Chapter 174: Renka Training Log 1 #2
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 174: Renka Training Log 1 #2
Renka always stands out.
Even setting aside her stylish outfits, her long ponytail that reaches below her hips makes her easy to spot, even in a crowd.
It was the same now.
The moment I entered the subculture section of this crowded shopping complex, I immediately found Renka browsing through various products.
Renka, focused as she examined the merchandise corner.
She was wearing a mask, so I could only see her eyes, but they looked full of happiness.
Her outfit today is... pretty plain for Renka. Did she become more cautious after running into me last time?
Well, if she wanted to hide her otaku side, she'd have to be careful about how she dresses.
Thinking her black boots that went up to her ankles and the tight matching jeans were quite sexy, I approached her.
Then, I greeted her as she was still engrossed in the merchandise.
"Hello, Captain."
"Gasp...!"
Renka's body shuddered as if she'd been electrocuted, and she whipped her head around.
"Ma-Matsuda...?"
"Yep. It's me."
"....."
Renka's eyes darted around frantically.
She must be flustered. After all, we'd run into each other not once, but twice, in a place overflowing with anime and manga of all things.
I could practically hear the gears turning in her head... or was I imagining it?
As I watched her dazed expression, I said, "We seem to run into each other quite a bit."
That seemed to snap Renka back to her senses, and she cleared her throat.
"Wh-what are you doing here...?"
"I came to buy some manga. What about you, Captain?"
"I... my nephew said a new manga keychain and mini standee came out... and asked if I could get them for him..."
"The same nephew? The one you bought a figure for?"
"...Yeah."
"Your love for your nephew is amazing. He must be really attached to you."
"W-Well... maybe? He might just be pretending to like it because I get him this stuff... kids are usually like that."
She's even adding some detail to the nephew she invented on the spot. Hilarious.
If I ever get another chance to help Renka's uncle with his business, maybe I'll ask him then, just to tease her.
Ask if she has a young nephew who loves manga and anime.
"That's true. So, did you buy the keychain and mini standee?"
"Not yet... it's not time for them to go on sale..."
"Then do you want to pick out some manga with me?"
"Manga...? Why would I...?"
"Are you not happy to see me?"
"Not particularly..."
"We ran into each other by chance, so it wouldn't be so bad to look around together. Come on, let's go."
When I asked nicely with a smile, Renka hesitated for a moment before nodding.
"...I guess... I don't have anything else to do..."
"Good thinking."
"So what kind of manga are you buying?"
"The adult kind. The lewd stuff."
"Ah... adult..."
Renka nodded with a blank face.
I burst out laughing internally and asked, "I thought you'd look at me like I was a bug. This is unexpected."
"Well... it's not like it's bad to read it... I read it sometimes, too... As long as it's not too hardcore, I think it's fine..."
"What do you consider hardcore?"
"Everyone's standards are different, so I can't say for sure."
"Hmm... a doujinshi with tentacles... is that considered hardcore?"
"...Th-there are doujinshi like that...?"
She's playing dumb when she knows full well there are tons of them.
Shouldn't you at least control your expression before asking?
"There are."
"I don't read that genre, so I wouldn't know, but by my standards, that's plenty hardcore... It's not a typical preference... Still, I think I can respect it... Forcing it on someone would be a problem, though..."
"I see. But you said you read lewd stuff sometimes?"
"...When I'm bored at a relative's house."
"A relative? You mean those uncles?"
"No. A different relative..."
"Was the manga you read at your relative's house any good?"
"Wh-why are you asking that...?"
"If you enjoyed it, I was thinking of checking it out."
"I don't know. I read it a long time ago and don't remember the title or the plot, so just pick one yourself..."
"Alright. Do you know where the adult section is?"
"I think I saw it... over there."
She pointed to one side with a long finger.
It was in a corner so secluded you wouldn't even know it was there unless you were specifically looking for it. The fact that she knew its location meant... she'd already checked it out before I found her.
I headed to the adult manga section with Renka and picked up a relatively tame-looking book from among the explicit covers.
The cover featured a sultry woman, drenched in a cold sweat, lifting the underside of her breasts with a shy expression.
Renka flinched after checking its title and art, then asked, "Do you even know what kind of manga that is...? The title seems a little suggestive, don't you think?"
"『Asagao-san’s Household Finances』? What's so suggestive about that?"
"No... um... is it normal?"
The manga I chose was a mix of NTR and the training/conditioning genre.
It was a doujinshi drawn by an incredibly popular artist in that field.
Renka asked that question because she had at least a rough idea of the book's contents.
To think she'd try to be nosy about a title whose plot would be hard for an uninformed third party to guess.
If you're going to deceive me, at least act properly... You've been sloppy this whole time, from telling me where the adult section was to this.
"It's a lot tamer than ‘A Married Woman Corrupted and Stolen by Her Son’s Friend,’ isn't it?"
"....."
As I read aloud the blatant title of the book next to it, Renka's face turned bright red, and her eyes darted all over the place.
She seemed worried someone might have heard my voice.
Fortunately for her, the adult section was relatively empty compared to the others.
Renka let out a deep sigh of relief.
"You're right... it's tamer than that..."
But that one looks interesting, too.
If I substitute Tetsuya for the son and myself for the friend, it feels like it would be pretty hot.
"By the way, why have you been so down since a little while ago?"
"Me...?"
"Yeah. Am I wrong?"
"No? You must be mistaken. I..."
Just as Renka was racking her brain for an excuse, a staff member's loud voice echoed from the distance, telling people who came for the new manga merchandise to form a line. She quickly changed the subject.
"You're done picking, right? I have to go line up now, so you can leave."
Trying to get rid of me, are you?
You can never escape from me. Remember that.
"Can't I wait in line with you? Am I that uncomfortable to be around?"
"It's not that, but..."
"It's fine if I pay for this book and the merchandise together, right?"
"Paying is fine..."
"Then let's line up together. Let's go now. People are already gathering."
I grabbed Renka's wrist, pretending to have no ulterior motives.
"Huh...? Hey...!"
Just as Renka, startled by the sudden skinship, was about to say something, I led her to the back of the line for the merchandise.
Then I let go of her wrist and casually turned my head.
"What is it? Did you call me?"
"...It's nothing."
Renka adjusted her mask and stared at the long line.
She must have decided that my touching her was just to get in line faster and chose to let it go.
Sometimes she seems incredibly petty, but other times, like now, she shows a cool side.
In the past, she would have judged me for reading lewd manga, so the fact that she didn't is a big step.
Our Renka... has grown so much.
Though she still has a long way to go.
* * *
"...Hey, Matsuda."
"Yeah?"
"Thanks."
Renka said as we went outside.
There was a specific reason she was thanking me, which was unlike her.
It was because the merchandise was limited to one of each item per person.
I had readily agreed when Renka, using her nephew as an excuse, asked me to buy a different type of merchandise for her. Thanks to that, she was able to get an extra item.
Since the items were only being sold for one day, she was probably prepared to buy the rest secondhand. She must be grateful for saving money.
Of course, there were other types of merchandise besides what we bought, so she'd still have to do some searching, but being able to get all the relatively popular items was significant enough.
"Don't mention it. Tell your nephew I said hi."
"I will. And I looked it up... that 『Asagao-san’s Household Finances』. The genre is... ah, do you hate spoilers?"
"Are you going to tell me the genre?"
"Yeah."
"That much is fine."
"That's a relief. The manga's genre is apparently training/conditioning. It says it's mixed with some Netorare, too?"
"Really? When did you look it up?"
"Uh... just now, when you went to the bathroom."
So she wants to test my preferences.
Why don't you show me what you found? Let me check it.
Swallowing those words, I said, "Even better. I like the training/conditioning genre."
"...You like the training/conditioning genre?"
"Yep. Didn't I tell you? Last time, when we were at the hotel together."
"Eek...!?"
At the mention of that incident, a startled Renka glanced around.
"Wh-why are you shouting about something like that...!"
"I don't think I was shouting... Anyway, you don't remember?"
"I don't know... I don't really remember...?"
She's just flustered for now, but if Renka thinks about it a little more deeply, something will come to her.
The user named MK on AniShare.
I just gave her a crucial hint.
For example, the comment I left on an anime she reviewed.
If she connects the fact that we bought a figure related to that anime together with that comment, and includes the play we did at the hotel, plus the small clue from today that I like the training/conditioning genre, her suspicion that MK and I are the same person will grow much stronger.
After that, she might unblock me and send a private message to investigate me.
But she won't find out my identity then.
It's too early to reveal it.
This is a matter to be considered only when Renka becomes more interested in the idea of being trained.
"That's a shame."
"I-It's not a shame at all, what are you talking about...? I've forgotten it. Everything that happened with you..."
"Your face says you haven't forgotten at all."
"...Anyway, thanks for today. I'm going to get going now."
"Let's get something to eat before you go."
"I already ate."
"Then I'll give you a ride."
"It's fine, I can go by myse—"
"Follow me."
I cut off Renka as she tried to back out. When I gestured, she flinched and hesitated before following behind me.
The reason she's obeying so meekly even though I ordered her around so forcefully is probably... because she's grateful for getting the extra merchandise.
For the time being, I'll keep creating reasons she can't refuse to make her listen, and we'll slowly build memories together.
That's how I'll slowly peel away her defenses.
By the way, it feels like a waste to just go back like this... I should ask her if she wants to have a cup of coffee in the car.