Chapter 50: Karina the Undercover Boss

Two days have passed since I was almost raped by a drunk guest. Despite everyone's concerns, I returned to working the front desk. Putting the horrible event behind me.

"Tsukishiro-kun... You really don't need to force yourself to come to work. I'm certain Tanaka-san would even give you a week off if you requested it."  Watanabe-san says, worrying for me like a father would. 

In response, I firmly shake my head. "I'm fine, Watanabe-san. I wasn't hurt enough to warrant a week off work. Nor was I traumatized by it."  I say. My lips curled into a wide smile, doing my best to convince him to forgo his worrying.

Watanabe-san quietly stared at me for several breaths, likely gauging whether I really am okay or if I'm just putting on a mask.

To be honest, I've already gotten over my near-rape experience. How quickly I overcame it shocked even me. 'Is it because I was saved before she even touched my dick? Or am I just... weird?'  I thought, trying to identify the root cause of my nonchalant response.

"...... Alright..."  Watanabe-san says after a lengthy pause. "But if you feel something is off, tell me, okay? I'll ask Tanaka-san to send you home with an escort."  he adds.

My eyes widen slightly at the latter half. 'An escort too? That's a bit much.'  I thought, though I sort of understand why they'd be willing to go that far.

"Thank you for your consideration, Watanabe-san."  I say, bowing my head slightly to him.

The older man reluctantly gazes at my lowered head. "Just... don't overexert yourself. You're still very young..."

Then, as if putting our conversation to a halt, the clacking sound of short heels echoed throughout the lobby. 

I turn to see who it is. Only for my eyes to widen in surprised familiarity.

"Ka... rina..?"  The name flows past my lips as I stare at her familiar, yet unfamiliar appearance.

Her blonde hair had been curled beautifully. Her once chubby figure is nowhere to be seen. What I see now is a healthy, slim figure wrapped in a long-sleeved button down shirt. The hem tucked inside a pair of expensive-looking, silver-gray pants.

But what didn't change are her light blue eyes that observe me with an almost maternal gaze.

"It's been a while, Andy."  Karina says, her voice is as comforting as I remember. "I didn't know you were working here. Truly, what a coincidence."  she says, her lips curled into a wide smile as she waves at me.

As much as I don't want to admit, I stood stunned for a couple breaths. "Karina, you look amazing..."  The compliment finally escapes me. 

The recipient, that is Karina, seems to be pleased as her smile grew even more. 

Her blue eyes do a brief scan of my appearance. Not the leacherous, perverted kind, but a neutral run down. "You look amazing too in that uniform. It makes you look even cuter while also being elegant."  she says.

And for a brief moment her lips twitched. Almost like she held back a laugh just now. "Ahem! Whoever designed that uniform must be incredibly creative."  she says, coughing into her fist.

Meanwhile, watching this exchange from the sidelines is a flustered Watanabe-san. His black eyes darting back and forth between Andy and Karina. 'But, Yokoyama-sama, you're the one who designed these uniforms...'  he thought. Though he wanted to say it out loud, he had a gut feeling he shouldn't.

"Now, as much as I want to chat with you more, Andy, I shouldn't hold you anymore while you're working."  Karina says.

"Oh, alright."  Andy says, a tinge of disappointment in his voice. He briefly closes his eyes and shifts back to work mode. "How may I help you today, Yokoyama-sama?"  Andy says. His smile brighter than the one he uses normally.

Karina looks fondly at the young man before her. Almost like a proud mother. "I'd like a single room please." she says.

Andy nods briefly, searching for an available room of that type. "Understood. And how long will you be staying?"

"1 week."  Karina says immediately after being asked. "I'll be staying for one week. Please take care of me for the duration of my stay~"  she adds. Though the latter feels targeted towards Andy specifically.

Still watching from the sidelines, Watanabe-san is growing more and more flustered by the second. 'Yokoyama-sama, you're just testing him... right..?'

.

.

Several hours after that unexpected encounter with Yokoyama-sama, or Karina rather, I finished my shift for the day and am now waiting at the cafe out front. Sitting at a small table next to the window. 

'I hope Karina likes the black coffee I got for her.'  I thought, staring at the cup on the other side of the table.

"I really don't get people who like that bitter stuff..."  I mutter to myself.

"That's because it's an acquired taste~"

"AH!"  I jump in my seat out of shock. I snap to my right and see Karina smiling at me.

"Don't sneak up on me like that!"  I say, placing my hand over my rapidly beating heart.

"Fufu~"  Karina lets out a small laugh as she sat down in front of me. "It's because you looked so tense just now. Just wanted to loosen you up a bit~"  she says with a smug smile on her face.

"Hmph..."  

"... Is this for me?"  Karina's gaze traveled down, settling on the cup of coffee in front of her. Still hot enough to have steam rising out of it.

"Yeah. Who else could it be for?"  I say, a small chuckle escape me as I did.

Reaching for the cup, Karina brings it to her lips. Drinking it without so much as a sound or a slurp.

"Mm... No sugar..."  she mutters, placing the cup back down. Her pink lips curl into a smile as she gazes at me. "You remember..."  she says. And her words made me feel warm in a way my latte never could. 

I hurriedly cover my mouth and look away. Gazing out the window as my cheeks grow faintly red. "Of course I do... We rarely get to talk on LINE because you're so busy all the time..."

Hearing that, Karina went wide-eyed for a second. Her expression shifts to an apologetic look. "I'm sorry..."

"! I didn't- ... I didn't say that because I'm upset."  I say, looking straight at Karina on the other side of the table.

Her eyes meet mine, and her expression began to soften. "Alright. But I promise I'll start message you more often from now on. Because..."  Karina reached out, placing her hand on top of mine. "Starting today, I'm going to be earnestly courting you, Andy."  she says, smiling at me with a gaze of growing determination.

My eyes go wide at her confession. "Right..."  I mutter. "You did say that at the end of our rental date..."

As I recall that moment in time, other memories begin popping into my head.

My two partners; mom and Hina. The girls I didn't  reject, and her.

Akari, the officer who saved me, and the woman I slept with once under the influence of a drug.

The memory of which has been stuck in the back of my head ever since. 

'If I had just resisted the aphrodisiac's effects, then I wouldn't have had sex with a woman I just met... Even though polygamy is fairly common in this world, it still feels like I did something horrible... It's like there's a voice in my head demanding I do something to fix it...'

"Andy?"  Karina speaks up. Her voice snapping me back to reality.

"Y-Yeah?"  I blurt out, and I quickly meet her gaze once again.

Karina then looks at me with evident worry in her eyes. "It seems you're tired after all... I'm sorry for asking to meet up like this when you just got off work."  she says, pulling her hand away from mine.

"What?! No- I'm not..."  I trail off, considering my next words. "... Maybe I really am tired."

"I knew it."  Karina says immediately after. "I won't take any more of your time, Andy, so I'll cut to the chase."

After a brief pause, Karina opens her mouth again. "Will you go on a date with me tomorrow?"  she asks, staring right into my eyes as she did. "Not a rental date, but a normal one."  she adds.

'... I don't have work tomorrow so I can go. But I...'

"I'm sorry, Karina. I already have plans tomorrow."  I say with an apologetic smile. Letting her down as gently as I can.

Karina went wide-eyed for less than a second. "I see. Then when are you free?"

I ponder at the question briefly, running my schedule in my head. "Fu... Four. I'll be free four days from now. Is... that okay?"

"Of course."  Karina says without hesitation. "Four days from now I'll take you to watch the sunset from one of the best spots in Tokyo."  she declares with a wide smile on her face.

"Got it. I'll look forward it to then."  I reply, my lips curled into a small smile.

'Tonight I'll tell mom about what happened between me and Akari. And tomorrow, I'll tell Hina...'

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