Chapter 128

"We're out of ingredients, so we have to close early! I'm so sorry!"

At Renka's nervous shout, the handful of customers waiting outside voiced their complaints.

The twins appeased them by whipping up some simple sushi with the remaining ingredients to hand out for free, passing out thirty-percent discount coupons for the next day along with it.

Given how they had bantered with me earlier, they definitely had a knack for business.

While Renka turned the remaining customers away, her older uncle approached and patted my shoulder.

"Good work, Ken."

We hadn't even known each other for half a day, yet he was already using my first name like we were close friends.

I untied the towel from my head, wiped the sweat from my face, and playfully replied.

"You too. But didn't you say it was going to be a slow day?"

"I had no idea it would turn out like this either. It's all thanks to you. Here's your pay for today—I made sure it was thick."

He held out a fat envelope.

I firmly shook my head.

"It's fine. I didn't come here to get paid."

"How could I not pay you after all that? You'd better take it before I bury you under the floorboards."

If he had said that when we first met, it might have been scary, but not anymore.

I nonchalantly waved a hand.

"I told you, it's fine. Just buy me a meal sometime."

"I'm not going to ask twice, you know."

"Yeah. It's really fine."

"Alright. Do you want to work here part-time?"

I was wondering when he would drop that line.

"No thanks."

"Merciless punk..."

The two men looked genuinely disappointed.

Seeing these mountain-sized men cross their arms and sulk was actually kind of funny.

Still, a part-time job...

Could I use this as an opportunity to squeeze a few more wishes out of her?

With that thought in mind, I stood up.

"I'll come help out every now and then."

"Really? If you do, I'll feed you sushi until your stomach bursts."

He sounded like a passionate restaurant owner from a cooking manga.

It suited him surprisingly well.

"I'm charging you for the labor next time, though."

While I was joking around with the twins in that warm atmosphere, Renka finally finished turning the rest of the customers away and stepped back inside.

Her younger uncle immediately shoved a Polaroid camera at her.

Where did he even get that?

"Renka! Take a picture of us."

"What picture? Why do you want a picture?"

"We have to hang it up in front of the shop. That way, the female customers will think this kid is family and come rushing in."

"You shouldn't rely on dumb luck like that!"

"Nagging again? Just take the picture."

"Haa... Just pose, then."

Renka grimaced but gave up and raised the camera while the twins dragged me back into the kitchen.

Standing behind the two massive men, I raised my arms in a classic bodybuilding pose.

When I threw in an obnoxiously arrogant smirk, Renka just shook her head and snapped the photo.

With the work done and a quick shower finished, I changed my clothes and stepped outside.

The sun hadn't even set yet, but I was exhausted.

Manual labor really took it out of you.

"My uncles have been worrying about business lately... I'm glad they seem to have found some direction. Thanks for today."

Renka had slipped up beside me, her praise entirely sincere.

I gave a slow nod and turned to look at her.

"The food is good, so it was bound to take off eventually. We finished earlier than I expected, but my favor is done with this, right?"

"It's done. You worked hard."

"Then I'll use my wish right now."

"What...? R-Right now?"

"Yeah. Tomorrow is Sunday, isn't it?"

Renka's eyes darted around.

My wicked smirk was clearly making her anxious.

She gulped, and I gave her a meaningful smile before continuing.

"For the next two days, from tomorrow until club activities on Monday, I want you to report every single thing you do to me before you do it, President."

"...What are you... talking about?"

"Exactly what I said. When you eat, when you go to the bathroom, when you shower, when you study... everything. You have to report it all to me. Oh, and you have to address me as 'Master.'"

"Whaaaat...?"

Renka's jaw dropped. It was the most dramatic expression I had ever seen on her face.

This wish would probably destroy the massive spike in respect I'd earned today, but whatever. As long as my reputation didn't completely hit rock bottom, it was fine.

I had worked my ass off today specifically to build enough goodwill to offset this ridiculous demand. She'd better play along.

"Hey...! Are you crazy? I'm absolutely not doing that!"

Renka turned completely pale, horrified beyond belief.

She clearly wanted to refuse even if it killed her... but she didn't have a choice.

I simply looked down at her with a calm expression. She clenched her fists tightly and asked.

"Are you... trying to get back at me because the favor I asked of you today was too hard?"

"My personality isn't quite that twisted."

"Based on that wish, you're twisted through and through! What the hell are you even thinking?!"

"It's just a personal preference."

"P-Preference...?"

"Yeah."

Renka frantically pounded her chest in frustration.

Does it feel like you're going crazy? Well... I don't sympathize with you at all.

Why would a master need to understand his slave?

"Why are you doing this to me of all people? Couldn't you ask someone else...?"

"Ask someone else to do this? They aren't bound to me by a wish like you are, President."

"That's not what I meant! Why are you forcing your weird kinks on me when you hate me?!"

"Who said I hated you? And you worded that wrong."

"Worded what wrong?"

"I'm not asking you to do it, I'm telling you to. It's not a request. It's an order."

I confidently closed the distance between us. Renka flinched and took a half-step back.

She looked intimidated yet fiercely defensive, like prey trying not to be eaten by a predator... I liked it.

"The condition was that you'd grant any wish as long as it didn't break the rules. Are you backing out?"

"...The duration..."

"Hm?"

"At the very least... shorten the duration..."

Look at that. She was already showing signs of submission.

I knew she had talent.

"No. It's not like I'm asking you to do it for the rest of your life. It's just two days. Or would you prefer I extend it to a week?"

"A w-week...? That's unreasonable!"

"How is it unreasonable? There was no restriction on how long a wish could last, right? Just that I had to use it within a month."

"W-What if I had used my final wish to make you work at my uncle's shop for free forever, or forced you to clean my house for a whole month? You'd think that was excessive, wouldn't you?!"

That was her idea of a counterexample? She really was too soft...

I already knew she would react this way, so I nodded as if conceding her point.

"Fair point."

"See...! So let's just make it last for one day... Just one day..."

"Alright. Then we'll skip Sunday and do it for all of Monday."

"Hey... can't we just do Sunday...?"

I guess she really would rather die than run into me like that on Monday.

I wanted to see her grovel in front of me, though, so I wasn't going to let her off the hook.

I shook my head and firmly rejected the idea.

"No."

"...You bastard..."

"Your insults are cute."

Did she not like my shameless attitude?

Renka's entire body trembled.

She glared at me as if she wanted to kill me, her voice shaking as she asked her next question.

"Do I... have to say those things to you during club activities too...?"

"I'll give you a pass on that. You can act normally during club activities. However,"

"However...?"

"Outside of that time, every report you make must be spoken in formal language."

"Hey!!"

Renka shrieked.

She was so loud that not only did she draw the attention of the nearby tourists, but the twins even poked their heads out of the shop in confusion.

"Hup!"

Realizing her mistake, Renka hurriedly covered her mouth and looked at them.

Without missing a beat, the twins glanced at each other and grinned knowingly.

They clearly thought we were having a lover's quarrel.

"Uncle...! It's not what it looks like! If you get any weird ideas, I'll kill you!"

Renka must have realized what they were thinking too, because she frantically waved her hands in denial.

"Right, right. That's what they all say."

The two men shrugged it off and ducked back inside.

"Haa... I'm going crazy..."

A thoroughly exhausted sigh slipped past her plump lips. I could tell exactly how close she was to losing her mind.

Having thoroughly enjoyed the situation, I spoke up.

"If you ride back with me, I'll let the formal language slide."

"What...?"

"I'm not repeating myself. I'm leaving."

"W-Wait...! I'll come with you! Just let me grab my clothes!"

She quickly stopped me as I casually turned toward the empty lot where my car was parked.

I gave a light scoff and jerked my chin toward the shop.

"Grab them and come to the car. You have three minutes."

"..."

Renka swore at me with her eyes, then hurried inside.

We arrived at Renka's house without exchanging a single word.

As she unbuckled her seatbelt and prepared to bolt, I called out to stop her.

"It starts the second midnight passes and it becomes Monday."

"...Got it."

"If you lie on your reports, I'll extend it by a day."

"You never said that!"

"Then just don't lie. Or were you actually planning to trick me?"

"Not at all."

"Well, I won't be stuck with you all day, President, so I won't know if you're lying anyway. I'll just have to trust your conscience."

Clack.

Renka answered by simply opening the door.

She turned her head just slightly, glancing at me over her shoulder before she spoke.

"Thanks for the ride."

With that, she swung her long legs out and walked away.

What a good girl. Saying her thank-yous and everything.

I chuckled to myself and inhaled the scent of blueberries lingering in the car.

Was it because I was so excited to see how Renka would act on Monday?

The scent felt cooler and sweeter than usual.

After arriving home, I watched the setting sun as I ambled across the stone path toward the engawa, a smirk creeping onto my face.

Miyuki's shoes were sitting just below the engawa.

Did she go home and come back? She could have at least texted me.

I opened the window and slipped inside. Miyuki was lying there, bundled tightly in a blanket.

And what was up with the snack wrappers scattered around her futon?

The living room was sweltering, like the heater had been running forever...

Her hair, poking out from the blanket, looked completely disheveled.

I stared at her motionless figure with suspicion, then walked over quietly and picked up the TV remote lying next to the futon.

When I pressed the power button, the TV flickered on to show Miyuki's favorite variety show playing.

"Unbelievable."

I scoffed under my breath and gently lifted the blanket.

Miyuki had her eyes closed, wearing a perfectly serene expression.

She looked exactly like someone asleep—except for the tiny crumb stuck to the corner of her mouth.

"Hey."

"..."

"I know you're awake. Get up."

"...Nngh..."

Her fake sleep-talking was painfully obvious.

Still, a decent attempt at looking natural.

I watched her in silence for a moment. Then, right as she scrunched her face to pretend she was stirring from sleep, I leaned in close.

I swept the crumb from the corner of her mouth with the tip of my tongue and brought it to my own mouth.

"Gah—?!"

Completely caught off guard, Miyuki jolted upright in shock.

She stared at me, completely dumbfounded.

I couldn't help but laugh as I reached out to smooth her wildly bedheaded hair.

"Why were you pretending to sleep? Did you want to scare me?"

"No... I just..."

"Did you not wash up? Your hair is a mess."

"What do you mean, 'not wash up'?! I washed a few hours ago, I just lay down right after!"

So she did wash up.

How diligent.

"Really? Didn't you go home?"

"Yeah."

"Why not? You said you were going today."

"It was too much work... I just met up with Honoka for lunch for a bit."

"The Vice Representative? What did you do with her?"

"We just ate. But why are you back so early, Matsuda-kun? I thought you said you'd be late."

"Things wrapped up early."

"What were you even doing?"

"Selling stuff."

Miyuki tilted her head.

"Selling stuff...?"

"Yeah."

"Why would you be selling stuff, Matsuda-kun? Did Inoo-sunbae abuse her authority and force you to..."

"It's nothing like that."

Before Miyuki could pry any further, I pushed her back down onto the futon and pinned her.

I caged her in, pressing my legs firmly against her hips and pinning her arms down beside her shoulders as I leaned over her.

When I flashed a wicked grin, her eyes wavered wildly.

"Why are you doing this the second you get back...? Go wash up first..."

"Do I stink?"

"No... wait, yes. You stink. You smell like sweat. Go take a shower."

She quickly changed her tune, looking embarrassed.

Even after we'd slept together so many times, she was still the same.

"Why are you lying? Do you want to be punished?"

"..."

Miyuki silently shook her head. She looked incredibly seductive.

It wasn't like she was doing it on purpose.

She was just blushing furiously, too flustered to speak as she offered a silent protest.

And yet, the very aura surrounding her was downright bewitching.

I locked eyes with Miyuki, who was radiating pure sex appeal just by lying there, and leaned in until our lips were practically brushing.

Gazing down at her deeply, I murmured.

"You remember I told you I'd get my reward today, right? For getting fourteenth place."

"How long are you going to milk that...?"

"I'll only milk it for today."

"...What kind of reward do you want...?"

"I'm not pulling out today, okay?"

"What do you mean, you're not pulling out...?"

"I mean I'm not finishing outside."

"Huh...?"

Miyuki looked confused, as if she didn't quite grasp what I was saying.

But that only lasted a second.

"Y-You're really not pulling out...?"

Realizing exactly what I was asking for today, she gave a heavy gulp, completely unable to hide her shock.