Chapter 273: An Uninvited Guest and a Welcome One #2
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 273: An Uninvited Guest and a Welcome One #2
The final heroine appears, right on cue for Tetsuya.
You couldn't call it anything other than bitterly ironic timing.
So that bastard really is the protagonist of DokiAka, huh?
It’s so unfair. Disgustingly so. While I’m running myself ragged, girls just flock to that asshole even when he’s just standing there.
Of course, Hiyori wouldn't be interested in a guy like Tetsuya, but still, isn't this a little too unequal?
"Welcome."
As always, Hiyori was at the front of her group. I greeted her with a smile, and she flashed a bright one back before standing behind Tetsuya.
Then, Tetsuya stepped aside and gave Hiyori a slight nod.
A completely random gesture.
Startled, Hiyori blinked her large eyes and accepted his greeting with an awkward smile.
"Hello..."
I could already feel a tension headache coming on.
Why the hell is that bastard Tetsuya acting so out of character...?
"Please, order first. I have a hard time choosing from the menu."
"Oh, is that okay?"
"Of course."
Stop acting so sweet, you fucker.
This is the same guy who could barely string a sentence together with any girl other than Miyuki. What got into him?
Is he trying to copy me? Or is he feeling all high and mighty because he knows someone at the cafe?
Whatever it is, his pathetic act is pissing me off.
After thanking Tetsuya once more for his consideration, Hiyori said something to her friends with her eyes as they took their seats, then quickly scanned the menu.
Then she rattled off her order.
"One Caramel Macchiato, one Matcha Latte, and one Chocochip Frappuccino, please. And I brought a coupon, it has seven stamps on it. If I order three drinks, that makes ten, so is one free?"
She must have looked up the menu beforehand.
There's no way she could have ordered so smoothly otherwise.
"That's right."
"Then I'll add a Strawberry Cheese Frappe, too."
"Got it. I'll ring you up."
"Okay."
Hiyori replied cheerfully and took her wallet out of her bag.
Is she not paying with her phone this time?
Did she overspend and get cut off by her parents?
As Hiyori pulled out the cash and handed it to me, the red nail polish on the tips of her slender fingers caught my eye.
If she gently scratched my chest and stomach with those nails, I think I could cum without even getting hard.
Hiyori, giving me a foxy smile as I feel both the tickle and the pleasure, asking me, Do you like it?...
Just imagining it is so fucking hot, it's driving me crazy.
After finishing the payment and giving her the stamped coupon, I handed Hiyori the vibrating pager and her change.
Then Tetsuya approached the counter again and spoke to Renka.
"I'll just have an iced coffee."
Why is he ordering from Renka and not me, when I'm closer to the counter?
Does he not want to talk to me?
No, Renka's paying, so he's probably talking to her.
Let's not overthink it. It'll just stress me out.
"You sure? Okay. I'll make it for you right away."
"Yes, Captain. Should I just take a seat?"
"Yeah. I have to make the previous customer's drinks first, so please wait a bit."
"Of course. Understood."
Of all the empty seats, Tetsuya chose to plant his hefty ass in the one two seats down from Hiyori.
He's probably doing that so he can sneak glances at her because she's pretty.
What a pervert. I may be a pervert myself, but he's on a whole different level.
It's the difference between being sleazy and being divine, I suppose.
"Why aren't you talking to Miura?"
Renka asked as she brought the milk to the steamer.
I tossed some frozen milk chunks and strawberries into the blender and answered nonchalantly.
"Is there a reason I have to?"
"Aren't you happy to see him? You didn't even know you were both working at cafes."
"You're the one who told Miura, Captain. Besides, I see him often enough when I study with Miyuki, and we talk a lot then, so it's fine."
"The three of you study together?"
"We do. You should get some lessons from my master too, Captain."
"Hey, why are you changing the subject to that...!"
"Alright, alright. My bad."
I secretly patted the top of Renka's butt, and then, with her pouting and grumbling, we started making the drinks.
As we worked, I watched Hiyori's table and listened closely to their conversation.
"Asahina, let's play Apex together."
A guy whined, calling out to Hiyori.
He stretched his arms out on the cafe table and rested his head on them, trying to act cute. It made me want to puke.
If I ever see you again, you're dead meat.
Putting aside the fact that he's hitting on Hiyori, I just don't like the way he acts.
"Apex? I'm already playing it."
Hiyori replied after taking a sip of her Caramel Macchiato. The guy asked in a surprised voice.
"What...? Since when?"
"Since the day before yesterday. Rihito taught me, and it's pretty fun. But I just keep getting one kill and then dying. Rihito gets like, seven kills a match."
"Seriously? You should've learned from me. I'm better than Rihito."
"Rihito said the same thing."
"Don't believe him. His rank is way lower than mine."
Seeing the guy get so worked up was kind of funny.
It looked like he was interested in Hiyori, but so was this Rihito guy, and he was getting jealous that they were playing games together without him.
Hiyori covered her mouth and giggled, then nodded.
"Okay. I'll add you when I have time, so send me your ID on chat later."
"Deal."
"It'd be fun to play as a trio with Rihito. But what gun should I use after I'm done looting?"
"There's an assault rifle called the Carbine. It has nice, low recoil. If you just soften them up for me, I can take care of the rest."
"Soften them up?"
"Chipping away their shield and HP is 'softening them up.' Other terms are..."
The guy started chattering away like a fish in water.
He must be excited that Hiyori was so receptive.
I finally understood why I felt such hostility toward this guy.
It was partly because he was hitting on Hiyori, but more than that, it was because he got all happy with just a little bit of praise, just like Tetsuya.
Tetsuya, who was sitting at the next table waiting for his drink, had his ears perked up as soon as the talk turned to games.
He was trying to act casual, but his signature clueless act gave him away.
Is he interested in the game Hiyori's friend mentioned?
Come to think of it, they say Apex is a national pastime... Tetsuya might already be playing it.
But no way... There's no way Tetsuya also plays that game and just happens to run into Hiyori and build a connection with her...
Something that ridiculous wouldn't actually happen, right?
It won't. It's a battle royale game, so the chances of them getting matched together are too low. And even though you can find people to play with in the community, Hiyori is probably just playing for fun.
I feel like my paranoia has gotten worse lately. I shouldn't worry so much.
"Can't we talk about something else? I don't know anything about that game."
At the complaint from the girl sitting next to Hiyori, the guy playfully glared at her.
The girl then raised a fist threateningly.
It was quite a nice scene. Like a fresh, youthful moment.
"Matsuda, I'm going to go prepare the iced coffee now, okay?"
Renka said, having already finished the Matcha Latte and Caramel Macchiato.
Snapping back to reality, I patted her on the back in response.
It's not that I'm jealous of Hiyori and her friends.
It's because I'm enjoying my own youth in my own way.
Someday, Hiyori will enter my youth and become a part of it, right?
That's all I need.
* * *
"Well... I'll be going now."
Tetsuya placed his empty glass on the counter and bowed his head to Renka.
He's finally leaving. The gloomy atmosphere that had descended upon the cafe will finally lift.
"Leaving already? You could stay a little longer."
"No, I just stopped by on my way somewhere else..."
"Oh? Well, I can't help that. How's kendo going? If you're free..."
Alarm bells went off in my head as I listened to Renka.
She was about to suggest that Tetsuya come to the kendo club room.
I'm angry. So angry. My slave has been crossing the line a lot lately.
Why is she trying to ruin our precious time together?
I can't put this off any longer. She needs to be taught a lesson.
I sidled up next to Renka and poked her in the back with my index finger.
"Ngh...!?"
Renka flinched, her chest puffing out slightly. Puzzled by her instinctive reaction, Tetsuya asked.
"Is something wrong?"
In that moment, I quickly drew an 'X' on Renka's back.
Renka, understanding my intention perfectly, cleared her throat and shook her head.
"Ah, no... It's nothing..."
I stepped away from Renka again and started wiping a cup as if nothing had happened. Tetsuya, clueless as ever, just glanced at me with a bewildered expression and said.
"Weren't you about to say something?"
"Kendo... I was just going to say, if you have any questions, feel free to ask anytime..."
"Isn't that what you said on the phone the other day?"
"Yeah. Right... I'm just emphasizing it. So you don't forget."
"Of course I won't forget. Thank you for the reminder. Is it okay if I come by often?"
"Of course. You're always welcome."
"Thank you, Captain. Keep up the good work."
After a sharp bow, Tetsuya told me to keep up the good work as well and left the cafe.
I thought he'd glance at Hiyori's group before leaving, but surprisingly, he left without a fuss.
He's matured a little. Eavesdropping on their conversation earlier was a bit pathetic, but I did it too, so I'll let it slide.
Watching Hiyori's group chatting quietly, I bent my knees and gestured for Renka to crouch down as well.
When she followed my lead and squatted down, I put on a serious face.
"The private lessons in the kendo club room were a promise between just you and me, Captain. Do you really need to bring Miura into it?"
"...It's not some grand promise... As the captain, I'm allowed to teach promising juniors... And besides..."
"And?"
"If it's just the two of us... it's obvious you'll try something weird..."
So she knew something like that would happen, but she still refused?
She was willing to set aside her duty as captain and abandon a talented club member just for that?
This is worthy of praise. I'll give you a kiss as a reward.
"You needed a human shield?"
"Wh-what a way to put it...!"
"In any case, no."
"That's why I trailed off...! But... did you just say the kendo club room?"
"I did."
"Then coming to my house is canceled, right? I just have to teach you in the club room?"
"Nope. We'll do it in the club room, and at your house, Captain."
"...Don't be ridiculous. If you're going to play word games, I'm not going to the club room either."
I could see Renka's lower thigh as she tried to draw a firm line.
As she squatted, the muscles in her calves and thighs were compressed, making the flesh, thicker than usual, incredibly alluring.
So defenseless, especially in a skirt.
I slowly reached out my hand and scratched the area as if to tickle her. Renka flinched without making a sound, her body swaying as she straightened her knees. I stood up with her.
I kept trying to touch Renka's body as she blew a puff of air at her bangs, but then—
"I'm going to go order a cake."
Hiyori pushed her chair back and stood up. Hearing her voice, Renka urgently slapped my hand away with a smack! I licked my lips, disappointed.