Chapter 432: Renka Training Log 5 #4
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 432: Renka Training Log 5 #4
When I arrived at Renka's house the next day at the agreed-upon time, I found her brushing her hair back from the side of her face as she looked at her phone.
Dressed in a short-sleeved t-shirt and jeans, Renka's thin, pale arms looked incredibly sexy.
Just looking at her felt like I was developing a new fetish.
Soon, Renka spotted my car and raised a hand slightly. She opened the passenger door of the car as it stopped in front of her and greeted me nonchalantly.
"Hey."
"Hello. Did you sleep well?"
"Yeah. You?"
"Me too."
"Good."
"You're not telling me to mind my own business today?"
"Shut up."
"Could you stop swearing?"
"Be quiet."
"That's a little better. Shall we get going?"
"Do you know the way?"
"It's programmed into the navigation."
As we set off for the uncles' store, I rested my hand on the console box, and Renka's gaze followed it.
I wondered why, then realized she was probably expecting the candy I gave her every day.
I did have some, and I hadn't given her any yesterday... Should I take it out?
It wouldn't be right not to give her any after making it a habit. But I wasn't going to feed it to her myself.
I took my arm off the console box, gripped the steering wheel, and continued.
"There's candy in there. You can get it out and eat it."
“.....”
There was no response from Renka.
She must have felt a sense of dissonance, being told to eat it herself when I always fed it to her.
But perhaps realizing I couldn't feed it to her while driving, she soon obediently opened the console box, took out a blueberry-flavored candy, and unwrapped it.
"What time do they open?"
"I don't know either. Sometime in the morning, probably."
She didn't refuse to eat it, and the way she answered my question while pushing the candy to the side of her mouth with a clatter was just too cute.
It made me want to slam on the brakes and plant a kiss on her.
"Are your uncles doing well?"
"Yeah."
"How's business? How's it been lately?"
"They say it's doing alright. Apparently, customers come on their own now without them having to hand out flyers."
"I figured it would do well, since the food is so good. But aren't they hiring a part-timer? I thought they said they were."
"They found someone, but they quit as of yesterday."
"So that's why they asked the Boss and me for help?"
"Right."
"Did the part-timer quit suddenly?"
"No. They said they wanted to quit a few weeks ago."
"Then they should have found a new person in advance. What were they doing?"
"You know how the uncles are. A bit hopeless."
That was true.
It wasn't that they were just coasting through life, but they were the type of people with big ambitions and no real idea how to achieve them.
"You can just help out at a relaxed pace. There's nothing difficult."
"Even if we know them, can we really take it easy when we're working? We should work hard. Anyway, it's been a while since we've worked together."
"With the uncles?"
"No. With you, Boss."
"Well... I guess so. Just know you'll die if you start touching me whenever you feel like it, like you did at our old part-time job."
"That won't happen."
“....Then that's fine.”
Renka's reply, after a slight pause, was a little quiet.
She kept saying she hated it, but now that I said I wouldn't do it, was she a little disappointed?
What I'd just said wasn't part of the neglect play; I was genuinely afraid her intimidating uncles would bury me alive if I messed with her... It seemed she had misunderstood my intentions.
Deciding there was no need to clear up that misunderstanding right now, I focused on driving as the car entered the highway.
As we were driving quietly down the empty road,
"Do we really need to take the highway?"
Renka asked, as if wanting to break the silence in the car.
"It's more convenient."
"Really? Then I'll pay the toll."
"I have a card, so it's paid automatically later."
"I'm saying I'll pay for that."
"It's fine."
"I'll pay for it, so text me the fee later."
"I said it's fine. It's not like we're strangers."
"That's why we have to be more thorough. It's better to be clear about money matters. Besides, I'm the one getting a ride..."
"Can we just drop the talk about the toll fee here?"
"Can you stop being so weirdly stubborn?"
"Enough."
“.....”
With a look full of dissatisfaction, Renka turned her head to look out the window.
What should I do with my slave, who only listens when I'm firm?
I wondered if it would be okay if she became completely submissive, but I was against that.
Renka needed to have that prickly side to her. Just not the constant nagging of late.
"Is that our Ken?"
After parking the car in the lot behind the store and heading inside, the uncles, looking much the same as before, welcomed me.
That buzz cut and that terrifying impression are still the same. I'm the type who gets used to most things, but the uncles are a bit tough.
"What's with the friendly tone?"
"What, I can't be friendly?"
"It's not that, it just makes me nervous."
"What's there to be nervous about?"
"Nothing."
"You're no fun. I'll make sure to pay you a hefty daily wage, so I'm counting on you to do a good job like last time."
"What do you mean, daily wage? It's fine."
"It's the rule to be clear about money-related issues before you go."
He was saying the exact same thing as Renka.
It was common sense, so it was only natural, but... coming from the uncles, it sounded like a loan shark threatening someone who hadn't paid their interest.
"I understand for now."
"What do you mean, 'for now'? Just say, 'I understand, thank you.' I left your uniform in the changing room, so go get changed."
"We're working already? I thought you opened in the morning."
"Thinking of slacking off already? A guy who's getting paid, too."
"So that's why you said you'd pay me. To legally work me to the bone."
"You caught on."
After exchanging some silly jokes with Big Uncle and Small Uncle, I opened the door to the changing room.
And inside,
"Wh-what...? Hey...! Why are you in here..."
I saw Renka, who had just taken off her t-shirt, jump in surprise, and my eyes widened.
When on earth did she get in here?
She must have slipped in quietly while I was greeting the uncles.
Standing there blankly for a moment with my hand on the doorknob, I quickly turned around and apologized.
"I'm sorry."
Then I immediately closed the door and sat on a chair next to the changing room entrance to pass the time.
Not long after, Renka, having finished changing into a blue uniform that looked like something you'd wear at a sushi restaurant—with a cute red fish drawn on white waves—opened the changing room door and called me.
"Hey."
"Yes."
"Come here for a second."
At Renka's words, I quietly entered the changing room. She stood with her arms crossed, frowning as she looked up at me.
Just as she was about to say something, I beat her to the punch.
"Is that the new uniform?"
"Yeah."
"It looks pretty cool and refreshing. It's just a shame the store isn't near the sea; it would have suited it even better."
"We can talk about the uniform later... What was that about?"
"It wasn't on purpose."
"No... not that..."
Normally, you have no problem watching me change, you've even seen me naked, so what's with this sudden display of manners? is what she probably wanted to say.
But apologizing after unintentionally seeing someone of the opposite sex changing is a perfectly normal thing to do.
Meaning, she had absolutely no grounds to snap at me.
It was a bit petty, but what could I do? It was fun to see her react.
With that thought, I gave Renka the answer she was looking for.
"I did it because I thought the Boss would hate it."
"Let's say that's true... Why are you acting so out of character?"
"I just told you. Because the Boss hates it. Don't you remember how you always used to nag me when I did that?"
"So, you're not going to do it anymore?"
"Yes."
"That's ridiculous."
"Isn't this something to be praised for, not called ridiculous?"
"Right. Thanks so much for putting it that way."
Renka said sarcastically and walked past me out of the changing room.
I feel like she's starting to take the bait. I wonder what I'll do if she's like this already.
There's still so much more I want to do.
After changing into my uniform, I came out and didn't see Renka in the store. I looked around and asked Small Uncle.
"Where did the Boss go?"
"Renka? She said she was going out to buy something."
"Really? Did she go to the convenience store?"
"The only place open at this hour is the convenience store... so I'd guess so. The closest one is just around that corner up ahead. Why don't you go check?"
"Is there anything I can help with at the store?"
"Nope. Go hang out until 10."
"Then at least give me some flyers."
"Get out, quick."
"You were just nagging me about slacking off, why are you trying to kick me out now?"
"Are you going to leave on your own? Or..."
"I'll leave on my own."
The uncles were being considerate, trying to give me a chance to go on a date with Renka.
They're probably doing this because they don't know what kind of people are in my life yet, right?
If I declared my harem here, would I actually get buried alive?
I should probably build up a ton of affection with them before that... but it's a bit weird since they're guys.
And since they don't have wives or girlfriends, turning them into masochists who get off on losing is also impossible...
My greatest enemies might just be the uncles.
With that thought, I left the store and was greeted by a cool breeze.
Just as I was walking, debating whether or not to look for Renka, I saw her coming out of a small shop nearby that smelled of something savory.
Renka, holding a small black bag that could hardly be called plastic.
She looked momentarily flustered upon seeing me, but then she lifted her chin and walked toward me.
"What are you doing here?"
"Shut up."
"Why are you swearing?"
"Hey."
"Yes?"
"Eat this."
Saying that, Renka rummaged through the bag and placed something in my hand.
A warmth spread from my palm.
It felt smooth, as if it were wrapped in plastic.
"What is this?"
"Just eat it when I tell you to."
What Renka gave me was a small, dark rice cake.
It was Isobeyaki—grilled sticky rice cake brushed with soy sauce and wrapped in seaweed.
It seemed she had found a rice cake shop that opened early and bought it.
"Is this what you went out to buy?"
"Yeah. For you to eat."
"I mean... I'll eat it, but why are you trying to force-feed me?"
"Because it's best when it's warm. Hurry up and eat it in front of me."
I could feel her determination not to move an inch from this spot until I shoved it in my mouth.
It seemed that experiencing my slightly colder behavior had made Renka feel something in her own way.
After all, a little bit, just a tiny bit, of the girl I used to know was peeking out for the first time in a while.
No one in this world could refuse this rice cake after seeing those kitten-like eyes and those cheeks, tinged with a slight blush as if she were embarrassed to be taking care of me.
I'll call a truce, for now.
I gazed at Renka, who was starting to show the effects of her training. As if my stare was making her uncomfortable, she nonchalantly tossed out a "What are you looking at?" and I handed the rice cake back to her.
Then, I spoke in a gentle tone.
"Can you unwrap it for me?"
“....Are you a child?”
"I've been feeding the Boss candy until now, haven't I?"
"I ate it myself today...!"
"You did today. But not before."
"Hah... Are you really going to be like this?"
"Alright. I'm sorry."
As I reached to take the rice cake back with a spoonful of disappointment in my expression, Renka ground her teeth and irritably removed the plastic wrap.
Then, letting out a soft, long sigh through her nose, she held the rice cake up to my mouth.
"Here."
Ahh... she's so lovely even now. This neglect play... do I really have to do it?
No. I can't get weak. If I fall for this, Renka will go back to being tsun-tsun every day.
I'll just keep it up until she becomes a little more dere-dere than she is now.
Having made that resolution, I opened my mouth slightly, and Renka pushed the rice cake, held between her thumb and index finger, inside.
Perhaps because it had a little sugar in it, the rice cake had a sweet and savory taste along with the distinct nuttiness of the seaweed.
Thinking that it was just like the relationship between Renka and me, I chewed with my mouth closed and grinned.
"It's delicious."
"Don't talk with your mouth full."
"Okay."
"I told you not to talk. Why are you talking?"
"I said I got it."
"I said don't talk. Don't. Don't open your mouth again. You'll die if you do."
My heart aches.
In a good way.
When this play is over, I'll love you so fiercely you'll beg me, "I'm sorry, I was wrong," so fiercely you'll say, "Master, please stop..." on your own.
