Waking Up Engaged to a Cool Yandere Beauty: My Wild Journey with a Love-Obsessed Senior - Episode 46: Shock! The True Identity of the Panty Thief!?

Episode 46: Shock! The True Identity of the Panty Thief!?

“Where’s the president?”When Akira and I returned to the bar after finishing up with the panties, only Utakata-san and the senior were there. By the way, my pockets were stuffed with panties.

“She went to change. … By the way, Rei, why are your pockets so swollen?”

“Ah, uh… they’re filled with dreams and hopes. You know, every man has his own.”

Not a lie. I quietly took a seat next to the senior.

“How did it go, Isaka?” Utakata asked, and Isaka picked up the glass of water on the table and took a sip.

“No good. Got nothing. … Feels like I lost something instead, though.”

He gave me a disdainful look. Huh? What’s his deal? He didn’t even suggest anything, but he’s got the nerve to complain.

I felt a sudden urge to shove this bundle of panties into his mouth to shut him up.

“Man, I’m frustrated.” I swallowed those feelings and said it aloud.

And honestly, I was frustrated—frustrated that I couldn’t argue back against Akira.

“Sorry to keep you waiting. Oh, Uka and Isaka, you’re back?”

“Yeah… And, uh, who’s the pretty girl over there?”

A girl was brought along, hand-in-hand with the president. She looked familiar, probably from college.

“Greetings… tch, why are you here?” “Gr-Greetings? Is that what I should say back?”

Wait, did she just click her tongue? She did, didn’t she? When I glanced at Akira, he wore a complicated expression.

“Hey, I might be wrong, but… could she be… Sunabashi?”

“What!?” I couldn’t believe my ears. No way…

“…!” The response from the president and the pretty girl was silence, accompanied by shock.

“Wait, no, seriously? Is this for real…?” The truth stunned me. Honestly, my jaw almost dropped.

“Yeah, it’s me! So what? Got a problem with that? … Ugh, how embarrassing.”

“Heh, what do you think? My assistant’s pretty impressive, right?” And for some reason, Utakata looked the most smug.

“I don’t recall becoming your assistant, though.”

I see, so that’s their relationship. Not anything inappropriate, though surprising nonetheless. Still, that this pretty girl was actually the foul-mouthed Sunabashi? That was the real shocker.

“Ugh, I’ve been found out… Sister!” “Uh, okay. That was surprising.”

Like a little puppy, Sunabashi clung to the president’s chest, sniffling and rubbing her face against her. But from her mouth came—

“Guhehe, guhehehehe.”

Nope, she’s taking full advantage of the situation to savor the president’s scent. I really wanted to say it to her face:

Your heart, it’s smiling, isn’t it? “Now that all the players are assembled, let’s catch the thief.”

Utakata struck a dramatic pose.

“Ah, but before that… Master, an oolong tea, please.”

“Coming right up.” The bartender put away the white cloth he was using to polish glasses into his vest pocket and opened the fridge.

“Isaka! That was the part where you’re supposed to make a dramatic statement!”

“Huh? Was it? Sorry, I didn’t notice.”

Hmm. Maybe these two just aren’t compatible.

While keeping an eye on the bartender, Akira took a long drink and let out a deep sigh before speaking.

“So, Utakata-san. What cunning plan have you cooked up?”

“Hehe, prepare to be amazed. First, we’ll use this.” What Utakata pulled out was—

“… Panties. And they’re patterned ones…?” They were adorned with a cartoonish panda character, the kind little girls might like.

“Ahaha, no way the thief would take those, right?” “Yeah, the ones stolen from us were black, after all.”

The president nodded. Hmm, black, huh? Quite sexy. I’d love to hear more about this, but now’s not the time. Damn it.

“Mine was also… Well, I can’t say it in a place like this.” “What!?”

I need to know! I’m dying to know! “When we get them back, I’ll show you, so look forward to it.”

“Yes!!!” Oh, you thief. I’ll catch you, no matter what. Even if I have to kill you!

“…”

“Hm? What’s wrong, Utakata-san? Your face is all red.” Utakata’s face was beet red, her cheeks puffed out as if she were about to cry.

Ah, I see what’s happening. But still, Utakata-san might look young, but… no way, right?

“Am I really that… childlike?” Ah, so that’s it. Just as I thought.

“What about Isaka?! What do you think, Isaka?!”

Hah, asking Isaka in a panic shows that even Utakata-san has her girlish side. And to think she might like Akira… I’ll have to tease her about this over drinks someday.

“Well, I don’t think it’s anything to worry about. Utakata-san should wear whatever she likes.”

“Isaka…” “Anyway, I’ve figured it out. The culprit.”

“What!?” The ones who shouted in surprise were me, the president, and Utakata-san.

“W-Who is it!?” “U-Uh, calm down, Uka! They’ll notice us!”

“This is my case! My case!” While the president and I panicked and looked around frantically, Utakata-san simply pouted, her cheeks puffed out in frustration.

Thief! Come out here and give back those panties! My heart, driven by lust, screamed.

“Well, let’s all take a deep breath. Right, Master? Maybe you could recommend a drink for everyone?”

Akira narrowed his eyes ominously. “No, better yet, that cloth you were polishing glasses with. Let’s have a look at that.”

“Tch!” The bartender threw something like a shuriken.

“Whoa.” On reflex, I caught it.

Soft to the touch, smooth against the skin. T-This is…!

“This bastard! Not content with just stealing panties, he was using them to polish glasses!”

There was no mistaking it. These were panties! Shorts! Panties! I felt my sanity slipping.

“Hmph. Impressive, customer. You’ve got a good eye.”

The bartender’s demeanor suddenly shifted, shedding his cool, detached air with a laugh.

“You…!” The president stormed toward him, furious.

But at that moment— Bang!

A sharp sound echoed from above, followed by a cascade of flower petals drifting down. No, wait! This isn’t—

“It’s raining panties!!!” Hundreds of panties fluttered gently in the air like cherry blossoms, carried by the soft breeze.

A cruise ship. From the sky falls… panties. This scene was so surreal I spontaneously composed a haiku.

“Hmph. Looks like I’ve lost this round. I’ll return the stolen panties!”

With those final words, the bartender disappeared into the crowd, leaving us stunned.

“Damn it! Wait!” I tried to give chase, kicking off the floor with all my might. But Akira stopped me by tapping my shoulder.

“Hold it, Rei. There’s no way we’ll find him in this chaos, especially if he’s already disguised. For now…”

Akira smiled unnervingly.”You’ll help me pick up these panties, won’t you?”

“…Yeah, sure.” There was no way I could refuse. This was an unbelievable form of payback.

And so, we began the torturous task of picking up panties and finding their rightful owners—a truly hellish experience.

Just imagine it: walking up to each woman and asking, “Are these your panties?”

By the time we returned all the panties, the sun was peeking over the horizon, its rays stretching across the sea.

“It’s finally over.” “Yeah, it’s over.”

Leaving the explanations to the president and the others, Akira and I leaned against the railing, watching the sunrise.

“Hey, Rei. Can I ask you one last thing?” “…What is it, my friend?”

Both our cheeks bore bright red handprints. “While returning the panties, how many times did you get slapped?”

I didn’t answer. No, I couldn’t answer.

Because if I had been slapped more times than him, it would’ve been too humiliating.