Translator: RaidenTL
Friday, just before the weekend, during club activities.
As I stood there blankly, staring at my phone, Miyuki stood on her tiptoes behind me.
She peeked over my shoulder to see what I was doing and asked.
"Why are you trying to buy a barbecue machine? Are you planning to grill meat at home?"
"Yeah. It says you can make yakitori with it, too."
"Why yakitori all of a sudden?"
"Because it's your favorite."
Bringing up yakitori was my way of saying we should eat it together later.
Miyuki, understanding the hidden meaning in my words, shyly lowered her head.
Ever since the day we slept together, Miyuki would often blush whenever she looked at me.
She always did, but it was happening more frequently now.
She'll probably be like this for a while.
She'll think of sleeping with me every time it rains.
"Um... Matsuda."
She called out, fidgeting.
I put my phone away and answered.
"What is it?"
"I'm going to finish really late today because of the cultural festival preparations... We have to book the gym and decorate it."
"Already?"
"It's not 'already,' we're late even starting now... So, you should go home first after club activities."
That wasn't some pretense, hoping I'd say I'd wait; she meant it.
Looks like she'll be done around eight or nine...
Waiting at school until then would be overkill. I should just pick her up when she's done.
"I'll come pick you up, so text me 20 minutes before you're finished."
"You don't have to..."
"No arguments, just text me."
"...Okay..."
Miyuki's eyes widened as she reluctantly agreed.
She pinched a lock of my bangs between her fingers and gently brushed it down, saying,
"Your hair's gotten a little long."
"I'm not cutting it."
"Who said you should? I'm just saying it looks good..."
Miyuki, carefully arranging my bangs.
Watching her in silence, I raised one corner of my mouth.
"Hey, Miyuki."
"Hm?"
"Want to sleep over at my place again tonight?"
Miyuki's fingers froze, still holding the center of my bangs.
Her eyes, wide to their absolute limit, blinked once.
"Tonight...?"
She was regaining her composure much faster than when I asked her to stay over a few days ago.
I took her wrist and lowered her hand, then said,
"We can wake up, relax a bit, and then go see an early morning movie. I'll take you home after that. How about it?"
The first time is always the hardest; the second is easy.
You're tempted, aren't you? I can tell.
If you feel pressured to just say yes, should I give you an excuse?
Yeah, I should.
"I still haven't given you back the clothes you wore last time."
"I-I was going to give them to you this weekend...!"
"Just sleep over while you're at it."
"I'd have to stop by my house to get them..."
"So just stop by your house on the way."
"....."
Miyuki mumbled, as if something was bothering her.
After hesitating for a long time, she said in a barely audible voice,
"My mom and dad know what kind of car you drive, Matsuda. If they see it parked in front of our house, they'll get suspicious... So..."
"So?"
"P-Park... park it far away... okay?"
As she made the request with a flushed face, a small glimmer of anticipation shone in her eyes.
I gave her a warm smile, let go of her wrist, and stretched as if refreshed.
"Got it."
For the high stance, unlike the mid-level stance, is the right foot back and the left foot forward?
Since striking with the left hand is standard, it must be to increase the range.
While looking up a tutorial for the high stance on my phone, I peeked my head out from the top of the hill.
No one was around. The perfect situation to practice alone.
I'll try a little before Chinami gets here.
Raising the bamboo sword above my head, I assumed an incredibly clumsy high stance and tried the gliding steps.
The basic principle of the gliding step is to move the foot in the direction of travel first.
Keeping that in mind, I slowly moved my feet, and it worked out pretty well.
How should I do the strike?
The high stance is characterized by fast attack speed and powerful strikes.
To increase speed and power...
'Alright.'
I followed the movements forming in my mind.
"Hup!"
I took a sharp breath in and exhaled forcefully, pushing off the ground with my right foot and taking a large step forward with my left.
Power surged from my glutes to my thighs, and my left foot lifted heavily before slamming down powerfully onto the ground.
At the same time, I brought the bamboo sword in my hands straight down.
Swoosh—! Thump!
A sound like splitting the wind was followed by a heavy thud that echoed from the floor.
'Did that work?'
It seemed roughly similar to the high stance head strike I saw in the video, but with no one to watch me, I couldn't tell if I did it right or wrong.
Enduring the sharp pain shooting up from my left foot, I tried to attempt the attack following the foot stomp one more time.
However,
"Aaaah!?"
I couldn't help but freeze when I heard Chinami's shocked cry from behind me.
I quickly broke my stance and scratched my head as Chinami, her eyes wide, strode toward me.
"Looks like you've finished wiping down the bamboo swords."
"I have! But Matsuda! What in the world were you just doing!?"
I should play dumb for now.
"I was just practicing like usual."
"Like usual...? That's strange. If it were like usual, you should have been practicing the mid-level stance, Matsuda. But I'm quite sure I just saw you in the high stance, wasn't I?"
"I don't think so?"
"No? It's not 'not so'! It was definitely the high stance!"
"That's weird. Maybe you saw wrong?"
"Matsuda...! Are you trying to lie to me!?"
Chinami put her hands on her hips, trying to pressure me.
She seemed to be trying to look strict, but with her gentle face, small frame, and overly cute way of speaking, she wasn't the least bit intimidating.
Since I'm caught anyway, I might as well be honest.
I tucked the bamboo sword into my hip and said,
"Actually, what you saw was correct, Master."
"I knew it!"
"Yes."
"I've told you so many times not to, so why don't you listen?"
"Because... I want to?"
"....."
She looked dumbfounded by my nonchalant, circular reasoning.
I subtly moved closer until I was right in front of Chinami, looked down at her, and spoke.
"I know the basics are important, but I think it's also important to feel interested. I'm getting bored of only practicing the mid-level stance and walking every day."
Of course, the basics are important.
Not just in kendo, but in anything you do, the fundamentals are something you can never practice enough.
But if the person learning those fundamentals isn't interested, it's worse than not doing it at all.
These days, even boxing gyms teach the one-two combo on the first day to spark the members' interest.
You have to give them a carrot like that to make it fun, which is how they build perseverance.
If you focus too much on just the basics, all the club members will end up quitting.
Wait, why did the mood suddenly turn into a passionate sports story?
Calm down.
"I understand how you feel, Junior... but kendo is about purifying the mind, spirit, and body..."
Right. The virginity of the mind, spirit, and body... very important.
"And isn't that training of mind, spirit, and body most effective when you're free of distracting thoughts?"
"...Well, that's true, but..."
She's about to give in. I'll keep pushing.
"Honestly, when I first learned the mid-level stance, I was like, 'What is this?' But just now, watching a video of the high stance and trying the head strike was really fun. I can feel the passion welling up inside me."
I even clenched my fists for dramatic effect, and Chinami's ears perked up.
"I-It was...? Really...?"
"Yes."
"Ummm..."
Chinami let out a long, low hum as she pondered.
Staring at the ground, lost in thought, she seemed to come up with a good idea and offered me a compromise.
"As you said, Junior, interest is a very important factor. But as Renka and I have told you, without learning the mid-level stance, the high stance is less than half a stance. It just makes you easy prey for your opponent."
"So you're saying I should learn the mid-level stance?"
"Yes. I will teach you the high stance, but you must focus your training on the mid-level stance. What will you do?"
"If you're offering to teach me, I'm all for it."
"Good. Then, please demonstrate the head strike you did earlier. I'll watch and give you feedback, as a reminder of the importance of the basics."
"Let's do it."
I replied nonchalantly and assumed the high stance I had taught myself.
Then, before Chinami could say anything,
"Hup!"
I let out a short breath and swung the bamboo sword.
Swoosh—! Thump!
After the foot stomp, that same heavy sound echoed out.
Thinking that the momentum, at least, was good, I brought my bamboo sword back.
Then I turned to Chinami and asked,
"How was it?"
"...Huh?"
She let out a short gasp, her mouth agape.
Seeing her shocked face, I could tell that even if I hadn't done it perfectly, I had definitely shown her something completely unexpected.
So I really do have a talent for this.
Yeah, it wouldn't make sense for the main character not to be special.
I moved closer to the stunned Chinami.
"I asked how it was. Did I do well?"
Pretending to ask for her thoughts, I gently rubbed the back of her neck like last time.
At that,
"Ah...! Th-That... the stance just now... Haaa..."
All the strength drained from Chinami's body, and her eyes went unfocused.
Last time, and this time too...
Her reaction is so perfect. Could this be an erogenous zone?
Or is she just weak to a man's touch?
I'll have to check properly next time.
Click.
"I'm late, aren't I? I'm so sorry...!"
Miyuki apologized the moment she got into the passenger seat.
Seeing that it was almost ten o'clock, I started the car and chided her.
"What took you so long? I almost fell asleep."
"I told you I'd be late... What were you doing at home...?"
"Watching a lookbook."
"A lookbook? A guy's?"
"Nah, a woman's. There was one where she changes her panties while still wearing her clothes."
At my explicit words, Miyuki's expression went blank.
I glanced at her and let out a silly laugh.
"I'm kidding."
Somewhat relieved, Miyuki asked suspiciously,
"You're really kidding, right...? You don't watch things like that... do you?"
"If I want to, can I?"
"Th-That's for you to decide, Matsuda..."
"So it's okay?"
"...No. I'd rather you didn't."
"Then you show me."
"What are you talking about...?! I'd rather die...!"
Horrified, Miyuki shook her head frantically.
The sight of her squeezing her eyes shut was so adorable that I forgot I was driving and almost leaned in to kiss her.
Patience. I have to be patient.
Tomorrow is the weekend. There's no need to rush to sleep under the pressure of having to go to school.
So, once we get home, I can take my time and melt her down.
Just as I thought at the multi-purpose cafe, it's important to gradually raise the intensity and get Miyuki used to it.
I won't go too overboard today, but I'll try to be a little more suggestive than last time.
"You'd rather die? That hurts."
"What's there to be hurt about...?! Haa... I feel like I can't control my emotions when I'm with you, Matsuda..."
"Being honest with your emotions is a good thing."
"It's not being honest, it feels like I'm going crazy."
"Isn't it better if we go crazy together?"
I smoothly deflected Miyuki's affectionate complaint. When she let out a disbelieving laugh, I grinned and turned my eyes back to the road.