Chapter 218: Renka Training Log 2 #2
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 218: Renka Training Log 2 #2
When I arrived at work the next day, Renka was standing stock-still inside the quiet cafe.
Was she holding back from using her phone because it was only her second day?
She looked cute, staring blankly at the road reflected in the transparent glass of the entrance.
"Hey there."
I greeted her from behind, and Renka's shoulders flinched as she turned around.
"Hey. You could at least make some noise when you approach."
"Starting early today, are we? I made plenty of noise."
"Fine, whatever. Go get changed."
Seeing Renka grumble like that put me in a good mood first thing in the morning.
After clocking in and changing into my uniform, I was quietly getting on with my tasks when Renka sidled up to me.
"Hey."
"What is it?"
"About thirty minutes ago, a customer came in asking if the guy who worked here yesterday was in. She was being a little subtle about it, but..."
"Really? Did she look like an office worker?"
"I don't know about that, but she seemed busy. She just got an iced coffee to go."
It must have been the woman I gave the extra stamp to yesterday.
"So what did you tell her?"
"I said you'd be in an hour... Hey, don't get a big head, you hear?"
"When did I get a big head? Are you delusional?"
"If not, whatever."
First with the comment about making noise, and now this... was she trying to banter with me?
Was she in a good mood after cussing out MK yesterday?
Whatever the reason, Renka's reaction was a very good sign.
It was proof that she was starting to feel more comfortable around me.
"Captain."
"What, what is it?"
"Your pants look nice today."
"...What are you talking about? They're just normal jeans."
"I'm saying your jeans look nice."
"Shut up."
That's our Renka for you. Always grumbling when she gets a compliment.
Even though she's happy about it.
"Alright. What should I do now? Cleaning?"
"Already done."
"Did you make the coffee cubes for the Caramel Honey Latte?"
"Yep. They're freezing in the freezer."
"Is there enough strawberry syrup?"
"The owner dropped some off this morning. I already transferred it to the bottle."
"You've done everything. How commendable. Should I pat your head as a reward?"
"You even try it and you're dead."
"Why are you so violent?"
"You're the one making me violent."
"Can I touch your chin, then?"
Was she annoyed by my teasing?
With a prim expression, Renka turned away without answering.
I never would have dreamed of having a conversation like this before... We've come a long way.
A pleased smile on my face, I continued bickering with Renka as she tried to avoid me, when—
Swoosh-!
The entrance door slid open smoothly, and I greeted the customer with a bright face.
"Welcome."
"Welcome to Cafe 24."
We greeted the customer in unison, as if on cue.
I felt like we had something in common, and I hoped Renka thought so too.
* * *
There were more customers at the cafe today than yesterday.
It wasn't more than double or anything, but it was a noticeable increase.
Among them were quite a few who had come yesterday, including the office worker for whom I'd made my first drink.
"You're back again."
Her face lit up, as if she was happy to be recognized.
She bowed politely to me, then looked at the menu, her words trailing off.
"Um..."
"A Mocha Latte?"
"Ah...! Yes...! You remembered...!"
"Of course, I do. Did you bring your coupon?"
"Yes, here... I'll give it to you with the money."
Her timidness reminded me of a shy schoolgirl. I took the coupon she offered.
It had three stamps on it.
So this was the customer Renka mentioned, the one who was looking for me.
She must have ordered an iced coffee and gotten it stamped.
"That'll be 450 yen. Thank you for your order. I'll have it ready for you in just a moment."
"Thank you...!"
After stamping her coupon, I was about to get the ingredients to make the Mocha Latte.
But Renka, who had overheard our conversation, had already prepared everything and was steaming milk at the coffee machine.
"Making a Mocha Latte?"
"Yeah. You took the order, so I've got nothing else to do. You enjoying this?"
Renka asked, glancing at the customer who had taken a seat at an empty table.
I tilted my head and asked back.
"Enjoying what?"
"The attention. It's obvious she's interested in you."
"I don't really think anything of it."
"Look at you, being so smug... Ugh... I really hate it."
"Why do you keep jumping to your own conclusions? How is that being smug?"
"It wasn't? Then..."
"Whatever?"
"....."
"Same old routine. I'll pull the espresso shot."
As soon as the customer left with the Mocha Latte we'd made amidst our light bickering, the cafe became unbelievably quiet.
It was probably because lunchtime was approaching.
It would get busy again in about thirty minutes.
After bringing the last remaining customer her dessert and drink, I walked over to Renka, who was washing dishes.
I watched over her shoulder as she scrubbed a cup with her bare hands.
"You should wear gloves."
"There aren't that many dishes. It's a hassle."
"Wear them anyway. You'll get dishpan hands if you use your bare hands. You do kendo, you should take meticulous care of your hands."
"...Alright. Stop nagging..."
Renka grumbled but dried her hands on a towel.
I examined each of Renka's long, pale fingers before picking up the rubber gloves and holding them out to her.
"Your fingers are very pretty."
At the sudden compliment, Renka paused mid-wipe.
She looked up at me with wide eyes and asked in a bewildered tone.
"What...?"
"I said they're pretty. Your fingers."
"Wh-what kind of weird thing are you suddenly saying...? This is absurd..."
"Shouldn't someone who holds a shinai for a long time have calluses on their palms? I don't see any on you. Come to think of it, I don't think Master has any either."
"Calluses...? I have them."
"Where?"
"Here... on my left hand, from the middle finger to the pinky..."
Renka held out her left palm for me to see.
I lowered my head and stared intently at the area she indicated before speaking doubtfully.
"I don't see them..."
"If you look closely... Hic...?"
Renka gasped, cutting herself off mid-sentence.
It was because I had suddenly taken her hand and pulled it toward me.
Pretending not to see her eyes, which had doubled in size with shock, I gently felt the area she had mentioned with my fingers.
"Ah, there they are."
The joints where her fingers met her palm were indeed harder than the rest of her hand.
It was so subtle, though, that you wouldn't notice unless you were feeling for it carefully.
"Hey...! Hey...!!"
Renka, who had frozen at the sudden skinship, snapped out of it and called my name urgently.
Finding it amusing that she couldn't raise her voice because of the customer, I let go of her hand.
The moment I did, her hand snapped back toward her body.
As if she'd shown something she shouldn't have, she crossed her arms over her chest, her face beet red as she scolded me.
"Wh-who said you could just touch me without asking...?"
It was better to act like it was just a habit rather than being a smartass here.
I scratched the back of my head as I looked at Renka, who was huffing indignantly.
"Sorry. It's a habit..."
"You have a very... a very bad habit, don't you...? I'd appreciate it if you were more careful..."
"I will be."
"Are you like this with Chinami, too...?"
With Chinami, I do things on a much higher level.
Things that would make your head spin if you, who know nothing about it, were to hear them.
"I can't say that I'm not."
"Doesn't Chinami say anything?"
She just likes it.
Now that Chinami's come up, I miss her.
I should video call her tonight.
"That's between me and Master."
"Ah, right... Just be careful from now on."
"Yes."
I'll back off for now, but once your conditioning is complete, I'll let my hands wander whenever I please.
I'll torment you until you're sobbing and feeling pleasure at the same time, begging your master to please stop.
I approached Renka, who was muttering something in a voice too low to hear.
"But, Captain."
"No."
"I wasn't going to say anything weird."
"Really...? Then say it."
"Let's go home together after work today, too."
"No. I'd have to wait for you."
"I waited for you yesterday."
"That's because you forced yourself to wait."
"That hurts. If you add up the time waiting for public transport and the travel time, it should be about the same."
"That's true."
"Then we agree to go together?"
"Why on earth do you want to go home with me?"
"I don't know. I just want to."
Was she dumbfounded by my non-reason?
Renka let out a hollow laugh and shook her head.
"Do whatever you want."
Leaving the decision to me... She has the proper mindset for a slave.
"Alright. Then wait for me."
"Fine."
"What are you going to do while you wait? I saw a decent figure shop in a nearby alley yesterday. Want to go check it out?"
At my words, Renka's eyes sparkled for a moment before instantly dimming.
"What are you talking about..."
"Go take a look while you're picking out a gift for your nephew. I'll send you the address."
"You don't have to do that...?"
She said that, but her eyes were saying she wanted to.
At this point, I was starting to think Renka enjoyed pretending not to be a weeb.
I had a feeling she'd readily admit it soon enough.
"I'll send it to you anyway, so you can go or not, whatever you want. Go get some lunch first."
"I went first yesterday, so you go first this time."
"You said you were hungry earlier. You go."
"...Alright, I'll be back."
"Okay."
As Renka reached behind her to untie her apron, her chest was accentuated.
It looked bigger today. Was she wearing a thickly padded bra?
I suddenly wanted to touch it.
"What are you staring at...?"
"Just looking."
"Stop doing useless things..."
In the past, she would have flown into a rage at even a casual glance, but now she just ends it with a simple rebuke. You call this huge change a "useless thing"? How absurd.
Our Renka, being conditioned without even realizing it...
The day we start building lewd memories together is not far off.