Chapter 422: Miyuki's Decision
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 422: Miyuki's Decision
[Fight? Who said that?]
[Huh? No one. It's just something I say sometimes.]
[Like a figure of speech?]
[Yeah. Something like that.]
So she's protecting the vice president who snitched.
Miyuki, who should be honest with me, is being evasive to protect a friend?
I can't just let this slide. I'll have to give Miyuki a big punishment today.
[I'm thinking of coming over around 9. Can you let your parents know?]
[To my house? You're coming over?]
[Yeah.]
[Are you coming to touch my chest?]
[Of course.]
[Your intentions are too impure. I'm hesitant.]
[How about I come to congratulate you on the win?]
[But you said earlier that you didn't win, Matsuda.]
[Are you going to talk back?]
[I am.]
[Alright. Keep it up. I'll text you when I'm leaving.]
[Okay.]
After finishing my chat with Miyuki, I looked over at Chinami sitting next to me.
She was receiving perfectly cooked shabu-shabu from Renka, who sat across from her.
Judging by the amount of meat piled in her bowl, it seemed Renka was constantly passing her more.
“She hasn't even finished, why do you keep giving her more? The meat won't taste good if it gets cold.”
When I stopped Renka from moving another piece of meat to Chinami's bowl, she furrowed her brow.
“Hey, it just looked delicious... And Chinami doesn't mind, right?”
“That's just because Master is too nice to refuse what you give her. Right?”
I looked at Chinami, as if asking for her agreement, but she just tilted her head, blinked, and said,
“Huh...? Not really...?”
What an incredibly awkward response.
I guess the pure-hearted Chinami didn't understand my meaning because I wasn't direct enough.
I'll back down for now, but one day, I will corrupt Chinami.
“See? She said no. You wanna die?”
Her triumphant expression, as honest as a child's, was adorable.
I was seized by the urge to pull her puffed-out cheeks, stuffed with food, but I barely managed to hold back. I gave a smirk to Renka, who was avoiding my gaze, perhaps feeling a little guilty for her harsh words.
“What are you grinning at?”
Renka immediately shot back with a retort.
She seems desperate to be taught a lesson. I should give her what she wants.
The tournament's over and I'm free, so there's nothing holding me back now.
“Just eat up.”
“I was going to.”
Perhaps feeling brave in front of everyone, Renka spoke to me sarcastically, scoffed, and put a piece of meat in her mouth.
Watching her munch on her food was quite a sight.
Later, I'll have to make her eat mine, too.
“Mmm? Where are you going in the middle of eating?”
Chinami asked as I stood up from my seat.
I told the sweet-faced girl that the air was stuffy and I was just stepping out for a moment. Once outside, I called Hiyori.
-Hello, Matsumatsu.
Her voice was echoing a lot.
She must be in the bathroom.
“What are you doing?”
-Showering.
“You're answering the phone while showering?”
-I'm soaking in the tub. Do you need a picture, by any chance?
“What picture?”
-You were begging for one last time.
“I never begged.”
-So, do you need one or not?
“If you send it, I'll look.”
-You sound like a real pervert. No way.
“Then why'd you even bring it up?”
-Just testing you. How did the tournament go?
“The girls' team won, and the boys' team got 5th place.”
-Oh, really? Winning is amazing, but is 5th place good too?
“It is.”
-Everyone must have been happy.
I heard a trickling sound from over the phone.
It seemed Hiyori, soaking in the tub, had lifted a leg out of the water.
I could picture the seductive sight in my head. It won't be long before I can see it for myself.
“They were.”
-Aren't you happy?
“I'm... happy too, I guess.”
-Then why doesn't your voice sound happy at all?
“Stop making up conspiracy theories.”
-Okay~. Should we work out tomorrow to celebrate the win?
“You could just say you want to work out. Why attach a reason to it?”
-It sounds better that way. I'll come over in the evening, so be ready.
“Not in the morning?”
-I have plans then.
“Stop...”
-Don't tell me to stop going out.
She's reached the point where she can predict what I'm going to say.
Then again, I have nagged her conservatively quite a bit, so it makes sense.
“Alright. Call before you leave.”
-Okay.
“Don't just say 'okay' and then show up out of the blue like you always do.”
-Have a little faith in me.
After the brief call with Hiyori, I looked up at the darkening sky and glanced around.
Tetsuya didn't follow me out this time.
I guess he's doing some self-reflection after I called him narrow-minded.
I clasped my hands, stretched my arms high up toward the sky, and went back inside the restaurant.
After that, I hung out with everyone until quite late.
There were no more confrontations with Tetsuya until the team dinner ended.
At one point, the kendo club seniors sensed the tension between Tetsuya and me and asked us separately what was wrong, but since both he and I acted like nothing was wrong, they just let it go.
Being in the same class is such a pain.
I hope Tetsuya ends up in a different class in our third year.
* * *
““Thank you for your hard work!””
A booming greeting echoed from the academy's main gate.
Startled, Goro put on a stern face and told them to be quiet, but there was no stopping the kendo club members, who were hyped up from their great performance at the tournament and the fun team dinner.
In truth, if Goro had really intended to scold them, he wouldn't have let them off so easily.
He probably would have disciplined them.
The fact that he only told them to be quiet meant that he, too, was incredibly happy.
It was obvious from the way he was carefully cradling the trophy.
“You all worked hard, too. To those who competed, you did great, and to those who didn't, you also worked hard cheering your lungs out. My phone is always on, so if you have any questions about kendo, call me anytime. Have a good break. And don't get into any trouble.”
““Yes, Coach!””
“You guys are usually so lax, but you sure know how to shout when you're happy... Dismissed. Nanase and Matsuda, please take care of the cleanup.”
After his brief speech, Goro dismissed the members. Then, worried he might drop the trophy, he walked toward the kendo club room with delicate, modest steps that didn't suit his appearance.
Despite his words, the coach was probably the happiest person here.
Together with Chinami and Renka, I unloaded all the bags from the bus's luggage compartment and handed them out to each club member.
After watching the members say their goodbyes and split up, I saw Tetsuya approach, so I picked up his bag and held it out.
“This is yours, right? Take it.”
“...Yeah.”
I wanted to ask if he wasn't going to say thank you, but since Renka and Chinami, who have nothing to do with the issue between us, were right there, I decided to let it go for now.
No, wait, Renka is slightly involved.
I remember Tetsuya hitting on Renka at the beginning of the semester last year, trying to get with her.
That bastard has a strong tendency to pretend he's devoted to Miyuki while trying to stick his spoon in everywhere else.
If he doesn't have the skills, he should just stay quiet and back off. The way he insists on chasing other girls is just pathetic.
“What was that...? What just happened?”
Renka asked, having read the heavy atmosphere that had suddenly fallen between me and Tetsuya.
After handing the last club member their bag, I picked up a box to take to the club room and shrugged.
“It's nothing.”
“Are you sure it's nothing?”
“I'm sure. The tournament's over, so now it's time for you to keep your promise to me, right?”
The one about going to a hotel with Chinami.
As I alluded to it, Renka's face flushed red.
Glancing at Chinami, who was bowing to the bus driver, Renka lowered her voice and snapped.
“What are you talking about...?! That's not a promise...! I'm not doing it. I'd rather die...!”
She's still resisting fiercely. In that case, I have an idea.
I'll start by giving her the silent treatment to make her anxious, until she has no choice but to accept my proposal.
I'll start tomorrow.
“Just pick up that thing on the ground.”
“Why are you ordering me around? I'll do it myself...!”
“Suit yourself, then.”
Giving a nonchalant reply, I moved all the luggage to the club room, did a quick cleaning of the equipment with the two of them, and then came back out.
“I'll take you home.”
“It's fine. My dad said he's coming to pick us up.”
“Master, too?”
“Yeah. Chinami's house is close to mine, so don't trouble yourself. Just go home.”
“What's with the gentle tone all of a sudden?”
“No... it's just... you worked hard.”
“What did I do?”
“Ugh, just...! If I say so, then it's so. Just accept it quietly.”
When Renka makes that pouting face, it usually means she's grateful to me for something...
She must have been thinking about how I cheered for her at the top of my lungs during the tournament and is showing her gratitude now.
“Alright.”
I nodded and then said goodbye to Chinami, who came out after her.
Afterward, I went to the academy parking lot, got my car, and was driving toward the main gate when the vice president and several other members got off the archery club bus.
I pulled over for a moment and waited for the archery club members to disperse. Once the area around the bus was clear, I rolled down my window.
And then I called out to the vice president.
“Hey.”
For a second, she looked around, seemingly confused about where the voice came from.
I called out to her one more time, and she finally turned her head in my direction, her eyes widening.
“Huh? Did you call me?”
“Going home?”
“Yeah?”
“Get in. I'll give you a ride.”
“Really?”
“Get in before I change my mind.”
With a look on her face like she'd just won the lottery, the vice president ran over, opened the passenger door, and got in.
“Why isn't Miura here?”
she asked, looking around the car where it was just the two of us.
I released the handbrake, took my foot off the brake pedal, and said,
“Does he need to be?”
“Why? Aren't you two close?”
“I don't let guys in my car.”
“That's not funny at all.”
“I'm not kidding.”
“...Are you serious?”
Actually, I just didn't let them in the front seat, but as of today, that's changed.
Therefore, the heroines and my children must all be daughters.
“I'm serious. By the way, was it you?”
“What was?”
“The one who told Miyuki that Miura and I fought.”
“...Did Miyuki tell you?”
“Not exactly. Miyuki texted me asking if we fought, and you immediately came to mind.”
“You're quick on the uptake, huh...?”
“You're a tattletale, aren't you?”
The dark car, my emotionless voice.
Slightly intimidated, the vice president started to stutter.
“S-Sorry... I was just worried...”
“You need to be punished.”
“Punished...? What kind of punishment...?”
The vice president's hands gripped the seatbelt tightly.
Her reaction is surprisingly delicious.
Doing this once in a while could be fun.
“I'll think about it carefully later.”
“Why are you being so scary...? You're kidding, right?”
“Yeah, I'm kidding.”
“Oh, come on...! You scared me...”
Isn't she being a little too obvious, clutching her chest in relief like that?
I'll keep this in mind. Later, I'll cover those round glasses of yours with sticky white fluid.
“Tell me your address so I can put it in the GPS.”
“Okay.”
After dropping the vice president off at her house, I headed straight for Miyuki's.
On the way, I got a text from Miyuki telling me not to go inside when I arrived, but to come to the playground instead.
Does she want to go for a walk? It's been a while, I should enjoy a nice, wholesome date.
With that in mind, I arrived at Miyuki's house and saw Wataru's car parked off to the side in the parking lot.
He moved it to make it easier for me to park.
This just makes it harder to go after Midori... I can't let my heart grow weak.
I finished parking quietly and followed the dim streetlight toward the small neighborhood playground.
As I passed the wall surrounding the playground and was about to enter, I heard a sound coming from inside.
It was the sound of un-oiled metal grinding together, and the low murmur of a conversation.
There were people talking on the swings.
I stood on my tiptoes to peer over the wall and spotted two familiar silhouettes.
One was Miyuki, sitting on a swing. The other was Tetsuya, sitting silently on the swing next to her.
On instinct, I quickly bent my knees, lowered my body, and pressed myself against the wall in a spot where I could hear them clearly.
I'd eavesdropped on their conversations like this before, even as recently as the school trip. I felt a bit of self-loathing, but this is an unavoidable human instinct.
With that bit of self-justification, I strained my ears, and their conversation faintly reached me.
“Miyuki, do you like Matsuda?”
So things are getting interesting.
I'll be watching closely to see how he expresses the inferiority complex that exploded today to Miyuki.
It's unlikely, but if he tries to pull anything funny with Miyuki, I'll rush in and beat him to within an inch of his life.