How to Ruin a Romantic Comedy

Tetsuya asked as he came out after his shower. I was in the middle of the club room with Chinami when I answered.

“Yeah. You’ll have to go home first today, too. Got an umbrella?”

“I was planning on borrowing one from the club room. In that case, I’ll head home with Miyuki, okay?”

Going home with Miyuki?

Not gonna happen.

You’re destined to be alone on a rainy day, stuffing your face with… not pajeon with makgeolli, but okonomiyaki and sake.

“Go ahead.”

“Keep up the good work. You too, Nanase-senpai.”

Tetsuya bowed politely.

Chinami waved with a bright expression.

“Miura, get home safe.”

After Tetsuya left, the few remaining club members trickled out of the room.

Chinami peeked into the coach’s office, let out a sigh of relief, and then brought the shinai I’d been using from the storage room.

“Shall we start practice right away?”

I took the shinai and, gripping the hilt properly, said,

“I have something to ask you before that.”

“What is it?”

“Inoo-senpai said that you mainly use the High stance… is that right?”

“That’s right.”

“Please teach it to me, too.”

“Hmm…?”

She blinked her large eyes.

After a moment, she refused flatly.

“No.”

“Why not?”

“If you don’t learn the Mid-level stance first, there’s no point in learning the High stance. So, no.”

“But please teach me anyway.”

“No.”

“Yes.”

“…Matsuda, are you playing word games with me? It’s amusing, but the answer is still no.”

“I’m telling you, it’s fine.”

As I slowly approached Chinami with a smile on my lips, her head tilted up slowly to match my steps.

When her head was tilted almost all the way back, she suddenly crossed her arms.

“Even if you insist, no means no.”

“Is it so strange for a student to want to follow in his master’s footsteps?”

“The sentiment is admirable, but if you learn the High stance now, your form will completely fall apart.”

“Isn’t that assuming I’ve already learned the Mid-level stance? It’s a different story if I take my first steps with the High stance. I want to be taught by a master of the High stance.”

“Flattery will get you nowhere. But… could you back up a little? You’re so tall, my neck is starting to hurt.”

“Should I massage it for you?”

“Uhm…! No.”

Looks like she was tempted for a second.

She’s so honest with her feelings, she seems easier to read than Miyuki.

Anyway, it seems pointless to push any harder.

I’ll give up for now and wait for the next opportunity.

I moved away from Chinami and took my stance, facing the large, full-length mirror on one side of the club room.

Whoosh!

…

Watching the rain, which showed no signs of stopping, Chinami glanced back and forth between the single remaining umbrella and my face before speaking.

“You should use the umbrella. I think I’ll take a taxi. But let’s share it to the main gate.”

“A taxi? Where do you live?”

“It’s about a 15-minute drive.”

“Really? Then would you like me to give you a ride?”

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“A riiide…?”

Chinami’s jaw dropped.

I want to stick my finger in there.

“Matsuda, do you… have a car?”

“Yes. I drove here today.”

“O-Oh, you did…?”

“Let’s go to the parking lot together. I’ll hold the umbrella.”

With that, I immediately opened the umbrella and stepped outside.

Thump-thump-thump! Thump-thump!

The heavy raindrops beat against the canopy.

The sound wasn’t half bad.

I looked at Chinami and gestured.

“What are you doing? Come on.”

“Ah, yes…!”

She moved cautiously and stood beside me, straight as a board.

But she kept a slight distance.

Because of that, the rain hit one of her shoulders, and I could see her uniform blouse getting soaked in an instant.

On top of that, because of the height difference between me holding the umbrella and Chinami, rain was even getting through the wide gap between her and the umbrella.

At this point, there was almost no point in sharing it.

I let out a soft laugh, moved close enough for our legs to touch, bent my knees slightly, and lowered the umbrella until it almost brushed her hair.

Noticing my consideration, Chinami gave me an awkward and apologetic smile.

“Thank you… Matsuda, you’re much kinder than the rumors say.”

The second-year kendo club members treat me well enough, but that’s only because I’m meticulous with my manager duties, so they’ve opened up to me.

The other second-years probably see me as a delinquent.

I shouldn’t worry about them. They’re just extras I have no connection with anyway.

I scratched the side of my head and changed the subject, acting as if I didn’t care about the rumors.

“Shall we?”

“Yes…!”

We walked toward the parking lot at a very slow pace, toddling like a child taking its first steps.

Walking with my knees bent was incredibly uncomfortable, but… what wouldn’t I do to raise her Affection Level?

Besides, the events with Chinami were something I had to create entirely on my own, so it was best to make progress the moment I got a chance.

After reaching the eaves at the corner of the parking lot with Chinami, I excused myself and called Miyuki.

After a couple of rings,

-Hello?

Miyuki answered, her voice hushed.

“Where are you? Are you still far?”

-I was just getting ready to leave. Are you in the parking lot, Matsuda-kun?

“Yeah.”

-It’ll probably take me about two minutes. I’ll be right there.

I said okay and pressed the end call button.

“Someone else is riding with us, so is it okay if we wait two or three minutes before we go?”

“Of course. But, Matsuda, how much does gas cost for a 15-minute drive?”

“Why the sudden question about gas money… Don’t tell me you’re planning to pay me for it?”

“Yes.”

Seeing her wide, clear eyes, I could tell she wasn’t trying to draw a line between us.

She genuinely seemed to think it was the proper thing to do.

I gave a slightly exasperated smile and said,

“Just accept it as a kind gesture.”

“I can’t just…”

“Then I guess I’ll have to pay you, Master. For teaching me how to wear the uniform, how to clean the gear, how to perform kendo techniques…”

“W-Wait a minute…! That doesn’t make any sense…?”

“By that logic, what you just said doesn’t make sense either. Don’t worry about the gas money. If you really feel bad, just buy me a drink later.”

At my casual words, Chinami’s round face relaxed slightly.

She bowed her head to me and said,

“Okay. Then I’ll gratefully accept the ride today.”

Not long after we started chatting, I saw Miyuki in the distance, wearing sandals and holding an umbrella, walking quickly toward us.

She was about to head for my car but froze when she spotted Chinami and me under the eaves.

After a moment of confusion, she approached us.

I gave her a grin and introduced Chinami.

“This is Nanase-senpai, the kendo club’s manager.”

“Ah… the… one you mentioned before… your master…?”

“That’s her.”

Miyuki nodded slowly.

She bowed from the waist toward Chinami and greeted her.

“Hello, senpai. I’m Hanazawa Miyuki…”

“Hello! I’m Nanase Chinami. It’s a pleasure to meet you, Hanazawa.”

After they exchanged greetings, I told them to wait there and dashed over to the car.

…

Chinami’s home… is a typical apartment building.

Seems like she lives a normal life.

“Thank you, Matsuda! Get home safe!”

When the car arrived at the entrance to the apartment building, Chinami leaned forward from the back seat.

I looked back at her and pointed to the umbrella dripping rainwater on the floor beneath the seat.

“Don’t forget your umbrella.”

“Right! Hanazawa, you get home safe, too! It was nice meeting you today, and I enjoyed our talk!”

At the cheerful farewell, Miyuki’s face, from her seat in the front, brightened.

“It was nice meeting you, too, Nanase-senpai. I look forward to seeing you again.”

After getting out of the car, Chinami, holding an umbrella that looked relatively large for her, bowed to us again.

Then she entered the apartment building.

Miyuki watched her go, then turned her head to look at me as the car started moving.

“Does she always talk so formally?”

“She’s like that with everyone. She uses formal speech with everyone, regardless of whether they’re older or younger.”

“Really…? She’s so nice… and cute… But, Matsuda-kun.”

“What.”

“It would’ve been nice if you’d told me beforehand.”

Miyuki’s voice felt a little chilly.

She understood the situation thanks to the explanation Chinami and I gave her in the car, and she didn’t hold anything against Chinami, but… she was still feeling a subtle, unconscious jealousy.

It’s only natural for a normal person to feel awkward about another woman. That is, if they have normal tastes.

“I was going to tell you when I called.”

“Then why didn’t you?”

“You said you’d be right here, so I figured I’d tell you in person.”

“…Is it that hard to just say it? How long would it have taken?”

Just then, the light turned red.

I calmly pressed the brake to stop the car and turned to look at Miyuki.

“Are you mad?”

She flinched and avoided my gaze.

“Why would I be mad? There’s no reason to…”

Flinch.

Miyuki’s words trailed off. She pressed her lips together and her body jolted as if she had the hiccups.

It was because my hand had slowly reached out and grabbed her wrist.

I stared at the speechless Miyuki, then raised one corner of my mouth, tightened my grip, and pulled her wrist inward.

Her body shifted slightly… just a tiny bit closer to me.

“Well… now that I think about it, I’d say there’s more than enough reason.”

“…What do you mean…?”

Don’t pretend you don’t understand.

No matter how clumsy you are with relationships, you’re not so dense you don’t know what I meant.

With one corner of my mouth still raised, I answered by pulling her hand into mine and placing it on the console box.

Then, I changed the subject, gently tracing the soft webbing between her index and middle fingers with my own.

“What are you making for dinner tonight?”

“…I don’t know.”

“Should I just grab something random at the supermarket, then?”

“I’ll pick something out myself…”

She’s pretending to be sulking, but her cheeks are twitching.

Proof that she’s enjoying this light, yet subtly intimate, skinship.

She reacts so openly to just this. It makes me curious, and even excited, to see how she’ll react at home.

I glanced at Miyuki and asked,

“Should I buy some beer, too?”

“Beer…? It’s not good for you.”

“It’s made from barley. And it tastes good. That means it’s healthy.”

At my completely nonchalant remark, Miyuki let out a dry laugh.

“Then should I just drop you in the middle of a barley field?”

Normally, she would have scolded me for talking nonsense, but this time she’s playing along.

She must have felt bad about taking things so seriously all the time.

By the way, it seems she hasn’t considered that I can’t drive if I drink…

She’s not planning on just making me dinner and sending me home, is she…?

In that case, maybe I’ll use the beer as an excuse to ask to stay the night?

I’ll have to read the mood first and then decide.