Chapter 52 – The Protagonist’s Talent
“Miyuki?”
“Yes? Why?”
“What’s wrong with the neck down? Is that a band-aid?”
Innocent Tetsuya’s question.
Startled, Miyuki placed her hand over the bandage.
“Ah… This… It’s because of mosquito bites…”
“Okay? Wouldn’t it be worse if I put a bandage on it?”
“That’s… It turned red unexpectedly…”
“Be careful. Can I get you some medicine?”
“Already applied. Thank you for your consideration.”
Miyuki smiled brightly and turned her body back.
Stepping behind her slightly, she put her hand on the back of her head and looked at me, who was loitering around, and said with a raised voice.
“Matsuda-kun, come quickly.”
“I have plenty of time, but you can go slowly.”
“What are you relaxed about? They said they were going to take a math paper test today, but I’m going to have to go and cram.”
“When was that?”
“On Friday.”
“Why do you remember that?”
Miyuki stood still until I approached.
Tetsuya was forced to stand in his place.
Glancing at his face, I naturally went and stood in front of Miyuki.
Then he looked down at her awkwardly.
“What.”
“There is dirt on your clothes.”
Miyuki used her index finger to remove the dust from the front of her shirt.
She even brushed the area between my collarbone and shoulder with her palm and bruised me cutely.
“Don’t go around burying things like this, just brush it off yourself.”
“I checked it before putting it on… Maybe it’s because the air above is muddy.”
When I subtly made fun of Miyuki’s short stature, she burst out laughing and looked back at her.
“Tetsuya-kun, let’s go.”
“Oh yeah…”
The man’s face was stained with bewilderment.
I noticed that Miyuki was treating me more kindly than usual.
No matter how ignorant he was, he couldn’t be unaware that Miyuki had gone so far.
When I played Tokiaka, I took care of the events of the main character, and somehow made the naive you get closer to the heroes, but…
Not now.
The main character here is me, not you.
You have nothing but a dark future.
But suddenly, a question arises.
As I thought before, when I was playing Tokiaka, I personally took care of Tetsuya’s events.
I moved them to the location where the heroines were, talked to them, and chose their options.
But now?
If Tetsuya encounters an event with Renka or Hiyori, what choice will he make?
Since he has an indecisive and stupid personality, he seems to be doing useless things…
Still, I don’t know what will happen as I’m a guy with a lot of overcoats.
“Matsuda-kun, are you coming soon?”
The call of Miyuki, who is moving away with Tetsuya.
Like when I’m getting in the car today, or when I’m just dusting off…
I could feel the determination in his eyes, but he must have prepared it, right?
It would be nice to hug on a weekday, but rather than being chased by the compulsion to go to school, it would be better if the next day was a holiday as it is the first relationship.
On the day when the cultural festival ends this week, let’s set the mood.
**
“Comrade Matsuda! Did you have a good weekend?”
Chinami raised her hands up to her shoulders and waved them like a daycare teacher.
I wonder if the always high tension will be maintained even at night.
She said that I, who had come close to her, would do it.
“Good job. What about Master?”
“I had a good time too. But why do you look so weak? Aren’t you tired because it’s Monday?”
It’s not that I look weak, it’s that you’re exerting yourself too much.
“It is an illusion. What shall we do today?”
“Today, you just have to fold the towel, move the water, wait until the activity time is over, and then clean the hut.”
“It’s surprisingly free, isn’t it? I thought you’d be busy because it’s Monday. Then can I practice right away?”
“No! You should be in the room today. I have to observe the first Dalian of the second semester.”
At the word Dalian, my ears perked up.
The first match of the second semester is one of the important events in Tokiaka.
There is a scene where she challenges Lenka, her manager, with a relay, but after a few people are excitedly robbed, no one challenges her.
Just as the manager clicked his tongue and tried to scold his team members, Tetsuya raised his hand proudly.
They are beginners who don’t even know how to wear hukou, and they don’t know anything about game management.
The director, who liked her spirit, ordered Lenka to accept her challenge, and Lenka appropriately accepted Tetsuya, who rushed at her with her messy attitude.
After that, after the sparring, he praised him for his good spirits, and from then on, he often gave him kendo lessons.
Then, he discovers a very small talent that Tetsuya has.
It is after that time that Tetsuya and Lenka become closer in earnest.
Originally, it was an event that would happen after the Cultural Festival, but now it’s happening…
It means that the timing was off because I, who was a minor role, became the lead role.
Just like when I was organizing a trivial event with Miyuki.
It would be better to think of this as an event for me, not for Tetsuya.
Or an event for two.
“Dalian?”
“Yes! It’s part of the training to build friendships and build an eye for first-year juniors. I will be folding the towels, so would you please bring me some bottled water from the furnishings room?”
“Yes.”
**
Inside the club room with a quiet atmosphere.
Next to the seats of the second and third year students wearing protective gear, except for Homyeon and Howan, Tetsuya and other first-year students were sitting in an upright position.
There is no Lenka…
Are you wearing a hoodie?
“I’m going to wear a hoodie. Juniors, please sit over there and observe.”
Chinami’s words brought her mouth to my ears.
The hot breath she exhaled tickled her ears.
I asked, enduring the tickle by gently lifting one of her shoulders.
“Does Master do sparring too?”
“Yes. Juniors are in a position to learn the top tax. I hope you get something from watching me.”
Ah… Our Chinami… How can our hearts be so kind.
Do you like being bullied while looking in the mirror?
I want to hear your voice roaring with pleasure, covering your face in shame.
“All right.”
As Chinami walked away with her quick steps, I sat down next to Tetsuya.
Then she touched him with her elbow.
“Why are you like this today?”
“Uh…? What?”
“I’ve been groping since morning, I wondered if I ate something wrong.”
“Ah… I’m fine. It’s just lack of energy.”
Be honest. Because Miyuki seems to have become very close with me, I think she’s in a weird mood.
“It’s bland.”
“I… Matsuda.”
“What.”
“Perhaps…”
Just as he was about to say something, the director’s office door opened and the director, Goro Dojima, strode out.
Tetsuya, who kept his mouth shut, looked ahead.
Did you try to ask what kind of relationship you have with Miyuki?
It’s a pity. Because of your timid personality, if it wasn’t now, I wouldn’t be able to ask any more questions and would be in pain.
It just suits you to have an erection while watching Miyuki and I flirt.
That’s good for you too
“Are you ready?”
To Goro’s words as he stroked his beard, the members of the kendo club answered with unanimity.
“”Yes! Director!”
Screaming insolvency.
As I, who failed to match the timing this time as well, was licking my lips, Goro nodded his head in satisfaction.
“I hope that first-year students can open their eyes to sword fighting through Dalian, and learn etiquette as well, not just thinking of it as a game. You know the rules, right?”
“”Yes, Director!””
I only know a little bit
Can I just take a close look?
I should have asked Chinami first, but it was too quick.
“It starts with a sparring between Chinami and Lenka, and Lenka stays to take on the challenger. Raise your hand if anyone wants to challenge you.”
“”All right!!””
Rattle.
Soon after, the locker room door opened, and Chinami and Lenka, wearing protective gear, walked out side by side.
Lenka strides along on long legs,
And Chinami, who walks with a splash,
There’s quite a difference in height, so it’s like mother and daughter.
But Chinami… Can she bear the weight of her body?
It looks dangerous, but I’m worried.
The two men, each tied with a long white belt and a red belt behind the surface of the lake, soon stopped at the outskirts of a rectangular arena measuring about 10 meters on each side.
Then, two seniors in the third grade who did not wear Goro and Hugu held red and white flags and stood at regular intervals on the outskirts.
Renka and Chinami crouched down in front of the white tape pasted in the center of the arena.
It’s standard to have an explainer explain the skills of the two here… Everyone is so nervous that it’s quiet.
If so, you can make it yourself.
Leaning over and touching Tetsuya, I asked quietly.
“I heard that senior Inoo is that good? How good is she?”
“They say it’s at the top of all the national academies. They say that if you participate in the competition, you will always be considered as a candidate for the championship.”
“Okay? Who is Nanase-senpai?”
“Nanase-senpai says you’re good too. She says her performance in the individual event is okay, but especially in the team event, it’s amazing…”
“Thank you for the explanation.”
“Nope.”
While Tetsuya, who smiled awkwardly, looked straight ahead again,
“Start!”
Goro’s booming voice was heard.
At the same time, Lenka and Chinami burst into spirits and took their own stances.
“Haap!”
“Yaaah!”
Lenka is dignified, and Chinami is cute.
It was a perfect match for the two of them.
Barely holding back my laughter, I pretended to be shy and watched the two fight.
The two of them were engaged in a search war, staggering their feet and waving their arms.
The first attack was
“Hair!”
It was Chinami, who was taking the top three with her arms held high above her head.
As she rolled down her feet and spit, she let go of her right hand that was holding the center of her shinai, and stretched out her left hand.
As a result, her ranged bamboo sword aimed at Lenka’s left flank.
Whoo-!
The shinai, which was swung vigorously, looked like it would hit Lenka in the head.
However,
“Suck!”
In an instant, Lenka raised her wrist, raised her shinai obliquely, and let Chinami’s attack slip away.
Jab-!
Starting with the cheerful sound of two bamboo swords clashing, a vicious battle between the two unfolded.
“Yap! Head! Hair! Head!”
Chinami relentlessly aims for Lenka’s head.
Perhaps when she raises her hand to defend her head, she tries to aim for the other side… Lenka is so rocky that her gap isn’t coming out properly.
Renka also had to fend off Chinami’s quick attacks, so she couldn’t properly attack her.
Could it be that Chinami is just as talented as Renka?
By the time you think
“Neck!”
Lenka’s hands jumped out in front of her after her short burst of energy.
In the blink of an eye, the tip of the bamboo sword extended.
It soon reached the center of the face Chinami was wearing, just below it.
Knock-!
“Ugee!”
When Chinami’s head snapped back after being struck precisely in the neck area, her goro raised her white flag and shouted.
“Bout!”
At the same time, a white flag flashed from the hands of two seniors in the third grade who were watching the referee.
In kendo, points are awarded when two or more of the three judges raise the flag of the same color.
And the white flag unanimously raised was also the color of the string attached to the back of Lenka’s helmet.
“Whoa…”
Scored by her, Lenka picked her breath.
You were really concentrating. It is proof that Chinami’s offensive was great.
Clap clap clap-!
The sound of applause from the members who were holding their breath echoed inside the clubroom…
Chinami, who had corrected her stance, stood opposite Lenka, who was seated in her middle, and bowed her head.
Then Goro shouted.
“Resumption!”
The two immediately start fighting again.
Unlike the first match, the second match ended after quite a long time.
Damn!
“Bout!”
The score this time also belonged to Lenka.
Losing 2 points in Kendo, a best-of-three-out-of-3 match, meant that the outcome was decided.
Chinami, who was hit firmly on the back by her cool reception, stomped her feet cutely, then faced her Renka, gave her reference and retrieved her sword.
“Thank you for your effort.”
“Thank you for your effort.”
Even though she didn’t score well, Chinami’s skills were really good.
The answer came out when I watched the match between the 3rd year senior who came out as the next hitter and Lenka.
“Hiyaaaaap!!”
The senior with a bizarre spirit like a ronin rushes in,
“Head!”
Jab-!
Lenka, who penetrated the gap, won the fight very easily…
When the five male and female seniors collapsed, no one challenged Lenka.
“The next challenger is a giant.”
Even at Goro’s call, the poor room is quiet.
Due to the behavior of the members who did not want to risk shame, thin veins sprouted on Goro’s forehead.
“There is no spirit like this…”
That moment,
“I will do it!”
Tetsuya raised his hand.
“Me.”
And me too.
