Chapter 224: Watching a Movie with a Slave #2
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 224: Watching a Movie with a Slave #2
[Are you up?]
[Heavy cream, milk, shrimp, bacon, button mushrooms, spaghetti noodles, tomato sauce, salt, pepper]
I tilted my head at Renka's bizarre reply.
Did I happen to message her right as she was texting someone else, causing her to mix up the chat windows?
Just as I was thinking that, another message from Renka arrived.
[Boil the spaghetti noodles with a little salt. While the noodles are cooking, sauté onions, bacon, button mushrooms, and minced garlic in a frying pan. Once the ingredients are cooked through, add the shrimp.]
[What are you doing right now?]
[When the shrimp start to turn pink, add the noodles along with four spoonfuls of the pasta water and stir-fry. Then, add the heavy cream and milk, season with salt and pepper, and finally add the tomato sauce and let it simmer until it reaches the right consistency.]
Is she... seriously using our chat as a notepad?
Of course, she's not actually serious. It's most likely a provocation... She's gotten bold.
Letting out a dry laugh, I immediately called Renka.
The phone barely rang twice before,
-Ah, shit...
Renka answered, immediately letting her irritation show.
Looks like she's gotten pretty comfortable with me lately.
First the pasta recipe, and now this reaction...
She's getting more and more defiant. I'll have to teach her a lesson with some praise this time.
"What was that? Did you just say 'shit'?"
-...Why are you calling?
"I called because I booked the movie tickets. Why the sudden spaghetti recipe?"
-Because I felt like it.
"How annoying. Did you manage okay at work by yourself yesterday?"
-I wasn't alone. I worked with the boss.
"Right. So, did you do a good job?"
-Of course. My efficiency went up without you there.
"Oh, really? And you weren't bored?"
-Not at all. I was perfectly happy.
"That hurts. Anyway, be ready in front of your house in an hour."
-An hour...? That soon?
"Yep. Because I want to see you soon."
I could hear Renka catch her breath over the phone.
She seemed flustered by my sudden, direct expression of interest.
Chuckling softly, I continued as if making a declaration.
"Get ready."
-...You could just watch it alone... So annoying.
Without responding to Renka's empty grumbling, I hung up, took a thorough shower, and got dressed.
Then, I got in my car and headed to Renka's house.
Not long after I parked in front with my hazard lights on, the main gate opened and Renka emerged.
She was wearing tight black jeans, boots that came up to her lower calves, and a black shearling jacket with patches of white fur.
It was the same dark, mature style she'd worn when she first used her nephew as an excuse.
Back then, I thought she looked mature and full of sex appeal, but it's a little different now.
Somehow, it seems like a spoonful or two of cuteness has been added.
It might be because she had zipped the jacket all the way up, so the fluffy fur collar was wrapped around her neck, but it was more likely because I'd seen so much of her antics lately.
I find her cute because she's shown her clumsy, airheaded side so many times.
As I was lost in these thoughts, admiring Renka, she approached with a swing of her long legs and opened the passenger door. I grinned.
"Hey there."
"Just drive."
"Say hello first."
"No."
"Didn't someone say you should have basic manners?"
"...Hello."
"Do you always have to play hard to get like this? Wouldn't it be nice to just say hello obediently?"
In response, Renka ducked her chin deep into the collar wrapped around her neck.
I chuckled at her childish gesture, which seemed to say she didn't want to talk anymore. Thinking I'd like to poke her sharp nose, which was still visible above the collar, I started the car.
Then, I said casually, as if it were a passing thought,
"You look pretty today."
"....."
At that, she buried her face in her collar, all the way up to her nose.
Is she trying to ignore me, thinking I'm just teasing her?
Or is she embarrassed?
It might be both.
* * *
Renka is tall.
So, compared to the other heroines, she's the perfect height for me to put my arm around her shoulder.
My arm wouldn't have to reach up or down; it's just the right height.
Perhaps feeling burdened by my intense gaze fixed solely on her shoulder, Renka, who had her arms crossed in the elevator, glared at me.
"What are you staring at? You wanna die?"
"Why are you making a fuss again? Am I not allowed to look?"
"No."
"Why are there so many things you won't let me do? Are you a dictator?"
"Shut up."
"Then don't give me a reason to be loud."
While we were bickering, the elevator arrived at the ticket booth floor.
I got out and crossed the quiet lobby to a kiosk.
After printing out the tickets I'd booked, I looked over the snack bar menu.
"What kind of popcorn do you want?"
"Caramel."
"Eating sweet things will make your teeth rot."
"What am I, a kid? Besides, the regular popcorn at this theater is just salty and doesn't taste good."
"Oh, really? How do you know that so well?"
"Because I've been here a lot with Chinami."
"When you come with your Master, don't you get the peach powder sprinkled on?"
"Well, yes... but how do you know that?"
"Because I've been here with our Master, too. Anyway, so we're getting caramel popcorn, right?"
"Yeah."
"And for drinks?"
"Iced coffee. You?"
"Just a Coke."
"Alright. I'll buy this, so you go wait over there."
Renka said, waving her hand dismissively.
I stuck even closer to her side and said,
"Why do I have to go over there? I'll stay with you."
"Fine, do whatever."
Renka scoffed and strode over to the counter on her long legs.
Then, without hesitation, she ordered a Couple's Set and sized up the popcorn.
When I was in that 'some' phase with Miyuki, she would get all flustered if I ordered a Couple's Set, but Renka is so confident about it.
It seems she's not placing any special meaning on the 'couple' part and is just thinking about the set discount.
After getting the popcorn and drinks in a plastic carrier, we showed our tickets and went straight into the screening room.
The seats I'd booked were in the back, in the left corner.
If it had been a large theater, it might have been difficult to watch the movie, but since it was small, the screen was in full view, so it didn't matter.
"There were so many other seats. Why did you have to pick these ones?"
Why else? So I can subtly get cozy with you here.
I replied, sitting down next to the complaining Renka.
"I just like these kinds of seats. It's not like it's uncomfortable for watching the screen, anyway."
"You have some weird hipster tendencies."
"It's not a hipster tendency, it's personal preference. Do you prefer sitting in the center, Captain?"
"Yeah."
"That's a bit disappointing."
"Hearing that you're disappointed makes me feel better."
You'll grow to like the corner seats.
I'm going to train you to.
How much time passed as we watched the ads on screen, exchanging witty banter?
The soft lights in the theater dimmed to black, and the murmuring of the few other customers died down.
The distributor's logo appeared in the center of the screen, accompanied by the opening music.
Seeing it, Renka suddenly brought her face close to mine and asked,
"By the way, what genre is this? The poster looked like a romance. Is that right?"
Feeling a tickle from Renka's voice digging into my ear, I brought my lips to hers, which was giving off a sweet scent.
Then, I whispered, intentionally letting a bit of breath mix in with my words.
"I don't know."
"Hic...!"
Renka flinched, hiking one shoulder up high.
She rubbed her arms as if she'd gotten goosebumps and snapped in irritation.
"Hey, what are you doing...?!"
"What?"
"You blew on me...!"
"Doesn't that just happen sometimes when you talk?"
"What do you mean, 'it just happens'?! You clearly did that on purpose...!"
"Be quiet. Don't bother the other people."
"I am being quiet...! You piece of trash...!"
"Calling me trash just for blowing a little air? That's harsh. Are you telling me I shouldn't even breathe?"
"I'm saying this because you did it on purpose...!"
"Think whatever you want."
With that, I propped my elbow on the armrest between us, leaned my whole body toward Renka, and rested my cheek on the side of my fist.
Renka immediately started complaining again.
"Do you own this armrest? Stop being a nuisance, will you?"
"Since when is there a 'yours' and 'mine' for the armrest in the middle? We share it."
"What kind of sharing is this...?! I can't even use it..."
"Why not? I'm only using the back part of the armrest. You can put your arm on the front part."
"Hah... fine, just move your head. Don't lean into my seat."
"Don't be so childish."
"You're the one being shameless."
"You smell nice."
"W-What...?"
Renka gets flustered when I give her sudden, out-of-context compliments like this.
It was the same now. Her navy-blue eyes darted around, unsure of what to do.
I answered her honest reaction with a grin and turned my eyes to the screen, still leaning on the armrest.
Just then,
-Aahn...!
A woman's coquettish voice echoed from the theater's speakers.
Startled by the sound, Renka jumped violently, her mouth hanging open at the explicit scene of a man and woman unfolding on the screen.
The woman was on top of the man, energetically riding him in the woman-on-top position, even placing a hand on his knee to balance herself.
A blatant scene of her, completely naked, shaking her breasts and sweating profusely.
After staring blankly at the scene for a moment, Renka shot me a sideways glance and asked,
"W-What is this...?"
I was just as bewildered.
I knew it was a romance movie with some mature scenes, but I had no idea they'd be fucking right from the start without any buildup.
Does the story start after they get a round in first?
I should have at least watched the trailer or looked up some information online.
Feeling unnecessarily embarrassed, I quickly answered.
"I don't know either."
"....."
"I know you don't trust me, but I honestly had no idea this would happen."
Did she read the dumbfounded look on my face?
The silent Renka turned her eyes back to the screen.
It seems she sensed my sincerity and decided to let it go.
Still, she's not acting coy by covering her eyes or anything.
Her reaction is so mild it's almost boring.
Feeling a little disappointed, I pretended to focus on the movie and shifted in my seat, moving a little closer to Renka.