Ch.31Male Friendship (2)

After going through the process of understanding our homeroom teacher, today’s class also concluded peacefully.

After school, students were always high-energy, but this time they were especially excited.

It was because Golden Week was approaching. Everyone was in high spirits with the holidays just around the corner.

“You’re going straight to the kendo dojo, right?” Umi asked.

“Yeah. I have to.”

If I don’t go, Gonzaemon… will sulk again. He’s quite a troublesome old man.

‘Well… there are still things I want to learn from Gonzaemon.’

If I master the ultimate techniques of the Kiryu family’s swordsmanship, I’ll gain some useful skills.

‘Issem’

That’s what the technique I learned was called.

It was an extremely useful passive skill. It allowed sword attacks to be effective even against enemies with physical attack or slash resistance. It was a technique that let me beat enemies regardless of type matchups.

‘I’d be in big trouble if I didn’t learn it.’

The Psychorobo I awakened essentially had no function other than being a shield. I could learn to target weak points with skills, but since I couldn’t learn higher-tier techniques, I couldn’t expect much damage.

In the end, all I could rely on was my sword.

“So… you’ll come hang out at my place again today, right?” Umi asked.

“Hmm… but there’s not much to do there. You don’t even have a karaoke machine.”

Honestly, I was excited the first time I went to a girl’s room, but now…

“No!! How long are you going to be obsessed with karaoke machines?!!” Umi exclaimed in disbelief.

“Then tell me what else there is. What do you have?”

“Well… there are dolls… and a vanity table…”

“Boring. What about manga or games? You don’t have any of that.”

“Why would I have such otaku things?!!”

“To put it simply, your room is just a pretty, nice-smelling study room. There’s absolutely zero entertainment value.”

“How rude!! Seriously!!!”

“Booooring.”

“Don’t call it boring!!!” Umi shouted.

“But boring is boring.”

“Argh!!! Really!!! What about me?! Isn’t that enough?” Umi cried out. Her gaze was somehow desperate.

“Well… if you’re that desperate. I guess I have no choice. I’ll come.”

That’s what I said.

“Why such a condescending attitude?! Aaaargh!! So annoying!!!”

Umi ruffled her hair in frustration.

———

Well, it was half a joke, and I decided to hang out at Umi’s house after training. Yeah, I couldn’t ignore Umi’s burning desire to hang out with a friend.

I was going to change clothes in the locker room, but Ms. Asuna persistently told me to change in Umi’s room. I wondered if it was really okay to let an unrelated man change clothes in her daughter’s room, but I felt a strange pressure from Ms. Asuna, so I obediently complied.

Well… Umi didn’t seem particularly embarrassed either. Maybe she’s gotten used to it. That’s what I thought.

Tang-! Tadak-!! Taak-!

The free sparring training continued.

Now Gonzaemon was focused only on giving me practical experience. Well… it was more fun than basic training, but I wondered if this was enough.

“It can’t be helped. You have incredible talent but lack experience. If we want to prepare for the summer tournament, we have no choice but to build up your practical experience intensively here.”

Gonzaemon said.

Sending me to the summer tournament was now a certainty.

“Summer tournament…..”

I knew about it since it was an event that could be experienced in the game.

“It’s a tournament called the Tushin Cup. Well… it’s not officially recognized by the Japan Kendo Federation. However… it has credibility among kendoists. Do you know why?”

Gonzaemon asked.

“Because the person called ‘Tushin’ hosts the tournament with his title on the line, right?”

I said what I knew.

Tushin. It literally meant “God of Battle.” It was a tournament hosted by Saito Tetsu, a legendary swordsman who had never lost in any official or unofficial competition. As those familiar with Japanese history might have noticed, Saito Tetsu was a descendant of the legendary swordsman Saito Hajime.

Well, Japanese otaku games are obsessed with alternate history elements. This could be considered a byproduct of that.

“Yes, that’s part of it. But… there’s another reason. The Tushin Cup has less strict rules compared to official competitions. Any weapon can be used. And the sword style doesn’t matter either. You just need to score a point on your opponent’s body. In many ways, it’s just like real combat.”

Gonzaemon explained.

Anything from naginata-type spears, blunt weapons, even chain sickles and shurikens were allowed. As long as they weren’t lethal enough for the competition.

In that sense, it was a rather insane competition. That aspect appealed to enthusiasts, drawing many spectators.

“The fact that it’s much closer to real combat than official competitions stimulates the competitive spirit of swordsmen. They want to test whether their sword techniques work outside of sports.”

Gonzaemon said.

“I don’t expect you to win. Just make it to the semifinals. Then… I’ll teach you the ultimate technique of our Kiryu family.”

Gonzaemon immediately set up a flag.

I needed to at least reach the semifinals in the competition to learn Issem.

“I’ll do my best!!!!”

I immediately responded enthusiastically.

“Well… normally I shouldn’t teach it to anyone outside the family, but… you and I are already like family anyway.”

Gonzaemon laughed heartily.

“Hehehe. There’s no problem if he becomes our family’s son-in-law, right?”

Ms. Asuna said while cleaning the dojo floor.

“Hahahahaha!! That’s right!!!!”

Gonzaemon laughed while staring intently at me.

Somehow… there was tremendous pressure to make things work with Umi. It was almost burdensome.

My mother had already set her sights on Eri. I was certain I’d gotten involved in a complicated situation.

———–

At that moment, in Umi’s room.

“Mmmmm~Ahhhhh…..”

Umi was in ecstasy, burying her face in Shota’s clothes and inhaling deeply.

“Ahhhh….. smells so good…..”

Umi was naturally enveloped in a state of bliss.

“Today…. was there PE class? Shota’s scent is so strong…!”

Umi trembled with her face buried between the school uniform pants. Each time she inhaled, her stomach grew hot and her body felt warm. She liked that feeling.

“…..it’s interfering.”

Soon, Umi clicked her tongue. She could smell the deodorant that Shota always used. While it was useful for masking sweat, Umi found the deodorant scent quite bothersome.

“Later….. I’ll lock him in a sealed room and make him exercise a lot…. Yes. Then my room will be filled with Shota’s smell, right?”

Umi had begun to entertain dangerous thoughts.

“And…. no showering for three days…. Hnngh…!”

Just thinking about it made her body heat up.

Umi was losing her mind in various ways.

Tap tap-!

Soon, Asuna knocked on the door as a signal. It was time to return the clothes to the shower room as Shota’s training was ending.

‘Tch. So soon.’

Even though they weren’t her clothes to begin with, she was reluctant to return them.

‘How…. can I secretly secure his clothes? Preferably unwashed ones.’

Umi began to seriously contemplate.

——-

I knocked on Umi’s door.

“Enter!!!”

I immediately went with the mood and shouted loudly.

“Seriously…. why have you been so arrogant since earlier?”

Umi said with a somewhat sullen expression.

Oh my… I don’t like that attitude.

“Umi. Aren’t you happy to see me? Then I’ll just go home.”

I immediately raised my hand and said.

“W-wait…. that’s not necessary….”

“Okay!! Bye bye!! Umi!!!!!!! See you tomorrow!!!! How!!!”

“Alright!! Alright!!! I’ve been waiting for you!! Shota!!”

Umi reluctantly grabbed me.

“That’s better.”

Only then did I feel like hanging out.

“Really…. I hate Shota so much…..”

Umi muttered with a tearful face. Ah… I should probably stop teasing her.

——

I headed to Umi’s room.

Honestly, there was nothing to do.

It was too much of a girl’s room with nothing to play with. No game console, no manga. How does she even live? Does she just use her phone in her room?

“Umi. How about… developing some hobbies? Don’t waste your youth.”

I said seriously to Umi.

“How rude!! I do have hobbies, you know?!!”

Umi immediately got upset.

“Look. Fashion magazines.”

Umi handed me this month’s issue of a famous fashion magazine. It was a magazine called “Vogue” that had become popular among female students.

“Page 39. And open page 45,”

Umi said with sparkling eyes.

“You even put sticky notes on them.”

How eager are you to show me?

There was Umi in the magazine. She was striking a pose wearing some stylish clothes.

“Woooow!!! Amazing!!!”

It wasn’t an exaggeration—I was genuinely surprised. Somehow… Umi in the magazine had a different vibe. She looked extremely professional.

“That’s my class. I’m at the forefront of the fashion industry. I’m probably the only person from Emoshita who’s ever been featured in Vogue.”

Umi said with a smile.

“Indeed…..”

When she put it that way, it was impressive.

“Amazing!! Umi!!”

“Yes!! Praise me more! More!!”

Umi said with a smile.

“Lionel Messi, Zlatan, and Ronaldo haven’t been featured in this magazine!! The woman who beat Messi, Zlatan, and Ronaldo!! That’s Kiryu Umi!!!”

I just threw out random compliments. Umi was a praise glutton anyway. I thought she’d accept any compliment.

“Wait!! That sounds impressive but it’s obvious!! Are you making fun of me?!”

Umi immediately got angry and pinched me.

Hmm… so she doesn’t accept just any compliment. My bad.

“Really….. Shota always starts well but then has a brain malfunction.”

Umi grumbled.

“Anyway, I’m amazing, right? You’re visiting the room of such an amazing woman.”

Umi said while stroking her hair.

“Indeed…. it’s impressive.”

“Good. Now massage my shoulders.”

Umi said with a smile.

“Yes, my lady.”

I immediately started massaging Umi’s shoulders.

“Mmm… ahh… haaah….”

Every time I massaged her shoulders, Umi’s heated moans could be heard, but I deliberately ignored them. Stay calm… think pure thoughts…