Translator: RaidenTL
After club activities ended, I grabbed the uniform collection bin and went around gathering the members' uniforms.
Just then, I spotted Renka coming out of the shower room and made a beeline for her.
She was drying her hair with a towel and drinking some water, and she flinched when she saw me approaching so purposefully.
"Wh-what is it...?"
"Your uniform, please."
"...I put it in the collection bin in the girls' changing room. Chinami will bring it out later."
That's a shame.
I nodded and said, "I have a question."
"All of a sudden?"
"Yes."
"Alright... go ahead."
I pointed to a male senior practicing head strikes in a corner of the dojo, his arms raised high above his head.
"What's that senior doing? Is that a kamae, too?"
Renka looked over and let out a small "Ah..."
"That's right. It's a stance called the High stance, also known as the Stance of Fire. It's rare to see anyone use it."
"Rare?"
"It has outstanding offensive power, but it's weak on defense. It's harder to maintain than the Mid-level stance you learn by default, it's difficult to follow up with consecutive strikes, and it's very vulnerable to thrusts and close-quarters combat. Recovering from a move is slow, too."
It sounded like it had too many weaknesses.
If not many people use it, that must mean it's not very efficient... I get it.
"Are there no advantages?"
"The range is incredibly long. The one-handed strike is also an advantage..."
A one-handed strike, meaning swinging the shinai with one hand.
Seeing her voice trail off, I figured the advantages didn't really stack up against the disadvantages.
"It's not for everyone, but most people who main that stance are drawn to its powerful, single strikes. When someone with a strong spirit takes the High stance, the pressure they exert is immense... There are a few athletes who've made a name for themselves with it. Chinami uses it as her main stance, too."
"Huh...? Nanase-senpai does?"
"Yeah. You didn't know?"
"I had no idea."
"Really...? Well, I guess there was no reason to tell you, since beginners should only be focusing on the Mid-level stance."
Chinami, with her small frame, holding her shinai up high, hopping around as she strikes her opponent's head...
The image is kind of cute.
"Are there any other kamae?"
"There are. The Lower stance, the Shoulder sword stance, the Side stance, and Nito."
"Nito (二刀)? As in, using two shinai?"
"Yeah. It's a decent kamae, but Nito is banned in student competitions. There aren't any coaches at the academy who teach it, either. And the Lower stance, Shoulder sword stance, and Side stance are all really inefficient in kendo, where the valid striking areas are fixed. I've never seen anyone use them in an official tournament. Maybe just for fun in a friendly match?"
"So the High stance and Mid-level stance are the mainstream kamae in modern kendo?"
"That's right. Though the Mid-level stance is the vast majority."
So, to sum it up, the High stance is a niche kamae.
It's an all-out offensive tactic, and it has the nickname 'Stance of Fire.'
The strikes are powerful and satisfying.
'Perfect.'
Then I'll use the High stance.
There's nothing more hype than beating the mainstream with something niche, right?
It's like a third-division underdog taking down a first-division team in soccer.
And most importantly, the main character has to be special, and my master, Chinami, uses the High stance...
I'm going with that.
"Can I learn it, too?"
At that, Renka let out a derisive laugh.
"A High stance without the fundamentals isn't even half-decent. Don't get any funny ideas and master the Mid-level stance first."
"Yes."
My listless reply made Renka's smooth forehead wrinkle.
"You... you're not listening to me, are you?"
"I am listening."
"You have a sly look on your face... If you're thinking of wheedling Chinami, forget it. She'll think the same way I do. She'll never agree to teach you before you've properly learned the Mid-level stance."
"Understood."
"I'll say it again: the foundation is the Mid-level stance."
"The foundation is the Mid-level stance... Yes."
Pretending to have zero interest in the Mid-level stance, I gave a half-hearted agreement and escaped from Renka before she could scold me further.
A multi-purpose cafe in the city center.
I was lying down with my legs crossed, reading a comic, when—
Click.
The door opened and Miyuki peeked her head in. I greeted her.
"You're here? What about the food?"
"Yeah... I ordered the Couple's Set, so they'll bring it here in a little bit..."
Miyuki, who had emphasized the word 'couple,' set her bag in the corner, took off her shoes, and came inside to sit down.
Her posture looked obviously uncomfortable.
Being alone together in a small, enclosed space seemed to be making her feel a little strange.
"You're an hour late, you know."
"Sorry... I had a cultural festival meeting... Did Tetsuya-kun go home?"
"Yeah. I gave him a ride right after club activities."
"Oh, good...? Did you two talk about anything?"
"Talked shit about you."
At my words, she seemed to relax, pressing her back firmly against the wall.
She pulled her knees to her chest, wrapping her arms around them, and looked from me, lying there comfortably, to the cover of the book I was reading.
"There's a little kid with a scar on his forehead holding a sword... What comic is this?"
"Action."
"Is it good?"
"It's alright."
"What's the story about?"
"The main character's family gets wiped out by an oni. Except for his little sister. It's a story about his journey to turn her back into a human. For now, anyway."
"W-Wiped out...? Isn't it a horror comic...?"
"It's not like that. I can grab you the first volume if you want to take a look."
Miyuki shook her head.
"No, thanks..."
Miyuki rummaged through her bag and took out a math textbook, a notebook, and some writing utensils.
Stunned for a moment, I sat up.
"You came all the way here just to study...?"
"I couldn't review during break today because of the festival discussion. Is there anything you're curious about, Matsuda-kun? You seemed like you were having trouble following along in math class..."
"Quiet. Close the book. You're giving me a headache."
"Why? You're reading a comic, Matsuda-kun."
"Let's just watch a movie or something together."
"Okay."
Miyuki immediately shut her math book.
She picked up the TV remote in the room, beamed, and pressed the power button.
It seems like this was her goal from the start...
Did I... just get played?
I'm so confused.
I tossed the comic aside and leaned my back against the wall.
Miyuki started browsing the cafe's movie list and asked, "What do you want to watch?"
"You pick whatever you want."
In a little while, I wouldn't be paying attention to the movie anyway, so it didn't matter what we watched.
Miyuki chose a romance movie, then crept over to my side and unfolded a blanket she'd brought.
Then she draped it over both of our laps.
"In case it gets cold because of the air conditioner..."
"Who said anything?"
"Yeah..."
A moment ago she was sly as a fox, guiding my actions, but now she was answering in a voice quieter than a mosquito's, puffing her cheeks in and out.
It was both funny and absurd.
Knock, knock.
Just as the movie's opening credits started, there was a knock on our door.
Miyuki shot up, opened the door, and took the tray from the staff member, carefully setting it down.
Normally, in a situation like this, she's supposed to spill it, get her uniform shirt all wet, and give us some fan service. That's the classic trope.
Licking my lips like a disappointed man, I checked to see what food had arrived.
A strawberry yogurt smoothie, a green tea latte, and a generous portion of french fries.
This must be the Couple's Set.
"Looks like you get to choose the drinks?"
"Yeah. Yours is the green tea latte, Matsuda-kun."
"Why do I have to drink grass? If you got to choose, you could have at least asked me..."
"Gr-grass...? I chose the green tea latte because you were talking about green tea at lunch, Matsuda-kun... That's why I got it..."
Miyuki's face fell.
She looked hurt that I didn't appreciate her thoughtfulness.
I stopped teasing and placated her.
"Hey... can't you take a joke? You nag and tease me all the time..."
I quickly grabbed the latte, put my mouth to the straw, and took a long sip.
In an instant, about a third of the green tea latte was gone.
Seeing this, Miyuki was aghast and scolded me.
"H-how can you drink so much at once...!"
I swallowed the mouthful of latte and shrugged.
"It all ends up in the same stomach anyway. It's pretty good, though. I like how sweet it is."
"You're such an idiot... and you talk like a total old man..."
An old man? That one stung a little.
"Is 'idiot' the only insult you know?"
I shot a playful retort at Miyuki and, while she was grumbling, casually draped my arm around her shoulder.
The moment my hand touched her, Miyuki's shoulder tensed up.
Her eyes darted back and forth between my face and my hand. Then, like a prim and proper lady, she brought the straw to her lips and took a tiny sip of her smoothie.
She set the cup down and started nibbling on her lip.
Nervousness, excitement.
Her feelings were written all over her face.
Just like when I kissed her in her room, I put on a very serious expression and moved my arm from her shoulder to cup the side of her head.
Applying a little pressure, I gently guided her small head down toward my shoulder.
A moment later, thump.
Her head rested lightly on my shoulder.
I shifted my body slightly, and Miyuki's head settled into the space between my trapezius and pectoral muscles.
Haaa.
I could feel Miyuki's breath through my thin dress shirt.
Pick. Scratch.
From under the blanket, I could hear the sound of something being picked at.
Miyuki was picking at the room's sheet with her fingernails, a clear expression of her overwhelming embarrassment.
"Is this uncomfortable?"
I asked in a soft voice, and Miyuki slowly lifted her head.
"It's... it's comfortable..."
"You don't look comfortable at all."
"I said it's comfortable...?"
"Doesn't look like it to me."
"It is... It's comfortable... I'm telling you it's comfortable..."
Her eyes were so clear they looked teary, but the corners of her mouth were turned up in a sharp pout.
My face was reflected in the eyes of Miyuki, who was arguing with me with a completely contradictory expression.
The me you're seeing right now... looks serious.
Scratch. Pick...!
The sound of the sheet being picked at continued.
If I let this go on, I'm going to have to pay for damages.
Just as I was thinking that and about to stop her, she tightly gripped my fingers, which were resting near her collarbone.
Squeezing my middle finger with all her might, she asked in a tiny voice, "Um... is this weekend okay, too...?"
"For what?"
"Eating at my house... I know the interval is really short... but starting next week, I think I'm going to get really busy with preparations for the cultural festival..."
I didn't mind going, but there was something to consider.
Namely, the level of our physical affection.
I thought it'd be better to go when we could engage in deeper expressions of affection than we did now.
After the cultural festival should be fine.
"Can't we go after the cultural festival?"
"Oh... I mean, we can, but..."
"Then let's set a date for sometime after that."
"Okay..."
Scratch. Pick.
Miyuki started picking at the sheet again.
Even though the movie had started, she wasn't even thinking about watching it, just picking at the poor, innocent sheet.
Her head was still resting on my chest.
I let out a small laugh, then grabbed Miyuki's legs and placed them on top of my thighs.
"Heek...!"
Miyuki jumped as if she'd seen a ghost and bit down hard on her lower lip.
Her face had already turned bright red all the way to her ears.
Whenever the atmosphere gets this embarrassing, she turns into such a lady.
It was hard to believe this was the same girl who was so boldly defiant and seemed to despise me not too long ago.
I gave her a broad smile, then picked up the strawberry smoothie, put my mouth to the straw, and took a sip.
Then, I offered the cup to Miyuki.
"....."
She stared blankly at the straw in the smoothie for a moment, then—
after a slight hesitation, she put the end of the straw I had just used into her mouth.