Chapter 218

Making coffee, selling the cookies the Boss had baked, and leading on the female customers who showed interest in me, I checked the time.

Barely thirty minutes had passed. Without Renka around, it was so boring I was practically yawning.

Did he really have to stagger our schedules by an hour?

He should have just let us come in together... I suddenly felt a wave of resentment toward the Boss.

I was working lethargically, feeling the painfully slow passage of time, when a voice called out. "Hey."

The back door opened, and I flashed a bright smile as Renka walked in for her shift.

"You're here?"

"W-what...? What's with that look...?"

Sensing danger from my genuinely welcoming face, Renka took a half-step back.

She looked me up and down with extreme suspicion before continuing.

"Did you mess something up?"

"Mess what up?"

"I mean... you're suddenly acting out of character... Or were there so many customers that it drove you crazy?"

"Can't you see it's dead in here?"

"Then why the hell are you smiling like that?"

"Am I not allowed to smile?"

"Don't smile like that. It's annoying."

That smile must have hit right in Renka's strike zone.

Might be a good idea to put it to use every now and then.

"Hurry up and go get changed."

"What is with you...?"

Tilting her head repeatedly, Renka muttered to herself before heading into the Changing Room and coming back out in her uniform.

She changed pretty fast. Did she miss me that much?

Entertaining that optimistic delusion, I held up a notepad for a hesitant Renka to see.

"The group reservation for today paid in advance yesterday."

"...Why bring that up? I can just go look at it myself..."

"Just felt like it."

"You know you're acting super weird today, right?"

"Nope. I do not."

Was my constant grinning too much pressure for her?

Averting her gaze, Renka let out a dry cough and fiddled with the syrup bottles before glancing at the completely dark Laptop screen in sleep mode.

"Why haven't you put any music on?"

"I wanted to discuss it with you first."

"Discuss it...? The music?"

"Do you hate the idea?"

"No... not hate, I just didn't think it was necessary..."

"It's nice doing things together. Quit complaining and come here. Let's pick something before it gets busy."

"...Whatever..."

Scratching her cheek as if she found the whole situation awkward, Renka stepped up beside me.

At the same time, a sweet scent wafted into my nose.

It smelled exactly like blueberry bubblegum. Smacking my lips without realizing it, I turned to Renka.

"President."

"What."

"You smell nice."

"What...!? A-are you completely out of your mind...?"

Her face burned crimson in an instant as she cursed at me.

She was probably flustered by the sudden compliment, but her embarrassment clearly outweighed it.

"What shampoo do you use? Or is that the smell of your hair treatment?"

"What does it matter to you...!"

"Your face is red."

"Shut up...! Keep your mouth shut and just pick a song...!"

Her reaction was way fiercer than expected. She was improving day by day.

But gingerly playing this tug-of-war was getting a bit boring.

A refresh was in order. It was time to plant a strong memory by triggering a major event.

"...What are you staring at? Stop looking at me like that...!"

Unable to handle my silent, fixed gaze, Renka darted her eyes around and looked away.

Chuckling at that, I slowly nodded and straightened my back.

"Understood. Have you picked a song?"

"How am I supposed to pick when you're acting like this...!"

"We could just take the easy route and put on anime songs."

"...That doesn't match the cafe's atmosphere at all."

Did she just indirectly admit to being a massive otaku?

No, that was a little ambiguous.

"You're not going to pick, right? I'm just putting on whatever's in the top 100. End of discussion...! Hurry up and work."

Forcibly shutting down the situation, Renka began washing the cups in the sink.

She almost did it barehanded like yesterday, but then she remembered my advice and quickly slipped on the rubber gloves. It was quite commendable.

Our Renka really showed the makings of a slave, yet she also seemed remarkably rebellious at the same time.

Her spirit was way too strong. Maybe that was why I wanted to conquer her even more.

"We'll have two green tea lattes, one strawberry yogurt smoothie, five caramel honey lattes, and three chocolate chip frappuccinos... please."

"Two green tea lattes, one strawberry yogurt smoothie, five caramel honey lattes, and three chocolate chip frappuccinos... is that correct?"

"Yes, that's right."

"We give one stamp for each drink, and with this many, you qualify for a free one. You can add anything you'd like. What can I get you?"

"Oh, really? Then... I'll take a strawberry yogurt smoothie."

"Understood. How would you like to pay?"

"You take cards, right?"

"Of course."

After ringing up the group's order, I glanced around the cafe.

There were more people than yesterday. Even though it was right before lunch, the floor was almost completely full.

Aside from the group, there were four other customers waiting for their drinks... We were going to have to hustle for a bit.

"President, take care of the group order. I'll clear out the existing orders first."

"Got it. It's better to start with the honey lattes, right? Makes it easier to wash the blender."

"Exactly."

"I'll get right on it."

No matter how fast we moved, we only had one blender, so it ate up a lot of time just making drinks and washing it.

On top of that, we had to take new customers' orders in between, which pushed the drink-making process further and further back.

Still, thanks to busting our asses, we managed to process every order, albeit a little late.

"...It's only been a few days, but that's the busiest we've been."

Renka said, watching the last customer walk away with their drink.

I nodded in agreement and wiped the cold sweat from my forehead with a clean towel.

"Tell me about it. Good work."

"You too. Bring the cups from the return counter over to the sink."

"Giving orders to your master is a bit..."

"Do you want to get hit?"

Giggling at Renka's completely unchanged reaction, I stopped teasing her and headed for the return counter.

I was collecting the piled-up cups when a problem popped up.

"Um... do you have a minute?"

Some guy had approached Renka while she was alone.

His eyes were extremely impure. It was obvious at a glance that he was trying to hit on my slave and get her number.

I had expected something like this to happen eventually, but encountering it firsthand was annoying.

Before the puzzled Renka could say a single word, I quickened my pace and strode over to the counter.

Then, sticking right by Renka's side, I asked the man.

"Can I help you?"

Did he feel intimidated by my deadpan expression?

Or did he assume I was Renka's boyfriend?

The guy scratched the back of his head and offered an awkward smile.

"Oh, no, I just forgot the name of my drink... It was really good, what's it called?"

Really good my ass... looking like a pretty-boy gigolo, you motherfucker.

"Chocolate chip frappuccino."

"Ah, thanks."

"Don't mention it. Enjoy your drink."

After I ruthlessly cut off the conversation with that closing remark, the guy made a slightly regretful face and left the cafe with his friend.

Man, I really can't take my eyes off Renka.

Since she's inherently lewd, she attracts trash like that, not to mention a ridiculous bastard like Tetsuya.

She desperately needs education. I'm going to have to slap a slave collar on her at this rate.

"Why were you talking so aggressively and embarrassing the guy like that?"

Renka asked, having remained quiet until now.

I looked back at her and shrugged.

"Because it felt like he was trying to ask for the President's number."

"I kind of got that feeling too... but why were you the one getting so defensive?"

In Doki-Aka, there was a similar event—though you couldn't say it was exactly like this one.

It was one of the events you had to pass through on Renka's route.

Back then, the game only offered indecisive options, but things were different now.

Scoffing, I replied.

"What kind of master would just sit back and watch someone hit on his slave?"

"W-what...!?"

Thoroughly blindsided by the remark, Renka unwittingly raised her voice.

It was loud enough to be heard over a bustling street.

At that, all eyes in the cafe snapped toward us.

"Ah, um... sorry..."

Catching those stares, a flustered Renka bowed and apologized to the customers.

Then she dragged me into a corner blocked off on three sides and glared daggers at me.

"W-who's your slave...! Are you kidding me...!? Trash...! Son of a bitch...! Die...!"

Why did it feel so good to be cursed out?

Probably because Renka's attitude was so damn cute.

"Mind your manners."

"Mind what manners...! Have you completely lost your mind...?"

"Think what you want. I'll wait for you today, so let's head home together."

"You psycho bastard..."

"Let's get to work. We're busy."

Renka's lips jutted out in a pout.

She clearly had a lot more to say, but just as I'd pointed out, the cafe was too busy for her to keep arguing.

If she grumbled about it later, I'd just use the same line.

It was super effective.

"I'm done."

At Renka's words as she returned from her meal after the cafe had quieted down, I paused my dishwashing and wiped my wet hands on my apron.

Renka frowned fiercely and spoke.

"Why are you wiping your hands on your apron? That's gross."

"What's gross about it? It's clean."

"You told me to wear rubber gloves, so why are you doing it barehanded? What a joke."

"Why are you complaining again? Are you rebelling right now?"

"...Hey, just hurry up and go eat."

"I will."

Smirking at Renka, who had completely given up on the conversation, I took off my apron and headed toward the Gyudon Restaurant.

Just then, an innocent-looking little boy walked into the cafe holding his parents' hands.

A family. I didn't think much of it and was about to step out, when...

"Huh? It's the pretty lady from yesterday!"

The kid pointed at Renka, his voice filled with delight.

Hearing that high-pitched, innocent tone unique to children, I stopped in my tracks to see what was going on.

"Huh...? Me...?"

Her eyes widening, Renka pointed at herself, and the kid beamed and nodded.

"Yeah! I saw you yesterday! At Robot Mania!"

The moment the words 'Robot Mania' left the kid's mouth, Renka's eyes shook like there was an earthquake.

She even shot me a shocked, panicked glance.

The reason she was acting like that was because Robot Mania was a figure shop.

Specifically, the one I had texted her about yesterday.

"You're the lady who bought the RZ-78 Mini Figure there!"

At the highly specific model name tumbling from the kid's lips, Renka gulped and forced a smile.

"M-me...?"

"Yeah!"

"..."

Sweating bullets, Renka looked at the kid's parents with eyes begging for salvation.

Catching on that she was incredibly uncomfortable, the parents hurriedly stepped up to the counter.

"Um... we'll order two Cafe Lattes and one fresh pineapple juice."

"Right...! Two Cafe Lattes and one fresh pineapple juice...! Do you... have a coupon?"

"No, we left it at home."

"Ah... then could I just get your name? I'll stamp your card the next time you come in."

"It's Izawa."

"Izawa... Understood... Then... I'll ring you up."

Accepting the parents' money in that awkward atmosphere, Renka handed them their change, only to squeeze her eyes shut at the kid's unintentional parting shot as he walked back to their table.

"Make them extra yummy, lady!"

Renka was definitely resenting the kid in her heart.

Thanks to his big mouth, her secret shame had been unintentionally exposed to the world, so she was probably brimming with the desire for revenge.

Still, Renka looked fierce on the outside but was soft on the inside... so she was probably only thinking of flicking the kid's forehead a few times.