Chapter 8 – Confessions

The weather was getting cold because autumn was about to start. Makoto’s body, which was sweating a lot under the protective clothing, felt fresh when blown by the wind. For people who practiced kendo, summer was the most annoying season. No matter how hot the weather was, they couldn’t take off their protective clothing. The protective clothing smell couldn’t be imagined. Sometimes mushrooms even grow on the dojo’s floor in the summer. Winter also had its own problems. Running on the dojo’s floor with bare feet seemed like stepping on sharp ice however, once Makoto moved to warm-ups and practices, her body also warmed up. That was why she preferred to practice in cold weather.

Makoto soaked the rag and filled the bucket with water. By the time she reentered the dojo, most of the team members had already taken out their rags and started cleaning the dojo.

“Wow, Makoto! Thanks!” Watanuki also held his rag. “Today was hard, right? Just go home after we have finished cleaning and taken a shower. “

“Ah, but today I still have to teach the kids at the kendo club.”

“Today? The one in the town hall?”

“Yes.”

While talking to Watanuki and Makoto started cleaning the dojo’s floor.

“Woah, you’re a kind person. Isn’t that voluntary work? “

“Of course. There’s no way I would ask for money with my kendo level, right? Well, at least I get a reimbursement for transportation costs.”

The dojo’s size was very big. With this size, it can be used for two matches at the same time.

“It’s impossible for me to do voluntary work. My schedule is too packed with school, tutoring classes, and this extracurricular.”

“Really? But it’s quite fun to do.”

“It’s because you like children.”

“Of course I like them. They’re very cute when we’re already familiar with them. “

“Aren’t elementary school children too noisy? I can’t handle them. ”

“There’s also a playgroup for children that learn kendo in the town hall.”

“Ugh, seriously? But isn’t it too fast for them to learn kendo? “

“Well, according to their parents, the goal is to increase their stamina. Of course, at first, they weren’t even able to do a squat. But, they were excited when they were swinging their swords even though their posture was a mess.” Makoto laughed while imagining that.

Then Watanuki said in surprise: “So you trained them just because they were cute?”

Finally, they finished cleaning the dojo, so Makoto just left him without answering that.

“It’s finished! Sorry, but I’m leaving first, can you please wash the rags? I’m in a hurry.”

After handing over her rag to Watanuki, Makoto changed her clothes and put the protective clothing in her bag. She then left the dojo to go to the town hall. It took fifteen minutes to walk to that place. Makoto’s protective clothing bag had wheels that could be pulled out to lessen the weight when she was walking. But if the distance was not too far like this, she preferred to hold it on her shoulder.

“Excuse me…”

When she came out of the school gate, someone called her. It was still four o’clock in the afternoon, but because the day was getting shorter and it was cloudy, the sky was dark. The uniform that the person in front of her wore didn’t look like it belonged to Aidee High School. Makoto looked at her to see her face. The girl’s face looked quite pretty.

“Yes?”

“Well, I often see you on the bus … ah, I’m from Nanaumi High School. Hmm …” The girl’s face turned red while her hand was clenching the sides of her uniform. She seemed nervous.

“So, what do you want to talk about? Will this take a long time?” Makoto didn’t intend to sharpen her speech’s tone. She seriously asked that because if the girl quickly finishes the talking, Makoto will continue to carry her protective clothing on her shoulders. But if it wasn’t, she wanted to put it down. That was why she asked. However, it seemed that the girl was hurt because of her question.

“Sorr… I’m sorry. I just wanted to say that I admire you. No… like, I like you.” The girl stuttered while her face was getting more flushed, she even looked like she was on the verge of crying. Ah, this is why girls are troublesome. Makoto looked like a boy with a pretty face. So, she often got confessions from girls or boys who go to another high school. It was a pretty regular occurrence. So far, she had always refused them. And then eventually, the people who confessed to Makoto will hate her. It was troublesome.

“Oh, ok. But we’ve never talked before?”

“Ah… that… but, um … I’ve always thought of you as a good person….”

Makoto let out a heavy sigh and did not answer the girl.

“Well, if you’re uncomfortable, can we start from being friends first?

Here’s my email address and my Line ID. I look forward to hearing from you.”

With teary eyes, the girl offered an envelope with a design that all girls would love. She looked hopefully at Makoto.

“I don’t need that,” Makoto answered quickly while pushing back the envelope.

“Eh…?”

“I definitely will not contact you. Therefore, there is no need for you to give me your contact.”

“Ah, but…”

“I’m not interested in you.”

Makoto immediately walked away. Makoto could feel a confused gaze behind her back. Sucks. How can she confess to someone she never talked to? Stupid girl.

Every time someone confessed to Makoto, she always felt uncomfortable. Some even considered Makoto as cruel and cold.

Some of her friends even said: “Just accept it, you can get to know each other while dating.” But according to Makoto that was crueler. What if she still couldn’t like the person even though they were already dating? Wasn’t it too cruel if she gave another person a false hope by dating, then break up with them? After all, Makoto hated people. She even shuddered just by imagining touching other people. Nobody else understood how she feels.

Makoto changed the position of her protective clothing bag to her other shoulder. She continued her way to the town hall.