Chapter 213

“Hey. Did you ask to be switched to the cafe job?”

It was hilarious how fast her polite attitude vanished.

“Me? No.”

“You were pressuring me over text yesterday, telling me to work at the cafe.”

“I wouldn't call it pressure... Anyway, it's a total coincidence. I'm innocent.”

“Are you serious?”

“Yeah. Crazy, right?”

“...It is a bit crazy. How many days a week did you say you're working?”

“Four. What about you, President?”

“Five.”

“That's a lot of hours.”

“Four or five days, it's pretty much the same.”

“True, but... President.”

“What now?”

“You're a lot snappier than usual today.”

“Wanna die?”

Renka glared daggers at me.

I flashed her a bright smile and said, “Just kidding. Let's work well together.”

She sucked her lower lip in tight, let out a long huff through her nose, and...

“...Whatever.”

She snapped her head away with a classic tsundere reply.

I was planning to use the vacation to build up some memories with Renka through various events, but she was probably just planning to keep a close watch on me after the Comiket incident, wasn't she?

It felt like we were operating on completely different wavelengths.

I was already thrilled. Every single day was going to be a blast.

“Good work today!”

Renka and I called out our farewells with plenty of energy.

The Boss broke into a bright smile as he accepted them.

It was a clear sign he was satisfied with our work.

Not that we had done much actual work. We had just spent our time in the quiet cafe learning drink recipes and the regulars' custom orders, making a few practice runs. Still, it was a relief to know we'd scored some solid points with him.

At first, I had no idea how I was supposed to memorize all of it, but thankfully the cafe had a recipe guide for every drink.

As long as I followed it to the letter, I was fine. Even the custom orders were simple enough—just a matter of punching in the extra additions on the register.

The real test wouldn't start until tomorrow, though.

The Boss had told us to handle the shift by ourselves tomorrow, claiming we were quick learners and gave bright greetings.

“The Boss seems to hand out his trust a little too easily. I probably shouldn't say this, but he doesn't seem very careful.”

As we trudged down the street, Renka nodded in agreement.

“I know, right? I didn't expect him to throw us into a live shift on our second day.”

“Let's just do our best tomorrow.”

“Yeah.”

“What was the hardest drink to make today? I thought the strawberry frappe was a bit of a pain.”

“Hmm... If I had to pick, the chocochip frappuccino was a little tricky. By the way, do you have somewhere else to be? The train station is this way.”

Renka asked, looking at me as I stood at a crosswalk leading away from the station.

I sniffed my clothes to check for any lingering cafe odor and answered offhandedly.

“I drove here. Come on, President. I'll give you a ride.”

“What...? You brought a car?”

“Yeah.”

Was it my casual attitude that left her so dumbfounded?

She looked at me like I was completely pathetic and shook her head.

“Then you should have told me...! There's an employee parking lot right there...”

“I just missed the timing to bring it up. I was planning to tell him tomorrow.”

“You're like a dense bear. Even if you don't look the part.”

“Was that an insult? Are you calling me stupid?”

“Is that what it sounded like?”

“Hmm.”

“D-don't do that!”

Renka flinched in reflexive panic.

I chuckled inwardly at how quickly she wilted after trying to act tough, and asked with a puzzled expression.

“Why not?”

“Because it sounds like you're plotting something weird...!”

“A conspiracy over a single hum? Haven't you been reading too much manga?”

“Urk...!”

Hit a sore spot, didn't I? Because you really do read too much of it.

Flashing a meaningful, mastermind-like smirk, I crooked a finger at Renka, who was still keeping her distance.

“Come on. What are you doing all the way over there?”

“.....”

Renka hesitantly stepped forward with her right foot.

The way she slowly inched closer made her look like a kitten wary of a stranger.

“Hey...”

“What.”

“I know what you're thinking... It's not like that...”

Wasn't that the classic first line a woman gave a guy when she got caught cheating?

“What's not?”

“.....”

Renka scowled deeply, clearly annoyed by my feigned ignorance.

Right on cue, the crosswalk light turned green.

Spotting it, I said in an innocent tone, “Let's go.”

“...I'm going crazy.”

She had been talking to herself a lot more lately. Did she even realize I could hear every word?

Keep it in your head. It was almost pitiful to watch.

My modern car idled in front of Renka's home, which exuded an old-fashioned atmosphere.

Sitting inside, I poked Renka on the shoulder as she stared blankly out at the Main Gate, making zero effort to actually get out.

“President, aren't you getting out?”

Renka jumped slightly and turned to look at me.

“.... Hey.”

“Yeah.”

“By any chance... do you do stuff on the internet... Ah, never mind.”

She trailed off in a fading mumble, abandoning whatever she had been about to ask. She pushed the passenger door open and added, “See you tomorrow.”

“Where's my thank you?”

“I'm not thankful for the ride.”

“You're acting like a green frog.”

“Think whatever you want. I'm leaving. Don't crash.”

It was hilarious how far out of her way she went just to tell me to drive safe.

I let out a chuckle as I watched Renka hurry away from the car, then drove back home, flicked on the heater, and took a shower.

Afterward, I flopped down on my futon and fiddled with my Cell Phone. I was just about to turn on the TV when I noticed a notification from the AnyShare app.

Curious, I opened it and found a direct message waiting for me.

It was from Renka's alter ego, Run Ino-chan.

[Hey, MK.]

Had it been a while since I last chatted with Renka online?

Feeling a strange sense of novelty, I propped one knee up, rested my other leg over it, and tapped away at the screen from my comfortable spot.

[Hello, Run Ino-chan. Did you read the manga I recommended?]

[No. I have something to say.]

The reply came instantly.

She must have been waiting for me.

[What is it?]

[Why are you always so rude?]

Where was this coming from all of a sudden?

I mean, sure, I had been pretty abrasive whenever I left a review for her or sent her a direct message, but the timing was completely random.

She had kept me blocked for ages, only to suddenly send an aggressive message...

I pondered for a second on why Renka might be doing this. As the picture began to form in my head, one corner of my mouth slowly curled upward.

‘She's trying to test me.’

Renka was clearly throwing out bait.

By picking a fight online now, she could fish for a reaction tomorrow. If I complained to her in person during a casual conversation—something like, ‘You wouldn't believe what happened yesterday, I'm so annoyed’—it would confirm that I was MK.

She was trying to cross-reference my reactions.

That must have been why she brought up the internet in the car earlier.

But wasn't this a pretty timid experiment? It relied entirely on luck.

[Me?]

[Yes.]

[Sorry if it felt that way.]

[Save the apology. Where do you live?]

[Why would I hand out my personal info to a stranger?]

[Do you live in Tokyo?]

[Who knows. Where do you think I live?]

[Are you a guy? How old are you?]

This was getting obsessive.

At this rate, she might just challenge me to a real-life meetup just to bait out my identity.

[Why are you being so creepy?]

[Are you scared?]

[Yes. I have things to do, so let's end the messages here. Read Girlfriend Training Journal and leave a review.]

[I don't want to. (｡•̀ ᴖ •́｡)]

Why did she add that emoticon?

Was she trying to show how angry she was?

It was cute, but it also made her look incredibly... pathetic. All the tension in my shoulders instantly melted away.

[Fine then. Don't read it.]

Even after the read receipt popped up, Run Ino-chan didn't reply for a while.

That unexpected dismissal must have flustered her.

Suddenly, a specific scene played out in my head.

Renka, after figuring out that MK and I were the same person, furiously typing out abusive messages to MK online as her own timid form of revenge for getting pushed around by me in real life...

Taking out all her frustration on me, completely convinced I was ignorant of her true identity...

Why was that so hot? I felt like some bizarre fetish of mine had been totally awakened lately.

[I'm sorry. I just had a really stressful day today. I'll give it a read and leave a review.]

Did she change tactics? Now she was tucking her tail between her legs while leaving the door open for our next conversation.

Her transparent little tug-of-war was highly entertaining. Just then, a text arrived from Chinami. I left Renka on read and swapped over to my messaging app.

[Junior, is the picture you wanted something like this?]

Along with the text, she sent a photo of herself smiling brightly, dressed in a Momo-sama pajama set and a nightcap.

It was a mirror selfie. There was no cleavage exposed, but the bottom two buttons of the pajama shirt were left undone, showing off her pale, bare abdomen...

Her belly button was just barely peeking out. It was a subtly erotic photo.

Had she styled it like that on purpose? How did she know exactly what buttons to push?

Chinami truly was a natural-born pervert.

[I'm highly satisfied.]

[I'm so glad. It was well worth the effort, then. Oh, by the way, I heard from Renka. You two are working a part-time job together?]

Renka must have already reported back to her.

Renka really didn't waste any time, did she?

We really were alike in that regard.

[That's what happened.]

[I was always so worried because you two seemed ready to tear each other's throats out, so this is wonderful news. I hope you use this opportunity to become very, very close.]

[I'll make sure we get very, very close, just as you said, Master.]

[Yes. Then I shall head off to dreamland.]

[Do you have any other photos?]

[Ah, I'll send you another one tomorrow.]

[Sounds good. Sleep well.]

[Good night to you too, Junior.]

Chinami sent a sticker of a little peach character politely bowing its head.

As I stared at the character's plump, pink cheeks, I couldn't help but think it looked exactly like Chinami's ass. I ended the conversation and pushed myself up off the floor.

I had just heard the sound of the Main Gate opening.

Sliding the window open, I saw Miyuki walking up to the house with a large grocery bag in her arms.

She must have just finished grocery shopping.

Slipping on my sandals, I went out to meet her. I snatched the heavy bag out of her hands and asked, “Why did you just come over here instead of calling me?”

“You said you started working today, so I figured you'd be tired... If I called you, you would have just driven over to pick me up.”

“It barely takes any time... Are you staying the night?”

“Yeah. But I have to head out early tomorrow.”

“Where to?”

“Dad says he's redecorating the garden. Are you working again tomorrow, Matsuda-kun?”

“Yeah. In the morning.”

“That's a shame. It would have been fun to decorate it together.”

It was a shame.

It would have been the perfect opportunity to leave my mark all over Miyuki's house, right where everyone could see it.

Come to think of it, I still needed to remodel Miyuki's bedroom to suit my tastes...

I'd have to find a free day and set a date for it soon.

“Make sure you don't put anything in your hair, alright?”