Chapter 188

"What? Where?"

Grabbing a bewildered Chinami by the wrist, I pulled her between the hanging Training Uniforms and captured her lips.

"Mmph!"

Her body gave a sharp jolt as a muffled gasp caught in her throat.

Flustered at first by the sudden intimacy, she soon stood on her tiptoes, angling her face to match mine.

A display of affection hidden among clothes on a drying line.

It was a textbook romance scene straight out of the latter half of a rom-com.

The only problem was that this male protagonist harbored incredibly wicked intentions; rather than settling for a simple kiss, he was already sliding his tongue inside.

"Hnn...!"

The heroine was a problem, too. As if to prove how quickly she had heated up, she pressed her body flush against mine.

Let's call this an adult video rather than a rom-com.

Just as we were enjoying the rapidly heating atmosphere—clack.

The Drying Room door swung open, and we hastily tore our lips apart as someone walked in.

"Chinami, the coach is looking for you. Are you in here?"

So the interloper, Renka, had arrived.

I was wondering when she'd show up.

"Y-Yes...! I'm over here...!"

Raising a feeble hand, Chinami stepped through the Training Uniforms and walked over to Renka.

And seeing Chinami's heavily flushed face and awkward behavior, Renka couldn't hide her bewilderment.

"...W-What? What were you doing...?"

Chinami wiping her mouth with her Training Uniform sleeve, my face faintly visible through the gaps between the Training Uniforms in the Drying Room...

Anyone who saw all that and still couldn't figure out what Chinami and I had been doing would have to be a complete idiot.

"Ahem... The coach is looking for me...?"

"Ah, yeah..."

"Then I'd better hurry... Thanks for letting me know..."

Feigning composure as if nothing had happened, Chinami patted Renka on the back and left the Drying Room.

After staring blankly at her retreating back, Renka turned.

"Hey...!"

She gritted her teeth, marched over, and stood stiffly in front of me.

Locked in a staring contest with her as she glared at me, a sudden thought crossed my mind.

Why did harem rom-coms always involve conquering the heroines one by one, even if it meant reducing their individual screen time?

Considering the readers' heroine preferences or wanting to insert sweet one-on-one events were certainly factors, but situations like this played a major role too.

A heroine catching the protagonist in a sweet moment with another heroine?

Realistically speaking, it would make continuing the plot incredibly difficult.

Even if it were somehow glossed over, readers would just end up pitying a heroine who harbored unrequited love for a taken protagonist.

That was why authors either split the heroine routes into separate arcs, dumbed down the heroines when the story took place in a school setting like this, gave them an airhead trait, or simply made them highly tolerant of harems.

Alternatively, they might inject fantasy elements into the setting itself, or, on rare occasions, include a heroine who actively resolved to steal the male lead away.

Wrapping up my sudden contemplation, I gestured to Renka with my chin.

"What is it?"

"I-I know you and Chinami are... on good terms... but could you restrain yourself in the Club Room...?"

"What are you talking about? Nothing happened."

"Don't play dumb...! You were clearly..."

"Clearly what?"

"..."

Her face was too hot for her to say it out loud, wasn't it?

Even though she tied with Hiyori as the heroine who looked the most interested in lewd things, in reality, she was the most easily embarrassed.

That was one of your charms, though.

"And so what if something did happen? It's not like we did it where others could see, and there's no rule saying we have to hold back our affection in the Club Room."

"There's a rule prohibiting Public Morals violations, what do you mean there isn't...!"

"Come on... Public Morals violations are when a man and a woman..."

"Wait...! Stop...! Don't do anything vulgar...!"

When I made a motion to thrust my hips, Renka frantically waved her hands.

Then, glaring at me as I smacked my lips in disappointment, she continued.

"Public Morals don't just cover that..."

"Then what do they cover?"

"...A-Anyway, I just want you to restrain yourself."

I didn't want to. I was going to keep doing it.

Next semester, I was going to do it with you, too.

Shrugging, I decided to loosely humor Renka.

"Understood. But, President."

"No. I don't want to. I refuse."

"Huh? How can you answer when you don't even know what I'm going to say?"

"Because some weird topic always pops up right after you say 'But, President.'"

Was it already ingrained in her head that much? I was glad.

As a reward, I'll stick a Heart-Shaped Nipple Patch on you.

"Does it?"

"It does. Anyway, get to work."

"I'm already done."

"Do more. Find something to do."

"Find something to do... You're the textbook definition of a wicked boss. A total boomer."

"Shut up. Work. I said work."

"Let's do it together, then."

"Will you keep your mouth shut if we do it together?"

"I won't say a single word while I work."

"Fine. Gather all the dry Training Uniforms."

"Let's do that."

Did she not like how readily I answered?

Renka muttered something under her breath, then stepped far away from me and started retrieving the hanging Training Uniforms.

I thought she would try to make me do all the work alone, but she was actually helping.

Our Renka... had gotten a lot nicer. A pleased smile threatened to bloom on my face.

"Why are you smiling like a creep? I told you to work."

She was still as feisty as ever. Like a fierce little bitch.

...

As the end of the month approached, students mentioned Christmas more and more frequently.

And that was the same for Tetsuya.

"Miyuki. What are you doing on Christmas evening?"

While I was lying face-down on my desk, Tetsuya quietly asked Miyuki about her plans.

"On Christmas?"

"Yeah. If you're free, you'll be having dinner with our families, right?"

Look at that bastard spouting his bullshit again.

I didn't know why a piece of trash too terrified to show direct interest in the heroines was even worrying about Christmas.

What was worse, he was dragging their families into it, scraping my nerves with a tone that assumed Miyuki would absolutely say yes.

The family Christmas dinner was an annual event for Tetsuya and Miyuki's families.

Every year they would eat dinner together on Christmas evening, and then the two of them would slip away to take a walk or catch a movie.

But this year was different.

Tetsuya was going to be alone on Christmas.

He might even end up eating with Miyuki's family without Miyuki there.

I was about to sit straight up and tell the punk to get lost, but I changed my mind.

I wanted to hear what kind of answer Miyuki would give.

"Mmm..."

Letting out a thoughtful hum, Miyuki spoke.

"I don't think I can this year. I already have plans for Christmas."

"Plans? With who?"

Poke.

I felt a finger poke me in the back.

Miyuki had answered through her actions.

Her plans were with me.

"With Matsuda?"

"Yeah."

"Ah... Really? Even skipping the family dinner?"

"I think it'll be hard this year. I'm sorry."

She sounded as if she were gently reasoning with him, but there was a resolute firmness buried in her tone.

Miyuki blatantly flaunting our relationship was so incredibly lovely it was driving me crazy.

I should tell her not to go home today.

"Right... Guess there's nothing to be done... If you happen to find time, could you let me know?"

Tetsuya's voice completely died away; I really wanted to see his distorted expression.

Should I get up now? No, I should wait it out a little longer.

Anyway, how could every single word he spoke ooze with such pathetic loser energy?

That was a talent in itself. To think I used to control a bastard like that and self-insert as him?

How shameful.

"I will. And we can always have dinner next time. What we do every year wasn't to celebrate Christmas, it was a dinner to celebrate the end of the year... right?"

I felt bad for Miyuki, who was trying her best to console Tetsuya.

I needed to make Miyuki lose whatever remaining affection she had for Tetsuya. Wouldn't there be another opportunity similar to when that punk slipped up last time?

"Of course."

He was giving a composed answer, but Tetsuya had to be burning up inside right now.

Honestly, he was probably right on the verge of letting the words, "How about we pick a date before or after Christmas for dinner?" slip from his throat.

But he was probably holding his tongue for now, terrified that Miyuki would invite me to tag along.

Would he try asking her later this evening via private message?

If Miyuki mentioned me then, he would definitely spout all sorts of excuses and refuse.

It seemed a bit like overthinking, but knowing Tetsuya, it was entirely possible.

The punk was probably resenting me for intruding on his cozy time with his childhood friend.

It was only natural to hate the person who stole the heart of someone you liked.

Of course, it was his own fault for maintaining a lukewarm attitude while I went after Miyuki, but hoping for Tetsuya to understand that was wishful thinking since he didn't even realize how pathetic he truly was.

'Retard.'

Cursing Tetsuya internally, I smoothly sat up, unable to stomach his clinginess any longer.

I then looked at Miyuki, pretending to have just woken up.

"You're awake?"

"Yeah. If you two are going to chat, go do it in the corner."

"Sorry. Go back to sleep. I'll wake you up when class starts."

Watching Miyuki pat my back with such a gentle tone, what on earth was Tetsuya thinking?

Although Christmas wasn't a public holiday in Japan, it was still a major occasion just like in other countries.

It meant people knew the day was special.

And the same had to go for Tetsuya.

Go ahead and let your imagination run wild.

Just don't try to interrupt us with a phone call because you're curious about what Miyuki and I are doing; just wail in despair and go jerk off into a makeshift fleshlight.

That was the fate of a guy who didn't even have the balls to hit on a heroine.

The day before Christmas Eve.

After dropping Miyuki off as usual, I headed to Chinami's apartment building.

Stepping out at a nearby public Parking Lot, I looked up at the sky; it was already pitch black.

Even considering it was winter, the sun seemed to have set especially fast today.

Pulling my coat tightly around myself to protect my neck from the chilly wind, I walked down the sidewalk and left a message for Chinami.

[Master, do you have time? I'm near your place right now.]

A reply came not long after.

[Ah, then there's a small Park across from the apartment. Should we meet there?]

[Sure. It's cold out, so dress warmly before coming down.]

[Got it. I'll be right there.]

Conversations with Chinami always felt soft and fluffy, no matter the medium.

Maybe it was because of the way she spoke.

Letting out a slight chuckle, I tucked my Cell Phone away and headed toward the Park Chinami had mentioned.

The entrance was quite worn down. Was it an old place?

It looked pretty atmospheric, so I liked it.

Flick.

As I stood waiting for Chinami at the entrance, the streetlamp directly above my head flickered on.

It blinked a few times before pouring down a solid white light, really setting the mood.

Would Chinami like the way I looked standing here from afar?

Click.

Just as I was having that thought, the streetlamp went out again.

Bursting into an incredulous chuckle, I brushed away my idle thoughts and waited quietly for Chinami.

How much time had passed like that?

Waiting in the gloom while tapping my feet, I looked around when—

"Yah!"

Chinami suddenly leaped right under the streetlamp where I was standing, and I looked down at her in bewilderment.

Why hadn't I heard her footsteps? They were probably drowned out by the sound of passing cars.

Was my tepid reaction unexpected?

Tilting her head, Chinami asked.

"Huh? Weren't you surprised?"

I might be a bit of a coward, but with an entrance line and action like that, who in the world would be scared?

Even her outfit was a pink hoodie.

She looked even weaker than those pathetic, joke-relief extra villains in transforming superhero shows.

"Well... I wasn't particularly surprised."

"Hmm. I'll try harder next time."

I doubted how much she could possibly improve just by trying harder, but oh well...

Best not to crush her hopes with unnecessary words.

"I'll look forward to it. Shall we take a quick walk?"

"Yeah, sounds good."

The two of us entered the Park side by side.

There was barely anyone inside the Park.

It had a nice atmosphere, but maybe it was empty because trees and grass were all there was to look at.

The cold weather probably had something to do with it too.

"Master."

"Yes?"

Walking ahead of me, Chinami turned her head at my call.

The plump ass visible above her jeans was quite attractive.

She looked just like a honeybee burying its face in a flower, sticking only its rear end out.