Chapter 430

“Water...”

“Run.”

“Water...! Give me water...! Don't go...!”

I almost burst into laughter watching Hiyori desperately chase after me as I walked away with the water bottle.

If I laughed now, she would obviously whine and complain that I was making fun of her.

She was already sweating profusely; I shouldn't raise her blood pressure.

After playing tag with Hiyori for a bit, I slowed my pace.

Then I raised the water bottle over Hiyori, who was panting as she caught up.

“Open up.”

“Aaaah...”

Hiyori opened her mouth wide, her eyes fixed solely on the water bottle in front of her.

All her dignity had vanished. I let a little trickle of water pour into her mouth and warned her.

“Hold it in your mouth and swallow slowly.”

Gulp.

Without even listening to me, Hiyori's throat bobbed heavily.

She had swallowed the water in a single gulp.

I figured this might happen... I should have just given her a single mouthful.

“I told you to swallow slowly, so why are you acting like a green frog?”

“I'm exhausted... give me more...”

“Are you going to drink it little by little?”

“Yes...!”

“And you'll listen to me well from now on?”

“Yes...!”

“And you won't dress provocatively like we promised, right?”

“Yes...!”

For some reason, this was turning me on. It felt like I was training her.

Hiyori was panting like a puppy wagging its tail in front of a treat. I debated asking her a few more questions, but changed my mind when I saw her flushed face.

She looked like she would die if I didn't give it to her. With her stamina this low, I didn't know what she was going to do at night.

Unlike Miyuki, would she pass out immediately after one round?

That wouldn't be too bad to see, either.

After finishing our workout, I returned home with Hiyori, whose shoulders drooped from exhaustion.

I sent her to the bathroom with the open-air bath, and I took a shower in the smaller bathroom.

Hiyori showed no signs of coming out.

Even by the time I dried my hair and sat down to watch TV, the bath was extremely quiet. Not even the sound of the shower could be heard.

Wondering if something was wrong, I called out to Hiyori from outside the bathroom door.

“Hey.”

Even though I spoke quite loudly, there was no answer.

Could she have fainted from anemia?

Overcome with anxiety, I slightly opened the bathroom door.

Click.

She should have heard the door open, but there was absolutely no reaction.

Did she really pass out?

Stricken with worry, I threw the door wide open and looked inside the open-air bath.

Through the rising steam, I saw Hiyori soaking in the tub, both arms spread wide over the edges like a thug.

Her head was tilted back and her eyes were closed. She didn't seem to be moving.

Just as I thought that— “Mmph.”

Hiyori smacked her lips and wrinkled her nose.

It was a gesture akin to sleep-talking.

She had just dozed off for a moment.

Filled with relief, I let out a deep sigh and closed the door again.

Then I knocked on the door loudly enough to wake her up.

Thump! Thump!

At that, the sound of splashing water came from inside, followed by Hiyori's voice.

“What is it...!?”

“You didn't answer, so I knocked. You fell asleep, didn't you?”

“Yeah... I'll finish washing and come out quickly.”

“Take your time.”

She had no guard up at all... If I had taken one more step into the bath, I would have seen her completely naked. I wondered what she was thinking, dozing off like that.

She should be glad I wasn't some extremely evil bastard.

Some time passed before Hiyori stepped out, her eyes entirely devoid of energy.

Seeing her state, I spoke in passing.

“If you're that sleepy, you can rest a bit before you go.”

“W-What are you saying...! I'm going home.”

She seemed to be mindful of what I had said last time about sleeping over.

When I chuckled at the thoroughly spooked Hiyori, she flared up, thinking I was mocking her.

“What was that just now?”

“What was what?”

“That smile.”

“Because you're cute.”

“W-What...!?”

She jumped in surprise, lifting one arm to her chest and taking a step backward.

Thinking her reaction just now was very much like Chinami's, I shrugged and pointed to the corner of the room.

“Dry your hair. You're going home. Wear the clothes you came in. I'm driving you anyway.”

“...I don't want to. I want to wear this home.”

“Suit yourself, then. But where are the pants you said you'd wash and give back to me last time?”

“I'll gather them up and give them all back at once.”

I had already left some clothes at Miyuki's house; at this rate, I wouldn't have any clothes left to wear.

Should I go shopping for the first time in a while? I'd have to think about it when I met with Renka tomorrow.

A white sleeveless dress shirt resembling a blouse, black slacks with a fluttering hem, and high-heeled sandals.

Meeting Renka, who was dressed in an outfit that exuded maturity, I gave a light nod.

“Hello, President.”

“Greet me politely.”

“Yes. Hello, President.”

Renka's eyebrow twitched.

Normally, I would have asked why she was picking a fight when I was already being polite, yet here I was, meekly changing my words?

From Renka's perspective, nothing could be stranger than this.

“What are you doing?”

“What do you mean?”

“Why are you... Never mind.”

Why are you suddenly being so obedient?

It seemed like she wanted to say that, but closed her mouth because it would be awkward to say it out loud.

After all, common sense dictated that being obedient was a good thing.

It felt like she was staying silent to avoid being teased, afraid I'd look at her weirdly if she brought it up.

Relationships only develop when people speak frankly with each other...

She must be on guard because of how much she had suffered at my hands.

Thinking about it that way made me feel a bit sorry.

Unlike Renka, who came out dressed like an office worker, I was wearing casual clothes.

Feeling somewhat turned on by the thought that this felt like a secret date between a female professor and a male student, I asked.

“Did you have any trouble getting here?”

“No.”

“Shall we go in, then?”

“Sure.”

Slide.

As I tried to wrap my arm around the lower back of Renka, who had answered in an emotionless tone, she sharply turned her head and glared at me.

But that was all. She didn't actively resist; she simply braced herself against my arm trying to pull her into my embrace.

Looking down at her as she silently strained, putting tension in her waist, I spoke.

“Do you hate it that much?”

“Hate what?”

“You're tensing your stomach so hard.”

“...Shut up.”

Letting out a small chuckle, I removed my hand and stepped into the store a pace ahead of Renka.

Then I began browsing the figures lined up in the display cases from the entrance onward.

“Is there anything you're curious about?”

Renka hated it when I talked about otaku stuff.

And yet, she was offering to explain things to me first?

It meant Renka was beginning to feel it too. The suspicious atmosphere flowing around me.

It seemed the time she would grow anxious was approaching faster than I expected.

Giggling internally, I pointed to a robot figure behind the transparent glass.

“What's that one?”

“The protagonist of a mecha series that came out two months ago.”

“I didn't know you enjoyed mecha too.”

“I don't usually watch it, but new mecha releases are rare, so I checked it out a bit.”

“Was it good?”

“Well... it was okay.”

“I see. I should watch it sometime. Is there anything you want to buy?”

“Nothing for me.”

“Anything you'd recommend?”

“...Didn't you say you were going to buy a Spy Family Figure?”

“You said it was popular and would probably be sold out.”

“That's for the new ones. There should be a few of the older figures left. Come this way.”

Renka strode toward the aisle without hesitation.

Following behind her, I saw a few Spy Family Figures without sold-out stickers, just as she had said.

I kept a beaming smile on my face but hardened my expression just as she turned around, nodding as I scanned the cute chibi figures.

“They're cute. I should buy three of these.”

“You know you should check the paint job before opening the packaging, right?”

“No, I didn't know. Do I have to?”

“Yeah. It's hard to get a replacement once you open them. But well... chibi figures usually come out fine, so you probably don't need to worry.”

“Understood.”

After speaking to the staff and buying the figures, I roughly checked the paint and tossed the items into a shopping bag.

Then I left the store with Renka.

“We don't need to eat, right?”

Renka asked as she stroked the collar of her sleeveless dress shirt.

Her flat tone made it sound as if she had just finished a mandatory work task rather than a date.

However, despite her tone, she was probably feeling a bit anxious inside.

“Yeah, well... We don't have to eat. Are you busy?”

“No.”

“Then do you want to watch a movie?”

“Sure.”

Look at this.

In the past, she would have feigned reluctance and turned me down at least once, but now she was willingly agreeing.

She didn't even use phrases like ‘Do that’ or ‘Do whatever you want’—she gave a straightforward positive answer.

Getting into the car with Renka, I placed the shopping bag on the backseat and started the engine.

Then, once Renka fastened her seatbelt, I muttered in passing while setting the GPS.

“The three of us really need to go to a Hotel with Master.”

“What are you saying...! I'm not going. Chinami might agree, but I'm different. I won't satisfy your perverted desires.”

“Is that so... That's a shame.”

“A shame? That's just common sense in the first place.”

“That's not what I meant when I said it was a shame.”

“Then what did you mean?”

“I meant I'd give up since you seem to hate it. That's why I said it was a shame.”

“Is that right...?”

“Yes. As of today, I'll stop talking about the Hotel.”

“...Really?”

I wasn't looking at Renka, so I didn't know what kind of expression she was making.

But one thing was certain: it definitely carried a hint of suspicion.

“I mean it. Pick out a movie for us to watch on the way.”

“What genre?”

“Whatever the President wants to watch.”

“I don't have anything in particular in mind... I'll check what's playing first. We're going to a nearby theater, right?”

“Yes.”

“Got it. I'll just book the tickets then?”

“Go ahead.”

“...What a strange guy.”

She murmured in a very small voice.

It was both funny and cute how she felt a sense of incongruity from my almost complete lack of mischief today and was showing it outwardly.

Inside the theater, I wouldn't even touch her back like earlier.

I should restrain physical contact as much as possible and gauge her reaction.

Making that resolve, I glanced through the rearview mirror at her as she started searching for a movie on her Cell Phone, and drove off.