Chapter 157

"Who are you going to bring in?"

"It's cold."

Chinami said, approaching me as I cleaned outside the Club Room.

I turned my head, pausing the long sweeps of my Broom across the floor.

"Yes, it is."

"It's very cold."

Her tone was unusually even for Chinami. She seemed a little angry.

Stopping my sweeping, I looked straight down at Chinami.

"What's the matter?"

"Hmph. I'm feeling a little neglected."

"What made you feel that way?"

"I was wondering if we could reschedule our canceled appointment from last week. Of course, I was the one who suggested postponing it first, but it makes me uncomfortable that you seem to be moving past it without a single word."

She was talking about the massage.

She must have been anxious because we hadn't spoken about it since.

But our Chinami... was she developing a body that couldn't live without massages?

"Master. That's..."

"Can a junior who doesn't understand his master's heart perform well as a disciple? I have serious doubts. Not that I plan to expel you, but I'm just saying."

At this rate, she was going to huff and scoff at me.

Chuckling at Chinami's cute complaints, I spoke.

"You really wanted that massage, didn't you?"

"Ahem..."

"You should have just said so. Want me to give you a quick one right now?"

"Not just any massage. I meant a deeply relaxing one with oil."

Wasn't it a 'heart-pounding' massage before?

"Is that right? Come this way for a second."

I led Chinami toward the Drying Room.

Baggy indigo Kendo Uniforms hung from the clothesline.

Leading Chinami between them, I smoothed down her hair, which was sticking up from static.

Then, I soothed her in a gentle tone.

"Of course I hadn't forgotten about the massage. I was just trying to figure out a good time."

"...Is that so?"

"Yes, of course."

"I didn't bring it up because I was getting impatient."

"I know."

Just wait a little longer. I'll get Miyuki's permission somehow.

Besides, the love hotel owner was probably grinning from ear to ear right about now.

After all, some sucker had booked two rooms—a massage theme and a prison theme—and hadn't even shown up to use them.

Stepping behind Chinami, I smiled and placed my hands on her shoulders.

I began to massage her, gently pressing in with my fingers.

"What are you doing...! I don't want a massage right now...!"

Chinami turned her head away sharply, pretending to hate it, but—

"Mmm..."

—the moment I worked out a few knots in her muscles, she let out a pleasant hum.

Her body went completely limp as she surrendered entirely to my touch.

After kneading her shoulders for a bit, I slid my hand down and gave her rear a gentle pat.

Thoroughly melted by the massage, Chinami asked in a bewildered tone.

"Nngh... why do you keep touching there...?"

"It's a habit."

"That's a very bad habit... I'm only forgiving you because it's me. If you did that to anyone else, you'd be in serious trouble..."

Miyuki, you, Renka, and Hiyori...

I'll only do it to you four.

But she didn't seem to mind the touching itself. I'd have to do it more often.

"Understood. That's enough for your shoulders."

"Mm...? Is that it...?"

Chinami voiced her disappointment.

Placing my hand on the small of her back, I stroked it in slow circles and spoke.

"It's about time for the villain to arrive."

"Villain...?"

The moment Chinami tilted her head at a slight angle, clack.

The door to the Drying Room opened.

"Chinami, are you in here?"

At the sound of Renka's meddling voice, I looked down at Chinami and smirked.

"See?"

Chinami's eyes doubled in size, and she let out a small gasp.

"...How did you know...?"

"I figured she would come."

"Are you a fortune teller...?"

"Maybe I am."

"My goodness..."

She actually seemed to believe in fortune-telling. This was exactly why I liked Chinami.

The truth was, whenever you were out of Renka's sight, she got anxious that I was doing something weird to you. I just expected her to show up right about now.

"Chinami...! Can you help me?"

Through the Training Uniforms hung on the line, I saw Renka hurrying over after spotting our lower halves pressed tightly together.

Giving Chinami's lower back a final pat, I pulled aside the uniform blocking my face and greeted her.

"Hello, President."

"Ugh...!"

Renka scowled as if she had just seen something repulsive.

Now that my wishes were all used up, she must have gotten comfortable, because she wasn't even trying to manage her expressions anymore. She was seriously going to get punished if she kept that up.

"You've looked pale since this morning... What's going on?"

In front of the parking lot. Tetsuya was fretting over Miyuki as she returned from her Student Council meeting.

With dark circles under her eyes, Miyuki offered a weak smile.

"It's nothing... just had something exhausting happen this morning..."

"Like what?"

"Just something."

Her tone was sweet, but there was a cold edge to it.

It held a clear warning not to pry any further.

But our clueless Tetsuya completely missed Miyuki's underlying intent.

"What gives? It feels like you're keeping a lot of secrets lately. Between us, really?"

What a childish whine. He was acting like a total brat.

As childhood friends of fifteen years, shouldn't he be able to read her subtle facial expressions by now?

But that idiot was so wrapped up in his own feelings that he wasn't even paying attention.

Because you're like that, Miyuki is slowly trying to distance herself.

I had been planning to do him a special favor and give him a ride for once, but I was suddenly changing my mind.

Miyuki and I were in the middle of a very critical period right now.

There was no room for a piece of shit like you to interfere, so just shut up, take the free ride, and go home, fucker.

"It's just a really personal matter. I'm sorry."

Miyuki was pacifying Tetsuya.

She was being incredibly sweet, even though she had to be on edge.

If Tetsuya had thrown that question at someone other than Miyuki, the atmosphere would have turned a little icy by now.

Before Miyuki could get any more uncomfortable, I stepped between them.

"Let's go. It's cold."

"Ah, yeah..."

We quickly dropped off the dead weight and headed toward Miyuki's house.

As I drove at a slow crawl, she affectionately nudged my arm and asked.

"What's the occasion? Matsuda-kun actually offering to give Tetsuya-kun a ride first?"

Why else? I was trying to score more points by doing something you'd like.

If I kept this up, wouldn't you eventually offer to do something I liked?

Of course, I knew the chances of that happening just because I gave Tetsuya a ride were slim, but right now, I needed to try everything I could.

"I asked him what he was up to, and he said he was just going home. It's even colder today than yesterday, so I offered him a ride."

"Aren't you a good boy...?"

"What's with that surprised look? I'm not actually that bad of a guy, you know."

"That's not right. You were a bad person, but you're slowly getting better."

"Are you joking or serious?"

"Let's go with fifty-fifty."

Miyuki joked playfully, then stared at me intently as the car arrived at her house.

"Matsuda-kun."

"What is it...?"

"Should I sleep over at your place again tonight?"

"You said your mother forbade it. So it's a no."

"This morning you were telling me to stay."

"Your mother knows you sleep over at my place now. She knows exactly what happens when a girl stays alone at a guy's house, so she was probably just telling you not to push it... It can't be helped. Honestly, I'd be lying if I said I wasn't disappointed, but I don't want to stubbornly push my luck and get on her bad side."

"Why are you being so thoughtful today? It makes me want to praise you..."

Could you give me that praise in the form of a threesome, perhaps?

"Just get out."

"No. I want to talk more. I don't have anything to do at home anyway."

"Suit yourself."

"Are you going to watch that again when you get back?"

"No."

"Really? Didn't you buy that Laptop just to watch porn?"

"Do you think I'm some kind of porn addict?"

At that, Miyuki let out a small, sheepish laugh before her expression suddenly turned serious.

"I have something I want to ask."

"Why are you so full of questions since yesterday? What is it?"

Letting out a short sound, Miyuki licked her lips.

Was it time to get serious?

Challenge accepted. Let's hear it.

After remaining silent in thought for a moment, she carefully spoke up.

"If you ever had the chance to do it with me and another girl... who would you bring in?"

It was a similar topic to yesterday, but the question was much bolder.

Was her mind starting to open up to the idea? Could I think of it like that?

"Why ask a question like that all of a sudden?"

"We aren't actually going to do it, so what does it matter? There's nothing wrong with a girlfriend wanting to figure out her boyfriend's tastes in detail. Come on, tell me. As seriously as possible."

That was typical of Miyuki, always so eager to learn.

I needed to answer carefully again. How should I phrase it to spare Miyuki's feelings?

Letting out a long breath through my nose in deep thought, I gently scratched the back of my neck and lifted my head.

"I think it'd be better to bring in someone you know."

"Would it matter if you didn't know her? Are you fine with anyone as long as they're a girl?"

Her words felt like they had thorns in them, sending a chill down my spine.

Did Miyuki perhaps already know everything I was plotting?

Are you playing with me? Is that it?

"No, that's not it. It's just that if we brought in someone I knew but you didn't, it'd obviously be super awkward for you. On top of that, assuming a situation like that actually happened, you'd probably be feeling pretty conflicted, so I figured it would be much easier on you emotionally if it was someone you already knew or were close with."

"Really...? So you gave me that answer for my sake?"

"Since you'd be the one making that situation happen, I have to fully consider your position and be accommodating."

"What about bringing in someone we both know? Would that be bad?"

As if that could be bad. That was exactly what I was aiming for... It was perfect.

I hadn't even considered doing it with someone either of us didn't know.

I love you, Miyuki. I'll lick your toes like a dog if you tell me to.

"Of course, that would be the best."

"Is there anyone we both know whose tastes run in that direction?"

I'll take care of that part. You don't need to worry about it.

"I haven't thought quite that far ahead. Are you satisfied now?"

"Satisfied for now, anyway."

That adverb, 'for now,' really bothered me.

Was the answer I gave the best one? Or wasn't it?

It would be nice if she told me... but Miyuki clearly had no intention of doing that.

"Aren't you going to do anything for me before I go?"

Miyuki puckered her lips, her eyes half-closed.

Seeing her ask for a kiss meant she didn't seem to be upset.

Somewhat relieved, I leaned my upper body forward and gave her the affection she wanted.

Miyuki smiled in satisfaction at that, then stepped out of the car, closed the door, and waved at me.

Waving back while leaning against the seat backrest, I disengaged the parking brake once she opened her front door and went inside.

Every single day felt incredibly nerve-wracking.