Chapter 98: Chinami Caught in a Net
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 98: Chinami Caught in a Net
When Chinami awoke, one of her eyes was still shut.
The other was only about half-open.
She smacked her lips, a sign that her mouth had dried out from sleeping with it slightly agape.
“Master.”
I called out to Chinami, who was scratching her neck and looking around. She turned to me with a groggy expression.
“Mmmng...?”
“Stay here for a moment. I’ll get you some water.”
“Okaay...”
Chinami leaned her head against the wall, her body going limp and floppy.
It felt like if I poked her right now, my finger would sink right in, just like pudding.
Resisting the urge, I left the storage room.
The club room was noisy. Everyone was practicing head strikes on the gear-clad mannequins, each letting out their own unique kiai.
“Haaah!”
Thwack—!
“Haaap!”
Thwack! Thwack!
I could see Tetsuya in the corner, hammering away at a mannequin’s head.
He was shouting louder than the others, even louder than usual.
Could it be that Miyuki’s plum scent clinging to me had left his mind in a tangle?
I grabbed a bottle of water from the side of the room and was about to head back to the storage room.
Just then, Renka, who had been quietly practicing consecutive strikes, approached and called out to me.
“Matsuda...! Wait.”
I noticed the cold sweat beading on her face and long neck.
I wonder if it would taste like blueberries if I licked it?
In my mind, I see myself forcibly licking her body. She glares at me, horrified, but unable to defy her ferocious male owner, she can only tremble...
Just imagining it gets me hard.
“What is it?”
“Chinami... is she awake?”
“Yes.”
“You... by any chance...”
“Can we talk later? My master seems thirsty, so I need to get her some water.”
I shook the water bottle in front of her. Renka closed her mouth, a long sigh escaping from her sharp nose.
“Right... In that case, stay behind for a bit after club activities are over.”
I gave a rough nod and returned to the storage room, squatting down in front of Chinami, who was still dazed and not fully awake.
I twisted open the cap and brought the mouth of the bottle to her lips.
“Say ‘ah’.”
“I-I can drink it myself...”
“Ah.”
“...Aah...”
She opened her mouth wide, even making a sound like someone getting an examination at an ENT clinic.
I carefully poured some water into her mouth and spoke.
“You still seem sleepy. Do you want to go sleep in the lounge? I’ll finish up here.”
“I-I can’t do that...”
“It’s fine, just go. You didn’t get much sleep.”
“Umm... I shouldn’t...”
She pouted, watching my expression as she mumbled, but it was obvious she desperately wanted to sleep.
I gazed at the transparently honest Chinami and smoothed down her messy bangs.
“Club activities aren’t ending anytime soon. Are you going to wander around in a daze like this? What if you make a mistake?”
“W-Well, that’s true...”
“Get up and go to the lounge.”
I stood up and extended my hand to her. After a moment of hesitation, she seemed to make up her mind, took my hand, and pulled herself up with a grunt.
“I’ll just sleep a little... just 30 minutes...”
Saying that, she’s definitely going to sleep soundly.
“Yes, do that.”
I used my palm to pat the back of Chinami’s kendo uniform pants, dusting them off.
I could feel her plump bottom even through the uniform.
Each time my hand brushed past that spot,
“Hngh...!”
Chinami let out a strange gasp and flinched.
She mumbled something, as if wanting to stop me, but she seemed to think I was doing it out of kindness and decided to let it go.
After dusting off her spotless uniform pants, I placed a hand on her back.
Then, with a hand full of ulterior motives, I gently caressed her, tracing the hollows inside her shoulder blades down to the external obliques of her lower back.
“Eut...?!”
Chinami’s head shot up, her reaction sharp and sensitive.
If I kept this up, I’d probably wake her up completely, so I gave her back a final, short pat, pat, and stopped.
“Should we get some ice cream after you wake up?”
“Ah...! Okay. Then I’ll go to the changing room to get some money...”
“You’re sleepy. When are you going to have time to go to the changing room? I’ll buy it.”
“But still...”
“Come on, hurry up and go.”
“...Okay...”
Answering like a good girl, Chinami shuffled away.
I wonder how she managed to stay awake while being that sleepy... For Chinami, she held out for quite a while.
* * *
The club room had quieted down.
While everyone else was showering, I was cleaning the floor when Renka came out of the girls’ changing room and gestured to me with her eyes. I followed her.
She led me to the area behind the club room, crossed her arms, and remained silent for a moment.
She was staring at me intently, seemingly contemplating what to say.
I waited with a relaxed attitude, and before long, she opened her mouth.
“How did that situation happen?”
“What situation?”
“Why was Chinami sleeping on your shoulder?”
“Because there are no pillows in the storage room?”
Renka’s eyebrow twitched.
I let out a small laugh and continued.
“Just kidding. My master looked really sleepy, so I just lent her my shoulder for a bit.”
“I know you two are close. But even so, for your bodies to be touching...”
“Hold on. Captain, are you one of those stuffy people who think men and women can’t even touch unless they’re a couple?”
“S-Stuffy...! A light touch and resting your head on someone’s shoulder are two completely different things...!”
Renka was flustered, which was unlike her.
Looks like I hit a nerve.
I shrugged and said, “It’s surprising, considering how open your fashion sense is.”
“What does my fashion have to do with anything?”
“It’s just fascinating how your appearance and your mindset are complete opposites.”
“...Think whatever you want.”
“I will. But why did you call me out? Was it just for that question?”
“That’s...”
Renka trailed off, her lips sealing shut.
Her expression was a clear picture of inner conflict.
It seemed she felt like she’d be a nag if she interfered any further, but she was also anxious that Chinami would fall into my clutches if she backed down.
“Oh, right. That protective gear you picked out for me the other day.”
“Huh...? Ah... that...? What about it? Is there a problem?”
“No. I’ve been using it, and it feels great. I wanted to thank you.”
“Oh, well... you don’t have to thank me for that...”
I changed the subject, and she took the bait.
You’re so easy to read.
“The head is a little tight, but you didn’t intentionally pick a smaller size, did you?”
“...I’m not enough of a delinquent to mess with someone using expensive equipment. The helmet is supposed to feel tight at first. That way, once it’s broken in, it’ll be fixed securely in place without hurting.”
“It was a joke. But why do you seem to disapprove of me, Captain? Is it because of my bad reputation?”
“It’s not that I disapprove... it’s just that during sparring, and even normally... you...”
Just as Renka was about to explain her reasons in a serious tone,
“Junior...! Where are you...?”
From around the corner behind the club room, we heard Chinami’s weak, sleepy voice.
Renka’s ears perked up, and as her gaze shifted, the sound of shuffling footsteps grew closer. Chinami peeked her head around the corner.
Spotting Renka, she tilted her head.
“Friend Renka...? What are you doing here with Junior...?”
Renka glanced at me before answering.
“We were just talking about this and that. Did you sleep well?”
“Yes... I’m supposed to get ice cream with Junior, is it okay if I take him...? Or would you like to join us, Friend?”
“I’m fine. Thanks.”
“Why? Let’s eat together. It’s the peach flavor you like, too.”
“No, really... you two go ahead and enjoy it.”
I thought she’d say yes, thinking that if Chinami and I ate ice cream alone, something unholy might happen again...
For the straight-laced Renka, this was unexpected.
“We’ll be going then.”
I gave Renka a brief nod and, without a backward glance, walked back into the club room with Chinami.
* * *
“I slept for a whole hour.”
Chinami said, munching on her ice cream as we sat in a corner.
I, who was just holding my ice cream bar, let out a dry laugh.
“You must have been that tired. Is it good?”
“Yes. I never get tired of this. It’s cheap, too. If the school store ever stopped selling this ice cream, I might just have to transfer.”
“That’s a little hurtful. Is peach ice cream more important to you than I am? What am I supposed to do?”
As I pressed her with a look of utter disappointment, a smile curved across Chinami’s eyes.
She patted my back a few times and said, as if to reassure me, “I’m just kidding. Why would I ever leave you and Friend Renka? That will never happen.”
Seeing her suddenly so energetic made me feel better, too.
Sleep really is the best medicine.
“I was about to be disappointed. That’s a relief.”
“You worry too much, Junior. But why aren’t you eating your ice cream?”
Honestly, I’m so sick of it.
I think I know why Renka refused the offer to eat with us.
Having spent so much time with Chinami, Renka must be completely tired of peaches.
It’s a plausible theory, isn’t it?
“I only bought two... I’m holding back in case you want another one, Master.”
“I’m very grateful for your consideration, but I like eating ice cream with you, Junior. Go on, take a big bite.”
Right... if she puts it that way, I can’t exactly refuse.
Swallowing a silent groan, I forced myself to bite into the ice cream. I endured the peach fragrance that filled my mouth, swallowing without even chewing properly.
“I’m happy to see you enjoying it so much. Next time, let’s have the Yogurt Peach Triple Pop.”
“...Yes. Ah, speaking of the Yogurt Peach... this Friday, after club activities, should we go get one together?”
“This Friday? Why not today?”
“Because I want to give you a massage on Friday.”
“Umm...? Already...?”
What does she mean, already? It’s about time.
“I thought it would be nice to relieve the fatigue that’s built up since Monday, then eat a Yogurt Peach together before heading home... What do you think?”
“...Well... the next day is the weekend... so I could sleep in...”
“Exactly. You’ll wake up feeling refreshed on the weekend. And if we find any of those used Momo-nim goods, we can go buy them together on Friday.”
“Hmm... That’s a good idea...”
I wrapped a tissue around my index finger and wiped away the apricot-colored cream on Chinami’s philtrum.
In an instant, her face flushed, turning the color of a ripe peach.
“So, it’s a plan?”
“.....”
Chinami pulled her knees up to her chest and took a tiny bite of her ice cream.
Then, nibbling demurely, she nodded.
“Okay... Let’s do that...”