Chapter 90: A Brief Three-Way Confrontation
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 90: A Brief Three-Way Confrontation
A street lined with second-hand clothing stores.
I parked where Chinami told me to and turned on the hazard lights.
“Is this the place?”
“Yeees...”
“I don’t see Inoo-senpai.”
“We still have fifteen minutes until our meeting time... She’ll probably be here in about five minutes...”
“Should I wait with you until she gets here? It must be boring to wait alone.”
“No... I can wait by myself...”
Ah! I was thinking the exact same thing...! I was hoping for the same answer. Are you trying to make me sad?
“Let’s just wait together. I’m worried, so I can’t just leave you here alone.”
“Worried...?”
“That you’ll get scammed or something in the meantime.”
“B-But I’m not doing any second-hand trades right now...”
“It’s raining, too, so just do as I say.”
“Okay...”
Chinami fidgeted, unable to keep her hands still.
With her head bowed low, her plump cheeks puffed out from the side, looking exceptionally cute today.
“Master, what kind of clothes do you like? Cute stuff?”
“Uhm... I usually like pink, but... since my hair is pink, I tend to choose a variety of other colors...”
Imagining Renka and Chinami picking out clothes together was kind of funny.
Their tastes must be completely different... It’s amazing they get along so well.
“Those clothes you wore at the department store last time looked great on you.”
“You think so...?”
“Yeah. It was a cute yet mature-looking outfit. Is it too nosy of me to say that?”
“N-No! It’s not nosy at all...” Chinami’s lips twitched as she waved her hands in denial.
Last time I complimented her for being cute, she was so flustered she didn’t know what to do, but she seems to like it when I add that she looks mature.
Letting out a dry laugh, I looked out the car window.
The downpour had lost its strength and turned into a light drizzle.
It had a nice atmosphere. If it weren't for the puddles, it would be a perfect day for a walk.
Someone appeared among the sparse crowd.
A tall woman with a slender figure.
Her outfit was so sexy you could tell it was Renka at a glance.
Just as Chinami said, she arrived with exactly ten minutes to spare.
Holding an umbrella, she approached the car Chinami and I were in, looking around.
After admiring her outfit for a moment, I said quietly.
“Inoo-senpai is here.”
“Where?”
“Over there.”
When I pointed in Renka’s direction, Chinami’s face lit up.
She carefully folded the Momo-nim blanket and bowed her head.
“Well then... thank you so much for today.”
“It was fun. Let’s meet again.”
“Ah...! Yes...! Let’s have even more fun next time...!”
“Sounds good.”
Click.
Chinami opened the passenger door, unfolded her umbrella, and bowed once more.
I waved to her with one hand, and as soon as the door closed, I cracked open my window to watch Renka, who was nearby.
“Chinami...?”
Seeing Chinami get out of the car, she tilted her head in confusion.
For a second, she didn't seem to recognize my car.
But soon her eyes widened, and she strode forward on her long legs.
“Matsuda...? That’s you, Matsuda, isn’t it?”
I bet you never expected Chinami to get out of my car, did you?
I rolled down the driver’s side window completely and greeted Renka with a grin.
“Hello, Captain.”
Then I looked at Chinami, who was standing next to the dumbfounded Renka, and continued.
“Buy lots of pretty clothes, Master.”
“Okay...! Should I take pictures of what I buy and send them to you?”
A fantastic assist. Thanks, Chinami.
“That sounds good.”
“Okay. Get home safe...!”
I waved back at the grinning Chinami and immediately hit the accelerator.
“Hey...! Hey!”
Renka’s booming voice echoed from behind me before fading away.
I could see a startled Chinami in the side mirror. I’m really curious what those two will talk about.
@@
“....You two watched a movie together?”
“Yes.”
Chinami answered innocently, her eyes wide and round.
Renka took a sip of her coffee and asked again.
“Just the two of you? You met up separately to see it?”
“Yes. Why?”
“When did you two get so close?”
“We were always close. We have a master-student relationship, and working as managers together, it’s only natural we’d grow closer. Don’t you think?”
“Well, I mean... I guess so, but... did you just watch the movie?”
“After the movie, we had dessert at a nearby ice cream shop.”
“Really...? Matsuda didn’t... act weird toward you or anything, did he?”
Chinami’s head tilted at a 15-degree angle.
A gesture that suggested she was deep in thought.
After a moment, she asked back.
“What do you mean by ‘act weird’?”
“Like... trying to seduce you...”
“Seduce me...? In what way?”
Renka was at a loss for words.
How was she supposed to explain this? With zero dating experience, it was a little hard to describe in detail.
“A feeling... something like that...”
“A feeling...? Hmmm... I didn’t really get the feeling he was trying to seduce me... Matsuda was the same as always. No, actually, I think he was even kinder than usual today.”
“Right...! That...! How was he kind?”
“Whaaat...? Do I have to tell you...?”
Chinami’s face turned red.
She couldn’t even meet her eyes, looking away shyly. Something definitely happened.
Suppressing the turmoil bubbling inside her, Renka gently coaxed Chinami.
“We can talk about this kind of thing, can’t we? Right?”
“O-Of course... We’re close enough to talk about something like this easily... The truth is... I received a very long massage today.”
“A massage...?”
“Yes. I was tense from watching the movie... and Matsuda helped me relax a lot.”
“You get tense watching a movie...? Was it a horror movie?”
“No. It was an action movie, and as you know, my friend, I tend to get really focused on action movies. I wanted to take in every detail of the action scenes with my own two eyes, so I tensed up my whole body...”
Watching Chinami awkwardly scratch the back of her head, Renka seriously wondered if she was being too sensitive.
At first, she thought that sly Matsuda was trying to take advantage of the innocent Chinami, but... a shoulder massage?
If it’s just a massage... that’s something she can let slide, right?
Chinami blushing like that was suspicious, but she’d always been shy, so Renka decided to let it go...
Last time, after their match, when she’d scolded Matsuda, he hadn’t listened to a word she said, but he had listened to Chinami.
Recalling that, it did seem like Matsuda respected Chinami as his master...
And Chinami probably wanted to get closer to him, too, which is why they went to the movies together.
Giving her a ride here today wasn’t strange either.
After all, he had even been kind enough to drive Renka herself home, even though she found him awkward.
How anxious she had been when they ran into each other then... Just imagining it again made her heart pound.
Anyway, that wasn’t the important part. Seeing Chinami, who had never spent time alone with a boy before, acting relatively calm now, it seemed she was quite comfortable with Matsuda.
He had helped her with that second-hand scam before, too... They must have gotten a lot closer then.
‘Still...’
She didn’t want to be suspicious, but she still had a bad feeling.
It wasn’t that she didn’t want them to get along... but she was anxious because the one being so friendly with Chinami was none other than Matsuda.
“Renka, my friend? What are you thinking so hard about?”
Burdened with all sorts of worries, Renka looked up at the sound of Chinami’s concerned voice.
“No... it’s nothing. But... Chinami.”
“Yes?”
“Does it bother you when I meddle like this?”
“No...? Why would I be bothered when you’re just saying it out of concern for me? I don’t even think of it as meddling.”
“Well, that’s a relief, but...”
“You have so many worries, my friend. Here, finish your coffee and let’s go buy some clothes.”
“Yeah... let’s do that.”
For now, she’d just let it be. Matsuda’s reputation had been good lately, and Chinami was honest with her. If anything serious were to happen, she would be the first to say something.
* * *
Bzzzt-! Bzzzzz-!
I was about to go to bed early after a quick call with Miyuki, but I picked up my phone when it kept vibrating by my head.
Chinami, apparently back from her shopping trip, was spamming me with photos.
Clothes, and even shoes... She really bought a lot.
I smiled weakly and tapped the screen.
[You bought a lot.]
[I guess I did. What do you think?]
[I think everything will look good on you, but the sandals will probably suit you best. Your feet are small, Master, but your toes are long, so showing them off looks pretty.]
[Ah, you think so?]
[Yeah. By the way, didn't Inoo-senpai tell you not to send me pictures of the clothes?]
[No. She didn't say anything like that.]
What’s up with that? I thought she’d throw a fit and forbid it.
[Really?]
[Yes. By the way, are you and Renka on bad terms?]
[Why? Did Inoo-senpai say something?]
[No. It's just that when I got out of your car earlier, Renka seemed angry... I was wondering if you two had a fight.]
[We didn't fight, but we're like oil and water. I don't really have a reason to like a senpai who nags me all the time.]
[Ahem...! You shouldn't think that way. Renka only says harsh things because she's trying to guide you down the right path.]
[I'd rather have my Master guide me, not the Captain.]
[Of course I will, but I also want my precious disciple to listen to what Renka says.]
She could barely speak properly in the car, but now she’s acting all dignified.
Anyway, my dear Chinami... are you calling me ‘precious’ now?
Your disciple is touched. I’ll have to give you a reward soon.
But I can’t agree with that.
It’s not me who should be listening to Renka; it’s Renka who should be listening to me.
[I'll try.]
[As expected, my disciple is a very good person. I'm very tired, so I'm going to wash up and go to bed now.]
[Can you send me a picture before you go to sleep? I want to see my Master in her Momo-nim pajamas.]
[How did you know I have Momo-nim pajamas?]
[You love Momo-nim so much, how could I not know?]
[You're sharp. Hehe. Okay.]
After ending the conversation, I was about to wait happily for Chinami’s pajama shot when I shot up from my bed.
This isn’t the time for that. I need to practice.
If I want to knock Renka down a peg and tame her, I need to improve my skills.