Chapter 367

"Why is Asahina here?"

The question was clearly directed at me.

But Hiyori was the one who answered.

"I came to learn how to work out from Matsuken sunbae-nim."

"Work out?"

"I've gained a bit of weight lately. I want to go on a diet."

"Is that so?"

Miyuki crossed her arms, her expression utterly calm.

On the outside, she looked entirely unbothered, but the aura she gave off felt fiercely intimidating to me.

Miyuki's gaze slowly swept across my face.

I knew I should act confident, but all that courage vanished; I just wanted to avoid her eyes.

"I was on my way to work out with Matsuda-kun anyway. Let's do it together, then."

She didn't seem to have any intention of making a fuss right this second.

She likely planned to send Hiyori away first and then talk to me alone. It was a very Miyuki-like approach.

"Eh? You're wearing flip-flops. You're going to work out like that?"

Hiyori looked dumbfounded, as if wondering what nonsense she was spouting.

Miyuki scoffed and pointed inside the Main Gate.

"I have plenty of clothes in there. I just need to change, so wait."

"Did you really come here to work out?"

"I said I did."

"Matsuken sunbae-nim didn't mention anything about that, though?"

"Of course he didn't. I came without telling him."

Realizing they might start fighting openly if I let this go on, I spoke to Miyuki in a gentle tone.

"Go get changed. We'll wait."

"Got it."

While Miyuki headed inside the house to change, Hiyori poked me in the waist with her elbow.

Then, she asked in a mischievous tone.

"Are you in trouble?"

"Nothing like that."

"Really?"

"Yeah."

"Looks like you are, though."

Flick.

I answered by flicking the cowlick of the girl making such loaded remarks, but when Miyuki emerged—having changed clothes at lightning speed—I gnawed on my lower lip.

The ribbons on her tied shoelaces were lopsided.

Considering Miyuki's usual meticulous nature and attention to even the smallest details, it was clear she really didn't want to leave Hiyori and me alone together.

The situation was a bit scary, but also amusing.

With that thought in mind, I watched Miyuki approach in shorts that bared her thighs. When she stopped and stood there awkwardly, I faced her from a proper distance.

"Grab my shoulders and bend your back."

"Huh...? Oh, right..."

She gave a small flinch at the prompt to start stretching, then placed her hands on my shoulders as I slightly bent my knees.

Even though it was her first time doing this kind of exercise with me, it was incredibly cute how she said 'right' and pretended to be used to it.

"She's super flexible."

That was Hiyori's impression as she watched Miyuki dip her back deeply and use her elasticity to bounce slightly.

Hiyori had naturally moved behind me, grabbing my waist to start stretching her own upper body. I spoke to her.

"Miyuki is flexible, sure, but you're also ridiculously stiff."

"I could be flexible too if I set my mind to it, you know."

"You think it just works like that?"

"I think I can do anything."

"It's innate, so it'll probably be hard."

"Practice makes perfect."

"But you don't practice."

"I'm going to start from now on."

If someone else saw this, they might think two bulls were butting heads with a wall between them.

Right before Miyuki—having lightly stretched her back—raised her upper body, Hiyori let go of my t-shirt.

It was a sly, fox-like move, making it feel like she was sending a signal just to me.

Somehow, I had a feeling that starting today, my life at the Academy was going to get a whole lot more tense.

Holding one leg back, grabbing the instep and pulling it up, clasping hands, raising arms high, and pulling the body to the side...

Having finished stretching on her own while staring daggers at me, Miyuki let out a long breath. "Phew!"

"I'm done."

"Shall we head out, then?"

"Yeah."

"Asahina, are you ready too?"

When I turned and asked Hiyori, she tilted her head to one side and answered.

"No."

"Good enough. Let's go."

"Okaaay."

She instantly changed her tune after being so uncooperative just a second ago.

Forcing down a laugh, I began to power walk alongside Hiyori and a glaring Miyuki.

"Are you tired?"

"Haa... Haa... No? I'm not tired."

Anyone could see she was panting heavily, yet she claimed she wasn't tired...

It seemed our Miyuki had great nighttime stamina, but her basic endurance was lacking.

Perhaps it was because she was too tense from having Hiyori around.

Walking backward, I looked at the two of them and checked on Hiyori, who currently wore a soulless expression.

"What about you?"

".... I'm not tired either...?"

I had expected her to whine, so it was ridiculous seeing even Hiyori pretend to be fine, as if she were in a competition with Miyuki.

Even though she looked like she was about to drop dead.

Not only had they slowed down noticeably, but they were barely even walking now, refusing to look at each other. They looked like entertainers on a comedy show.

I had intentionally set a pace close to a jog to wear them out a bit, but pushing them any further was out of the question.

Making my decision, I brought them both to a halt and popped the cap off my squeeze water bottle.

At that, both of them stepped forward simultaneously, reaching out without a word.

They were silently demanding I give it to them first.

Never having imagined such a troublesome situation would arise, I hesitated for a moment before turning the bottle upside down.

And then I spoke.

"Both of you, open wide."

Without a second of hesitation, Miyuki and Hiyori stepped up to me and opened their mouths like puppies waiting for a treat.

What kind of bizarre picture was this?

Hiyori was one thing, but I never expected Miyuki to act like this too.

Were we doing a skit?

They must have been genuinely exhausted and desperate for water... It was incredibly awkward.

Ultimately, my choice was to start with Miyuki, squeezing the bottle and shooting water into their mouths like I was squirting ketchup.

Since they weren't right up against the spout, water inevitably spilled down their lips, making the scene strangely erotic.

Could I see them doing this with a different liquid in the distant future?

Just imagining it left me ecstatic; I couldn't even fathom what experiencing it for real would be like.

"Don't drink it all at once, hold it in your mouths..."

Before I could even finish my advice, both swallowed the water in a single gulp.

Right after, they both flashed refreshed expressions. Despite their differing personalities and mutual displeasure with each other, their actions were so... twin-like.

If they got along, wouldn't they sync up incredibly well, just like Renka and Chinami?

Harboring such hopes, I jerked my thumb over my shoulder, pointing toward the house.

"Let's call it a day here, head back, and take a shower."

At that, Miyuki shot a sidelong glance at Hiyori.

She clearly found the idea of sharing a bathroom uncomfortable, but seemed to think forbidding it entirely would be crossing a line.

Miyuki might not be fond of Hiyori, but her kind heart remained the same.

If only Hiyori could understand Miyuki's consideration...

"Can I use the big bathroom?"

Seeing her ask that with such an innocent face, I realized understanding was a concept far, far away from her.

Miyuki let out a sigh of disbelief, looking like she didn't even want to engage with Hiyori anymore, and just let it go.

Then, her eyes fell on Hiyori's legs, and she frowned sharply.

"Wait a minute..."

"Yes?"

Miyuki stared down at a confused Hiyori.

Narrowing her eyes, she scrutinized Hiyori's shoes before speaking, as if she had just remembered something.

".... Were you ever late before?"

At that, Hiyori's body gave a slight jerk, so subtle you wouldn't notice unless you were looking closely.

She had realized that the shoes she was wearing right now were the same ones she had on when she ran away from Miyuki a while back.

"When was this?"

"The week before last? Around then."

"I don't know about last week, but I went to school just fine the week before last."

"You really weren't late?"

"I wasn't. Why do you ask?"

It felt like Hiyori's momentum had faltered slightly.

Naturally. She had evaded a situation where she definitely would have gotten demerit points. Since she still had a conscience, it was bound to sting a little.

"Because your shoes match the girl who ran away back then."

"These are actually pretty popular shoes, so a lot of other people wear them besides me."

"Is that so?"

"Yes. I know you're prejudiced against me, sunbae-nim, but aren't you pegging me as the culprit a bit too blatantly...?"

You were the culprit.

"When did I say you were the culprit for sure? I just asked. You must have a guilty conscience."

"I have nothing to hide. Sunbae-nim..."

Judging by the shape of Hiyori's mouth, it looked like the word 'tone' was about to pop out.

If it went that far, it would stop being a cute bickering match and devolve into a fight that would actually hurt them.

To nip that in the bud, I shoved the water bottle into Hiyori's mouth before she could say another word.

"Mmph!?"

With her mouth firmly plugged, Hiyori instinctively grabbed the bottle.

It felt just like shoving a baby bottle into a crying infant's mouth and instantly quieting them down.

Even in the midst of all this, watching her suck on the water bottle looked oddly sexy.

I grinned at Hiyori, whose eyes had darkened in displeasure, and patted the back of Miyuki, who wore an identical expression, as we headed back home.

Later, I briefly splashed my face at the bathroom sink and stepped outside.

Swaaash—!

The sound of heavy water streams coming from the bathrooms on either side created an atmosphere akin to a lull right before the second round of a war kicked off.

Truthfully, they hadn't even had a proper fight yet, but from my perspective, it was terrifying enough.

Between the two, Miyuki was the first to finish her shower.

She was wearing one of my t-shirts, so boxy that the sleeves hung down to her elbows.

Even the shorts were mine. Considering she usually avoided wearing my pants because they were too big, it seemed like a calculated move to show off to Hiyori.

"Were you two planning to meet up alone?"

Miyuki asked as she walked up to me, drying her hair with a towel.

Unlike her usual calm and thoughtful self, there were thorns in her words.

I stepped behind her and began to dry her hair affectionately as I replied.

"If I had planned to do that, I wouldn't have met her here. We would have worked out somewhere else. I even entrusted you with my house key—why would I pick such a risky spot?"

At that, Miyuki's eyes softened a little.

".... I suppose that's true. But..."

Just as Miyuki was about to continue—clack.

The bathroom door opened, and a freshly showered Hiyori stepped out.

Miyuki's eyes widened when she saw Hiyori wearing a t-shirt so sheer that her orange bra was completely visible.

"W-why did you wear a shirt that's so see-through?"

"It's fashion, why? I normally dress like this."

Hiyori inspected her own body, as if wondering what the problem was.

Staring in bewilderment at the girl wearing shorts so short they barely covered her butt, completely exposing her bare legs, Miyuki spoke.

"If you usually dress like that... then it's not my place to say anything..."

"I'm going to head back now, but can I borrow Matsuken sunbae-nim?"

"Borrow?"

"Yes. He promised to give me a ride. The night streets are scary. It's dangerous."

".... Alright. Let's go together, then."

"Ah, then should we get a late-night snack together?"

"I thought you were losing weight? If you eat after working out, you'll just gain it back."

"Then why are you trying to eat, sunbae-nim? Aren't you on a diet like me?"

"I'm just maintaining my weight."

"But I'm working out to maintain mine too?"

"You literally said you were dieting before we worked out. And just now, too."

Hiyori's lips jutted out in a heavy pout.

She seemed annoyed that her claim was so easily shot down by simple logic.

In contrast, Miyuki's face was much brighter than before.

She looked pleased to have landed a counterattack after seemingly being dragged around by Hiyori the entire time.

Our Hiyori... You should really think before you speak...

I'd have to comfort her well tomorrow.

"Shall we go?"

Saying that, Miyuki pressed her nose against my chest and sniffed.

"The sweat smell isn't too bad, so we can just go quickly and come back... W-what are you doing right now...?"

Drunk on her victory, Miyuki, who had been acting so confident, was suddenly horrified.

Hiyori had abruptly marched up to me, grabbed the hem of my t-shirt, and buried her face in it.

As both Miyuki and I stood there frozen in panic, Hiyori gave a few sniffs and spoke nonchalantly.

"It doesn't smell like sweat, just fabric softener, so it's nice."

I thought things were finally calming down, but it seemed the battle was going to continue.

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