Chapter 175

"What is it?"

"Thank you."

Renka said as we stepped outside.

There was a specific reason she was being so uncharacteristically grateful.

Merchandise was strictly limited to one per person.

Using her nephew as an excuse, Renka had asked me to buy a different piece of merchandise for her. I had gladly obliged, allowing her to take home extra goods.

Since the items were only being sold today, she had probably been prepared to buy the rest secondhand. She must have been grateful to save the money.

Of course, there were other types of merchandise besides what we'd bought, so she'd still have to do some legwork, but we had managed to grab all the most popular items. That in itself was a significant win.

"Don't mention it. Just say hello to your nephew for me."

"I will. And I looked it up... You know, Ms. Asagao's Household Circumstances. The genre is... Ah, do you hate spoilers by any chance?"

"Are you going to tell me the genre?"

"Yeah."

"That much is fine."

"That's a relief. They say the manga is in the training genre. I hear it has some NTR mixed in, too."

"Is that so? When did you look it up?"

"Um... Just now, when you went to the restroom."

She was trying to feel out my tastes.

Can you show me what you looked up? Let me take a look.

Swallowing those words, I spoke instead.

"Even better. I like the training genre."

"...You like the training genre?"

"Yes. Didn't I tell you? Last time, when I was at the Hotel with you, President."

"Eek...!?"

Surprised by the mention of that incident, Renka frantically looked around.

"W-why are you saying something like that so loudly...!"

"I don't think I was being loud... Anyway, you don't remember?"

"Well... I don't really remember...?"

She was only flustered right now, but if she thought about it a little more deeply, something would come to mind.

The AnyShare user named MK.

I had given her a crucial hint.

For instance, the comment she left on an anime she reviewed.

If she connected that comment to the fact that we'd bought figures related to that anime together, factored in our roleplay at the Hotel, and added today's little clue about my taste for the training genre, her suspicion that MK and I were the same person would grow incredibly strong.

After this, she might even unblock me and send a message to dig up dirt on me.

But she wouldn't uncover my identity just yet.

It was too early to blow the secret.

I would only consider that once Renka grew a little more interested in experiencing the training genre herself.

"That's a shame."

"I-it's not a shame at all, so what are you talking about...? I've completely forgotten it. What happened with you..."

"Your face doesn't look like you've forgotten at all."

"...Anyway, thanks for today. I'll get going now."

"Want to grab a bite before you go?"

"I already ate."

"Then I'll drop you off."

"It's fine, I can go by my—"

"Follow me."

Cutting off her attempt to back out, I gestured for her to follow. She flinched, hesitated for a moment, and then fell in step behind me.

The reason she meekly obeyed my forceful command was probably... because she was grateful for the extra merchandise.

For the time being, I'd keep creating reasons she couldn't refuse, making her listen while slowly building up our memories together.

That was how I would peel off her defenses, layer by layer.

Anyway, it felt like a waste to just head back like this... I should ask her to grab a cup of coffee once we were in the car.

Renka had been quite cute today.

Not her face, but her behavior.

She was staring straight ahead, clutching the disposable shopping bag full of merchandise tightly to her chest. Anyone looking at her would think the same thing.

Hitting the brakes at a red light, I cast a sidelong glance at Renka, who was still sitting perfectly still.

Then I asked in a slightly subdued voice.

"Are you tired?"

"...Not really?"

"Then do you want to go grab some coffee?"

"Coffee?"

"Yeah. Coffee."

"I... um..."

Pondering what to do, Renka stole a glance at me.

"I suppose one cup is fine. Since you helped me out today, I'll pay."

She agreed without much hesitation.

Compared to her insisting on going home alone earlier, this answer was quite unexpected.

Did she want to wipe away her debt for the extra merchandise?

Whatever the reason, it was a good thing for me, so I drove toward a nearby coffee chain.

And as soon as we entered the cafe, Renka greeted the staff and expertly customized her order.

"A green tea cream frappuccino, swap the syrup for white mocha, and add caramel sauce and extra powder, please."

While I stood there momentarily dumbfounded by this unexpected display, she finished her order and looked back at me.

"What about you?"

"Um... I'll just have an iced Americano."

"Just that? Alright."

After paying for the coffee, Renka took the Pager and sat down at a corner table with me.

She had a look on her face that said she didn't have much to say. Still, she seemed uncomfortable with the awkward atmosphere.

Reading her thoughts, I asked.

"Do you often order like that?"

"Like what? Oh... yeah. Whenever I come to this chain, I always order it like that."

"You must come here a lot with Master?"

"Chinami doesn't really come here. Even if I ask her to go, she refuses."

"Why? Because they don't have anything peach-related?"

"Exactly. Chinami wants to add peach pulp, but they don't have that here. So when I go to a cafe with Chinami, we usually go somewhere else."

That was classic Chinami. She never failed to meet expectations.

"Then who do you come here with?"

"I often come alone, or sometimes with another friend..."

"Which other friend?"

"...Someone you don't know."

She glared at me, her expression demanding to know why I was prying.

Chuckling, I pointed at the Pager on the table as it began to buzz.

"The Pager is ringing."

"Should I go?"

Then should I, your master, go get it?

How insolent...

"Want to go together?"

Perhaps feeling anxious at my sly tone, Renka shivered and snatched up the Pager.

"No... I'll bring them."

Then, letting out a deep sigh as if to make sure I heard it, she brought over the tray and carefully set it down on the table.

"Thanks for the drink."

"Yeah."

"Can I have just one sip of yours, President?"

"Absolutely not."

"Just one sip."

"No. Drink your own."

Firmly expressing her refusal, Renka picked up her green tea frappuccino and turned halfway away from me.

She looked like a child refusing to let someone take her things. She was acting like this because she'd grown a little more comfortable around me, right?

Being all sulky like that... I liked it.

Smirking, I quietly sipped my Americano, passing the time in sporadic conversation with Renka.

*

The next day, during lunch.

While Miyuki left early for business at the Faculty Office, I split off from Tetsuya and headed to the Club Room.

I wanted to get a little bit of today's work done in advance.

Doing this was better than wasting time with Tetsuya.

It would also give me more time to flirt with Chinami.

As I arrived at the Club Room and went to unlock the door— "Matsuda?"

A familiar voice called out from behind me.

Wondering who it was, I turned around and saw Renka standing there with a furrowed brow.

Perhaps because I had seen her in casual clothes yesterday, she looked quite fresh in her uniform today.

Normally, shouldn't it be the other way around? The human heart is truly baffling.

Tilting my head at Renka's unexpected appearance, I asked:

"What brings you here?"

"What brings you here?"

"I asked first."

"Are you going to be childish? Then I'm the President."

"Pulling rank on me?"

"Something like that. Anyway, what are you doing here?"

"I had nothing to do, so I thought I'd get some work done while I had free time. Why did you come, President?"

"Me? I came to... work too... and also to pay you back for the merchandise..."

Mm-hmm... She certainly keeps her debts and favors clear.

A voluntary slave's service... How commendable.

"Didn't we call it even with the coffee?"

"I thought that wasn't quite enough... and I didn't know if you'd try to find some weird fault with it..."

"What kind of weird fault?"

"How should I know..."

She could have just said she wanted to help out because she was thankful, but she had to tack on useless excuses.

Bursting into a chuckle at her typical tsundere behavior, I asked.

"Did you give the gift to your nephew?"

"...How could I give it to him in one day? It's not like we live together."

"Then when are you going to give it to him?"

"I'll have to give it to him over the weekend..."

"Then you'll be heading down this weekend?"

"I-I could just send it by courier..."

"What if it breaks?"

Was I making her a bit uncomfortable by asking so many probing questions?

Rolling her eyes to the side and avoiding my gaze, Renka answered.

"There's no worry about the keychains breaking, and the acrylic stands can be wrapped tightly in bubble wrap... No, why do I even have to explain this to you...?"

"Because I have a stake in it too."

"That's true, but... why do you keep..."

"Dropping honorifics?"

"...You know it... Shouldn't you show some manners...?"

"Isn't this fine?"

"It's not fine at all..."

"You're still a bit uncomfortable?"

"W-who said 'still'...? I never said that...!"

Why was it so fun just talking to Renka?

Was it because her reactions were so satisfying to provoke? It felt like I was getting a different kind of enjoyment from her than I did from Miyuki and Chinami.

I really wanted to keep teasing her, but I shouldn't cross the line any further.

"Alright. I'm sorry."

"As long as you know... What should I do?"

"You want me to order you around?"

"If I had come alone, I would have figured it out myself, but since you're here, I should do what you tell me to... Even though you're still pretty clumsy, you're the manager after all..."

"Pretty clumsy? Really? Master was happy, saying I've become a full-fledged manager..."