[172] Maki Zenin

Chapter 172: Maki Zenin

As Hachiman leaned in to kiss Saeko, his hands inadvertently slipped down to her buttocks, and he playfully kneaded them as if they were soft as marshmallows.

However, Saeko quickly stopped him and said, "Hachiman, it's okay if Kotonoha is here, but don't forget Maki is here too."

Hachiman chuckled and replied, "Well, I don't think we can hide this from Maki, she already knows," as he pinched Saeko's buttocks and hurriedly moved behind her with a mischievous grin.

Observing Hachiman's playful but teasing behavior, Saeko couldn't help but feel a mix of amusement and slight irritation, her cheeks blushing.

Curious about the progression in his relationships with the girls, she asked, "Hachiman, have there been any developments with them?"

Hachiman shook his head, replying, "Nah, not really."

He explained that the past year had been quite occupied for him. First, he had been closely involved with the "Sword Art Online" anime adaptation, shuttling back and forth to the studio to ensure the project met his expectations. But after the adaptation's conclusion, he had decided to entrust his future works to the studio, allowing him more time with the girls. The prospect of seeing how the animation would turn out, particularly with Ufotable's future reputation, had excited him.

Additionally, he had taken on the role of instructing young kendo practitioners from renowned kendo clans and schools after becoming the youngest swordmaster. Although he could have declined, he had struck a deal with Mr. Chiba, ultimately agreeing to the terms.

...

Hachiman opened the door to the dojo and was greeted by the sight of Kotonoha and Maki deeply engaged in their sparring session. The sight of their dedication left him captivated, and he couldn't help but appreciate their beauty in this moment.

Interrupting their sparring, Maki addressed him, saying, "You're finally here, Hachiman. Where's the volume you promised to me?"

Kotonoha, who had also noticed Hachiman's arrival, welcomed him with a warm smile, "Good morning, Hachiman."

Hachiman reciprocated the greeting, and as he moved toward Kotonoha, he gave her a hug, saying, "Good morning to you too, Kotonoha."

Seeing Kotonoha and Hachiman so close and affectionate with each other in the dojo had initially annoyed Maki. At first, she thought it was just an ordinary friendship, but the frequency of their hugging and even occasional kissing had taken her by surprise.

Maki knew that Hachiman was a jack of all trades, attracting the attention of people from the opposite sex, but she hadn't expected it to happen so quickly. Initially, she felt repulsed, but a conversation with Saeko changed her perspective. Saeko had not only surprised her with her understanding but also encouraged her.

Maki realized that Saeko understood why she had come to Chiba, and it had shifted her outlook. She had relocated after her father informed her to transfer from Tokyo to Chiba following her loss to Saeko. Surprisingly, she had agreed, leaving her father amused by her decision.

Her growing curiosity and interest in Hachiman stemmed from his unique journey. Despite not hailing from a Kendo family, he had achieved the impressive rank of Swordmaster at just 16 years old. His diverse talents, including writing popular light novels and culinary skills, had further intrigued Maki, particularly after tasting his cooking while she was in here.

Maki found herself undeniably attracted to Hachiman's remarkable talents, igniting a desire to improve herself and keep up with him. Despite this, she continued to find enjoyment in reading and watching anime, which remained her go-to source of entertainment.

After the hug with Hachiman, Kotonoha headed to the kitchen to prepare coffee for Hachiman.

Observing Maki's somewhat annoyed expression, Hachiman couldn't resist teasing her.

"Maki, do you want a hug too?" Hachiman playfully spread his arms and closed his eyes, approaching her.

Seeing him like that, Maki was initially irritated and playfully attempted to chop Hachiman's head. However, Hachiman, with his quick reflexes, caught her hand, leaving her slightly panicked. She raised her legs, intending to kick him.

Hachiman, recognizing her intentions, attempted to pull her, but the result was unexpected as they both lost their balance and ended up falling together.

With a sudden bang, Maki's eyes flew open, and she couldn't help but blush. She was straddling Hachiman, with his hands on her waist, and she felt something hot pressing against her privates. Blushing furiously, Maki felt both angry and humiliated.

As Hachiman began to speak, "Ahmm Maki...," Maki seized the opportunity to showcase her martial prowess. Swiftly, she sprung to her feet, facing him. In one graceful motion, she bent at the waist and swung her left leg around his right arm, positioning her calf just above his elbow, effectively immobilizing his arm. Simultaneously, her right leg swung over his left arm, her thigh clamping down on his wrist. Her legs formed a lock, restraining his hands.

Hachiman, feeling the pressure of her thighs, couldn't help but notice how soft and thick they were. It reminded him of the phrase "Thick thighs save lives," although he couldn't fully appreciate it as Maki was wearing kendo attire.

Despite a hint of discomfort, Hachiman quickly apologized, saying, "Ahh, I'm sorry, Maki. I didn't expect to pull you so hard." He maintained his pained expression, fully aware that he could handle the situation given his strong physique.

In that situation earlier when they both fell and Maki straddling him, Hachiman couldn't help but become aroused. It's almost impossible for a guy not to become aroused when they're in such a position.

If a man isn't aroused in this situation, it could indicate a problem with their mental state.

Maki, seeing the hurt expression on Hachiman's face, quickly released him and sternly warned, "Hmph! Next time, there will be no mercy if you do that again."

Hachiman, undeterred, responded, "Of course I will. Oh, I will change now and get the manuscript to fulfill my promise." He got up, patted her on the shoulder, and offered a smile as he walked away to change his outfit and retrieve the manuscript.

As Hachiman exited, he spotted Saeko behind the door, and they shared knowing smiles. Clearly, Saeko had witnessed the earlier situation.

Saeko approached Maki, maintaining a playful expression of doubt, clearly relishing the opportunity to tease her. She asked, "Maki, why are your clothes all messed up? What did you do with Hachiman?"

Blushing, Maki replied, "Don't misunderstand, Saeko. W-we were just sparring right now," her heart still racing from the memory of the earlier situation.

"Is it?" Saeko said, unable to contain her laughter as she enjoyed teasing Maki.

"Hahaha."

Observing Saeko's reaction, Maki felt a sense of embarrassment and an urge to give Hachiman a playful punch for the earlier situation.

Saeko, speaking seriously, told Maki, "You know, Maki, we don't mind you being with Hachiman."

Maki quickly responded, "Nah, why do you think that I like him?"

"Okay, stop teasing me now, Saeko. I'm going to the bathroom," Maki said, walking away.

Although Maki was indeed intrigued by Hachiman, her feelings weren't yet clear, and she wasn't certain about wanting to be with him.

As Maki walked away, Saeko couldn't help but shake her head. She had known Maki since childhood. Maki had gained fame after winning a tournament, but she had also experienced a painful incident when a boy had confessed to her and they had grown close. However, after some time, Maki overheard him talking to his parents, disclosing that he had only used her to gain proximity to her clan and had referred to her as "dumb" from the very beginning.

After Maki had overheard the boy's cruel words, she couldn't restrain herself and confronted him in a secluded place. The resulting altercation led to a scandal, and her clan had no choice but to hide Maki and prohibit her from participating in certain Kendo tournaments. The Zenin Clan had many enemies, which added complexity to the situation.

Upon entering junior high, Maki faced a lack of friends, and many of her peers treated her like a delinquent due to witnessing her confront and physically retaliate against those who had confessed to her.

But now, observing Maki in her current circumstances, Saeko couldn't help but feel relieved and thankful that Hachiman had entered their lives.