Chapter 222: Possession #2
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 222: Possession #2
“Matsuda-kun...!”
Miyuki, who had just entered the cafe, spotted me, and her face lit up with delight.
Mindful of the few other customers, she lowered her voice. I waved at her and said, “You made it?”
“Yeah. Should we sit in the corner?”
“Why the corner?”
“I don’t want to get in the way of your work.”
“Don’t worry about that. Sit wherever you want.”
“Oh, that’s a relief. Hello! Inoo-senpai!”
Miyuki bowed her head to Renka, who was just coming out of the restroom.
Renka’s eyes widened in surprise at the familiar face, and she awkwardly returned the greeting.
“Hey, Hanazawa. How did you know about this place?”
“Matsuda-kun told me. Did you not know I was coming today?”
“I had no idea...”
“Oh, am I intruding?”
“Not at all. I’m glad you came.”
Behind Miyuki were the Vice Class President and Bread Girl.
While Miyuki and Renka chatted, I gave the Vice Class President a lukewarm greeting and then gestured with my chin at Bread Girl.
“Long time no see.”
“Cough?”
“I’ve been good. Go on and have a seat.”
With a little hack!, Bread Girl nodded and sat down with Miyuki and the Vice Class President.
Renka, who had been watching them, turned to me with a dumbfounded expression.
“What did you just do...?”
“What do you mean?”
“That shy-looking girl just coughed. Why did you pretend to understand her...?”
She seemed baffled by the non-conversation she’d just witnessed.
I guess from a third-person perspective, it would look pretty strange.
“Because I do understand her. If you spend enough time with her, you’ll learn what she’s trying to say. The pitch of her coughs is different.”
“R-Really...? That’s... weird. Are you all in the same class?”
“Yep.”
“Why didn’t you tell me Hanazawa was coming?”
“Did I have to?”
“Well, no, but it wouldn’t have been hard to mention it. And you’re being awfully nice to Hanazawa, aren’t you?”
“I’m nice to my master, too. Same goes for you, Captain.”
“To me...? Are you being serious...? You’re always...”
“Always what?”
“...Never mind. Talking to you is exhausting, so I’ll just keep quiet.”
“Are you perhaps jealous?”
“Don’t be ridiculous, you delusional bastard. Jealous of what?”
Renka shot back, her expression hardening. But as Miyuki approached to order, she put on a bright smile.
“Ready to order?”
“Yes, Matsuda-kun said the Caramel Honey Latte is the best and that I should get that, but do you have any other recommendations?”
“The Chocochip Frappuccino or the Chocolate Ice Blended are better than the Caramel Honey Latte.”
“Really?”
“Yeah. Or, how about I give you one of each to try?”
“We’d appreciate that, but... I’m worried it’ll be too much of a hassle for you to make...”
“You’re here as a customer. What’s there to be a bother about? You don’t have to be so considerate.”
“Then we’ll order one of each, three drinks in total.”
“What size?”
“Regular, please.”
“Got it. You don’t have a coupon, do you? I’ll give you one. If you collect ten stamps, you get any drink for free.”
“Oh, really? Thank you so much!”
After taking the order and payment, Renka handed Miyuki a vibrating pager.
As Miyuki walked away, Renka turned to me.
“Get the espresso cubes.”
“How about you don’t order me around?”
“Get them.”
“The problem with you, Captain, is that you’re way too headstrong.”
“Shut up. Are you going to half-ass Hanazawa’s drink?”
“Of course not.”
“Then get to work.”
It’s been a while since someone left me speechless.
I’ll get you back for this later.
* * *
“Matsuda-kun, I can just put this here, right?”
Miyuki asked, placing the coffee tray on the return counter.
I helped her by shaking the ice from the empty cups into the funnel.
“Put the straws in the top left.”
“Okay.”
“Was it good?”
“It was better than I expected. Honoka and Masako liked the Chocochip Frappuccino more.”
“That’s them for you. What about you?”
“I liked the Caramel Honey Latte more.”
Miyuki is so thoughtful.
Could we maybe slip into the storage room for a minute right now?
“Glad to hear it.”
“Is it okay if I come here often?”
“Of course, why wouldn’t it be?”
“I just don’t want to be a bother... Well then, I’ll have to fill up this coupon with ten stamps.”
She grinned mischievously, waving the coupon with its three stamps in front of me.
I chuckled at her adorable antics and, after a quick glance around, gently stroked her hair.
“Go for it. What are you doing now?”
“We’re going to hang out.”
“With them?”
“Yeah. I won’t be too late. You haven’t forgotten we’re studying together tomorrow, right?”
Tomorrow was my day off.
Miyuki, not forgetting this, had to bring it up.
I grimaced and furrowed my brow.
“Ugh, why study already? Is it a crime to rest at home on my first day off?”
“Then we can just study at home. And we promised before the break started.”
Look at her, staring at me with that class president gaze of hers, managing her students.
It’s endearing, but the thought of studying is daunting.
But it’s fine. I have a way to get out of this.
“Alright, fine. We’ll do it.”
“Good thinking. Well, I’m off now.”
“See ya.”
Completely oblivious to my scheme, Miyuki gave Renka a cheerful goodbye and left with the Vice Class President and Bread Girl.
Renka, who was watching Miyuki wave through the window as she walked away, spoke up.
“I really don’t understand how a nice girl like Hanazawa is friends with you.”
Judging by her usual playful jab, it seemed she hadn’t seen me stroking Miyuki’s hair.
If she had, she would have grilled me about what was going on between us.
“Is there a reason we can’t be friends?”
“It’s not that you can’t, it’s just surprising.”
“Why are you being defiant again?”
“Wh-What...? What are you talking about...? You’re the one being defiant...!”
Renka’s face instantly turned beet red.
I don’t know why she messes with me when she can’t even handle the comeback.
Is it just her rebellious nature?
“Let’s just say you’re right. Anyway, I have the day off tomorrow. Think you can handle things on your own?”
“...Why wouldn’t I be able to? The owner will be here to help... In fact, I’ll probably do better than when I’m with you. I’ll be more at ease.”
“I should come by as a customer tomorrow.”
“If you do, I’ll spit in your drink.”
“Really? I’d actually like that.”
“Wh-What...?”
“Spit as much as you can, please.”
“...You’re a real pervert.”
“Is that the only insult you know? It’s starting to sound like a compliment. Try to be more creative.”
“.....”
Renka, pouting at my sarcasm... is so beautiful.
I want to lunge at those pouting lips, which look like they’d taste of blueberries, and kiss her right now.
With that thought, I continued, a smile on my face.
“We’re going home together today, right?”
“No... Wh-What...? Don’t come any closer...!”
Renka, who had been about to flatly refuse, flinched and took a step back.
Because I had taken a large stride toward her.
While Renka, leaning her head all the way back, couldn’t hide her flustered bewilderment, I asked again.
“We’re going together, right?”
“F-Fine...! I’ll go, okay?! So just back off...! There are customers here...!”
“So it’s okay if there are no customers?”
“O-Of course not, you idiot...!”
“I’m just looking at you.”
“Don’t...! Don’t even look at me...!”
Soon enough, you’ll let me do whatever I want.
Picturing a golden future, I obediently stepped away from Renka.
“After we close, you can wait for me at Robot Mania and look at some figures.”
“I won’t...! I’m not looking at anything...!”
“Then you can watch some anime in the changing room.”
“...I’ll figure it out myself, so mind your own business...”
“Alright.”
Ending today’s training of Renka with a toothy grin, I quietly went to the sink and put on the rubber gloves.
* * *
After handing things over to the evening shift worker, I saw Renka waiting by the car, right on time. I raised a hand in greeting.
In response, Renka crossed her arms with a haughty gesture.
Trying not to be intimidated... how admirable.
And so, with Renka in the passenger seat, we headed toward her house.
As I focused quietly on driving, I glanced at Renka in the rearview mirror. She was staring out the window.
“Captain.”
“What.”
“Where’d you go? You didn’t buy any figures today?”
“Don’t use informal speech with me.”
“So, did you buy any or not?”
“I just walked around.”
“Weren’t you cold?”
“Not really.”
I let out a dry laugh at the ever-prickly Renka. Taking advantage of a red light, I leaned my head forward until it was right in front of her face.
“Gah!?”
Was she surprised by a head suddenly appearing before her eyes?
A short scream escaped Renka’s lips. She jerked her head back, just like she had at the cafe.
Her eyes were wide as the back of her head hit the headrest.
She swallowed hard, clearly nervous, and scolded me.
“Wh-What are you doing all of a sudden...!”
“I thought you might be cold, so I was checking.”
“H-How are you checking?”
“If I get close, I can feel the cold air coming off your body.”
“What kind of nonsense...”
“You have a naturally cold constitution, Captain, so this is how I can tell.”
Finishing my sentence, I softened my gaze, letting my eyelids fall halfway.
Then, I brought my face even closer to Renka’s.
Just like someone about to kiss.
“Hey...! Hey!”
Renka’s expression turned to one of pure urgency as her hand flew to the seat adjustment lever.
It looked like she was trying to recline the seat to create distance... but does she realize that would just make things weirder?
I laughed inwardly at her ridiculously cute reaction, then gestured with my chin to the side.
“I was just trying to get the blanket.”
“Blanket...?”
Renka’s gaze followed my gesture.
When she saw the blanket in my hand as I rummaged through the back seat, her eyes flared.
“Why would you grab a blanket like that?! You could have just turned your body a little...!”
“This way is easier.”
“Don’t give me that...! You were just trying to mess with me...”
“No, I wasn’t. Just cover yourself with this.”
I unfolded the blanket and draped it over Renka’s lap.
Her eyes darted around, and she blinked her long eyelashes a few times.
“You do such unnecessary things...”
There she goes again. Acting like she doesn’t like it.
I shrugged, turned my gaze back to the road, and casually changed the subject.
“Working part-time with you is really fun, Captain.”
“I’m not having fun. I’m regretting ever introducing you to the owner.”
“That hurts.”
“You don’t look hurt at all.”
“You’re right. Want to see a movie with me when our days off line up? A famous anime movie just came out. I heard the action is insane.”
“...I’m not watching it.”
“Why not? Have you seen it already?”
“No...! I mean I’m not watching it with you...! I’d rather see it alone.”
From her reaction, it seemed like I might actually be able to get her to go to the theater with me.
Renka placed a hand on her chest and let out a sigh, still startled by how suddenly I’d gotten in her face.
Keeping an eye on her, I drove slowly until we entered her neighborhood.
A traditional house came into view.
I parked the car in front of it and said, “Go on in, and think about what we talked about.”
I was referring to the cosplay I’d mentioned today.
Realizing this, Renka pursed her lips and opened the passenger door.
“I’m not thanking you for the ride.”
After delivering her usual tsundere-like thank you, she folded the blanket neatly and placed it on the seat.
Then, letting out a snort, she walked toward the main gate.
Watching her tall figure retreat, I slowly pulled the car away. Before heading home, I stopped by a store and bought a bath bomb.
It was to set the mood and naturally lead Miyuki to bed tonight.
If I completely wear her out, she’ll be too tired to even think of uttering the word ‘study.’
It’s a crude method, but who cares?
Doing things like this once in a while isn’t so bad.