Chapter 497

"So, what did you want to say about the future? If it's nonsense, I won't let it slide."

Renka sat with her arms folded and legs crossed, sipping the coffee on the table.

Watching her maintain that haughty posture, only to lean her torso forward to catch the straw, ruined the illusion a bit.

"Why did we suddenly come to a cafe when you said we were going to the Park?"

"Because I wanted coffee."

"Typical of the President. You could just pick up the cup, so why go out of your way to drink it like that?"

"Mind your own business."

"Don't be so difficult. We'll be living together eventually, so shouldn't we get along?"

"You were being difficult first, so I'm just matching you. And... huh?"

Renka blinked rapidly.

Her expression flashed with momentary panic, as if she hadn't quite grasped the last part of my sentence.

I waited silently, and she soon opened her mouth again.

"What was that?"

"What is what?"

"No... what did you just say?"

"I said we'll be living together eventually, so shouldn't we get along."

"Wh-what... What do you mean, living together?"

"Moving in together."

Was she surprised by my blunt, unhesitating answer?

Renka's mouth fell open.

"M-moving in together...?"

Her voice jumped; if it had been just a little louder, the people around us would have stared.

If they had, she would have hunched her shoulders and nervously checked her surroundings. It was a little disappointing that I missed out on that sight.

"Yeah. Didn't I mention it last time?"

"I-I don't really remember..."

"You do that sometimes. Do my words just go in one ear and out the other?"

"That's because they aren't worth listening to..."

"Quiet. Just know that I'll make you sign the papers later, too."

"Registration...?"

"Marr—"

"W-wait a minute...! Wait...!"

Renka held out a hand to stop me.

I could see her arm trembling, a sign she didn't quite have the capacity to handle this yet.

"What?"

"Hold on...!"

"Hold on for what?"

"Y-you can't just decide this kind of issue all by yourself and spou... I mean, just drop it on me like a notification...! In the first place, you have Hanazawa..."

"Miyuki is fine with it, too."

"Whaaat...??"

Her voice was quite loud this time, immediately drawing the attention of the people in the cafe.

Startled, Renka bowed to our surroundings several times and shrank into her seat.

"Does that even make sense...? Hanazawa said she's fine with it...??"

"She probably is."

"Probably... Doesn't that mean you haven't even told her yet...! Hanazawa is..."

"Miyuki also knows about the three of us going to a love hotel last time."

"R-really?"

"Yeah. I told Miyuki everything before we even went."

Gulp.

The sound of a hard, dry swallow rang out loudly from Renka's throat.

She couldn't believe it—the fact that Miyuki hadn't said anything even after knowing about it.

Looking at me in sheer disbelief, she asked, "Are you lying to me right now...?"

"Want me to let you confirm it yourself?"

"No, no, no... Don't do that...!"

Seeing Renka hurriedly wave her hands, I could instantly tell how anxious she was.

I stared at her as she continuously sucked on her straw to cool off, then spoke.

"I'm sorry for springing it on you like a notification earlier. I meant it as a joke, but it didn't land right."

"Who would laugh at a joke like that...?"

"Fair enough."

"...So what."

"What do you mean?"

"Ah, so what am I supposed to do with that...!"

Renka was suddenly annoyed, her face flushed completely red.

When I simply beamed at her, she subtly avoided my gaze and muttered, "What are you grinning at..."

"Speak a little more nicely, please."

When I said that with a sweet, gentle tone and expression, Renka's lips twitched as if something didn't sit well with her.

"Don't pretend to be nice..."

"What was that? Your voice was too quiet, I couldn't hear you."

"Shut up...!"

"Why the fuss again? So, what do you think?"

"About what?"

"Us moving in together later."

A sharp hiccup burst from Renka's lips.

Seeing her hiccup so suddenly, the expectation of getting a positive answer—an expectation I'd held on the way to meet her—turned into a certainty.

"Should I give you a specific timeline? How about in two years?"

"Wh-what...!?"

This time, she spilled a little coffee on her clothes.

Struck by an amusing idea, I moved from across the table to the seat right beside her.

I then took a tissue and gently began wiping the coffee off her pants as she curled her entire body up tight.

"Look at you, being so clumsy."

"What do you think you're... Ah..."

"Why are you trembling?"

"B-because you're touching me with ulterior motives..."

"I'm just wiping up the spilled coffee; what are you talking about? Stop shaking your leg."

Twitch, twitch. She shivered every time my hand touched her.

Was it because she'd just heard such important news? I knew Renka's body was sensitive, but she seemed especially so today.

I strictly scolded her as she glanced around, worried that people might be staring, and then continued.

"Think about it when you get back."

"..."

"No answer?"

"...Think about what...! You won't even listen to my opinion anyway..."

"I will."

"Bullshit. Do you think I was born yesterday?"

"Usually, when I say I'll listen, haven't I listened?"

"I don't know."

"Do you want to be punished?"

"S-see this...! Whenever I say anything, you act like that..."

"I'm being serious, but the President is bringing the punishment on herself. Do you think I'd let such an important topic go in one ear and out the other?"

"You brought it up so casually in the first place, so what do you..."

"I apologize for that. I meant to be serious, but riling up the President was just too much fun."

"You...!"

Furious, Renka glared at me.

But it only lasted a moment. Meeting my gaze, her eyes dropped like a small puppy running into a large hound.

She was embarrassed.

"I'll say it again, seriously this time."

"Ah, don't...! Absolutely don't...!"

"Then will you think about it?"

"Yeah...! I will, so fine...!"

"Then when should we talk about it again?"

"Why do we have to set a time...!"

"Because if we don't, I feel like you'll just dawdle and waste time. That's just the President's personality."

"That's the biggest load of bullshit I've ever heard."

"Dog shit?"

"Puppy shit."

"Are you playing word games right now?"

"You said it was fun to rile me up...! Why are you acting like I'm not allowed to do it...!"

This was the reason why conversations with Renka never stayed serious.

She picked a fight with me every single time.

Of course, it was affectionate bickering, not her actually trying to rebel.

Because of Renka's personality, I always ended up mixing jokes into my dealings with her.

"I never said that."

"Throwing around your authority... You're unbelievable, really... For a junior... I wonder if you even know this is grounds for suspension at the very least."

"If you have complaints, then join the Student Council. You can join and harass me legally."

"Screw you."

"Understood. So, when should we talk? Is a week enough?"

"..."

When I tapped my cheek at the silent Renka, she bit her lower lip and rolled her eyes.

Then, after making sure people weren't looking our way, she quickly pressed her lips against my cheek.

The soft sensation lingered for a brief moment before vanishing.

It was a simple kiss that didn't even make a sound, but I liked it because it clearly revealed Renka's feelings for me.

"Good job."

"Argh...! Go away...!"

Shaking her head wildly when I gently scratched her chin, she looked incredibly pretty today.

Thinking that we might end up doing it once before I had to meet Chinami at this rate, I moved back to the seat across from Renka and drank my coffee.

Then I pointed at the clock on the wall, which matched the cafe's modern interior.

"Then I'll expect an answer in a week."

"..."

"Answer me."

"T-too short. You have to give me at least a month..."

"Fifteen days?"

"I said a month...! Are your ears clogged...!?"

"Did you forget the warning I gave you before we got here?"

"What did I...!"

"Let's see if you can still act so high and mighty with a gag in your mouth."

"I like you."

"Huh?"

"I said I like you."

With her head coyly turned away, Renka made an unexpected confession.

When I remained silent, slightly flustered by that, she subtly gauged my reaction and spoke.

"Are we good now?"

It seemed Renka considered confessing her feelings to be some sort of ultimate move.

She seemed to believe that if she did this, I would let her off the hook for acting up.

Of course, she was sincere. Maybe that was why my heart wavered like this.

To think I'd see Renka say something like that on her own without even being told to...

Thinking that it was a really good idea to meet her today, I let out an incredulous chuckle.

"There's no sincerity in that. Try again."

"I don't want to."

"If you don't want to, it can't be helped. Let's head out now."

"I'm not leaving. I haven't even finished my coffee."

"You can just take it with you."

"I prefer to sit and drink it."

Seeing her gear up to act out like usual, I figured I could consider it an okay from Renka for now.

Next, I would meet Chinami and ask her.

But before that, I needed to thoroughly punish Renka.

No matter how cute she was acting today, business was business.

"Sure, then."

When I obediently agreed, a suspicious glint appeared in Renka's eyes.

"I said I'm not going."

"Where?"

"Wherever it is you want to go."

"That isn't a choice the President gets to make."

"Why are you finding fault with me? I said I liked you."

"Because I want to hear it more."

"Absolutely not."

"Then I have no choice either."

"I'm not going."

"Think whatever you like."

"Yeah. I will."

Like that, I spent time engaging in a childish argument with Renka.

Later, when her coffee was nearly gone, I put on a meaningful expression.

Only then did Renka's attitude, which had been haughty all along, turn slightly compliant.

Perhaps fearing my retaliation, she seemed to be trying to get on my good side now to lessen the intensity of her punishment however she could.

Having my fun with the completely transparent Renka, I bared my teeth in a grin when she stood up, saying she needed to go to the restroom.

"You finished your coffee, right?"

"...Haa..."

With a deep sigh, Renka slowly walked toward the restroom.

I wondered why she always did things she'd regret, knowing full well it would end up like this.

No matter how much I thought about it, Renka was definitely a masochist.