Chapter 337

Renka looked as if she had seen a ghost, while Chinami welcomed me with a bright face.

I greeted them both and took the remaining empty seat at their table.

Then I asked,

"So this was where you were heading to hang out?"

It was just a casual question.

But Renka clearly took it differently.

"Urk...!?"

She had flinched all on her own.

It was funny seeing her react like that when she hadn't even done anything wrong.

No, wait. From Renka's perspective, did it look like she had been caught sneaking off without me?

If so, how could I not use this opportunity to show our little slave some love?

"That's right. We heard the cake here is delicious, so we decided to visit."

Chinami answered on Renka's behalf.

A white cake filled with strawberries sat at her spot.

Seeing it, I widened my eyes in surprise.

"It isn't peach cake?"

"No. They don't sell it here."

The girl who even sprinkled peach powder on her Popcorn was quietly eating strawberry cake?

Was this a sign of the apocalypse? I felt a sudden sense of dread.

"What brings you here?"

At Chinami's question, I glanced toward the stairs and replied.

"I came to grab a cup of coffee with a junior."

"Ah, who might that be?"

"Asahina Hiyori... You saw her last time, right?"

"Asahina Hiyori...? Aha, is she the one who came to the Kendo Club info session?"

"Yeah. And here she comes."

Chinami and Renka's gazes followed my pointing thumb.

Hiyori came up to the second floor carrying a small wooden tray. Seeing me, Renka, and Chinami sitting together, she tilted her head.

"Huh?"

Seeing such a normally mischievous girl make a bewildered expression felt oddly out of place, yet it suited her perfectly at the same time.

It felt as though the entire cafe had brightened.

For Hiyori's sake, who was blinking her large eyes, I slid closer to Renka to make room.

She walked over without hesitation and gave a polite bow while still holding her tray.

"Hello!"

Had she been in situations like this a lot?

She greeted them brightly, took the seat next to me, and started chatting with the two girls. Her gestures and demeanor were incredibly natural.

"Why are you here...?"

Renka asked, taking advantage of the moment Hiyori was talking with Chinami.

Her whispering breath tickled my ear as if she were plotting a conspiracy.

Slipping my hand onto her thigh under the table, I replied.

"Am I not allowed to be here?"

"No... I mean, why are you alone with her...?"

"It just kind of happened."

"Is something going on between you two?"

Not yet.

Or rather, maybe I should say there is.

"No. What's wrong with having a cup of coffee with a junior? You do that with me all the time, President."

"T-That's not what I meant...! Why are you using me as an example?"

Did she hear Renka's grumbling?

Hiyori, who had been eating the strawberry cake Chinami was feeding her like a child, turned her head.

Startled, Renka let out a few fake coughs and changed the subject.

"It's a shame... It would have been nice if you joined the Kendo Club..."

I had no idea why she was suddenly bringing up the Kendo Club.

She even slipped into her signature robotic, textbook-reading tone that she used when flustered. It was painfully obvious that she was just saying whatever came to mind.

"A-Are you studying hard for midterms?"

Realizing how awkward that sounded, she quickly changed her script, but the new topic fit the situation even less.

Watching her flounder was thoroughly entertaining. How could our Renka be so cute?

She didn't need to make it so obvious that we had just been talking about Hiyori...

This was exactly why I could never stop being a huge Renka fanboy.

"I've pretty much given up. I'm terrible at studying anyway..."

"Really? Isn't that friend you always hang out with good at it? I heard rumors she was a model student..."

"Mihoyo? She's incredibly smart. I'm actually debating sitting next to her during the exam and sneaking a peek."

"You shouldn't do that. Cheating is bad."

Still, thanks to Hiyori kindly answering Renka's robotic questions, the atmosphere didn't turn completely awkward.

"Got it. By the way, sunbae-nim, you used to work part-time at that cafe, right?"

"That cafe? Ah... right."

"Then can you use this?"

Saying that, Hiyori pulled out a cafe coupon and held it out to Renka.

Why did she always carry that coupon around?

Was she keeping it just to mess with me? It was a reasonable suspicion.

"A coupon...?"

Renka's eyes grew slightly wistful before quickly turning fierce.

She had been reminiscing about her part-time job and our memories there, only to suddenly remember the multiple times she had been humiliated by me, which pissed her off.

Amused by her honest reactions, I chuckled to myself before frowning at Hiyori.

"Why aren't you asking the President for a half-price discount?"

"Why would I ask sunbae-nim for that...! I know who to target."

"But it's fine to ask me?"

"Yep."

"So you're uncomfortable around the President?"

"Ah, what are you talking about...! I didn't think you were like this, but are you trying to drive a wedge between us?"

Hiyori playfully shoved my arm.

Despite the stereotype that upperclassmen in sports clubs are scary, she was adapting incredibly well.

Then again, Renka and Chinami weren't stiff people by any means, and Hiyori probably didn't care about such stereotypes anyway.

Regardless, I was satisfied just seeing her not cower in front of two upperclassmen.

Just like I had thought before, maybe Hiyori really could be the key to my harem.

I entertained that hopeful thought.

Lifting my arm to block Hiyori's mock-scratching hand, I asked Chinami.

"Is the cake to your liking? You seem to be enjoying it."

"It can't compare to peach cake, but it's satisfactory. Would you like a bite too, junior?"

Chinami held out a fork carefully loaded with cake and the largest slice of strawberry.

Without a second thought, I leaned my head in right past Hiyori—

"Eek..."

At Hiyori's flustered little gasp and the way she jerked her chin back, I chuckled inwardly and ate the cake off the fork.

She acted all open-minded, but thrusting myself into her personal space like that still managed to fluster her.

The more she showed reactions like that, the more I looked forward to setting an intimate mood alone with her.

"Are you guys heading straight home after this? Or are you going somewhere else to hang out?"

After thoroughly chewing and swallowing the cake, I asked Chinami. She pointed at a distant window.

"New Momo-nim Merchandise has just been released. Renka and I are going to buy it."

"Can I come along?"

"Of course you can. But weren't you planning to spend time with junior Asahina?"

"Asahina said she's meeting her friends here."

"Ah, is that so? I wanted to spread Momo-sama's cuteness to junior Asahina. What a shame."

At those words, Hiyori perked up her ears.

"Oh, I know about that! Didn't they do a collab with a beverage company recently? I think I saw it on TV."

"Gasp? You saw the commercial?"

"Yeah. It looked super cute... sunbae-nim, do you like Momo-sama?"

"Yes! I have a hobby of collecting the merchandise."

"Oh, really? Do you have any pictures or anything?"

"Mufufu... Of course I do. Would you like to see?"

Looking at them, it was obvious the day Chinami grew fond of Hiyori wasn't far off.

No, she might already like her plenty.

Given how actively Hiyori was showing interest in her fandom, it would be weird for someone with Chinami's personality not to take a liking to her.

"Where's Hanazawa? Why is he hanging out with us..."

Renka, who had been quietly listening to their conversation, grumbled so softly that only I could hear.

Reaching under the table to rest my hand on her thigh, I replied.

"Miyuki went down to the countryside."

"Really...? Did something happen?"

"It doesn't seem like a big deal... But President."

"What..."

"You keep gently provoking me, but can you handle the consequences?"

"W-When did I ever provoke you..."

"Are you doing this on purpose? Do you want to be punished?"

"I am not...! Stop falling into delusions and live in reality...! Spouting such weird nonsense... So annoying..."

'I'm working hard to turn my delusions into reality, you know.'

Swallowing those words, I simply offered a meaningful smile, one just enough to make Renka flinch in response.

"W-What are you smirking at..."

Ignoring how her eyes darted around in predictable anxiety, I joined Chinami and Hiyori's conversation.

Killing time in that friendly atmosphere, our drinks were soon empty.

Was it time to part ways?

I secretly hoped Hiyori's friends would forget about her and go hang out somewhere else, but that was never going to happen.

After all, Hiyori's group centered around her.

Bumping into Renka and Chinami by chance meant this wasn't really a date anymore, but I was still satisfied.

I felt like this unexpected four-way gathering was a brief glimpse into a fragment of my future.

The image of living peacefully in my Home with Renka, Chinami, Hiyori, and Miyuki flashed through my mind for a split second.

So, I decided to look on the bright side.

"Are you guys heading to the Momo-sama store now?"

Placing her cup on the return tray, Hiyori asked. I nodded and replied.

"We should be. Let's grab coffee again sometime."

"What's with the change of heart? You were acting so aloof before we got here."

"When was I ever aloof?"

"You were scolding me and telling me to be quiet earlier."

"How is that being aloof?"

"If not, then whatever."

Tossing out that carefree remark, Hiyori saw me off as I headed outside.

Renka and Chinami were waiting for me just outside the alley.

Glancing over at them, I asked Hiyori.

"You staying here?"

"Yeah. The others said they'll be here in two minutes, so I'm going to save some seats."

"Don't fool around and get into trouble for no reason."

"What is that supposed to mean?"

"I mean don't pick a fight trying to forcefully claim seats."

"Come on... do I really look like someone with that little common sense?"

"Yeah."

"That's mean... You're joking, right?"

"Think whatever you want."

"I will."

She really never backed down from a word.

I was looking forward to seeing if she could keep up that attitude at a Hotel, so I happily let it slide for now.

"I'm off, then. Have fun and see you tomorrow."

"Mhm. Bye-bye, Matsuken sunbae-nim."

It was Hiyori's signature way of calling people she had grown close to, combining and shortening their first and last names.

The moment I heard it, I cheered inwardly.

"Matsuken?"

Forcing down my joy, I feigned bewilderment. Hiyori gave a bright smile and replied.

"I decided I'm going to call you that from now on."

"So I don't get a say in this?"

"Nope!"

Right, right.

Please continue to treat me this comfortably from now on.

Substituting my thoughts with a helpless chuckle, I accepted it and waved my hand.

"I'm going."

Then, the moment I turned my back on Hiyori waving at me, one corner of my mouth lifted into a smirk.

I had been wondering when she would start calling me that, and today was finally the day.

It was just a casual remark, but it sounded better than I could have ever imagined.

I was incredibly happy because it was proof that Hiyori and I had grown even closer.