Chapter 389

I caught sight of Miho's back as she waited outside the restroom for Hiyori.

Come to think of it, what kind of swimsuit would Miho wear to the beach?

Since she was an honor student and seemed entirely uninterested in fashion, she'd probably wear a school swimsuit just like the one she wore at the pool.

"Mitsushima."

"Yes?"

"Drink this."

I handed Miho a tumbler-shaped bottle of Melon Milk. She took it and bowed her head.

"Thank you. I'll enjoy it."

"You worked hard today."

"Worked hard...? What do you mean?"

"Nothing. Did you have fun at the beach today?"

"Yes. I hung out with Hiyori and her friends before dinner."

I had sent her back to rest, but she'd gone right back out.

I was going to have to keep Hiyori on a tighter leash.

Left to her own devices, she'd wander off to god knows where like a runaway puppy.

"I see. Glad to hear you're enjoying yourself."

"It was more exhausting than enjoyable. The other kids kept trying to wander off..."

As the class representative, she must have been stressing over keeping the other students in line.

What an exemplary attitude. Miyuki would absolutely love her.

While I was chatting with Miho in that still-awkward atmosphere, Hiyori emerged from the restroom.

She scratched her nose with a damp hand, looked at me, and blurted out something out of the blue.

"I'm sleepy."

"Then go to sleep."

"I will. I'll be on my way, then."

Hiyori brought her fingertips to her forehead and lazily flicked them away in a half-hearted salute.

After tossing out that goodbye like a jaded soldier who had been in the service way too long, she grabbed Miho by the arm and dragged her away.

"What are you doing...? Um... ah, goodbye...!"

I raised a hand in farewell to Miho's flustered voice, then watched Hiyori's stride.

She was moving with long, quick steps. Was she hurrying because she didn't want to run into Miyuki, who was still inside the Convenience Store?

Or was this some sort of silent protest against me?

Figuring it was highly likely to be both, I walked over to Miyuki just as she emerged from the Convenience Store with a plastic bag in hand.

"What did you buy?"

"Gummies, snacks... this and that. Where did Asahina and Mitsushima go?"

"They said they were heading back first."

"Really? But Matsuda-kun, didn't you buy a drink earlier?"

"I did. I gave it to Mitsushima."

"Oh, really? Mitsushima is super nice. Isn't she the class rep?"

Unlike with Hiyori, Miyuki seemed to feel a sense of kinship with Miho because of their similar temperaments.

"Yeah."

"I should look into her a bit and recommend her for the Student Council. Let's go."

I threw my arm around Miyuki's shoulders, letting my hand drape over her far arm.

At that, Miyuki slipped her hand into mine, intertwining our fingers right around chest level.

Delighted by her unhesitating affection, I headed toward my room with her.

I tapped the keycard to the lock, and the door opened with a beep.

Stepping inside, I immediately wrapped my arms around Miyuki's waist just as she spotted my swim trunks hanging on the bathroom towel rack and opened her mouth to nag me.

Startled by the sudden display of affection, she gasped as I buried my face against her chest.

"Wait... Matsuda-kun...! We were going to talk."

"We'll talk after this."

"No... First, like we promised at the restaurant..."

"I know."

"Don't just answer me, stay still for a second..."

"I said I know."

"Matsuda-kun...! Hold on...!"

Miyuki tried to push my head away, but she lacked the strength to actually do it.

I pressed my lips against her chest and blew out a warm breath, then pushed her shuddering body down onto the bed.

"Why are you suddenly acting like this...! Are you trying to avoid talking... eek...!"

Miyuki's already large eyes widened even further as a high-pitched moan escaped her lips.

I had forcefully parted her raised knees and slid my hand between her legs.

Her toes curled instantly. Grabbing her slender ankles, I spoke.

"Who said we aren't going to talk? Let's do it after this."

"T-then, just a little... let me take a shower first..."

"You can shower after this, too."

"You're being so pushy... You didn't show any signs of wanting to do this just a moment ago...!"

"Be quiet."

"Wait a minute...! Wait...!"

Why did Miyuki look so incredibly hot while frantically trying to squirm away from me?

Lately, Miyuki had been the one making the first move, so taking the lead like this for the first time in a while made the whole dynamic feel fresh.

It felt like we were back in the early days of our relationship.

Ignoring Miyuki's continuous pleas to wait, I climbed on top of her.

"First... how about we turn on the TV...?"

Miyuki offered a cautious suggestion, crossing her arms protectively over her chest.

I pinned her wrists down to the bedsheets and answered in a low voice.

"I don't want to."

"R-really...? Then I won't do it... Roll call is coming up soon, anyway..."

How could she say that with a face so utterly full of anticipation?

It seemed Miyuki secretly liked it when I acted this way, too.

"Just go back briefly for roll call."

Informing her of my decision with the thought that I should enjoy this dynamic more often, I leaned down to press my lips against the faint outline of abs on either side of her navel.

Observing Miyuki jolt violently at the contact, I continued to caress her.

"Ahem... No other issues, right...?"

Miyuki directed the formal question at me as I stood leaning casually against the doorframe with one arm.

Gazing intently at her reddening face as she held a notebook and pen, I shook my head.

"No."

"Right... That's a relief."

She was clearly aroused.

It was only natural, considering she had scrambled out of the room in a panic after receiving a text from her homeroom teacher right in the middle of our intense session just before roll call.

As proof, Miyuki's normally neat hair was a complete mess.

The light lip tint she'd applied had long since been kissed off.

I stared intently at Miyuki's bright pink bare lips, chuckling when she averted her gaze in embarrassment.

"W-what are you laughing at...? What's so funny...?"

Flaring up, Miyuki stammered out her demand.

I just shrugged casually and silently motioned with my eyes toward our classmates chatting by the entrance to the next room.

It was a silent warning to lower her voice if she didn't want them to find out what we'd just been doing.

Catching my meaning, the blush on Miyuki's face deepened.

"...Matsuda-kun, you have a bad attitude... That's one demerit point."

She was using the same kind of absurd logic Hiyori had tried to pull earlier.

Smirking at how adorable she was, I replied.

"I didn't even do anything wrong."

"Because I feel like it."

"Are you running a dictatorship just because you're the class rep?"

"Whatever...! A-anyway, don't go outside the Hotel from now on. Keep in mind that the Convenience Store in the lobby is the limit."

"Why? Because you're coming right back to see me?"

Miyuki's head whipped back around at that.

Seeing that our classmates were still busy joking around, she heaved a sigh of relief. Then she glared at me with a pout and dropped her voice to a whisper.

"How can you say something like that...! What if they hear you..."

"I said it quietly so they wouldn't."

"...Anyway, I'm just relaying the announcement, so don't even go out for some fresh air. The teachers are standing guard, so you'll definitely get caught and receive demerits."

"Is it because of the kids trying to sneak out for a night swim?"

"Yeah."

"Pretty strict."

"It's dangerous, so it can't be helped. I have to go see the homeroom teacher for a bit after roll call, okay? So use your free time to study or something, Matsuda-kun."

"As if. Exams are already over."

"You only improve if you study consistently."

Finding Miyuki incredibly cute as she spouted words she didn't even mean, I covertly tickled under her chin, slowly trailing my hand lower.

"Eek...!"

She flinched and pulled away from me the moment my fingers brushed her collarbone, then raised her voice to announce that roll call was over.

At the same time, the students started filing back into their rooms one by one.

Watching them, Miyuki breathed a sigh of relief and said, "I'll be right back."

"Are you going now? Where to?"

"To the lobby."

"Let's go together then. I have something to buy at the Convenience Store."

"What are you buying?"

"A drink."

"Really? Okay."

I went down to the lobby with Miyuki, who had readily nodded in agreement. While she chatted with the other class reps and a teacher about this and that, I popped into the Convenience Store.

Afterward, as I walked out with another bottle of the Melon Milk I had given Mitsushima earlier, I spotted Hiyori sitting on the circular bench in the center of the lobby.

'What's going on?'

She looked on the verge of tears, and a small crowd of students—including Miyuki—had gathered around her.

A few of the classmates I'd seen in Hiyori's classroom were there, all wearing worried expressions.

Wondering what was up, I observed the situation from a distance and saw that Hiyori's foot was bleeding.

Not a lot, but not a little, either.

She was claiming a jellyfish had stung her, but it was obviously a lie.

Hiyori's wound wasn't on the top of her foot or around her leg—it was right on the sole.

That was a spot highly unlikely to be stung by a jellyfish.

The bleeding was suspicious, too.

Miyuki must have had the exact same thought; she was examining Hiyori's injury with highly skeptical eyes.

Then, she shot her an incredulous look.

"Looks like you just scraped it on a jagged rock. That's not a sting."

"...Is it?"

"Yeah."

"But it stings?"

"It stings because it's a scrape. Wait right here. Don't put your foot on the floor."

Miyuki fetched a first-aid kit from the information desk and pulled out some antiseptic.

She laid a towel over her own lap, carefully rested Hiyori's dainty foot on top of it, and applied the antiseptic.

"Ah!"

Hiyori let out a shriek the second the medicine made contact, curling her toes tightly.

Catching her ankle as Hiyori thrashed her leg around, Miyuki gave her an exasperated look and spoke.

"Hold still. Stop acting like a baby."

"I'm not acting, it genuinely hurts...!! It's bleeding so much!"

"It's not bleeding that much. And the cut isn't deep."

"You're only saying that because you haven't been hurt like this, sunbae-nim!"

"I've cut my foot before, too."

"Mine isn't a cut, it's a tear?"

"It tore because it was cut, so calling it a cut is perfectly accurate."

"No it's not?"

"Yes it is."

Hmm, hmm. That was a bit too cute to be an argument between romantic rivals.

I supposed that was how they would grow closer.

While I was busy having these positive thoughts, Miyuki finished applying the antiseptic, slapped on a band-aid, and gave Hiyori's calf a light pat to signal she was done.

She looked just like a mother soothing her tomboy daughter... A pleased smile naturally found its way to my face.

"All done. Just keep your slippers clean and get some rest."

"...Okay. Thank you."

Hiyori's thanks were haughty, yet undeniably sincere.

When Miyuki's eyes widened in surprise, Hiyori immediately launched into a lengthy, defensive explanation, clearly feeling stung.

"Well, obviously this is a situation where I should say thank you. I have at least that much manners, you know? Don't tell me you thought I wouldn't even say thank you?"

"No, well... I didn't think that, but..."

"Never mind then."

"Is roll call over?"

"Yes."

"Then you guys... there are six of you in total? That's two demerit points for everyone. I'll give you a piece of paper, so write down your names before you go. I've memorized your faces, so don't even think about writing fake ones."

"Demerits? Why?"

"Because we were told not to go out after roll call, and you went out."

"But we just went for a walk?"

"Why would you take a walk to the beach?"

"They said it was fine."

"There is absolutely no teacher who would permit you to go outside at this hour. Lie to me, and I'll make it three points."

Hiyori clamped her mouth shut and jutted out her lips.

I was just thinking how funny it was that she was practically admitting she'd lied, and was about to approach Miyuki.

"Aren't you being too harsh? No matter how you look at it, three demerit points is a bit much."

A male student with his face scrunched up in a frown piped up to protest.

His voice was full of anger; he was clearly trying to score points with Hiyori by taking her side.

Rage immediately flared up inside me, but just as I was about to stride over to him, Hiyori beat me to the punch and scolded him.

"You just stay quiet. What do you think you're doing right now?"

The boy's face went completely blank at her irritated rebuke.

He was likely thrown off because Hiyori, who had just been snapping at Miyuki a moment ago, had suddenly changed her tune.

It felt a bit like, 'I'm allowed to argue with her, but you aren't.'

I didn't know whether to call her actions incredibly endearing or utterly mischievous.

Regardless, deciding that standing by quietly would only lead to me blowing a fuse over Hiyori's so-called friends, I swiftly stepped up to Miyuki to shield her.

"What are you doing here?"

Instantly, both Hiyori and Miyuki's faces lit up with gladness the moment they saw me.

They really did share some similarities.

With that thought in mind, I glared at the male student who had raised his voice at Miyuki and continued.

"If she tells you to write down your name, write it down and leave."

"...Yes."

Strong against the weak, weak against the strong. It was exactly the type of personality both Miyuki and Hiyori despised the most.

I really wanted to punch that face of his, so full of complaints and petty malice.

If it weren't for what Miyuki had told me in the past, I would have already knocked all his teeth out.

Having made the five guys and girls write down their names like that, Miyuki sent them all back to their rooms, leaving only Hiyori behind.

"Why am I staying behind...? Are you going to torture me?"

Miyuki looked down at Hiyori's feigned fear with sheer exasperation, then pulled me aside, stepping away from her.

"Do you know what's going on?"

"Roughly."

"Then I'm going to run to the school nurse for a bit. She told me to let her know immediately if anyone got hurt. She might need to go to the hospital, so could you keep a close eye on her for me?"

The school nurse came? Since when?

I hadn't seen her... Did she come separately?

I wondered if I should make some time to go see her holy breasts.

"Sure. But where did all the teachers go?"

"They dispersed after their meeting ended."

"What about the teacher guarding the exit?"

"He went to grab some chairs."

"Talk about ironic timing."

"Tell me about it. But she's really not a bad kid...?"

She's not a bad kid...?

Miyuki must have been deeply impressed that Hiyori had actually thanked her.

"Asahina? I told you she was nice."

"She's not exactly nice, either."

"You think so?"

"Yeah."

"Got it."

"If she says anything weird, tell her I'll give her another demerit."

Saying things she didn't even mean.

No, she might actually be half-serious.

I agreed, and as Miyuki patted my back and headed off, I walked over to Hiyori and sat down next to her while she let out a long yawn, looking like she didn't have a care in the world.

"Which way did you sneak out?"

"Through the fire escape."

"Thought so. Are you done causing trouble for now?"

"I'll make sure not to get caught next time."

The nonsense she spewed was enough to make the back of my neck throb.

I let out a dry, dumbfounded laugh and reprimanded her.

"I'm being serious here."

"...I know. I'll try."

"Didn't Mitsushima say anything?"

"I sneaked out secretly. Miho hates this kind of stuff, so if she knew, she probably would have chewed me out completely, right?"

"Isn't it better to hang out with a real friend who actually worries about you?"

A deep sigh escaped Hiyori's lips as I indirectly took a jab at the male student who had dared to talk back to Miyuki earlier.

"I'm not going to put up with it anymore, either. I don't like them."

She really meant it. Thank goodness.

"When did you ever hold back?"

"My foot hurts so much I can't walk, so give me a piggyback."

At least scowl a bit when you say something like that.

You look so calm and collected that it doesn't look like it hurts you at all.

I stared at Hiyori in utter disbelief as she shamelessly changed the subject, then asked.

"Where are you planning to go?"

"I want to rest in the Lodging. Please take me to Miho."

"Miyuki just went to the head teacher, didn't she? She said you might have to go to the hospital."

"Are you telling me to just sit here when we don't even know how long that will take? I'll rest in my room, and if I have to go to the hospital, I'll come back out."

"If she said to wait, just wait. Listening to her won't do you any harm."

"You're so mean."

"Want some Melon Milk?"

"Yep."

She dropped her sulky act and instantly changed her expression.

Clicking my tongue, I popped the cap off the milk and handed it to Hiyori.

"How's the foot?"

"Aren't you asking a bit too late? I already said it hurts."

"Looks fine to me."

I figured the incident that had just occurred was... the kind of event that would slightly change the impression Miyuki and Hiyori had of each other.

It was exactly the situation I had been hoping for, so it put me in a good mood.

I was worried about Hiyori getting hurt, but since it wasn't severe enough to impede her mobility, I didn't think I needed to fret too much.

"It's delicious... You should have a sip too, sunbae-nim. I drank straight from the bottle, so my lips touched it."

Chuckling at Hiyori as she emphasized that she had put her lips on it, I took the milk back and closed the cap.

"Why aren't you drinking...!"

I was just about to smack Hiyori on the thigh as she put on a hurt act, but stopped when I saw Miyuki returning from afar.