Chapter 126

Yogurt peach, right between chocolate and strawberry.

That was Miyuki's verdict after taking a bite.

Chinami nodded, satisfied by her genuine admiration.

"Right? Isn't it delicious?"

"Yes...! Honestly, I wasn't expecting much, but I didn't know it would be this good..."

"Hehe... Renka felt the same way when she first tried it."

"By Renka... do you mean Inoo-sunbae?"

"That's right. Do you know her by any chance?"

"I've seen her two or three times. We actually bumped into each other outside recently and said hello. She seems like a nice person."

"Right? She seems a bit stiff on the outside, but deep down she's a very thoughtful close friend."

The two of them were really hitting it off. For people hanging out to bond for the first time, I couldn't fathom how they had so much to talk about.

Sitting next to Miyuki and silently sipping my coffee, I perked my ears up when Chinami steered their wide-ranging conversation toward massages.

"Hanazawa, have you ever gotten a massage from Matsuda?"

"A massage? Yes, I have."

I certainly had.

Usually right after we did the deed, or whenever Miyuki whined for one.

"Didn't your body instantly turn to mush, leaving you completely melted?"

It was such a Chinami thing to say, but why did it sound so erotic?

Miyuki must have felt the same way; she froze mid-bite and looked up.

"Um... jelly... melted...?"

"I just mean you get all relaxed and drowsy."

"Ah... drowsy... It wasn't exactly that it made me drowsy, it was just... um... I'm not sure how to describe it. Senior Nanase, you've gotten a massage from Matsuda-kun too, right?"

"Yes."

"I guess it made you drowsy then?"

"That's right. I fell asleep the moment I got home. Oh, and here..."

Chinami rummaged through the front pocket of her bag and pulled something out.

A round object about half the size of her palm.

Holding it out to Miyuki, Chinami smiled brightly.

"It's a Momo-sama Badge I brought from home. It looks very cute if you attach it to your bag or wallet. I would love for you to have it."

Miyuki took the badge—which practically radiated Momo-sama's wicked aura—and examined it before asking.

"Are you really just giving this to me?"

"Of course. I have several at home, so let me know if you ever need more."

"Thank you so much...! Just a second..."

Miyuki excused herself for a moment and pinned the badge to the front of her bag.

Then she lifted her bag and showed it to Chinami.

"How does it look?"

"It looks absolutely lovely on you. A perfect match."

Given that her bag was large and a rather dull black, I honestly couldn't call it a perfect match.

Still, the accent did add a cute touch.

Examining her newly Momo-sama-corrupted bag from every angle, Miyuki's expression brightened even further.

Chinami giggled and continued.

"I also have stickers for decorating diaries, so please let me know if you're interested."

"Would that be alright?"

"Of course. You're welcome to them anytime."

The two of them were getting along swimmingly. They looked like close sisters, which wasn't a bad sight at all.

It seemed like Miyuki was humoring Chinami... or was it just my imagination?

I got the feeling she might actually know exactly how to handle Chinami.

...

"I had a lot of fun today. I hope we can hang out again soon."

Arriving at her apartment building, Chinami gave a polite bow.

Miyuki stepped out of the car and bowed in return.

"Same here. Get home safe, sunbae-nim."

After exchanging a few more short words with Miyuki, Chinami gave me a nod as well and went inside the building.

The moment Miyuki slid back into the passenger seat, she scolded me strictly. I gave her an exasperated look.

"Matsuda-kun, our sunbae-nim was greeting us so politely—you should have gotten out of the car. How could you just wave your hand?"

"Do we really have to be that formal?"

"I'm joking. She seems like someone with a very gentle nature."

"Yeah. That's the kind of person she is. How was today?"

"It was fun. But..."

Trailing off, Miyuki narrowed her eyes.

"What now?"

"What kind of massage did you give her that made her feel so drowsy?"

It was the sort of massage you could easily get at a shop, but it wasn't exactly the kind you'd expect to see in a normal relationship between a guy and a girl.

I was just glad Chinami hadn't brought up the oil during our earlier chat.

I gently stroked my slightly jealous girlfriend's hair.

"I'll give you one tomorrow, too. As for Saturday, just stay home during the day. I'll come pick you up at night."

"Saturday? Why?"

"Inoo-sunbae called for me that day."

"Really? For what?"

"I'm not sure myself."

"Will it take long?"

"Probably?"

"Really...? Okay."

She let it slide surprisingly smoothly. She probably figured Renka had summoned me using her authority as President.

"Is there anything you want to buy? Or should we catch a movie before heading back?"

"No. My mom told me to come home early today. Because I stayed out last night..."

"Straight home it is, then?"

"Yeah."

On my way back home after dropping Miyuki off, I happened to spot Tetsuya.

He was jogging through the neighborhood in workout clothes, and judging by the profuse sweat pouring down his face, he had been at it for a while.

I thought his belly looked a little flatter lately; I guess he'd been working out consistently.

Honk—!

When I tapped the horn very briefly, the guy looked back, recognized my car, and paused.

Pulling my car up near him, I rolled down the driver's side window.

"Working out?"

"Yeah. Are you... on your way back from getting ice cream?"

Tetsuya peered into the passenger seat as he spoke.

I let out a short chuckle at the obvious way he was searching for Miyuki before answering.

"Yeah. Miyuki went home."

"I see... Are you going home now?"

"Heading there now. By the way, you can get yourself to school tomorrow, right?"

"Why? Do you have something going on?"

The sheer audacity of this bastard was off the charts.

Was he acting like this because I'd spoken nicely? Should I have just flat-out told him I wasn't giving him rides anymore?

Or was he trying to keep me in check because I was getting closer to Miyuki?

Did you not realize it was already too late?

It felt like talking to someone completely devoid of social skills.

Who was it that said if you keep showing someone favor, they start to think it's their right?

That proverb really hit home.

Regardless, you're out.

Subtly getting on my nerves and always slamming the door... Only a living Buddha would keep giving rides to a guy with zero manners like you.

Actually, even Buddha would probably crack your skull open with his wooden block if you pulled that crap.

"Nothing planned, I'm just tired. It cuts into my sleep time."

"Ah... Then it can't be helped. Got it."

Tetsuya nodded, looking disappointed. I gave him a wave to signal I was leaving, took my foot off the brake, and pulled away.

I slowed down as I rounded the corner up ahead.

A pretty, slightly tanned woman exuding healthy vitality was walking down the street.

She made eye contact with me, gave a little wave of thanks for my slowing down, and walked past the car.

Stepping back on the accelerator, I watched the woman in the rearview mirror.

In the distance, I saw her exchange a few words with Tetsuya as he started his run again...

Could it be Tetsuya's older sister? The one who only appeared in a few lines of text when I played Doki-Aka?

In a rom-com... no, in an NTR game, it was practically an unwritten rule that the mother or sister of the guy getting cucked was gorgeous. So it definitely wasn't impossible.

Blood suddenly rushed straight to my lower half, but I had to remind myself she might not even be his sister—just some friendly neighbor.

I was already way too busy, and I hadn't even met Hiyori yet. I couldn't just go around swinging my lower half at every pretty face.

So hold it together, my dick.

...

The next afternoon, during club activities.

"Matsuda."

While I was wiping a shinai alone inside the Storage Room, I turned my head as the door opened and a blunt voice called out.

"What is it, President?"

"Where is Chinami?"

"She went to hang up the laundry."

"Is that so...? I sent you the location I marked at lunch today... Did you check it?"

"I did. Be there by 8 AM, right? I won't be late. But I have one thing to ask."

"Tell me."

"When will it end?"

"If you're talking about the wish... I can't give a definite answer either."

"That just makes me nervous for nothing, you know?"

"You don't look nervous at all."

'That's because there are only so many things you could wish for, so I can already guess what it is.'

Shrugging, I neatly put away the shinai I'd just finished wiping.

"Are you done with what you had to say?"

"I am."

"Then I'll go see Master."

Step.

Renka stepped aside by the door without a word.

Passing by her, I smirked and said, "See you tomorrow."

".... Yeah."

Walking out of the Club Room and up the small hill, I stared at Chinami's back; she was sitting on a bench, giggling as she looked at something.

"Hmm..."

She had her head tipped back against the bench, gazing up at the sky. She looked a little sleepy.

I walked up to Chinami and leaned my face over her shoulder to make my presence known.

"Are you done with the laundry?"

"Mwaaah!?"

Chinami practically jumped out of her skin.

As she flinched and jerked her entire body in surprise, a slightly damp towel slipped right out of her hand.

Snatching the towel out of the air, I held it out.

"Here."

"Ah... th, thank you... And Junior...! You shouldn't startle a person like that...! Sneaking up behind me like that... As a Kendo practitioner, you should be confident and upfront...!"

"I didn't exactly sneak up, though..."

"Ahem... Anyway, what brings you here?"

"I finished cleaning the shinai, so I came to help Master."

"Is that so? Well, I'm all finished here, too. Oh, by the way, was Hanazawa happy yesterday?"

"She was extremely satisfied. She liked the Momo-sama Badge you gave her, saying it was cute... She wore it to school today."

"Hehe... That's a relief. Shall we head down to the Club Room together now?"

"Let's rest for a bit. We don't have anything else to do anyway."

As I plopped down right next to Chinami, she flinched and gulped.

It seemed she was surprised because we were sitting close enough for our hips to touch.

Plucking a stray leaf out of her hair, I asked, "Was doing the laundry exhausting?"

"No...? It's something I've always done...?"

"Your body looks tired, though."

"Eh...? That can't... Ah...! Come to think of it, I feel like my shoulder muscles are a bit stiff...? I think it's time for a massage filled with a disciple's sincerity."

Falling completely for my leading question, Chinami turned her back to me and wiggled her left and right shoulders in turn.

Placing my hands on her shoulders, I started massaging with gentle pressure and whispered softly, "I'll do it properly for you soon."

"Mmh... I hope you let me know soon..."

She bared her honest feelings in a tone that was already turning drowsy.

Her anticipation was already running high. I should invite her over next Monday.

"Hey, wake up."

".... No..."

Miyuki whined in her sleep.

Even though I had already finished taking a shower, she showed no signs of waking up.

Did she really like the two-hour massage I gave her yesterday that much?

"You told your mom you were heading home today. I'll give you a ride. Hurry up and get up."

"What time is it...?"

"Half past six."

"Ah, what...! It's practically dawn..."

Even with her face scrunched up in a whine, she looked pretty.

Smoothing out Miyuki's messy bangs, I said, "We need to leave now."

"I'll go by myself later..."

"Then should I go first?"

"Yeah..."

"Got it. I'm going, okay?"

"Mm... just a sec..."

Grabbing my arm with a limp hand, Miyuki puckered her lips.

Eyes still closed, she pursed her lips like a little goldfish, acting cute and demanding a kiss.

Chuckling, I obliged.

Finally, I tucked the blanket tightly around her and opened the window. A refreshing breeze brushed my cheek.

The weather was damn good. On a day like today, I should be taking Miyuki on a date.

Grumbling inwardly, I got in my car and entered the location Renka had sent me into the GPS.

The place Renka had summoned me to was near a large Park on the outskirts of Tokyo.

To be precise, it was near a food alley where tourists usually flocked.

Parking my car in the public Parking Lot and following a still-quiet street to the destination, I pulled out my phone to call Renka.

Right then,

"You're early."