Chapter 294

"Take care! See you next time if we get the chance!"

Hiyori offered an energetic, cheerful farewell. Her friend stopped her from frivolously waving both hands and bowed respectfully instead.

"Goodbye, sunbae-nim."

Miyuki then offered an incredibly awkward smile and gave a small wave from chest height.

"Yes, you too. See you next time."

Watching Hiyori walk away, Miyuki suddenly let out a sigh. It wasn't out of worry or sorrow—she was simply exhausted by Hiyori's high energy.

"It really feels... how should I put it... like a typhoon just swept through."

Miyuki muttered her impression of the encounter. Shaking her head to express her exhaustion, she turned to me.

"Matsuda-kun, it seems you were already acquainted with Miss Asahina?"

It was my first time seeing Miyuki use an honorific like 'Miss' instead of yobisute. She probably wouldn't call her that to Hiyori's face, but it gave off a slightly old-fashioned vibe while also somehow suiting her.

"She came by a few times when I was working my part-time job at the cafe. I also bumped into her at the bookstore when I went to buy that math book you mentioned."

"I see... Does she live nearby?"

She didn't live close. It wasn't exactly far either, but compared to where Miyuki, Renka, and Chinami lived, Hiyori's place was the furthest out of the way.

"Well, I'm not sure about that."

"She was the really pretty girl I mentioned earlier."

"I figured as much."

"What made you think that?"

"Looking from the front, her skirt was way too short."

"Do you just go around staring at girls' legs all day?"

"I'd call it being observant."

"Not a pervert?"

"Want me to show you what a real pervert is?"

"Oh, shut up...!"

Miyuki placed a hand on my wrist. I flashed a grin at her affectionate touch, but then frowned as an unpleasant sensation brushed against my opposite arm.

Come to think of it, Tetsuya was right next to us. His presence was so faint I'd completely forgotten about him. Realizing I had accidentally bumped into the guy, I spoke up.

"Sorry. Didn't mean to."

"Huh? Oh, yeah... It's fine."

Had he finally noticed the creeping sense of alienation that hadn't been there before the break? Tetsuya's expression stiffened slightly.

Sometimes Tetsuya seemed mature, but other times—like right now—he reeked of being a pathetic loser. Which one was his true personality? Not that it mattered; I just wished he'd get lost. I wanted to enjoy this romantic comedy all by myself now.

"Let's hurry up and get in line."

Miyuki's cheerful voice rang out as she pointed toward the cafeteria. Just as I was about to answer, Tetsuya beat me to the punch.

"Got it. Do you know what's on the menu today?"

"I'm not too sure either. Judging from the smell, it's some kind of braised dish."

"That's not too bad. If it's a fish you like, I'll give you my portion."

"Huh? No, there's no need. I can just steal Matsuda-kun's, so it's fine."

"...I-Is that so?"

"Yeah. You like fish way more than I do anyway, Tetsuya. So you should eat up."

Miyuki's tone was like she was coddling a little kid. Normally, Tetsuya would have been thrilled, but right now, his face remained completely stiff. He had tried to score points with Miyuki by offering her his food, only to end up worse off than when he started.

Now Miyuki was effortlessly fending him off without me having to do a single thing. I could probably start paying less attention to Tetsuya and just ignore him entirely. With that thought settled, I playfully voiced a complaint.

"Why are you stealing mine?"

"Because I want to steal it."

"Guess I can't help it then."

"Yep, there's nothing you can do about it."

"Stop copying what I say."

"I'm not copying you, I'm just answering kindly."

"Whatever you say."

Miyuki beamed at my shrug and quickened her pace, urging us to get in line. Trailing behind her lovely figure, I started to glance over at Tetsuya before immediately stopping myself. Just like I had decided earlier, I shouldn't go out of my way to check his reactions anymore.

"Junior, Junior. Hurry and come over here."

After afternoon classes ended, I headed to the Club Room alone, where I saw Chinami dressed in her Training Uniform, gesturing to me from a corner outside the room.

"What is it?"

"Hurry...!"

Hearing the urgency in Chinami's voice, I picked up my pace and approached. She glanced around nervously before crouching between the small trees nearby. Then, she held out a beautifully packaged pink mochi.

Taking it absentmindedly, I asked,

"What's this?"

"It's mochi covered in peach powder. It's a rare treat, and I brought it to give to you."

Mochi covered in peach powder... Sounds incredibly sweet. Was there really a need to give me this while checking to see if anyone was watching? Other people wouldn't even know if it was rare, and even if they did, they probably wouldn't go out of their way to eat it anyway... How typical of the eccentric Chinami.

"If it's so rare, you should have eaten it yourself, Master."

"I already had one earlier, so I'm fine."

"Even so."

"I debated whether or not to eat it myself countless times, but I held back for your sake. Hurry up and eat it."

Our kindhearted Chinami made me want to feed the mochi right back into her mouth. Tearing off the wrapper, I tossed the whole thing in. I chewed vigorously, offering a smile instead of a verbal review to Chinami, whose eyes were silently asking how it tasted.

"Hehe... I'm glad you seem satisfied."

I had a feeling she was going to bring more tomorrow. Honestly, it was tasty, but I didn't really want to eat it again. But what could I do? I didn't want to give a negative review to food Chinami had given me. If she brought more tomorrow, I'd just have to accept it and eat it.

After thoroughly chewing and swallowing the sticky mochi clinging to the inside of my mouth, I spoke.

"Shall we get to work now?"

"Shall we? Just set out the Bogu that the club members will use during the semester. I already cleaned the display shelves, but please check them over one more time for yourself."

"Understood."

"Are you feeling thirsty? Would you like some Peach Milk?"

"...No. I'll just drink water."

"Why is that?"

"Well... water is an important nutrient for the body...?"

"I see. I'm convinced."

I almost ended up stuck in a peach orchard. Breathing a sigh of relief, I parted ways with Chinami, who said she was going to check the Changing Room. After changing into my Training Uniform, I headed to the Storage Room. I was carefully inspecting the display shelves when I heard a voice. "Hey."

It was Renka, who had opened the Storage Room door and slipped inside. Without taking my eyes off the display shelves, I answered.

"What."

"...If someone calls you, shouldn't you at least look at them? Did you know you have mochi powder on your cheek?"

When I brought a hand to my cheek, soft pink powder rubbed off onto my fingers, exactly as Renka had said. Straightening my back, I looked at her and asked,

"How did you know this was mochi powder?"

"Because I ate some too. Chinami cut hers in half and shared it with me."

"Master really is kind, as always."

"What's that supposed to mean? Are you insulting me, saying she showed favor to someone who didn't even deserve it?"

"Looks like your persecution complex is flaring up again."

Clicking my tongue at Renka's defensive attitude, I took a large stride toward her. She flinched as the distance between us vanished. Flashing her a grin, I pulled her into a hug—

"Hey, come on...! What's your problem...! Get away...!! Piss off...!"

Renka thrashed around, wildly shaking her head and flailing her arms and legs. Twisting her entire body to reject my touch, she felt a bit like... a Chihuahua having a nervous breakdown.

When I loosened my tight grip on her, she scrambled away and kept throwing a fit like someone who had just spotted a bee, before suddenly freezing in place.

"Are you done?"

"..."

Renka's face turned completely red as she realized how she had just acted. Tidying up her messy bangs and the hair around her face, she retied her hairband and subtly avoided my gaze.

"I asked if you were done."

"Shut up."

"You were cute just now."

"Shut your mouth."

"Do it again."

"I said shut up...! Do you want to die?"

"President."

"What...!"

"I have a present for the President."

"A present...? I'm not taking it."

"How can you refuse without even looking at it?"

"I bet it's something perverted anyway."

I always felt this way, but Renka was remarkably quick on the uptake with this sort of thing. That meant she could prepare herself mentally, right?

"Wh-What's with that weird look...?"

Renka asked fearfully, taking a half-step back from me. My expression must have looked incredibly wicked.

"It's nothing. But are we doing club activities today?"

"...Didn't you come here to do club activities?"

"No, I don't mean that... I'm asking if we're doing Kendo."

"The tournament ended recently, and since school just started back up, I'm letting everyone rest. If anyone wants to practice or spar, Chinami, Yamazaki, the other Third Year students, and I will look after them individually."

"Is that right?"

"Don't even think about resting. You're practicing."

"Why should I?"

"Why are you so talkative? If the President tells you to do something, just do it."

She was sounding like a total boomer, so I'd have to teach her a lesson, wouldn't I? I stepped toward Renka, who was glaring at me haughtily with her arms crossed—

"Wh-What are you looking at?"

I slapped my palm against the thigh of the girl trying to act so tough.

Smack!

"Hyaaang!?"

The sound of air escaping as the baggy Training Uniform stuck to her skin was accompanied by a somewhat high-pitched and erotic shriek that instinctively slipped past Renka's lips. Savoring the harmony created by those two sounds, I curled up one corner of my mouth, watching the toes on the leg I had just smacked curl up cutely.

Clack.

But then the Storage Room door swung wide open and Goro walked in, prompting me to quickly swap my expression for one of deep concern.

"What is it! What's going on!?"

Renka's scream had been rather loud, so he must have heard it and come running. Flinching at Goro's raised voice, Renka immediately blurted out an answer.

"I-I almost fell... The... the floor is slippery..."

At those words, Goro's face turned puzzled, and his gaze shifted to the floor. Since everyone had to walk barefoot in the Kendo Club Room, the flooring was made of a material that wasn't easily slippery. He had likely never seen a single member slip before, making Renka's claim seem suspicious.

"Well... there was a dry dishcloth under the threshold... I stepped on it and my foot slid. I put it away now, so it's fine..."

Realizing her blunder, Renka quickly corrected herself and pointed at the display shelves. Seeing the cloth placed up there, Goro accepted her explanation and nodded.

"Be a bit more careful. Matsuda, I understand you're busy cleaning, but it would be best if you put things like dishcloths away properly."

Having inadvertently taken the blame, I threw a sidelong glance at Renka. Then I turned my eyes back to Goro and offered him a goofy smile.

"I'll be careful."

"Alright. Keep up the good work, and once you're done cleaning, stop by the director's office to grab a drink."

"Yes, Director."

Once Goro finally left the Storage Room, Renka carefully shut the door before snapping at me.

"Are you seriously crazy...!? What are we supposed to do if you act like that even in here...!?"

"More importantly, why did you sell me out? I just got scolded because of you, President."

"...Y-You can't say it was because of me...! You hit me out of nowhere..."

"Is this karmic retribution?"

"It was just... unavoidable... And I didn't sell you out, I was just trying to gloss over the situation however I could...!"

"Couldn't you have used some other excuse?"

"Oh, shut up...! Just clean...! God, you're so annoying..."

"I'm annoying?"

"No, you're not...! I said you're not...!"

Renka threw a temper tantrum with her whole body while keeping her voice as quiet as possible. Huffing with a flushed face in sheer frustration, she couldn't have been any cuter.

When I got back today, a storm of swear words from Ino-chan would probably come flying my way.

I could see the future clear as day.