Chapter 101 Rin: I know it's impossible for me to join the swimming club
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Ichinose's panicked reaction only made Asahina grin wider. This junior was truly entertaining.
"Come on, what's so great about the student council? All you do is work. Why not join the swimming club? I saw you sneaking glances at Rin's abs earlier."
"I-I wasn't, I didn't… Rin-san, please don't misunderstand!" Ichinose quickly stammered, embarrassed and afraid that Rin might think she was behaving improperly.
Even though she had indeed been glancing at Rin's abs, she was now at a loss for words to explain herself.
Rin glanced at the extremely flustered Ichinose and waved his hand. "Ichinose, you don't have to explain. I believe you."
Then he turned to Asahina, who was smiling mischievously, and said, "Senpai, please stop teasing Ichinose. Look, her face is completely red."
Ichinose's face was, indeed, bright red, her eyes misty and shyly captivating. She exuded an innocence that only seemed to enhance her beauty, making her appear especially alluring. Even Asahina, who doesn't identify as a lesbian, couldn't help but feel that Ichinose was very attractive in that moment.
Seeing Rin stepping in on her behalf, Asahina decided to ease up. After all, her teasing was just a lighthearted way to express her jealousy—Ichinose's charm and figure had clearly sparked it.
Rin, knowing that joining the swimming club would likely lead to trouble from Nagumo, the vice president of the student council, wasn't exactly afraid of confrontation. But he did prefer avoiding unnecessary hassles.
With this in mind, he turned to Asahina and said, "Senpai, since the rule about boys not joining the swimming club was set by Nagumo-san, the student council vice president, it'd probably be best if you cleared it with him. Otherwise, he'll just end up coming to bother me."
What Rin said made sense, and Asahina nodded in agreement. "Alright, I'll contact Miyabi later. Just wait for my good news."
"Great," Rin replied with a smile. "Then I'll be on my way—it's time for dinner at the student cafeteria."
"It's a pity I have to stay here recruiting new club members," Asahina sighed with a hint of regret. "Otherwise, I'd go with you."
"Well, Senpai," Rin said, lifting his phone slightly, "we can stay in touch through Line."
"Of course! Rin-kun, Ichinose, see you both later."
"See you, Senpai," they replied as Asahina waved and walked back into the clubroom with a cheerful farewell.
With Asahina heading back to her duties, Rin and Ichinose exited the gym storage room together. Once outside, Rin walked ahead, making his way toward the student cafeteria, while Ichinose followed closely behind him, almost resembling a young wife accompanying her husband.
After they'd walked a little way, Ichinose's initial embarrassment and shyness began to fade, allowing her to calm down and look up at Rin's tall back. Taking a deep breath, she picked up her pace to catch up and walk alongside him.
"Rin-san," she began a little shyly, "are you really planning to join the swimming club?"
Rin turned to her with a small chuckle and said, "I would like to join the swimming club, but I know it's unlikely."
"Why?" Ichinose asked, her voice full of curiosity. "Didn't that upperclassman just approve your application?"
"Yes, Asahina-san accepted my application and agreed to let me join the swimming club."
"But, Ichinose, you know that the student council's vice president, Nagumo, is Asahina-senpai's childhood friend. He banned boys from joining the swimming club to protect her, and there's no way he'll let me in, especially now."
"Besides, Nagumo still holds a grudge against me, so it's even less likely that he'll allow me to join Asahina-senpai's swimming club."
"The vice president holds a grudge against you? What does that mean, Rin?" Ichinose Honami asked urgently.
"Well, it's a long story," Rin replied, shrugging slightly. "I won't get into all the details."
"Hurry up and tell me!" Ichinose insisted, grabbing Rin's arm tightly and looking up at him with her clear blue eyes.
Seeing the genuine concern in Ichinose's eyes, Rin, not quite used to dealing with such earnest kindness, gave a small smile.
"Alright, alright, I'll tell you," he chuckled. "But could you loosen your grip a little?"
"Oh, um, right."
Ichinose loosened her grip but still held onto his arm, her hand resting there gently. To anyone passing by, Ichinose holding Rin's arm so comfortably might easily look like they were a couple. After all, why else would she be this close to him?
Rin went on to explain his conflict with Nagumo.
"The reason Nagumo and I are at odds is actually pretty straightforward."
"Yesterday at lunch, I was trying to get more info about class points, so I met with Asahina-senpai in the cafeteria. We had a good conversation, and we ended up exchanging Line accounts."
"Nagumo, as Asahina-senpai's childhood friend, somehow found out about it, so he gathered a group of guys to come and cause trouble."
"Are you okay?" Ichinose asked anxiously, her worry clear in her voice.
"I'm fine! Didn't you just see for yourself?" Rin replied with a reassuring smile. "Not a single scratch or bruise on me."
Ichinose's cheeks turned a faint shade of pink as she recalled seeing him earlier. It was true; she'd noticed Rin's upper body looked perfectly fine, without a single mark.
"When Nagumo and his friends confronted me, a teacher happened to pass by, and that put an end to it. But ever since, he's had it out for me," Rin explained simply, omitting the part where he'd managed to turn the tables on Nagumo and his group. That detail wasn't important here.
"The vice president, Nagumo Miyabi really overreacted," Ichinose said with a slight frown. "All you did was exchange Line accounts with Asahina -senpai, and he felt the need to start something?"
Her tone carried clear disapproval toward Nagumo's actions, and she seemed to think Rin was treated unfairly.
Listening to Rin's story, Ichinose couldn't help but form a very negative opinion of Nagumo Masaru, whom she hadn't even met. Just hearing about his behavior from Rin was enough to sour her impression of him.
Rin looked over at Ichinose, a faint smile on his face as he watched her stick up for him. Suddenly, something came to his mind, and he tilted his head slightly, looking at her with a playful glint in his eyes.
"By the way, Ichinose," he asked, raising an eyebrow, "didn't you forget something?"