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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Nekorune
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After finishing the club activities, I carried the collection bin to gather the members’ uniforms.
While doing so, I saw Renka coming out of the shower and promptly headed towards her.
She was drinking water while drying her hair with a towel, but she flinched when she saw my spirited approach.
“What… What is it?”
“Your uniform, please.”
“…I left it in the women’s locker room bin. Chinami will bring it later.”
That’s a shame.
Tilting my head, I said,
“I have a question.”
“All of a sudden?”
“Yes.”
“Alright…go on.”
I pointed towards a male senpai practicing head strikes at a corner of the dojo, both arms raised above his head.
“What’s that senior doing? Is that part of the training?”
Looking in the direction, Renka exclaimed with a hint of admiration, “Ah… Yes, that stance is called ‘Jōdan,’ also known as the ‘Fire Stance.’ Few people use it.”
“Is it that rare?”
“It has superior offensive power, but it’s weak in defense. It’s harder to maintain than the basic ‘Chūdan’ stance. Also, it’s difficult to connect with combination attacks, vulnerable to thrusts, and very susceptible in close combat. Recovering your stance after your own attacks also takes longer.”
Seems like it has many downsides.
No wonder only a few people practice it…
“Are there any advantages?”
“It has a long reach. Plus, there’s the advantage of being able to swing the sword with only one hand…”
I see, so such things are a thing, even if they’re rare.
From Renka’s trailing voice, it seemed the advantages weren’t significant compared to the disadvantages.
“It’s not the same for everyone, but most are captivated by the forceful impact of that stance, making it their primary. When someone with good energy adopts the ‘Jōdan,’ the imposing aura is impressive… There are even a few competitors who have gained prominence using it. Chinami also mainly uses the ‘Jōdan’ stance.”
“Really? Nanase-senpai?”
“Yes, didn’t you know?”
“I had no idea.”
“…Well, beginners are supposed to focus on ‘Chūdan,’ so there wouldn’t have been a reason to mention it.”
I pictured the petite Chinami leaping about with her sword raised high, striking her opponent’s head.
The image was oddly cute.
“Are there other stances, too?”
“There are. ‘Gedan,’ ‘Hassō,’ ‘Waki,’ and ‘Nito.’”
“‘Nito’? As in, using two swords?”
“Yes, it’s a decent stance, but it’s banned in student competitions. And there are no instructors at the academy who teach it. ‘Gedan,’ ‘Hassō,’ and ‘Waki’ are really inefficient in Kendo, where striking areas are restricted. I’ve never seen anyone use them in official competitions. Maybe just for fun in friendly matches?”
“So, ‘Jōdan’ and ‘Chūdan’ are the mainstream stances in current Kendo?”
“Correct. Although ‘Chūdan’ is the majority.”
To sum it up, ‘Jōdan’ is an underdog in terms of common stances.
It’s a tactic solely focused on offense, also dubbed the ‘Fire Stance.’
And it’s a stance with a captivating aura.
‘Great.’
Then I’ll go with ‘Jōdan.’
There’s nothing more thrilling than beating the favorites with the less popular options.
In soccer terms, it’s like a third-division underdog taking down a first-division team.
And most crucially, the protagonist has to be special, and since my mentor Chinami uses ‘Jōdan’…
I’ve made up my mind.
“Can I learn it?”
At my question, Renka chuckled as if amused.
“Without mastering the basics, even a half-baked ‘Jōdan’ is useless. Stop the unnecessary daydreaming and just focus on learning ‘Chūdan.’”
“Alright.”
At my nonchalant response, Renka’s smooth forehead furrowed.
“Are you even listening to me?”
“I am listening.”
“Your face says otherwise… If you’re thinking of trying to convince Chinami to teach you, just wake up. Her answer will be the same as mine. She won’t teach you until you’ve properly learned ‘Chūdan.’”
“Alright.”
“I’ll say it again, the basics are ‘Chūdan.’”
“Basics are ‘Chūdan.’ …Alright.”
I feigned disinterest in ‘Chūdan’ and successfully escaped Renka’s lecturing.
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In a downtown café, I was reading some manga in the stall I had rented, my legs crossed.
*swing*
The door opened, and as Miyuki poked her head in, I greeted her.
“You’re here? What about the food?”
“Uh… I ordered a couple’s set, so they’ll bring it over soon.”
Miyuki emphasized the word ‘couple’ as she set her bag down in the corner and took off her shoes to sit down.
It was a posture that just looked uncomfortable.
Sharing the closed and narrow space with just the two of us must have felt oddly tense.
“You’re an hour late, you know?”
“Sorry… I had to stay at the Cultural Festival meeting. Did Tetsuya-kun go home?”
“Yes, I gave him a ride as soon as the club activities were over.”
“Good… Did you two talk about anything?”
“I talked all sorts of trash about you.”
At that, tension seemed to leave Miyuki, and she leaned back against the wall. She crossed her legs and wrapped her arms around herself, staring at me lounging in my chair. She glanced at the cover of the manga I was reading.
“A boy on the cover holding a sword and with a scar on his forehead… What genre is this?”
“Action.”
“Is it good?”
“Eh, it’s okay.”
“What’s the story about?”
“The protagonist’s family gets slaughtered by demons, except for his sister. He embarks on a journey to turn his sister back into a human. That’s pretty much what it seems to be about for now.”
“S-slaughtered? Isn’t it a horror manga?”
“No, it’s not. I can bring you the first volume if you’d like to read it?”
Miyuki’s head shook from side to side in refusal.
“I don’t like it…”
Miyuki rummaged through her bag, pulling out her math textbook, a notebook, and some writing utensils.
After being momentarily stunned by this, I finally sat up.
“Are you seriously studying after coming all the way here?”
“I couldn’t review earlier because of the cultural festival meeting during our break. Don’t you have any questions, Matsuda-kun? You seemed to be struggling during math class.”
“Stop it. Close that book. You’re getting on my nerves.”
“Why? You’re reading manga after all….”
“Let’s just watch a movie or something.”
“Okay.”
Miyuki promptly closed her math textbook.
She picked up the TV remote in the stall and flashed a radiant smile as she pressed the power button.
Was this her plan all along?
Did she just… play me?
I’m confused. So confused.
I tossed my manga aside and leaned back against the wall.
Miyuki skimmed through the list of movies available in the café.
“What do you want to watch?”
“Whatever you want to watch is fine.”
In a moment, the movie will likely fade into the background, barely registering in our senses. So, it doesn’t matter what we watch.
Miyuki, who chose a romance movie, cautiously moved closer and spread out a blanket she brought.
She then placed it over both of our laps.
“I thought it might get cold because of the air conditioner…”
“Who said anything?”
“Mm-hm.”
Earlier, she was cunningly steering my actions like a fox, but now she’s responding with a voice quieter than a mosquito’s, puffing up and unpuffing her cheeks.
It’s both amusing and absurd.
*knock knock*
Just as the movie’s opening credits began to roll, a knock resounded from our door.
Miyuki quickly stood up to open it and cautiously placed the tray that an employee had brought us on the table.
Usually, I’d expect her to spill something and stain her school uniform shirt, as if to prove she’s a total klutz. Though no such service scene happened this time around.
Feeling a slight disappointment, but still curious about the food Miyuki had ordered, I checked the tray.
Strawberry yogurt smoothie, green tea latte, and a generous serving of fries.
It definitely screams ‘couple’s set.’
“Did we get to choose the drinks?”
“Yep. The green tea latte is for you, Matsuda-kun.”
“Why do I have to drink something that tastes like grass? If we get to choose, you could’ve at least asked me…”
“Haha, ‘tastes like grass?’ I picked the green tea latte because you were talking about green tea at lunch… so I thought…”
Miyuki’s face contorted.
It looked as if she was a little hurt because I hadn’t recognized her thoughtful gesture. I decided to ease off on the teasing.
“Come on, can’t you take a joke? You’re always nagging and teasing me, after all.”
Quickly grabbing the cup containing the latte, I took a long sip through the straw.
Within seconds, about a third of the green tea latte disappeared.
Seeing this, Miyuki was visibly shocked.
“What are you doing? Drinking it all at once like that!”
I swallowed the mouthful of latte I had been holding and shrugged my shoulders.
“It all ends up in the stomach anyway. But it does taste good. I like the slightly sweet aftertaste.”
“You really are an idiot… And you… You talk like an old man!”
Old man? Well, that’s a bit shocking.
“Is ‘idiot’ the only insult you know?”
Teasing Miyuki a little more, I slyly slid my arm around her shoulders.
The moment my hand touched her, her shoulders tensed up, retracting inward.
She rolled her eyes at me, then back at my hand, before finally taking her straw to her lips like some kind of genteel lady and taking a tiny sip of her smoothie.
She put the cup back down and chewed her lips thoughtfully.
Anxiety, excitement.
Her emotions laid bare.
Like when we kissed in Miyuki’s room, I moved the arm I had around her shoulders with a very serious expression and placed it against the side of her neck.
Adding just a bit of pressure, her petite head gradually lowered toward my shoulder.
Shortly after that,
*pat*
Her head lightly touched my shoulder.
Tilting my body slightly, Miyuki’s head settled into the space between my trapezius and pectoral muscles…
*whoo*
…I could feel her breath, blowing through my thin shirt.
*tug, tug*
Beneath the blanket, I heard the sound of something being pulled. Miyuki was tugging at the blanket, revealing just how embarrassed she was about what was going on.
“Are you uncomfortable?”
When I asked softly, Miyuki raised her head slowly.
“I’m, I’m fine…”
“You don’t look fine at all.”
“I said I’m fine…?”
“Buuuuut you don’t look like it.”
“I’m fine… I’m fine… I said I’m fine…”
Her eyes, seemingly so deep they could swallow my soul, yet her sharp mouth corners…
I saw my own face reflected in her eyes, who were challenging me in her mismatching expressions.
The me that she was looking at right now… was serious.
*tug, tug!*
The sound of the blanked being pulled at continued to echo.
‘At this rate, we’ll have to pay the owner for a new blanket.’
As I was thinking about that and trying to stop Miyuki, she firmly grasped the fingers I had near her collarbone.
Gripping my middle finger with all her might, she asks in a whisper,
“Are you… free this weekend?”
“For what?”
“Lunch at my house… I know it’s a bit soon, but starting next week, I’ll be really busy preparing for the Cultural Festival…”
Going isn’t the issue, but there are factors to consider.
Namely, the level of physical intimacy.
I think it would be better to go once we can be more openly affectionate than we are now.
After the Cultural Festival ends would be a better time.
“Would it be okay if I go after the Cultural Festival?”
“Ah… well, that would be okay…”
“Then let’s plan for some time after that.”
“Alright…”
*tug, tug*
Miyuki started pulling at the blanket again.
Despite the movie starting, she was completely ignoring the TV and focusing solely on abusing the poor blanket.tearing up the unfortunate sheet.
Her head remained pressed against my shoulder.
Suppressing a smile, I take Miyuki’s leg and place it over my thigh.
“Eek…!”
Miyuki reacts as if she’s seen a ghost, biting down on her lower lip.
It had been a while since I last saw her face get so red, even all the way to her ears.
This meant she would transform into a proper lady whenever such an atmosphere enveloped us.
It was almost to the point where I doubt whether this is the same girl who was boldly criticizing me and showing disdain towards me until not long ago.
With a refreshing smile toward her, I grab the strawberry smoothie and take a sip through the straw.
Then I held the cup towards Miyuki.
“…”
She stared at the straw for a moment…
Then, after some hesitation, she brought her lips to the same spot where my own had been not long ago.
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