Chapter 243

"...You aren't asking to go anywhere today...?"

It was after work, and we were in the car heading back to Renka's house. She glanced back and forth between the window and the rearview mirror before breaking the silence. I turned to her with a question of my own.

"I'm giving you a break. Why?"

"O-oh, no reason... I was just hoping you'd stay quiet like this today."

"Are you going to keep saying hurtful things?"

"Whether your feelings are hurt or not is none of my business."

I didn't argue and just drove on in silence. Perhaps feeling a bit awkward, Renka spoke up again.

"Anyway, did you finish reading that book you bought the other day?"

"Which one? How an Imperial Princess-Turned-Slave Survives?"

"Yeah... that one."

"I haven't finished it yet. Why? Want me to hurry up and lend it to you?"

"No need. I was just asking."

"Sure."

"Don't get any weird ideas."

"Yep."

"..."

Renka started to say something else, but snapped her mouth shut. She clearly didn't like my clipped responses, but since she always did the exact same thing, she couldn't exactly complain.

By now, her imagination was probably running wild. Was I annoyed because she kept grumbling? Had I gotten bored of her now that we'd kissed? All sorts of relationship anxieties were likely bubbling up in her head.

'Or not.'

I decided not to worry about it. As we entered Renka's neighborhood, I pulled over in a secluded corner. Seeing the car come to a halt a long way from her house, she gave me a puzzled look.

"What...? You want me to get out here?"

"No."

"Then why did you stop?"

"I wanted to chat for a bit. I can't stay parked in front of your house for long, President, so I stopped here."

"Chat...?"

"Yeah. Chat, and do a few other things."

"O-other things...?"

Renka's eyes trembled like there was an earthquake in them. I swore I could hear her gulp, or was that just my imagination? Flashing a grin at the visibly tense woman, I took my first step in breaking her in.

"Wear a skirt tomorrow."

"Wh-what...? A skirt?"

"Yeah, a skirt."

"Are you out of your mind...?"

"I want to see you in one."

"Don't cross the line...! Why do I have to let you dictate my wardrobe?"

"So you don't want to?"

"I wouldn't be caught dead in one...!"

Fully expecting that reaction, I unbuckled my seatbelt and instantly climbed over to her side.

The best part about having a large car was the spacious interior. Moving from the driver's seat to the passenger's side wasn't perfectly comfortable, but it was much easier than in most vehicles. On top of that, the seats themselves were massive, meaning I could comfortably plant my hands on either side of the backrest Renka was leaning against.

"Hey!! What do you think you're doing?!"

I ignored her shouting. Looming over her, I smoothly reached down for the controls and reclined her chair. Renka's body slowly tilted backward along with the seat.

By then, I had already settled into position. With one knee resting on the edge of the seat and my arms planted on either side of her shoulders, all I had to do was lower my upper body, and we would be in the perfect position for something intimate.

It was a bit cramped, but so what? All that mattered was getting some quality time with Renka. Though she probably didn't see it that way.

Staring deeply down at her, I nudged my knee up just a fraction and pushed my demands.

"Wear a skirt."

"I said no...!"

Slide.

At her firm refusal, my knee brushed past her calf and pressed against her lower thigh. Feeling the touch, Renka's eyes went wide.

"Hey...! Hey...!!"

"Skirt."

"No...! I said no...!"

"Skirt."

With my leg now pushed up so high it was practically grazing her crotch, Renka flinched, her expression crumbling into distress. She had finally realized it. Every time she refused, the physical boundary between us would be pushed a little further.

Deciding she couldn't let this go any further, she tried to call out our safe word.

"Gyu— Mmph!"

I had anticipated the move. I crashed my lips down against hers before she could finish, swallowing her voice. She let out an adorable little gasp that reminded me of Chinami, completely unable to speak.

My tongue slipped past her lips in a flash. Unlike last time, her teeth parted easily, allowing me to push right in. Tasting the sharp, minty flavor of her toothpaste, I deliberately breathed heavily through my nose, letting the hot air tickle her skin as I tangled our tongues together.

"Mmph...!"

Even as she squeezed her eyes shut and accepted the kiss, her hands flew up to fist in my hair, yanking with all her might. She had remembered our conversation about establishing a safe action, where she was supposed to grab my hair to signal a stop.

However, since that conversation had fizzled out before we formally agreed on the gesture, I felt perfectly free to keep ravishing her mouth. Not that I would have stopped even if it had been an official rule.

After holding her in that deep kiss for a long moment, I pulled back to check on her.

"Haa... Haa..."

Her face was flushed bright red. Her breathing was ragged, and her lips glistened wetly with our mixed saliva. It was an incredibly obscene sight—she was practically oozing sensuality. I swiped my thumb across her wet lips and spoke.

"Wear a skirt."

"N-no... I... F-fine...! I'll wear it! I'll wear it, okay?!"

The second she had hesitated, I dipped down as if to kiss her again, forcing her to frantically surrender. Giving her a satisfied smile, I buried my face in her neck and took a deep breath.

"Hnn...!"

Her arousal instantly spiked; her head jerked back, and a violent shiver wracked her frame. Fine hairs stood on end along her neck. I pressed my lips to her skin, sucking hard on her flesh to wrap up my teasing. Pulling back, I gently caressed her cheek. Her eyes were completely glazed over.

"Make sure it's a short one."

"...That's going too far... I don't even own any short skirts..."

"I know you have some."

"I-it's uncomfortable to walk around in..."

"I'll be driving you anyway, and you never have to leave the counter during your shift."

"..."

"Then it's settled."

"You piece of trash..."

"I know."

I flashed my teeth in a grin, brought her seat back upright, and climbed back into the driver's seat. A moment later, I reached out to rest my hand on her thigh as she straightened her clothes, but she slapped the back of my hand with a sharp smack. I smacked my lips in regret.

Oh well. I could touch her all I wanted tomorrow. Content with that thought, I nodded along as Renka angrily demanded that I just start the car and drive.

*

After returning home and stepping out of the shower, I checked my Cell Phone to find a new message on the AnyShare app from Run Ino-chan.

[What are you up to, MK?]

She was clearly gearing up for another petty round of revenge. Let's see what she had to say.

[Thinking about women.]

[( ¯⌓¯)]

[What.]

[Nothing. I was just dumbfounded by how perfectly that fits a piece of unrecyclable Trash like you. You really are a bastard.]

[Is thinking about women really something I deserve to be cursed out for?]

[Because it's blatantly obvious that a pervert like you is having filthy thoughts.]

[And how would you know that?]

[One look at a guy like you is all it takes to know the answer.]

[You're awfully prejudiced.]

[¯_(⊙︿⊙)_/¯ So what.]

That emoticon was more than a little irritating. I wanted to snap back, but if I gave her a reaction, she would just keep spamming it. I decided to let it slide for now. I could just teach her a lesson in person tomorrow anyway.

Still, I figured I should drop a subtle hint. Renka was practically completely certain that I was MK at this point anyway... Tossing out a comment like this would surely make her sweat.

[You've got quite the nasty attitude, don't you? You actually sound a lot like someone I know...]

Just as I expected, Ino-chan, who had been replying at lightning speed, suddenly went radio silent. Was her heart pounding from the loaded implication? I could practically see her pacing in a panic, terrified that I was connecting the dots back to when she tried to fish for my last name and where I lived.

[Someone you know? Who?]

The reply came after a full minute of hesitation. She was obviously terrified of blowing her cover, but her desperation to know what I was thinking won out. I decided to just play it off.

[None of your business. I don't have time to waste chatting with you, so let's end the conversation here.]

[Are you mad?]

[No.]

[You're totally mad lol]

[Are you mocking me right now?]

Insolent little... She was stacking up quite the karmic debt tonight. Before Renka could fire off another reply, I quickly dialed her number. The phone barely rang twice before she picked up.

"H-Hello...?"

She sounded noticeably flustered. Suddenly, she seemed incredibly cute. Chuckling to myself, I spoke up.

"What are you doing?"

"Me...? I just finished eating and was about to watch TV...?"

Did she have me on speakerphone? Her voice sounded a little distant.

Buzz!

Right on cue, my Cell Phone vibrated. I pulled it away to check the screen and saw a new message from Ino-chan: [So petty.]

She had hurried to fire off a message while on the phone with me just to prove that she and Ino-chan were two different people. I had to give her credit for the effort. Her multitasking skills were top-notch. Her acting, however, still left a lot to be desired.

"Why did you call...?"

She sounded like she was reading straight from a stiff textbook script. Swallowing back a laugh, I answered her.

"Nothing much. Just calling to remind you to keep your promise tomorrow."

"I remember..."

"Good."

Buzz!

[Why aren't you replying?]

Another message popped up. She really was putting herself through the wringer, gritting her teeth to juggle talking on the phone and texting me at the exact same time.

I knew I was going to burst out laughing if I dragged the conversation out any longer. Barely managing to keep my composure, I exchanged a few more brief words with her before hanging up. I considered firing a reply back to Ino-chan, but ultimately decided against it.

Renka would probably think I had gotten mad and ignored her message. She was probably strutting around her room right now, drunk on her little victory. It was cute, really, considering the reality check I was going to deliver tomorrow.