Chapter 485

I spotted Renka and Chinami standing side by side at the entrance to the shopping complex.

They looked incredibly good together, yet there was a subtle awkwardness between them—a contradictory impression.

It must have been the atmosphere radiating from the two of them.

Usually, they chatted endlessly whenever they met.

But today was different. Both kept their mouths shut, watching my car as I turned the corner.

Had they been talking and suddenly fallen quiet when they spotted me?

They looked as though a sudden wave of tension had washed over them.

I pulled up slowly, parked, and rolled down the passenger window.

I looked at the hesitating pair and spoke.

"Hello. Master, take the front seat."

Renka bristled immediately and glared at me.

"Are you saying you don't want me in the front seat or what?"

That wasn't a reaction born out of jealousy over me favoring Chinami.

She just wanted to grumble and pick a fight for no reason.

After all, the two of them cared for each other deeply.

There was absolutely no room for jealousy over a mere passenger seat.

"Did you want to sit in the front, President?"

"I was going to let Chinami sit there...!"

"See?"

Renka opened the rear door with a sullen expression.

Chinami, who had been stamping her feet as she watched her, poked her head through the open passenger window and lowered her voice.

"Umm... I also wanted to have my close friend Renka sit in the front..."

"It's already been decided."

"I really don't mind sitting in the back, so..."

"It wouldn't look good to swap now, so just get in."

"Ah, okay..."

Chinami carefully climbed into the passenger seat and fastened her seatbelt. Her outfit for today was a flowing white skirt and a light peach blouse.

It suited her perfectly, matching her strong preference for an innocent look.

As for Renka...

"Haa..."

She wore a shabby pair of sweatpants and a T-shirt. It was incredibly simple.

"What? Did you just sigh?"

"No."

"What do you mean, no...! You did it while looking right at me...!"

"You're mistaken."

"What... Then did you sigh at Chinami?"

"I didn't sigh at all."

"Stop lying...! I'll kill..."

Renka, who had been about to curse, shot a glance at Chinami.

It was genuinely touching to see her trying so hard to hold back her swearing in front of her.

I clicked my tongue softly at Renka's half-hearted pretense, then patted Chinami's thigh as she tried to open a peach container.

When she looked up, I pressed my lips lightly against hers.

"Hya!?"

Letting out her signature cute gasp at the unexpected physical contact, Chinami gave her head a little shake.

Her eyes darted to Renka in the backseat. Even though she hadn't initiated the kiss, she still seemed self-conscious.

While Chinami darted her eyes around, unsure of what to do, Renka glared at me as if she wanted me dead.

Her lips twitched as she muttered something. She was probably cursing me out for embarrassing Chinami.

She was probably also feeling a bit resentful that I hadn't shown her the same affection.

"Do you want a kiss too, President?"

"Wh-what...?"

At my nonchalant question over my shoulder, Renka audibly gulped.

She seemed to be trying to figure out if I was the crazy one for offering such casual affection, or if she and Chinami were the weird ones.

"I'll... pass."

"Why?"

"I don't like that kind of thing in the first place... If you'd done that to me instead of Chinami, you wouldn't be of this world anymore..."

"But yesterday you..."

"What are you talking about...! Aren't we going?"

A hidden desperation lingered in her glaring eyes.

I could practically hear her begging me not to mention that she had initiated a kiss yesterday.

"Understood. Let's get going, then."

"Where are we going, anyway?"

"A love hotel."

At my calm reply, both Renka and Chinami inhaled sharply.

They seemed flustered that we were skipping a date and heading straight to a hotel.

Thinking they acted just like twins, I pulled away and said offhandedly, "I figured we could watch a movie or two in the room."

"...Did you die in a past life because you couldn't watch enough movies? You watch them every day..."

"They didn't have movie theaters back in my past life."

"Ah, shit... You're always itching to nitpick every little thing..."

"Ah, shit?"

"What...! Got a problem with that? Are you trying to walk all over your senior right now?"

Did she think I wouldn't treat her roughly just because Chinami was here?

Renka was acting a little too cheeky.

"B-both of you, please don't fight."

Chinami was sweet as always.

Since it was her request, I decided to let it slide for now.

"I'll let it go."

"What do you mean you'll let it go...! I'm the one holding back..."

Renka, who had snapped back at me, suddenly flinched and turned her head slightly.

It happened right after our eyes met in the rearview mirror.

Acting so tough when she was this easily cowed... She was dead meat later.

I led the two of them into the hotel lobby. They stuck close behind me like students following a chaperone. Then, I picked up the reserved room key.

It was a suite on the top floor—a spacious room completely devoid of any bizarre themes, quite unlike a typical love hotel.

"Shall we head up?"

I looked back with the key card in hand, and the two of them nodded in unison.

They looked like tourists in an unfamiliar place, fascinated by their guide's explanations.

Suppressing the urge to burst out laughing at their reaction, I boarded the elevator with them and headed to our room.

Even after I tapped the key card and pushed the door open, Renka and Chinami didn't budge an inch from behind me.

"Go on in."

Only after I prompted them did they carefully step inside.

You'd think they were refugees seeking asylum in a war zone... They were acting so incredibly innocent.

"Ah, it's quite a spacious room..."

"Yeah..."

"Hmm... Do you think there's a bathroom in every room...?"

"Probably...?"

"In that case... I think I'll go take a shower."

"Already...?"

"What...? Ah, um... I don't mean it like that...! I just want to wash up..."

"Ah, sorry..."

It was funny watching them clash over their differing implications of a shower.

I watched their flustered exchange in silence. When Chinami let out a fake cough, stepped into one of the rooms, and shut the door behind her, I turned my attention to Renka.

"What was that little comedy sketch just now?"

"Comedy sketch...? Don't call it that...!"

"What did I even say?"

"A-anyway, can't we just call this off...?"

"Why?"

"What do you mean why... She's uncomfortable..."

"Who? Master?"

"No, you..."

"Me?"

"Uh... aren't you?"

"Nope."

"Right... Never mind, then... Can I go wash up too...?"

Mmhmm. Asking for permission had really become a habit for her.

It was an excellent attitude.

"Are you going to wash up with Master?"

"What are you talking about...! There's another bathroom...!"

"Have you never washed up together before?"

"O-of course we have! Why wouldn't we?"

"Then why are you getting so angry?"

"I'm getting angry because you're the one asking...! You're having dirty thoughts while saying it..."

"I never knew you could read minds, President."

"Don't be sarcastic. You're so vulgar..."

Her lips twitching as she vented her complaints, Renka stepped into the other room.

Left alone, I stared at the massive bed sitting right in the corner of the living room.

It was truly massive. Without exaggeration, it was big enough to fit four... no, five people with room to spare.

Was this a sign telling me to consummate the grand finale of my harem right here?

That completely ruined the mood, though... It made me wonder if I should just buy a giant bed for the house instead.

But the decorations here were way too excessive.

The bedding and pillows were fine, but the flashy, sheer canopy curtains—the sort a medieval queen or princess might use—were definitely not to my taste.

Still, it offered more privacy than being completely exposed, so I didn't feel the need to move them aside.

Having all four sides enclosed would also give us a sense of security.

With that in mind, I finished my shower in the smallest bathroom and slipped into a bathrobe.

I shot a quick glance at the two still-firmly-shut doors where the girls had disappeared, then lay down right in the center of the bed.

I folded the heavy duvet back so Renka and Chinami could lie down comfortably. Just as I finished, the door to Chinami's room clicked open.

"Ah, it seems you've finished your shower as well..."

Catching sight of me, she fidgeted, resting the sole of her right foot on top of her left.

She kept fiddling with the belt of her robe. I couldn't tell if she was worried the tightly tied knot might slip undone, or if she was simply awkward given the situation, but it brought out that signature Chinami cuteness I hadn't seen in a while.

A moment later, the other door opened and Renka stepped out, her wet hair swaying.

She was wearing the exact same bathrobe, tied just as tightly at the waist...

No matter how closely aligned their minds were, it was highly likely they'd coordinated this in advance.

They hadn't stepped out at exactly the same time, but it was close enough to suspect they'd texted each other the moment they finished washing up.

"Look at you, lounging so comfortably..."

I glanced back and forth between Renka, who had been grumbling non-stop about God-knows-what, and Chinami, who was still hesitating.

"Now that you're clean, come lie down."

The two of them flinched. They exchanged a quick glance before carefully making their way over.

They were surprisingly obedient. It was expected of Chinami, but I hadn't expected even Renka to listen so willingly.

The heavy, subdued atmosphere in the room must have been affecting them.

If this had been an impromptu street pickup specifically for sex, I would have immediately moved on to the dirty stuff. But since this was a threesome with people I had built a deep emotional connection with, I had no idea how to break the ice.

I wanted to follow the plan I'd envisioned earlier, but it wasn't exactly panning out.

Calling them in separately, one at a time like I did with Miyuki, didn't feel right...

For now, just like I told Renka, I should probably put on a movie to try and dispel this heavy atmosphere.

Chinami shimmied onto the mattress and sat down modestly, sweeping both knees to the side.

I gave her back a gentle pat. Her eyes were wide with tension as I carefully guided her down to lay on the bed.

Then, I gestured with my chin for Renka to lie down next to her.

"But Chinami is next to you..."

"The other side is empty."

"I know... It's just... alright."

She approached the bed with stiff steps, skirted past my legs to reach the far side, and sat with her back against the wall.

"I-I'm just comfortable like this..."

I nodded as her trembling voice filled the silence.

Honestly, it looked far more natural than having her lie down immediately, so I decided not to force her down until she had adjusted.

Rustle.

In the meantime, Chinami had pulled the duvet all the way up to her nose, her eyes darting back and forth.

She seemed less nervous than Renka, likely because her experience with Miyuki had helped prepare her.

"Let's start with a movie. What should we watch?"

"..."

They simply stole glances at each other, giving me no answer.

I let out a helpless laugh, sorted the movie list by rating, and put on something that looked decent.

This heavy atmosphere wasn't going to vanish overnight, so I figured I might as well take things slow.