By A Slight Mistake

Chapter 15

By A Slight Mistake 15

Translator: Silver Editor: Namorax

「15」

The pre-final exam schedule was rather hard on students.

But summer vacation waited just beyond that.

Therefore, it was necessary to warn the students of the risks associated with summer vacation.

Just being a Shinonome Academy student carried risk outside of the school grounds.

Shinonome Academy was a famous celebrity school.

The likelihood of being mistaken for a celebrity for simply attending the academy was high.

Rather, if it weren’t for regular car pickups, they were more likely to be targeted.

The physical education classes were replaced with combined male and female self-defense class.

Since the classes were normally separated by gender, both the girls and boys were a bit restless.

“Today’s lesson will consist of basic self-defense techniques so that you’ll know what to do when someone attacks you.”

The female teacher indifferently explained things.

“Especially you girls must master these lessons, for this is the time in your lives when perverts, kidnappers or brutes will try to get in relationships with you.”

A schoolgirl let out a small scream at those words.

“What should we do? This is terrible, Mizuki-sama,”

Some of the nearby girls started clinging to me.

Ahhhhh…… why was I assigned the role of prince.

The jealous looks of the boys around me were only slightly comforting.

“It’s alright, Minase-sama. As long as you act in a group whenever possible.”

“That’s right. The more people there are the harder it is to be targeted. Would you protect me if you were there Mizuki?”

“Yes, of course.”

I gave the perfect prince-like answer with a charming smile.

The girls’ cheeks turned a shade of red when I tried to mimic Yakumo-niisan’s cool smile.

This might be quite fun.

Today’s physical education class was a combination of two classes.

My class, and Hayate’s class.

Ariwara and Tachibana were also in Hayate’s class.

Some of the girls in my class let out a charmed sigh when I met Ariwara’s usual mischievous smile with one of my own, while Tachibana was caught off guard by my jersey in the proverbial sea of gym shirts and shorts.

“Mizuki’s smile……”

“I’m so jealous of Ariwara and Tachibana!!”

Why were those two hated!?

“Mizuki-sama!”

Hayate, who’d arrived a bit late, came running once he found me in the crowd.

“I was a bit worried when I couldn’t find you in the classroom. I thought I’d give you this wristband.”

“Hayate?”

Hayate was holding a wristband with the same off-white design as our school jersey.

It was one of those longish ones that nearly reaches your elbow.

“This is…?”

“It’s hot today, right? I thought you could roll up your sleeves if you had this. The rubber isn’t that tough so it shouldn’t agitate your scars.”

Hayate took my hand when I reached out to take the wristband.

“Come here, I’ll attach it.”

He took me to a corner of the gymnasium so that our back was to the circle of spectators that had gathered around us.

Did he do this so that other people wouldn’t see me expose my arm?

“Thank you, Hayate.”

“Hmm. It’s the least I can do.”

Hayate smiled with a bit of pride as he cautiously rolled up my sleeve and placed the wristband on my arm.

The wristband’s fabric was soft and didn’t bite into my skin.

It could also be adjusted with the velcro tape straps around the wrist and elbow ends.

Hayate had changed since I collapsed the other day.

He apparently quit his club activities and always seemed to be at my side at school.

While he still let me do things I could handle on my own, if a task could cause me the slightest bit of inconvenience, he would do it for me.

I asked the Okabe if they had said anything to him, but they said they hadn’t.

“Is there any inconvenience with changing clothes?”

I was left speechless for a moment by the question.

“Huh? A-Ahh. It’s okay. The girls’ changing rooms are private, so I can change without hesitation.

I didn’t know what was going on in the boys’ changing room, but the girls had private, shower booth-like rooms.

Moreover, there were enough of them that we didn’t have to worry about taking turns.

Even shy people could change with confidence.

There was no young lady incapable of changing alone.

“Try moving your hand a little.”

“Yes.”

I moved my right hand at Hayate’s promoting.

“It looks okay, but you won’t have any problems tightening it, will you? Mizuki?”

“It’s alright. I’m worried that the straps might have damaged the skin, however, the support they offer puts my mind at ease. Thank you, Hayate.”

“That’s good then. Today is a self-defense lesson, so you’ll probably be leading things.”

“Oh, I see. I assumed I would be excused from that due to my injuries, but it’s okay.”

It was a well-known fact that members of the Sagara family excelled in martial arts, and we were usually assigned to do some form of demonstration in this class.

Since my older siblings had done so, it seems like I wouldn’t be able to get out of it.

“How’s your body feeling?”

“Pretty good. Ah, the teacher’s coming.”

The bell hadn’t rung yet, but I urged Hayate to return to the group when I saw the teacher.

“Don’t overdo it. Even if you feel slightly faint, stop immediately.”

“Yes, yes. Stop complaining, you worrywart.”

“Mizuki!”

I rejoin the others while laughing.

The bell rang and class began.

After the teacher’s explanation, I demonstrated the proper movement to the other students.

“Can I ask you something, Sagara-san?”

I’d been asked to play the girl role in the attacker situation.

“Sure thing.”

“Please come here then..”

“Yes.”

The reason I was doing demonstrations was because there was no one else available.

In addition, just because they were physical education teachers didn’t mean that they had martial arts experience.

In other words, you couldn’t say that they’d mastered the technique to throw people off.

When I stepped forward the teacher scanned the crowd of male students.

“I need someone to play the part of the ruffian. Someone to pair with Sagara……”

“I’ll do it.”

Suwa stepped forward.

All the classes were assigned by name, so Suwa was in the same S as me.

“Suwa-kun, then.”

“No. Sensei, can I ask for Okabe instead?”

I interrupted the teacher and asked for Hayate.

“Sagara! Your partner will be me!!”

However, Suwa angrily insisted.

“I know that Hayate will be too passive if he takes part in the demonstration. The one being thrown around could get hurt if they remain too passive.”

Suwa’s maneuvering stopped my argument.

“So, do you have any martial arts experience, Suwa? Though passiveness isn’t allowed, I don’t want to put you in any danger.”

“Augh. Mizuki-chan is so cool!”

Suwa looked like he was going to protest my concerns, but Ariwara’s joke stopped him.

“Take me as your bride!”

The playful laughter and comment helped ease the tension.

“I’ll think about it.”

I seriously nodded my head and went along with the wave of playful tomfoolery.

“However, before that, let’s defeat Tachibana and trade notes with Hayate.”

“Impossible!! Why do I have to share with Okabe!?”

My suggestion was instantly shot down.

I’d thought it’d been a good idea, but the room was swallowed by a whirlpool of laughter.

“It’ll be an embarrassment if you marry Mizuki without knowing the Sagara’s traditions, right?”

Hayate stepped forward and dropped a fist on Ariwara’s head.

“Sensei, I often train with Sagara-san, so it shouldn’t it be fine if we pair up?”

Hayate asked for the teacher’s permission with a calm expression.

“Yes, you’re right. Okabe-kun is incredibly skilled and I’ve heard that he even taught in his club. Having him do it is the safer choice.”

Hayate happily thanked the teacher for the chance to be thrown around and risk his body.

“Thank you!”

“Y-Yes. Please, Okabe-kun.”

The teacher blushed slightly.

Hayate, I dub thee ‘Lady Killer’.

Under the teacher’s instruction, we demonstrated a simple technique to break out of holds.

There was no need for flashy moves or brute strength to immobilize someone and escape.

It was a bit plain and boring to watch it in action.

Because of that, we added a few flashy techniques whenever the atmosphere started going stale.

“If you master the what you’ve seen so far, you should be able to throw an attacker, even if they come from behind.”

I was urged to show the last move so I glanced over my shoulder and signaled to Hayate that I was ready.

He nodded back at me before attacking from behind.

Several of the girls held their breath or screamed while other students were left speechless.

Maybe they’ve been unable to even see Hayate’s rapid movement.

Nevertheless, he was moving slower than he usually did when we trained, so I easily managed to get a hold of him.

After getting a firm hold of his wrist and adjusting my weight, I grabbed his neck, kicked his shin and threw him.

Because we timed it perfectly, it was a neat armbar takedown.

Well, that’s not true.

The gap between our builds and weight became apparent when I threw him.

It was hard to throw a heavier person who was resisting you.

If you don’t strike immediately, the armbar would fall apart.

I managed to throw Hayate so easily because he intentionally went along with it.

Well, it was easier to take a hit when you propelled yourself, and the impact was much lighter than it appeared to be.

Hayate pretended to moan in pain as he rolled along the ground.

After a moment, cheers rose up.

“Yes, the demonstration it over. Now, let’s begin practicing.”

The teacher prematurely ended the celebration and voiced the next instruction.

“Mizuki-san, Okabe-kun can you help with instructions?”

“Certainly.”

After receiving the endorsement for non-participation, Hayate and I rejoined the other students.

“Suwa.”

I slipped passed the excited students and went to Suwa’s side.

“It was a beautiful move.”

Suwa looked at me with soft eyes and spoke with an unusually gentle tone.

“Thank you. However, it was far from an original move. It’s just enough to restrict an opponent’s movements. Sorry, Suwa, but would you please join us?”

I pointed to the shy daughter that Hayate had paired up with.

“Huh? Shouldn’t you be my partner?”

“I can’t participate in this exercise. Because of that, it can’t hurt for you to take my place, Suwa. In addition, Niu-sama is afraid of Hayate. She can’t practice otherwise.”

The daughter of the Niu family was a gentle person.

Her fear of Hayate, after watching him earlier, prevented her from practicing.

A bashful daughter stimulated the desire to protect, but it was troublesome if it was in excess.

Every idea I had so far fell through.

I’m afraid that there was nothing I could do if this didn’t work.

Even if Suwa was a bad match for Niu, it was still better than Hayate.

“Or maybe… it is just me that Suwa wants to throw around?”

As an instructor, I had to be a team player, not a trickster.

Naturally, Suwa, who had been obsessed with partnering with me, was capable of applying the technique.

“I’m sorry, I’ll do it! How could I do such a thing to a girl!?”

Naturally, Suwa was reluctant, due to his seeming inability to please girls.

“Then, please ask Niu to join you.”