Chapter 91: The Surprisingly Cute Club President
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 91: The Surprisingly Cute Club President
Click.
Lying in bed, I opened my eyes at the faint sound of the doorknob turning.
Soon after, there was a rustling outside the window, and it opened with an eerie creak.
A sudden gust of cold air rushed in.
I scowled and pulled the covers over my head, and Miyuki patted my butt.
“Wake up, silly. It's already seven.”
Seven o'clock?
No wonder the sky looked so tranquil when the window opened.
“Why are you here so damn early...”
“Because I missed you.”
Damn, how am I supposed to react to that?
My annoyance just melted away.
Letting out a long sigh through my nose to blow away some of the sleepiness, I pulled the blanket off just my head.
Then I looked up at Miyuki with eyes that wouldn't quite open.
“Come here and lie down.”
“You smell.”
“Smell of what?”
“Sweat.”
I scoffed, grabbing Miyuki's wrist and pulling her forcefully.
With a little shriek, Miyuki fell right on top of me.
Placing a hand on her waist, I caressed her butt just like she had done to me.
Then, with one hand, I tapped my lips. A gesture for a kiss.
Did she like the sight of me doing that with a sleepy expression?
Miyuki grinned, then puckered her crimson-tinted lips and made a loud smooching sound.
Watching her pour out her affection, I let out a low chuckle and said, “Did you get permission from your mom to come over?”
“Yep.”
“Can you get off me now? I need to get up.”
“No.”
“What happened to ‘you smell’?”
“It's a good smell, so it's fine.”
“You said it was sweat.”
“I like the smell of your sweat.”
As she bantered, she rubbed her face against my chest, like a cat trying to leave its scent on its owner.
I smoothed down Miyuki's messy hair and laid her down beside me.
Her eyes wide and alert, Miyuki asked, “What are you doing today?”
“Haven't thought about it. What time did you go to bed last night?”
“Hmm...? Around one in the morning?”
“What were you doing up that late?”
“I watched a movie with my sister.”
“You must be sleepy then, huh?”
“I'm not that slee—Ah, what are you doing?! I already showered, I don't want to lie down again...!”
Miyuki suddenly started making a fuss.
It was because I had spread the blanket out and completely covered her with it.
Pinning her struggling body with my arms and legs, I whispered softly, “You can just wash up again. You can wash up with me when I take a shower.”
“T-Together...? Again...?”
“Doesn't it sound nice to get in the tub and feel the cool breeze?”
“.....”
Her body instantly went still.
Her silence told me she was tempted.
“Let's grab a can of beer and drink it in there, too. How about it?”
“Are we just going to stay home? Not go out?”
“I was thinking we could wash up, take a nap, and then maybe go buy some kendo gear... Want to come?”
“Kendo gear?”
“Yeah. To practice by myself at home.”
Practicing things like footwork is possible without equipment, but for anything else, a shinai and armor make it much easier.
I could borrow gear from the club room, but I don't like the idea of sharing things others have used.
Besides, it's not broken in to fit my body, and my ears get chafed.
So I figure now is the right time to buy my own.
“Matsuda-kun, you're surprisingly serious about kendo, aren't you?”
“What, did you think I'd quit right away?”
“That's not it, but I never imagined you'd go as far as buying your own gear... Hyaak! That tickles...!”
As Miyuki teased me, I gently scratched her waist with my fingertips, making her squirm and let out a sweet, lilting laugh.
While teasing her, I brought my mouth to the part of her t-shirt that rose in a soft mound, covered it, and blew a puff of air.
“Hngh...!”
Her whole body tensed up.
She grabbed a handful of my hair and pulled it tight, seeming to feel a hot, intensely sensual sensation.
Lifting my mouth from her chest, I asked softly, “You're coming with me, right?”
“I-I'll go... It's not like I ever said I wouldn't...”
“Are you sleeping over tonight?”
“I can't... I have to go to the academy tomorrow...”
My mother-in-law keeps trying to get in our way.
What should I do, then? I guess I'll have to tempt Midori into enjoying her time with me, too?
Swallowing those words, I wrapped an arm around Miyuki's tense waist.
“Let's wash up in a little bit.”
“....Okay.”
* * *
The place I took Miyuki to was a kendo supply shop a little ways from the city center.
The reason I'd deliberately come to this distant shop, despite there being several others nearby, was because this was the one Renka frequented.
In other words, it was a place close to Renka's house.
“The atmosphere in here is really nice...”
That was Miyuki's impression upon entering the small shop, which for some reason smelled a bit like an old bookstore.
Placing a hand on the small of her back, I said, “You like this kind of smell, don't you?”
“Yeah. It makes me want to buy something. I wonder if they have any books?”
“They probably have books on kendo.”
We passed the corner where the armor was displayed and headed for the desk, where we ran into someone unexpected.
“....Matsuda?”
It was Renka, examining a new shinai.
Actually, I couldn't call it completely unexpected.
I hadn't exactly been expecting her, but I had a feeling she might be here.
However, I truly hadn't anticipated that she would have company.
“Miyuki...? Matsuda?”
That unique voice, a blend of simple-mindedness and dopiness.
Seeing Tetsuya standing next to Renka, both my and Miyuki's eyes widened.
“Tetsuya-kun...? What are you doing here...?”
Startled by Miyuki's question, Tetsuya snapped to his senses and answered, glancing furtively at me.
“Ah... I said I was going to buy new kendo gear, and the captain offered to help me pick it out, so we came together.”
Look at this bastard. Already close enough with Renka to be in personal contact with her?
When did he even get her number? Pretty bold for a guy with no guts.
Or did Renka ask for his first?
Either way, it's surprising. And so typical of him.
Even though he feels threatened by me, the moment Renka offers to help him pick out gear, he gets all giddy and wags his tail...
Of course, Miyuki is already out of his reach, but for him to be doing this when he should be focusing all his efforts on one person...
What a pathetic sight. Just like the idiot who couldn't do anything when caught between the three of us.
I'm so proud of you! Miura Tetsuya!
“Really? Then...”
Miyuki looked at Renka, who was standing blankly beside Tetsuya.
At that, Tetsuya moved between Miyuki and Renka and, with a smile, introduced Miyuki to Renka.
“Yeah. The person next to me is the captain. Captain, this is Miyuki, my childhood friend of fifteen years. I mentioned her before, right?”
It feels like he's emphasizing the 'fifteen years' part... How utterly pathetic.
I silently observed the three of them.
“We've seen each other around a few times, but this is the first time we're being formally introduced. Hello, my name is Hanazawa Miyuki.”
Miyuki bowed her head politely, just like the model student she is.
Renka, who had been watching with narrowed eyes, accepted Miyuki's greeting with a very courteous demeanor.
“I'm Inoo Renka. It's nice to meet you. I've heard a lot about you from Miura.”
“Oh, really?”
“Yeah. You're the class president of 1-A, right? He said you were bold and energetic... He was definitely right. I can tell just from your vibe.”
That's Miyuki, alright. During the day, at least. She's different at night.
Covering her mouth, Miyuki smiled with her eyes and said, “You're complimenting me, right?”
“Of course.”
“Thank you. Tetsuya-kun talks about you often, too, senpai. He says you're a cool captain...”
“Did he?”
Renka's gaze shifted to Tetsuya.
Her expression was on a whole different level of warmth compared to when she looks at me.
“Yes. Please take good care of Tetsuya-kun. And also...”
Miyuki's gaze shifted to the side.
Glaring at me with the look of a mother watching her troublemaker son, she continued, “Matsuda-kun, too... I know he'll be a handful, but please take care of him. He's going to cause a lot of trouble, so feel free to scold him harshly whenever he does.”
She sounded like a mom saying, [He's a good kid at heart, please guide him well, teacher.]
Renka put down the shinai and crossed her arms.
Looking back and forth between me and Miyuki, she slowly nodded.
“I'll try my best.”
I thought she'd try to put me down by saying things like how I'm unnecessarily violent or that I get too competitive during matches... but surprisingly, she was letting it go smoothly.
Then again, Renka isn't twisted enough to talk trash about someone right to their face.
It would be a problem if Renka brought up the movie thing with Chinami here.
There are ways to get out of it, but it's annoying when a plan gets messed up by a third party rather than my own mistake.
So I'd better jump in and take control of the situation.
“Captain. Can you help me pick out my armor, too?”
“You came to buy gear, too?”
“Yes.”
“....Fine. What are you looking to buy?”
“A set of armor and a shinai.”
“Why not just use the ones in the club room?”
“The head guard is uncomfortable. And the shinai doesn't fit my hands well.”
“Are you even planning to practice properly?”
Of course. There's someone I really want to train properly.
“Yes.”
“Alright. Follow me. It was nice meeting you, Hanazawa.”
Renka gave Miyuki a gentle smile.
Miyuki, who answered with a bow, watched Renka's back as she walked to the armor corner, then tapped me on the back.
Then she held up her index finger.
“We'll talk later.”
Hearing her low, sunken voice, it seemed she didn't like my blunt attitude toward Renka.
I gave a careless shrug and gestured with my chin toward the pathetic Tetsuya, who had already faded into the background.
“You two talk amongst yourselves.”
“Okay. And make sure you thank her for helping you pick it out, alright?”
“I'll handle it.”
“It's basic manners. Got it?”
Nodding at Miyuki's earnest reminder, I walked over to Renka, who was examining the armor.
Renka picked up a head guard and said quietly, as if in passing, “This is a surprising combination.”
“What is?”
“You and Hanazawa. I heard from Miura that the three of you hang out together... You can't seem to stand up straight in front of Hanazawa, huh? Is she that scary?”
Normally, shouldn't she be suspicious of the relationship between me and Miyuki, who came into a kendo shop alone together?
But seeing her casual reaction, Tetsuya must have told her.
That he, Miyuki, and I often hang out together.
That's probably why she isn't suspicious, thinking we're just friends hanging out.
He's surprisingly useful at times like these.
Then again, if you weren't even useful for this, what good would you be?
“Miyuki is pretty scary when she's angry.”
“You call Hanazawa by her first name, but Miura by his last?”
“I don't have a hobby of calling guys by their first names.”
“What a strange hang-up.”
“It's not a hang-up, it's a preference.”
“....Whatever, just hold out your head. I need to get your measurements.”
Renka let out a deep sigh.
As I stuck my head out toward her, she placed the head guard over it and tightened the straps.
My ears and temples throbbed.
Seeing as she didn't even ask if I was okay, she must be intentionally pulling it tighter as a form of petty revenge.
She has a surprisingly cute side to her. Go on, keep at it.
The more you do it, the more my desire to conquer you surges.