Chapter 383

Miyuki kept glancing around as she stuffed something into her bag.

The item in question was her underwear.

Aside from special occasions, Miyuki was always like this.

She was too embarrassed to let me see her underwear, so she hid it like that, and she always wore a T-shirt and shorts straight out of the shower.

Even though we’d already done everything and I’d seen all there was to see.

"What are you trying so hard to hide?"

Startled, Miyuki shoved her underwear deep into her bag.

After neatly stacking her toiletries, towels, and other items on top, she turned back to me and changed the subject.

"Is there anything good on TV?"

Hiyori would probably act the exact opposite of Miyuki, wouldn't she?

She could be shy, but she also had a rather bold side. For our first time together, she would probably show up in something incredibly provocative and call it her "battle lingerie."

"Nothing's on."

"Are you hungry?"

"We just ate thirty minutes ago."

"Ah, right."

Tapping the side of her forehead as if she’d forgotten, Miyuki walked over to where I was lying.

Sitting with her hip pressed against my waist, she patted my stomach.

"What are you doing?"

"Nothing. Just telling you good job on your exams."

"Suddenly?"

"Why not? They're over, so I can do this."

"True. But..."

"Yeah?"

"If you don't feel up to swimming, don't worry about what others think. Just tell me."

I was talking about the mild trauma she'd developed around water after nearly drowning.

Realizing this, Miyuki asked in a quiet, soft voice.

"You want to hang out somewhere else?"

"I would."

"Thanks for being so considerate. I can just splash around in the shallow water with the kids who can't swim. Plus, since I'm on the Student Council, I'll have to step away a lot to keep an eye on everyone. Especially since we're going with the first-years, I need to make sure they don't wander off."

"Is that so?"

"Yeah. Still, we'll have plenty of time in the evening, so let's hang out at the Lodging together. We can explore the area, too."

"Got it. Are you staying over today?"

"No. I need to head home and hang out with my sister. She says she's bored because I've been sleeping over here way too much lately."

If that was the case, I could just invite Kanna to my house as well.

There were plenty of things to do with the sisters.

Swallowing those words, I smacked my lips in disappointment and nodded.

"When are you leaving?"

"In about ten minutes?"

"I'll give you a ride then."

"Thank you, Matsuda-kun."

Couples who had dated for a long time tended to get stingy with their thanks and apologies, but it was really nice that Miyuki wasn't like that.

Of course, I hadn't been dating Miyuki for a long time, but I knew she wouldn't change.

I had that kind of faith in her.

Anyway, why was it 'Matsuda-kun' again? She was just calling me by my first name earlier.

Was it just more comfortable? I suppose it made sense, since she had called me by my surname for so long.

Even I would probably feel a bit awkward if she called me by my first name now.

After rolling around on the mattress with Miyuki for a while, I drove her home when the time came.

Afterward, I returned home, used my Cell Phone camera to take a picture of the bag I had packed with Miyuki, and sent it to Hiyori.

Bzzzt!

[I see it. Pack two bottles of ice water tomorrow and give them to me when we get off the bus.]

Was she fiddling with her Cell Phone at a cafe?

Her reply was incredibly fast.

[Am I your porter?]

[Please♥]

What was with the heart at the end? How sly of her.

Did she send emojis like that to other guys too?

I chose to believe she didn't.

[No.]

[Why? I even asked nicely.]

[It doesn't move me because your ulterior motive is too obvious.]

[Did I get caught? Please do it anyway. Our freezer at home is full, so I can't put ice water in.]

[Just ask Mitsushima.]

[I want you to bring it to me, sunbae-nim.]

Sincerity is hard to convey through mere text, but this time it really did seem like she meant it.

I would make a special exception. But this wouldn't be free; she would have to pay me back later.

[Got it.]

[Thank you. I'll give you a snack as a reward.]

She was treating me like a five-year-old child.

But why were the corners of my mouth curling up on their own?

Was Hiyori making the same expression right now?

With that thought, I tapped on my Cell Phone keypad.

[I don't need it.]

[Then what about a dirty picture?]

[I might actually need that a bit.]

[Just a second.]

Seeing Hiyori's reply, I doubted she would actually do it, but before I could even send a message saying I was joking, she sent a picture, making me let out a hollow laugh of sheer disbelief.

At the same time, I felt the blood rush straight down to my nether regions.

Sticking her tongue out playfully and winking, she had placed her index finger on the button of her dress shirt and pulled it down to reveal her cleavage...

That was the picture she had sent.

Judging by the angle and the timing, she must have taken the picture in advance.

From the text message with the heart emoji to this picture...

She was practically telling me to come and eat her up.

Just let her show an opening tomorrow. I would pounce on her right then and there.

[Are you satisfied?]

As I tapped the photo to admire it on the full screen, Hiyori's follow-up message abruptly snapped me out of my daze.

[Do you have a death wish?]

[About what?]

[Stop acting so promiscuous.]

[You told me to send it, so I did. What's with the nagging?]

[It's not that. I'm telling you not to take pictures in poses like that when you're outside.]

[I took it at home, though?]

[Then never mind. I'm sorry.]

[Annoying.]

[Go inside. It's late.]

[I was just about to go. We have a lot of playing to do tomorrow, after all.]

[Good idea. Go to sleep early. It'd be a disaster if you overslept.]

[Gotcha.]

Finishing my messages with Hiyori, I spread out like a starfish on the mattress.

My heart wasn't exactly pounding, but I was definitely looking forward to it.

What I wanted most was for the cold war between Miyuki and Hiyori to ease up a little.

Praying that would happen tomorrow, I set my alarm for early in the morning and closed my eyes.

"There are so many buses."

Seeing the buses lined up in front of the school gates, Miyuki responded to my observation in a worried tone.

"Because it's the first and second years combined."

With so many students, she seemed worried that they wouldn't be able to manage them well.

A capable girl like Miyuki would do a great job at anything, but she was underestimating herself.

There were other Student Council members as well, and they planned to relay instructions to each class representative, so it wouldn't be difficult to lead them.

"Tell me if you need help."

"Will you come running right away?"

"Yeah."

"How reliable. I'll keep that in mind."

Miyuki smiled brightly, gently rubbing my thigh.

I couldn't tell if she was trying to reassure me or if she was doing it to reassure herself.

It was highly likely to be both.

After finishing parking on campus, I headed off when Miyuki told me to go to the bus first, as she needed to meet a senior in the Student Council.

Carrying her bag and mine on each shoulder, I exchanged greetings with classmates I bumped into and headed toward the first-year buses where Hiyori was.

There were a lot of people, but I was able to find Hiyori incredibly easily.

All I had to do was look for her blonde hair, especially that one cowlick sticking up, so there was no way it would be hard.

Carefully weaving through the crowd, I approached Hiyori and called out to her as she chatted harmoniously with Miho.

"Asahina."

Hiyori snapped her head around, raising her hand with a bright expression.

"Matsumatsu! Hi."

She was dressed casually in a white T-shirt and denim shorts.

The way her student ID lanyard hung around her neck, dropping down past her chest, looked somewhat erotic.

She wasn't showing as much skin as I'd expected, making me wonder if she was planning to show off to her heart's content at the beach.

Taking the two promised bottles of ice water out of my bag, I held them out to Hiyori.

"Take these."

"Oh."

Hiyori let out a marveling sound as she accepted the rock-solid plastic bottles in both hands.

Was that her only reaction?

I couldn't tell if she was just playing it cool or if she genuinely lacked any reaction.

Glancing over at me as I zipped my bag, Hiyori smiled brightly and handed one of the bottles to Miho.

Then, she passed the credit to me.

"Sunbae-nim packed one for you, too."

When she acted like this, Hiyori seemed full of consideration... but she also had a habit of slamming the accelerator when you least expected it.

"Thank you."

Waving off Miho's polite bow, I spoke to Hiyori.

"I'm going."

"Already? You need to get your reward."

"What reward?"

Pulling a pack of Suichu out of the large travel bag on her back, Hiyori forced my hand open and placed it on my palm.

"I said I'd give you a snack."

"Do you really have to call it a snack like a kid?"

"Don't you like it? Then should I pat your butt instead?"

"Didn't I tell you to hold back on saying stuff like that when people are around?"

"Who cares? It's not even dirty."

"I meant don't say frivolous things. You can hold back, right?"

When I spoke in a quiet, soft voice as if coaxing a child, her lips pressed tightly together and her eyes darted back and forth.

She seemed to be feeling shy, probably remembering the time I called her by her actual first name, Hiyori.

Chuckling at her adorable reaction, I handed two bags of jelly I had bought beforehand to Miho.

I told her to share them with Hiyori on the way, then headed back to the bus my class would be riding.

And there, I found Tetsuya asking the surrounding students if they had seen Miyuki.

It was a nice day, but my mood completely soured after seeing a piece of shit first thing in the morning.

I resolved to absolutely not get involved with that bastard today of all days.

As I was thinking that, Miyuki walked over with the Vice Representative just in time and spoke.

"Guys, could you line up in four rows in front of me for a quick headcount? For those who need to use the restroom, I'll give you time after I'm done, so go then."

The noisy atmosphere quieted down in an instant.

The students gathered in front of Miyuki, getting into neat rows and columns.

Flashing a gentle smile, Miyuki began counting the excited students one by one, pointing with her hand.

It was a moment that put the worries she had shared in the car to shame.

Our Miyuki had a subtle charisma to her.

When she said something, it just made people want to follow her.

Approaching me where I stood in the very back row, Miyuki flicked her index finger as if counting, then secretly gave my waist a soft pinch where no one else could see.

Having reprimanded me for standing there with my weight shifted onto one leg, she announced that she would do another headcount on the bus and gave the students fifteen minutes of free time.

Watching Miyuki's back as she headed off somewhere again, I called out to Bread Girl, who was looking around and timidly taking a bite of her bread.

"Hey."

"Cough."

"If you have any extra bread, want to trade for a drink?"

"Cough... Yeah..."

"By the way, aren't you going to the restroom?"

"I-I don't need to go..."

"Is that so? Then let's get on."

"Ah, okay..."

What kind of swimsuit would Bread Girl wear? I suddenly got curious.

It would definitely be plain, but there was a certain kind of appeal that came from that, too.

Thinking that I'd get to see a different side of many students today, I boarded the bus alongside Bread Girl.