Chapter 454

Some people naturally exuded a certain charm.

They might not realize it themselves, but that charm naturally laced their tone, actions, and aura.

Usually, people who were raised with plenty of affection possessed it, and Chinami was a prime example.

Renka had this side to her, too.

Slightly unstable, yet cute...

An acquired charm, ingrained in her through training, was visible in Renka right now.

"Are you really not going to eat it?"

Sitting in a corner booth at the pasta shop, I held out a Blueberry Candy. At my question, Renka turned her head away and answered bluntly.

"I'm not eating it."

"Why are you sulking?"

"Who says I'm sulking...!"

"You'll be in big trouble if you don't eat it."

"What do you mean, big trouble? Don't threaten me."

"Eat it before I use everything I bought today on you, President."

"...What?"

Renka's violet eyes trembled violently.

Was it just my imagination, or could I see a faint glimmer of anticipation mixed with the fear and dismay in her gaze?

Staring quietly at her, I nudged the candy forward and said, "I'll shackle your ankles while you're stark naked, put a gag in your mouth, tie your wrists with rope and hoist you to the ceiling, and then the whip..."

"S-stop...! Stop it...! I'll eat it, okay...?!"

Did my low, completely emotionless voice paint too vivid a picture in her head?

Renka snatched the candy in a panic and tore off the wrapper.

Glaring at me once, she ground her teeth and popped the candy into her mouth.

She seemed completely oblivious to the fact that the few other customers in the shop were staring at her, so I decided to clue her in.

"You're too loud. Did you want to be the center of attention?"

"What are you... Ah...!"

Noticing the stares, Renka glanced around and hurriedly bowed her head.

Considering her usual behavior toward the club members and her classmates, she was the textbook definition of an ice queen, but right now, she was incredibly meek.

That personality was one of the main reasons I wanted to tease her so mercilessly.

She would bare her thorns if provoked, but on the inside, she was as fragile as an adolescent girl. Spending time with her gave me the urge to coax those hidden feelings out.

"This is your fault...!"

Rolling the candy around in her mouth, Renka shot me a glare. I snorted at her reprimand and gestured with my chin toward the pasta dishes the server had just set down.

"Eat."

"I ate the candy for nothing. So annoying..."

"You didn't have to eat it."

"You told me to eat it...! You said you'd do that if I didn't eat it...!"

"I meant for you to finish your dinner first and eat it as dessert."

"You son of a..."

"Swear, and I'm putting a collar on you right now."

"...You jerk."

It was immensely satisfying to see her obey me so well even while flying into a rage.

She had caved to a threat, of course, but obedience was still obedience.

The training and enslavement of a proud noble lady... It was a massive turn-on, and Renka was playing her part beautifully.

Pouring water into my cup, I clicked my tongue as Renka angrily crunched her candy into pieces and picked up a fork.

"You could just spit it out and finish it later."

"If I spat it out, you would've found another reason to get on my case. Because you're twisted."

"I'm not."

"Don't lie... You totally are."

To be fair, she wasn't wrong.

"I really have zero credibility with you."

"I'm eating, so don't talk to me."

"Understood."

We ate our pasta in total silence.

Midway through, Renka threw a few self-conscious glances my way, but having suffered enough indignities for one day, she kept her mouth shut to preserve her remaining pride.

She finally called out to me after we stepped out of the restaurant.

"Hey."

I turned at her cautious tone to see Renka holding out a hand, her gaze darting away from mine.

"Give me another candy. Not the lemon-flavored one."

If it were Christmas instead of summer, and if Renka were wrapped up in a thick scarf and mittens, it would have been absolutely perfect... Her tone and behavior were ridiculously cute.

The season was just a tiny bit regrettable, but of course, I was more than satisfied even now.

"They're in the car... but I have no intention of giving you another one."

"Why? Is my quota one a day? You used to give me extras."

"No. It's because you didn't ask politely."

"Are you... kidding me?"

"Do I look like I'm joking?"

"Ugh, damn it...! Give me another candy."

"Say, 'Please give me one.'"

"Are you crazy?"

"No. I'm serious."

"Why do you keep tormenting me...!"

"Who says I'm tormenting you? Isn't it only natural to speak politely to each other?"

"I just asked you to give me one...!"

"I'm using polite speech with you."

"That's because you're a year younger than me...! And I'm the President of the Kendo Club, so obviously you should...!"

"But I'm the President's master."

"Are you crazy...? Cut the bullshit!"

Renka instantly spat out a curse.

Seeing how furiously worked up she was, I casually shook my head and replied.

"You're doing it again. No candy for you."

"Hey...! Fine, keep it. Forget it. I'm not eating it."

"Are you sure you won't regret it?"

"Regret my ass...! If you even think about offering me candy from now on, I'll kill you."

"I have so many left over. Whatever will I do?"

"Then shove them all down your own throat...!!"

Squeezing her eyes shut, Renka shrieked and fanned her face with her hand.

Seeing her try to cool down her flushed skin made me accidentally let out a laugh, which only earned me a fiery glare.

"You think this is funny? Is this funny to you!?"

"No... I'm not laughing because it's funny."

"What kind of absolute nonsense is that...! Then why were you laughing?"

"Because I like how honestly you express your feelings."

"....."

"I'd love to see more of this honest side of yours in the future."

"Whatever..."

The same Renka who had been throwing a fit just a second ago suddenly grew incredibly timid.

Basking in the visual satisfaction of watching her turn into a painfully shy girl, I pointed toward the public parking lot.

"Shall we head out?"

"W-where are we going? Do we have somewhere else to be?"

"No. We should head back."

"Then..."

Seeing her trail off, it was obvious she didn't want to part ways just yet.

Say what you will, but Renka truly, deeply liked me.

"Do you want to grab some coffee?"

"...I suppose."

"Is there one nearby? I didn't think there were any cafes around here."

"We'll have to head into town."

"Alright."

As I nodded readily and turned toward the parking lot, Renka scurried up beside me and asked, "Where are you going?"

"To pull the car out. Town is pretty far from here."

"Let's just leave it and walk. Cafes are everywhere, so taking the car just because there isn't one right next door is... I'm sure we'll find one if we walk a little."

"You think so?"

"Yeah."

"Then let's do that. Do you want to go to the cafe where we used to work? It's a bit of a trek, but walking there will help us digest our food."

Renka's face scrunched up into a deep frown.

It wasn't because she wanted to forget those memories; it was just her way of acting bashful.

"No."

"Got it. Come to think of it, you aren't working a part-time job right now, are you?"

"There's nothing good to fangirl over... I mean, uh... I'm not really strapped for cash..."

Why was she so fun to tease when she kept accidentally blurting out her true thoughts?

This was exactly why I couldn't stop having these kinds of conversations with Renka... constantly poking and prodding at her.

"What do you mean there's nothing to fangirl over? I'm sure you could find plenty if you looked."

"Shut the f... Shut up."

"Alright."

I shrugged, kept my mouth shut, and started walking. As she walked beside me, staring at the ground, she suddenly tapped my shoulder.

"Hey."

"Yeah."

"About me yelling earlier... um..."

"Um, what?"

"I wasn't finished! Would it kill you to wait a second? I was trying to say I'm sorry...!"

Ah... If I had my way, I'd drag her straight to a love hotel or back to my place right this second.

I wanted to use all the SM play gear I'd bought and have a wildly filthy time with her.

More than anything, I wanted to see her stripped naked with that exact expression of shattered pride on her face.

"If you're sorry, why are you yelling at me again?"

"Why do you have to be such a b..."

"A b...?"

"...big pain in the neck."

"Good save."

"Whatever..."

Apologizing must have felt unbearably awkward for her, because she snapped her head away to look at the street.

I stared at her for a long moment before asking, "Are you really not going to eat any candy? Then should I stop giving you any from now on?"

"No... Hah... You don't even have any on you right now."

"So you're saying you'll eat it?"

"Are you that slow?"

"Stop beating around the bush and give me a straight answer."

"I said I'd eat it... I'll eat it...! But you said they were in the car. How am I supposed to eat one now?"

"I checked my pockets and found another one."

The moment Renka saw the Blueberry Candy I pulled from my pocket, her lips twitched as a string of curses fought to escape.

"You son of a..."

However, she must have suddenly found a well of superhuman patience. Instead of swearing, she just let out a long sigh and snatched the candy from my hand, swallowing her harsh words.

"I'll eat it after I have some coffee..."

"And what do you say when you receive a gift?"

"...You've got to be kidding me..."

"Excuse me?"

"Thank you...!"

"Why are you getting annoyed while thanking someone? Try again, and do it properly."

The way she clenched her fists tightly, her arms trembling as she openly displayed her sheer embarrassment, was incredibly charming.

"Th-thank you."

Her reluctant display of gratitude...

I'd been feeling a little guilty for pushing Renka so hard today, but seeing her act like this only made me want to push her further.

"I'll take you home once we finish our coffee."

"To my place?"

"Yeah. Why? Were you hoping for something else?"

"Whatever... No, I wasn't. Don't say weird things..."

To my eyes, she looked overwhelmingly disappointed... Was she really not hoping for something else?

The answer was obviously no, but since Renka had flat-out denied it, my 'tactless' self had no choice but to take her word for it.

"Alright, then."

"....."

"When are you free next?"

"Why do you ask? Did you... finish talking things out? With Chinami?"

She was bringing up the threesome she'd proposed last time.

She really had a dirty mind.

Of course, I was the one who made her this way.

"Ah... That? It's... coming along well enough."

"I-is it...?"

"Yeah. Though there's something I need to prepare first."

"Prepare what...?"

"You'll find out soon enough."

"Stop dragging it out and just tell me now...?"

"I see a cafe. Let's go in."

"No... Tell me...! Hey...! Tell me...!"

Smiling at how delightful her desperate urging sounded as she chased after me, I pulled open the door to a cozy little cafe glowing with soft lights.

Just to make her squirm a little more, I was going to stick to my plan: grab some coffee, then part ways for the night.

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