'Ah, here we go again...'
Ren rolled his eyes as he spoke. "Cut the bullshit, Mei Mei. I'm not in the mood for this today. I'm exhausted, so either tell me if you did the job, or I'm going to sleep. Simple."
Ren lay back on the bed casually, resting his head right in Mei Mei's lap!
As he stretched out, Mei Mei stiffened in shock.
"What the hell?!"
What's with you suddenly lying in my lap like this? Don't think this excuses the fact that the task you gave me was annoying—or that you didn't even say 'Happy New Year' to me! It's almost like you forgot I exist! " Mei Mei's voice came out totally stunned!
Ren didn't even open his eyes. "Happy New Year, Mei Mei. I hope you look as beautiful this year as you did last year. Now, talk about the task, or I'm going to sleep for real."
Mei Mei was momentarily speechless… 'Thank god it's much easier to manipulate her than Maki,' Ren thought. 'Unlike Maki, I can always just give Mei Mei some affection and change the topic—it works most of the time. I couldn't do this with Maki; she would punch me if i tried something like this. Plus, I actually am tired. This lap-pillow move is super effective.'
Mei Mei's expression was a complicated mix of frustration and confusion. 'Ugh, what the hell is he up to? Suddenly putting his head in my lap... did he lose it? Or maybe… he really did miss me? And what was that line? Hoping I stay as beautiful as last year? Where does he learn this stuff?'
"You're outrageous, you know that?" she finally said. "Anyway, YES, I finished the task completely. The file is on your desk. If you had bothered to look around your room for five seconds, you would have found it."
Ren stood up quickly and walked over to his desk. A thick file sat there waiting for him. He sat down, opened it, and let out a satisfied hum. "Very good. I expected nothing less from you, but wait, where are the people, though? What did you do with them?"
Mei Mei lay back on the bed, her frown deepening. 'This jerk... did he just... ugh, whatever!'
She sighed and stared at the ceiling. "They're tied up in a warehouse. The address is at the end of the file. So, what now, Mister Actor? By the way, why are you wearing a kimono? Hmm?"
'This is perfect,' Ren thought, grinning to himself. 'Everything is going my way today. This year is going to be great. If things keep moving at this pace, I might finish my plans before the Culling Games even start.'
Ren was lost in his thoughts until Mei Mei's hands suddenly clamped onto his shoulders. "HEY! Are you even listening to me?! I'm asking you questions! Also... wait."
Mei Mei leaned down, her nose wrinkling as she sniffed Ren's hair. Ren immediately sat up and stepped back. "Yes, yes, I'm listening. I'm wearing a kimono because it's New Year's. I went out, nothing else. Tomorrow, the warehouse is our next stop."
Mei Mei's face twisted. "Why do you smell like... like a girl?! Where the hell were you, Ren Sato?!"
Suddenly, outside the window, crows began to gather on the ledge, their dark eyes watching the room. 'What? Shit, did she smell Maki on me? 'Ren thought. 'How is that even possible? Maki only hugged me once! What kind of superhuman nose is that? Did she reinforce her sense of smell with cursed energy? or something?'
"I'm not stupid," Mei Mei hissed. "I know you turned eighteen today! So why do you smell like a girl? What were you doing? Wearing that black kimono... who were you with?"
She walked closer, cornering him against the desk. "Don't play dumb! I know today is January 1st. I know it's your birthday! You manipulative little bastard, who were you with? Who were you spending your birthday with while I was working my ass off for YOU?"
Ren felt the cold wood of the desk against his back. 'Holy shit, I didn't know Ren's birthday was January 1st. I should have checked, but it never seemed important information. Ugh, now I am stuck in a very stupid place. This does look bad…'
He folded his arms and closed his eyes, trying to maintain his composure. "Hmm. Wow. I actually seem to have forgotten it was my birthday. How did you remember?"
Mei Mei looked ready to explode. She slammed her hand down on the desk.
"What kind of joke is this?! Do you realise how much you're angering me? Ren, with all due respect, explain yourself before I do something stupid!"
'Too bad,'
Ren thought, a small smile appearing on his face. 'I thought that joke would work, but she's too pissed. No contact for a month, and now this. Anyone would be angry in her position, especially someone with her ego. She probably feels used, huh? Now how do I fix this?'
Suddenly, Ren leaned in close and pressed his lips on Mei Mei's!
His hand reached behind him, clicking the desk lamp off.
Tick darkness envelops both of them…
'What the fuck is going on?! 'Mei Mei thought, her mind spinning. 'And why is he... kind of good at this?'
Ren pulled away just as fast to whisper in her ear. "I was with a girl, but we weren't doing anything naughty, you idiot.
Now, should we go to bed? since it's my birthday today…
"I want my gift from you."
Before she could respond, he pushed her gently back onto the bed. He hovered over her, his voice dropping into a low, echoing tone. 'Rika.' Mei Mei couldn't hear Ren's whisper…
But Mei Mei did panic a little and looked shocked as she spoke while leaning back on the bed…
"W-wait, W-What the hell? You can't just—"
"Sleep."
Mei Mei's eyes glazed over, and she went limp, falling into a deep, forced slumber. The moonlight spilt through the window, catching Ren's face. His eyes had shifted into snake-like slits, fangs peeked from his lips, and jagged tattoos had appeared around his mouth.
'Ha, there we go. Problem solved.'
Ren sighed, the markings fading back into his skin. 'I should use Cursed Speech more often. Too bad I have to summon Rika every time to access it. Normally it would be a waste, but this situation was too complex to talk my way out of.
Plus, using cursed speech is so simple. It's just so useful. Though, I guess I did just lose my first kiss—or at least this body's first kiss…
Meh, who cares? About kisses, I'm way too tired!'
Ren yawns as he lies next to Mei Mei, and he pulls the bedsheet over both of them… making sure to tuck Mei Mei in bed before lying back and tucking himself…
Ren, while closing his eyes, thought, 'It's still crazy; I didn't even know it was my birthday today, or, I guess, this body's birthday...
Wait, was the whole day so good because of "birthday luck"?