways in the hallway as she headed to the student council room when—
“Huh…? Hey! Wait a minute!”
Miyuki, who had been standing and chatting with me while glancing idly over the hallway railing, suddenly shouted as if she’d spotted something below.
Curious, I leaned over. Through the gap in the railing, I caught a glimpse of someone in a short skirt running away at the sound of Miyuki’s voice.
I saw a flash of blonde hair. It was definitely Hiyori.
“Asahina! That’s you, Asahina, isn’t it! Don’t you move!”
Miyuki, also having realized who it was, called out to Hiyori in a voice full of conviction.
Hiyori, of course, ignored her.
“That girl…! Matsuda-kun, Asahina’s in the Fashion Design Club, right?”
Miyuki asked as she headed down to the now-empty hallway below.
Frowning, I massaged the back of her neck as if to calm her down.
“That’s right. Are you going now?”
“Yeah. She’s busted.”
“Busted for what?”
“Her skirt. It’s a school rule violation.”
“You’re going to give her demerit points?”
“Of course. Why? Are you going to stop me?”
Seeing Miyuki with fire in her eyes, I figured a harem was still a long way off.
I raised my hands slightly to shoulder height and said, “Nope.”
Hiyori would change her skirt before Miyuki got there anyway.
She wasn’t the type to meekly accept demerit points.
Still, I wanted to see what would happen, and I figured I should tag along just in case an unexpected situation arose, however unlikely.
“Good.”
With a sharp exhale through her nose, Miyuki headed for the Fashion Design Club. I followed a step behind, watching her.
She introduced herself to the head of the Fashion Design Club, asked for permission, and entered the club room, where she quickly found Hiyori.
“Asahina. Come here for a second.”
“Yep?”
Hiyori, who was looking at a book with Miho, answered as if she had no idea what was going on.
Miyuki was about to scoff, but then—
“...Huh?”
She looked down at Hiyori’s lower half and seemed utterly bewildered.
Her skirt was covering her knees slightly.
Miyuki’s eyes went wide with confusion as she stared at the hem of the skirt, and Hiyori tilted her head.
“What is it?”
“...Your skirt is fine…?”
“My skirt? What about it?”
“No… it’s just… weren’t you on the landing of the stairs just now? Near the first-year hallway…”
“I go there every day. When exactly are you talking about?”
“About… three minutes ago.”
“Nope? I’ve been here for about five minutes.”
She was denying it so calmly.
I couldn’t even tell if she was acting or telling the truth.
“R-Really…?”
Completely fooled by Hiyori’s lie, Miyuki scratched her head.
Hiyori narrowed her eyes and asked, “Why? What’s going on?”
“Well… I saw a blonde girl in a short skirt, and when I called out, she ran away…”
“So you thought it was me? There are plenty of other blonde girls besides me, you know.”
Did Hiyori’s slightly offended tone get to her?
Miyuki meekly apologized.
“Sorry. I must have been mistaken.”
“It’s okay. It happens.”
There was one fact that the embarrassed Miyuki was overlooking.
And that was that Miho’s skirt was incredibly short.
They must have swapped… but Miyuki was so focused on Hiyori that she hadn’t noticed.
Were all the Fashion Design Club members in on it?
No, from the looks in their eyes, they had no idea what was happening.
When Hiyori mentioned the time, she’d vaguely said “about five minutes,” which wasn’t that different from the time Miyuki mentioned, so they probably just took her word for it.
This was completely Hiyori’s one-woman show.
She was cunning as they come.
“Well… I’ve checked, so I’ll be going.”
“Kay. But why did Matsumatsu-senpai come?”
Was she displeased that Hiyori called me by an affectionate nickname?
Just as I was about to answer, Miyuki grabbed my wrist, gave the club president a quick bow, and pulled me out of the room.
Then she said, “Now, Matsuda-kun, you go to the kendo club room. And don’t stop anywhere else.”
She was being so obvious about her feelings toward Hiyori.
Will there ever be a day when those two can get along?
I wish some kind of catalyst would occur to make that happen… I wonder if an event will pop up.
Or do I have to create one myself? I might have to.
“Alright.”
“Okay.”
Miyuki nodded, then suddenly hopped up and pressed her lips against mine.
It was funny how she jumped so dramatically when she could have just stood on her tiptoes.
The kiss was a bit forceful, and she seemed to be pressing her own lips as if they hurt. I chuckled at the sight, told her to message me when she was done, and left the building.
* * *
The next day.
I went to the academy alone for the first time in a while. After parking, I was about to head into the building when a message came in, and I stopped.
[Are you here?]
[Yeah.]
[Can you come to the school store right away? The kneading spot.]
She could have just said to meet in the alley near the school store like yesterday. I was curious about her motive for specifically adding the word ‘kneading.’
I sent a reply and headed that way. Before long, I heard Hiyori’s cheerful voice from behind me.
“Matsumatsu.”
I hadn’t seen her on my way over. She must have been hiding somewhere and came out when she saw me.
I turned around and smirked at the sight of Hiyori in a long skirt.
“You’re wearing a long skirt today.”
“Yep. I’ll get demerit points if I give her a reason to pick on me.”
It was clear that just as Miyuki was wary of Hiyori, Hiyori was conscious of Miyuki too.
“Good thinking.”
“Did you come without the devil today?”
“The devil?”
“Hanazawa-senpai.”
If Miyuki heard that, she’d be genuinely angry.
It seemed they’d gotten off on the wrong foot, and badly.
I patted Hiyori on the back and said, “Miyuki had a student council meeting, so she left early. And don’t call her that. I told you to use nice words.”
“Are you looking out for her because she’s your girlfriend? Taking her side, are you?”
“If I were going to take her side, I would have told her yesterday that you and Mitsushima swapped skirts.”
“You noticed?”
“Of course.”
“Then why didn’t you say anything? To protect me?”
“That was part of it. And because I want you two to get along.”
“I don’t think that’s going to happen.”
“Why not? I think you’d get along well if you both just compromised a little.”
At my words, Hiyori suddenly covered her ears and squeezed her eyes shut.
I gave her a puzzled look, wondering what she was doing. She peeked open one eye and one ear, pouting.
“It won’t work, even if you use that voice.”
“What voice?”
“Your persuasive voice.”
“Was I doing that?”
“Yes.”
Isn’t it more likely that you’re just choosing to hear my voice that way?
I swallowed the thought and took out a lemon-flavored lollipop I’d bought yesterday from my pocket.
“Here, I’ll give you this.”
“What is it?”
“A lollipop.”
“You know a bribe won’t work, right?”
“I’m paying you back for the one you gave me.”
“In that case, fine.”
She snatched the lollipop and tore off the wrapper.
As I watched Hiyori roll the lollipop around in her mouth, seemingly enjoying the sweet and sour taste, I said, “Besides, isn’t a bribe something you give in the hopes that it will work?”
“You’re bribing me with a mere lollipop?”
“If you’re enjoying it, then it’s doing its job as a bribe perfectly well.”
“It doesn’t taste good.”
“Then give it back.”
“What are you going to do, take it from me?”
“I’ll eat it.”
“But I was just eating it. I’ve got my spit all over it, you know?”
“So what? It’s not like it has germs.”
Did my answer please her?
One corner of Hiyori’s mouth twitched.
She held the lollipop between her teeth and lips, gripping the stick and rolling it from side to side as she suckled on it, then shrugged.
“I like the bribe. I’ll think about it.”
“Glad to hear it. So, why’d you call me over?”
“I was bored.”
“Want to kill some time until class starts?”
“Sounds good! Oh, do you want to see a picture of my swimsuit?”
“A swimsuit?”
“I tried on the one I just bought. Tell me what you think.”
Jingling the keychain I’d bought her, Hiyori held up her phone. Her fingers moved quickly, and then she showed me the screen.
I couldn’t help but sigh internally at the picture of Hiyori in her swimsuit, which looked like it was taken in her bathroom mirror.
It was because the swimsuit was incredibly mature.
In other words, it was very revealing.
“You’re going to wear that?”
“Yep.”
How am I supposed to educate this little exhibitionist?
Since she’ll only be hanging out with me, it doesn’t really matter what she wears, but I should at least tell her to put on a cardigan.
Miyuki and Hiyori’s relationship has to show some progress during this school trip.
At this rate, the two of them will be at each other’s throats every day.
I’ll have to think carefully about how to resolve this situation and hope an event occurs.