“I-I completely understand that you care for your daughter very much, but Kana was feeling lonely. She was struggling, but kept it all to herself, so as not to cause you unnecessary worry. S-So, wh-when you manage to get some alone time, don’t call her ‘mommy’, call her by her name, a-and, k-kiss her, and, well, you know, things like that. Um…”
“M-Mia! What are you saying?! N-No, Masayuki, it’s not like that, it’s, uh—”
Kana’s husband watched the two girls working themselves into a frenzy with slightly widened eyes for a while, eventually breaking down and laughing out loud, “Ahaha, so that’s what this was about! I’ve noticed that you’ve been a bit off lately. So this is why! …You should’ve told me earlier, so silly. But, I’m sorry. I was the reason that you pushed it all under the rug and sucked it up.”
“M-Masayuki… Um, uh…”
“Shh, I know. Let’s take our time speaking about it afterwards. I’m really sorry. Let’s talk things through nice and slow, okay?” Masayuki offered, gently stroking Kana’s head.
Kana nodded, sniffling.
“Well, Mia, you don’t mince words, do you? Don’t worry, I’ll do as you said. Thanks for lending Kana an ear.”
“N-No thanks needed. Take care of your daughter too!”
Mia had no idea what kind of facial expression was appropriate for this kind of situation, so she ended up looking distraught. The couple, carrying their sleeping daughter, stepped into the taxi and rode off. Ren, Aya, and Mia watched them go until the car disappeared from sight.
“So, how in the world did you end up here? Did that woman, Kana, kidnap you or something?”
“N-No! It was the opposite, actually. It was me who abducted her, er—”
Mia realized that she had said something she shouldn’t have too late. Ren scowled, his face darkening beyond his default ‘villain-face’ into something utterly ferocious, and Aya raised her eyebrows, flabbergasted. Mia gave up on trying to salvage the situation and ended up spilling everything.
“Bwahaha, ahahahaha! Hoo! Boy, you’re such a dummy! Oh my, you really do lack in the mental fortitude department! Pffffff!”
“R-Ren, stop laughing so much at the poor thing! But, hehe… Ahaha! It’s classic Mia, isn’t it?”
Ren and Aya were in stitches over Mia’s story. This raised her hackles so much she exploded, a blush high on her cheeks. “This is no laughing matter! Yes, I was a bit intimidated by Kana…but I really thought that this is what a kidnapping is supposed to be like!”
“That’s why I’m telling you that you aren’t the sharpest tool in the shed! Ahaha! You abducted her, and yet ended up paying for everything: the food, train tickets, her drinks, the snacks, even the lodgings! She totally mooched off of you! Hope you enjoyed your trip!”
“Shut your insolent mouth! Th-This was a slight miscalculation on my part. Next time, I will pull off a perfect kidnapping, you shall see!”
“And end up getting sponged off of by someone new? I think you should give it a rest. You aren’t suited for these sorts of evil deeds, I’m telling you. Haha!”
Mia made a face and sulkily looked away. Then she seemed to remember something important, so she turned her face back to glance at Ren, and mumbled awkwardly, “Um, so, by the way… I don’t think I will be able to come to Subaru’s for a while. Could you please tell him that for me?”
“Eh? Why’s that?” Ren, tired from all the laughing he had done, let out an exhale to catch his breath, and inclined his head to the side.
Mia winced uncomfortably and explained, “Uh, this whole incident drained my funds, and I don’t have much money left to use until the end of the month. I will have to subsist on onigiri for a while.”
“Uh-huh, and you think that Subaru and I will just nod and say, ‘okay, gotcha’? Subaru’s gonna throw a fit. Don’t sweat it, you’re still welcome at his place.”
“B-But, I cannot very well freeload off of you both knowing I have nothing to pay you back with!”
Mia’s face radiated unease; she was very particular about financial matters. Seeing her expression shift like that, Ren narrowed his eyes slightly, and flashed that infamous evil grin of his.
“In that case, let’s settle it with punishment. If you take the extra-special version of it quietly, including the bonus for making me almost lose my mind with worry, not only will I let this whole thing slide, I’ll throw in paying for your share of grocery expenses, too!”
“Huuh?! I require nothing of the sort! As if I’d take anything quietly!”
“Oh? So the ‘sorry’ you said earlier was just hot air? Is the feeling behind your apology that shallow?”
Mia’s face showed extreme discomfort at Ren’s stinging words. She cast a quick glance to Aya, begging her for help, but the young woman just observed the pair over the edge of her smartphone with a small smile, seemingly content to assume the role of a bystander. Mia slumped her shoulders in defeat and looked up at Ren through her lashes.
“It looks like I have no choice. Very well…”
“Heh. …Atta girl, glad to see you showing some remorse.”
A slow smile unfurling over his features, Ren gently but firmly gripped Mia’s shoulders; her body tensed with apprehension. Then, he leisurely let his lips trail up the length of her neck.
“Mmh?!”
A shiver ran down Mia’s spine. His smile deepening, Ren sucked on her neck gently, making small sucking noises. When he pulled away, a crimson mark was left blooming on the milky-white expanse of her skin where his lips had sealed over it. He regarded his handiwork with apparent satisfaction.
“Ah, a-are you…done yet…?”
“As if. Not even remotely,” Ren replied in a husky voice.
“Not even remotely?!” Mia almost squealed in panic, as she tightly shut her eyes, scared of what was to come.
She looked almost painfully adorable, still not used to these things after all this time. Raising her chin slightly with his hand, Ren pressed their lips together. It felt the same as usual, yet different; a long, insistent kiss. Eventually, deciding it was enough, Ren gently broke the kiss. Mia blinked owlishly, her face stained scarlet.
“Th-there was… t-tongue…”
“Yep. I didn’t call it ‘extra special’ for nothing. Hope you’ll think twice before misbehaving next time!” Ren smiled complacently.
“Bleh.” She dejectedly stared down.
“You guys done? I think we’d better go soon!”
“Yep, all done! Let’s get outta here.”
Mia was manhandled into sitting in the backseat of the rental car, Aya settling down next to her. Ren hit the gas pedal, and off they went. The girls in the backseat started a conversation, apparently about Kana. Ren eyed Mia through the rear-view mirror; she was still red in the face, her tone somewhat subdued.
Well, ain’t she the cutest, Ren thought, driving while listening to Mia talk, his eyes crinkled at the corners.