Chapter 217

"Yes."

I might be backing off for now, but once she was properly trained, I'd put my hands all over her whenever I pleased.

I would torment her until she was sobbing from pleasure, begging me—her master—to stop.

I approached Renka, who was muttering something under her breath, and spoke.

"By the way, President."

"No."

"I wasn't about to say anything weird."

"Really...? Then tell me."

"Let's head home together after work again today."

"I don't want to. I'd have to wait for you."

"I waited for you yesterday too."

"That was just you insisting on waiting."

"That's harsh. If you add up waiting for public transit and the travel time itself, it probably evens out anyway."

"True."

"So we're agreed we'll head back together?"

"Why on earth do you even want to head home with me?"

"I don't know. I just want to leave with you, President."

Was she dumbfounded by such a non-answer?

Renka let out a dry laugh and shook her head as she answered.

"Do whatever you want."

To leave the decision in my hands... She already had a great slave mindset.

"Understood. Please wait for me, then."

"Got it."

"What are you going to do while you wait? I noticed a pretty good figure shop in a nearby alley yesterday. Want to go check it out?"

At those words, Renka's eyes sparkled for a split second before quickly returning to normal.

"What are you talking about..."

"You could look for a present for your nephew while you're at it. I'll send you the address."

"There's no need for that...?"

She said that, but her eyes betrayed her excitement.

At this point, I wondered if Renka actually enjoyed pretending not to be an otaku.

I had a feeling she would meekly admit it soon.

"I'll send it anyway. Go if you want, but get some lunch first."

"I went first yesterday, so you go first this time."

"You said you were hungry earlier. Go ahead first."

".... Then I'll be back."

"Sure."

Renka's breasts stood out prominently as she reached behind her back to untie her apron strings.

They looked particularly large today. Was she wearing a heavily padded bra?

Suddenly, I wanted to touch them.

"What are you staring at...?"

"Just because."

"Always doing something unnecessary..."

In the past, she would have flown into a rage over the slightest glance, yet now she just gave a weak rebuke and let it go. The change in her was massive, yet she called my actions unnecessary? Ridiculous.

Our Renka was being trained without even realizing it...

The day when I would make erotic memories with her wasn't far off.

"Don't use the coffee cubes in the second drawer of the freezer. They're still freezing right now. Other than that, nothing else to report."

"Yes, got it."

After handing the shift over to the next worker, who came in dripping with annoyance, I changed my clothes and went outside. By then, Renka was already standing next to my car with her arms crossed.

"When did you get here?"

"Just now."

"Did you drop by the figure shop I told you about?"

"No."

Like hell she didn't. She was pulling her coat tighter as she answered.

It was obvious just looking at her that she had bought a small figure and slipped it inside her coat.

"Right. Hurry up and get in."

As if my sly tone had rubbed her the wrong way, Renka's lip curled into a fierce sneer as she climbed into the passenger seat.

I let out a soft chuckle as I watched her carefully buckle her seatbelt, then asked, "I'm bored, want to catch a movie together on the way?"

"No."

"What about dinner?"

"Don't want to."

"Firm as ever. Understood."

I started the car and headed straight for Renka's house. The ride was incredibly quiet.

Did that awkwardness bother her a little?

Renka shifted her posture and looked at me.

"Hey."

"What."

"Did you hear there's a group reservation for ten tomorrow?"

"I heard. They said they're coming before lunch."

"Right. You need to put the reserved sign on the corner table. Do that first thing when you get to work tomorrow. The people studying in the cafe shouldn't sit there."

"Got it."

"Make plenty of ice in the morning, too."

"Sure. Don't worry about it."

"I can't help but worry."

"Are you a boomer?"

"Only to you."

"So you're saying you only act like a boomer to me?"

"Yeah."

Renka retorted sharply without batting an eye.

Flustering this girl who refused to back down even an inch was very easy.

We caught a red light just in time, so I pressed the brake and looked over at Renka.

Then I said, "That makes me feel good."

"What does?"

"It means you're giving me special treatment."

"Not even close?"

"I was just trying a shift in perspective."

"You're awfully positive."

"Right?"

"It wasn't a compliment. I was being sarcastic."

"I can just take it as a compliment."

While we exchanged idle banter, the car arrived at Renka's house.

I watched her unclasp her seatbelt, pulling her coat tight just like she had at the cafe, and spoke.

"Go on in."

"Yeah."

"Say thank you."

"I waited for you today, so I don't think I need to."

"Is that so?"

"But I'll still say thanks."

"How am I supposed to take it when you say thanks with a look of pure disgust on your face?"

"You complain even when I do... Just take it positively like you did earlier. I'm leaving now. See you tomorrow."

"Sure."

Renka shut the passenger door and walked briskly away from the car.

I let out a chuckle as I watched her back, taking my foot off the brake while hoping she would send me a message on AnyShare.

[MK, I left a review, check it out.]

When I got out of the shower, there was a message from Run Ino-chan waiting for me.

I went to the review section of AnyShare, found Renka's nickname, and tapped on her most recently posted review.

[Girlfriend Training Journal]

[The BDSM genre work I read after The Master's Secret. It's a story where the training takes place within a pure, loving relationship, without any netorare or netorase play, so I quite enjoyed reading it. It's a bit harder than The Master's Secret. If you're interested in this sort of thing, you'll find it very entertaining.]

[Rating: ★★★☆☆]

It was a short, straightforward review.

However, the rating was a bit stingy. She really scored it objectively.

Converted to a 10-point scale, it was a 6. I didn't know whether I should just be relieved it passed a 5.

[What's with the three stars if you enjoyed reading it? You did this last time, too. Are you doing the exact same thing again?]

I sent the angry-sounding message, and a reply came back from Renka immediately.

[By my standards, three stars is the maximum. Even this is me being generous.]

[I downvoted your review.]

[(Ծ‸Ծ,,)]

I always felt this way, but the online Renka was truly cute.

Where did she even find an emoticon so full of disdain and disappointment?

It felt like a perfect fit for the situation.

[You don't have much of an eye for manga. We don't really match well.]

[I probably have a better eye than you. Now recommend me another training genre work.]

[How to Make the Next-Door Widow Mine.]

[Is that a manga title?]

[Yes.]

[MK, you really are trash. You can't even be recycled.]

[Hey, you asked for a recommendation so I gave one, why are you throwing a fit?]

[Do you have anything else? What's the most entertaining manga you've read recently?]

Was she expecting Ms. Asagao's Household Circumstances to pop out?

It wasn't like we were playing twenty questions... Unbelievable.

[Read that one first. Then I'll recommend something else.]

[Got it. How explicit is this next-door widow one?]

[It's higher than Girlfriend Training.]

[Are there any gory scenes?]

[No. You'd have to look for gore for that.]

[That's a relief.]

She wasn't throwing a tantrum asking for my surname today.

She must have changed her strategy to getting close to me slowly.

After finishing my messages with Renka, I heard the sound of the Main Gate opening right on cue. Not long after, Miyuki came in, and I welcomed her.

"You're here?"

"Yeah."

She went straight to the bathroom as naturally as if it were her own home, washed her hands, and even washed her face.

She wiped her face thoroughly with a towel, then snuggled into my arms as I lay on the futon and asked, "Matsuda-kun, is it okay if I go to the cafe you work at?"

"Sure."

"Will you make the drinks yourself?"

"Of course I will."

"What are you most confident in making?"

"I'm confident in all of them, but try the Caramel Honey Latte."

"What the...? If you're confident in everything, why are you picking my drink, Matsuda-kun?"

"Because that one's the most delicious."

"Oh, really? Do they happen to sell food there too?"

"We don't have things like cake, but there are cookies and waffles."

"That's enough, then. Can I bring Honoka and Masako soon?"

"Who are they?"

"....."

Miyuki's eyes narrowed into slits.

It was a look of complete disbelief.

I snickered at her face and said, "I'm joking. Bring them."

"Are you really joking?"

"Do you really think I wouldn't even know the names of the Vice Representative and Bread Girl?"

"Well, you've forgotten them often enough before..."

"I memorized those two."

"I don't know whether to call that a relief or call you an idiot... How is it working part-time with Inoo-sunbae? Do you guys get along?"

"I don't think we get along that well yet."

"Really? Are you bickering like you did at the Academy?"

"It's not like that."

I wrapped my arms and legs around Miyuki, pulling her into a tight embrace, and buried my face in the crown of her head, which gave off a soft plum scent.

After spending such a lively time with Renka, seeing Miyuki made me feel at peace.

It would be perfect if Chinami were here too... It was a shame she wasn't.

The next morning.

After getting ready and arriving at the cafe for work, I set the reserved sign in the middle of the corner table.

After that, I finished the tasks the evening part-timer had failed to complete yesterday and welcomed a few customers.