Chapter 40: Rising Intensity


    After finishing the club activities, I carried the collection bin to gather the members uniforms.


    While doing so, I saw Renkaing out of the shower and promptly headed towards her.


    She was drinking water while drying her hair with a towel. Spotting my spirited approach, she flinched.


    What...what is it?


    Your uniform, please.


    ...I left it in the womens changing room bin. Chinami will bring itter.


    Thats a pity.


    Tilting my head, I said, I have a question.


    All of a sudden?


    Yes.


    Alright...go on.


    I pointed towards a male senior practicing head strikes at a corner of the dojo, both arms raised above his head.


    Whats that senior doing? Is that part of the training?


    Looking in the direction, Renka eximed with a hint of admiration, Ah... Yes, that stance is called Sangdanse, also known as the Fire Stance. Few people use it.


    Is it that rare?


    It has superior offensive power, but its weak in defense. Its harder to maintain than the basic Jungdanse stance. Also, its difficult to connect withbination attacks, vulnerable to thrusts, and very susceptible in closebat. The time to adapt to movements is also slower.


    Seems like it has many downsides.


    No wonder only a few people practice it...


    Are there any advantages?


    It has a long reach. Plus, theres the advantage of Pyon Suchigi...


    Pyon Suchigi refers to swinging a sword with one hand.


    From Renkas trailing voice, it seemed the advantages werent significantpared to the disadvantages.


    Some people may differ, but most are captivated by the forceful impact of that stance, making it their primary. When someone with good energy adopts Sangdanse, the imposing aura is impressive... There are even a fewpetitors who have gained prominence using it. Chinami also mainly employs Sangdanse.


    Really? Nanase Senpai?


    Yes, didnt you know?


    I had no idea.


    ...Well, beginners are supposed to focus on Jungdanse, so there wouldnt have been a reason to mention it.


    I pictured the petite Chinami leaping about with her sword raised high, striking her opponents head.


    The image was oddly cute.


    Are there other stances, too?


    There are. Hadanse, Eokkaekal, Yeopjase, and Ido.


    Ido? Using two swords?


    Yes, its a decent stance, but its banned in studentpetitions. And there are no instructors at the academy who teach it. Hadanse, Eokkaekal, and Yeopjase are really inefficient in Kendo, where striking areas are restricted. Ive never seen anyone use them in officialpetitions. Maybe just for fun in friendly matches?


    So, Sangdanse and Jungdanse are the mainstream stances in current Kendo?


    Correct. Although Jungdanse is the majority.


    To sum it up, Sangdanse is a minor stance.


    Its a tactic solely focused on offense, also dubbed the Fire Stance.


    The sense of impact is invigorating.


    Great.


    Then Ill go with Sangdanse.


    Theres nothing more thrilling than a minor beating a major, right?


    In ser terms, its like a third-division underdog taking down a first-division team.


    And most crucially, the protagonist has to be special, and my mentor Chinami uses Sangdanse...


    Ive made up my mind.


    Can I learn it?


    At my question, Renka chuckled as if amused.


    Without mastering the basics, even a half-baked Sangdanse is useless. Stop the unnecessary daydreaming and start learning Jungdanse.


    Alright.


    At my nonchnt response, Renkas smooth forehead furrowed.


    Youre not listening to me, are you?


    I am listening.


    Your expression says otherwise... If youre thinking of coaxing Chinami, wake up. Shell have the same idea as me. She wont teach you until youve properly learned Jungdanse.


    Sure.


    Ill say it again, the basics are Jungdanse.


    Basics are Jungdanse... Sure.


    I feigned disinterest in Jungdanse and escaped Renkas lecture.


    ***


    In a downtown caf, I was lounging and reading aic book, my legs crossed.


    Swing


    The door opened, and as Miyuki poked her head in, I greeted her.


    Youre here? What about the food?


    Uh... I ordered a couples set, so theyll bring it over soon.


    Miyuki emphasized the word couple as she set her bag down in the corner and took off her shoes to sit down. She looked visibly ufortable.


    Sharing the closed and narrow space with just the two of us must have felt oddly tense.


    Youre an hourte, you know?


    Sorry... it was because of a cultural festival meeting. Did Tetsuya-kun go home?


    Yes, I gave him a ride as soon as the club activities were over.


    Good... Did you two talk about anything?


    I talked trash about you.


    At that, tension seemed to leave Miyuki, and she leaned back against the wall. She crossed her legs and wrapped her arms around herself, staring at me lounging in my chair. She nced at the cover of the book I was reading.


    Theres a kid on the cover holding a sword and with a scar on his forehead... What genre is this?


    Action.


    Is it good?


    So-so.


    Whats the story?


    The protagonists family gets ughtered by demons, except for his sibling. He embarks on a journey to turn his sibling back into a human. Thats the gist for now.


    u-ughtered? Isnt it a horror manga?


    No, its not. I can bring you the first volume if youd like to read it?


    Miyukis head shook from side to side in refusal.


    I dont like it...


    Miyuki rummaged through her bag, pulling out her math textbook, a notebook, and some writing utensils. Seeing this, I sat up.


    Are you seriously studying even when youre here?


    I couldnt review earlier because of the cultural festival meeting during our break. Dont you have any questions, Matsuda-kun? You seemed to be struggling during math ss.


    Stop it. Close the book. Youre getting on my nerves.


    Why? Youre reading manga.


    Lets just watch a movie or something.


    Okay.


    Miyuki promptly closed her math textbook. She picked up the TV remote in the room and shed a radiant smile as she pressed the power button.


    Was this her n all along?


    Did she just... y me?


    Im confused. So confused.


    I tossed my manga aside and leaned back against the wall. Miyuki skimmed through the list of movies avable in the caf.


    What do you want to watch?


    Whatever you want to watch is fine.


    In a moment, the movie will likely fade into the background, barely registering in our senses. So, it doesnt matter what we watch.


    Miyuki, who chose a romance movie, cautiously moved closer and spread out a nket she brought. She then ced it over both of ourps.


    I thought it might get cold because of the air conditioner...


    Who said anything?


    Mm-hm.


    Earlier, she was cunningly steering my actions like a fox, but now shes responding with a voice quieter than a mosquitos, puffing and unpuffing her cheeks.


    Its both amusing and baffling.


    Knock, knock.


    Just as the movies opening credits began to roll, a knock resounded from our door. Miyuki quickly stood up to open it and cautiously ced the tray that an employee had brought us on the table.


    Usually, Id expect her to spill something like this and stain her school uniform shirt, as if to prove shes a total klutz. Though no such thing happened.


    Curious about what food had arrived, I checked the tray.


    Strawberry yogurt smoothie, green teatte, and a generous serving of fries. Looks like its one of those couple sets.


    Did we get to choose the drinks?


    Yep. The green teatte is for you, Matsuda-kun.


    Why do I have to drink something that tastes like grass? If we get to choose, you couldve at least asked me...


    Haha, tastes like grass? I picked the green teatte because you were talking about green tea at lunch... so I thought...


    Miyukis face contorted, looking a bit like she was hurt because I hadnt recognized her thoughtful gesture. I decided to ease off on the teasing.


    Hey, cant you take a joke? Youre always nagging and teasing me.


    Quickly grabbing the cup containing thette, I took a long sip through the straw. Within seconds, about a third of the green teatte disappeared. Seeing this, Miyuki was visibly shocked.


    What are you doing? Drinking it all at once like that!


    I swallowed the mouthful oftte I had been holding and shrugged my shoulders.


    It all ends up in the stomach anyway. But it does taste good. I like the slightly sweet aftertaste.


    You really are an idiot... Your way of speaking is so old-fashioned, like an old mans.


    Old man? Well, thats a bit shocking.


    Is idiot the only insult you know?


    Teasing Miyuki a little more, I slyly slid my arm around her shoulders. The moment my hand touched her, her shoulders tensed up, retracting inward.


    She rolled her eyes at me, then back at my hand, before finally taking her straw to her lips like some kind of genteeldy and taking a tiny sip of her smoothie. She put the cup back down and chewed her lips thoughtfully.


    Anxiety, excitement.


    Her emotionsid bare.


    Like when we kissed in Miyukis room, I moved the arm I had around her shoulders with a very serious expression and ced it against the side of her neck.


    Adding just a bit of pressure, her petite head gradually lowered toward my shoulder.


    And then,


    Dak.


    Her head lightly touched my shoulder. Tilting my body slightly, Miyukis head settled into the space between my trapezius and pectoral muscles


    Whoo.


    Her breath, prating through my thin shirt.


    Rip. Tug.


    Beneath the nket, I heard the sound of something being torn. Miyuki was tearing at the sheetid out in the room, revealing her unabashedly shy emotions.


    Ufortable?


    When I asked softly, Miyuki raised her head slowly.


    Im, Im fine...


    You dont look fine at all.


    I said Im fine...?


    Dont look like it.


    Im fine... Im fine I said Im fine


    Her eyes, seemingly so deep they could swallow my soul, yet her sharp mouth corners... In her mismatching expression challenging me, I saw my face reflected in her eyes.


    The me that she looking at right now... was serious.


    Rip. Tug...!


    The sound of the sheet being torn continued to echo.


    At this rate, well owe the owner some kind of rpenseJust as I think this and attempt to stop Miyuki, she firmly grasps the fingers I have near her corbone.


    Gripping my middle finger with all her might, she asks in a whisper, You... is this weekend okay for you?


    For what?


    Eating at my house... I know its a bit soon, but starting next week, Ill be really busy preparing for the cultural festival...


    Going isnt the issue, but there are factors to consider.


    Namely, the level of physical intimacy.


    Since it would be rude of me to eat at her house repeatedly, I think it would be better to go when we can be more openly affectionate than we are now. After the cultural festival ends, it should be fine.


    Is it okay if Ie after the cultural festival ends?


    Ah... well, that would be okay...


    Then lets n for some time after that.


    Alright...


    Rip. Tug.


    Miyuki starts tearing at the sheet again. Despite the movie starting, shes ignoring the TV and focusing solely on tearing up the unfortunate sheet. Her head remains pressed against my shoulder.


    Suppressing a smile, I take Miyukis leg and ce it over my thigh.


    Eek...!


    Miyuki reacts as if shes seen a ghost, biting down on her lower lip. Her face has long turned a deep shade of red, the blush even reaching up to her ears.


    One could say she transforms into a properdy whenever such an atmosphere envelops us. It makes me question whether this is the same girl who was brazenly challenging me and showing disdain not too long ago.


    With a refreshing smile toward her, I grab the strawberry smoothie and take a sip through the straw.


    Then I offer the cup to her.


    .....


    Staring for a moment at the straw in the smoothie, she swallows her hesitation and sips from the same spot where my lips had been.


    *


    { Devil: You can support the trantion and read ahead on /Devill


    Thank you,


    Devil }