Chapter 471

"It's a shame she slept the whole time... Come by again next time."

I bowed in response to Midori's farewell and replied.

"Yes. I'm sorry for imposing on you."

"Didn't I tell you to stop saying that?"

"Understood. I'll come back another time."

"Please do. We should all go out to eat next time."

I thought this every time I saw her, but Midori truly was a gentle person.

If she kept treating me this well, things were going to cross a line.

My desire for Midori had already swelled to an unbearable level.

She had brought this upon herself.

"I will."

Smiling brightly, I said my final goodbye to Midori and stepped outside as she saw me off.

I glanced up at the window of the room where Miyuki was dead to the world, then headed home.

I took a quick shower, but boredom set in the moment I stepped out.

Tormenting Renka was the perfect way to pass the time in moments like this.

I decided to message her right away.

[Where are you?]

A reply arrived less than a minute after I sent the message.

[I'm not meeting you.]

Acting coy right off the bat, I see.

Despite suffering at my hands every time, our dear Renka's spirit never broke...

That was exactly why I liked her.

[I just asked where you were. Do you really want to be punished?]

[I misunderstood.]

[Then what should you say?]

[Say what.]

[You should apologize.]

[Why should I do that?]

[Isn't it common sense to apologize when your slip of the tongue offends someone?]

[I don't want to apologize to you.]

[Are you kidding me?]

[Kidding you twice.]

I let out an involuntary chuckle at her sudden wordplay.

Where did she even learn that? Her shamelessness was incredibly cute.

At the same time, my gaze drifted toward the whip sitting in the corner of my closet.

Cute was cute, but discipline was discipline.

It was about time to break that out.

[That was funny.]

[So what?]

I could vividly picture her giggling to herself, convinced she had scored a point against me.

[So, where are you?]

[Home.]

[Get ready to come out.]

[No.]

[I'll be there in an hour, so be ready.]

[Don't waste a trip. I told you no.]

I didn't send another reply and immediately started getting dressed.

I knew she would come out despite what she said.

She wouldn't be able to handle the consequences if she didn't, so she really had no choice.

How would she make my heart race this time?

With that anticipation in mind, I finished getting ready.

...

There was no one waiting in front of Renka's house.

I wondered if she had actually refused to come out, but then I noticed the Main Gate was cracked open.

Through the gap, I spotted her peering out at my car.

She wanted to preserve her pride by not coming out right on time, but she was too terrified of the punishment she'd receive if she didn't come out at all.

That must have been why she was hesitating to make her entrance.

Just as I expected, one side of the Main Gate swung open about a minute later, and Renka stepped out.

She wore a look of utter annoyance, but having just caught her peeking through the gate, her attempt to act tough only looked hilarious.

Clunk.

"Why did you make me come out? So annoying."

Renka grumbled the moment she opened the passenger door and climbed into the car.

Her chest seemed firmly supported, meaning she must have worn a bra today. I would have to interrogate her about that later.

"Hey...! What is that...?"

I watched her eyes widen as they locked onto the black object sitting prominently on the dashboard.

With a bit of exaggeration, her eyes were so wide I could practically see the whites above and below her irises. I gave her a bored look and replied.

"What."

"I'm asking what that is! That thing on the dashboard!"

"Can't you tell by looking?"

Did she find my nonchalant attitude that absurd?

She let out a series of dumbfounded scoffs.

"What is the meaning of this?!"

"What now?"

"Why did you leave it out in plain sight?! Are you planning to use it today?!"

"I am."

"Are you insane?! Taking revenge just because I teased you a little over text—do you know how petty you look right now? You really want to go at it?!"

She screamed her lungs out, but it wasn't the least bit threatening.

"At least you know exactly what you did wrong. Accept it humbly."

"What are you talking about?! Why should I have to accept that?!"

"Then you shouldn't have pushed your luck."

"P-Pushed my luck?! Don't you dare talk to me like that!"

Snatching up the whip in a fit of nerves, Renka flinched when its dozens of tails slithered against each other. She immediately chucked it into the backseat.

"I am absolutely not doing that!"

"The President doesn't have a choice."

"No! If you force me, I'll kill you!"

"I'm not going to repeat myself."

With that, I started the engine.

All the way into the city, Renka sat in the passenger seat and spat out a constant stream of harsh threats to show off how fierce she was.

But that only lasted so long. Ignoring her rage, I turned the car onto a street lined with hotels, and her fiery momentum completely deflated.

"Hey... you aren't actually going to do it, are you...?"

It was hilarious how docile she became the moment she realized I was actually going to whip her.

"You know I just get riled up easily... You know that, right?"

I stifled a laugh at her sudden shift to a girlish tone and silently pulled into the parking lot of the Raffia Hotel, my usual spot.

Renka sucked in a sharp breath and tightly clenched both fists.

"Don't you dare...! I swear I won't forgive you...!"

And what were you going to do if you didn't forgive me?

I swallowed the retort, parked in an empty spot, stuffed the whip into a black shopping bag I had prepared, and stepped out of the car.

I signaled for her to get out with a flick of my finger, and she immediately started shaking her head in a frenzy.

I thought she looked incredibly cute clutching her seatbelt like a lifeline. Putting on a scowl, I yanked her door open and pointed my index finger at the ground twice.

"Oh, come on..."

"Get out."

"...Stop dropping your honorifics."

"Get out, now."

"No! Who goes to a love hotel in broad daylight?!"

That made it sound like she would be perfectly fine with going at night, though I figured I was probably reading too much into it.

"It's the morning, not broad daylight."

"It was a figure of speech because we're here so early, you idiot!"

"Are you going to keep acting like this?"

"I'm not going! I'm hungry. Let's eat first."

"We can order room service, so get out."

"I don't want room service."

"Aren't you a little too old to be a picky eater?"

"Shut up. Let's go out and eat."

"Fine. We'll eat, then go inside."

"Dammit..."

Letting out a sigh of pure frustration, Renka climbed out of the passenger seat, radiating reluctance.

I held out my open palm below her chest and spoke.

"Hand."

"What? You..."

Renka flared up, on the verge of cursing me out, but stopped herself. After a moment of hesitation, she carefully placed her hand on top of mine.

She even took the initiative to intertwine our fingers.

She clearly thought I would let her off the hook if she got on my good side now.

I tried to lead her into the building, but she abruptly planted her feet and tensed her entire body.

"You said we were going to eat! Why are we walking into the lobby?! Why did you lie to me?!"

"I changed my mind."

"Don't give me that! It hasn't even been five seconds! I've been completely obedient!"

It was utterly ridiculous—and entirely hilarious—that she considered simply holding my hand to be completely obedient.

"Since when?"

"What do you mean? You asked for my hand, so I gave it to you! Why are you acting like this..."

"Are you really acting like that was some huge concession?"

"At least I gave it to you! Ugh, whatever! I am absolutely not doing this."

"Is that right?"

"Yeah. I'm not doing it."

"I'll just force you."

"Just try it. See what happens."

That was the kind of threat that only worked when she held the upper hand...

Our dear Renka hadn't figured that out yet.

"Alright, then. Let's get to it."

"Wait... no! Just wait a second! Stop!!"

Watching her dig her heels in and pull back on our intertwined hands, I suddenly felt the urge to pull her into a tight hug.

"Why?"

"What you're trying to do means you don't even see me as a person! What am I, a dog? Are you going to beat me just because things didn't go your way?!"

"Why would I hit a dog? They're wonderful pets."

"It's a figure of speech! Ugh, this is so frustrating!"

"Frustrating?"

"Yes! I'm so frustrated I could die!"

"Then you shouldn't have done something to earn a beating. The President brought this upon herself."

"What do you mean, brought this upon myself?! I was just acting the way I always do!"

"Right."

I didn't press the issue. Instead, I turned to face her and opened my arms slightly.

Renka stomped her feet in utter dismay, then cautiously stepped forward and wrapped her arms around my waist.

She even went as far as to nuzzle her head against my chest.

It wasn't just a desperate ploy to escape the SM play. Seeing me offer a gentle hug had melted her heart, drawing out a purely instinctive reaction.

I gently stroked her hair and spoke.

"See? Wouldn't it have been better if you acted like this earlier?"

"..."

"I'll go easy on you, then."

"No! I don't want it at all!"

Her whining voice had risen to a significantly higher pitch.

To top it off, she was squeezing my waist as she spoke, shamelessly acting cute to appease me.

When she rebelled, all I wanted to do was torment her without an ounce of mercy. But when she was like this, I wanted to cherish her. It was a bizarre kind of sympathy.

Back when I left the house, I was dead set on whipping her. But Renka's brand of affection was practically a cheat code for me, melting away my cruel intentions.

"I've let you off the hook like this plenty of times already, haven't I?"

"We're supposed to be talking as equals! The fact that you're even talking about letting me off the hook means this is entirely messed up!"

"Weren't you just flaunting your authority as the Kendo Club President and my senior? Are you really going to use that excuse now?"

"Then just let me off the hook again!"

"I'm not loving your tone right now."

"This is just how I talk! What do you want me to do..."

I patted her back as she mumbled to herself, then let my hand slide lower—only for my eyes to widen in surprise.

'What the...?'

She was wearing a pair of incredibly soft slacks.

The fabric was thin enough that I should have easily felt her panty line, but there was absolutely nothing there.

"Are you not wearing panties?"

"..."

I had only asked to make sure, but Renka refused to answer.

Which was as good as a yes.

The last time we met, she had only worn Nipple Patches under her clothes. Had she assumed she needed to show up pantyless this time?

If so, she had done an incredibly commendable thing.

"Let's go."

Deciding there was no reason to waste any more time out here, I grabbed her hand and pulled her toward the entrance.

But just like before, she tensed her body, dug her heels in, and spoke up.

"You really aren't going to use it...? Then I'll go in."

"Alright."

"Say it clearly! Say you aren't going to use it!"

"I said alright, didn't I?"

"I told you to say the actual words! Say you aren't going to whip me!"

"I won't whip you."

"Say the exact word! Say 'whip'! I'm not moving an inch until you do!"

She had dealt with me enough to know exactly what would happen if I managed to gloss over the specifics.

Was it time to change up my repertoire? I needed to think of a good alternative.

"Look at you! You're trying to drag me inside without saying it— Ah! Hey!"

I began pulling her with actual force, and she continued to scold me as she was helplessly dragged inside.

Dragging her half-forcibly into the lobby, I let her endless complaints go in one ear and out the other as I booked a room at the automated kiosk.