Chapter 74: A Date with a Peach Fanatic
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 74: A Date with a Peach Fanatic
[My sister's teasing me.]
[How is she teasing you?]
[She keeps asking if I had a good time with Matsuda-kun... She's being mischievous whenever Mom and Dad aren't around.]
[So what did you say?]
[I told her I'd tell her later, so she should be quiet.]
[Are you going to tell her later?]
[Yeah. I am.]
Is she going to readily admit to our relationship?
Even considering it's easier to talk to family, and that Kana has already solidified her suspicions, this is quite surprising.
Good girl, Miyuki. That's how you become bolder, little by little.
[How's the temple?]
[We just dropped our bags at the hotel, we haven't gone yet.]
[Same room as your sister?]
[Yeah.]
It seems like the perfect time to barge in there in the middle of the night. I want to ask her to make an opening for me.
I'm also curious what the two sisters will talk about... Makes me want to plant a bug.
[I have to go down to eat now... I'll text you later.]
[Have fun.]
[♡]
I chuckled, looking at the heart emoji Miyuki sent.
I'm happy. I can see her heart gradually opening up.
-Uhm... Junior!
A cute voice called from outside the car window.
Putting my phone away, I glanced at the passenger-side window.
There stood Chinami, dressed in a boxy fleece sweatshirt and a short pleated skirt, shielding her eyes with a hand as she tried to peer inside the car.
Completely different from the slightly more mature outfit I saw at the department store, this time she'd come in an outfit that fully flaunted her cuteness.
She might not look it, but she's surprisingly good at dressing herself.
-Is this your car, Junior...? Juuunior...? Are you in there...?
Why are you being so quirky? You could've just called.
Snickering, I pressed the button on the armrest.
Click!
The door unlocked with a short sound.
Chinami jumped as if she'd seen a ghost.
-Hiiik!
I guess she didn't expect to hear a sound.
Tsking, I leaned over and opened the passenger door myself.
Clunk.
“Ah...! Hello, Junior!”
Chinami bowed, clutching the strap of her crossbody bag.
I smiled brightly and raised a hand.
“Hello. This is my car, so get in.”
“Okay...!”
Chinami carefully climbed into the passenger seat and fastened her seatbelt.
My eyes inadvertently flickered to her snow-white thighs, and I grabbed the blanket I'd neatly folded in the back seat and draped it over her lap.
“You did this last time, too. Cover up.”
“O-Okay... Thank you...!”
As Chinami lowered her head, her hair slid smoothly over her shoulders.
Is it because her hair's gotten a little longer? Or is it the outfit?
For some reason, she looks sexy.
Reaching for the navigation system, I asked.
“Should we get going? What's the name of that shop?”
“I'll guide you. For now, just drive straight.”
“You must have memorized the way, huh?”
“Of course.”
Chinami puffed up her chest, looking proud.
I let out a small laugh at her innocent expression and obediently took the wheel.
After that, I drove according to Chinami's kind directions.
* * *
Ting-a-ling-!
The door opened with the cheerful chime of a bell.
The employee at the counter saw Chinami and smiled brightly.
“Hello! You're here again?”
“Mhehe... Hello.”
As Chinami, wearing an incredibly sly smile, approached the counter, the employee spoke as if it were routine.
“A Triple Pop with three scoops of Yogurt Peach... is that right?”
“Yes!”
“And...”
The employee trailed off, their gaze shifting to me, standing behind Chinami.
Judging by the unfamiliar, questioning look in their eyes, it seemed rare for Chinami to come here with someone.
“Uhm... what would your companion like?”
“Ah, I'll have...”
I was about to answer, looking with interest at the various ice creams at the counter, when,
“.....”
I noticed Chinami looking up at me, her face brimming with anticipation.
What could those big, round eyes mean?
She's clearly telling me to pick the same thing she did.
First, I definitely have to get the Yogurt Peach...
What else should I pick to make Chinami happy?
The answer was obvious.
“I'll also have only Yogurt Peach, please.”
Chinami gave me a soft smile.
It seems she was pleased with my answer.
Getting nothing but peach in this Triple Pop thing will definitely be overwhelming, but I have no choice.
I'll have to force myself to wolf it all down.
“Got it. Any other orders?”
“Two iced peach macarons and two iced peach mochi, please.”
Chinami cheerfully added the desserts to the order.
She loves peaches to an absurd degree... Is she some kind of fanatic?
I can't let this be. I'll have to corrupt her into eating a variety of desserts.
“Order up. Two Yogurt Peach Triple Pops, two iced peach macarons, and two mochi... That'll be 1860 yen.”
Seeing the total on the POS machine, Chinami took her wallet out of her crossbody bag.
The button was shaped like a peach character, and the overall design was very pink.
It was exactly the kind of wallet you'd expect Chinami to use.
After paying, she led me to a table in the corner.
She sat down, her face beaming.
I sat across from her, placed my phone on the tabletop, and asked.
“Master, do you like hard peaches? Or soft peaches?”
“I like both. I can't pick a favorite. Which do you prefer, Junior?”
“Me? I'm not picky.”
“That's a relief. I have a few hard peaches left at home, so I'll bring them next week. We can eat them together.”
I have something hard on my body, too.
It'd be perfect if I could put it inside your soft parts.
While we were chatting, the ice cream, macarons, and mochi arrived.
Chinami brought them over with a beaming smile and then stared at me expectantly.
Her eyes were telling me to try it first.
Picking up a plastic spoon, I said.
“I'll dig in.”
“Yes, eat up. Let me know if it's not enough.”
That won't happen. I'm currently doubting if this flesh-colored stuff even tastes good.
Hiding my skepticism, I scooped up a spoonful of ice cream and brought it to my mouth.
‘Surprisingly...’
It's good.
The distinct sweetness of the peach spread through my mouth, and the crunchy texture mixed in was superb.
The shop's interior is cute, and the ice cream tastes good.
So this is why Chinami is a regular here. This shop is perfectly suited to her tastes.
When my eyes widened slightly after tasting the ice cream, the corners of Chinami's mouth crept upwards.
“It's really good, isn't it?”
“Yeah... It's better than I expected.”
After speaking, I took another bite of ice cream.
Pleased by my actions, Chinami nodded enthusiastically, then picked up a macaron and took a big bite.
“Mmm...!”
She savored the taste with her eyes gently closed.
She looked so satisfied, her head tilted back, that I felt an urge to scratch her under the chin.
How can I raise Chinami's affection level here?
Mulling this over, I decided to just eat my ice cream quietly.
It's better to show her I'm enjoying it than to run my mouth for no reason.
* * *
“Huhu... So you've joined the Peach Faction, Junior. From now on, let's fall into the world of peaches together.”
Chinami's sinister-sounding welcome speech as we left the shop and headed for the public parking lot.
I moved my tongue around to get rid of the lingering peach flavor in my mouth and slowed my pace for Chinami, who was trying hard to match my stride.
“Are there any benefits to joining?”
“Of course. As the sole member and president, I will occasionally bring you peaches.”
“Any other benefits?”
“Uhm... If you get thirsty during club activities, I'll make you iced tea.”
“If I join, I'd like to be able to eat with you sometimes, Master, just like today.”
“Oh, of course. Next time, let's go get peach smoothies.”
Chinami happily agreed.
She seemed completely oblivious to the fact that I was indirectly asking for another date, taking my words at face value.
Should I be satisfied that she was the one to suggest where to go next today?
Given that our relationship was just that of a senior and junior, going on a date, just the two of us, is huge progress... but something felt a little plain, a little lacking.
Meaning, I can't just let it end like this.
“What are you thinking so hard about?”
Chinami asked, craning her neck to look up at me.
The sight of her small head, level with my chest, tilting back was somehow funny.
To kiss her, I'd have to bend my knees a lot even if she stood on her tiptoes... It would probably be better to do it sitting down.
“Junior? What's wrong? Is there something on my face?”
Chinami brought a hand to my unresponsive face and waved it back and forth.
That cliché line snapped me out of my thoughts, and I shrugged.
“Because you're cute.”
“.... Whaaat...?”
Chinami froze in place, her eyes wide. Her face went pale, then slowly started to turn red.
The corner of my mouth twitched as I said it again.
“You're cute.”
“.... Whaaat...?”
“I said, you're cute.”
“.... Whaaaat...?”
Her reaction is much more intense than the one she had in the kendo club room.
Seeing how she keeps repeating the same word off-beat, her ears turning red, she must be even more surprised than last time.
As I slowly approached her with a deeply meaningful smile, she took a step back for every step I took forward.
Then, the heel of her sandal caught on a slightly raised paving stone.
“Mgehk!”
Chinami lost her balance with a bizarre shriek.
I quickly reached out, grabbing the wrist of the falling girl and pulling her back to her feet.
“You should be careful. Why are you so clumsy?”
It was a situation that neither she nor I had expected at all.
A sudden event? Whatever it was, my reflexes are insane.
It reminds me of when I saved Miyuki at the beach and dodged the reward of seawater she spewed from her mouth.
Chinami, dazed by the sudden turn of events, shuddered as I pointlessly patted the dust off her back.
Coming to her senses, she bowed deeply from the waist.
“Th-th-th-thank you... I-I'm s-sorry for being so clumsy...”
What an incredible vibration.
I tried to hold back my laughter but failed, bursting out right in front of her.
“Aahh... S-Sorry for laughing...!”
I don't know why she has so much to be sorry about.
As I roared with laughter in front of the stammering Chinami, I patted her lightly on the back.
“Did I threaten you or something? Why were you trying to run away?”
“I-I wasn't trying to run away...”
“Is your leg okay?”
“Y-Yes... It's fine... Thank you for saving meee...”
“Pull your skirt down. It rode up a little.”
“Eek! Y-Yes...!”
She quickly pulled down her skirt.
Enjoying the comical turn our atmosphere had taken, I waited patiently for her to straighten her clothes.
“I-I'm done...! Now let's hurry up and run home...! Please...!”
Her plea, so openly mixed with her true feelings, made me want to laugh again.
Looking at Chinami, who was on the verge of tears, I nodded and said.
“Alright. Let's go back. I had fun today.”
“Hwaah... Me too...”
I want to bite the cheeks of Chinami, who was placing a hand on her chest to catch her breath.
Suppressing the urge, I walked with Chinami toward the parking lot.
Knowing Chinami's personality, when she gets home, she'll probably agonize over this alone, kicking her blankets in embarrassment, before contacting Renka.
She'll tell her what happened today, and I'm curious to know just how she'll spin the story.