Chapter 168: Plop #2
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 168: Plop #2
“Master.”
“Yes...”
“We’re here.”
“Yes...”
“Shouldn’t you get out? You must be sleepy.”
“Yes...”
Chinami kept repeating the same answer, her fingers fidgeting.
The sleeves of the big, fluffy white fleece she was wearing covered the bottoms of her palms, which was adorable.
She was fine during the final massage, but now she's suddenly shy again.
I get it. Now that she's come to her senses, the aftershock of today's little escapade must be hitting her hard.
I unbuckled the seatbelt for her as she stared down at her own lap.
Startled by the light click of the buckle, Chinami lifted her head.
“Ah...? Where are we...?”
“Your place, Master.”
“Oh... We’re already here...?”
“Yes.”
“Well then... thank you for today... Please get home safely...”
Chinami gave me a slight bow and tried to open the passenger door.
I turned on the hazard lights, shifted the gear to park, and got out of the car first, walking around to the passenger side.
Then, I offered my hand to a tilting-her-head-in-confusion Chinami.
“I'll walk you to your door.”
“Y-You don't have to do that...”
“I'm worried.”
“.....”
Was she pleased by my consideration?
With a shy smile, Chinami placed her hand on top of mine.
Then she spread her fingers wide, as if to compare our hand sizes.
“They're... they're big...”
“Are they?”
“Yes... so big...”
Maybe because we just had our first time, but her saying "big" sounds incredibly lewd.
Is it normal to get turned on by how purely surprised she is, without a hint of malice?
I've thought this before, but I'm starting to wonder if I should see a psychiatrist soon.
I curled my fingers, completely enveloping her hand in mine, and spoke.
“Shall we?”
“....Yes.”
We passed through the automatic doors at the entrance of the apartment building and stood in front of the elevator.
I pressed the button, and the floor indicator began to count down with a quiet mechanical hum.
Soon, the elevator arrived on the first floor. As the doors opened, I led Chinami inside.
“What floor?”
Instead of answering, she pressed the button for the 5th floor.
I expected her to be restless, but she's surprisingly calm.
“Your parents are probably asleep, right Master?”
“That's right...”
“You told them you'd be home late, didn't you?”
“Yes... But, um... Junior.”
“Yes.”
“Are you going to... keep holding my hand...?”
“Of course.”
At my perfectly nonchalant reply, Chinami accepted it with an "Ah..." and turned her feet inward.
Seeing her tap the sole of one sneaker with the toe cap of the other like a little girl brought a fatherly smile to my face.
The elevator slowly ascended and arrived on the 5th floor. I led Chinami out.
It was a corridor-style apartment building, so the hallway only went in one direction. I didn't need to ask which way to go.
As if our minds were connected, we matched our strides without a word and walked down the white-lit corridor.
Just as we arrived in front of apartment 505, Chinami stopped in her tracks and looked up at me.
“This is it...”
“I see. Go on in and get some rest. And make sure to wash up.”
“Okay...”
I let go of the still-blushing Chinami's hand and gently pulled her into a hug.
Her head fit perfectly against my chest.
I gently stroked the back of her round head and said.
“See you tomorrow.”
“....You get home safely too, Junior...”
“I will.”
I released her from the hug and started backing away. She, with a demure smile, raised both hands to her shoulders and waved them from side to side.
It was a gesture like saying goodbye to kindergarten kids.
I let out a small laugh at the sudden, innocent action, waved back at her, and got on the elevator.
After getting back behind the wheel, driving home, washing my face, and lying down, the clock already showed three in the morning.
It had been about twenty minutes since I parted with Chinami. I wondered what she was doing right now.
Could she be devouring peaches right now?
She definitely wouldn't be sleeping peacefully... I should probably contact her.
I turned my phone's brightness all the way down, opened the app, and was about to send Chinami a message when—
‘Huh?’
I noticed that the expression on Momo-nim in her profile picture had changed.
Heart eyes this time?
Not dazed or angry, but a blissfully happy Momo-nim...
For Chinami, who often expresses her emotional state through her profile picture, to use a Momo-nim like that was proof that today's events had become a good memory for her.
I'd been a little worried she might have been stressed out, so this was a huge relief.
By the way, there are so many variations of Momo-nim. I wonder if there's a real ahegao one.
If some enthusiast who likes Momo-nim has a peculiar taste, it's not impossible they'd commission one.
Somehow, that's a scary thought. I don't want to gaze into that abyss.
I was about to contact Chinami, but I changed my mind.
It seemed like she was still savoring the afterglow, so I decided to let her be alone with her thoughts.
We can talk when we meet tomorrow. That seems better.
* * *
“Didn't you sleep? Why do you have dark circles under your eyes?”
Miyuki asked as soon as she got in the car, glancing at my face.
I answered, letting out a short yawn as I gripped the steering wheel.
“Just... was on my phone.”
I do have to tell Miyuki about my relationship with Chinami.
But not today.
Why? Because it would be way too obvious.
Even if Miyuki gave me her permission for a relationship with Chinami, I should at least leave some time in between.
“You weren't up late watching porn, were you?”
“Are you going to keep milking that one thing? I'm sick of it, so find something else to tease me with.”
“Like what?”
“That's for you to figure out.”
“Alright. I'll give it some serious thought.”
The thought of the studious Miyuki giving it "serious thought" is terrifying.
I have a feeling she'll come up with some kind of teasing that isn't offensive but is still awkward... and hard to counter.
Chatting idly with Miyuki on the way to the academy, I barely greeted my classmates upon arriving at the classroom before slumping over my desk.
I've had plenty of nights with even less sleep than this, but I feel incredibly tired.
Probably not as much as Chinami, but I must have used up a lot of mental energy, too.
“Matsuda-kun. Are you going to sleep? Class is about to start.”
At the concerned voice of Miyuki, who was sitting next to me, I just nodded vaguely, my forehead still resting on my arm.
Miyuki then poked my back and continued.
“Then get a little shut-eye. I'll wake you up when class starts.”
Ahh... That's Miyuki for you.
If it weren't for her being so incredibly kind, I'd probably be skipping class right now.
No, wait. Why am I acting like a model student for whom skipping class is a big deal?
Get a grip. This isn't like Matsuda Ken.
* * *
“Matsuda...! Wait.”
Lunchtime.
I was on my way back to the classroom after buying some snacks—some for Miyuki and some to hand out as charity to that hanger-on Tetsuya—when I heard Renka's urgent voice from behind and turned around.
“Hello, Captain.”
“What did you do with Chinami yesterday?”
She started interrogating me right off the bat.
Frowning slightly, I repeated myself.
“Hello.”
Only then did Renka realize what I wanted and reluctantly returned the greeting.
“....Hello.”
“There we go. Why are you asking about yesterday?”
“Because Chinami's acting weird.”
“Weird? In what way?”
“She zones out in the middle of our conversations. And she kept losing focus during class, too.”
So she didn't tell Renka.
Then again, talking about your first time is embarrassing, even if you try to be indirect.
Still, it's surprising. I thought they shared such a deep friendship that she would have confessed everything honestly.
Maybe she's being careful because of where they are?
Are they planning to have a heart-to-heart at a cafe after club activities?
“And... her walk is a little strange.”
I narrowed my eyes at Renka's follow-up and asked.
“What do you mean, her walk is strange?”
“She looks really uncomfortable, but it seems like she's trying hard to hide it.”
So she's got muscle soreness. I was sure she'd be sore, but for Renka to emphasize it with "really," it must be pretty bad.
I can't help but smile, imagining Chinami trying to walk normally next to Renka.
I'll have to help her loosen up during club activities.
“Master will be fine.”
“How would you know? She's even breaking out in a cold sweat.”
“Are you that curious about what happened yesterday?”
“W-Well, I'm curious, honestly... but I don't want to pry obsessively. It's just that you were acting so suspicious yesterday, it's making me anxious.”
She's grown. Right, don't try to know too much.
That just creates resentment, and when that hardens and builds up, you end up fighting.
I'd kind of like to see you two best friends bicker because of me, but I don't want you to genuinely growl at each other.
“How was I acting suspicious?”
“Well... you were talking like you were plotting something...”
“You're so prejudiced. I never did that.”
“It was your tone...”
Still slandering me, I see.
If you keep this up, I might just have to increase the intensity of the whipping.
“What was wrong with my tone?”
“....Forget it. I shouldn't have even brought it up.”
Was it hard to explain? Or just annoying?
Judging by her reaction, it seems like the latter.
I gave the grumbling Renka a grin and asked.
“If you're done talking, want to go to the school store with me?”
“Why would I go to the school store with you?”
“Why not?”
“I'd rather die.”
“Why? Let's go together. I'll buy you candy.”
“....Don't talk to me like I'm a child.”
“I'll buy you a drink, too.”
“I said no...! And weren't you just on your way back from the store?”
“I was, but now I feel like going again. By the way, Captain.”
“What.”
“When are you going to use your last wish?”
“I'll use it when I want to. Why? Are you nervous?”
“Not at all. I was just going to say, if you're not going to use it, you should give it to me. I thought of something good.”
At that, Renka's face flushed beet red.
She looked like memories of our time together were flashing through her mind.
Chuckling, I half-forced the jellies I'd bought for myself into Renka's hand.
“Eat this and cheer up. See you at club activities.”
Then, I gave the bewildered Renka a pat on the shoulder and walked away.