Chapter 92: Chinami Has Dainty Toes
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 92: Chinami Has Dainty Toes
“It would've been better if we all hung out as a three instead of just you two... You should've called me.”
“I’m sorry. I’ll call you next time.”
Miyuki and Tetsuya were chatting quietly.
They were whispering, but I could still hear the pathetic obsession in Tetsuya’s voice.
“Did you come here right after you met up?”
Stop beating around the bush trying to lead her to an answer. Just ask her what we did together, you bastard. Ask her what our relationship is.
This is why I can’t help but want to mess with him.
After paying for the armor Renka had picked out for me, I approached the two of them before Miyuki could answer and joined their conversation.
“What are you two whispering about?”
Tetsuya flinched and turned his head.
“Oh, Matsuda… Are you done paying?”
“Yeah. Where’s your stuff?”
“Over here…”
Tetsuya pointed to a corner of the shop.
There, next to a box containing a set of armor, was a long, wrapped package.
“Looks like you bought a shinai, too?”
“I’m thinking of entering a tournament if I get the chance… so I bought one to start breaking it in.”
“Really? I’ll be rooting for you.”
“Thanks. Did you only buy the armor?”
“Yeah. I’ll get a shinai later.”
It was a bit contradictory to come all this way for proper training but not buy what was arguably the most important piece of equipment… but I had no choice.
Why? Because I planned on buying a shinai with Chinami.
As the two of them started getting ready to leave, I walked over to Renka, who was talking with the shop owner, and gave her a slight bow.
“Thanks for helping me pick one out.”
“It’s nothing. It wasn’t a big deal. Don’t forget to break in the podan by folding it diagonally.”
She probably only helped me out of kindness because I was a club member, even if she found me disagreeable.
If she truly hated me, she wouldn’t have helped me pick out a set of armor in the first place.
“Yes. I’ll keep that in mind.”
“Good.”
I moved closer to Renka, who was nodding silently, and asked.
“By the way, what was the name of that shop you told me about before?”
“What shop?”
“You know. The one where I bought that figure.”
“Oh, that place? Ac… Hmph… Hmm… I don’t really remember. Was it… Action Mania…?”
Renka started to casually say the name of the figure shop before quickly mumbling her way out of it.
Her lack of caution was amusing.
You always have to be on your guard so you can counter when I come at you unexpectedly.
“Ah, that’s right. Action Mania. I remember now.”
“Is there another figure you want to buy?”
“I was thinking of just browsing. Should I buy you something as thanks for helping me with the armor?”
“N-No… I’m fine.”
You looked tempted for a second there.
If you keep building up bad karma like that… you’ll be so mortified when you get caught.
I know all the anime Renka likes, so I should stop by tomorrow or the day after and get her a small gift.
I walked out of the shop and put the box in the trunk of my car.
Then I called out to Tetsuya.
“Hey, Miura.”
“Yeah?”
“What about your stuff?”
“I just had it delivered to my house.”
“Why? You could’ve just put it in my trunk.”
“I was going to, but…”
You were?
I was just being polite.
“But what?”
“The captain asked if I wanted to get something to eat before we parted ways…”
Renka sure takes good care of her diligent juniors.
What does she see in a guy like him?
As punishment, I’ll have to raise the intensity of his training.
“Is that so? Well, we’re heading out then.”
“Alright.”
I thought he’d get clingy and say he’d call after dinner, but he let it go surprisingly easily.
Of course, he’ll probably call Miyuki tonight and grill her with questions about what she did with me.
“Bye, Tetsuya-kun. Goodbye, Inoo-senpai. It was really nice to meet you today.”
Miyuki bowed politely, just as she had inside the shop.
Renka gave a warm smile at her demure farewell and waved a hand.
“It was nice to meet you, too. Let’s say hi if we see each other at the academy.”
“Yes, senpai!”
After parting with Renka, we got in the car.
I set the navigation for home and was about to leave when Miyuki, who had just buckled her seatbelt, placed a hand on my arm.
“I get the feeling that senpai doesn’t like you very much, Matsuda-kun… Did you two have a fight?”
“A fight? What fight? That senpai just doesn’t like me.”
“For no reason?”
It’s not for no reason.
I’ve acted arrogant and blunt in front of Renka, and now I’m trying to get my claws into Chinami, the person she cherishes most… She has every right to be wary.
That said, she is also a bit cold to me because she’s still holding onto her bad first impression of me.
“I don’t know. But why do I feel like you’re about to lecture me? I thought you were on my side.”
“Of course I’m on your side, Matsuda-kun… But senpai did you a favor by helping you pick out a set of armor today, right? I just thought it would be nice if you showed some gratitude for that. Then your relationship would naturally get better.”
“Do we really have to get along?”
“Inoo-senpai is the kendo club captain. It would be good to be on friendly terms with her.”
She’s right.
But I’ll get close to her in my own way.
“I thanked her, so it’s fine.”
“Yes, I know. You did well.”
Miyuki patted my arm as if she were dealing with a moody teenager.
I let out a dry laugh.
“Wanna go home? Or should we get something to eat, too?”
“Let’s eat. Since it’s raining, I want to go to that place.”
“Ramen?”
“Yep.”
“You keep telling me to think about my health, but it seems like you’re the one who’s craving greasy food these days.”
“Am I…? Then should we go to the supermarket? I can buy some ingredients and cook for you.”
“Don’t go through the trouble. Let’s just go to the ramen shop.”
At my obvious words, Miyuki’s eyes curved into crescents as she silently stared ahead.
In the distance, I could see Tetsuya and Renka walking somewhere.
The distance between them… couldn’t exactly be called close.
It felt more like a kind boss and his subordinate. I guess I can let that slide.
* * *
The next day.
After a boring day of classes, I went to the kendo club room and told Chinami that I’d bought a set of armor.
“Are you saying you bought your own personal armor?”
“Yes.”
“By yourself?”
“No. I went with Miyuki… and we ran into Inoo-senpai there.”
“Hmm… So you went to buy kendo equipment with Junior Hanazawa, and you met Renka there?”
“Exactly.”
“...Hmph, hmph.”
Chinami kept clearing her throat, seeming displeased about something.
I think she was a little hurt that I didn’t go with her.
I bent my knees to meet Chinami’s eyes.
“Master.”
“Yes.”
Her voice had grown a little chilly. My guess was right.
My dear Chinami… how can I not love you when you’re already showing something so close to jealousy?
I gave her a bright smile and said, “I heard it’s good to have two sets of armor, one for practice and one for competitions. Is that right?”
“That’s not wrong. Hmph. However, since kendo armor is expensive, many people just have two pairs of gloves, which wear out relatively quickly. Hmph.”
The way she mixed in those little grunts of displeasure was so adorable I could hardly stand it.
Suppressing a laugh, I soothed Chinami in a gentle tone.
“The armor I just bought is for practice, but I’d like to buy a set for competitions, too.”
“Yes, and?”
“If it’s alright with you, I’d like to go buy it with you, Master. And I didn’t buy a shinai. I was planning to buy one with you. As someone learning the high stance, it’s only natural to choose a suitable shinai together, right?”
“Hmph…!”
This time, it was a positive grunt.
I like how easy she is to read.
“I was beginning to question whether I should keep a junior who so easily casts aside the master he vowed to serve like the heavens, and goes off to happily buy a set of armor with Junior Hanazawa and Renka… Hmph, hmph…”
“Are you saying you had thoughts so extreme as to disown your student?”
I feigned shock, and Chinami flinched before placing her hands on her hips.
“Ahem…! I’ve told you many times that I am very happy to have you as my student…! Only a tiiiiny bit of doubt arose, and it vanished right away, so you don’t have to be too disappointed…!”
“That’s a relief. I’m also happy that you’re my master.”
Did she like hearing that?
Chinami’s face turned slightly red.
She huffed through her nose, then changed the subject by looking at the armor in the storage room.
“Well then, shall we start cleaning the armor?”
“Let’s rest a little first. I studied so hard today that my head hurts.”
“Oh…! I had to move between classrooms a lot today, so I’m tired too. Let’s sit and rest for a bit. Here, come over here.”
She went to a corner of the storage room, sat down, and patted the spot next to her.
Was it just my imagination, or did it feel like she was telling me to come and get her?
I sat down across from Chinami and, very naturally, grabbed her thin, pale ankle and placed it on my lap.
“Eh…!?”
I gazed at the bewildered girl, then shifted my eyes to the sole of her foot.
The pure white sole, with its faint lines, was incredibly dainty.
Perhaps because the club room was cleaned meticulously every day, there wasn't a speck of the dirt commonly seen on people who practice barefoot. It made me want to lick it.
“I don’t think a student can just stand by while his master’s legs are hurting. Don’t you agree?”
“Wha…? What does that…”
“Do you like foot massages?”
“I-I’ve never had one before…”
“Then shall I give you one now?”
At my words, Chinami flinched and curled her toes tightly.
How can a person’s foot look like this?
It was so pretty and cute that I felt like I was developing a fetish.
“N-No, I’m fine… I appreciate the thought.”
“Hmm…”
Ignoring her, I pinched the tip of her tiny big toe with my thumb and forefinger and squeezed.
“Myak!”
She let out a breathy laugh, trembling as if she’d been electrocuted.
I tightened my grip on her thin ankle to keep it from slipping away and said, “Master.”
“Hyeh…?”
“Are you free tomorrow or the day after?”
“T-Tomorrow or the day after…? Why…?”
“We have to go see about a shinai and a set of armor. And get some ice cream together.”
This time, I gently pressed the hollow arch in the center of her sole.
Squeeze…
And then,
“Hiiik!”
Chinami let out a short spasm as if she’d seen a ghost, pressing her arms tightly to her ribs as her whole body trembled like a poodle.
So, she’s ticklish on her feet. Understood.
“You’ll go with me, right?”
Squeeze. Squeeze. Squeeze.
As I continued to massage her arch, I made the suggestion in a soft tone. Chinami’s head nodded frantically.
“Eek…! I-I’ll go…!”
“You’ll go?”
“Ye-es…! I’ll go…! So please stop that…!”
Squeeeeze… Squeeze.
“N-No…! You can’t…! Junior…! Stop…!! I said I’ll go…!!”
Watching Chinami’s face, now the color of a peach as she spouted these strangely suggestive lines, I silently continued the caress disguised as a massage.
It was about time, I thought, to start setting a date.