Chapter 72: A Sinister Motive
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 72: A Sinister Motive
“Miyuki.”
“.....”
“Miyuki.”
“.....”
Even though I called to her from right behind, Miyuki didn’t answer.
She looked unsteady as she staggered along.
I debated whether I should touch her, then decided against it.
“Hanazawa.”
I used the last name I hadn’t called her by in a long time.
The reaction was immediate.
Miyuki whipped her head around.
“...What? Why...?”
It seemed calling her by her last name for the first time in a while did the trick. Her eyes darted back and forth as if trying to figure out what she’d done wrong.
I shrugged at her and said, “You passed the changing room.”
I jerked my thumb over my shoulder, pointing it out.
Miyuki leaned to the side to look, then scratched the side of her head.
“Oh, you’re right...”
“Why are you so out of it? Was it that tough?”
“Well... it’s not that I’m tired, I was just thinking about something else...”
“What were you thinking about?”
“I-I’ll tell you later...”
“Alright.”
Miyuki, who had been fidgeting and watching my reaction, changed the subject.
“I heard we’re changing seats this week... Did you hear?”
“Miura mentioned it this morning. Is it by lottery?”
“I just heard that we’re changing them, not how. It’s usually a lottery, so... I guess it’ll be the same?”
“Can’t you use your class president privileges or something?”
“What do you mean?”
“Make a strong case to the professor. There are plenty of excuses. You could say that I, the problem child, am changing for the better, and you want to help me directly by sitting next to me... Something like that, maybe?”
“No way... If I get involved, it’s cheating...”
She said that, but she looked tempted.
Taking a bold step closer to Miyuki, I grinned and said, “I’d love it if we could sit together.”
Miyuki’s face instantly flushed.
“M-Me too...”
“Are you really okay? It’s PE next, you think you can handle it?”
“I’m fine, I napped whenever I could... But from now on...”
Miyuki’s voice trailed off.
I had a good idea of what she wanted to say.
“Let’s try to restrain ourselves on weekdays.”
“Okay...”
“Though I don’t know if we can.”
“Hey, what are you saying...!”
Miyuki gave my shoulder a light shove with an affectionate hand.
Letting out a helpless laugh as if to say she was unbelievable, she soon disappeared into the changing room.
* * *
“Hyaaaah! Men! Kote! Do!” [Head! Wrist! Torso!]
On the hill behind the kendo club.
After demonstrating several strikes in the air with a series of sharp cries, Chinami turned to look at me.
“The ‘Ki’ in Ki-Ken-Tai is about encouraging yourself by releasing the power gathered in your dantian, infusing your body with strength, and showing your will and drive. Only when you attack with that spirit enveloping your body can you score a true ippon.”
She explained this while bringing the hand holding her shinai to her hip. I wondered if it was heavy.
I scratched my head and asked, “Do I really have to shout?”
“It’s not just shouting, it’s a kiai. The more powerful and sharp it is, the faster your attack will be in proportion. Huuuhhh... Meeeeennnn...”
Chinami suddenly let out a drawn-out sound, her whole body going limp.
Seeing my jaw drop slightly, she continued.
“If you let out a kiai like this, do you think your sword will move quickly?”
“Well, no... I agree to some extent, but...”
“The importance of the kiai doesn’t end there. A kiai with intent can clear your mind of distracting thoughts. It also has the effect of overwhelming your opponent’s spirit and intimidating them.”
“Can’t I just use a short breath?”
“Like the head strike you first showed me, or when you used abdominal breathing with a sharp ‘Hup!’ when you attacked Renka’s torso?”
“Yes... something like that...”
“That’s fine too, but it would be even better if you could let it out more sharply and powerfully. Now, shall we try it together? Hap!”
She clenched her fist and let out a short shout. It was cute.
“I’ll practice at home alone later.”
“Why? Are you perhaps embarrassed to do a kiai in front of others? Hmm, hmm...! I can understand that. Many beginners feel that way, but no one will laugh at you, and neither will I, so please try. It might feel a little awkward at first, but you’ll get used to it.”
“It’s not that... I just feel a little stiff today.”
“Oh, really...? In that case, shall I give you a massage?”
She opened and closed her hands, a sly smile on her face, just as I had done before.
I answered by promptly flopping face-down on the bench.
Chinami looked bewildered. “Wh-What are you doing...?”
“You said you’d give me a massage.”
“....What...? Well, that was...”
“You weren’t just joking, were you?”
“Well...”
“I was so happy that my master was offering me a massage for the first time... If it was a joke, this disciple will be very disappointed.”
As I let out a sigh heavy enough to make the ground sink, Chinami cleared her throat.
“I-I can certainly... give my one and only disciple a massage... But...”
“But?”
“The truth is, I don’t know how to give a massage...”
“You don’t know?”
“So... next time...”
“Next time?”
“Why are you doing this...? You’re scaring me...”
“Scaring you?”
“J-Junior... you’re acting strange today...”
Chinami started to back away.
I figured I should stop teasing her here.
I stood up, stretched my arms wide, and said, “I was joking. But you have to give me that massage next time, okay?”
“Ah, yes... I’m sorry...”
“When should we go for ice cream?”
“What? You said you’d let me know, Junior.”
“Even so, you must have a day and time that’s convenient for you, Master.”
“I’m free anytime. Weekdays are fine, and weekends are fi—Hieek!?”
A peculiar shriek, unique to Chinami, escaped her lips as her sentence trailed off.
She was startled because my hand had suddenly moved toward her head.
A leaf had fallen onto the head of the girl, who was now showing a tremendous reaction, even cowering slightly.
I plucked it off and clicked my tongue.
“A leaf just fell, so I was trying to get it for you.”
At my words, Chinami opened one eye.
Seeing the leaf, which was slowly starting to change color, right in front of her nose, she gave an embarrassed smile.
“O-Oh, I see... You just did it so suddenly, you surprised me...”
“You didn’t feel it?”
“No... not at all...”
“You’re always so dense. It suits you.”
“Thank... Huh? What do you mean, it suits me?”
“I’m saying it fits your image perfectly. It’s cute.”
“Whaaat...?”
Chinami’s already large eyes grew even wider.
They were so wide you could see the whites all around. She must have been incredibly surprised.
Her reaction was much more intense than when I had called her pretty in the car that one time.
I looked down at her, her face now as red as the autumn leaves of a cherry tree, and asked, “Since when have you been wearing the peach hairpin?”
“...Hweh? What?”
“I asked when you started wearing the hairpin.”
“Ah... y-yesterday... I bought it...” she answered hastily, snapping her gaping mouth shut.
I let out a small laugh and nodded.
Then, I looked back and forth between Chinami and her hairpin with a deep gaze.
“It looks good on you.”
“Th-Thank you...”
Chinami bowed her upper body in a polite thank you and covered the hairpin with both hands.
Is she doing that because she’s embarrassed?
Her actions were so absurdly endearing I felt a laugh about to burst out.
“Shall we go clean up now?”
“Ah, no... I’ll clean the armor today... Since you’re feeling stiff, Junior... you can just do a little spread-leg walking practice and then go home...”
Spread-leg walking... The name sounds a little lewd.
“I’ll probably loosen up once I start moving.”
“...You think so?”
“I’m sure of it.”
The atmosphere had suddenly become strange and soft.
Chinami swallowed hard. Deciding she needed to break the heavy silence, she pointed toward the club room with her small finger.
“Th-Then, shall we head to the storage room...?”
“Sure. But, Master.”
“Yes...?”
I sniffed the air and paused for a moment.
Just as Chinami’s head tilted at a 15-degree angle, I brought my face close to hers and whispered, “You smell like peaches.”
“I-I’m sorry... I’m sorry for the smell...!”
Was it just my imagination, or did Chinami’s eyes look dazed?
Seeing her like this made me want to tease her even more.
I gave a light smile to the girl, who was clearly out of it, and straightened my back.
“I meant it as a compliment, why are you apologizing? You said any time was fine, right? I’ll contact you soon.”
Did my nonchalant attitude calm her down?
Chinami placed a hand on her chest and took a deep breath, her complexion returning to normal.
Looking up at me with her reddish-pink eyes, she answered shyly, “Okay...”
My relationship with Chinami is also developing.
So far, everything’s been smooth, without any particular problems. Let’s just keep it this way.
* * *
“Where’s Tetsuya-kun?”
That was Miyuki’s question as she waited for me in the parking lot.
I unlocked the car with the smart key and answered, “The coach is giving him extra training, so he told me to go ahead.”
“The kendo coach?”
“That’s right.”
“Aren’t you getting any, Matsuda-kun?”
“I’m fine.”
“Why?”
“Because I don’t need it.”
“Maybe they’ve given up on you because you’re so bad?”
Miyuki didn’t know that I’d landed a blow on Renka’s torso.
Tetsuya hadn’t told her, and I hadn’t felt the need to bring it up, so I’d kept quiet.
I wondered if she’d be surprised when she found out later.
Or maybe, since she knows nothing about kendo, she’d just think nothing of it.
“Just get in. Let’s head home, just the two of us for once.”
“Okay.”
Grinning, Miyuki got into the passenger seat.
She placed her bag at her feet, buckled her seatbelt, and soon started fiddling with her phone.
“I’m so sleepy today... aren’t you?”
“I’m fine, but you were up until dawn. You should lie down as soon as you get home.”
“That’s the plan... Hey, Matsuda-kun, do you know what a maritozzo is?”
“Maritozzo? That bread that’s slathered in cream?”
“Yeah. Masako said it was delicious, so I’m thinking of trying it. It’s called a Chestnut Cream Mont Blanc Maritozzo. I’ll buy one tomorrow so we can share.”
If it’s a recommendation from Bread Girl, it must be trustworthy.
As I chatted idly with Miyuki, I glanced over at the passenger seat when I noticed she was getting quieter.
Her eyes were half-closed, head bobbing as she stared at her phone screen.
She was tired from yesterday, and with PE class on top of staying awake through all the afternoon classes, it seemed sleepiness had finally hit her like a truck.
I should let her sleep a little in the car.
With that thought, I drove on in silence.
“Mmm...”
Miyuki let out a weary sigh, her voice thick with fatigue, and soon began to properly doze off.
Her eyes, which had been fluttering open and shut, had been closed for a while now.
She looked pretty, her head turned toward me, letting out soft, even breaths.
Taking advantage of a red light, I looked over at Miyuki and saw her grip on her phone loosening.
Her thumb, which had been pressing the screen, slipped off, and the phone slid sideways, catching on her fingers.
It looked like she was about to drop it... It would be a pain to find if it fell between the seats, so I figured I should hold onto it for her.
I carefully reached for Miyuki’s phone, then made a face when I saw the screen was packed with text.
Was she reading a thesis paper or something? She’s really something else.
Just as I was about to take the phone, I froze.
I definitely saw something.
A word that didn’t fit the innocent Miyuki at all.
Sucking in a breath, I leaned closer to Miyuki’s phone and peeked at the screen.
On that screen was an article titled:
`[How to Give a Handjob: Seven Ways to Drive Your Man Crazy.]`
The moment I saw it, I thought instinctively:
I absolutely have to pretend I didn’t see this.
I turned my gaze back to the road ahead as if nothing had happened, my facial muscles twitching.
I couldn’t stop the faint smile from spreading across my face. I’d heard her say yesterday that she wanted to learn more for me, but I never thought she’d start this soon...
So typical of Miyuki, who always values preparation.
And to think she’d try to learn that from an article.
It was absurd, but also endearing.
Just keep your mouth shut.
I saw nothing.
As I tried my best to calm my racing heart, Miyuki chose that moment to stir.
“Nngh...”
She mumbled in her sleep and shifted in her seat. I smiled brightly.
“Go back to sleep. We’re not there yet.”
“Okay... sorry...”
Miyuki pulled her phone into her arms and closed her eyes again.
I let out a silent sigh of relief and focused quietly on driving.