Chapter 261

"W-Why do I have to wear this...!"

"You don't want to?"

"Of course I hate it...! Its design is literally a dog collar. What the hell... do you even see me as a human!?"

I had fully expected this kind of backlash. I never actually planned on snapping it around her neck right away; my goal was to pretend I was doing her a favor by lowering my demands.

"Hmm."

Renka flinched at my displeased hum. That reaction only lasted a moment, though. Chewing her lower lip to steel her resolve, she leveled another fierce glare at me.

"I-I'm not wearing this, not even if I die...! From a basic human standpoint..."

"Are you sure?"

"Of course I'm sure...!"

"Then how about you wear it on your wrist?"

"My wrist...?"

"Yeah. Your wrist is fine. It'll just look like a fashion accessory."

"...That's still not great... Besides, the design is just so plain..."

A dog collar was plain? Then I would just have to bring a Choker with a little bell next time. Regardless, a chuckle almost slipped past my lips. She had been ready to fight to the death just seconds ago, but her fierce momentum crumbled the moment I suggested her wrist instead.

"Wear it anyway. This is a punishment, and letting you put it on your wrist is already a massive concession."

"I-I don't even think I did anything to warrant a punishment in the first place..."

"What kind of master lets a disobedient slave off with just a verbal warning?"

"You see plenty of masters like that in comic books... Ah, wait, I'm not admitting I'm a slave or anything...! I'm just saying..."

"So, you're refusing?"

"Yeah, I'm refusing. I have absolutely no obligation to wear that— Hih!?"

Renka, who had been rattling off excuses like a machine gun, sucked in a sharp breath and took a hurried step back. I had suddenly closed the distance, looming right in front of her face. She still hadn't adapted to these sudden, aggressive approaches. It was so perfectly Renka—prickly on the outside, but utterly soft on the inside.

I smirked at the wide-eyed girl and rested a hand on her waist. As she gave a startled jump, I began to slowly, softly stroke her hips.

"M-Move your hand...!"

"You're not exactly in a position to give me orders, President."

"What are you talking about...! I'm your sunbae, and the President of the Kendo Club...!"

"And I am the President's master."

"No, you aren't...!"

"Yes, I am."

"I said you aren't...! And if you bring up this master nonsense one more time— Ah...!"

Renka flinched, her body shivering as my hand slipped down to fondle her rear. Taking advantage of her sudden silence, I swiftly fastened the Choker around her wrist.

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

She snapped at me, but she just stood there and watched as I adjusted the Choker's length. Now that it was actually on her, she didn't seem quite as repulsed by it as she had imagined. Judging by her expression, a rather inappropriate sort of thrill had blossomed inside her. As expected, our dear Renka was a slave by nature.

"Keep it on like this. It just looks like a regular bracelet, right?"

"...I-It doesn't look like that at all..."

"It does look like a fashion accessory, though."

"It's way too plain for that..."

"I'll bring a flashier one next time."

"T-That's not what I meant..."

"I'll settle for this much today. Here, your daily candy."

I unwrapped the candy I had prepared and held it out. Cheeks flushed, Renka shot me a sideways glance before parting her lips. She was practically a docile little lamb compared to the very first time I had fed her. Smiling in satisfaction, I slipped the candy into her mouth—and followed right behind it with my finger.

"Mmph...!"

Taking my thick thumb into her mouth for the first time in a while, Renka's eyes instantly darkened. She looked ready to bare her teeth and bite the digit clean off at any second. Wrapping an arm around her waist, I murmured softly.

"Good girl. You did well."

At that, Renka's brows scrunched together in distress.

"Whaf...!"

The way she kept trying to argue while sucking on my finger was just too pretty. Today's training session was a resounding success.

With that thought in mind, I dragged my thumb along her bottom teeth two or three times before pulling it free. Then, just like I had shown her last time, I popped that saliva-slicked finger into my own mouth and gave it a wet suck.

"...Hnn...!"

Renka gulped hard at the overly stimulating display. Her legs were trembling slightly; it seemed the sight had gotten her a little turned on. Feeling a long, feverish breath slip from her parted lips, I smirked and gently smoothed down her disheveled baby hairs.

"I'll give you another one at lunch. And another one after dinner, too."

"D-Dinner is... It's just supposed to be me and Chinami..."

"Here you go again. Are you trying to hurt my feelings?"

"..."

"Then let's compromise. I'll let it slide if you call me 'Master' until my shift ends today."

"What...!? What kind of crazy—"

"I'll make an exception when customers are around. I'm conceding a lot here."

"How is that a concession...! You're just forcing me...!"

"I wanted to eat with Senior Nanase too, you know? I could have just forced my way in, but I'm letting it slide. If that isn't a concession, what is?"

"T-That's just sophistry... I can't do it..."

"Then all three of us can eat together."

As I brazenly threatened to crash their dinner plans, a curse slipped straight from Renka's lips.

"You... you son of a bitch..."

"I'll take that as a yes."

"Shut up...!"

"Understood. That settles it, then... You don't have to speak formally to me. Just make sure you get the title right."

"..."

Renka's entire body trembled with humiliation, her fists clenched white-knuckle tight. I planted a surprise kiss squarely on her forehead, leaving her utterly dazed as I strolled out of the Changing Room.

Tap, tap.

A faint touch brushed my shoulder. I realized instantly that it was Renka's finger, and I burst out laughing inwardly. She was deliberately poking me just to avoid calling me "Master." How incredibly predictable.

"Ahem..."

When I completely ignored her, she even resorted to clearing her throat to make her presence known. She kept doing such adorable things, I felt the sudden urge to tackle her and take her right here and now.

Compared to my first impression of her, the change was so profound it truly brought a feeling of a changed era. Forcing down the smirk twitching at the corners of my lips, I stopped stocking the cup sleeves and plastic lids behind the counter and turned around.

"What is it?"

"Um... We have to let the Boss know today about ordering new cups, so get out of the way so I can check..."

"I'll check."

"...Okay, then... Oh, and... how many straws are left?"

"Isn't there something you need to say before you ask me a question?"

"Say what...?"

"My title. 'Master.'"

"I-Is there really a need to—"

"Say it."

"..."

Renka hesitated, dragging her feet even though it wasn't her first time saying it.

She must have assumed that saying that word now—after we had already slept together—would evoke a completely different emotional weight. Like it would make her feel truly subjugated, or force her to actually admit to herself that she was a slave... It was exactly the sort of thing a girl like Renka, who imagined things so much, would dream up.

"Hurry up."

I pressed her with a stern expression. Renka fluttered her long eyelashes, stealing glances at me, before a look of utter resignation washed over her face and she finally parted her lips.

"...M..."

Just then, the café's automatic doors slid open, and a thoroughly adorable voice drifted inside.

"Ahem. Is anyone there?"

Renka and I snapped our heads toward the entrance in perfect unison. Chinami stood there, her face brimming with curiosity as she took in the café.

Her large, sparkling pink eyes slowly swept the room before locking onto the counter. The instant she spotted us, she was just about to flash her signature bright smile—

"Chinami!!"

Renka abruptly screamed Chinami's name and sprinted over to her,

"Ah! My close friend! How have you—"

—and pulled Chinami into a crushing hug mid-greeting.

"Mmph!?"

Chinami let out a muffled gasp as her face was instantly buried in Renka's chest. Completely oblivious to her friend's bewilderment, Renka squeezed her with all her might and cried out, her voice dripping with sheer longing.

"I missed you...!"

She was acting like they were separated families finally reuniting. It was a good thing the café was empty; if we had customers, we would have absolutely gotten a complaint.

Her head still completely smothered in Renka's embrace, Chinami wriggled her arms and patted Renka's back. It was an adorably heartwarming sight. I could feel a fatherly smile naturally tugging at my lips.

Renka kept her like that for a while, only letting go when Chinami wheezed that she was suffocating. Fanning her own face, Chinami spoke in the tone of a little old lady.

"Phew...! What a fierce welcome. It's the dead of winter, but I've suddenly gotten hot."

Renka flashed an embarrassed smile and apologized.

"Sorry... Have you been well?"

"Of course. My grandmother gave me so much food that I actually put on a little weight."

"You don't look like you've gained anything, so don't worry about it."

"That's a relief, then. Anyway, so this is the café where my close friend and junior work part-time. I like the interior decor."

"Really? But the only peach-related item on the menu is the iced tea..."

"That is a little disappointing. By the way, where might my junior be?"

I watched Chinami's head peek out from beside Renka's body. At the same time, her eyes locked onto me standing behind the counter.

Flashing a smile bright enough to illuminate her surroundings, Chinami started walking toward me. Seeing this, I stepped out from the counter and headed for the back door. Then, I beckoned her over as she wore a puzzled expression.

"Hm? What kind of scheme are you plotting?"

Tilting her head, Chinami trotted over to stand right in front of me without a single shred of suspicion. I crouched down to meet her eye level. The very first thing I did—

"Mmph!?"

—was to squish both of Chinami's cheeks with my hands.

"Whah are youh doin'...!?"

Ahh... I had been dying to squish these mochi-like cheeks for ages. My heart already felt warmer just from touching them.

Pressing down firmly on Chinami's cheeks—which had flushed a bright scarlet from the cold—I casually asked how she had been.

"Have you been well? Did you have any trouble getting here?"

"Yeahh..."

This was enough for a greeting. I needed to hurry up, head out, and thoroughly ravage Chinami's lips and that plump little rear of hers. Burning with that motivation, I straightened my bent knees, grabbed Chinami's hand, and dragged her out the back door.