Chapter 406

Renka and I stepped out of the bathroom after cleaning ourselves up, leaving behind the intensely awkward atmosphere swirling inside.

She rubbed her freshly washed hands together, inspecting them from every angle.

I couldn't tell if she was checking for leftover residue, or if she was just savoring the unfamiliar sensation of experiencing it for the first time.

"What are you doing?"

Renka's shoulders jumped at my question as we returned to the Training Room.

Even though there was no need, she hid her hands behind her back and answered.

"W-What...?"

Her reaction, which honestly reflected her current state of mind, was hilarious.

So she was full of curiosity. If I had sent her to wash her hands alone, she might have even smelled it.

Or tasted it.

"Never mind."

"...Stop grinning like that, will you? It's annoying."

"When did I smile?"

"You're smiling right now...!"

If I had my way, I would throw Renka down right here and have some fun.

But it was about time for Riko to call us for dinner, so I held back.

Bzzzt—!

Just as I was thinking that, Renka's Cell Phone buzzed.

She checked the screen, let out a deep sigh, and spoke.

"Dinner's ready. She wants us to come over."

How could the world flow exactly as I expected?

I must be omnipotent.

"What's with that crappy look on your face?"

Usually, people threw hands when making a retort, but I liked that Renka only used her words.

I shrugged at her remark, told her I got it, and left the Training Room.

A savory aroma wafted through the air as we returned to the house.

Just the smell alone promised a delicious meal.

The heroines' mothers being excellent cooks was an absolute cliché.

Though within that cliché, Momoka seemed to be the exception.

Still, she was as cute as Chinami, so it was fine.

"Renka mentioned that Matsuda-kun likes meat, so I mainly prepared meat dishes. I'm not sure if it will suit your taste?"

Riko directed her words at me as I sat next to Renka at the dining table.

I glanced at Renka as if to ask if she had really said that, then flashed a bright smile.

"I eat everything."

"Really? That's a relief. Let's eat."

"Thank you for the meal."

I waited until Riko picked up her chopsticks before picking up my own utensils and giving my thanks. She beamed, clearly pleased by the gesture.

The atmosphere at Renka's family dinner was incredibly quiet.

It wasn't because there was nothing to say; the very air changed the moment the meal began, instantly letting me know this was the culture in Renka's household.

Perhaps it was because they valued tradition? We ate our food without a single word. It was vastly different from Miyuki's home, which was similarly quiet but still had occasional conversation, and Chinami's inherently lively house.

Would the mood have been even heavier if Renka's father had been here?

I respected it, but I preferred a more energetic atmosphere...

I suppose I'd just have to seduce Riko and bring her to my place.

With no talking, the meal naturally went by quickly.

I neatly polished off two bowls of rice along with Riko's delicious cooking. When she set down a handleless ceramic cup and poured me some water, I bowed my head.

"Thank you."

"Don't mention it. Did the food suit your taste?"

"It was genuinely amazing."

Had my sincere praise put her in a good mood?

The corners of Riko's mouth curled up.

She was usually so elegant, but that face—turning into a young girl's upon receiving a compliment—was incredibly beautiful.

Maybe Renka would have that kind of style once she became a full adult?

I harbored that hope for a moment.

"Thank you for the meal. What should I do with the dishes? Should I move them to the sink?"

"Just leave them there. I'll clean them up."

In times like this, it was better to listen rather than meddle by offering to do the dishes.

Having made my judgment, I quietly pushed my chair back and obediently stood up alongside Renka.

"My mother says you have good manners."

Renka offered the sullen compliment after walking me out to the parking lot.

I grinned while standing by the driver's side door.

"Tell her I said thanks."

"But you don't. I know it's all a mask."

"Why do you think that?"

"Because of what I've seen."

"And what exactly have you seen?"

"The weird things you did to Asahina today, bullying Chinami and me... You really are trash."

"Bullying? Isn't that a little harsh?"

"It's the truth."

Renka was steadily building up the foundation for neglect play all on her own.

Talking like that made it incredibly easy for me to use it as an excuse later.

For instance, I could apologize for bullying her all this time, promise it wouldn't happen again, and completely cut off my attention...

I could naturally set up a situation like that to make Renka burn with anxiety.

A very happy time of deliberation was approaching.

Maybe it would be fine to start right after the tournament.

Then, when everything was over and I invited Chinami and Renka to my place, there might be a chance I'd get to see an even more aggressive Renka.

"Think whatever you want."

"Look at this. Showing your true colors now that it's just the two of us."

"What did I do? The problem is that you're so negative about everything, President."

"Just hurry up and get lost."

"I'll come again next time."

"Don't."

"But your mother told me to visit again, President?"

"I don't want you to."

"You don't have a choice in the matter, President."

"..."

She backed down at my forceful tone.

Chuckling at her as she pouted in silence, I got into the car and started the engine.

Then, I rolled down the window and spoke to Renka, who was clutching her own arm, in a softer voice than before.

"I had fun today. What about you, President?"

"Not really."

"Don't be like that, just tell me honestly."

"...It was whatever."

"Really?"

"It was fun. Happy now?"

She was pretending to say it reluctantly, but it was obvious she was admitting she'd had a good time herself.

Even if she had been a little nervous.

"Then what should you do?"

"Do about what?"

"If you had fun, what are you supposed to do?"

"...What do you want from me?"

We'd known each other for quite a while now, yet she still lacked any sense in this regard.

Though that was part of Renka's charm.

I tapped my cheek for Renka, who was frowning as if she didn't understand.

Realizing what I wanted, she immediately panicked.

"Ah, no...! Just leave already...!"

"If you don't, I'm staying the night here."

"A-Are you crazy?"

"Hurry up."

"Haa..."

A sigh escaped Renka's lips as she shuddered.

It wasn't that she hated showing affection; she was just feeling shy.

Similar to when she told me she liked me last time.

"..."

After hesitating for a while, she cast a sidelong glance at me—sitting motionless in the car, staring straight ahead—and then stepped closer with an incredibly annoyed expression.

She slowly bent down and pressed her lips against my cheek.

The soft, moist sensation touched my cheek and vanished in an instant...

Feeling that, I smirked as I looked at Renka's face, her flushed red skin obvious even under the night sky.

"Good job. I'll get going now."

"...Get back safely, or whatever."

"Did you really have to add 'or whatever'?"

"Ah, just go already...!!"

If she was too embarrassed to look at my face, she could have just turned around and walked away... but it was endearing how she insisted on standing there to see me off.

A steamy encounter in the Training Room, a heartwarming meal, and finishing off with some sweet physical affection.

Wasn't this the true flavor of a romantic comedy? It was very fulfilling.

"I'm off."

"Go..."

"I'll text you when I get home."

"Don't."

"Why? Are you busy organizing your hidden figures?"

"You're dead meat, seriously..."

Why did I like Renka so much when she trembled with her fists clenched tight?

I wanted to kidnap her and take her to my place right now.

Suppressing that urge, I wrapped up the first day of vacation with my monumental visit to Renka's house.

The next day.

Waking up feeling cold from the air conditioner I'd left on all night, I pulled the blanket over my head and tried to fall back asleep.

Just as my eyes were closing and I was teetering on the edge of sleep again, Ding-dong!

A cheerful doorbell chime rang out, followed by a heavy, thumping sound.

Irritation flared up inside me as I clamped a pillow over my ears, until it suddenly occurred to me that I'd experienced this exact situation before.

Thinking 'no way,' I peeked my head out and listened closely to the noise outside.

"Matsumatsu! You're at home, right!?"

Hiyori's distinctly bubbly voice pierced right through.

So she had shown up completely out of the blue again. I needed to give her a piece of my mind.

Still, I liked the fact that she had come to see me first, so I quickly got up, dragged my half-asleep body outside, and slowly opened the gate.

Clack.

One side of the door pulled open along with the sound of the hinges squeaking.

Spotting Hiyori's bright face and pale limbs through the gap, I threw the door wide open and immediately scolded her without a second thought.

"What's with your outfit?"

"What's wrong with it? It's not revealing at all."

If a spaghetti strap tank top and shorts so short they showed the bottom of her butt cheeks weren't revealing, I wondered what kind of outfit would be.

"That's just what you think. I told you to dress modestly."

"Dunno. But were you sleeping until now?"

"What time is it?"

"Eleven."

"Yeah? Guess I slept in a bit. Anyway, didn't I tell you to contact me before coming over?"

"I did contact you, but you didn't answer, sunbae-nim."

"Is that so?"

"Yeah. I texted you five times and called you twice over the past two hours."

"For two hours? What were you doing all this time?"

"I went downtown because I had something to buy, and since your house was nearby, sunbae-nim, I decided to drop by."

"What would you have done if I wasn't home?"

"Then I would have just gone back."

She was still as easygoing and reckless as ever.

She had shown some improvement under my devoted tutelage, but the moment vacation started, it felt like she had reverted to square one.

Deciding that I needed to thoroughly reform her mindset once again, I watched Hiyori's cute ahoge flutter as a cool breeze blew past, and stepped aside in the direction the door had opened.

"Just come inside for now."

"Okay."

Delighted, Hiyori immediately scurried inside.

She walked along the stone path, shuffling her sandals—which featured white straps paired with light brown soles—back and forth.

Staring at Hiyori's back as she blatantly exposed her thighs, I followed after her, wracking my brain to remember if there were any clothes in the house she could wear.