Chapter 402: Declaration of War
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 402: Declaration of War
Whoosh—!
It was raining outside.
The sky had darkened, and the weather was chilly for midsummer.
Because of this, the unique excitement that came with the first day of summer break had somewhat subsided—but that was only for the other students, not me.
I like rainy days.
The smell of the earth rising from the wet ground and the distinct sound of the downpour had a way of calming my mind.
“Everyone, try not to get into trouble over the break.”
With that final word from our homeroom teacher, who had just listened to the principal’s address on TV, summer vacation began.
“Hey, guys, don’t leave just yet. Grab a school notice on your way out.”
Lost in their joy and excitement, a few students didn’t hear Miyuki and tried to bolt straight out the door.
But their attempt was thwarted by a large figure blocking the back entrance.
“The notice.”
I stood blocking the door with a deadpan expression and pointed to the teacher’s desk. The students flinched and scratched their heads.
“Ah, sorry.”
Nothing to be sorry about.
I was just trying to prevent the hassle of them calling or texting Miyuki later to ask about the things they missed by not taking the notice.
“Here’s the notice.”
“You may pass.”
I stood there with the solemn expression of a gatekeeper, only stepping aside for those holding a notice in their hand. A few students glanced back and forth between Miyuki and me, snickering.
I guess they found it funny how I was acting as Miyuki’s loyal subordinate.
It seems like everyone knows about us. I suppose when the time comes, I’ll just have to send a wedding invitation to everyone but one person.
Just as I was thinking that, Tetsuya approached me with a friend.
“You look like you’re on the student council. Why don’t you try out?”
His voice, tinged with a hint of sarcasm, was truly grating.
“Are you being sarcastic?”
“Of course not.”
Tetsuya shrugged and held up his notice for me to see.
I scoffed as if to say, how pathetic, and took a step to the side.
“Have a good break. See you if you come to cheer at the national tournament.”
Tetsuya brushed past me as he said that.
For someone with such a thorny tone, he’s leaving pretty quietly.
I thought he’d at least bump my shoulder on the way out, but I guess he’s too scared to try something like that.
“Yeah, whatever.”
I gave an arrogant reply without even looking at him. After playing gatekeeper for a little longer, I helped Miyuki tidy up the now-empty classroom.
I was silently straightening the desks and chairs into neat rows when she suddenly stopped at a desk by the window and beckoned to me.
“Matsuda-kun, just a second…”
As I got closer, she confirmed it was my desk, and the corners of her mouth crept up as she asked.
“Do you remember this spot?”
How could I forget?
It was in this exact setup, facing each other across the desk, that Miyuki and I shared a very rom-com-like kiss.
Just as I sometimes smiled to myself before bed thinking about it, the memory must have suddenly popped into her head, too.
“Of course I do.”
“Really? Unlike today, it was bright and sunny back then… right?”
“That’s right.”
“But I don’t think today’s weather is so bad, either.”
As I was about to reply, Miyuki leaned in and pressed her face to mine.
A soft, plush feeling on my lips.
Miyuki’s unique, sweet plum scent wafted gently around us.
Unlike last time, she didn’t shyly tell me to close my eyes. It was a surprise attack, a sudden show of affection.
But the feeling was similar to what I’d felt back then.
It was fresh and sweet. As if it had been in the past, was in the present, and would remain the same in the future.
* * *
While Miyuki went to the student council room to finish up some work, I waited for Hiyori at the building’s entrance, as she’d messaged me to meet her there. I watched the rain pour down in sheets.
It was coming down so hard it was as if a hole had opened up in the sky. I wondered if this was the start of the rainy season.
As I was killing time with that thought, I heard someone approach from behind.
“Matsumatsu.”
I turned my head to see Hiyori calling my name in a slurred voice, different from her usual one.
I blinked a couple of times and noticed her cheeks were slightly puffed up as she got closer.
“What’s with you?”
“Whath ish ith?”
“Your cheeks. Why are they like that? They look a little swollen.”
“I bith my thongue.”
So that’s why.
I let out a disbelieving chuckle and said, “Let me see.”
“Ahhh…”
Hiyori immediately opened her mouth wide, pressing her tongue against her lower lip so I could see it easily.
I saw that both sides of her tongue were quite swollen, and my eyebrows twitched.
“How did this happen?”
“Eathing candy…”
“Eating candy?”
“Yesh.”
“How on earth did you manage to do this with just a piece of candy?”
“I dunno.”
It was absurd how she was using her swollen tongue as an excuse to drop formalities and speak in a cute, slurred voice.
It was proof that she was enjoying the sound of her own lisp.
I mulled over how I should tease her, and a good idea came to mind.
“Let me see again.”
I gestured with my chin at Hiyori, who had closed her mouth and was tapping her cheeks as if applying makeup. Without a hint of suspicion, she opened her mouth just like before.
“Ahhh…”
Seizing the opportunity, I cupped her cheeks and jaw with both hands and slipped my thumbs into her mouth.
“Hyehk!?”
As she let out a strange, surprised gasp, I started gently prodding the inside of her mouth, avoiding the swollen parts.
“No canker sores, I see.”
I said, pretending to be calmly examining her.
“Wooo…??”
Her tongue squirmed like a wave every time my thumb touched it.
I could feel my hands, which were holding her cheeks, growing warmer in proportion to her rising body temperature.
As an added bonus, she gripped my wrists tightly with her own hands.
After teasing Hiyori’s tongue for a bit while she put on her cute little show, I finally pulled my thumbs out of her mouth and brought one of them to my own lips.
Then, I made a point of sucking on my finger right in front of her.
“Ahhh…!! W-What are you doing…?!”
Her voice rose, having been subjected to and then witnessing something so unexpectedly lewd.
I found it funny how her lisp vanished and her normal way of speaking returned the moment she got flustered. I replied brazenly.
“You had a strawberry milk-flavored candy.”
“……”
She looked so cute, standing there with her mouth agape, utterly speechless, as if she never imagined I’d do something like this.
I took a small disposable tissue I always carry in my pocket, wiped my hand, and watched her reaction.
She was still staring at me with a dazed expression.
I guess my declaration of war, hinting at a rapid development in our relationship, was a bit much.
Hiyori, who seemed like she would stay that way forever, finally snapped out of it when Miho came down the stairs, carrying a large bag.
“Hello, senpai. Have a good vacation.”
Miho was polite as always, bowing her head as she greeted me.
Hiyori grabbed Miho’s arm and dragged her away before I could even return the greeting.
A wave of concern washed over me as I watched her practically flee, barely bothering to open her umbrella.
I hope she doesn’t get completely soaked. What if she catches a cold?
Well, if she does, I’ll just have to let her rest up at my place for a night and nurse her back to health.
* * *
[I saw you.]
After dropping Miyuki off at her house, I came home and took a shower. Seeing a message from Renka on my phone, I tilted my head.
[Saw what?]
[I saw you harassing that blonde underclassman you saw the other day.]
Where could she have possibly seen that?
It was raining too hard to see inside from the outside, so that was impossible…
She must have seen it on her way down to go home, or maybe after stopping by the faculty office or something.
[Were you on the first floor? You should have come over. I would have given you a ride home. You didn’t get too wet, did you?]
[Don’t act all nice. You’re irredeemable trash.]
[Why?]
[What do you mean, why? You think you’re not trash after doing something like that?]
[What exactly did I do?]
[Don’t try to lead me on. You piece of trash.]
She keeps calling me trash, and for some reason, it’s turning me on.
Miyuki isn’t sleeping over tonight, and the blood is rushing down south…
There’s no way I can’t go to Renka’s house now.
I’ll go over to educate her a little and make a good impression on her parents while I’m at it.
Having made my decision, I opened the closet where I keep my going-out clothes.
As I picked out a neat shirt and pants, I sent a reply to Renka.
[Where are you now? Out?]
[Why do you care?]
[Answer me.]
[I’m home.]
[Then can I come over to the club captain’s house today?]
[What?]
Bzzz-!
A call came from Renka right away.
She must have been pretty surprised that I wanted to visit her house.
“Hello.”
—What are you talking about? You’re coming to my house?
I smirked at the panic in her voice and replied, “Yes.”
—Are you crazy? No way!
“Why not?”
—Why would you come to someone else’s house…! This isn’t a joke…
“We’re not exactly ‘someone else,’ are we? Anyway, I’d like to head out now. Is that okay?”
—What are you talking about…! I’m busy…!
“Busy doing what?”
—Well… uh…
If she really didn’t want me to come, she would have flatly refused.
In that sense, her hesitation was as good as an agreement.
Realizing what she was thinking, I said, “Are your parents home?”
—No, but…? D-Don’t get any weird ideas! I’ll kill you!
I just asked a simple question, and she’s already reading all sorts of things into it.
She can call me a pervert or whatever she wants, but in reality, she’s the worse one.
“I’m leaving now. Can you come out to meet me?”
—N-Now…? No… now’s not a good time… Call me in an hour or something…!
The reason she specified a time was obvious if I thought about it for a second.
She didn’t want me to see her room, her Pandora’s box, which was no doubt filled with all sorts of otaku merch.
Come to think of it, Chinami must have been to Renka’s house often. How does she not know Renka’s an otaku?
Did Renka forbid her from ever entering her room?
Even so, you’d think her mother or father would have mentioned it in passing while they were eating together or something… It’s a mystery.
I guess I’ll just assume Chinami is too pure to have noticed.
Deciding to think of it that way for my own peace of mind, I spoke.
“I’m really bored right now, so I’m just going to head out. It should take about 30 minutes. Maybe 50 if there’s traffic?”
—…Really?
It was both funny and absurd to hear the hopeful tone in her voice now that I’d given her a generous amount of time.
I chuckled at her honesty, which she tried so hard to hide but couldn’t, and hung up before immediately changing my clothes.
During our call, it seemed like Renka was already treating my tour of her room as a given. In that case, it was only right that I get there as fast as possible.
I’ll have to make her open up and accept everything about herself, I thought, as I stepped out into the still-drizzling rain.