Chapter 140: Buying Time with Her Body
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 140: Buying Time with Her Body
Renka emerged from the shower, her hair falling far below her waist.
I had only ever seen it in a ponytail, or tucked under a head towel to accommodate her kendo helmet. Seeing her long, straight hair, still slightly damp, was a new experience.
“What are you staring at?”
She clutched a long towel that reached her knees, covering her chest.
She was getting the wrong idea. I’d get to see plenty of that later.
Besides, she’s back to being aggressive now that she’s out of the cage, huh?
She must have been holding in a lot of frustration.
I could understand. If I imagined myself locked in that cramped space, I’d be pissed off too.
“Staring?”
“...I’m going to go get something to eat first.”
I smirked at Renka as she tried to change the subject.
“You’re not trying to run away, are you?”
“I told you I wouldn’t...!”
“I know, I know. Don’t get angry. Let’s eat together.”
“Do we have to...?”
“You know, Captain, I can’t tell if you want to leave as soon as possible or if you want to use up the entire day.”
“Ugh, seriously...! What are you going to eat...!”
I stared at the snappy Renka until she lowered her tone and continued.
“Wh-what are you going to eat...”
“Do you have a favorite food?”
“I... like sushi. Salmon sushi...”
I’d expected her to say ‘whatever,’ so hearing her specify salmon sushi was amusing.
I nodded and looked over the room service menu.
They had an assorted sushi platter, but I doubted a love hotel would have a professional chef on staff. It was probably best not to expect much in terms of taste.
“I’ll order delivery?”
“Do whatever you want... Can I dry my hair?”
“You don’t need to ask for permission for every little thing. Do you want me to help you dry it?”
“I’m fine.”
Renka answered coldly and sat down at the vanity.
Her hair was so long that it took quite a while to dry. It must be a pain to do that every day.
After a long time, Renka finished drying her hair and stood up hesitantly.
I glanced between her and the time on my phone.
“You have 35 minutes left.”
“For what...?”
“What do you think? Your break time.”
Renka flared up at my words.
“Y-you have to exclude the time it takes for the food to arrive and the time we spend eating! That’s only fair!”
“You’re really something else. I already gave you a break for your shower, why are you asking for so much?”
“Don’t you think you’re being too cruel?”
“Was it that suffocating in there?”
“It was incredibly suffocating! You try getting in there...!”
“Is there any reason for me to do that?”
Renka stared at me with resentful eyes as I shrugged nonchalantly.
In moments like this, all you have to do is take one big step forward, getting close enough to be right up against her.
Step.
“So, do you have a problem with it?”
I strode forward and stood tall in front of Renka. She flinched slightly but didn’t stop glaring at me, which I found surprising.
She must be thinking she can’t let me intimidate her. Not bad.
“...I do. Give me a one-hour break after we eat.”
Knock, knock.
Just as we were locked in a staring contest after that short exchange, a knock came from the door.
The sushi I’d ordered had arrived.
“Shall we eat?”
“Don’t change the subject.”
“The delivery person is waiting.”
“If you turn your back on me now, I’ll take it as you agreeing.”
Our Renka is quite stubborn, isn’t she?
I wonder if she’ll feel a small sense of shame when she goes home and is all alone.
What was I even doing, fighting with him over a break... something like that.
Since I never intended to include mealtime in her break anyway, I decided to bestow some mercy upon Renka for her strong will.
“You absolutely need a full hour to rest?”
“Yes.”
“I’ll indulge your stubbornness just this once.”
“...Thank you.”
There, there. If you act like that, what couldn’t I do for you?
Keep being a good girl from now on.
* * *
At a small two-person table, we ate our sushi facing each other in silence.
Renka chewed her food while sneaking glances at me, looking as if she were sitting on pins and needles.
I wondered if she could even swallow properly like that.
“Matsuda.”
Renka, who had been eating rather demurely, called out to me.
I dipped the edge of a piece of sushi into the soy sauce, where the wasabi was well-mixed, and looked at her.
“Yes?”
“I have something to ask you.”
“Go ahead.”
“You just want to torment me, don’t you?”
“No.”
“Then why did you use your first wish, your second wish, and now your final wish on something like this?”
“Because you’re pretty, Captain.”
“Hey...! Don’t try to brush this off with weird compliments...!”
Calling it a weird compliment when she seems to be enjoying it.
So dishonest... what a feisty one.
I scoffed and said, “I’m being sincere. And you seem to have misunderstood something, Captain.”
“What?”
“I was planning on saving my last wish for later.”
“What are you talking about...? Once this is over, only my wish is left, right? You’ve used all three of yours. Are you stupid or something?”
“That’s strange. I just told you to clear your schedule and come here on Saturday. I never mentioned a wish.”
“...What...?”
For a moment, Renka’s face was a mask of confusion.
Her mouth hung open as she thought hard about something, and then her pupils suddenly dilated.
It seemed to have dawned on her. When I had set up our meeting, I had never once mentioned the word ‘wish.’
“You... you...”
Her body began to tremble, unable to form words.
She was shaking from head to toe like a leaf in the wind, as if an earthquake had struck. It was the most intense reaction I’d seen from her so far.
What a sight. Truly a sight to behold.
After letting the rage build up inside her for a while, she finally opened her pretty mouth to curse at me.
“You son of a...”
Just as her mouth opened, I leisurely raised a hand.
“I’m kidding. Calm down.”
Renka’s mouth snapped shut, and her face, red as a ripe apple, began to cool down a little.
“R-really...? You were just messing with me...?”
“I was originally going to insist, but you looked so worn out today that I was planning to count it as a wish anyway.”
“That’s... what it is, right...? You’re sure?”
I gave her a benevolent smile, as if I were doing her a great favor.
“I just told you so.”
“...Fine, then...”
“But you were about to swear at me just now, weren’t you?”
“No, I wasn’t...”
“Yes, you were.”
“Hey...! Who wouldn't swear in this situation...?”
Why does she always have to fight it? Wouldn’t it be so much easier if she just admitted it?
Of course, I suppose she’s worried I’d treat her more harshly if she were honest, so I’ll let it slide.
I popped the last few pieces of sushi into my mouth, then tidied up my container and stood up.
“Rest up when you’re done. And stop deliberately eating so slowly. It’s obvious.”
Stung by my sharp observation, Renka let out a deep sigh.
“Fine...”
* * *
Renka remained seated where she had been while eating the sushi.
She was probably hesitant because I was occupying the bed... If it were me, I’d have shamelessly lain down on the bed by now.
I decided to help her out a little, partly to satisfy my own desires.
“Captain.”
“What...”
“Come lie down next to me. You look incredibly uncomfortable right now.”
“I’m... fine.”
“Your back must hurt on a chair with no backrest. Don’t be like that, just lie down.”
“.....”
Renka hesitantly got up and approached the bed, then carefully lay down.
It seemed she really had been uncomfortable, one way or another. She came without another word of protest.
Lying stiffly on her back and staring at the ceiling, she tried to cover her stomach with her hands, but realizing it was difficult, she tried to pull the blanket instead.
But since I was under it, all she could do was rest her hand on top, unable to do anything.
Seeing that, I let out a small laugh.
Then, before Renka could say anything, I draped the blanket over her body and turned on my side to face her.
“Hh...!”
Feeling burdened by my gaze, Renka tucked her chin slightly and shifted her hips to put some distance between us.
I moved closer to her, inhaling the scent of blueberries that gently wafted into my nose, and asked in a kind voice, “Comfortable?”
“I’m uncomfortable because you’re staring at me...”
“You’re honest. But, Captain.”
“What...”
“Can I touch your chin just once?”
“Please stop saying weird things...”
“Why not? I’m letting this count as your last wish. Don’t I get at least this much?”
“Wh-what kind of ridiculous logic is that...!”
“How about this, then? If you let me touch your chin, I’ll give you an extra hour of break time.”
“What...?”
Renka, who had been about to turn her back to me, froze.
It was like her ears perked up. She seemed tempted.
“An hour...? Are you serious...?”
Hearing the suspicion lacing Renka’s voice, I raised one corner of my mouth.
“Yes, I’m serious. Honestly, you don’t want to go back in there, do you? It’s uncomfortable, for one, and it feels like your dignity as a human is being destroyed... right?”
“.....”
She responded with silence.
Which meant I was right.
“See? If you can get an extra hour of rest just by letting me touch your chin, isn’t that a good deal for both of us?”
At my nonchalant proposal, Renka’s eyes darted back and forth.
Her expression showed she was genuinely contemplating what to do.
After a moment of her gaze flitting about, she seemed to make up her mind, her eyebrows twitching.
Then, in a barely audible voice, she said, “...Make it two hours. I’ll rest for a total of three.”
“Are you kidding me?”
“I’m not...! That’s the only way it’d be worth it...”
“Then I’m not doing it.”
I snorted as if I couldn’t care less and started to turn away. Renka quickly corrected herself.
“A-an hour and a half...!”
I cheered inwardly. I immediately reached out, placed my hand on Renka’s chin, and began to gently scratch underneath it.
“Heok!”
Renka jolted, her body practically flying off the bed as if she’d been electrocuted.
She must not have expected me to make a move without any warning.
“It’s okay. Good girl.”
At my words, which sounded like I was handling a puppy, Renka bristled.
But she didn’t react too strongly.
She simply wore a displeased expression and quietly accepted my touch.
I grinned at the slightly calmer Renka and said, “You’re pretty. Really.”
I complimented her out of the blue.
In response, Renka, who had offered me her chin, scowled even more deeply.
“Shut up... Just touch it. Talking wasn’t part of the deal...”
“I’m just saying. You can stay quiet, Captain.”
“...You pervert...”
“Thank you for the compliment.”
Perhaps she felt a sense of relief from my consistently calm tone.
Renka’s chin lowered slightly.
She was subconsciously accepting my touch.
As I chuckled at the sight of her, looking like a well-trained puppy, Renka, who hadn’t even noticed her own actions, asked bluntly, “H-how long are you going to touch it...?”
“I’m giving you a 90-minute break, so 90 seconds should be enough, right?”
“...Fine.”
Having sealed our deal, the tension in her jaw slowly drained away with each passing moment.
And Renka, unaware that her body was relaxing and the strength was leaving her eyes, was simply counting the time.
I wonder if she’ll reflect on today’s events when she gets home.
If she does, she’ll probably scream her head off and kick her blankets furiously, right?
Just imagining it made me want to burst out laughing.