Chapter 185: The Approaching Time
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 185: The Approaching Time
As I slid my feet under the thick blanket, a wave of heat warmed my legs.
It was so cozy I couldn't help but let out a long, relaxed sigh.
So this is why everyone goes on about kotatsus.
“Feels good?”
Miyuki asked, sitting across from me with her legs tucked into the kotatsu just like mine.
I gently slid my foot between her legs and answered.
“It's alright, I guess.”
“You should try changing your expression before you say that...”
“What's wrong with my expression?”
“You're clearly enjoying it.”
“No, I'm not.”
“Yes, you are... silly.”
Miyuki, chiding me affectionately, flinched as she was about to open her book.
My toes had stealthily slipped between her thighs.
Biting her lip at the sensation of my foot gently touching a sensitive spot, she scolded me.
“What are you doing...!”
Mm-hmm. A good reaction.
When I start studying with Tetsuya over the break, I bet a lot of interesting scenes will play out.
It's a shame it'll be at my house.
This kind of thing is much more thrilling when it's done at Tetsuya's place.
I'll have to see how things go and suggest we switch houses for our study sessions.
It'll be a good chance to check out Tetsuya's family, too.
Who knows? If Tetsuya keeps crossing the line, I might just take his place as the son of the house.
It wouldn't be a proper NTR story without a little nest-stealing, would it?
As I pictured this dark future and continued to touch Miyuki's skin, I watched her let out short little puffs of breath with every touch and grinned.
“Hey.”
“....Just open your book... and stop getting weird ideas.”
“You want to study now?”
“We were supposed to... Can you move your leg...?”
“Nope.”
“I'm going to pinch you...?”
“Go ahead.”
“I'm serious...?”
“I told you to, didn't I?”
As I nonchalantly continued my light caress, Miyuki's eyebrow twitched.
She placed her fingers on my leg and was about to give it a firm squeeze, but when I pretended to be in pain without making a sound, she gave a disbelieving scoff.
“Forget it... I'm not doing it.”
“Why not?”
“Because you seem to like it.”
“I like you even if you don't.”
“That's not what I meant...”
When I subtly revealed my feelings, Miyuki turned her head away coyly.
The corners of her mouth were turned up slightly; she seemed to be in a better mood.
I chuckled at her transparent reaction and quietly opened my book.
It was a peaceful Friday.
So peaceful it was almost disappointing that nothing happened.
And so, I prepared for my final exams with Miyuki's dedicated tutoring.
* * *
The next day, at lunch.
I was heading to meet Chinami with Miyuki when I heard something unexpected.
“Matsuda-kun, Inoo-senpai is asking if she can eat with us... I'm going to say yes, okay?”
“The Captain?”
“Yeah.”
An uninvited guest is crashing the party?
If it were Tetsuya, I would've told him to fuck off and asked if he had no sense, but since it's Renka, I'll let it slide.
“Fine.”
“Okay.”
Actually, considering Chinami's current state, having Renka there might not be a bad thing.
I expected it to be pretty awkward, and Renka could help ease the tension.
She's still an uninvited guest, but on second thought, let's just consider her a welcome one.
We parked in the bustling department store parking lot and took the elevator.
As soon as we got off on the restaurant floor, we ran into Chinami and Renka.
“Hello, senpai!”
Miyuki said with a deep bow.
Renka returned the greeting and said,
“Thanks for saying yes. I know it was a sudden request.”
“Not at all. You're always welcome. How have you been, Nanase-senpai?”
As Miyuki asked with a smile, Chinami nodded with a bright expression of her own.
“Y-Yes...! I've been well. And you, Junior Hazanawa... Ah, not Hazanawa, Hanazawa. I'm sorry...”
She's stuttering from nervousness, but she's acting more natural around Miyuki than I expected.
I thought she'd be completely frozen and stammering. What a relief.
It seems my reassurance from before helped.
Thankfully, Miyuki's expression didn't change much.
I won't know what she's really thinking until tonight, but for now, it looks like we'll be able to finish our meal in a friendly atmosphere.
Watching Chinami and Miyuki with a pleased expression, I glanced over at Renka, who was standing with her arms crossed.
Her haughty attire was the complete opposite of Chinami's cute outfit.
It's a mystery how two people with such mismatched looks and personalities could be best friends.
As if sensing my gaze, Renka mouthed the words, ‘What are you looking at?’
Wanting to tease her for her prim attitude, I took half a step back from where Chinami and Miyuki were talking.
Then I sidled up next to Renka and whispered in a low voice.
“What's the Captain doing here?”
“Why? Am I not allowed to be here?”
“Normally, no. It's a nuisance to just show up without being part of the original plan.”
“Chinami was supposed to meet me today too, and I thought our schedules would be tight, so I asked if I could just join you guys. Both you and Hanazawa agreed. If you'd said no, I would've waited separately.”
“Just kidding. I'm glad you're here.”
“You know, you're ridiculous.”
“How so?”
“You act all friendly to my face, but then you go and exclude me behind my back?”
Was she upset that I didn't ask her to eat with us?
Don't you hate me? You shouldn't care whether I exclude you or not.
But I couldn't say that, since we had gotten a little... just a tiny bit closer.
“It's not like that...”
“Then what is it?”
I can't exactly tell her this is a get-together to build some camaraderie before our threesome and ease the awkwardness.
At least, not yet.
“It's nothing.”
“Yes, it is. Be honest.”
“I said it's not. You've been awfully clingy since yesterday. Do you want to be punished?”
Renka snorted at my words.
“Punish me? How are you going to do that?”
Oh, there are plenty of ways.
Starting with the basics like whipping, then tortoise-shell bondage, restraining you and controlling your orgasms with a vibrator...
All sorts of things come to mind.
Did she sense some unknown anxiety from the lecherous expression on my face as I indulged in these fantasies?
She swallowed hard and continued.
“Never mind... Don't tell me.”
“Why not? I really want to.”
“Don't.”
“So I can just punish you however I want?”
“You little...!”
Renka's eyebrows shot up as she glared at me.
Admiring the ornate earrings dangling from the nape of her pale neck, I bared my teeth in a grin.
“I'm kidding.”
Did our hushed bickering seem strange?
Miyuki, who had been talking to Chinami, paused and turned to look back at us, tilting her head.
“What are you two doing?”
At that, Renka put on a bright smile—the complete opposite of how she acts toward me—and answered.
“Nothing at all. Shall we go in?”
“Ah, yes...”
* * *
An innocent type, a cute type, and a sly, perverted vixen type, all sitting together.
I thought it would be an incredibly strange sight, but it surprisingly works.
It would be perfect if the free-spirited Hiyori were here too.
“.... So, I tried visiting Momo-nim's site? But the homepage was a little...”
“Ah...! You were going to say it looks like it was thrown together, right?”
“Um, yes... that's right.”
“That's a fake site. It was made by scammers trying to ride on Momo-nim's popularity.”
“Oh, really?”
“Yes. I know because I was tricked by it once. I report it every time I see it, and it gets taken down, but it always pops right back up. It's easier to just search for it and go to the top result.”
“I see... Could you show me?”
“Yes, just a moment...”
Miyuki was deep in conversation with Chinami.
The same reaction as before we entered the restaurant.
She must have a vague idea that Chinami and I had a questionable relationship, yet she's acting like this. She's so magnanimous.
Is it a ‘if you can't beat 'em, join 'em’ kind of thing?
Or is she burning up inside while forcing herself to act calm?
I really hope it's the former.
I do want to see Miyuki engage in a battle of wills with the other heroines.
But the target shouldn't be Chinami.
Miyuki being nice to the soft-hearted Chinami while subtly setting up a rivalry with the strong-willed Renka... Just imagining it is a turn-on.
Picturing her at the main gate, mercilessly giving demerit points to a late Renka... That would be fun to watch.
In any case, the friendlier those two became, the better it was for me, so I picked up a menu while glancing at the two of them chattering away without even ordering.
I think Renka joining us was a good move in the end.
Otherwise, I'd probably just be huddled over here, staring at the menu.
“What do you want to eat?”
I held out the menu, and Renka glanced over it before answering.
“Chinami will have the Napolitan spaghetti and a peach iced tea, and I'll have the chicken karaage rice bowl.”
A perfect choice for Chinami, who has the palate of an elementary schooler who loves sweet things.
“Got it. Then Miyuki will have the yakisoba, and I'll have the oyakodon.”
“Oyakodon? Isn't that a little plain?”
“Napolitan spaghetti and chicken karaage are just as simple.”
“True... But is it okay to just order for Hanazawa without asking her?”
“She was singing about how much she wanted yakisoba on the way here.”
“Really?”
“Yep.”
“You two must be close. By the way, did Miura not come?”
“Why Miura?”
“You three are always hanging out together.”
Why would we bring that nuclear waste here? He'd just pollute the air.
But now I'm suddenly curious.
What kind of face would Tetsuya make if he happened to see us?
Miyuki and Renka, the two girls he has his eye on... with me mixed in right between them.
He'd probably be pretty shocked, wouldn't he?
Confirming that Miyuki was still focused on her conversation with Chinami, I spoke in a very quiet voice.
“There's no reason to call him. He has no connection to our master, either.”
“That's true, but...”
Renka trailed off and started giving me a suspicious look.
It seems she found it suspicious that Miyuki and I met up alone before the appointed time.
Besides, while we weren't exactly pressed against each other, we were sitting quite close, so it was understandable she'd be suspicious.
I wonder if she'd faint if she knew we'd agreed to have a threesome.
If you go and ruin this mood...
Then I'll have no choice but to give you a very, very big punishment.
To make sure that doesn't happen, let's just eat our food and chat quietly today.
Just then, I saw a waiter passing our table and raised my hand to change the subject.
“We'd like to order.”