Chapter 442

"How do the peaches taste lately?"

- That depends on the variety, of course. Always has.

"Did I ask a silly question?"

- Not at all. It's a perfectly normal thing to bring up in conversation.

"Is that so?"

- Of course.

"You really are kind, Master. I want to touch your butt."

- W-what...?

"Just kidding."

- Aha...

"Did that sound like a joke?"

- D-didn't you just say it was...?

"It is a joke. I was just messing with you a little."

- I see...! I'm completely out of my depth with that sort of thing, so I didn't get my junior's joke.

Talking with Chinami always made me feel like I was slipping into the fourth dimension.

Even when our conversations started out completely normal, they always ended up like this. Chinami was just so eccentric that the atmosphere naturally drifted in that direction.

Not that this was a bad thing, of course.

"If anything, I like it. You're cute."

- Gosh... S-saying things like that...

"Why? Do you not like it?"

- It's not that...

"Want to come over and watch a drama sometime soon?"

- Ah.

"That was a yes, right?"

- Y-yes.

"Then I'll call you when I'm free and come pick you up."

- Sounds good.

"You like me?"

- Ah...! I didn't mean it like that, but I suppose that's true too.

Our Chinami, so honest with her feelings... An urge to pull her into a tight hug welled up inside me.

I wanted to pinch her soft, plump cheeks and claim those glossy, peach-colored lips.

I chatted with Chinami for a little while longer before hanging up.

I really liked the walking trail in front of Hiyori's house.

The sound of the leaves rustling in the wind was especially pleasant.

Bzzzt—!

Just as I was having those thoughts, my Cell Phone vibrated.

I thought Chinami might have forgotten to say something and called back, but when I checked the caller ID, it was Renka.

She must have called in a fit of anger after seeing that I'd left her message on read.

Should I answer? Or not? Earlier, I'd thought she should just call me directly if she wanted to talk, but now I had the feeling things would be much more entertaining if I just let it ring.

So, I wouldn't answer.

But instead of pretending I hadn't noticed, I needed to make it perfectly clear that I was intentionally avoiding her.

I swiped up on the small bar underneath the accept and decline buttons.

A list of auto-generated phrases popped up.

They were the default messages you could send when rejecting a call.

I selected the one saying I couldn't talk right now and sent it, taking a moment to imagine the look on Renka's face.

I could clearly picture her spitting curses at me in disbelief.

I was chuckling to myself at the thought of her fuming when a familiar voice called out from behind me.

"Did something good happen? Why aren't you answering your phone?"

Before I knew it, Hiyori was standing right behind me.

I hadn't sensed her approach at all. As expected of an expert at slipping away from teachers to ditch class, even Hiyori's footsteps were completely stealthy.

"None of your business. When did you get here?"

"Just now. Was that a woman calling?"

"I told you, it's none of your business."

"It was a woman. You really are a total womanizer. Why are you like this? I thought you were at least a somewhat normal person, sunbae-nim, but now I see that's not the case at all."

"Do I seem like trash?"

"Yes."

"You're not wrong."

"At least you admit it. That's a relief."

But aren't you also coming after me even though I'm with Miyuki?

Is this that classic 'it's romance when I do it, but an affair when someone else does it' logic?

I stood up and faced Hiyori.

"Let's stretch."

"Why are we stretching the second we meet?"

"Why are you so cranky today?"

"Because I feel like it."

Smack—!

"Eek!?"

Hiyori stiffened her entire body as my hand swatted the back of her baggy pants.

Letting out a cute shriek of surprise, she glared at me with wide eyes.

"What are you doing...!"

"Because I feel like it. Stand up straight."

"You always just smack my butt... Don't you ever get tired of it?"

"Nope."

"So annoying... You're really annoying."

Unlike the other heroines, Hiyori hadn't built up much affection for me yet.

Which meant her sunk cost was relatively low.

Right now she was blinded by infatuation, so the chances of her distancing herself were low, but there was no guarantee she wouldn't run away if I kept dragging my feet or openly flaunting my womanizing tendencies.

So, I needed to tie an inseparable thread between us as soon as possible.

The moment I got even a slightly positive answer from Miyuki, I would get to work right away.

With that resolved, I flashed a bright smile at Hiyori, who was still grumbling with a pout.

"I'm sorry. Hurry up and stand straight."

"...Why are you suddenly acting nice?"

'Because you like it when I smile like this.'

'That way, those blinders won't come off.'

Swallowing those words, I tapped my own shoulders with a gentle expression.

It was a signal for her to grab on and bend at the waist. At that, Hiyori placed her hands on my shoulders, pretending to do so reluctantly while maintaining her sullen pout.

Bzzzt—! Bzzzt—!

The vibration against the wooden dining table created a grating rattle.

Having finished my workout with Hiyori, returned home, and taken a shower, I roughly dried my hair with a towel while checking my Cell Phone.

It was another call from Renka.

It seemed my slave was getting anxious from being deprived of her master's affection; if she was going this far, it was probably fine to answer.

"Hello."

- Hey! Are you crazy?

Her sharp voice rang out the moment I pressed the accept button.

I pulled the Cell Phone away from my ear for a second before bringing it back and speaking.

"What is it?"

- Answer me when I contact you! Do you have a death wish? Why are you ignoring my texts!

Her tone was extremely agitated.

She had a lot of frustration built up.

"Is it something urgent or important?"

- Do I need a reason like that just to call you?

"Isn't that how it usually goes?"

- Don't be so childish.

"I was only stating the facts."

- Ugh, whatever. Where's your house?

"Why do you want to know where I live all of a sudden? Are you coming over to kill me?"

- I heard Chinami was at your place. Chinami and I are practically joined at the hip, so of course I should know too.

"Isn't that a bit of a stretch?"

- Tell me. Before I kill you.

"Wouldn't it be better if I didn't tell you so I don't get killed?"

- Haa...

Renka let out an annoyed sigh and fell silent.

Was she about to unleash a torrent of curses?

Just as I was bracing myself to let her swearing wash over me... "- Hey."

She called out to me in a somewhat milder tone.

"Yes."

- Tell me. I have something to give you. If you don't tell me, I'll ask Chinami.

Renka's attitude, which was almost always commanding when dealing with me, had actually changed.

She'd tacked on a threat at the end, but it was still a massive leap forward.

At this point, I shouldn't say that I would go to the President's house to get it, or suggest meeting halfway.

I needed to show her that if she bent her pride, I would be more receptive.

Simply put, it was tossing her a carrot.

"But if I tell you the address, are you actually coming over?"

- Do you have time right now?

"I do, but..."

- Then I'm coming over right now, so tell me. No... Please tell me.

"Understood."

Stifling the laughter threatening to burst out, I gave Renka my address.

And the moment she heard it, Renka hung up.

Thinking that reaction was very true to her character, I leisurely waited for her to arrive.

How much time had passed like that?

The moment the comedy show I'd left playing on the TV ended and cut to commercials, a loud thumping sound from outside pierced my ears.

Ding-dong—!

The doorbell was ringing on top of it; she was acting like she was being chased by a stalker.

Getting up, I leisurely strolled over to the Main Gate and raised my voice over the wall without opening it.

"Who is it?"

"It's me. Open the door."

"You could have just pressed the doorbell once. Why were you banging on the door like that?"

"I said, open the door."

"Just wait a second."

Clack.

When I unlocked the Main Gate and pulled one side open, Renka was glaring at me with a sullen expression, arms crossed and her weight shifted onto one leg.

She was dressed in casual clothes, and next to her sat a rather large box—just the right size to be held perfectly in both arms.

"What's that?"

I asked, pointing at the box in confusion.

At that, Renka straightened her head and answered.

"Your present."

"A present?"

"It's a figure display case. It's a small one, good for beginners. You're not on my level, but you still buy figures occasionally... You probably just leave them sitting around the house, so I figured it'd be better to store them in here. If a part falls off, it'll be easy to find, and you won't have to worry about losing anything while cleaning..."

Ah... Our Renka... Such a kind heart.

"Ah... A figure display case? You carried this all the way here?"

"Yeah."

"That must have been heavy. You should have told me it was something like this. I would have gone to pick you up."

"Shut up. Would it kill you to just say thank you?"

"Thank you."

"Whatever. Set it up yourself."

"Don't be like that. Let's set it up together."

"...Can I come in?"

She was practically radiating the desire to be let inside, yet here she was, playing coy...

Her attitude had changed, but it seemed her inability to properly express her feelings remained exactly the same.

Still, I liked when Renka acted like that. That side of her was her core identity, after all.

"You're already here, so of course you should come in."

When I said that in a level tone and stepped slightly out of the doorway, Renka cleared her throat.

Then, glancing at me sideways with those sharp yet somehow gentle-looking eyes, she bent over.

It looked like she was planning to pick up the box and carry it inside.

"I'll carry that, so you go on in first."

"...Excuse me, then."

As Renka brushed past me with awkward movements, her blueberry scent was unusually strong.

Thinking about how sweet that scent was, I hoisted the box up and gestured toward the house with my chin for Renka, who was just standing there blankly watching me.

"Let's go."

"Where should I put my shoes..."

"Take them off on the engawa."

"You leave your shoes outside?"

"Only when the weather's nice."

"Is that so...? That's nice."

"What's nice about it?"

"It feels atmospheric. Anyway, get me some water once we go inside. I'm thirsty."

I give her an inch, and she instantly gets all high and mighty again...

Well, I could already picture her shrinking into an embarrassed mess once we actually got inside, so I'd let her boss me around out here.

Racking my brain for the best way to neglect her inside and provoke a reaction, I just offered a smirk in lieu of an answer and walked into the house alongside her.