<Kendo Dojo>

Right now, I'm watching Mahima-senpai and the others practice from the corner of the kendo dojo.

The sounds of voices, footsteps, and bamboo swords clashing echo throughout the entire dojo. It's so intense.

"Oh, you're watching practice?"

While I'm watching, a girl in a dogi speaks to me. It seems like she just arrived and hasn't put on her protective gear yet.

She's about my height, but her body has definite curves.

"Y-yes."

"I'm Otowa Himeno, a first-year. Nice to meet you."

"I'm Kasugai Chihiro, a second-year."

"Ehhh!? S-senpai… you are? H-hiee."

Otowa-san is incredibly surprised that I'm a senior.

" …No way you look like a senpai. Even if someone said you were a classmate, it'd be suspicious. You look like an elementary school kid."

"E-elem, elementary school…"

That's a bit too much, I think. I've grown properly since elementary school. Otowa-san rests her chin on her finger and observes me intently.

"Um… It's kind of embarrassing to be stared at like that."

"Ah, sorry. I just… But no matter how much I look, you don't look like a senpai at all. You have better skin than me."

After mumbling something, Otowa-san bows her head slightly and sits a couple of steps away from me.

"Does Kasugai-senpai have an interest in kendo? You don't really look like it. You seem weak."

"Uh, I don't think I'm very interested."

"Right. So, how about it? Why don't you try joining the club once and experience the joy of kendo?"

"U-hmm, I'm not really thinking about joining. I just thought I'd come to watch."

"That's a bummer."

Otowa-san drops her shoulders dramatically. She has big reactions, and her expressions change a lot, so she's quite entertaining to watch.

"Ah! …Maybe Kasugai-senpai is not watching practice, but actually came to see Reina-senpai?"

"U-uh, yeah."

"I knew it. Reina-senpai is beautiful and cool. She's popular with every grade, even some people joined the kendo club because of her. That's how popular she is."

Mahima-senpai is famous and respected by all the students in the school. She's the ace of the kendo club and has won many tournaments.

I understand why someone would join the kendo club because of her. I'm also here watching because of her.

"Ah, but you can't. Reina-senpai has a super cool boyfriend candidate named Miyacho-senpai."

"I-I know. They're both famous."

Mahima-senpai and Miyacho-senpai are close and often seen together. They are rumored to be a great couple by all the students who know about them.

Even though there are many students who are aiming for Mahima-senpai, Miyacho-senpai is probably the most likely candidate.