Chapter 280: The Protagonist Wants to Experience a Perfect Day
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 280: The Protagonist Wants to Experience a Perfect Day
The next morning.
I headed downtown to buy the book Miyuki had mentioned for our tutoring session, stopping by a coffee shop first.
Swoosh.
Unlike when I worked here, I walked confidently through the automatic front doors.
“Ah! Junior! Hello!”
My eyebrow twitched as Chinami, dressed in the cafe's uniform and apron, greeted me from the counter.
“Master? What are you doing there?”
“Mufufu... My friend Renka asked me to help out for the day. I'm here as a one-day part-timer.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes.”
“I see. How's the work?”
“It's great. It's fun answering customers' questions, and I enjoy making the drinks, too. Of course, I can't make the complicated ones, but it's still a lot of fun.”
It really suits Chinami's bright personality.
It wouldn't be a bad idea to have her run a small, private cafe in the future.
Though the menu would probably be mostly peach-related.
“That's good to hear. By the way, that uniform is huge on you.”
“Yes. It's the one you used to wear, Junior.”
As if embarrassed by the fact that she was sharing my clothes, Chinami crossed her arms down in front of her and fidgeted shyly.
She looked so unbelievably cute I could die.
I felt like showering her with kisses.
“You didn't get a new one?”
“The owner offered, but I told him I wouldn't take it. I couldn't possibly be a bother when I'm only working for one day.”
That's my Chinami, so kind.
Her heart is so soft. So lovely it drives me crazy.
“Where's the captain?”
“She's in the storage room. By the way, what brings you here, Junior? Did you come to hang out?”
“No. I just stopped by on my way to buy a book.”
“A book? What kind of book?”
“A math book. Miyuki told me to get one.”
“Junior Miyuki did?”
“Yeah. The three of us—me, Miura, and her—are studying together tomorrow. Miyuki is tutoring us.”
“Aha. Since Junior Miyuki is such a good student, she's helping you two.”
“That's right.”
“Work hard and try to get into the top five in your second year!”
When she says something impossible in such a hopeful voice, I have no choice but to try.
As I was having a pleasant chat with Chinami, who even clenched her fists in encouragement, Renka came out of the storage room.
“Huh?”
Her arms full of cups and cup holders, she spotted me and her eyes went wide.
“What? Why are you here?”
That's the first thing she says to me.
Is her training still incomplete?
Slave training isn't like raising a child... it's so hard.
“Hey.”
“...Hey.”
“I came as a customer today.”
“If you use that as an excuse to order me around, I won't let you get away with it.”
Renka said, putting down the supplies she'd brought.
I let out a chuckle at her feigned coldness and replied.
“Your threats are cute. I wasn't planning on it.”
“Good, then. What are you drinking?”
“One Americano.”
“Pay up.”
“You're going to charge me?”
“You said you were a customer. Of course I'm going to charge you.”
“That's harsh.”
“I'll give you a coupon, so get over it. Or don't.”
She was acting all high and mighty yesterday with Ino-chan's help, and here she is, challenging me again today.
Does she think I won't touch her because Chinami's here?
I narrowed my eyes and stared at her intently. Renka flinched for a moment before haughtily lifting her chin.
“450 yen.”
“Are you kidding me? It's 300 yen.”
“That includes a tip.”
“What kind of shop charges a 50 percent tip?”
“This one.”
“Is that how you're going to be?”
“What. You got a problem with that?”
“Plenty.”
“...”
When I lowered my voice slightly, Renka seemed to decide it was time to back down and shut her mouth.
The fact that she's so quick on the uptake in situations like this is somehow irritating.
“I'll pay by card.”
“...I was just messing with you. Why are you taking it so seriously?”
“Your tone didn't sound like you were joking.”
“Whatever. I'm not taking your money.”
“Alright, then. In that case, I'd like my Master to make my coffee.”
I shrugged and looked at Chinami with a doting expression. Her face lit up, and she beamed.
“Oh, should I? Then I'll add some peach syrup to your coffee.”
“Huh...? No. Please don't do that.”
“Why not?”
She was so cute tilting her head that I wanted to agree to anything, but not that.
Peach syrup in coffee? Just imagining it makes me think it would taste horrible.
“People don't usually put peach syrup in coffee.”
“In that case, how about adding a shot of espresso to iced tea to make a Peach Americano?”
“That's... also a bit...”
“Why not? Don't you like peaches too, Junior?”
“I do, but variations like peach coffee are a little... unfamiliar. And I'm not really craving anything sweet today.”
“Is that so? Then I'll just have to make you a regular coffee.”
“Yes, please.”
“Iced?”
“Yes.”
“Alright.”
Seemingly in a good mood, Chinami started humming quietly as she began to fill a cup with ice.
As I admired her plump, panda-like figure from behind, I glanced at Renka, who was snickering quietly, probably amused at how I was struggling with Chinami.
“What's so funny?”
“It is funny. Am I not allowed to laugh?”
“You look like you have a lot of complaints about society.”
“So what?”
Hmm... Seeing Renka talk back to me like this makes me want to start her anal plug training.
Is it too soon? Should I wait a little longer?
I did buy one with a cat tail... I'll have to think about it seriously tonight.
“...W-What...?”
“What?”
“You just looked at me weirdly...”
“Are you paranoid or something?”
“It's not that...”
Swoosh.
Renka, who had been darting her eyes around nervously, forced a bright smile as the cafe door opened and a customer walked in.
“Welcome...! to Cafe 24.”
In the meantime, I'd taken a corner seat. A moment later, when Chinami brought my drink over on a tray and set it on the table, I patted the seat next to me.
“Sit.”
At that, Chinami's face turned a rosy pink, like a peach. It seemed she remembered the intimacy we shared here last time.
“Y-Yes...? But I'm not a customer today, I'm here as a part-timer... so it's a little difficult...”
“There aren't many customers. Just stay with me for two minutes.”
“Ah, I can't...”
“To think that even my own Master won't welcome me... I'm suddenly starting to feel sad.”
“W-What...? Am I that untrustworthy that you would think such negative thoughts? When you come to work, you should work hard and not slack off...!”
“But last time, you hung out with me for a bit while I was working.”
“You were an official part-timer who was well-adjusted to the job, and you also have to consider your close relationship with the owner, right? In contrast, I'm just a one-day part-timer here on Renka's request. If I were to slack off, how do you think Renka, who introduced me to the owner, would feel?”
“It's fine as long as we don't get caught, isn't it?”
“Ahem...! Ahem! What a wicked thought...! You mustn't think that way. Even when I was a customer and you sat next to me, my heart was pounding and I felt guilty. Now that I'm the one working, that feeling is even stronger. I will absolutely not sit next to you today, Junior.”
She placed her hands on her hips and looked at me with a stern expression.
For a moment, she looked just like the Chinami who used to teach me in the kendo club room.
I remember her helping me put on my armor back then, tapping my head guard... The memory brings a smile to my face.
Anyway, it seems I won't be able to keep her here like this.
I don't want to get on her bad side, so I guess I have no choice.
With a disappointed look, I let my shoulders slump, then stuck a straw in the glass Chinami brought and took a sip of my coffee.
“Maybe it's because you made it, Master, but this tastes better than usual.”
“That can't be right. The amount of coffee beans and water is exactly according to the guide.”
Sometimes, Chinami leaves me speechless.
Like now, when a simple, tailored compliment just doesn't work on her.
She's truly a mystery. She's not mad that I refused the peach syrup, is she?
“That's how it feels to me.”
“In that case, I will gladly feel proud.”
Ahh... Chinami's bright smile is just too cute.
An impulse rises in me—to pull that petite body into a tight hug and grope her butt, to slather her body in oil and massage her smooth, soft skin, to hear that uniquely sweet and unusual moan of hers.
“Well then, I'll get back to work. Making drinks is so much fun, I want to try making all sorts of things.”
Chinami hugged the empty tray to her chest like an innocent heroine from a cartoon. Her genuine enjoyment was so clear on her face that I felt my own spirits lifting.
“Alright.”
“When you're done, don't take the cup to the return counter. Just leave it on the table.”
“Why?”
“Because cleaning up is fun, too.”
My Chinami has some very unique tastes.
To think that cleaning tables is fun. But somehow, it suits her.
“Got it.”
“Well then, enjoy your drink.”
“Wait.”
“Yes?”
I puckered my lips slightly at Chinami, who tilted her head in confusion. Flustered, she glanced around. Then, she hesitantly approached me, leaned in, and gently pressed her peach-tinted lips to mine.
The soft touch felt incredibly good.
I got to see the cheerful Chinami and the sulking Renka, and I'll see Miyuki later, so my dose of sweetness for the day is perfect.
If I could just run into Hiyori, it would be the best day ever... Can I allow myself to hope?