After eating, Yayoi Natural returned to the love hotel with a boxed meal in hand—still feeling that the whole place was subtly, unmistakably wrong no matter how she looked at it.
Using the key Mejiro Ramonu had given her, she opened the door.
Inside, the lights were off. Mejiro Ramonu was slumped asleep at the table… and an empty bottle sat on the tabletop.
At that sight, the thin thread of vigilance Yayoi Natural had been holding onto—thanks to Rudolf's warning—finally eased.
Because when she'd left earlier, she'd already checked the alcohol percentage on that bottle.
And with it drained to the last drop, she could say with confidence: Mejiro Ramonu was out cold.
With that settled, Yayoi Natural walked over and lifted her.
Mejiro Ramonu wasn't particularly heavy. And even if Yayoi Natural's health was poor, she was still an Umamusume—this much was easy.
She carried her to the bed and laid her down, then turned back toward the table.
That was strong stuff. Considering Umamusume didn't usually drink much at all, Mejiro Ramonu should be completely asleep by now.
Only after confirming it again did Yayoi Natural close the door and lock it from the inside.
With the most basic safety measures done, she went back to Mejiro Ramonu and started to loosen her clothing a little—enough so she wouldn't choke or overheat in her sleep.
But the moment Yayoi Natural's fingers slipped past the second button—
Mejiro Ramonu moved.
In an instant, positions reversed. Yayoi Natural was pinned.
Looking down at the Yayoi Natural she now had completely under control, Mejiro Ramonu's lips curved into a small smile.
"Just like I thought," she said softly. "Under normal circumstances, you're still wary of people."
She freed one hand to tap Yayoi Natural lightly on the cheek, then continued, "Relax, Natural-san. I won't hurt you—as long as you help me finish this."
With the same hand, Mejiro Ramonu rummaged quickly through Yayoi Natural's clothes.
Before long, she found what she was looking for:
A zip tie supplied by the love hotel.
Zip ties were convenient—tight enough to hold, and they didn't leave much damage if you knew what you were doing.
Mejiro Ramonu held it between her teeth, then flipped Yayoi Natural over.
Only then did Yayoi Natural speak.
"Ramonu-san… if you're going to do something like this, at least be a little gentler."
Mejiro Ramonu took the zip tie out of her mouth and replied, "So you can talk. I thought you were still catching up."
As she spoke, she cinched the tie snug, binding Yayoi Natural's thumbs together, then added, "Or… have you already guessed what's about to happen?"
Yayoi Natural didn't answer.
Mejiro Ramonu seemed to take that as confirmation anyway. "From here, we just need to put on a little show."
She got off the bed and pulled open the drawer underneath it.
Inside were restraints—this was that kind of love hotel, after all.
Using what the room provided, she secured Yayoi Natural until she couldn't wriggle free on her own.
Then Mejiro Ramonu lifted her and carried her back to the chair where she'd been "asleep" moments ago, setting her down.
With Yayoi Natural fully immobilized, Mejiro Ramonu patted her down quickly.
Then she found Yayoi Natural's phone.
After taking it, Mejiro Ramonu faced her squarely.
She studied Yayoi Natural for a few seconds, then said, "I can sort of understand why Luna gets so fixated on you."
Her smile tilted, like she was trying to make it sound casual. "It's not about looks, either. It's… something else."
Then she shook her head once, as if cutting off her own thought. "Anyway. I'm joking."
She took out her own phone and set it on the table in front of Yayoi Natural.
"Alright," Mejiro Ramonu said. "Now it's your choice. Which phone do you think we should use to contact the person most important to each of us?"
"I think…" Yayoi Natural didn't look at either phone. She only tilted her gaze, letting it rest on Mejiro Ramonu. "If you want to contact Rudolf, calling her directly might be better."
Just as Yayoi Natural said, the answer had been there from the beginning.
They'd come here together. And as for anyone else Yayoi Natural knew—no one could reach this place in a short amount of time.
And in Yayoi Natural's phone, there was no number for Rudolf. No email. No social account.
So there was only one option.
Mejiro Ramonu didn't argue. She just watched Yayoi Natural—and noticed the faint, unnatural tremor she was trying to hide.
That was when Mejiro Ramonu realized: Yayoi Natural was scared. The calm on the surface was something she was forcing into place.
Mejiro Ramonu didn't seem bothered by that.
Even like this, Rudolf would definitely show up.
Still…
Would this be too much for Yayoi Natural?
With that thought, Mejiro Ramonu emphasized it again. Natural-san, I won't hurt you. And afterward, there'll be a reward."
She couldn't be sure whether Rudolf would see through Yayoi Natural's acting—but if the target was Rudolf, this might already be enough.
"Not being good at acting isn't ideal," Mejiro Ramonu muttered, almost to herself. "But it's fine. It's good enough."
She took out an eye mask and pulled it over Yayoi Natural's eyes.
"Don't look at what happens next."
Then she produced a kitchen knife she'd bought earlier on Okinawa and set it against Yayoi Natural's shoulder.
Without sight, Yayoi Natural couldn't tell what Mejiro Ramonu was doing.
Sensing her tension, Mejiro Ramonu explained, "It's a kitchen knife I bought in Okinawa. It's not sharpened, so don't worry."
As she spoke, she reversed her grip and brought the knife to Yayoi Natural's throat. "See? No edge."
Not feeling the sharp bite of a blade against her skin, Yayoi Natural nodded. "Mm."
"Next I'm going to plug your ears," Mejiro Ramonu said. "Rudolf and I need to talk about some things, so…"
She took out two uma-earplugs and fitted them into Yayoi Natural's ears.
Then she did what she came here to do.
Mejiro Ramonu picked up her phone and dialed Symboli Rudolf.
As the call began to ring, heavy footsteps thundered up from the stairwell below—fast, sharp, not bothering to hide.
And then—
Someone hit the hallway outside like a storm.
---
T/N: ramonu.... i think you're FUCKED
bonus chaps
100 stones → 1 bonus chap
200 stones → 2 bonus chaps
300 stones → 3 bonus chaps
and so on :3
100+ new chaps a week across all my TLs on the P website :)
hehe every 100 followers on either instagram or twitter = 5 bonus chaps...?
(for all ongoing tls)
discord.gg/wisetl
patreon.com/wisetl
instagram: hanbaowise
twitter: WiseKingOfUruk_