Chapter 400: The Second Summer Vacation
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 400: The Second Summer Vacation
“Matsuda-kun, are you going to the school store?”
“Yeah. Want to come?”
“I have to go get some teaching materials for the next class. Could you buy me a strawberry milk?”
“Got it.”
“Thanks.”
After a quiet chat with Miyuki, I left the classroom. We parted ways, and I headed for the school store.
Why does everyone rush to the school store after first period?
As I was pondering this profound question in line, I heard a familiar voice from behind me.
“Matsumatsu.”
I turned my head to see Hiyori and Miho looking at me.
Isn't it rare for you two to come to the store together?
I greeted Miho, who gave a slight bow, and then asked Hiyori, “Did you come to buy something?”
“Yep.”
She was acting remarkably nonchalant for someone who'd kissed me just yesterday.
She can't be planning to just pretend it never happened... I wonder what she's up to.
“Can you buy me a Suichu? I'll pay you back.”
Hiyori suddenly asked me to buy something for her.
With a puzzled look, I pointed to the spot next to me.
“Why? You can just get in line with me.”
“I really have to use the restroom.”
“Then you should have gone before you came here.”
“It just suddenly got urgent.”
Seeing her make such a strange excuse, I could tell right away she was trying hard to act composed.
We were making eye contact, and though she tried not to show it, I could feel the embarrassment radiating from her. I stared at her face for a moment before answering.
“Alright.”
“Thankies.”
“Mitsushima, what do you want?”
When I asked Miho in a gentle tone, she looked bewildered for a second before starting to speak.
“Oh, I...”
Just then, Hiyori quickly grabbed her arm and pulled her away.
“Wh-what...? What's wrong?”
Miho's eyes went wide as she questioned Hiyori's strange behavior, but of course, no answer came.
A perfect example of an innocent bystander getting caught in the crossfire.
I let out a small laugh watching the two of them disappear into the school building. I bought a few snacks and was about to send Hiyori a message.
But there was no need.
Because Hiyori was waiting for me right by the shoe lockers just inside the building.
“Did you get it?”
The way she keeps appearing wherever I go and demanding items... she's like the ghost of a student who gives you quests in a school-based horror game.
“Yeah. But where's Mitsushima?”
“Miho went back to the classroom.”
I figured you'd send her on ahead.
Glad that I'd bought some snacks Miho would like, I held out a small bag to Hiyori.
“Here.”
“What's with the bag?”
“I bought a few things for you two to share.”
“Really? How much is it?”
“Don't worry about it. It's on me.”
“Why?”
“Don't ask so many questions. When an adult gives you something, you just take it.”
“We're only a year apart.”
“You don't want it?”
“No, I do...!”
Hiyori snatched the bag from my hand, her face lighting up with delight.
Seeing her so happy, like a little kid, made me happy too.
As I was thinking that, Hiyori noticed the strawberry milk in my other hand and asked, “What's the strawberry milk for?”
“It's Miyuki's.”
“Give it to me.”
Look at this little brat. Her face is full of greed.
She got along pretty well with Miyuki during the school trip, and now she's boldly holding out her hand to steal her strawberry milk...
Of course, she's probably joking, but this is seriously concerning.
Maybe she needs a good spanking.
“No.”
“Hand it over.”
“You don't want these snacks?”
“Are you blackmailing me with that? Don't you know how mean it is to give something and then take it back?”
“Then behave yourself. You're wearing a pretty skirt today, huh?”
Her eyes momentarily darted away from mine.
It seemed yesterday's events had just replayed in her mind.
She glanced down at her skirt, which fell below her knees, and changed the subject.
“Matsumatsu, vacation is starting soon.”
“Right.”
“Can I come over to your place a lot during the break?”
“Sure. But call before you come over, don't just show up out of the blue.”
“Why? Would it be a problem if I walked in on you doing something naughty?”
What a pathetic attempt at a provocation.
I scoffed internally and retorted, “What kind of naughty things are you talking about?”
“Huh?”
Hiyori blinked her big eyes.
She looked like she never expected me to counterattack.
“I'm asking what kind of naughty things.”
“Well... doesn't anything come to mind?”
“Nope.”
“Don't lie...!”
It was adorable how she read my deadpan expression and threw a little tantrum full of embarrassment.
She stood there with her arms stretched straight down and her chin jutted out, like a kid talking back to an adult. I looked down at her and said, “Anyway, just call first. If nothing else, it's basic manners when you're visiting someone's house.”
“I don't want to.”
“You can do that, right?”
“...Yes.”
She was going to listen to me anyway. Just like Renka, she always has to put up a little resistance first.
A satisfied smile on my face, I stared intently at Hiyori's face. Very intently.
To be precise, at her lips.
“Wh-what is it...!”
She realized where my gaze was fixed and became extremely flustered.
It was funny how she tried to act tough, but it wasn't convincing in the slightest.
I grinned at her cute antics, touching my own bottom lip with a finger as I asked, “Did you change the color of your lip stuff?”
“Huh?”
“The color looks a little different than usual.”
“Oh, yeah. It's a different tint, called Cool Peach.”
“Cool Peach? What's that?”
“A cool peach.”
“That's the name of the tint?”
“That's right.”
They could've just called it a cool pink tone...
The people who work in cosmetics must have a tough time coming up with these names.
Anyway, peach... Chinami would love that, wouldn't she?
I should remember to buy it for her sometime.
“Why are your nails so shiny?”
“Because I put on tips.”
“You're doing all sorts of things.”
“I'm going to get another ear piercing today, too. Right here.”
I can't just leave our Hiyori to her own devices during the break.
She'll probably go wild and get all kinds of adornments.
She pushed her hair back to show me her ear. I flicked her ahoge and said, “Let's not overdo it. You're pretty enough without all that, why are you trying to hang so much stuff on yourself?”
Just a casual, offhand compliment.
At that, Hiyori's ears turned slightly red.
“Whatever. I'm still gonna do it.”
That's what she says, but I know.
Hiyori won't be going to get that piercing today.
She wasn't blushing as obviously as she used to, but that expression of her trying so hard to hide her feelings was a massive turn-on.
Wouldn't it be a nice picture if Hiyori and I had our first time during the break?
After that brief thought, I took Hiyori by the shoulders and turned her around.
Then I gave her a gentle push toward the stairs.
“Go on. Class is about to start.”
The scent of lemon wafting into my nose felt like the starting gun for summer vacation.
I lightly chided Hiyori for tensing up, and we walked up the stairs together.
* * *
“Men!”
Thwack—!
With a short kiai, Renka's shinai connected with her classmate's head.
A clean strike on the target area. It was an obvious point.
“Ippon!”
Just as I expected, Coach Goro, who was refereeing, raised his flag.
With the tournament just around the corner, we've been having more sparring days lately. The sound of the strikes is refreshing.
That's how crisp and clean Renka's attacks were.
“Your hands must be itching to join in, I imagine?”
Chinami asked as she approached me while I was watching.
I looked down at her with loving eyes—she made me want to hug her every time I saw her—and replied, “Not quite.”
“That's a shame.”
“By the way, Master, do you not spar separately? I don't think I've seen you do it, except for a few times before the school trip.”
“I practice separately with Renka.”
“Really? When?”
“Lately, I've been stopping by Renka's house often after school. Her house has a separate training room for kendo, and we practice there.”
“Interesting. Do you only have to do kendo in there?”
“Pardon? What do you mean?”
Chinami tilted her head to one side.
She looked like she had no idea what I was implying.
I probably shouldn't explain it in detail and taint the pure Chinami with the wicked ways of the world.
“It's nothing. You haven't forgotten your promise to stay over at my place for a night after the tournament, have you?”
“N-no...! That's something I still need to think about...”
“Didn't you say the same thing last time?”
“Ah, I just haven't been able to sort out my thoughts yet...”
Seeing Chinami become shy in an instant made my hands itch to give her one of my soft-and-squishy massages.
I smiled brightly down at the adorable girl, but my expression soured when Renka, her match just finished, approached us.
Wiping the light sheen of sweat from her face with a towel, she snapped, “What's with you? What's your problem...!”
“What about me?”
“Why are you scowling at me? You wanna die?”
Staying over at Miyuki's to deepen our love, challenging myself to have my first time with Hiyori, a threesome with two girls who are closer than real sisters, and even some neglect play with Renka...
Mhm. I'll have a lot to do during the break.
“Hey...! Are you ignoring me?”
Noticing I was lost in thought, Renka raised her voice, glancing around cautiously.
And whenever Renka gets like this, Chinami invariably steps in to calm her down.
“Friend, 'Do you want to die?' is no way to speak to our junior. Your words are too harsh.”
“No, Chinami...! Why are you always so strict with me...! He made a nasty face at me when you weren't looking...!”
Chinami looked at me as if to ask if that was true.
I just shrugged and made a nonchalant excuse.
“I think the captain misunderstood. I was about to sneeze.”
“Is that so?”
“Of course.”
Renka let out a scoff of disbelief.
She looked like she was about to go crazy from the frustration of watching us put on this little show.
When the three of us talk, Chinami often takes my side.
But Renka brought this all on herself.
Why? Because she's probably bad-mouthed me to Chinami when they were alone.
Who's going to believe the girl who cried wolf?
It's karma. Pure karma.
Seeing Renka look so wronged is fun, but I also want to see her get all fidgety when I ignore her.
I have high hopes for what kind of entertaining picture that will create.
Renka pounded her chest, professing her innocence.
Chinami gently patted her on the back and said, “When you're not feeling well, you should eat a peach.”
Come to think of it, summer is peach season.
Chinami must be so happy. She'll probably have a mountain of them at home to get through with her mother, Momoka.
Thinking of Momoka makes me want to see Renka's mother.
I've never seen her face, but I'm sure she looks just like Renka.
After enjoying the little happening, I finished my club activities and met up with Miyuki.
She looked a little tired, probably because student council work was getting busy with vacation right around the corner. I'd have to make sure she gets a good rest today.
“Matsuda-kun, the kendo club captain is Inoo-senpai, right? And Nanase-senpai is the manager.”
Miyuki asked, sinking deep into the passenger seat.
I started the engine and pulled the car out, nodding.
“That's right.”
“In that case, could you tell them both that I'll be stopping by the kendo club tomorrow? And the coach, too.”
“The kendo club? Why?”
“I'm planning to visit to review the budget for next semester.”
“But you're not in charge of accounting, are you?”
“I said I'd do the kendo club's. I wanted to see you in your kendo uniform again, it's been a while.”
Miyuki's unique way of expressing her affection is always nice to hear.
I let out a soft chuckle and smiled. And with that, I drove out the main gate, ending another peaceful day at the academy.