Chapter 94: Miyuki's Public Indecency
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 94: Miyuki's Public Indecency
“Most products from Huyo Corporation guarantee a certain level of quality. They've been making kendo equipment for over 30 years, so they're very reliable, and their prices are reasonable. They're a popular choice for people buying their first set of protective gear.”
Chinami was giving me almost the exact same explanation Renka had.
I already knew all of it, but I listened to her quietly.
“I see.”
“My first set of gear was from Huyo Corporation, too. But there is one drawback...”
“What’s that?”
“Just a moment... Ah... Ahhh...!”
Chinami, who had been fiddling with the gear, suddenly wiped the tip of her nose with her hand. She closed her eyes, opening and closing her mouth.
Her small nostrils flared. It looked like she was about to sneeze.
Waving her hands frantically, she rummaged through her bag.
“Haa-choo...!”
The moment she pulled out a tissue to cover her mouth, she let out an adorable sneeze.
“Ahem... I’m sorry...” she apologized, wiping her nose.
I gave her a benevolent smile and said, “It’s fine. People sneeze. It happens. But...”
Looking at the embarrassed Chinami, I couldn't hold back a smile.
The tip of her nose was blue.
It was because she'd touched her nose with the hand that had dye from the new gear on it.
“I see the drawback of Huyo Corporation's products now. The dye bleeds, doesn't it?”
“Ah... yes! How did you know?”
“Your hands are blue, Master.”
Just as I said, Chinami's hands were pale blue, like a zombie's.
Her large eyes darted down to her hands, and she clicked her tongue in frustration.
“I thought all the dye would have come off since it's a display model... My mistake.”
“It looks like your face would turn blue if you wore it.”
“Exactly! The first time I wore this gear, the sides of my face turned bright blue.”
“It seems to bleed more than other products.”
“You're right. But it's fine if you clean it thoroughly. Oh...! A little dye got on my bag, too...!”
A sigh of dismay escaped Chinami's lips.
She seemed upset that her Momo-nim crossbody bag was stained.
I let out a small laugh and took a wet wipe out of her bag for her.
Then, I started to gently wipe the tip of her nose.
“Ah...!?”
“Stay still.”
“O-Okay...”
Chinami's eyes blinked rapidly in bewilderment.
The way she looked up at me with her head tilted all the way back was devastatingly cute.
I barely suppressed the urge to scratch her soft-looking chin. After wiping the dye from her nose, I took out a new wet wipe.
I unfolded it and carefully wrapped it around each of her fingers, wiping them clean.
“Luckily, the dye doesn't seem to stain right away. It should come off easily.”
“Yeees...”
She squirmed as I held her wrist.
Her cheeks, her nose, and now her hand... Chinami's body was soft all over.
It would probably feel amazing to hug her and Miyuki together in the winter.
“Should I just buy the one from Huyo?”
“Ah, no... We'll look carefully at all the other options, and then I'll help you pick out the perfect gear for you, Junior...”
“You don't have to go to all that trouble.”
“Nonsense! Protective gear is something you use for a long time once you buy it! If you choose carelessly, you'll definitely regret it later!”
She put her hands on her hips, trying to look dignified, and it just made me want to pull her into a hug.
How would she react? I'm curious.
“Alright. I'll do as you say.”
“Yes! Thank you...!”
* * *
“This stitched part on the back of the head guard is called the hudong. If you fold it diagonally, like this, the shoulder flaps will hang very nicely. Here, take a look.”
Chinami held up the newly purchased head guard in front of me.
Seeing how stylishly the flaps were folded, I offered a simple comment.
“It looks nice.”
“Right? We might need to adjust the angle a bit depending on your shoulder line, Junior, so why don't you try it on?”
“Okay.”
I sat down on a chair in the shop, and Chinami cleared her throat with a ‘khm’ before coming over to put the head guard on me.
Then she tightened the cotton cords at the back rather firmly.
Isn't this what Renka did? Why is she doing this to me?
Just as I was thinking that, Chinami tapped the top of the head guard a couple of times and asked, “How does it feel? Is it tight?”
How it feels... that sounds a little dirty.
“My chin and ears hurt. It feels about one size too small, just like when I tried it on before.”
“Endure it. It'll get comfortable once it's broken in. For the torso protector, it's also best to tie the straps tightly, just like with the head guard. Bring your gear to the club room tomorrow. Both your practice set and your competition set.”
“I was hoping to keep the practice set at home to train on my own.”
“But you don't even know how to put the gear on properly yet. I'll help you until you can do it right. Besides, it's more convenient to keep your gear in the club room's storage.”
“That's true. Alright. Should we go pick out a shinai now?”
“Yes! I'll help you choose an excellent shinai!”
I'd thought this before, but whenever Chinami talks about kendo, all her tension just melts away.
The ladylike demeanor she had earlier was long gone.
She's a natural-born kendo practitioner. It's nice to see her so fired up.
But being all shy and flustered suits Chinami better.
I'll have to make her that way again.
“Before that, give me your hand.”
“My hand?”
“You still have some dye on it. If you touch a shinai with that hand, the leather handle will turn blue. I'll wipe it for you.”
“...I can do it myself...”
She said that, but she still placed her hand on my outstretched palm.
I let out a laugh at her completely transparent action and took out a wet wipe.
Then I preciously wiped each of Chinami's fingers.
“Your hands are so pretty, Master. It makes me want to touch them often.”
“Really...? Y-Your hands are nice too, Junior... They're big and dependable... like a bear's...”
I let out a light chuckle at her very Chinami-like comment and wiped her peach-colored nails clean.
After turning her hand this way and that to make sure all the dye was gone,
Squeeze...
I started to give her a light massage, gently pressing my thumb from the inside of her wrist up to her forearm.
“.....”
I could see Chinami's eyes slowly slide sideways to look at the checkout counter.
The spot where the elderly owner had been just a moment ago was now empty.
In fact, we were the only ones in the store.
“Coincidentally, it's just the two of us.”
“...Y-Yes, it is... We should go look at the shinai now... Mmph!”
Chinami stopped mid-sentence with a start.
It was because I had pushed her sleeve up to her elbow.
Her fair, slender wrist. As I pressed it gently like before,
“Huu...”
A hot breath escaped her lips.
Her whole body squirmed like a worm pricked by a needle. Her reactions were getting better and better.
She wasn't trying to pull away like before... This was very good.
A mischievous smile on my face, I waited for her to calm down before asking in a serious tone, “It makes me really happy and fulfilled to massage you, Master. But... do you perhaps dislike me doing this?”
At that, Chinami exhaled sharply through her nose and shook her head.
“Y-You said you were learning massage for my sake, Junior...”
“That's right.”
“So... I don't dislike it...”
“But didn't you get angry and tell me to stop last time?”
“W-When did I ever get angry...! I was just ticklish, that's all! It's definitely not because I disliked it, so I hope you don't misunderstand...!”
“Is that what it was?”
“Yes! That's what it was...”
So I can do this more often from now on, right?
“This disciple is in awe of your understanding, which is as vast as the sea, Master. I'd like to show you the techniques I've been polishing soon. You'd like that, wouldn't you, Master?”
“O-Of course...!”
Hearing her answer, I stopped the massage and stood up.
Then, with a satisfied expression, I stroked her shoulder.
“M-Hik...!”
Chinami's shoulders shot up.
She's gotten a little used to my touch, but her reactions are still so clumsy.
My dear Chinami... Should we set a date?
I'll make you feel really good.
* * *
It feels like it's been a while since I last took the subway.
This is the same car where Miyuki's molester incident happened... It brings back memories.
It wasn't a packed train, but I was yawning amidst the fairly crowded car when,
Bzzzt!
My pocket vibrated, so I took out my phone.
[Matsuda-kun, are you here already? Your car isn't in the parking lot.]
Miyuki's worried message grew more and more agitated as I got closer to school.
[Matsuda-kun, you're not going to be late, are you?]
[Why aren't you in the classroom?]
[Why did you read it but not reply?]
[Five minutes left. Just you try being late. I won't let it slide.]
[Are you kidding me...? Don't tell me you're planning to skip?]
[You'd better be prepared.]
With each new message, I could feel Miyuki's anger gauge rising like a color gradient.
By the time I arrived at the academy's main gate, I spotted Miyuki standing there from a distance, arms crossed.
Her glare was murderous. She seemed pretty pissed.
I sauntered over and raised a hand to her.
“Thanks for your hard work. I'm heading in.”
Then I tried to just walk past the main gate.
And Miyuki, her eyebrow twitching at my nonchalant attitude, naturally stopped me.
“You're late. That's a demerit.”
“I'm only two minutes late. Cut me some slack. I left right on time, what was I supposed to do if the train was late?”
“That's no excuse. If you had left just three minutes earlier, Matsuda-kun, you wouldn't have been late.”
“There was a reason I was late.”
“Let's hear it, then. I'm listening.”
“My car broke down. It wouldn't start.”
“...Really?”
“Yeah. That's why I took the train.”
Miyuki scanned me from head to toe with a suspicious gaze.
Her expression made it clear she didn't believe me at all.
“For real?”
“I'm telling you, it's true. Can I go now?”
“Go where? Write your name down before you go.”
“My name?”
“You have to get a demerit. Or should I write it down for you?”
“Do you want to torment me that badly?”
“It's not torment, it's the school rules. You have to follow them.”
“But I'll get expelled.”
Miyuki let out a disbelieving laugh.
“Expelled? Don't be ridiculous... It doesn't go that far for just a few demerits. I checked your record, Matsuda-kun. You still have a little leeway, just barely.”
“You can just look that up whenever you want? You're not a student council, you're a dictatorship.”
As I raised my voice slightly, as if arguing, Miyuki glanced at the student council senior standing a short distance away.
The senior, a girl with glasses, was just yawning, looking bored, as if she hadn't heard me.
Miyuki shot a sideways glance at her, let out a sigh of relief, and then glared at me.
“Why are you being so childish...! Are you an elementary schooler?”
“I like you, Miyuki.”
My sudden confession, delivered in a sweet voice, made Miyuki shudder.
She bit her lower lip and said, “Don't think you can get away with sweet talk like that...”
“I just saw your face and suddenly wanted to say it.”
“It won't work...”
“Should I shout it?”
“What...! Are you kidding me...?”
“Do I look like I'm kidding?”
Did she decide she had to lecture me for my cocky attitude today and for trying to use our close relationship to avoid a demerit?
“You wait right here... If you just leave, you'll be in real trouble. I'm not kidding either.”
Miyuki raised her index finger, her expression serious, and made me wait. Then she went over to the student council senior and said something to her.
Afterward, she came back, grabbed my wrist, and started striding across the empty school grounds toward the gym.
Ah... This kind of R-rated rom-com cliché... I love it.