Chapter 199

Rummaging through a black plastic bag in the corner of the Storage Room, Chinami pulled something out.

It was a thin, square object with a drawing of Momo-sama on it.

I narrowed my eyes to read the text written on it, a dumbfounded expression crossing my face.

"A Momo-sama Patch...?"

"Yes...! It's my favorite. Here, hold out your hand."

Momo-sama really had merchandise for everything. It was absurd.

I felt like there might even be a peach-flavored drink called Momo-sama's Holy Water out there somewhere.

When I obediently offered my arm, Chinami carefully applied the patch to my wrist.

She then marveled at my forearm, which was easily twice the size of hers.

"Your arms are so thick."

"Are they?"

"Yes, very burly."

Was it just because Chinami was the one saying it? The line sounded strangely suggestive.

A sudden surge of desire hit me, and just as I reached out for Chinami's rear, the latch clicked.

The door swung open and Renka peeked her head inside. I smacked my lips in regret.

"Do you guys need help?"

Renka frowned upon seeing Chinami pressed so close to me and threw out the question.

Chinami shook her head nonchalantly and replied.

"Not really. The two of us can handle it."

"Is that so...? Still, many hands make light work, so I'll pitch in too."

Delivering the words like a notification, Renka didn't wait for our answer. She marched into the center of the Storage Room with staccato steps and plopped down on the floor.

Was she worried Chinami and I would do something indecent again?

I wondered when her massive nosiness would ever shrink.

"Why are you glaring at me like that? You should be thanking me for helping."

Renka snapped at me like an old nag for staring blankly at her.

I shrugged and retorted.

"Did I say anything?"

"You look completely dissatisfied."

"I don't."

"Just hand over the uncleaned gear."

"Grab it yourself."

"It's right next to you. Would it kill you to hand it over?"

"Try asking politely. Say, 'Could you please pass the Bogu?'"

"I'll just get it myself."

Renka snorted, stretching her upper body toward me to grab the Bogu resting by my side.

Seizing the opening, I picked up an uncleaned Men and held it out to her.

She scowled deeply and demanded.

"What are you doing?"

"You asked for it, so I'm giving it to you."

"Why are you giving it to me now?"

"I'm a bit slow to act."

"You answered fast enough."

"My mouth isn't the slow part."

"Don't come to the team dinner tonight."

"That's incredibly childish."

"You started being childish first."

Clicking her tongue, Chinami looked back and forth between our bickering and stepped into the conversation.

"Come now...! Why are you two growling at each other on such a good day? Both of you, quiet down and clean the Bogu."

"We aren't growling. We're close friends, so we're just exchanging jokes."

"Ah, is that so?"

"Of course."

Caught up in my nonchalant deflection, Renka flared up and denied it.

"Who said we're close friends? Don't say something so ridiculous."

I ignored Renka and spoke to Chinami again.

"As you know, Master, the President gets happy on the inside but acts prickly on the outside."

"Mhm... My close friend certainly has that side to her. Still, it would be best to say thank you."

"Me?"

"Yes. Because my close friend Renka came to help out of consideration for us."

"Understood. Thank you, President."

Was she annoyed that I obeyed Chinami so easily while fighting her at every turn?

Renka thumped her own chest in frustration.

Seeing her get so worked up over it made a laugh naturally bubble up inside me.

As expected, teasing Renka was always so satisfying.

Mori and Ikeda, who competed in the middle and vice-captain positions, felt extremely apologetic toward me and Yamazaki.

They had completely squandered the momentum from the points I had fiercely scored, suffering early defeats.

Team matches were built on the basic premise of winning as a team and losing as a team, but being human, it was inevitable that they would feel guilty.

Seeing even the usually clueless Tetsuya speak quieter than normal made me realize that team matches really had their own dilemmas.

Still, since we had reaped the unexpected harvest of the runner-up spot, the atmosphere at the team dinner quickly warmed up.

"You worked hard today, so eat up."

Renka sat next to Tetsuya, taking care of him.

At that, Tetsuya straightened his back and shouted loudly.

"Yes! Thank you, President!"

At his highly disciplined tone, the eyes of the other customers in the barbecue restaurant darted toward us.

They weren't bad looks. They just chuckled amongst themselves, figuring it was an ordinary club dinner you could see anywhere.

Anyway, she was paying attention to a guy like Tetsuya when she should be wagging her tail happily by my side?

I needed to turn up the intensity of her training. I'd have to dress her in a bunny girl outfit, tie her hands and feet to the bed, and whip her rear.

Renka Training Diary Part 2—I would begin logging it very soon.

"My proud junior, eat plenty."

Beside me, Chinami picked up a piece of meat and offered it to me.

I smiled warmly back at the demure girl and popped the meat into my mouth.

The meat melted instantly. Was it because Chinami had grilled it? It was delicious.

"It's final exam season now. Are your preparations going well?"

I nodded at her follow-up question and replied.

"More or less. What about you, Master?"

"I'm doing okay too."

As the topic of final exams came up, I saw Renka's ears perk up.

Did it bother her? Well, she would be a Third Year next year, so it was only right that she slowly started managing her grades.

Her rank was definitely lower than mine during midterms, wasn't it?

If she scored lower this time too, I would have to tease her with it.

No, proposing a bet on our ranks seemed like a good idea too.

I'd have to bring it up the day before.

Thinking that, I enjoyed the simple after-party with the club members, officially wrapping up this tournament.

"You need to be in the top 10."

"I don't think there's much chance of that because of math."

"You can do it. Don't give up already."

Had I gotten 14th place in the midterms for nothing?

Miyuki's expectations had grown far too large.

Miyuki, who had pinned Tetsuya and me down during break time to tutor us, spoke to Tetsuya as he diligently took notes.

"You should aim for the top 10 too, Tetsuya."

"Me...? All right. I'll do my best."

Answering with a look devoid of confidence, Tetsuya's gaze subtly slid toward me.

He was conscious of me. He hadn't grated on my nerves as much since the tournament, but that glare—like he was looking at a rival—had grown a bit more intense.

"Yeah. That's enough idle chatter... Everyone, open your math books."

Since no matter how much the bastard struggled, he wouldn't be a threat to me anyway, I scoffed inwardly and obediently opened my book just as Miyuki instructed.

After that, I couldn't leave and was stuck studying inside the classroom.

Stuck in the classroom like a bound ghost, I finally caught my breath during lunch break as I headed to the School Store after eating my meal.

No matter how hard I tried to focus, studying something that didn't suit my tastes made me feel like all my hair was going to fall out.

While walking and stretching out the fingers that ached slightly from aggressively rolling my mechanical pencil, I spotted Renka walking somewhere up ahead, her long indigo ponytail swaying.

Sneaking up right behind her with quick steps, I lowered my voice to a whisper and spoke.

"Excuse me."

"Yes?"

Renka turned around, answering politely.

The moment she confirmed that I was the one who called her, her face rapidly flushed with anger.

"Do you want to die?"

"Ah, it was the President. My apologies."

"You don't look surprised at all. You even changed your voice on purpose... Are you messing with me?"

"Sorry. Where are you headed?"

"...The School Store."

"I was on my way there too. Want to go together?"

"No."

Rejecting me coyly, Renka started walking again.

When I matched her pace and walked right beside her, Renka cringed in disgust and sidestepped away.

"Don't cling to me. Keep your distance."

She had said she didn't want to go together earlier, but apparently, it was fine as long as we walked apart.

"Like this?"

"Further."

"If I get any further away, we'll basically be strangers, won't we? That's way too cold."

"Cold is fine."

"No, warm is better. Is your prep for the final exams going well?"

Was she annoyed by how casually I changed the subject?

Knitting her brows, Renka answered reluctantly.

"I'm managing somehow. Chinami is helping me too."

"Are you serving her as your Master?"

"Well... I suppose so?"

"Then we're disciples of the same sect. You can call me Senior Brother from now on."

"I wouldn't call you that even if I died, so don't get your hopes up."

"That's a shame. By the way, do you want to make a bet with me?"

"What bet?"

"A rank bet. Whoever gets a higher rank in this final exam..."

"No."

She shook her head firmly, cutting me off before I could even finish explaining.

She must have guessed what I was about to say.

"Got it. Then I'll consider the bet accepted."

"I told you I'm not doing it. Get that through your head."

"You must be scared of losing to me."

"What ridiculous nonsense are you spouting...! Why would I be scared of you? I just don't want to waste my mental energy on useless things...!"

"So you are confident?"

"...Of course I am."

"There was a bit of a pause there... You're actually not confident, are you?"

"What are you talking about... I only hesitated for a second because you were spewing such utter nonsense."

"Then let's do it. If you're that confident, the President stands to lose absolutely nothing."

"Don't try to rope me in like that. I'm not doing it."

I could feel her absolute determination to refuse to her dying breath.

She must not have studied much for the exams, huh? Classic.

"What are you doing over break?"

"Getting a part-time job."

"That thing we talked about? Did you find one?"

"Not yet."

"It's the vacation season, so if you don't find one fast, all the decent part-time jobs will fill up, you know?"

"It won't be too late if I look after the final exams. You didn't forget, right? About helping out at my uncle's store."

"My wish? I remember."

"That's a relief."

"Did you already talk to them about it?"

"I did."

"And what did they say?"

"What do you mean, 'what did they say'? They just said it was great."

Looking at her, I could tell her uncles were absolutely thrilled.

The image of two massive men with terrifying faces clapping like seals and guffawing... Somehow, it didn't fit at all.

Arriving at the School Store, I lined up at the back with Renka.

I looked back and forth between the sold-out items and the available menu board, then asked.

"What are you going to get?"

"Peach jelly and Melon Milk."

"Is the peach jelly for the Master?"

"Right."

"Can't you get something other than Melon Milk?"

"Why?"

"Just because."

"Stop spouting nonsense and just go."

"But I haven't bought anything yet?"