Chapter 42
Screech-! Squeeeak-!
The sound of shoes with good traction scraping against the gym floor.
Sitting atop a low vaulting box in one corner of the gym, I watched the girls play volleyball.
“Defense!!”
“Yeah!”
At a girl's desperate shout, Miyuki, the libero, kept the ball flying toward her from hitting the floor.
Wham-!
The volleyball bounced slowly upward.
It was at just the right speed and height for the setter to toss it.
She's good at studying... and she's athletic too...
What can't my Miyuki do?
She's the perfect childhood-friend heroine.
“Nice defense!”
In response to Tetsuya's cheer beside me, Miyuki smiled brightly, raised one hand, and waved.
At a glance, it looked as though she were waving back at Tetsuya...
But that was definitely a greeting meant for me.
“Matsuda, doesn't Miyuki look like she's in a good mood today?”
Tetsuya asked with a broad grin.
I answered as though it were nothing.
“Who knows? I haven't noticed.”
“She was talkative in the car today too. Something good must have happened, right?”
She had been more meddlesome than usual, constantly touching her forehead and sticking her nose into everything.
“I don't know, and I'm about to go to sleep, so go play basketball.”
“The weather's so muggy...”
I genuinely hated Tetsuya, but I couldn't help sympathizing with what he had just said.
Torrential rain was pouring down, and I didn't want to sweat in the humidity.
Did we get a late rainy season after all?
The weather itself wasn't irritating, but I hated having Tetsuya beside me.
I climbed down from the vaulting box and sprawled out roughly in a corner of the gym.
Normally, in a gym like this, a stray ball would fly in and hit me—that was the cliché...
My classmates would turn pale and watch my reaction...
Miyuki would rush over to check on me and beg me not to get angry...
I would reluctantly rein in my temper after listening to Miyuki...
That would make for a complete romantic-comedy redemption event.
As the sounds of balls bouncing around the gym gradually faded and the students' boisterous chatter died down,
I fell asleep while indulging in various fantasies.
**
“Matsuda-kun.”
A clear voice tickled my ears.
It was strange.
I'm usually a heavy sleeper, yet Miyuki's voice calling my name woke me up instantly.
Poke. Poke.
When something pointed prodded my shoulder, I shifted my body while pretending I was still asleep.
Lying on my side with my back turned toward the voice, I—
Whoosh...
I shuddered as warm air swept into my ear.
I shook my head vigorously and sat bolt upright.
Then I stared incredulously at Miyuki, who was beaming.
“What are you doing?”
“I blew into Matsuda-kun's ear. I was trying to wake you up.”
She was shamelessly brazen about it... She's really come a long way.
Is she starting to take after me?
After vigorously rubbing at my ear with a finger, I said,
“It's lunchtime. Why did you wake me up?”
“I woke you because it's lunchtime. They said we have to clear out the gym. Hurry up and get up. Let's go eat.”
You're making me want to get hard.
How am I supposed to stand up like this?
Looking around, I saw that there wasn't a single person left.
It seemed everyone had left as soon as class ended.
After blowing away my fatigue with a long exhale, I grumbled,
“What heartless people. They left me behind...”
“They were afraid you'd get angry if they woke you, so they left you alone. You were about to lose your temper with me just now, too.”
“That's because you were doing something weird.”
“I woke you that way on purpose. I wanted to see how much Matsuda-kun has changed from the days when he used to throw punches first.”
What a convenient excuse.
“Where did Miura go? Why are you here alone?”
“A teacher called Tetsuya-kun, so he went to the staff room for a moment.”
“Which teacher?”
“You left off the honorific.”
I let out a hollow laugh and rested my head against the gym wall.
Miyuki smiled shyly, sat down beside me, and began smoothing the pleats of her uniform skirt.
The plum scent unique to Miyuki, who had just come out of the shower, was dispelling the gym's damp, musty smell.
The mint fragrance wafting from her still-damp hair refreshed not only my nose but my heart as well.
Patter. Tap.
The sound of rain against the gym windows was further dampening the already subdued atmosphere.
“It's raining hard... Isn't it?”
“Yeah. It's really coming down.”
This would be the perfect time to sleep at home to the sound of rain as a lullaby.
I liked the way the sun was hidden by the dark clouds, making everything look hazy too...
“Will you wait for me...?”
Miyuki asked while drawing her legs together and hugging them.
I turned my head and asked in return,
“It doesn't look like the rain will stop. What do you want to do today?”
Perhaps she liked that my question already contained an answer.
Miyuki's face brightened at once.
“I don't really know either. Should we go to the arcade...?”
“No.”
“Then do you want to go to a café like yesterday?”
“No.”
“.... Let's watch a movie.”
Are those really the only date spots you can think of?
Your brain's been pickled from hanging out with Tetsuya all the time.
Being indoors is good, but that's not risqué at all.
I'll have to reprogram your tastes quickly. This won't do.
“No.”
“What...? Then Matsuda-kun decide.”
Miyuki's tone sounded a little sulky.
I snickered, drew up the leg beside her, took her wrist, and placed her hand on my knee.
Then I gently toyed with her smooth fingernails.
“Ah, what are you doiiing...”
Her whine carried a hint of coquettishness.
She showed no sign of trying to pull away.
I stroked Miyuki's nails in silence, making the atmosphere even more suggestive, and opened my mouth just as she unconsciously tried to bring her hand to her forehead.
“You'll be hungry if we finish late... Wouldn't it make sense to eat dinner first?”
“.... Yeah... What do you want to eat...?”
“Let's eat at my house.”
“Your house...?”
Miyuki's eyes went round, apparently startled by the unexpected suggestion.
“We'll eat at my house, then think about where to go. How does that sound?”
“.....”
Miyuki's face suddenly flushed bright red.
She had often come to my house alone.
She used to bring packed lunches during vacation, and would come early to enjoy the air conditioning before it got hot.
Without thinking anything of it.
I had also been the one to suggest that we start studying together early, and Miyuki had happily accepted every time.
But this time, Miyuki was extremely embarrassed and hesitant.
It was something that had come about because our relationship had progressed.
Miyuki and I had already shared all sorts of physical contact.
As recently as yesterday, we'd kissed in an enclosed space and things had gotten heated in the car on the way home.
After going through all that, being invited to go to my house alone with me would naturally feel different, even if the words were the same.
The weather, which made one's emotions more vivid, probably played a part too.
At times like this, it seemed all I had to do was give her a little push.
Thinking that, I turned Miyuki's hand over and clasped it.
“You told me to think about my health. I don't know how to cook.”
“.... Are you asking me to make you dinner right now...?”
“I'm not forcing you to do it. I'm just asking what you think. If you don't want to, we can eat out.”
“I-it's not that I don't want to...”
“I don't have any ingredients at home, so let's go grocery shopping at the supermarket.”
“No... I haven't even decided whether I'm going yet...? I'll think about it and tell you...”
Try to look on the bright side.
It's not like I said I was going to do anything lewd, right?
I only thought about it.
I answered by slowly nodding, then stood up and said,
“Let's go eat. I'm hungry.”
“Ah, yeah...”
**
“Hmm...!”
Chinami examined the kote laid out before her with an expression suggesting something was bothering her.
She slipped her hand into one of the kote and pulled it back out, then sniffed her hand.
Then she spread her fingers wide and held her hand right in front of my nose.
“Smell it once.”
I put my nose to the tiny palm and sniffed before saying,
“It smells a little like alcohol. Should I wipe it again?”
“No. This is good enough to pass. I'm complimenting you for doing a good job. Just keep taking care of them like this from now on.”
Then why did you just frown like that?
I couldn't understand Chinami's thought process.
I decided to let it go and tried to leave the bogu storage room.
But when Chinami suddenly grabbed my wrist, I had no choice but to stop.
“Why?”
“Matsuda-kouhai, what did I tell you to do when cleaning the bogu on rainy days?”
“Ah... I forgot the dehumidifier.”
“That's right, that's right. On a gloomy day like this, you have to turn on the dehumidifier.”
Chinami grinned and switched on the dehumidifier in the corner of the storage room.
Then she turned around and started to walk away, but—
Thud-!
“Ugh!”
She accidentally bumped her head against my chest, which was right in front of her.
But a scream like ‘Ugh!’...? That's kind of funny.
It was a uniquely Japanese overreaction, but perhaps because I've adapted to this place, it felt cute now.
Now I'm suddenly curious what her moans sound like.
Clutching her nose and frowning, Chinami scolded me.
“Matsuda-kouhai...! What are you doing standing in the way?”
“I was on my way to turn on the dehumidifier.”
“Didn't you see me turn it on?”
“No, I didn't. I was checking the condition of the bogu.”
“So you were distracted...! That's dangerous in the storage room, so from now on...”
Chinami's mouth snapped shut in the middle of her sentence.
That was because I had placed my hand on the back of her neck.
“I'm sorry. Are you all right?”
Pretending to check on Chinami with a worried voice, I gently rubbed the back of her neck with just the right amount of pressure, and—
“Haaaah...”
Chinami's eyes went unfocused, and a languid moan escaped her lips.
Does she like massages?
I should do this for her often.
After feeling my touch for a while, focus returned to Chinami's eyes.
She whimpered and brushed my arm away, then put her hands on her hips and scolded me.
“Matsuda-kouhai...! How can you touch someone else's body without permission?”
“No... Your head snapped backward, so I was worried about you.”
“Your concern is commendable... but don't you know that asking first is only polite?”
“I thought I heard something crack too... I'll be careful from now on.”
“D-did we really collide that hard? In any case, be sure to be careful. This is the kendo clubroom. If the coach or captain sees you failing to observe proper etiquette... you'll be in serious trouble. Understood?”
What etiquette?
Later, I'll be licking and sucking on you and Renka not only in this storage room, but in the women's changing room and the shower room too.
The coach's office chair was comfortable... It might be nice to do it there while the coach is away.
“Yes.”
“Good. Then...”
Just as Chinami was about to say something,
-Thank you for your hard work, Coach!!
the club members' booming greetings rang out from outside the storage room.
It seemed club activities had ended.
Chinami stared at the tightly closed door, smacked her lips, and said,
“Club activities are over. What should we do now?”
“We should collect the uniforms.”
“Correct. Now, shall we head out?”
“Let's.”
“Oh, and Matsuda-kouhai.”
“Yes.”
“Could you stay behind for a little while after we're done collecting everything? Since we couldn't practice today because of the rain, I'm planning to practice in the clubroom. Of course, if you're busy, you can just go.”
Could I really put my time waiting for Miyuki to such good use?
I was all for it.
I flashed Chinami a toothy grin.
“I'm not busy. I'll stay.”