Chapter 162

Heart-Pounding Massage Season 3

Miyuki's distress faded more with each passing day.

Now, two days later, she was almost entirely back to her usual self.

She was still a little subdued, of course, but it was a relief to see glimpses of the old, energetic Miyuki again.

"Matsuda-kun! Come here and help me a bit!"

Fresh out of the shower, I heard Miyuki's voice calling from the Main Gate and stepped out onto the engawa.

I spotted her hauling a massive rectangular box over from a distance... Judging by her grunts of effort, it was heavy.

I helped her lug the box inside, then asked, "What's this?"

"A package. It just arrived."

"A package?"

"Yeah. The kotatsu I ordered."

'She ordered a kotatsu? To put in our house?'

'Buying things without saying a word... she really is reckless.'

'Which makes me like it even more. It's like she's starting to take after me.'

"If you were going to buy one, you should have talked to me first... Why order it on your own?"

"I was going to... but I found a really good one, and the flash sale was almost over, so I just bought it."

'Well, flash sales are hard to resist.'

"What about the blanket?"

"I didn't order one. I'm going to bring one over from my house. Let's assemble it later."

"Why? I can set it up right now. I'll just leave the tabletop off, and when you bring the blanket..."

"We'll do it together."

Slipping my gaze away from her firm stare, I meekly replied, "Okay."

"During winter break, let's invite Tetsuya over and study together again."

'Do we really have to invite him?'

'I hate the thought of the air that bastard breathes out circulating in my house.'

'Still... considering I could do all sorts of secret things with Miyuki under the kotatsu blanket right under his nose, I suppose I can let it slide.'

"Sure."

After we moved the box into the storage room together, Miyuki grabbed her coat.

"Let's head out now. Mom wants us there soon."

"Alright."

I was currently on my way to crash Miyuki's family dinner.

Not by my own choice, of course, but at Miyuki's insistence.

Was she satisfied seeing me obediently throw on a knit sweater and coat?

Her eyes curved into gentle crescents.

It seemed she liked how I had stopped complaining about most things ever since she allowed the threesome.

If doing this was all it took to keep her in a good mood, I was more than willing to oblige.

'Wrap me around your little finger all you want. I'm always ready.'

The next day, during club activities.

Tetsuya and I were sitting in the director's office, listening to Goro and Renka brief us on the winter tournament.

"The tournament has official standards for the length and weight of a shinai," Goro said. "I heard Renka already helped you purchase your practice ones. If so, there shouldn't be any issues. Just bring them in tomorrow and show them to us so we can inspect them for any damage."

At Goro's words—delivered from behind a pair of glasses that didn't suit him in the slightest—Tetsuya offered a bright smile.

"Understood!"

"You don't have to use a personal shinai either. You can just borrow one from the Club Room. Just pick whatever feels best in your hands. Next up are your positions... Renka will explain the details."

Goro gave Renka a slight nod. She brought a hand to her mouth, cleared her throat twice, and spoke up.

"As you both know, five-person matches are split into the vanguard, second vanguard, center, vice-captain, and anchor. We're planning to assign you two to the vanguard and second vanguard positions. Matsuda will be the vanguard, and Miura will be the second vanguard."

It was exactly the lineup I had expected.

Since my fighting style relied on the Upper Stance and relentless offense, they naturally wanted me to go first and seize the momentum of the match right out of the gate.

Tetsuya, on the other hand, excelled at a tenacious style of play, making him the perfect choice to lock down whatever momentum I established.

The only worrying part was that the first and second fighters were me and Tetsuya... In other words, two first-years.

We were the only first-years participating in the team tournament.

No matter how much talent we had, we still lacked real experience. They would have been better off splitting us between the second vanguard and vice-captain slots... or at least shifting either me or Miura into the individual matches.

If both the vanguard and second vanguard lost consecutively, it would be almost impossible for the rest of the team to bounce back...

I had heard the boys' team didn't exactly have a stellar track record. Were they making this decision because they had already given up on our tournament results?

No... maybe Goro and Renka actually believed in our talent.

Whatever their reasoning was, this was a far better approach than sidelining eager first-years just to chase immediate results.

Even if I was being half-forced into competing myself.

"These positions aren't set in stone just yet, though," Renka added. "We'll finalize them after discussing it with the others, so keep that in mind. Matsuda, you need to soak up as much as you can from Chinami. As for you, Miura, I'll be coaching you intensively alongside the individual competitors. If either of you have any questions, even after club activities are over, feel free to contact me. Understood?"

"Yes, President!"

Tetsuya barked, practically radiating competitive spirit.

As expected of the clueless little fucker, he was far too loud.

"Understood."

In stark contrast to him, I gave a brief reply. We sat through the rest of the positional breakdown, and then I stepped out of the office.

Afterward, I headed to the laundry room, where Chinami was staring intently into the top-loading washing machine. I walked up behind her and poked her directly in the back of the neck.

"Hyah!?"

She flinched violently, startled out of her mind.

Caught completely off guard by a strike to an erogenous zone, a full-body shudder ran through her before she spun around.

She planted her hands on her hips and puffed out her cheeks.

"Junior...! Did you just—"

"Are you asking what I'm doing?"

"...Yes."

"I just got a sudden urge to poke you."

"Hmph...! Couldn't you have poked me somewhere else?"

'What, were you hoping I'd grab your ass instead?'

'I'll definitely keep that in mind for next time.'

"Sorry about that. But what were you doing anyway?"

"I was just making sure the bottoms of the Training Uniforms were washing properly."

"The machine is full of suds. Can you even see anything in there?"

"Of course I can't. But I figured if I tried hard enough, I might be able to! Anyway, did you finish listening to the breakdown for the team matches?"

'She thinks she can see through soap suds through sheer willpower... That brand of eccentricity is so very Chinami.'

"Yeah. They told me I'd be stepping up as the vanguard."

"I knew it! There's no one better suited for the vanguard position than you, Junior. For the record, I'm our team's vanguard too. They say the disciple takes after the Master... I suppose this proves the saying is true."

"You're a vanguard, Master?"

"I am!"

'Is her plan to just melt her opponents with cuteness? Honestly, it's a solid strategy.'

"Why that look? Do you think I'm a bad fit?"

"Not at all. I'll be rooting for you."

"Muhuhu... In that case, starting today, I'll have to teach you how to pace a real match during our special training. I'll drill the mindset of a true vanguard right into that head of yours! Let's work together to secure our reliable Junior's very first victory in an official tournament!"

"Understood. By the way, do you have some time today?"

"Hmm? Why do you ask?"

"Isn't it obvious? I'm going to give you a massage."

"Ah...! My body's been feeling a bit stiff lately, actually... That sounds wonderful."

She looked utterly oblivious to my true intentions.

Today wasn't going to end with just a massage.

Knowing Chinami's personality, there was a real chance of failure, but I was going to push the boundaries as far as I could and see if I could finally initiate sex.

'Maybe I should get her warmed up right now? I'll just have to stop before Renka inevitably barges in to interrupt us.'

Making up my mind, I reached out and rested my hands on the waist of a slightly blushing Chinami.

"Shall we figure out where you're feeling the stiffest right now?"

"Um... Well, Renka and I went around cafe-hopping yesterday, so my legs are a bit sore, but I can manage—"

"Your legs? Over here?"

I gripped her thigh before she could even finish her sentence.

Her breath hitched as I stroked her inner thigh, and her voice shrank to a squeak.

"N-Not there... I meant my calves..."

"Your adductors feel pretty tight, too."

"...Do they?"

"Yeah. I'll loosen them up for you. Could you spread your legs a bit?"

"L-Like this...?"

"Just a little wider. Perfect. Now, stay still for me."

Once she had opened her legs wide enough for a fist to fit between them, I crouched down in front of her and began gently kneading her inner thighs.

I let my hands glide up and down the length of her thighs, then casually brushed the edge of my hand against the plump mound between her legs.

"Hnng...!"

Chinami let out a soft, breathy gasp and instantly rose up onto her tiptoes.

The sudden shift in weight pressed the tips of her slender toes into the floor, turning them white under the pressure. For some reason, the sight of it was incredibly erotic, and I could already feel the blood pooling in my groin.

'Have I actually developed that toe fetish I was wondering about?'

'Despite her petite frame, her toes are long and perfectly aligned. A footjob from her would probably feel amazing.'

'But a footjob doesn't fit Chinami's wholesome image at all... I'm a little worried about how she'd take that.'

"Junior... I think they're loose enough now..."

Chinami murmured, casting anxious glances toward the firmly shut door of the laundry room.

I shook my head firmly and shot that idea down.

"Not yet. They're still tense."

"I-If anything, they feel like they're tensing up even more..."

"That's why you need to relax your muscles. You must just be nervous since it's been a while. Come on..."

Pat, pat.

I coaxed her with a soft whisper while gently patting her bottom. Chinami let out a small, embarrassed cough, and her raised heels slowly sank until they were resting flat against the floor again.

"Good girl. You can feel the tension melting away now, can't you?"

"...I-I can't tell..."

Her face was completely flushed.

It had been a while since I'd seen her look this bashful... It was incredibly endearing.

Even the peach-scented fabric softener radiating off her Training Uniform was intoxicating.

"-Chinami...? Are you in the laundry room...?"

Right on cue, Renka had arrived to interrupt us.

Hearing the faint anxiety in the President's voice, I finally stood up from my crouch. I gently stroked Chinami's back as she kept her arms pinned nervously to her sides.

"Could you wait for me after club activities today? Just for ten minutes."

"...Okay..."