Chapter 147: Everyone Has a Secret
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 147: Everyone Has a Secret
“Oh! Matsuda! Hanazawa!”
At the cheerful voice coming from behind, Miyuki, Tetsuya, and I turned around.
Chinami was trotting over to us. I noticed she was holding two peach-flavored drinks, likely on her way to the cafeteria.
Renka was right behind her.
She looked tense, unable to even look me in the eye, probably remembering what happened yesterday.
Chuckling to myself, I watched as Miyuki bowed her head with a bright expression.
“Hello, senior.”
As soon as Chinami reached us, she gave Tetsuya a nod and then placed one of the 500ml drink bottles in Miyuki’s hand.
Miyuki, who had taken it without thinking, tilted her head.
“Is this for me?”
“Yes. It looks like you just finished eating, so have this to drink.”
“Weren’t you going to drink it, senior?”
“I can make a small sacrifice like this for my junior. I can just buy another one.”
“Then I’ll drink it gratefully!”
Did she take a liking to Miyuki’s consistently cheerful vibe?
Chinami giggled, completely forgetting about going to the cafeteria, and started chatting with Miyuki.
In the meantime, Renka came closer and exchanged a wave with Miyuki. I shot Renka a taunting grin, making sure no one else saw.
“Ugh...!”
She scrunched up her face as if she’d seen something she shouldn’t have.
Tetsuya, moving to Renka’s side, asked in a worried tone.
“What’s wrong?”
“Ah, it’s nothing... I just feel a little sick...”
“Oh... Then shouldn’t you rest instead of eating?”
“It’s because I saw something unlucky.”
“Something unlucky...?”
“It’s just a thing. How’s the food today?”
“Same old cafeteria food.”
“Hah... I should’ve packed a lunch. I’ve lost my appetite...”
As Renka said this, her eyes were fixed on me.
Why does she keep racking up bad karma? What’s she going to do later?
It wouldn’t be right not to punish her, would it?
“Well, we’ll get going now! See you during club activities, junior!”
Chinami, having finished her conversation, waved brightly and walked away.
As Miyuki watched the two of them enter the cafeteria, she commented.
“Nanase-senpai is always so energetic, isn't she...? And for some reason, I feel like I need to take care of her. Like she’d just fall over if I left her alone.”
Chinami does tend to bring out one’s protective instincts.
I’m glad you like her.
I hope you hold onto that feeling for a long, long time.
* * *
Whenever Renka watches something she enjoys, she writes a review on an anime community site.
She usually leaves a short review with a star rating, but sometimes she writes very long, in-depth reviews or columns.
She’s been active for a long time, and as long as there are no major issues, she writes straightforward reviews without bashing the works and is always polite. Because of this, she was what you’d call a prominent user in the community, and most users liked her posts.
I accessed a large site called ‘AniShare’ on my phone, signed up, and looked for the review section.
I already knew the nickname Renka used, so I found her most recent post without much trouble.
[The main character Tanjiro’s journey was very moving.]
[Rating: ★★★★☆]
[Upvotes: 5102] [Downvotes: 121]
It was a brief review of a recently popular anime.
The author was [Run Ino-chan], the cute nickname Renka used for her online activities.
Her profile picture was of some cute female character smiling with one hand raised in the air. I guess that’s the “Ino” character.
Renka must have shortened her surname, Inoo, to make that nickname...
It’s obvious she set a trap to make people think she just likes that character and to ensure no one would ever figure out her real identity.
I can confidently say that no one would see that nickname and profile picture and think of the surname ‘Inoo.’
Except for me, of course.
Sitting on a bench on the hill, I glanced around to see if anyone was nearby.
Then, I left a comment on Renka’s post.
[He's not the main character, he just got carried. Rengoku and Zenitsu are the real main characters. Did you even watch it properly? What a manga/anime ignoramus.]
Would Renka see the comment when she gets home after club activities?
Or would she not bother checking a post that’s already a few days old?
If that’s the case, it might be better to just send her a private message.
Just as I was thinking that, a private message arrived in my account.
[User MK. Hello. It’s great that you have a character you love, but putting down other characters only creates backlash from the people who are fans of them. I even added a note at the very bottom of the review stating that it was my personal opinion, and I hope you’ll take that into consideration. I see from your join date that you’re new here. Let's be active members together! ٩(๑❛ワ❛๑)]
It was a reply from Renka. She took the bait immediately.
It seems she was on a short break and decided to browse the site for fun, happening to see my comment... The timing was so perfect, it must be fate.
But why is she acting so meek here?
I was expecting a barrage of insults, but instead I get a long message meant for guidance. This makes me feel bad.
And what’s with that innocent-looking emoticon? Take off the mask, you feisty thing.
I licked my lips and tapped on my phone.
[I’m sorry.]
[It’s okay. When I first started getting into this hobby, I was also a huge fan of one character, just like you, so I understand how you feel. Welcome to AniShare. If there are any manga or anime you’ve enjoyed, please feel free to share them. By any chance, do you have any recommendations?]
[Do you like adult manga?]
[I don’t particularly like it, but I don’t avoid it either.]
[Do you know a work called ‘Master’s Secret’?]
[I’ve never heard of it. Is it a manga? Or an anime?]
[A manga.]
[Thank you for the recommendation. I’ll try to check it out over the weekend.]
Will she really read it? It’s a pretty hardcore ‘training’ story.
Her post history was mostly reviews of shonen manga, but after her various experiences with me, she would gradually start reviewing more adult works...
And in the end, Renka, once a sincere and pure user, would be corrupted into reviewing nothing but stories from the training genre...
That’s weirdly hot, isn’t it?
I’m also curious to see the look on Renka’s face when she finds out that not only did I discover her community activities, but that we were also exchanging private messages.
After deleting the comment I wrote while lost in my own dark and twisted fantasies, I started heading down to the club room. On the way, I spotted Renka coming out, fiddling with her phone, and called out to her.
“Captain.”
“Gah...?!”
Renka frantically hid her phone behind her back.
Her reaction was quite extreme. Surely she wasn't looking up the title I just told her about, was she?
“What...? Aren’t you working? Don’t slack off...!”
“I finished and was just taking a short break. What about you, Captain? Aren’t you working?”
“W-We’re on a break, too...”
“Oh, really? Then why did you come outside?”
“To get some fresh air...”
“I see. By the way, Captain.”
“What...!”
“During lunch, you said I was unlucky, right?”
At my low voice, a startled Renka straightened her back.
She stared back, trying not to be intimidated, and replied.
“That’s right. You are unlucky.”
“Are you going to keep hurting my feelings?”
“...What do you want me to do about it...”
“Be nice to me.”
“You’re not the kind of guy I can be nice to... Just look at the things you do to me...”
“You liked it too, though.”
“L-Liked it? What are you talking about...!”
Tap. Tap. Tap.
I heard something tapping against the hip of the flustered, back-talking Renka.
Wondering what it was, I looked over and saw her arm, hidden behind her back, fidgeting.
It looked like she was tapping the back of her poor phone, feeling awkward about being alone with me.
Was she still thinking about what I said yesterday, when I hinted that I liked her?
Is that why she’s embarrassed? How cute...
I took a bold step until I was right in front of her. As she flinched and backed away, I gazed at her steadily and spoke.
“Captain.”
“What...!”
“When are you going to make your last wish?”
“I don’t know...! There’s still plenty of time, so don’t rush me...!”
“I never rushed you. Why are you misunderstanding?”
“.....”
“But for your last wish, can’t you cosplay for me? As a bunny girl or a nurse this time.”
“...You’ve got some nerve... It’s my wish, not yours, you know...? Stop talking nonsense and get back to work.”
“Captain.”
“Agh, seriously... Why do you keep calling me...!”
She started to go back into the club room but spun around, fuming. I raised both my hands to show I didn’t want to fight and said casually.
“No reason. I’m going back to work. You work hard, too, Captain.”
“...Just get lost already.”
Don’t keep swearing at me. Want me to punish you with a confession?
I gave Renka a smirk, then went back up the hill to collect the dry laundry.
It’s cold. My dick is cold, too.
I need to warm it up soon.
* * *
Poke. Poke.
Feeling a cute poking on my back, I turned around.
“Kuehk!”
Chinami let out a scream and started to fall.
I quickly grabbed the waist of Chinami, who had been pushed by my arm, set her upright, and dusted off her butt.
“Are you okay?”
“Ah...? Um... junior, I didn’t fall...”
Chinami’s voice became quieter than a mosquito’s due to the sudden physical contact.
I shrugged nonchalantly and said.
“It’s a habit. Anyway, what’s up? Is there something you need me to do?”
“No. It’s not that... I came to tell you in person that the massage this week might be difficult.”
“Why?”
“The weather suddenly got really cold, so I have to go with my parents to buy supplies for the winter.”
Well now... this is a problem.
My second father-in-law and mother-in-law... if you’re going to interfere like this, I might just... have some bad thoughts, you know?
I wonder how their marital relationship is...
No. Let’s not think such wicked thoughts.
I should think of this positively. Before I could enjoy a massage and a night with Chinami, God was reminding me not to rush things, that there were other things I needed to do.
“I see. So is next week okay?”
“Yes... Any time from next Monday is fine. But, umm...”
Chinami trailed off, turning her head to look down at her rear.
She watched my hand, which was still dusting off her butt, with a flushed face before continuing.
“I told you I didn’t fall...”
“There was dust on you, so I’m brushing it off.”
“...Is that so...?”
“Yes, it is.”
After giving her butt two final, light pats, I stood up.
Then, I squished the flustered Chinami’s cheeks with both hands and gently bumped my forehead against hers.
“Whath are youph doing...”
What do you think? I’m charging up my energy.
I need to get as much as I can before Renka comes and interrupts.