Chapter 242

Right after we opened the cafe, Renka kept stealing nervous glances at me as she worked. The moment a customer walked in, she jumped out of her skin like she’d just seen a ghost.

“W-Welcome...! This is Cafe 24...!”

She even stuttered the greeting. I watched her fumble through taking the order and struggle with the espresso machine before I finally spoke up.

“Should I make it?”

“N-No...! I’ll make it...!”

“What was the order?”

“A cafe mocha with light whipped cream...”

“Didn’t they ask for extra whipped cream?”

“T-They did...? I’m sure they said light...”

“That was the ice.”

“Ah... Was it...?”

“Get a grip.”

At my sharp rebuke, Renka dragged her slender hands down her face and meekly nodded. She still wore a sullen pout, though. She looked as if she wanted to demand exactly whose fault it was that she was acting like this in the first place.

“Just make the base. I’ll add the whipped cream and syrup.”

“...I’ll do it...”

“I said I’ll do it.”

“...”

“Answer me.”

“O-Okay.”

Renka somehow managed to finish the mocha and handed it over. After topping it with whipped cream and syrup and serving it to the customer, I took advantage of the lull in business to call her over to a corner hidden from the security cameras.

“What is it...? I admit I messed up the order earlier, but it won’t happen again...”

She spilled out timid excuses. I looked down at her, letting out a soft chuckle.

“I’m not going to scold you about that.”

“Then...?”

“I just thought it was about time we set a safe word.”

“A safe word...?”

Renka tilted her head, mulling over my words, before her eyes doubled in size. It was proof she understood exactly what the term meant.

“T-That’s something only people doing BDSM or roleplay set up...!”

“You even know the slang for that? Normal people don’t usually know those terms.”

“...”

Renka’s shoulders twitched. She had flinched after accidentally blurting out terminology she’d picked up from the manga I recommended to her. I smirked at her transparent reaction.

“How do you know that?”

“T-That’s not what’s important! It’s your attitude right now...! Are you saying you want to do that kind of stuff with me or what...?!”

“I’m not saying we’re going to do that... I’m saying we should pick one so you can tell me if what I’m doing makes you truly, genuinely uncomfortable.”

“What you’re doing...?”

“Yeah. Things like this.”

Saying that, I stepped forward, trying to wedge my foot between her legs just like I had in the Changing Room. But Renka, anticipating my move, quickly squeezed her legs together and held firm, stopping my attempt in its tracks.

“Don’t you dare...!”

Renka snorted as if finding me ridiculous and crossed her arms. It was amusing to see her act so haughty over a single successful block when she’d been so flustered just a moment ago.

“It was just an example, so why are you so triumphant? Anyway, if you hate it when I do this, just say the word.”

“...Then you’ll stop?”

“I’ll respect it, for a start.”

“B-But aren’t you being ridiculous? Even without setting something like that, you’re supposed to stop if I say I don’t like it. Isn’t that normal?”

“I’m offering you a ton of privileges right now, President. No master treats their slave this well, you know?”

“I told you I’m not a slave...!”

“Think whatever you want. So, what should the word be? You come up with something, President.”

“I won’t...! I still don’t understand why I have to use a specific word for you to stop...!”

“Then I’ll decide. How about blueberry?”

Renka frowned deeply.

“No...! That’s so tacky! Why blueberry...?!”

“What’s tacky about it? It suits you perfectly, President.”

“I-If we have to, just make it tangerine... Tangerine...”

She was the one who had refused to agree, yet now she was suggesting tangerine... Was she just playing along to get out of this situation? Or was she secretly looking forward to it? I sincerely hoped it was the latter.

“Tangerine is good. A short word is easy to say.”

“I’m never going to use it... I just think blueberry is lame...”

“If you say so. Let’s decide on an action, too.”

“An action...?”

“Like a motion. A safe motion.”

“Why are we setting that up now, you piece of sh—”

“Were you about to curse at me?”

“...Why are you making such a fuss about setting all these rules...?!”

Finding Renka adorable as she argued with maximum restraint, I leaned in and lightly pressed my lips to hers. It was a sudden, soft collision... The kind of physical contact straight out of a soap opera, and it instantly melted the tension from Renka’s eyes and body.

“Ah...”

She let out a breathy gasp, completely drained of energy. I grabbed her arm, propped her back up, and spoke casually.

“If I do this, you won’t be able to speak, President.”

Renka bit her lower lip and clenched her fists tightly. Whether she was burning with competitive spirit or just trying to calm her racing heart, the answer was obvious at a glance.

“So what should it be? Want to grab my hair and pull?”

“...”

“Ah, that won’t work. If things get a little intense later, you might grab it by accident and give me the wrong idea... Let’s pick something else.”

When I subtly hinted at what might happen in the future, Renka gasped in horror, her mouth opening and closing like a fish.

“W-What...? What are you talking about...? You’re not thinking about something weird, are you...?”

“I think you and I are having the exact same thought, President.”

“Y-You crazy bastard...! You just said you wouldn’t do anything like that...!”

“You never know what the future holds.”

“You piece of trash, your head is full of nothing but weird thoughts...! Go die...!”

“That’s nice to hear. Say it again.”

Was my shameless attitude that aggravating? Trembling all over, Renka shoved her shoulder past me where I stood blocking her path and stomped toward the counter.

I watched her retreating back, noting that she seemed far more embarrassed than humiliated. Savoring the sweet scent lingering on my lips from the kiss, I followed her. Then, I asked in a playful tone.

“Should we decide on this later?”

“...Shut up.”

“Sure. Let’s decide later.”

“I said shut up...! Don’t talk to me from now on.”

“No.”

“Then I just won’t answer.”

“That’s childish.”

“You’re the one making me act childish.”

“So it’s my responsibility?”

“Obviously.”

“Then I suppose I’ll have to take responsibility.”

“...What?”

Renka’s face went blank again. I had just thrown the words out there, but she seemed to be reading all sorts of deep meanings into them. She had it bad. I decided to give her a breather before messing with her again.

I gently wrapped my arms around Renka’s waist, pulling her trembling body into a light hug before letting her go, wrapping up our morning dose of physical contact.

“You...!”

Ignoring the curses she was about to spit out, I flashed a bright smile at the customer who just walked through the door.

“Welcome.”

“Where are you?”

—I was taking a walk with my grandparents and just started heading back.

Hearing Chinami’s pure voice suddenly turned me on, making me want to smack Renka’s ass. Suppressing the urge, I continued my phone call with Chinami.

—But isn’t it your working hours right now?

“It’s lunchtime, so there aren’t many customers. It’s fine.”

—Aren’t lunch and closing hours usually the busiest times?

“There are fewer people during the actual time everyone is eating lunch.”

—Ah, is that so?

“It is. You’re coming back in a few days, right?”

—That’s right. As soon as I get back, I’m planning to drop by the cafe to see you and Renka.

“That sounds great to me. Should I come out to meet you?”

—No, it’s fine. I’m driving back with my parents.

“Got it. Send me a picture tonight.”

—What...? A picture...?

“I was hoping for something along the lines of the one you sent last time. Would that be okay?”

—Aha... Okay...

Ah... Our sweet Chinami... I want to see her so badly. It’s been so long since I last touched Chinami’s ass that my hands are shaking from withdrawal.

After exchanging a few more words with a bashful Chinami, I hung up. Right on cue, Renka returned from her lunch break. She clicked her tongue as she saw me putting my Cell Phone away.

“Who said you could take a call while working? I’m telling the Boss about this.”

One side of her cheek was bulging slightly. She seemed to have something in her mouth... Was it a piece of candy? How dare she just pick up a candy and eat it without my permission... I’d have to give her penalty points.

“Do whatever you want. But what are you eating?”

“A peppermint.”

“From the Gyudon Restaurant?”

“Yeah.”

“Who told you to eat it without permission?”

“What...?”

Caught completely off guard, she stared at me blankly for a second. A moment later, her eyes turned fierce.

“W-Why are you trying to control this too...! So I’m not allowed to eat snacks or anything without your permission...?!”

“You ate it without reporting it, so I’m controlling it starting today.”

“Cut the bullshit...! Do you have a death wish...?”

“Whatever, spit it out.”

When I slowly approached her with a displeased expression, Renka asked in a trembling voice.

“What are you doing...?”

“I’m taking the candy away.”

I stopped right in front of her and bent my knees. Renka threw her arms out, blocking my body.

“N-No...! Don’t...! This is really crossing the line...!”

Shaking her head furiously, she started violently crunching on the hard candy. She seemed to think I was going to retrieve the candy from her mouth with my own. Having kissed me a few times, she was finally starting to catch on.

“Why not?”

“What do you mean, why not...? Just go get a new one yourself...! And I haven’t brushed my... No, anyway, you can’t...! I ate it all...!”

Was she hesitant to kiss me because she hadn’t brushed her teeth right after lunch? I was totally fine with it. I gave Renka, who had accidentally blurted out her true feelings, a meaningful smile and whispered softly.

“You haven’t swallowed it all yet. Looks like there’s still a piece left.”

“A-Are you completely out of your mind...? I was just about to swallow it...!”

“If you swallow it, you’re going to get punished.”

“Tangerine...! Tangerine...!!”

She was the one who swore she would never use it... But now that she was desperate, the safe word we had set popped right out. It was cute that she was such a fast learner, but it was also a little hilarious hearing the word “tangerine” out of nowhere. Should I make it a full sentence? I’d have to think about that.

“It’s not great if you spam it at every turn...”

“A-Anyway, we promised, so don’t do anything...!”

“You think that’s some kind of magic word?”

“You said you’d respect it...! Right...?”

“I did say that. Alright. I’ll let it slide this once.”

I shrugged and obediently backed off. Renka let out a long sigh filled with relief, swallowing hard. Having hastily gulped down the rest of the candy, she pointed toward the cafe’s back door, as if telling me to get lost already.

“Just go eat your lunch...”

“I’ll eat quickly and come right back.”

“Please take your time...”

“Are you worried I might get indigestion?”

“No... Don’t flatter yourself...”

“Then is it because I make you uncomfortable?”

“Who said you make me uncomfortable...? That’s not it...”

“Then that settles it. I’ll be back in a flash.”

“...Do whatever you want.”

“I will.”

I patted Renka’s back and chuckled as she weakly swatted at my arm in a cute display of defiance. Her mental fortitude was so fragile, what was I going to do with her? I was going to be pushing her a lot harder from now on... If she didn’t want to end up completely drained every time, she’d have to toughen up on her own.