Chapter 483

"Is it good?"

Renka was sitting on a bench outside the Screening Room, eating an ice cream cone.

She didn't even turn her head at my question, taking another bite of the cold ice cream before answering.

"Yeah."

"Give me a bite."

"No. I told you before I bought it not to even think about stealing any."

"The movie's starting soon, and ice cream isn't allowed inside."

"It's fine. We have time during the ads. I can finish it before the movie actually starts. If you're that anxious, go in by yourself."

"So petty."

"So what?"

Did she feel satisfied because she managed to tease me?

The corners of Renka's lips, dotted with a bit of white ice cream, lifted into a slight smirk.

Come to think of it, Renka rarely smiled when she was around me.

I was always teasing her and getting on her nerves, and we bickered every time we met.

Sure, Renka tended to hide her true feelings, but my attitude had definitely played a part in it too.

I figured I should shower her with compliments today and see how she reacted.

"You look really pretty when you smile."

"Wh-what...! I told you to stop saying weird things...!"

Caught off guard by the sudden compliment, Renka glared and raised her voice.

"I just felt a little guilty."

"Guilty...?"

"I haven't seen you smile much, probably because I keep acting so mean to the President."

"...Did you eat something weird today? Did you hit your head?"

She clearly thought this was out of character for me. It seemed my image was already set in stone, given how far her taming had progressed.

Habits really are a terrifying thing.

"Why?"

"Because you keep spouting bullshit..."

"Bullshit? Come on, use prettier words."

"S-see, look at this! Normally you would have ordered me around, but now... you're doing that thing, aren't you!"

"That thing?"

"For Wednesday..."

"You think I'm kissing up to you so you can't run away?"

"...Well, aren't you?"

"I was just expressing my pure affection, but the President keeps doubting my true intentions."

"Because you keep acting suspiciously! Anyway, just be quiet! You're annoying me..."

"I'm that annoying?"

"Yeah."

"Fair enough."

Conceding without a fight, I let out a soft sigh and waited patiently for Renka to finish her ice cream.

She sneaked a few glances my way. Apparently feeling bad about what she had just said, she held the ice cream out toward my mouth.

"Eat."

"I thought you weren't sharing."

"I figured you'd just find some weird reason to pick a fight with me if I didn't. Just have a little bit."

"Can't I have a lot?"

"No. You said you didn't want any in the first place. Isn't it pathetic for someone to steal someone else's food after acting like that?"

"Are we strangers?"

"Ah, screw it... eat whatever you want!"

"Let's watch the harsh language, alright?"

"Your true colors are finally showing."

"What did I do?"

"Your tone completely changed!"

"Unbelievable."

Ignoring Renka's ridiculous whining, I took a bite of the ice cream she was holding out.

"Why did you take such a huge bite!"

Her complaint burst out instantly.

I briefly considered cracking the whip to instill some discipline, but decided to stick to my current approach instead.

"I'm sorry. But you're dressed really nicely today."

"Wh-what is that supposed to mean?"

"What now?"

"Are you saying that because I'm wearing underwear? Spit it out! Don't beat around the bush!"

"Why would I say anything about you wearing underwear? Are you bringing this up because of the patches?"

"Stop playing dumb!"

Her paranoia was borderline severe at this point.

At this point, wouldn't she feel more comfortable if I tormented her instead of being nice?

I couldn't help but wonder.

"Stop being ridiculous and just finish your ice cream."

"You scarfed it all down. There's nothing left."

"Prettier words."

"Eat shit."

"This is your last warning. Use prettier words."

"I knew it. Acting like you were being so nice... it was all fake."

"The hell it's fake. I want to be nice, but the President keeps pissing me off."

"This is all your fault. You're always tormenting me, so I don't have a choice but to act like this."

"It's my fault?"

"Obviously."

She gave a firm nod, huffing out little breaths through her nose, all while taking another bite of her ice cream. She was incredibly cute.

"Should I stop tormenting you from now on?"

"You'd still do it even if I told you to stop."

"I wouldn't if you told me not to."

"Bullshit."

"It's the truth."

"Stop trying to pull a fast one. I'm not falling for it."

She kept dodging the question.

I wondered if she was afraid that asking me to stop would just make me ignore her completely, like I had last time.

"Well, if you're going to be that distrustful, I can't help it."

"Right."

"Sure."

"Yeah."

"So I'll just keep tormenting you then?"

"What are you talking about! How did the conversation even get to that!"

"If you won't ask me to stop tormenting you, doesn't that mean you actually want me to?"

"You're spouting crazy talk... I do not! Anyway, I'm done eating, so let's go inside."

"Hold the Popcorn."

"Don't order me around."

"I don't like your tone."

"So what?"

"The President is always complaining about how much she hates being tormented, so I was being nice. Why do you keep asking for a beating?"

"What...! What did I even do!"

"You really are a piece of work. Get up."

"No."

"Are you not going to watch the movie?"

"I'm not."

"Suit yourself."

Clicking my tongue, I turned to enter the Screening Room on my own, only for Renka to come scurrying along right behind me.

When I glanced back at her, she whipped her head away as if she couldn't even stand the thought of speaking to me—which only fueled my desire to put her in her place.

We walked into the Screening Room with a solid gap between us, looking for all the world like a couple having a lover's spat.

As I checked the seat numbers and climbed the stairs, Renka strode up beside me and asked a question.

"Where are we sitting?"

"I thought you weren't watching."

"I suddenly felt like it."

"Why?"

"Because I want to. 7H... Here it is. Move."

Snatching the tub of Popcorn from my hands, Renka squeezed past me and marched over to plop down in her seat.

Crossing one leg over the other, she stared straight up at me, practically demanding to know why I wasn't sitting down.

I shook my head and took my seat. Immediately, she grabbed a piece of Popcorn and brought it right up to my lips.

"Eat some Popcorn."

"I'm good."

"Eat it."

She practically pressed the piece of Popcorn between my lips.

Hadn't she done this exact same thing last time?

Before we started working at my uncles' shop, she had bought rice cakes and kept aggressively urging me to eat them.

It was Renka's own unique way of trying to break the ice, and her version of acting cute.

I let out a dry chuckle and opened my mouth slightly, taking the Popcorn she was feeding me.

Then, as she reached out to grab another piece of Popcorn, I placed my hand on her thigh.

"Hic...!?"

A slightly comical squeak escaped her lips.

She was startled, but her body didn't tremble; it seemed she had fully expected me to retaliate.

"What do you think you're doing...? Take your hand off...!"

It seemed Renka was the one putting on a fake act, not me.

Watching her glare daggers at me, I thought her acting skills had definitely improved.

"Why are you making a fuss again? Cut it out."

"C-cut it out? Stop treating me like a criminal when I haven't even done anything wrong!"

"You haven't done anything wrong?"

"I haven't!"

"Are you sure about that? Unless you want to get whipped in front of Master, you'd better start being honest."

"Wh-what...? You... you crazy son of a..."

"You'd better watch your words."

"..."

In the light cast from the screen, I watched Renka's eyes dart back and forth.

Was she imagining herself getting whipped in front of Chinami with a sharp smack, whining in pleasure all the while?

Renka squeezed her eyes shut, then opened them again, swallowing hard.

"Y-you're not actually going to do that, are you...?"

"Keep acting like this if you want to find out."

"What did I even do! How am I acting!"

"Hand."

I held out my palm like I was training a dog. She ground her teeth, but she slowly raised her hand and placed it in mine.

"If you're going to obey me anyway, why do you constantly try to make me out to be the bad guy?"

At the soft shift in my tone, Renka put on a sullen expression.

"You were already a bad guy to begin with. You're Trash. You're worse than a dog..."

"Let's not cross the line. Cursing like that with such a pretty face just makes you look cheap."

"..."

"See how much better it is when you're quiet? Good girl."

I gently scratched under the chin of the tight-lipped Renka. Surprisingly, she accepted the touch without a fuss, speaking up in a much more timid tone.

"O-on Wednesday... don't treat me like you usually do..."

It was her way of begging me not to act like I would whip her, spank her ass, or lock her up in a cage while we were around Chinami.

Simply put, she was asking me to let her keep her dignity.

"Is that a request?"

"Yeah..."

"I'll see how the President behaves and decide then."

"It's also a warning. If you even show a hint of doing any of that, I'm storming out immediately."

A slave trying to give her master a warning...

In the old days, when the hierarchy between master and servant was absolute, such a thing would have been completely unthinkable. The world sure had become a better place.

"So you want me to respect you?"

"Exactly."

"Then the President needs to respect me, too. Don't you think it's a bit selfish to constantly call me Trash or a son of a bitch, and then turn around and demand respect?"

"I-I still do everything you ask me to do, though! I even wore those patches last time... and just the other day, I also..."

"The panties?"

"Yeah... I went without them... Anyway, I'll try to hold back on the cursing from now on..."

"Alright. Let's both try to be as considerate as possible this Wednesday."

"P-promise me..."

"Don't worry about it."

"No... I said promise me!"

"I told you not to worry."

"Just promise me you'll behave! Promise me!"

"I'll give it positive consideration."

"Stop dodging the question and give me a straight..."

"Message received."

"I'm not asking you to receive it... Ah, screw it! I'm not doing this!"

Annoyed by my vague, noncommittal answers, Renka slammed her clasped hands down on her own knees with a sharp smack.

She was showing off a truly exceptional level of cuteness today. I felt a sudden urge to pull her into a hug.

Could I really hold out until Wednesday? It wasn't that far away, but if Renka kept acting like this, I might just end up taking her in the car on the way back tonight.