Chapter 455

"How was the coffee? I thought it was pretty good."

As we walked out of the cafe, Renka gave a sullen reply to my question.

"Tastes the same as any other cafe."

"Really? Then why did you order another cup?"

"Because I was thirsty."

"You just can't be honest, can you?"

"Shut up."

"It's getting pretty late. Let's head back."

"Head where?"

"Home, where else?"

"...Right."

Her regret was written all over her face.

She had been pretending otherwise, but she was clearly sulking. When I gave her rear a gentle pat, she let out an annoyed "Hey!" and swatted my hand away.

"What is it now? You don't like this?"

"It's not that I hate it, it's just that you keep trying to touch me all the time..."

"Does a master need to choose the time and place to touch his slave's body?"

"What did you say, you punk?"

She glared at me, but it wasn't the least bit threatening.

Maybe it was because I could see a hint of secret delight in her expression.

I had been treating Renka rather distantly for the past week, so I hadn't explicitly called her a slave in a while. Hearing it again seemed to make her heart flutter.

"What?"

"What do you take me for? You can't just treat a person like that...! Even if I am a slave..."

"So you admit it?"

"I'm speaking hypothetically...! Even a sold slave is a person. Who would like being treated like an object...!"

"I never bought you, President."

"I said hypothetically! A hypothesis! Are you stupid? Or just shameless?"

"Who's calling who stupid and shameless?"

"You! I'm talking about you!"

"You really have no manners."

"I'm not the one without manners; you're the ill-mannered one for making your sunbae-nim angry...!"

"Alright, calm down. Why are you so angry today?"

"Didn't I just tell you? It's because you..."

"Right."

"Ugh...!"

Renka gnashed her teeth and glared at me murderously.

It was a fierce look that would have made anyone else nervous, but to me, she just looked cute.

How should I put it... it felt like a rebellious teenage daughter protesting her curfew.

"Still, it's nice being just the two of us for a change."

"W-What are you saying...!"

I even liked the way she flinched at my quiet words and swiftly turned her head away.

"Did you hate it, President?"

"I... not really. I didn't hate it, but I didn't like it either."

"That's a rather generous assessment. You kept snapping at me, so I thought you hated it."

"W-Who snapped at you...! Do you want to die?"

"Go ahead, then."

"You..."

"You what? Gonna swear at me?"

"Never mind. It's better to just stay quiet than get myself riled up talking to you."

"You've finally developed the proper mindset of a slave."

"Where's that barking coming from... Hyaah!?"

Renka, who had been brushing off my provocations, suddenly hissed like a feral cat.

It was because I had unceremoniously tried to slide my hand down her pants.

Shivering all over, she frantically shoved my hand away and glared.

"Seriously, what are you doing...!!"

Hmm. Scolding me in a coy voice while she checked our surroundings—she looked both pathetic and incredibly hot.

I just wanted to spend the whole day together and torment her.

Fighting back that urge, I pointed toward the public Parking Lot when a raindrop fell from the sky and tapped against my cheek.

"It's raining. Let's hurry."

"Haa... I really hate this..."

"Hate who? Me?"

"Not you...!"

"Is there anyone else here besides me?"

"...Forget it. Just go."

She serenely closed her eyes like an enlightened monk. Had I pushed her too hard?

I'd have to soothe her nicely once we were in the car.

Renka followed quietly behind me. Once we got into the car and I started the engine, she silently buckled her seatbelt and turned her gaze out the window.

Her behavior radiated a sheer determination not to speak a single word, but...

"I'm heading out."

"..."

"You'll regret it if you don't answer."

"Ah, fine...! Just drive...!"

I put a little pressure on her, and she opened her mouth immediately.

Wasn't it about time she built up some resistance to these kinds of taunts?

It was hilarious how she would fly into a rage at the slightest provocation.

"I'm going."

"Yeah."

"I'm saying this for the last time. When I contact you, reply."

"Sure, I'll try my best."

"Don't 'try your best,' just give me a definite yes...!"

"What if I'm sleeping?"

"Oh, come on... Then reply when you wake up! Don't just leave me on read like you used to!"

Renka threw a fit, slapping her back against the seat before leaning forward again.

Biting my lower lip, I fought back a laugh as hard as I could and pressed the button to unlock the passenger door.

Clack.

Flinching at the sound, Renka asked in a somewhat angry tone.

"Are you kicking me out now? Telling me to get lost?"

"No. I'm telling you to go inside and rest if you're done talking."

"How is that any different from kicking me out!"

"Want me to show you the difference?"

"Just try to push me...! I'll seriously kill you...!? I'm not just saying it this time...! This time..."

I hadn't even mentioned pushing her, yet her paranoia was going strong.

Gently patting the thigh of Renka, who still showed no intention of unbuckling her seatbelt, I said, "I'm joking. You seem really worked up today. Go cool your head at home and contact me again tomorrow."

"Then you better pick up when I do."

"I said I got it."

"Drop the casual talk. Show some manners."

"Stop nitpicking. You made sure to grab your gift, right?"

"Ugh...!"

She sucked in a sharp breath when I mentioned the Nipple Patch I had given her earlier.

Glancing sidelong at the handbag holding the patch, she opened her mouth cautiously.

"W-What am I supposed to do with this...?"

"Use it. Don't women wear those all the time?"

"No, we don't...? Where did you even hear something like that?"

"You don't? Well, I gave it to you anyway, so put it to good use."

"...Can I just use it however I want?"

It sounded like she was beating around the bush, asking if she could skip wearing it on the days we met.

In situations like this, it was better to give a positive affirmation rather than playing dumb or being vague.

And it was even better to lace that affirmation with a hint of an ulterior motive.

"Yeah, do whatever you want."

"..."

"Why?"

"O-Oh, nothing. Got it for now."

Not 'for now'—she needed to get it for sure.

There were so many fun situations this Nipple Patch could create, and I wanted to savor them completely.

"I'm leaving...?"

"Aren't you forgetting something?"

"I don't think so...?"

"Alright. Go on inside."

"Get back safely."

Leaving a sullen goodbye, Renka was about to open the passenger door when she suddenly paused, as if remembering something, and turned her body around.

"Um... I didn't really... want to do it today... because you kept bullying me..."

"Do what?"

"F-Forget it if you don't know. A-Anyway, I'll see whether I want to do it next time. I'm going."

Having said that, Renka shut the passenger door and hastily scurried into her house.

I knew exactly what Renka was bringing up out of nowhere.

When I asked if she was forgetting something, it reminded her of the time she had kissed my cheek, and that was what she was referring to.

And as a bonus, she was claiming self-defense by adding that I had bullied her, just in case I said anything about her not doing it.

She really was quite cute. A sudden thought occurred to me: was Renka's mother, Rika, like that when she was younger?

I was curious, but there was no way for me to know. At least, not right now.

Shaking off the idle thoughts, I left her house, harboring great anticipation for my next meeting with Renka.

The next day, I woke up early, took a shower right away, and headed straight to Miyuki's house.

Driving through the rain that had begun to drizzle down once more, I parked my car in her house's Parking Lot. I was just about to press the doorbell, but before I even could...

Click.

The door swung open, and Miyuki welcomed me, dressed in plum-red pajamas made of a material that looked incredibly soft.

"What are you doing here?"

"I heard your car."

"Were you still sleeping?"

"I was awake, which is why I opened the door for you, Matsuda-kun."

"True."

"Idiot."

"Are your parents here?"

"Yeah."

"They know I'm coming, right?"

"I told them yesterday. Come in."

Seeing Miyuki's back as she sauntered away made a surge of lust rush through me.

Because of the pajamas' fabric, every step she took accentuated her rear, making me wonder if she was trying to seduce me on purpose.

Following behind her—who for some reason gave off a rather sophisticated vibe today—I spotted Kanna in the kitchen and gave her a wave.

"Hello, Kanna."

At that, Kanna, who had been chugging water from the fridge, flinched and covered her eyes.

It seemed she didn't want to show me her puffy, swollen eyes.

"Hey. If you're here, just go on upstairs."

Hmm. What a warm and affectionate welcome.

It looked like Midori and Wataru were still in the master bedroom.

Did they consider me part of the family now, since they didn't even come out to greet me?

It was early, of course, but you still needed to see someone's face to say hello... I felt the urge to knock on their bedroom door.

After walking up the stairs and washing my hands in the second-floor bathroom, I stepped into Miyuki's room and unknowingly curved my lips into a smile.

It was because I really liked her newly decorated room—redone by her own hands and overlaid with the traces of my presence.

"What are we doing today?"

Miyuki asked as she walked over to the bed and lay down without hesitation.

I sat down near her waist and shrugged.

"I don't know. What do you want to do? Want to watch a movie?"

"Sounds good to me. But let's rest a bit first."

"Sure, let's do that."

"Lie down here."

Pressing herself flat against the wall, Miyuki patted the empty spot on the bed with her palm.

She looked like she had something to say... I had a gut feeling that an important conversation was coming.

I slowly lay down as she wanted. She pulled my arm toward her, placed her pillow over it, and buried her head against it.

She stared at me intently for a moment before finally opening her mouth, right as wind-swept raindrops pattered against the window frame.

"I was thinking..."