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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Nekorune
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“More, more, more!”
Chinami spurred me on with a stern tone. It was absurd that I was swinging a shinai in the cold air until I was dripping with sweat.
“You’re still far off! Do you intend to embarrass your Master at the training camp!?”
She was pushing me relentlessly, as if she was trying to have some kind of Spartan training, with no breaks. I’d pay her back with a massage later.
“Hup!”
How long had I been swinging the shinai, tightening my core? Chinami, satisfied with my unwavering posture, said,
“That’s enough. Let’s take a break.”
No matter how strong you are, no matter how well you know how to use your strength, swinging a shinai for a long time is truly tiring. Especially while wearing armor.
While I wasn’t completely exhausted, my arms were stiff. My ears and jaw hurt because the armor wasn’t fully broken in yet.
As I took off my men and sat on the bench, catching my breath, Chinami offered me a towel. Taking it, I said,
“Thank you, Master.”
“You’re welcome. From your stance to your movements, there was nothing to criticize, but there was one thing lacking.”
“What’s that?”
“Your spirit. The ‘ki’ in ‘ki-ken-tai-ichi.’ You still lack that most basic and important ‘ki,’ Matsuda-kouhai. Now, try following me. Hyaa!”
Chinami tightened her core and let out a shout.
I burst out laughing at the adorably loud voice, shaking my sweat-soaked hair.
“Why are you laughing? Do you find my shout funny?”
“No. It’s cute.”
Chinami flinched and widened her eyes. I could see her plump cheeks turning red. She looked like a girl who had come in from the cold winter wind, flushed with happiness to be in a room with a warm kotatsu.
“Hmm… Listen, Kouhai, I appreciate the compliment, but you need to listen to me seriously right now. Shouting is a very important part of kendo.”
“I know. But I feel like my throat would get sore if I made such powerful shouts every day.”
“It might be like that at first, but it gets better. And that’s also part of the training. You shed your layers one by one like that.”
“I understand. I’m too tired today, but I’ll try it starting tomorrow.”
“Promise? Pinky swear?”
She held out her pinky finger. I linked my finger with hers, small and cute.
“I promise.”
“Hmm hmm… good.”
“My hands are a bit sweaty, aren’t they? I’m worried you’ll get their smell on your own hands, Master.”
“You only smell good.”
“You too, Master.”
“My… is that so…?”
Chinami lowered her head and fidgeted. As she blushed, showing her honest reaction,
“Chinami! Are you there?”
Renka’s voice from the bottom of the hill startled her.
“Huh!? Yes! I’m here! What’s up?”
“The coach is calling for you! Come down, there’s a meeting about the budget for supplies and the course for the training camp.”
“Okay! I’ll be right there!”
After replying, Chinami smoothed out her unwrinkled uniform.
“Hmm… You heard her…? I have to attend the meeting, so you rest for three more minutes, Kouhai, and then resume practice. If you think you can slack off while I’m gone…”
“I’ll work hard. Should we make another promise?”
“Oh, no…! I’ll trust you…”
Chinami patted my shoulder, as if telling me to do my best. I didn’t know if she meant it as encouragement, or if she was trying to calm her own fluttering heart.
Watching her trot down the hill, I put on my men and stood up from the bench.
Time to practice, practice.
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“Why is your skin so dry? Both of you?”
Miyuki exclaimed as she waited for Tetsuya and me.
As I scratched my cheek with my index finger, about to answer, Tetsuya beat me to it.
“We just showered. You know how dry the air is today.”
This bastard… playing such petty tricks. Go ahead and try your best.
“That’s true, but… come here. I’ll spray some essence on you.”
Miyuki rummaged through her bag and took out a bottle of essence. After spraying it on Tetsuya, who was craning his neck forward, she came over to me.
“Lean your face forward.”
“I don’t want to.”
Miyuki chuckled at my playful refusal. She then stood on tiptoe, positioned the spray bottle at a suitable distance from my face, and pressed the top.
*sssshhh-! *
The moisture spread like mist in a wide radius. Hit directly by it, I frowned and closed my eyes. Miyuki giggled, sprayed the essence a couple more times, and said,
“You have to moisturize. You don’t want skin troubles like dead skin later. It wouldn’t look good. I’ll recommend some products later, so buy them and use them.”
“Why bother applying all that stuff? Lotion is enough.”
“Says the person who isn’t even wearing lotion right now… Matsuda-kun! What are you doing! Don’t rub your face with your hands…!”
Was she exasperated by my nonchalant reply? Miyuki grabbed my wrist and pulled with all her might.
“This is a spray, so you don’t have to rub it in…!”
“Then you should have told me beforehand.”
“…Why are you being so foolish today…? What are you doing touching your face with dirty hands…”
“Dirty…? Isn’t that a bit much?”
“You had your hands in your pockets on the way here. That’s dirty. Honestly…”
Miyuki let out an exasperated chuckle and took out a handkerchief. It was the same design as the one she had tried to give me after beating up the pervert who tried to touch her on the train.
“Is this… that one?”
“It’s the one you’re thinking of. Wipe your face.”
The corners of Miyuki’s mouth lifted. She seemed pleased that I recognized the handkerchief right away. You remembered all the memories too, just like me. Of course, it hadn’t been that long, but I was happy.
“What are you talking about? What is it?”
Tetsuya, oblivious, interjected. I accepted the handkerchief and carefully wiped my face before answering,
“A memento.”
Miyuki nodded brightly, seemingly pleased with my choice of words. Tetsuya’s eyes darted around nervously as he observed her expression.
“A memento?”
Yes, a memory that was also the most important turning point in both your and my life.
“Yeah, we have those. Just mind your own business.”
“Oh, okay…”
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“Then go in.”
Even though I had parked in front of her house, Miyuki showed no signs of getting out. She just stared at me without taking her bag or unbuckling her seatbelt.
Smiling warmly at her, I asked,
“Why?”
“How do you remember that when I didn’t even accept it and only saw it briefly?”
“What?”
“The handkerchief.”
“It was the first time I saw something so white.”
“Really…?”
“It was also the first act of kindness you showed me back then, even though you treated me like an enemy.”
“W, who treated you like an enemy…!”
Miyuki denied it, flustered. I chuckled and stretched my body forward, pressing the buckle of her seatbelt. Then, with my head almost touching the headrest, I grinned at her, her eyes wide open.
“Wasn’t it?”
“…It’s true that you used to be a delinquent, Matsuda-kun… and you still are…”
“Still?”
“W, well, of course you’re improving… but you still have a long way to go…”
“A long way?”
“Of course… you always try to touch me in front of other people… and you swear sometimes.”
“I’ll concede the swearing part, but the touching part is unfair. You enjoyed it too, so why are you making it sound like it was all my fault?”
“W, who enjoyed it…!”
Miyuki, flustered, pushed my chest away and grabbed her bag from the back seat. Then, she opened the passenger door and extended one leg as if to get out, but turned back to me and asked,
“Do you want to stop by my house for a bit?”
“Why? Did you tell them you were bringing me today? To eat dinner?”
“No…! I was going to have them meet you after midterms… but since you’re going to the training camp, we’ll have to reschedule…”
“Then why are you inviting me now?”
“Midterms are coming up, aren’t you going to study…?”
“There are still two weeks left, what do you mean ‘coming up’?”
“There are only two weeks left. Matsuda-kun, you’re already a bit of a dummy, so you need to work hard for these two weeks. If you end up last again like last semester, you’ll at least get a warning, and in the worst case, you’ll be expelled…”
“Isn’t expulsion a bit much?”
“That’s how precarious your situation is right now…”
*click.*
Miyuki closed the door, putting her foot back inside, and pointed behind Wataru’s car with her long finger.
“Park there. I’ll tutor you at my house.”
“Why are you being so pushy?”
“I guess I’m becoming more like you… Hurry up and park.”
“Your mom and dad will be there, it’s rude to show up unannounced.”
“They’ll be happy, not upset.”
“Really? Then I’ll just study for a bit, okay?”
“Okay.”
I should have brought the things I wanted to leave in Miyuki’s room. I thought about just leaving some of my underwear there.
“I’m not asking for much. I just want you to be around 20th in the class.”
Miyuki said as she got out of the car.
Scoffing, I walked towards the front door with her, showing confidence.
“20th place is easy.”
“You’re so far behind Tetsuya… and you talk big. Tetsuya was 15th in the final exams last semester.”
“Then I just have to beat him this time.”
“I hope so. Let’s work hard together.”
She patted my back. She had a look that said she wasn’t expecting much, but we’d see about that. To be honest, I wasn’t confident in areas that required using my head. Still, if I got better grades than expected, I’d have a reason to boast in front of Miyuki, so I had to work hard for the reward. And to see Tetsuya’s crumpled face.
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Thanks nekorune!