Chapter 225

To the point where the thought of hanging up completely slipped her mind.

And so, Renka stayed on the phone with Matsuda for a very long time, feeling a strange, indescribable emotion.

When I arrived at the cafe for work the next day, the Boss had already opened up.

After exchanging greetings with him as he enthusiastically welcomed me, I changed my clothes, stepped out, and asked a question.

"Did you open the cafe yourself, Boss?"

"Yeah. The work hasn't been too tough lately, has it?"

Seeing him look out for me like this, he was clearly happy business was booming.

Then again, compared to the empty cafe on my first day, we were definitely seeing a lot more customers.

Since both Renka and I were good at our jobs, it had probably put him in a great mood.

I decided to take this opportunity to ask him to sync my schedule with Renka's.

"It hasn't been tough at all, but could I ask a shameless favor?"

"What is it?"

"Could you match my shifts with Inoo-sunbae's?"

"Match your shifts? You mean working the opening or closing shifts together?"

"Yes. We often head home together... I'm not insisting or anything, just asking if it's possible."

"Hmm... I'll think it over."

This was a complete 180 from our interviews, when he was so anxious we might be dating.

Capitalism sure was great.

"Thank you. I'll work hard."

"I like that mindset. Let me know right away if you need anything. I'll order it for you immediately."

"Yes, sir."

The Boss gave me an encouraging pat on the back, then headed toward the Gyudon Restaurant, humming an uncharacteristic tune.

I spent some time serving customers until the back door opened and Renka walked in. I raised a hand in greeting.

"Hey."

"Yeah."

I glanced at the small clock on the wall by the back door; the minute hand was resting exactly on the ten.

She had arrived at 8:50. Exactly as I had instructed her yesterday.

She was even wearing black jeans. They weren't skinny jeans, though.

My slave... so commendable.

If she was going to act like this, I had to reward her, right?

I smiled in satisfaction at the thought, but just as I was about to approach her, Renka's eyebrows twitched and she spoke up.

"Don't go getting the wrong idea."

"About what?"

"I only wore these because I didn't have anything else clean... And these aren't skinny jeans. They're straight leg."

She was clearly uncomfortable wearing skinny jeans because it would feel like she was obeying my orders, but she was afraid I'd pick on her if she didn't wear jeans at all, so she went with a compromise.

Between arriving at the time I told her and this... she was being trained very well.

I nodded at Renka, who was practically spitting out stereotypical tsundere lines.

"I understand."

"So I'd appreciate it if you wiped that triumphant smirk off your face."

"I wasn't smirking."

"...I'm going to go change."

"Can I watch you change?"

Perhaps she was dumbfounded by my nonchalant remark?

Renka's mouth fell open slightly.

She stared at me blankly for a moment, then shook her head wildly and scowled.

"You just pick the most ridiculous things to say, don't you? That's exactly why I curse at you...! You crazy bastard."

"Hey now."

"Hey now, my ass...! Do you have a death wish..."

Thinking she was incredibly cute when she pretended to be fierce, I strode right up to her as she glared at me.

Just like when we bumped foreheads inside the Screening Room.

Renka flinched and hurriedly stepped back like a wary kitten.

"W-What now...?"

Taking in the sharp, sweet scent wafting off her, I gazed down into her eyes and spoke.

"The Boss said he might sync our schedules."

"...Suddenly?"

"He was here when I came in today. I brought it up then."

"Why would you bring that up on your own? You didn't even ask for my opinion."

"I'm asking you now."

"What am I supposed to say if you tell me after the fact? Isn't that just forcing me to go along with it?"

"That's why I'm asking you now. Besides, it's not like the Boss said he'd definitely do it, just that he might."

"...What happens if I say no? Are you going to threaten me and corner me again?"

"No. If you don't want to, then you don't want to. You aren't the type to get backed into a corner just because someone pushes you anyway, President. Right?"

Perhaps surprised by a response completely different from what she had expected, Renka blinked her shining blueberry-colored eyes a few times.

"T-That's right..."

"So what do you want to do?"

"...I... um... I think I need to think about it..."

"I'd like it if we commuted to and from work together, President."

"And...?"

"I'm just saying. Oh, and let's pinky promise."

Saying that, I held out my hand to her.

Renka stared at the pinky finger thrust right under her nose with a bewildered expression and asked:

"What's this about?"

"To pinky promise on your agreement to cosplay yesterday."

"Haa... Here we go again."

Renka scoffed in disbelief and tried to head into the Changing Room.

But when I stuck my leg out to block her path, she freaked out and jumped back.

"Ah, what the hell are you doing...!"

"What are you doing, President? Can you really break a promise this easily?"

"We never mutually agreed...!"

"We did. Do I need to bring up the dashcam recording?"

"..."

Renka tried to ignore me and slip past.

I completely blocked her path with my arms and legs.

We were so close that our bodies would touch if either of us moved even an inch.

Perhaps recalling what had happened yesterday, Renka's face slowly flushed.

"Move...!"

"I'm going to stay right here, so find your own way out."

"How am I supposed to get out when you're blocking everything...!"

"You can just squeeze through here."

When I jutted my chin toward the space between my arm and leg, Renka glared daggers at me.

"I'd touch your body...!"

"Is that a problem? We touched yesterday."

"..."

"But why do you smell like strawberries, President? Is it your lip tint?"

"W-What does it matter what I smell like...!"

"Because this isn't your scent, President."

"Y-You're absolutely ridiculous... What's my scent, then?"

"Blueberry."

"Have you even smelled a real blueberry before?"

"I've been smelling it on you constantly, President. Hold on a second..."

Trailing off in a dissatisfied tone, I leaned down before Renka could say anything and brought my nose close to her neck, hovering just slightly above her skin.

"Eek!?"

As she let out a bizarre shriek and shuddered, I took a deep breath in, then smiled in satisfaction.

"Yep, it's your scent, President."

"Ugh...! Y-You crazy pervert...! Do you do this to Chinami, too...?"

I do even more to Chinami.

I've done plenty of things to her that you couldn't even imagine.

And I plan to do even more in the future.

Shrugging wordlessly, I offered my pinky finger to Renka, whose face was so red it looked ready to burst.

"Pinky."

"No...!"

"Pinky."

"I said no...!"

Renka's gaze shifted upward slightly.

She seemed to have noticed the faint sensation of her bangs brushing against mine.

Watching Renka gulp heavily, I pressed her again.

"Pinky."

Just then, the sound of the cafe door opening rang out.

Renka's face lit up at the sound, and she frantically pointed toward the counter with her eyes.

"A customer... a customer is here...!"

"Pinky."

"Serve the customer first...! We can talk about this afterward...!"

"We'll finish this now, and then I'll serve the customer."

"There's a camera...! The Boss will be furious if he sees this, you know!?"

"There isn't one pointing over here. And monitoring employee behavior is illegal."

"Hic! D-Don't come any closer...! You're dead meat, you hear me...? I'm not joking...! I'll let you off if you stop now, so back off and take care of the customer...!"

Renka's hands were fidgeting non-stop.

She clearly wanted to push me away, but doing so would mean touching my body, so she was at a complete loss for what to do.

I extended my hand forward until the tip of my pinky was practically touching Renka's lips.

Then, I spoke in a leisurely tone.

"Just do it this once, and I won't bother you about this ever again."

"..."

At that, Renka shut her mouth tightly and looked deep in thought.

Seeing that, I cheered inwardly.

If she had still flat-out refused even when cornered like this, it would mean she genuinely had no intention of doing the cosplay.

But right now, she was hesitating.

Which meant she had seriously considered the cosplay proposal.

Of course, she was probably just pondering whether she should shut her eyes and do it this once to make the harassment stop, but she wouldn't have even entertained the idea if she didn't have feelings for me.

Renka herself probably still rationalized her affection as a love-hate bond, but time would solve that.

"Excuse me...? Is anyone there?"

Did the customer's voice calling from the counter make her anxious?

Renka exhaled a few short breaths through her nose, then looked up at me as if she had made up her mind.

"Are you really... never going to bother me about this again?"

"Yes."

"You swear...?"

"I swear."

"I'm definitely getting revenge for this. Remember that."

"I'll be sure to remember."

"...You really are crazy..."

Muttering a quiet curse, Renka reluctantly hooked her finger around my outstretched pinky.

Even then, she blushed as if embarrassed by the physical contact, and seeing her like that gave me the sudden urge to pull her into a tight hug.

Suppressing that desire, I pressed my thumb against the fidgeting Renka's to seal the promise, then pulled away.

She then shot me a glare, wearing an expression like she had just resigned herself to her fate.

"Are you satisfied now, you bastard?"

"Thank you, President. But this promise wasn't half-forced, was it?"

"It was definitely half-forced...! Why are you suddenly asking that...?"

"I just wanted you to tell me if you genuinely didn't want to do it."

"...Then are you saying you'd cancel it for me?"

"I would seriously consider it."

Startled by my earnest tone, Renka tilted her head with a dubious expression.

Then, furrowing her long, thin eyebrows, she snapped, "Why are you suddenly acting all nice...! Just hurry up and serve the customer...! And make sure you apologize...!"

After throwing those words at me, she practically fled into the Changing Room.

I grinned foolishly as I watched her retreat, then quickly straightened my face and jogged over to the counter.

Then, I apologized to the waiting customer, acting as if I was deeply ashamed.

"I was in the restroom... I'm so sorry. Would you like to order?"

"Ah, I see... It's okay. I'd like to order a Mocha Cream Latte."

"Is that for here?"

"No, to go. I have a coupon, could you stamp it?"

"Of course."

A love hotel would be a good place for the cosplay to put Renka in a strange mood, wouldn't it?

Since I was planning to put her in a bunny girl outfit, it would probably be better to get a slightly dim... bar-themed room rather than the previous prison concept.

Thinking that work was going to be very enjoyable today, I stamped the coupon the customer handed me and finished ringing them up.

"Haa..."

Renka sighed heavily, pausing in the middle of washing dishes.

She had been doing that constantly since earlier; she seemed completely overwhelmed by the prospect of having to do the cosplay.

I walked over to her—she was acting like someone on the verge of dying from a chronic illness—and spoke.

"Why do you keep sighing? Do you not want to do the cosplay?"

"Of course I don't...!"

"Should we cancel it? Do you want to back out?"

"Then you'll just keep bothering me like you did today."

"That is true."

"...Would it kill you to say no, even if it's just lip service?"