Chapter 21
Our Discord Server: https://discord.gg/PazjBDkTmW
Chapter 21: Maid Outfits Are Best With Long Skirts And Lace-Up Boots VIII
“Is this about Nao again? And now you’re bringing along a different girl, too?”
“Uh, well…”
Haruka-nee quickly closed the distance between us and grabbed me by the collar as I tried to escape. Even though it’s been a while since I quit kendo, her reflexes hadn’t dulled at all, which was a problem. I tend to forget, when I see her in trauma mode, that she was once hailed as the revolutionary prodigy of girls’ kendo.
“Care to explain what’s going on here?”
Haruka-nee’s smile was absolutely terrifying. Rei-sama and Minato-san, confused by her sudden appearance in gym clothes, had stopped arguing. For that, I was grateful to Haruka-nee.
“Line up!”
Not just me—Rei-sama, Minato-san, and even Kanshou-san and Bakuya-san, who had nothing to do with it, stood straight at attention. Haruka-nee is uncontrollable, not just when she cries but also when she’s angry.
“I’ve seen this girl before. She’s your girlfriend, right? So, who’s this other girl?”
“Um, I’m Minato Shimokawa, a first-year. We’re in different classes, though.”
Haruka-nee, in full anger mode, didn’t exactly glare at Minato-san, but her intense aura made her stare as if assessing her. Even without a bamboo sword, it felt like she might strike at any moment. If she did, any normal girl would freeze in fear.
“Hey, Nao. Isn’t this your childhood friend? She’s way more manly than you.”
“Don’t say that.”
Rei-sama whispered to me from beside me. I wanted to defend Haruka-nee by saying she usually acts like a proper girl, but I doubted Rei-sama, seeing Haruka-nee like this, would believe me.
“Nao, if this is your girlfriend, I think your taste is a bit questionable.”
“How rude, you!”
I had to admire Rei-sama for having the guts to provoke Haruka-nee in this state, but I wished she would think before speaking—this was reckless. Plus, her comment about my questionable taste hit a little too close to home, and I couldn’t even defend myself.
Although Haruka-nee had stopped the commotion, the situation seemed to be getting worse. Rei-sama and Haruka-nee were clearly a bad match, especially now when both were in foul moods. As I watched them glare at each other, unsure of what to do, Minato-san suddenly raised her voice.
“Oh, I remember now!”
“What is it this time?”
I really didn’t want things to get more complicated.
“Nao-kun, your house is the Osanai Dojo on Yuhigaoka, right?”
“Yeah, that’s right.”
“Then, could this person be Haruka Ogushi?”
Minato-san whispered while pointing discreetly at Haruka-nee. Not that she needed to whisper—Rei-sama and Haruka-nee were too busy glaring at each other to notice us. At least Rei-sama’s voice had softened a bit from the pressure Haruka-nee was exerting.
“Minato-san, do you know Haruka-nee?”
“Aha! I knew it!”
Without answering my question, Minato-san’s eyes lit up, and she grabbed Haruka-nee’s arm as she approached Rei-sama.
“Haruka Ogushi! I know you! I used to do kendo in middle school!”
“Huh?”
Suddenly having her arm grabbed seemed to lessen Haruka-nee’s anger a bit.
“I was a fan! You beat so many boys at tournaments—it was amazing!”
“Stop!”
I immediately jumped in and covered Minato-san’s mouth. It wasn’t strange that Minato-san knew of Haruka-nee since she used to live around here and practiced kendo. Back when Haruka-nee quit kendo in middle school, people even sent petitions to our house begging her not to quit.
But that also meant no matter how much I tried to avoid it, Haruka-nee was bound to hear her old nickname again sooner or later.
“Mmff! What are you doing, Nao-kun?”
Explanations and apologies could come later. I prayed Haruka-nee hadn’t heard as I glanced over at her. She stood frozen, mouth slightly open, as if in shock.
“Too late.”
Just as I muttered those words in resignation, Haruka-nee began trembling. Then, tears welled up in her eyes, and she collapsed onto the ground.
“Waah! I’m still being called the Giant God Warrior!”
She started crying loudly right there in front of the school gates. She didn’t care about the location at all, and to make matters worse, I felt like my reputation was taking a hit as well. I really hoped people wouldn’t start thinking I was some villain who toyed with three girls.
“What’s going on? She suddenly started crying.”
“Haruka-nee hates being called that.”
“Really? Did I do something bad?”
You did the worst thing possible, but I didn’t have time to point that out right now. Calming her down wasn’t going to be easy. Plus, having a nearly grown woman sobbing loudly on the roadside was far more attention-grabbing than anything that had happened so far.
“For now, let’s get her into the car. Everyone, please get in.”
Unlike us, who were panicking, Bakuya-san spoke calmly. Kanshou-san was already in the car with the engine running. Impressive, as always.
“Come on, you two, help me. We’re drawing way too much attention here.”
“We’ve been attracting attention since the start.”
I muttered a complaint toward Rei-sama, who shot me a sharp glare. If she’d stayed in this mode from the beginning, none of this would’ve happened.
With the three of us working together, we somehow managed to get Haruka-nee into the car. As we left the school gate behind, I realized it was already too late—this was bound to be the talk of the school, if not the whole town, by tomorrow.
“Honestly, nothing good happens when I’m with you, Nao.”
“I feel the same way, Rei-sama.”
I thought I’d been living a relatively peaceful life until now.
Luckily, no one followed us as we headed down a road surrounded by fields. My heart felt a bit lighter, and even Haruka-nee, who had been crying the whole time, had calmed down a little.
“Oh, that reminds me. Nao, put this on.”
Rei-sama handed me another plastic bag with clothes in it. I remembered her ominous prediction from the other day, and sure enough, inside were a blouse and a black skirt—relatively simple this time.
“What’s this for?”
“We’re escaping to my house, so you need to change into something else.”
“I really don’t want to.”
Seeing Rei-sama’s expectant expression as she handed me the clothes, I couldn’t help but let out my true feelings.