Chapter 138

“Chinami... are you in here?”

“Yes. I'm here, of course. Do you need something?”

“No... I was just checking on you.”

“You said the exact same thing fifteen minutes ago.”

“Sorry. I'll go.”

The pointless conversation ended, and Renka closed the Storage Room door.

Ever since the previous incident up until today, Friday, she had been popping up constantly whenever Chinami and I went anywhere together. It was ridiculous; she wasn't even a stalker.

If she was so worried, she should just take Chinami and do the manager work herself.

“Renka seems to have a lot of worries this week. Yesterday and the day before, too...”

Chinami muttered to herself, shaking her head with a puzzled look.

I stepped closer to her and chimed in.

“Yeah. I wonder why she's acting like that?”

“I think I might have an idea, but...”

Chinami trailed off and glanced back at me, flinching when our eyes met.

She quickly pretended to polish the Bogu and continued.

“The Bogu is in really good condition today... Ahem... The club members must have used it carefully.”

“Isn't it in good condition because you polished it well yesterday?”

“...Of course, that probably played a part. Anyway, isn't the weather nice today?”

It was cute how she suddenly changed the subject to the weather.

“It is. But Master.”

“Yes?”

“Why do you keep wiping the exact same spot?”

“When did I do that? I've been wiping everything evenly. It seems you desperately need to visit an eye doctor, junior.”

Chinami played innocent.

I let it slide before she could get sullen.

“The club activities are almost over, so I'll go finish up my work.”

“Okay, good luck.”

I left the Storage Room and picked up a box full of empty water bottles and cans.

Water consumption was quite high today, probably because the weather had suddenly turned warm and there were light sparring sessions.

Which water bottle did Renka drink from? I was suddenly curious.

“Hey...!”

I was sorting the recycling outside the Club Room when I turned my head at the somewhat timid voice coming from behind.

Renka was walking toward me with her arms crossed.

I answered with a lukewarm expression.

“What.”

She looked around to check if anyone was nearby, then asked.

“Are you really going to call me in tomorrow?”

“Yes.”

“What time?”

“I don't know. I haven't decided yet.”

“Then send me the exact time before the day is over.”

“Are you ordering me around right now?”

“...I didn't mean it like that.”

Renka's attitude became just a little bit more polite.

Now that the day was approaching, she probably wanted to avoid suffering anything too harsh, so she was trying not to get on my bad side. Her intentions were transparent.

“Just wait on standby.”

“You don't even know when we'll finish?”

“Why?”

“Just... I need to know in advance so I can prepare myself mentally...”

I dumped the box of plastic bottles into the recycling bin, folded the empty cardboard box, and tossed it into the paper section.

Then I dusted off my hands and looked down at Renka.

“I'll decide after seeing your attitude tomorrow.”

“What does that mean? Are you saying you'll let me go early if I behave?”

To think she would say something like that directly... she had made a lot of progress.

I nodded in satisfaction and spoke.

“Probably.”

“I'd appreciate it if you told me clearly... no word games...”

“I'll let you go early if you behave. Happy?”

Renka's complexion brightened a little at those words.

“Got it. I'm leaving.”

Her guard was just a bit lacking. She should have asked exactly when I would let her go.

And how did she know what I was going to ask of her when she promised to behave?

If you change your tune later, it'll be your own fault, right?

“Hello, Matsuda-kun. It's been quite a while, hasn't it?”

Midori welcomed me with a bright smile.

I bowed my head to her in greeting.

“Hello, ma'am. Have you been well?”

“Of course. It's cold out, so hurry up and come inside.”

“Excuse me, then.”

I took off my shoes and stepped inside, my nose twitching at the savory aroma drifting through the air.

Was she making sukiyaki today? It smelled like it.

After exchanging greetings with Wataru, I went straight to wash my hands.

When I returned to the kitchen, a feast was already spread across the dining table.

The main dish was sukiyaki, as expected, surrounded by an array of delicious foods ranging from Sushi to various fried dishes.

Looking at the spread, a sudden thought flashed through my mind.

A fantasy of waking up and seeing Miyuki and Midori cooking a meal for me in the kitchen.

Not in this house, but in my own home, mother and daughter wearing aprons...

It was a nice picture. Fucking arousing.

“Hello, Kanna.”

Taking my seat at the table, I waved to Kanna, whom I hadn't seen in a while.

She stared blankly at me before speaking.

“Hi.”

Seeing her wide eyes, it seemed she was recalling the time I had feigned ignorance and touched her waist.

Feeling playful, I looked at her and smirked.

“Have you been well? Are you still imitating Miyuki's voice these days?”

“No? I haven't been able to because there's no one to play pranks on.”

She was surprisingly unfazed. I suppose that was just like Kanna.

She was the kind of character who could liven up the mood even more if she were in my house. Did she have any thoughts of cooking with her mother and sister?

Swallowing those words, I picked up my chopsticks when Wataru, sitting at the head of the table, suggested we eat.

And so the meal began.

While eating and chatting with Midori and Wataru, I saw Kanna flash a mischievous smile at Miyuki, who was daintily using her chopsticks. I figured something was coming.

“You aren't talking about Matsuda-kun today?”

Kanna teased Miyuki with a sly tone.

Miyuki visibly flinched and crumpled her expression.

“W-what are you talking about...! When did I ever talk about Matsuda-kun...”

“Why are you so flustered? You're always bragging about what you and Matsuda-kun did.”

“Bragging... Stop spouting nonsense...! Just eat your food...!”

Miyuki nervously grabbed a piece of egg Sushi and shoved it into her mouth.

She probably wanted to just chomp down on it, but she was conscious of my gaze and tried hard to maintain a ladylike demeanor. It was funny.

Judging from how things were going, it seemed not only Midori and Kanna but even Wataru knew about the relationship between Miyuki and me.

And Miyuki was the only one oblivious to that fact.

Or maybe she did know but was purposely playing dumb out of embarrassment.

The minor incident of Kanna's teasing passed, and I headed to Miyuki's room with the fruit Midori had prepared.

Her room was the same as always. It smelled of strong plums and was neatly organized.

Even though I had been here a few times, it always felt fresh.

And they grated on my nerves—the many traces of Tetsuya that still remained.

It was like a mutt had taken a shit in a perfect room.

I placed the bowl of fruit on Miyuki's desk and pointed at the ceiling, responding to Miyuki, who was urging me to start studying.

“Let's peel those off.”

Miyuki tilted her head, looking at the glow-in-the-dark stickers stuck to the ceiling.

“Why?”

“I feel like Miura is spying on you.”

“.....”

Dumbfounded, Miyuki covered her mouth and giggled.

She seemed to think I was jealous.

“Does that make any sense...? Are you saying there's a camera up there or something?”

“Anyway, let's take them down. I'll do it.”

“Why are you being so stubborn... They've been there for over ten years, so I've grown attached to them, and peeling them off might tear the wallpaper.”

“I just need to peel them off carefully. We can stick up something better.”

“What are you going to put up?”

“We can pick something out together later.”

“Hmm... I'll think about it.”

I strode over to Miyuki, who was giving a lukewarm reaction.

“Why are you acting like this already... Let's just study first...”

Did she think I was going to get physical? For her to suddenly say something like that.

Anyway, telling me to study first... it sounded like I could do whatever I wanted after we were done.

“Say you'll think about it positively.”

“...Why are you so obsessed with this... Is it that important...?”

“Yeah. It's important.”

“Ah, fine... I'll think about it positively... So hurry up and sit down...”

Unable to handle the pressure, Miyuki gave me the answer I wanted and patted the seat of the empty chair.

Not just taking off those stickers, but redoing the wallpaper entirely wouldn't be a bad idea.

With that thought, I sat down obediently in the chair.

The next morning.

I woke up early, had a brief phone call with Miyuki—who told me she was going out to play—and drove to the love hotel.

After buying some light snacks at a nearby Convenience Store, I entered the Hotel and headed to the room I had reserved for a few days.

The first thing that caught my eye in there were the handcuffs sitting on the living room shelf.

Next to them was a vibrator, essentially a basic tool for BDSM play, along with a ball gag and a Flogger—a disciplinary whip made of dozens of thin leather strips.

There was even a full-body restraint and a spreader bar to lock limbs in place...

It had everything one could need, but if Renka saw it, she'd probably feel incredibly overwhelmed.

I had wanted a soft room... Was this level considered the baseline in this world? I felt like my eyes had been opened to something new.

I stepped into the prison-themed bedroom and looked around in admiration, then flashed a meaningful smile when I spotted something on the floor next to the large queen-sized bed.

They had prepared the perfect size. I was very satisfied.

Sitting on the edge of the soft bed, I picked up my Cell Phone and immediately contacted Renka.

“Haa... hello.”

Unlike last time, she answered the phone quickly.

Judging by her heavy breathing, it sounded like she had been exercising.

“Where are you.”

“Outside.”

“I'll send you the location now, so come immediately.”

“Right now...? I'm in the middle of working out...?”

How diligent. Exercising at seven-thirty in the morning.

“And?”

“...I'll come as soon as I finish working out.”

“No. Come right now. The location is the same as last time, but I'll send it again just in case.”

“That Hotel... again...?”

“Yes. Fifth floor.”

“T-that's a different floor than last time, right?”

She even remembered the room number from last time?

Our Renka... you sure paid a lot of attention to me.

“That's right. How long will it take you?”

“...Do I really have to go right now?”

“Yes.”

“It should take... about twenty minutes...”

She had completely given up. Just hearing her voice was enough to make me hard.

Right, if you behave, I'll let you go early.

“Understood. I'll wait at the entrance.”

“Okay...”

I hung up and was about to head down to the lobby to wait for Renka when my eyes landed on a blindfold on the shelf. My eyes lit up.

That's perfect to use.

Grabbing the blindfold, I sat on the lobby sofa and killed time looking at my Cell Phone.

Whir.

The automatic doors slid open quietly. As Renka stepped inside wearing a windbreaker, I stood up.

“You're here?”

“.....”

Wordlessly scanning the lobby, Renka simply nodded.

Given the location, she seemed tense.

I chuckled. Worried that others might come in and get the wrong idea, Renka rushed me to hurry, and we got on the elevator together.

Stopping in front of the room, I turned back to Renka and held out the blindfold.

“Put this on.”

“...Isn't this a blindfold...?”

“Yes.”