Chapter 92

"It would've been better if the three of us hung out instead of just you two... You should've called me."

"Sorry. I'll call you next time."

Miyuki and Tetsuya were murmuring back and forth.

Even though they were whispering, I could hear every word of Tetsuya's pathetic, clinging tone.

"Did you come straight here as soon as you met up?"

Don't try to fish for answers like that. Just ask her straight out what we did together and what's going on between us, you little bastard.

This was exactly why I kept wanting to mess with him.

After paying for the Bogu Renka had picked out, I walked over and cut into their conversation before Miyuki could even answer.

"What are you two whispering about?"

Tetsuya flinched and turned his head.

"Ah, Matsuda... Are you done paying?"

"Yeah. Where's your stuff?"

"Right here..."

Tetsuya pointed to a corner of the shop.

Sitting there was a box containing his Bogu, along with a long, packaged box.

"Looks like you bought a shinai too?"

"I'm thinking of entering a tournament if I get the chance... I bought it so I can start breaking it in to fit my hands."

"Yeah? I'm rooting for you."

"Thanks. Did you only buy the Bogu?"

"Yeah. I'll get a shinai later."

It was a bit contradictory to come all the way out here for proper training only to skip buying a shinai, arguably the most important piece of equipment... but it couldn't be helped.

Why? Because I planned to buy my shinai with Chinami.

Watching the two of them start getting ready to leave, I approached Renka, who was chatting with the shop owner, and gave her a slight nod.

"Thanks for picking it out for me."

"Don't mention it. It wasn't hard. Don't forget to fold the futon diagonally to break it in."

I might be an undesirable junior to her, but since I was a club member, it seemed she decided to do me a favor.

If she truly hated me, she wouldn't have picked out the Bogu for me in the first place.

"Right. I'll keep that in mind."

"Good."

I stepped closer to Renka as she gave a quiet nod and asked her a question.

"Also, what was the name of that store you told me about last time?"

"What store?"

"You know the one. The place where I bought the figure."

"There? Ac... Ahem... Well... I don't really remember? Was it Action Mania...?"

She almost blurted out the figure shop's name naturally before quickly trying to gloss over it.

It was hilarious watching her let her guard down.

'You should stay on high alert so you can block me when I come in swinging like that.'

"Ah, right. Action Mania. I remember now."

"Looks like you have another figure you want to buy?"

"I was just thinking of looking around. Should I buy you something as thanks for picking out the Bogu?"

"N-no need... I'm fine."

'Did she just look tempted for a second?'

'If you keep piling up the karma like this... it's going to be extremely embarrassing when you finally get caught.'

I already knew exactly which anime Renka liked, so I figured I'd drop by tomorrow or the day after to buy her a small gift.

Stepping out of the shop, I loaded the box into the trunk of my car.

Then I called out to Tetsuya.

"Hey, Miura."

"Huh?"

"What about your stuff?"

"I just asked them to deliver it straight to my house."

"Why bother? You could've just tossed it in my trunk."

"I was going to do that, but..."

'You were going to?'

'I was just saying that to be polite.'

"But what?"

"The President said we should at least grab a meal before we split up..."

Renka was certainly taking good care of her diligent junior.

'What does she even see in a bastard like him?'

'I'll have to up the intensity of her conditioning as punishment.'

"Is that right? We'll be heading out then."

"Got it."

I thought he'd cling and say he'd call her after eating, but surprisingly, he let it go without a fuss.

Of course, he would inevitably call Miyuki this evening and grill her about what she did with me.

"Take care, Tetsuya. You have a safe trip too, Inoo-sunbae. It was really nice meeting you today."

Miyuki bowed politely, just as she had when greeting her inside the shop.

At that modest farewell, Renka offered a warm smile and waved a hand.

"It was nice meeting you too. Let's say hi if we run into each other at the Academy."

"Yes, sunbae-nim!"

Parting ways with Renka, the two of us got into the car.

As I set the GPS for home and prepared to drive off, Miyuki fastened her seatbelt and placed a hand on my arm.

"It feels like she doesn't like you, Matsuda-kun... Did you two get into a fight or something?"

"We didn't fight. That sunbae just hates me."

"For no reason?"

'Well, it's not like there isn't a reason.'

I had acted arrogant and abrasive in front of Renka, and I was currently stretching my claws toward Chinami, whom she cared for the most... It was only natural for her to be anxious.

That being said, her coldness was also partly because she was still clinging to her poor first impression of me.

"Who knows. But why do I feel like I'm about to get nagged? I thought you were on my side."

"Of course I'm on your side, Matsuda-kun... Still, she did you a favor today by picking out your Bogu, didn't she? I just think you should be grateful for that. If you are, things will naturally get better between the two of you."

"Do we really have to get along?"

"Inoo-sunbae is the President of the Kendo Club. It's always better to be on good terms."

'She had a point.'

'But I'll get close to her my own way.'

"I already thanked her, so that's enough."

"Yeah, I know. You did good."

Miyuki patted my arm as if she were handling a rebellious teenager going through puberty.

I let out a scoff and spoke.

"Want to go home? Or should we grab something to eat too?"

"Let's eat. It's raining, so I want to go to that place."

"Ramen?"

"Yeah."

"You're always telling me to think about my health, but lately it feels like you're the one craving greasy food more."

"Is that so...? Should we go to the grocery store then? I can buy some ingredients and cook for you."

"Don't bother with all that trouble. Let's just go to the ramen shop."

At my transparent response, Miyuki's eyes curved into a smile as she wordlessly stared ahead.

In the distance, I could see Tetsuya and Renka walking together.

The distance between them... couldn't exactly be called close.

They looked more like a kind boss and her subordinate. That much, I could overlook.

*

The next day.

After finishing my boring classes, I headed to the Kendo Club Room and told Chinami about buying my Bogu.

"You're saying you bought your own personal Bogu?"

"Yes."

"By yourself?"

"No. I went with Miyuki... but I ran into Inoo-sunbae there."

"Hmm... So you went to buy Kendo gear with junior Hanazawa, and met Renka there?"

"Exactly."

".... Ahem."

As if something wasn't sitting right with her, Chinami kept clearing her throat.

It seemed she was secretly hurt that I hadn't gone with her.

I bent my knees to meet her eyes.

"Master."

"Yes."

Hearing her slightly frosty tone, I knew my guess was spot on.

'Our Chinami... How can I not love you when you're already acting jealous like this?'

Flashing her a bright smile, I spoke.

"I heard it's best to have two sets of Bogu—one for practice and one for competitions. Is that right?"

"That's not entirely wrong. Hmph. But since the Bogu is an expensive piece of equipment, many people just buy two sets of the Kote since those wear out faster. Hmph."

The way she punctuated every sentence with a disgruntled sound was so adorable I couldn't even put it into words.

Holding back the laugh bubbling up in my throat, I coaxed Chinami in a gentle tone.

"The Bogu I just bought is for practice, but I want to get one for competitions too, you see?"

"Right, and so?"

"If it's alright with you, I'd like to go buy it together with you, Master. And I didn't buy a shinai yet. I wanted to buy that with you. As someone learning the Upper Stance, it's only natural that we pick out the right shinai for it together, isn't it?"

"Hmph...!"

'Looks like it's a positive hum this time.'

I loved how incredibly easy she was to read.

"I was starting to wonder if I should keep a junior as my disciple when he completely leaves out the Master he promised to revere like the heavens, choosing instead to go buy a Bogu all cozy-like with junior Hanazawa and Renka... Ahem..."

"Are you saying you were thinking so extremely that you were ready to disown your own disciple?"

When I feigned shock, Chinami flinched and quickly placed her hands on her hips.

"Hey now...! I've told you so many times that I really like having you as my disciple...! I only felt a tiiiiny bit of doubt before it completely vanished, so you don't need to be too disappointed...!"

"That's a relief. I like having you as my Master, too."

'Did she like hearing me say that?'

Chinami's face flushed a soft shade of red.

Breathing out heavy puffs of air through her nose, she turned her eyes toward the sets of Bogu in the Storage Room and changed the subject.

"Shall we slowly get started on cleaning the Bogu, then?"

"Let's rest a bit first. I studied too hard today, so my head hurts."

"Ah...! I'm exhausted too because I had to move around for a lot of my classes today. Let's sit down and take a quick break. Here, come over here."

She moved to the corner of the Storage Room and sat down, patting the empty spot next to her.

'Was it just my imagination, or did it feel like she was telling me to come eat her up?'

I sat down directly across from Chinami, then completely naturally grabbed her slender, pale ankle and placed it onto my lap.

"Eh...!?"

I stared silently at her flustered face for a moment before shifting my gaze down to the sole of her foot.

Her pure white soles, lined with slight creases, were incredibly cute.

Perhaps because she cleaned the Club Room so meticulously every day, her feet were completely free of the dirt you'd normally see on people who trained barefoot. It made me want to lick them.

"If the Master's legs are hurting, I don't believe a disciple can just sit back and do nothing. Wouldn't you agree?"

"Y-yes...? What do you..."

"Do you like foot massages?"

"I-I've never had one before..."

"Then should I give you one right now?"

At those words, Chinami twitched and curled her toes tightly inward.

'How can a human foot look like this?'

It was so beautiful and adorable that I felt like I was developing a fetish.

"I-I'm fine... I appreciate the thought, though."

"Hmm..."

Ignoring Chinami's refusal, I pinched the tip of her tiny big toe with my index finger and pressed down firmly.

"Myak!"

She instantly shuddered like someone who'd just been electrocuted and let out a sweet, ticklish laugh.

As she tried to yank her foot away, I tightened my grip on her slender ankle to hold it firmly in place and spoke.

"Master."

"Hue-et...?"

"Are you free tomorrow or the day after?"

"T-tomorrow or the day after...? Why...?"

"We have to go look at a shinai and Bogu. We can get some ice cream while we're at it."

This time, I pressed gently into the hollow arch in the center of her sole.

Press...

Then—

"Hiiiek!"

Chinami flailed in a short spasm as if she had just seen a ghost, gluing her arms tightly against her ribs as her entire body trembled like a poodle.

'So her feet are ticklish. Good to know.'

"You're going with me, right?"

Press. Press. Press.

I made the gentle offer while continuously massaging her foot arch, and Chinami frantically nodded her head in response.

"Uhyaak...! I-I'll go...!"

"You will?"

"Yehe-es...! I'll go...! So stop that...!"

Pressss... Press.

"A-ah, no...! No...! Junior...! Stop...!! I said I'd go...!!"

Watching Chinami's face flush as pink as a peach while she sputtered those oddly erotic lines, I silently continued my caresses under the guise of a massage.

All the while thinking it was finally about time I set a date with her.