Chapter 400

"Matsuda-kun, are you heading to the School Store?"

"Yeah. Want to come with?"

"I have to grab the teaching materials for my next class. Could you buy me a Strawberry Milk?"

"Got it."

"Thanks."

Miyuki and I chatted as we left the classroom. We parted ways, and I headed for the School Store.

Why did everyone always rush to the School Store right after first period?

While I was pondering that in line, a familiar voice called out from behind me.

"Matsumatsu."

I turned to see Hiyori looking at me, with Miho right beside her.

It had been a while since they had come to the store together.

Miho gave a polite bow. I returned her greeting, then asked Hiyori a question.

"Did you come to buy something?"

"Yep."

For someone who had kissed me just yesterday, she was acting incredibly nonchalant.

She probably didn't intend to pretend it never happened... I wondered what she was up to.

"Could you buy me a Suichu? I'll pay you back."

It was a sudden request.

I gave her a puzzled look and pointed to the spot next to me.

"You can just line up with me. Why?"

"I really have to use the restroom."

"Then you should have gone before coming here."

"It just hit me out of nowhere."

Seeing her make such a flimsy excuse, I could instantly tell she was trying hard to act normal.

Even though she was meeting my gaze and trying to hide it, her embarrassment bled right through. I stared intently at Hiyori's face before replying.

"Alright."

"Thaaanks."

"Mitsushima, what do you want?"

When I gently asked her that, Miho looked flustered and opened her mouth to speak.

"Ah, I..."

Right then, Hiyori quickly grabbed her arm and pulled her away.

"W-What...? What's wrong?"

Miho's eyes widened as she questioned Hiyori's strange behavior, but naturally, no answer came.

It looked exactly like a shrimp's back bursting in a whale fight.

I chuckled as I watched them disappear toward the building. After buying a few snacks, I pulled out my phone to leave Hiyori a message.

But there was no need for that at all.

Because Hiyori was waiting for me in front of the shoe lockers as soon as I entered the building.

"Did you buy it?"

Showing up wherever I went to demand items made her seem like... a student ghost handing out quests in a school horror game.

"Yeah. But where's Mitsushima?"

"Miho went back to the classroom."

I figured she had sent her back first.

Glad I had picked up some snacks Miho might like, I held out a small plastic bag to Hiyori.

"Here."

"What's with the bag?"

"I bought a few things for you guys to share."

"Really? How much was it?"

"Don't worry about it. It's my treat."

"Why?"

"Don't ask so many questions. When an adult gives you something, just take it."

"We're only a year apart."

"You don't want it?"

"Ah, no...!"

Hiyori practically snatched the bag from my hand, a look of pure glee spreading across her face.

Seeing her rejoice like a child made me happy too.

As I was thinking that, Hiyori spotted the Strawberry Milk in my hand and asked.

"What's with the Strawberry Milk?"

"It's Miyuki's."

"Give it to me."

Look at that wicked temper. Her face was full of greed.

To think she was boldly reaching out to steal the Strawberry Milk after getting along so well with Miyuki during the school trip...

Of course she was joking, but I still worried a great deal.

I wondered if I needed to give her a spanking.

"No."

"Hand it over."

"You don't want your snacks?"

"Are you blackmailing me with that? Do you know how mean it is to give something and then take it back?"

"Then behave yourself. You wore a pretty skirt today, didn't you?"

Her eyes momentarily avoided my gaze.

It seemed yesterday's events had just replayed in her head.

She looked down at her skirt, which fell below her knees, and changed the subject.

"Matsumatsu, summer break is coming up soon."

"Right."

"Can I come over to hang out at your place often during the break?"

"Sure. Just make sure to contact me first instead of showing up out of nowhere."

"Why? Would it be a problem if I barged in while you were doing something naughty?"

What a ridiculous provocation.

I let out a silent chuckle and countered.

"What kind of naughty things are you talking about?"

"Huh?"

Hiyori blinked her large eyes.

She had a look on her face that said she absolutely hadn't expected me to fire back.

"I'm asking what those naughty things are."

"Well... doesn't anything come to mind?"

"No?"

"Stop lying...!"

Reading my shameless expression, she threw a bashful little tantrum that was incredibly cute.

She stretched both arms down past her waist and tilted her head up—a posture just like a child rebelling against an adult. Looking down at her, I spoke.

"Anyway, call before you come. Whatever else you do, it's basic manners to contact someone before visiting their home."

"I don't want to."

"You can do that, right?"

"...Yes."

Even though she was going to listen perfectly well, she always had to act stubborn once, just like Renka.

With a satisfied smile, I stared intently, very intently, at Hiyori's face.

To be precise, it was her lips.

"W-What is it...!"

She grew extremely flustered upon realizing where my gaze was resting.

It was funny how she tried so hard to act tough when it wasn't working at all.

I flashed a grin at her cute behavior, tapped my own lower lip with a finger, and asked.

"Did you change your lip color?"

"Huh?"

"The color looks a bit different from usual."

"Ah, yeah. I got a separate lip tint called Cool Peach."

"What's Cool Peach?"

"A cool peach."

"That's the name of the lip tint?"

"That's right."

She could have just called it a cool pink tone...

It seemed like employees in the cosmetics industry had a really hard time coming up with names.

Anyway, a peach... Chinami would absolutely love that, wouldn't she?

I should remember it and buy some for her.

"Why are your nails so glossy?"

"Because I put on nail tips."

"You really do all sorts of things."

"Today, I'm going to get another ear piercing too. Right here."

I couldn't just leave our Hiyori alone during the summer break.

She'd probably go wild and try out every kind of accessory and adornment.

I lightly tapped the ahoge on her head as she brushed her hair aside to show me one ear, and spoke.

"Let's keep that in moderation. You're already pretty without it, so why try to hang all those things on yourself?"

It was just a casually thrown, passing compliment.

At that, Hiyori's ears flushed slightly red.

"Whatever. I'm going to do it."

She said that, but I knew.

I knew Hiyori wouldn't actually go get a piercing today.

She wasn't getting obviously bashful like she used to, but that look on her face as she tried to hide her feelings turned me on immensely.

Wouldn't it be quite the picture if I could have my first time with Hiyori over the summer break?

After briefly entertaining that thought, I grabbed Hiyori's shoulders and spun her around.

Then I gave her back a gentle push toward the stairs.

"Go on in. It's almost time for class."

The faint lemon scent wafting into my nose felt like a signal flare for summer vacation.

After lightly scolding Hiyori, who had tensed up, I walked up the stairs with her.

"Head!"

Thwack-!

With a concise kiai, Renka's shinai struck her classmate's head.

A clean strike to the striking area. It was an Ippon, without a doubt.

"Ippon!"

As expected, Director Goro, who was acting as the referee, raised his flag.

Perhaps because the tournament was right around the corner, there were more sparring days lately, and the sound of the strikes refreshed my mind.

Renka's attacks were just that crisp and exhilarating.

"Your hands must be itching, huh?"

Chinami approached and asked as I stood watching.

I looked down with affectionate eyes at the girl I always wanted to hug whenever I saw her, and replied.

"Not quite that much."

"That's a shame."

"By the way, Master, do you not do any sparring yourself? I haven't seen you do it, except for a few times before the school trip."

"I've been practicing separately with Renka."

"Really? When?"

"Lately, I've been dropping by Renka's house frequently after school. There's a separate training room for Kendo at her house, so we do it there."

"Interesting. Do you only do Kendo there?"

"What? What do you mean?"

Chinami tilted her head to the side.

She looked like she completely failed to understand the implication of my words.

I decided I shouldn't bother explaining in detail and taint the pure Chinami with the wicked ways of the world.

"It's nothing. You haven't forgotten your promise to stay over at my house for a night after the tournament, right?"

"N-No...! But that's a matter I still need to think over a little bit..."

"Didn't you say the exact same thing last time?"

"Ah, I just haven't sorted out my thoughts yet..."

Seeing Chinami become shy in an instant, my hands actually started itching to give her a soft, squishy massage.

I was smiling warmly down at the adorable girl when Renka, having just finished her sparring match, walked over. I immediately scrunched up my face.

Seeing this, Renka, who was wiping the light sweat from her face with a towel, flared up in anger.

"What's that? What's your problem...!"

"What do you mean?"

"Why are you scowling at me? Do you want to die?"

Spending a night at Miyuki's house to deepen our love, attempting my first time with Hiyori, a threesome with two girls closer than real sisters, and even Renka's neglect play...

Mhm. I was going to have a lot to do over the summer break.

"Hey...! Are you ignoring me?"

Noticing that I was lost in thought, Renka raised her voice while glancing around at our surroundings.

And whenever Renka acted like this, Chinami would invariably step in to stop her.

"Close friend, what do you mean by 'do you want to die' to our junior? Your words are far too harsh."

"No, Chinami...! Why are you only strict with me...! He just gave me a rotten look right where you couldn't see him...!"

Chinami looked at me with eyes that asked if that was really true.

I shrugged my shoulders and shamelessly made an excuse.

"I think the President misunderstood when I was suddenly about to sneeze."

"Is that so?"

"Of course."

Renka let out a dry, baffled laugh, utterly dumbfounded.

It looked like she was about to go crazy from frustration at our perfect little routine.

Whenever the three of us talked, Chinami often took my side.

But Renka had brought this entirely upon herself.

Why? Because she must have talked behind my back whenever she was alone with Chinami.

Who would ever believe the boy who cried wolf... or rather, the girl?

Karma. It was karma.

It was fun seeing Renka feel so wronged, but I also wanted to see her get all anxious when I ignored her.

I was really looking forward to seeing what kind of amusing picture that would paint.

Renka pounded her chest, pleading her innocence.

Gently patting her lower back, Chinami spoke.

"You should eat some peaches whenever you're not feeling well."

Now that I thought about it, summer was the season for peaches.

Chinami must be incredibly happy. She would probably pile them up like a mountain at home and slowly whittle them down with her mother, Momoka.

Thinking of Momoka made me want to meet Renka's mother.

I hadn't seen her face, but I was sure she looked exactly like Renka.

Having enjoyed that lighthearted little incident, I wrapped up my club activities and met up with Miyuki.

She looked slightly exhausted, likely because Student Council work had ramped up with summer break just around the corner, so I resolved to let her rest well today.

"Matsuda-kun, Inoo-sunbae is the president of the Kendo Club, right? And Senior Nanase is the manager."

Miyuki asked, sinking deep into the passenger seat's backrest.

I nodded as I started the engine and drove off.

"That's right."

"Then could you tell the two of them that I'll be dropping by the Kendo Club tomorrow? Tell the director, too."

"Why the Kendo Club?"

"I'm planning to visit for the next semester's budget review."

"You're not the one in charge of accounting, are you?"

"I volunteered to handle the Kendo Club. I wanted to see you in your Kendo Uniform for the first time in a while, Matsuda-kun."

It was always nice to hear Miyuki's affection pop out in her own unique way.

I chuckled, letting out a faint breath through my nose, and brought today's peaceful Academy life to a close as we drove out the main gate.