Chapter 482

[Matsuda-kun.]

I had just gotten back from meeting Chinami and Renka and was lying in bed when a text from Miyuki arrived.

Lazily fiddling with my Cell Phone to browse training toys for Renka, I sent a reply.

[Yeah.]

[You're not asleep yet?]

[I'm in bed, but I'm not going to sleep just yet.]

[Why?]

[I can't fall asleep.]

[Thinking dirty thoughts?]

[Aren't you the one having dirty thoughts? Last time, you said you'd hold it for me while I peed.]

[I was just curious. When are you going to let me do it?]

She had gotten a bit shameless.

Normally, she would get embarrassed and change the subject if I said something like this, but now she was tackling it head-on.

[I don't mind whenever, but do you really have to do it?]

[Why? Is it embarrassing?]

[Put yourself in my shoes. How do you think you'd feel if I watched you sitting on the toilet?]

[I don't think it would bother me.]

What a joke.

She would definitely throw a fit and tell me not to look.

Still, I was glad she found me trustworthy enough to feel comfortable opening up every part of herself to me.

[Stop lying.]

[I'm not.]

[Then show me tomorrow.]

[I can't. Matsuda-kun has to let me do it first.]

[Why?]

[I brought it up first.]

[I have nothing to say to that.]

[Right?]

Ever since my relationship with Miyuki had deepened, she usually preferred to call me, except when she had a quick question or was busy.

Of course, we texted a lot too, but when there was this much back-and-forth, phone calls were much more common.

She probably wanted to talk about Wednesday.

She must have been too embarrassed to say it out loud.

I decided to just wait quietly.

I bided my time, playing along with her text, until she finally gave the signal.

[And about what we're doing on Wednesday.]

[Yeah.]

[I don't think I should go. No matter how much I think about it, it's going to be awkward.]

I had expected her to say that.

Given the mood on the day I brought it up, I knew this was coming.

Rather than just agreeing right away, it was better to scratch Miyuki's itch a little.

I needed to show her that I was constantly thinking about her. That would at least somewhat soothe her clearly troubled heart.

[Should we cancel then?]

[Cancel? Why?]

[You said you weren't going.]

[I said 'I' wasn't going.]

[So I should go alone?]

[Matsuda-kun, it's obvious you're playing dumb.]

So that didn't work anymore.

She was too quick on the uptake. Now I just felt awkward.

While I paused for a moment, struggling to think of what to say, her next message arrived.

[Idiot.]

Still, I was glad she seemed secretly pleased.

It was definitely better to try and understand the other person's intentions rather than acting selfishly.

[Sorry.]

[It's nice to see you admit it so obediently. Did you really want to do it that much?]

[Honestly, yeah. A lot.]

[You're such a pervert. Since I'm not going, you have to grant me a wish later.]

[What wish?]

[I haven't thought of one yet. I'll tell you when I do.]

[Alright.]

[You'll grant it no matter what?]

[It's only right that I do.]

[Good. And after you're done with that, you have to come see me.]

[I will.]

[You're not going to ask why?]

I knew exactly how Miyuki would act.

So there was no need to ask why.

[Yeah.]

[Okay.]

[Should I come over to your house now?]

[Now?]

[To sleep together.]

[I wouldn't mind.]

She was beating around the bush.

If I just said 'okay' and ended it there, she would sulk for at least a day.

[Because I want to. Could you tell your mom before it gets too late?]

[Yeah.]

After ending the conversation with Miyuki, I immediately got ready to head out.

No matter how I looked at it, Miyuki was far too accommodating.

So I needed to treat her right.

"Are you awake? Do you want some water?"

After sleeping with my arms wrapped around Miyuki the night before, I headed downstairs, patting down my messy bedhead. Hearing Midori's voice from the kitchen, I walked over.

"Yes, excuse me, but if I could just get a glass of water... Huh?"

I blinked in sheer bewilderment.

Midori, who should have been in the kitchen, was nowhere to be seen. Instead, Kanna was sitting there all by herself.

While I looked around with a dumbfounded expression to search for Midori, Kanna poured a glass of water, set it on the table, and spoke.

"It was me."

"What?"

"I said it was me."

"...Was that your voice just now, Kanna?"

"Yeah. How was it?"

I let out a dry laugh at Kanna, who shamelessly asked for my thoughts.

Thinking back, the nuance had been slightly different, and I did feel a sense of incongruity when I heard it.

"It sounded exactly like her."

"Right?"

She looked extremely proud of herself.

Was she preparing to be a voice actress? You wouldn't be able to mimic someone's voice that well without extraordinary talent. I was genuinely impressed.

"Why are you so happy about it?"

"I'm happy because I succeeded."

"Right... You're a tease."

"I thought you were more of a tease than I am."

"Me?"

"Yeah."

"Did Miyuki say that?"

"No. That's just the vibe I get."

"So it's just a guess?"

"Pretty much."

No matter how I thought about it, Kanna belonged with Hiyori.

If those two were put together, it felt like a lot of entertaining situations would unfold.

"Is that my image?"

"No. You come across as a bit more reserved."

"That's the first time I've ever heard that."

"Just looking at your face, you give off that vibe."

"I see. Thanks for the water."

"You're leaving?"

"Yeah."

"Without even washing up?"

"I'll wash up at home."

"What about Miyuki?"

"She's sleeping."

"It's about time she woke up... You didn't do anything weird yesterday, did you?"

"No."

"I heard noises, though?"

"We didn't do anything, so what could you have heard?"

"So you didn't fall for it. See you."

"Where are your mom and dad?"

"They left early to exercise. They won't be back for a while, so just go without saying goodbye."

"Alright. I'll come by again."

"Do that."

I chuckled at Kanna, who was mimicking Midori's voice again, and walked outside to look up at the sky.

The sun was blazing. I couldn't remember the last time the weather had been this clear.

After driving home and washing up, I headed straight for Renka's neighborhood.

I sent her a text announcing my arrival, then bought a matcha latte and a coffee from an independent cafe near her house...

I placed the cups in the car's cup holders and leaned against the outside of the car to look at the sky. Soon, Renka approached from a distance, glaring at me with her arms crossed.

"So now you just show up whenever you want without even making plans?"

She offered her own unique greeting with a sour look on her face.

I shrugged in response.

"Got a problem with that?"

"I do."

"You certainly look like you do. I stress you out a lot, don't I?"

"You even have to ask? You're giving me high blood pressure."

"Should we get that checked out?"

"I didn't mean I actually have high blood pressure; I meant you piss me off. Do you not even know what a metaphor is?"

"I'm a bit ignorant, so I didn't know."

"At least you admit you're ignorant."

"Didn't you score lower than me on the recent exams, President?"

"So what, you're saying I'm more ignorant than you? I do Kendo...! I've chosen Kendo as my career, so I only need average grades! There are plenty of schools offering me scholarships!"

Her petty attempt to talk herself up was incredibly cute.

"Right."

"What do you mean, 'Right'!"

"I agreed with you, so why are you mad? Did you want me to praise you for doing a good job?"

"You..."

Renka clenched her fists, her body trembling with rage.

I figured I should stop teasing her and give her some affection.

"I'm joking. Come here."

I opened my arms wide, but Renka just scoffed.

"No."

"Why not?"

"Why should I?"

"Then I'll go to you."

"A-Ah... wait..."

It was hilarious how quickly she lost her haughty attitude and shrank back the moment I took a single step toward her.

Pulling the shrinking Renka into a tight hug, I slipped my hand under her long ponytail and gently stroked her back.

Then, I confessed how I really felt.

"Every day is fun because of you, President."

"W-what... so suddenly... How cringey..."

"Isn't it the same for you?"

"Of course not...! Every day I just get angry because of you...!"

"Really?"

"...Sometimes not."

How could I not tease and torment her when she reacted like this?

For me, Renka was a guaranteed source of entertaining reactions. Even though I always told myself to go easy on her, I kept pushing her buttons.

"Ah, why are you being like this...! You're just treating me well on purpose because Chinami and I are going there soon...! If I run away, the three of us won't be able to do it...!"

Generating all sorts of paranoid conspiracy theories was just another fun part of teasing her.

"Do you even have the courage to run away?"

"What...? You bas—"

"I'm kidding. I'm just doing this because I like you, President, so don't curse at me."

"...I wasn't going to...!"

"You were already halfway there. Weren't you about to call me a bastard?"

"No, I wasn't...!"

"Then what?"

"I-I meant, stop clinging to me like a leech... let go of me now..."

She'd gotten much better at making up excuses. Not bad.

Still holding onto Renka—who pressed herself even closer to my chest despite telling me to let go—I slowly shuffled over to the passenger side.

I opened the door with one hand and looked down at Renka, who was still safely in my arms.

"What do you want to do today?"

"I don't know."

"I bought a matcha latte and a coffee. Which one do you want?"

"Matcha latte..."

"But I want to drink that one."

"Then why did you ask...!"

"I was going to say I'd let you have it as a special favor."

"...Really?"

"Yeah."

"Then hand it over."

"Shouldn't you say 'thank you' first?"

"I'm not... thankful. Actually, no, I'll say I'm a little thankful."

Treat her nicely, and she gets all arrogant again.

I thought she'd be anxious about the fact that she and Chinami were going to sleep with me, but she didn't seem too bothered by it. What a relief.

Thinking that Renka's subdued voice sounded particularly nice today, I finally let her go.

She quickly hopped into the passenger seat and snatched up the matcha latte, as if afraid I'd take it back.

Then, she raised her chin at me, as if asking what I was going to do about it.

When I really thought about it, Renka's mental fortitude was nothing short of extraordinary.

Seeing her react so honestly to my words, you would think she would break easily, but she hid a solid core underneath.

Still, just for today, I decided not to torment her like usual and just indulge her little fits, all to prepare her for Wednesday.