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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Nekorune
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“…Tsuda-kun…”
A half-asleep voice tickled my ears.
Something warm was rustling in my arms.
“Mmm…”
I let out a sleepy groan and lifted my heavy eyelids. As Miyuki tried to escape from my arms, I asked,
“What are you doing…?”
Perhaps my voice, still thick with sleep and slightly hoarse, was to her liking?
Miyuki’s body shuddered.
“It’s already five o’clock… Time to get up…”
“Is it that time already…?”
“Yeah… Didn’t you hear the alarm?”
“I didn’t.”
I pulled Miyuki close to me, making sure she couldn’t escape.
Her body, freshly awakened, was incredibly soft.
It felt like touching mochi—a dangerously addictive sensation.
“I-I have to get up…”
“Aren’t you cold?”
“Don’t change the subject… Get up… Ah, why are you so strong…”
Miyuki whined, but she was powerless to move.
I chuckled at her helplessness, let go of her, and sat up.
With a heavy head, I blinked and started to come to my senses as I listened to the chirping of insects coming from the dark outside.
The sound of rain had ceased, but it seemed like a fine mist was still falling.
I turned toward the open window.
*tap*
Miyuki rested her head on my shoulder.
I slightly turned my head, feeling her tousled hair tickle my cheek.
For Miyuki, it was a rather assertive display of affection.
Chuckling, I said,
“Let’s stay like this for five more minutes, then go wash up.”
“Okay…”
After that, we looked into each other’s eyes and laughed like a couple who had just started living together, and after washing up and brushing our teeth, we packed Miyuki’s things and went outside to get in the car.
Perhaps it had soaked up the night’s moisture, but the inside of the car felt chilly.
Miyuki seemed to think the same, rubbing her shoulders as she buckled her seatbelt.
Then, noticing my gaze, she began to smooth out her stray, frizzy hairs.
“Hey.”
When I called out to her in a casual tone, her neck creaked as she turned toward me.
“Why…?”
“Let’s eat before we go.”
“Eat? All of a sudden?”
“It’s about time, isn’t it?”
“Are there even any restaurants open at this hour?”
“There are some if we go a little further.”
“Then…”
Miyuki trailed off as she nodded.
I grinned at her, who had stuffed her hands between her thighs, and drove to a 24-hour ramen shop.
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It was a quiet shop with only a few customers who seemed to be heading to work early.
Miyuki looked around the interior as we sat at a straight-line table in the corner. A satisfied smile tugged at the corners of her mouth.
“The ambiance is nice… I had no idea there was a place like this nearby. But—”
She pointed at the Post-it notes stuck to various spots on the shop’s walls.
“The traditional interior is a bit overshadowed by these Post-it notes.”
“Too cluttered?”
“No… It’s colorful. I didn’t mean it’s bad; it actually makes the place look youthful. Don’t jump to conclusions…”
Even though her intention was clearly to say it looked cluttered, her tone was barely above a whisper.
I chuckled at Miyuki’s response, which appeared to have been wary of the shop owner’s attention.
She gestured, a bit frustrated with my amusement.
“I’ll wash your clothes for you. And also—”
Noticing her hesitation, I realized she was uncertain what to do with the underwear I’d bought for her.
Deciding to give her a hand in her moment of indecision, I said—
“Keep the underwear.”
“…Do you have to say it so bluntly?”
“Isn’t it better than beating around the bush?”
“I suppose… Anyway, I got it… Thank you.”
“Did they feel comfortable?”
“What did?”
“The underwear. The packaging said they were super comfortable.”
“Ah, seriously…! Matsuda-kun…!”
Miyuki’s voice shot up in a half-giggle, half-groan.
I grinned at her obvious embarrassment, but she didn’t seem annoyed.
Rather, she soon let her expression soften into a smile that said, “There’s no stopping you, is there?”
Having moved past the awkward moment with a mutual smile, I ordered two bowls of miso ramen from the proprietor and rested my elbows on the table.
Miyuki was intently examining the Post-it notes scattered around the shop.
Her eyes sparkled as she did.
“Why? Do you want to write something too?”
“Just… I’m kind of intrigued. Do we need to bring our own Post-its?”
“No, they’re behind you.”
As I pointed over Miyuki’s shoulder, she quickly turned around and picked up a Post-it note and a pen.
Then, with graceful hand movements, she started to sketch something out.
The shape took form within minutes.
Drawing two characters—a man and a woman—Miyuki grabbed a thumbtack from a container in the restaurant and pinned the Post-it to the most secluded corner of our area.
The drawing featured two characters sitting cozily next to each other, seemingly marveling at something.
It reminded me of the doodles I saw in the class before.
But this time, there were initials above the characters’ heads.
H.M. and M.K.
Those were the initials for Hanazawa Miyuki and Matsuda Ken.
It was nice to see Miyuki’s current feelings being revealed like this.
The characters were cute too—just the way I liked them.
As I silently examined the drawing, I asked:
“Why is there no food on the table in the picture?”
“Drawing food is tricky… besides, doesn’t it look better this way—more abstract?”
“Is that so?”
Miyuki giggled and covered the Post-it note with her hand as if telling me not to look anymore.
She always chooses the cutest actions. At this rate, I might just tell her to stay over tonight as well.
By the way, it’s nice to leave a trace of us like this.
It’s heartwarming. I never used to care about such things, but now, whenever I see a Post-it, I’ll think of Miyuki.
I mull over these thoughts as I stare at Miyuki, who’s flushing a lovely shade of pink—just as our ramen arrives, revitalizing my appetite.
“Let’s eat.”
“Okay.”
I should come back here again.
It would be perfect to return the day after I finalize things with Miyuki.
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“What a mess…”
I couldn’t help but scowl upon seeing the state of the main entrance.
Fallen leaves were the least of the worries; there were snack wrappers, cigarette butts, gum, and even discarded shoes and shattered liquor bottles.
Overnight, a whole assortment of things had accumulated and made a mess of the area around the main entrance.
It’s not like there was a flood or anything, even if it did rain a lot.
‘Guess I’ll have to find some other form of community service.’
Just as I was thinking this,
“Matsuda?”
I heard Renka’s voice from behind and immediately relaxed my face. I greeted her formally, and when she reciprocated, I asked,
“You’re here early. What about Nanase-senpai?”
“She slept in, so I came ahead. She said she stayed up until dawn watching a drama. Are you going to clean all of this up by yourself?”
“No, the guard-nim and I have to clean it together. Why, are you offering to help?”
“No.”
“Wow, such a blunt refusal. It hurts, you know. Even an insincere offer would have been nice.”
On my playful grumble laced with humor, Renka chuckled.
“Aren’t you using an umbrella? It’s raining.”
The misty rain from early dawn had now turned into drizzle.
It wasn’t so bad that I couldn’t endure it, so I offered a smile, implying it was alright.
“I’m good.”
“Alright then, good luck.”
With a cool word of encouragement, she headed towards the school gate without looking back.
We were still a long way from being close, but at least it felt like I was slowly gaining her approval.
Today, both Miyuki and Renka… Their reactions have been particularly good.
As I watched Renka’s retreating figure, her long legs striding away gracefully, the security guard arrived with brooms in hand. I exchanged some trivial chatter with him as we cleaned up.
Later, I walked into the classroom in time for the lesson and half-heartedly returned the awkward greetings from my classmates before flopping down at my desk.
“Matsuda, class is about to start.”
It’s almost like a law of the universe: whenever I’m having a particularly good day, Tetsuya has to butt in and ruin it.
Without lifting my head, I extended a hand and showed him my middle finger, savoring the few remaining moments of rest time that I had.
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“Matsuda-kouhai, thank you so much for yesterday.”
Chinami’s greeting was as polite as ever.
Meanwhile I, feeling a little playful, drew my wooden sword the moment she finished her bow.
“Then teach me Jōdan.”
“I can’t do that. I plan to teach you gradually, starting from Chūdan.”
“Alright.”
“Hmm…?”
Chinami’s eyes widened in surprise. Just yesterday, I had been clamoring to learn Jōdan, so my sudden acceptance caught her off guard.
Her eyes subtly changed as she looked at me.
“You’re not planning to self-study, are you?”
“Would that be a problem?”
“Matsuda-kouhai, you mustn’t rush! Every form of learning has its stages.”
She’s firm when it comes to student training.
Then, all I will have to do is prove that I have a talent for Jōdan.
When will the sparring matches start? I’m itching for a challenge.
It’d be great if I could spar with Tetsuya, but I wish the coach would recognize my skills soon and officially admit me as a team member.
But what would that mean for my role as a manager?
I can’t put a damper on my budding friendship with Chinami. Even if I become an official member, I’ll have to continue acting as a manager.
I have ample time alone with Chinami right now; letting this opportunity slip through my fingers would be foolish.
I shrugged my shoulders as I locked eyes with her, arms crossed.
“I heard from Inoo-senpai that you overslept because you were watching a drama?”
“Yes, that’s right.”
“What drama was it? Can you tell me?”
“Umm…! I’ll tell you if you promise not to learn Jōdan until your basics are solid. You’ll have to pinky swear.”
Pinky swear? That’s what I said to Miyuki yesterday. How coincidental.
“Do you dislike the idea of me learning Jōdan that much?”
“It’s not that I dislike it, I’m just concerned. Come on, promise.”
Chinami extended her tiny pinky finger towards me.
As her kendo robe’s sleeve slid down, her slender, pale wrist came into view.
I barely resisted the temptation to leave a kiss mark there.
Instead, I shifted my wooden sword back to its belt loop and changed the subject.
“First, let’s clean the equipment room. I turned on the dehumidifier yesterday, but it rained all night, so the room is probably damp.”
“Matsuda-kouhai…! Your thoughtfulness is admirable, but let’s make that promise first… Ah! Where are you going? I haven’t finished talking yet! Wait, just a moment…! Slow down a bit…! You’re too fast…!”
As I strode toward the equipment room, Chinami hurriedly followed.
It felt as though a surprised puppy was running after its owner, who was about to leave it behind and go home…
So cute.
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