Chapter 252

"W-What do you mean by that..."

Renka's voice trembled. It meant she had fully grasped the meaning behind my request to stay out late. Resting my hand on her slender waist, I spoke in an even tone.

"Exactly what it sounds like. I'm asking if we can stay out late."

"Why...?"

"To do this and that."

"W-What do you mean by this and that...? What exactly are you talking about...?"

Our Renka had so many questions. Well, even a slave was allowed some curiosity. I gently stroked the small of her back as she twitched, already reacting to my touch, and I answered.

"What I'm doing right now."

"...Is that it...?"

"It could be the end, or it could be the beginning."

"W-Why are you being so vague...! Are you some kind of philosopher...? Stop acting like someone you're not and tell it to me straight...!"

"Your tone is pretty sharp. I don't like it."

"And what are you going to do if you don't like it...!"

"What should I do?"

"...Why are you asking me..."

Looking straight at the anxious Renka, I put on a playful smile and tapped my index finger against my cheek. At that, Renka's softening eyes snapped wide open.

"W-What are you doing...?"

"Don't pretend you don't know. Figure it out."

"Figure what out...! I don't want to...!"

"Then I'll have to punish you."

"Punish me...? Are you crazy...!? What did I even do wrong..."

"I'll count to ten."

With that declaration, I started counting down loud enough for Renka to hear. Ten, nine, eight, seven... As the numbers rapidly dropped, Renka's eyes grew incredibly anxious.

"I'm not doing it...! I said I'm not...!"

"Six, five, four..."

"W-Wait a minute...! That's too fast...! Slow down..."

"Three, two..."

"You... you bastard...!"

Renka scrunched up her face. She hesitated, looking completely unwilling, but the moment the word "one" left my lips, she squeezed her eyes shut and pecked my cheek.

A moist sensation against my skin. It was a bit plain without a smacking sound, but I liked it; it felt like Renka's racing heart was transmitting right into me. Overcome with satisfaction, I grinned at the intensely embarrassed girl.

"Did you force yourself?"

"...Y-You said you'd punish me if I didn't... you Trash..."

"That's right. Good job."

"Shut up..."

I didn't know why Renka's humiliation-soaked expression appealed to me so much. Letting her go, I pointed toward the Changing Room.

"Now go get changed."

"....."

"What? Do you have something to say?"

"Well..."

"Well what."

"Candy..."

"Did you want some?"

"W-Who said I wanted it...! I just want to get it all over with at once...!"

Hmm, hmm. She was adjusting to life as a slave and starting to obey. Feeling pleased, I pulled out a piece of candy and led the hesitating Renka into the Changing Room. I let her complaints about why I was coming in go in one ear and out the other, and offered the candy to her lips.

"Eat up."

"....."

It was cute watching her carefully open her mouth while stealing glances at me. I slipped the candy through the small gap between her lips, chuckling when I heard the sound of it rolling around inside her mouth.

"Is it good?"

"N-Now get out..."

"You're staying out late with me today, right?"

"What...! I never agreed to that...!"

"I'll take that as a yes. Hurry up and get changed."

"Why are you telling me to hurry...! We still have plenty of time...!"

"Then take your time."

Thud.

I grabbed the shopping bag resting outside the Changing Room and set it down in front of Renka. Startled, she quickly hid it behind her back and shooed me out with a wave of her hand.

"Get lost already..."

"You're going to regret it if you keep cursing at me."

"...Please leave."

"See? Speak nicely like that."

Praising her, I patted Renka's rear. She recoiled in disgust, jerking her hips away, and I chuckled as I left the Changing Room. My part-time shift today was going to pass slowly. I could just feel it.

I stared intently at her as she emerged wearing her uniform and a skirt. My obvious approval seemed to displease her, and she grumbled.

"This is... just in case the Boss says something if I wear sweatpants..."

She could have just brought jeans, then. It was funny seeing her spout such a nonsensical excuse.

"Got it."

"I absolutely did not wear this for your sake, so I'd appreciate it if you didn't get the wrong idea."

Renka turned her head sharply, acting coy, and walked past me. Why were these textbook tsundere lines and actions turning me on so much? Maybe I felt that way even more now that her initial haughty and aggressive image had been stripped away.

After finishing our preparations and opening the café, we passed the time making drinks for the few customers who trickled in. I thought it would be busy, but it was surprisingly quiet.

Was this a divine arrangement telling me to save my strength for the Hotel? I hadn't made a shrine offering lately, so I'd have to stop by the Shrine soon.

"Are you skipping lunch again today?"

I asked after we saw off the last customer. Busy organizing the supplies, Renka gave a firm reply.

"I'm not. You bring it."

"Are you giving me an order?"

"As the President, I can give orders to my club members...! Besides, you do it to me all the time...!"

She sounded like an overbearing boss. If anyone else had said that, I would have instantly furrowed my brow, but coming from Renka, I loved it. It was probably because I knew she was only talking back because she hated to lose.

"That's because I'm the President's owner."

"Cut the bullshit."

"Does it sound like bullshit?"

"Ugh...!"

Overwhelmed by my momentum, Renka took a step back. Her long, pale white legs were visible beneath her skirt. Feeling my gaze appreciating the view, she grabbed the hem of her skirt and pulled it down.

"W-What are you staring at...! Lower your eyes...!"

"Didn't you wear it for me to look?"

"Don't be sarcastic...! Do you have any idea how obnoxious that is...?"

"I'm sorry."

Renka's eyes went wide, surprised that I had apologized so readily instead of teasing her further. With no customers around, I wrapped an arm around her waist and continued in a gentle voice.

"I'll go get lunch. What do you want to eat?"

"W-Why are you acting like this all of a sudden...! Get away from me...!"

Her words told me to go, but her body was quietly accepting my touch. This wasn't the first or second time she had been like this. Ever since our relationship had rapidly progressed, she said the exact same thing every time a similar situation arose.

Knowing she didn't mean it at all when she told me to leave, I pulled her even closer.

"Just tell me what you want to eat."

"...Anything..."

"Then I'll bring back some negitama. What size do you want?"

"A regular..."

"Got it."

"B-But... hey..."

"What."

"What are we going to do until late...?"

She changed the subject right in the middle of picking our food. It seemed she sensed something big was going to happen if she went on a date with me today.

"I told you, we're going to do this and that."

"Where are we going...?"

"A Hotel."

When I stated our destination for this evening without any hesitation, Renka gulped hard.

"A H-Hotel...?"

"Yeah. It's tiring to walk around, so I want to stay there. We can watch the anime the President likes, eat dinner together, and just hang out."

"We're going to do all of that there...?"

"We ate at a Hotel last time too, don't you remember?"

"I remember, but... um... is that really all we're going to do?"

"That depends on what the President does."

"What... what am I supposed to do to change it...?"

"I wouldn't know. It's not like I can see inside the President's heart. Anyway, I'm going to grab my food first, alright?"

"Huh...? Oh... okay..."

I pressed an affectionate kiss to her forehead as she replied in a tense voice. Then, I stepped out of the café just as she was about to freak out.

By the time our shift ended, Renka was wearing the clothes she had brought in her shopping bag. Seeing her glancing around nervously while draped in a wide-sleeved cardigan made me want to pull her into a hug.

Judging from the slightly low-cut top, it was a two-piece set matching her skirt. She might not have paid too much attention to picking it out, but she had still dressed up. I especially liked the subtle skin exposure.

Moreover, considering I had told her we were going to a Hotel and gave her plenty of time to decide, yet she showed no signs of trying to back out, it seemed she had braced herself to some extent. Perhaps the reason Renka had brought a change of clothes wasn't because she thought something would happen in the Changing Room, but because of this? The suspicion crossed my mind. It was a perfectly reasonable assumption.

I smiled brightly at Renka, who had even touched up her makeup, and pointed toward the car.

"Shall we go?"

"Ah, yeah..."

"Are you cold? Your clothes seem a bit thin."

"Not really... We'll be indoors anyway... The Ho—... I mean, it shouldn't be cold in there..."

Right. Besides, it tends to get hot when you're doing this and that. But why couldn't she just say the word "Hotel"? Where did her usual, confidently cheeky attitude go?

"Alright. Tell me if you get cold."

"O-Okay..."

We got into the car and drove to the Hotel without saying a single word. It was the same when getting the room key from the unmanned kiosk, riding the elevator, and walking right up to the room. She only opened her mouth after I unlocked the door with the keycard.

"Is this a different room from last time...? The layout... feels a bit different from what I remember..."

That was Renka's impression upon seeing the room bathed in dim, ambient lighting. Following her inside, I answered.

"Yeah. It's different."

"Ah... the bed is round...?"

"So it is."

"But couldn't you have just booked a normal room... did it really have to be a prison theme...?"

"This is my taste. Anyway, have a seat."

"....."

Renka took off her sneakers, slipped into the provided slippers, placed her bag on the vanity shelf, and then carefully made her way to the bed and sat down. Then, she forced herself to keep busy with pointless actions.

Pulling aimlessly at her knees, scratching her cheek, or picking up her Cell Phone only to set it back down. As she killed time doing those things, she noticed me staring intently at her after taking off my coat. She shot me a coy look.

"W-What are you looking at...?"

"Because you're pretty."

"....."

I could see Renka's pale cheeks flush slightly. Too embarrassed by the direct compliment, she tried to cover her face with one hand, but quickly gave up and peeked at me instead.

Sitting demurely, she engaged in a staring contest with me before eventually averting her gaze with a pout.

"Whatever... Just check if the TV has Bluetooth or Smart View or something..."

"Why?"

"You said we'd watch anime... I have a subscription to a streaming site, so I was going to play it from my Cell Phone..."

"You signed up for that kind of stuff?"

"...Got a problem with that?"

"No. None at all. Give me a second."

With a nod, I grabbed the hem of my shirt and pulled it right off.

"W-What...! Hey...!! What are you doing...!!"

Renka shrieked in horror. She must have been shocked that I was suddenly taking off my shirt. Pausing, I looked at her and asked in confusion.

"What's wrong?"

"Put it back on, you lunatic...! What the hell are you trying to do...!"

Asking when she already knew perfectly well. She was asking for a scolding.

"I'm taking off my clothes to lie down."

"I'm asking why you're taking your clothes off...! We're just going to watch TV..."

"I always watch it shirtless."

"Is this your Home...!? Put it back on right now...!"

"I don't want to."

"Think about other people for once... Ah...!!"

Renka, who had been fiercely lashing out at me, whipped her head away. It was because I had completely thrown off my shirt and walked past her to lie down on the bed. It might seem a bit hasty, but when dealing with Renka, it was better to be direct like this to break her feisty spirit.

Pulling the covers up to my chest, I patted the pillow next to me and spoke.

"Lie down too, President. Take off your cardigan."

At that, Renka slightly parted her fingers to peek at me through the gaps and muttered.

"...Why the cardigan..."

"Because it's uncomfortable."

"I-It isn't uncomfortable... You're what's making me uncomfortable..."

"I said hurry up and lie down."

She reluctantly took off her cardigan and lay down next to me. Every single one of her movements was cautious, but I decided to leave her be for now.

While fiddling with the remote control, I watched Renka pull the linen blanket over herself with a rustling sound.

"I don't know how to find it on here."

"...It was my mistake for asking an idiot like you to do it... I'll do it..."

Snatching the remote from my hand, Renka started connecting her Cell Phone to the TV. Meanwhile, I tucked my other arm behind my head and rested on it.

It was an incredibly comfortable posture. Seeing me looking at the TV in that state, Renka glared at me with a dumbfounded expression.

"You're acting like you're completely at Home..."

"We came all the way to a room, so why would I stay uncomfortable? But maybe I should have brought some Popcorn from the snack bar?"

"W-What were you even doing if you didn't do that...?"

"Why do you keep nagging me? I can just get it in the middle of the show, so tell me if you get thirsty or want something to munch on."

"....."

"Answer."

"....."

"Are you not going to answer?"

"Got it...! I said I got it...!"

Barking out in annoyance, Renka nervously fiddled with her Cell Phone. It wasn't long before the black TV screen flickered, displaying the streaming site where we could watch anime.

I should watch for a bit and then subtly try to initiate some physical contact. With that thought in mind, I quietly watched Renka as she selected a video.