Chapter 142: A Suspicious Laptop
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 142: A Suspicious Laptop
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“I’m home…”
Announcing her return in an exhausted voice, Renka remembered her family was out and headed for the bathroom.
After a thorough shower, she went into her room.
A smile bloomed on her face as she carefully wiped down the precious limited-edition figure from the shopping bag and placed it in her display case.
Time had been a bit tight, but the company hadn't advertised it heavily, and since it was a figure from a relatively unknown anime, she had managed to buy one while there was still some stock left.
Honestly, when Matsuda had used his wish, she had half given up and was planning to buy one secondhand at a premium. It was a relief to get a brand-new one.
If she had missed this one too, she would have regretted granting Matsuda’s request.
Satisfied with completing another part of her anime collection, Renka sprawled out on her bed.
She had only spent a short time with Matsuda, but it felt like two whole days had passed.
That’s how mentally draining this wish had been.
Anyway, she was worried about the cosplay.
What would be more mainstream than an anime character?
A bunny girl, like something you’d see on Halloween?
‘Before we left the hotel, he thanked me for indulging his fetish…’
To think he was into SM… He didn’t look the type. What a surprise.
Don’t tell me he wants me to cosplay as a cop in a torn-up uniform who’s been defeated by a vicious robber, or wants me to do some kind of rope bondage?
No, he did say I could beat him up and report him if I thought it was too much… so he probably wouldn’t go that far.
“What a fucking pervert…!”
Cursing Matsuda while entertaining all sorts of fantasies under the covers, Renka decided to accept the inevitable reality.
Since it had come to this, she might as well do it without complaining so he couldn’t find any more fault with her.
And after that, it would be time for revenge.
She hadn’t decided how to use her remaining wish yet, but she was going to wear Matsuda out, body and soul.
With that thought, Renka pulled the blanket up over her head.
Just then,
Bzzz-!
Her phone vibrated.
Reaching out an arm, Renka fumbled for her phone, brought it under the covers, and turned on the screen.
[Matsuda Ken has sent you a gift coupon.]
‘…What?’
A gift coupon, out of the blue?
Tilting her head, she tapped the notification and her eyes widened when she saw a 30% discount coupon for a shopping mall.
The coupon he’d sent was for a famous chain in the anime and gaming subculture scene.
Many well-known figure shops were affiliated with it, so for Renka, it was an incredibly useful gift.
But wasn’t it too much of a coincidence? Of all the possible gifts, why this one?
Could Matsuda know her secret?
As an uneasy feeling began to sprout and Renka tried to figure out the true meaning behind this gift,
Bzzz-!
[This was left over from when I was buying some figure-related stuff the other day. You should use it, Captain.]
A message from Matsuda arrived.
Seeing it, Renka licked her lips and tapped on her phone.
[Why are you giving this to me? What would I even use it for…]
[Your nephew likes figures, right? The expiration date is a long way off, so I thought it would be good to use when you buy him another gift.]
Ah… Matsuda remembered the excuse she’d made when she bought the limited-edition figure.
In that case, she could probably relax… but she should still be careful in the future, just in case.
Lowering her guard slightly, though a sliver of suspicion remained, Renka sent a reply.
[I’ll use it well. Trash.]
[Thanks for the compliment.]
How can a person be so shameless?
Was he always such an optimistic guy?
Still, considering he let her rest, she couldn’t say he was completely inconsiderate… maybe she should go easy on him for the last wish…?
As she had that thought, Renka shook her head violently.
‘N-No… How is that considerate?’
She had simply earned a break through a fair trade—by indulging Matsuda’s weird fetish.
So, she shouldn’t be swayed.
As Renka tried to collect herself,
“Aaargh!”
She screamed and kicked her blankets wildly.
The thought that she had sold her body for a break just to avoid more suffering was incredibly embarrassing.
She had made a complete fool of herself today.
But what could she do? Her first time in a cage had been the absolute worst.
‘I’m going crazy…’
Sighing repeatedly, she tried to erase the day’s events from her mind. Then she saw Matsuda’s next message and snorted.
[So what are you doing now?]
[Mind your own business.]
[Got it. Take care.]
After that message, Matsuda didn’t bother her anymore.
Staring blankly at her silent phone, Renka closed her eyes to soothe her weary heart.
But… what was this vaguely disappointing feeling?
I must be mistaking it for a feeling of relief, right?
It has to be.
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Sunday afternoon.
After returning from her relatives’ house, Miyuki immediately started helping Midori unpack while casually bringing up the idea of sleeping over at a friend’s.
“Mom. Can I go to a friend’s house today?”
“Not if you’re planning to sleep over.”
“Aww, why not…? I’ve been coming home on time lately…”
“What are you even going to do at a friend’s house?”
“Study… Final exams are just around the corner.”
“Last time you used midterms as an excuse, and now you’re doing it again?”
“Ah… did I?”
Miyuki scratched the back of her head, embarrassed.
Looking at her immature daughter, Midori let out a dry laugh and shook her head.
Then, she glanced around as if looking for Wataru and asked.
“Are you really going to a friend’s house? Just a friend?”
‘Just a friend’…
It was a loaded question.
Enough to make Miyuki’s heart drop.
“Huh…? Yeah, just a friend. Who else would it be…”
“Really?”
“….I told you, yes…?”
“Okay? You can go if you’re coming back today.”
“Why can’t I sleep over?”
“It would be an imposition on your friend’s parents.”
The way she kept emphasizing the word ‘friend’ and raising her tone made it seem like she’d caught on to something.
No, it wasn’t that it seemed like she’d caught on. Her mom had definitely figured out her relationship with Matsuda.
It made sense. She had never given any proper information about this unnamed friend, she’d snuck out a few daily necessities to move into Matsuda’s house, and the number of times she’d mentioned Matsuda recently had increased. It would be stranger if she didn’t know.
Maybe her mom had known for a while but had pretended not to for her sake.
Parents know everything just by looking into their child’s eyes, after all.
‘This is crazy…’
She always knew this day would come, and she thought she’d be incredibly embarrassed when it did… but surprisingly, she felt calm.
Why? Was it because her mom was speaking softly instead of scolding her?
She didn’t know. Since it had come to this, she might as well just say it.
Miyuki squeezed her eyes shut, then opened them and said.
“Can I go to Matsuda-kun’s house?”
At her words, the corners of Midori’s lips twitched upward for a moment before settling back down.
Miyuki didn’t miss the reaction, and her face turned red as she realized her guess was correct.
“Can I go…?”
“When will you be back?”
A question that seemed to know everything.
A resigned Miyuki asked back.
“When should I be back…?”
“Don’t be late. Tomorrow’s a weekday.”
Tomorrow’s a weekday… That was another loaded statement.
Feeling a weight lift from her heart at Midori’s gentle response, Miyuki nodded her head.
“Okay… I’m going now…?”
“Alright.”
Having received her tacit permission, Miyuki left the house with a light heart and took public transport to Matsuda’s place.
She opened the main gate with her key, crossed the familiar stone path, stepped onto the veranda, and then opened the firmly shut window to go inside.
Matsuda’s distinct, refreshing scent immediately filled her nose.
Feeling happy, Miyuki was about to snuggle into the arms of Matsuda, who was lying under the covers on the futon, when—
“Hm…?”
She noticed an electronic device on the low table next to the futon and tilted her head.
‘A laptop?’
It looked brand new. Did Matsuda buy it?
If he bought it, he could have at least told me.
Thinking that, Miyuki was about to wake Matsuda up, but her curiosity was piqued by the open laptop.
It looked like he fell asleep while watching something… When they’d texted this morning, Matsuda had said he was just at home watching TV.
That meant he had lied to her.
Of course, you could watch TV on a laptop, but with a giant TV right in front of him, it was highly unlikely.
And if that were the case, Matsuda would have told her.
Could he have been watching porn?
Her friends with boyfriends had said something like that before. Regardless of whether they had a girlfriend or a wife, there’s no man who doesn’t watch porn.
And if they say they don’t, they’re lying.
So she had thought back then that she should ask Matsuda about it sometime.
She had been planning to tease him about this topic, and it felt like the perfect opportunity had just arrived.
Miyuki glanced at the still-unmoving Matsuda, giggling softly as she sat down in front of the table.
Then, as her eyes scanned the laptop, searching for the power button,
“Miyuki…?”
A sleepy voice from behind her made her shoulders jump.
“Eek…?”
Instinctively turning around, Miyuki saw Matsuda sitting up, staring intently at her. She offered him an awkward smile.
“Y-You’re awake…?”
“Yeah.”
“Since when…?”
“Just now. From the rustling sound.”
He hadn’t even noticed when she came in, but now he was a light sleeper.
He was such an unpredictable guy.
“What are you doing?”
“Ah… I saw you got a new laptop, so I was just going to take a look…”
At her words, Matsuda’s eyebrows twitched slightly.
He casually reached a hand past Miyuki’s waist, closed the laptop, and set it aside in a corner.
Then, he grabbed Miyuki’s wrist, pulled her into his arms, and lay back down.
“Let’s sleep a little more… We can talk when we wake up.”
Didn’t it just seem like Matsuda was trying to hide something?
For someone who had just woken up, his movements had been quite fast… The feeling that the Pandora’s box contained porn was growing into a certainty.
I’m so going to look at that… someday. I’m going to have so much fun teasing him.
Making that silent vow, Miyuki wrapped her arms around Matsuda’s waist and enjoyed their reunion.