Chapter 247

"President."

"..."

"President."

"..."

She was ignoring me on purpose. She must have been incredibly embarrassed.

"Hey."

"..."

Even when I called out to her rudely, Renka kept completely ignoring me. Stepping up behind her as she started washing the dishes, pretending she hadn't heard a thing, I slipped my hand right beneath her swaying skirt.

"Eek...?"

Renka jolted in surprise at the touch on her bare leg. Reaching back with one hand to swat my arm away, she cleared her throat, "ahem," and went back to ignoring me as she squeezed detergent onto the scrubber.

"I told you to wear gloves. Why don't you listen?"

"..."

"Are you a green frog?"

"Ah... chattering away, so damn loud... I wish he'd just shut up..."

Why was it so cute when she muttered things just loud enough for me to hear? If it had been Miyuki or Chinami, they wouldn't have even been able to look me in the eye after what happened, but Renka's feisty reactions were hilarious. Chuckling quietly at her timid rebellion, I spoke.

"Are you talking to me?"

"Are his ears plugged up...? He doesn't have a clue..."

"Are you insulting me right now?"

"..."

"I asked if you're insulting me."

"I hear a dog barking... Should I go see an ENT doctor...?"

"Your legs are pretty. I want to touch them."

She flinched at the explicit remark. Scoffing, I stepped directly behind Renka and grabbed her waist.

"Eek...! The-the customers...! There are customers...!"

And with that, Renka finally started talking to me.

"No, there aren't."

"There aren't...? That can't be..."

"The last one just left."

"I-is that so...? Anyway, let go... You can't do this during work hours...! If the Boss sees us, we're both fired...!"

"Say 'I'm sorry for being rude, Master,' and I'll let you go."

"D-don't be ridiculous...! Let go...!"

"Say it. It'll be easier if you do."

"You crazy bastard... Just let go...!"

"All you have to do is say it. It's not that hard."

"It's plenty hard...!"

Seeing her absolute refusal to say the words even if it killed her, I pulled Renka's waist in even tighter. Then, I rested my chin on her shoulder, enveloping her in a full back hug.

"Uwaaah...! Get off...! I said get off...!"

Whether she was deeply embarrassed by doing this in a place where anyone could see them, or simply ashamed by the sensation of my crotch pressing against her buttocks and lower back, Renka began thrashing wildly.

She looked like a five-year-old throwing a tantrum because she didn't want to eat her vegetables. I wanted to just stay still like this. I was curious to see how much more intense her reactions could get.

I deliberately exhaled a slow, long breath against her cheek. Feeling the ticklish sensation, Renka let out an "Hiiik!" like she had seen a ghost, her entire body shrinking back.

"Say it."

"N-no...!"

"Please say it, then."

Renka froze as my tone shifted from a command to a request, swallowing hard. Turning her head just slightly to glance at my face, which was pressed right up against hers, she asked.

"I-if I say it, will you stop doing this kind of stuff...?"

"I won't do it today."

"Saying you'd never do it again wouldn't even be enough, but 'today'?! I'm not saying it...!"

"Then we stay like this."

"W-what are you going to do if we get fired from our part-time jobs...!"

"I can take orders like this, too. And didn't I tell you last time? If you get fired, I'll hire you as my maid."

"Stop joking around...!"

"Does it sound like a joke?"

"..."

Was she stunned by my serious tone? A dumbfounded Renka stared at me before shaking her head vigorously, as if trying to snap back to reality. Smirking at her, I spoke.

"Are you not going to say it?"

"...I think I've seen this somewhere before..."

"Seen what?"

"N-nothing..."

Muttering to herself, Renka startled at her own words and quickly trailed off. The training genre manga MK had recommended featured a few similar scenes, so she must have remembered that.

What was she going to do if she got caught... She should be more careful. Clicking my tongue internally, I subtly moved my hand to Renka's lower abdomen. Spasming sequentially from her legs all the way up to her face, Renka cried out urgently.

"W-wait...! Don't...!!"

"Then say it."

"...Hey."

"What."

"You've crossed the line by a mile. So let go right now."

Why did she have to put on a straight face at a time like this? It only looked like she was acting to get out of this situation. She should have at least controlled her trembling voice before yelling... Our Renka definitely couldn't be an actor.

"I told you, it gets easier if you just say it."

"I don't even understand why I have to say something like that to you in the first place...!"

"Isn't it normal to apologize after talking back to your master?"

"Cut the bullshit...!"

"So, you're not going to do it?"

"There's no reason for me to do it."

Hearing Renka's answer, I let out a short sigh and pressed firmly down right beneath her belly button.

"Hng...!"

Shuddering as if shocked by static electricity, her rear pushed back slightly, pressing completely tight against my crotch.

"Ah...!"

While Renka let out a flustered gasp and didn't know what to do, my hand traveled toward her thigh, near her groin.

Moving slowly over her skirt, my hand swept right beneath her center. The sensation must have been incredibly arousing, as Renka's mouth opened on its own, a heated breath escaping her lips. Her eyes instantly losing focus was a bonus. It seemed her body had become overly sensitive because of what happened in the Changing Room.

After completely accepting my touch for a brief moment, she spoke.

"Hah...!?"

She clenched her teeth, letting out a gasp as if forcibly clinging to her fading consciousness.

"S-stop it... I'll do it... I just have to say it, right...!"

"On second thought, I don't think you need to say it. I'm fine just staying like this."

"I don't want to...! I said I'll say it...!?"

"Go ahead, then."

"..."

Despite saying she would, Renka was clearly hesitating. After a rather long silence, whether it was because she could no longer endure the electrifying sensations coursing through her body, or because she thought it was wrong to cause a nuisance at the shop, her eyes hardened.

"...For... being..."

"Being?"

"R-rude... I'm sorry..."

Hearing the humiliation and shame filling her voice, I urged Renka in a gentle tone.

"And then?"

"...I can't do any more..."

"You said it last time. When I made a wish."

"That was a wish... so I did it...! I can't do it now..."

If I pushed her harder, I could probably make her say the title too, but I'd let her off the hook. This much was plenty satisfying.

I stroked the outside of Renka's thigh one last time, ending the physical contact.

"Haa... Haa..."

I watched as Renka, regaining her bodily freedom, leaned her arms against the sink and took deep breaths. Then, gently stroking her back, I spoke in the mildest voice imaginable.

"Alright. I'll let it slide this time, so be careful from now on."

"Yes..."

What was that answer just now? Did she do it unintentionally? Hmm, hmm... She has the makings of an excellent slave. How very commendable.

"W-wait, no...! Hek...?"

Realizing her mistake, Renka flinched and let out a strange noise. She seemed shocked and embarrassed at having used polite speech when there was no longer any need to do so. Scrunching up her face until wrinkles formed on her nose, she showered me in curses, clearly finding my beaming smile detestable.

"S-son of a bitch...!"

"Isn't it time you stopped swearing?"

"How can I not swear when you act like this...!"

"It looked to me like the President just made a mistake on her own."

"...This is all because of you."

"Does blaming it on me make the President feel better?"

"I just stated a fact, so shut up. And like you promised, don't do this anymore."

"You know the promise was only for today, right?"

"..."

"Not going to answer?"

"I-I know..."

Giving a bright smile to Renka as she agreed in a tone laced with despair, I grabbed her hand—still damp from wiping cups—and interlaced my fingers with hers. She jumped in fright, her eyes shooting open to glare at me.

"H-hey...! What are you doing...! You said you wouldn't...!"

"I only said I wouldn't hug you."

"What kind of nonsense logic is that...!"

"Your nails are pretty."

"..."

Caught off guard by the sudden, completely genuine compliment, Renka clamped her mouth shut. I gently traced her shimmering, light purple nails and asked.

"Did you paint them yourself? I remember they were black last time, did you change them?"

"W-what does it matter..."

"Answer properly."

"...I changed them..."

"It suits the President well, but I think a dark blue would look even better."

"Shut up...! Don't tell me what to do with my nails...!"

"Why not?"

"What do you mean why... Are you asking because you really don't know?"

"That hurts my feelings."

"Why are your feelings hurt every single day... I know you aren't actually hurt at all, so drop the useless act...!"

Even though she was acting blunt, as if she hated talking to me, Renka didn't even think about pulling her interlaced hand away. Not interlocking her own fingers in return and just keeping them straight was a slight flaw, but considering her personality, this much was easily forgivable.

"President."

"What is it... now..."

"What are you going to do on your day off?"

"There's still a long time left until my day off, so why are you even asking? I don't know yet, but one thing is for sure: I won't be meeting up with you. And let go of me. I really need to work now."

"Alright."

I unclasped our hands and stepped away from Renka, pulling various disposable items from the shelf to restock different parts of the counter. Renka, meanwhile, stared with wide eyes, surprised that I had let her go so obediently.

She looked slightly disappointed, didn't she? If my relationship with her developed another step from here, it wouldn't be a bad idea to try things out like this. Her stamping her feet in frustration after seeing the guy who was always so clingy and attached suddenly turn indifferent... The image was hilarious just thinking about it.