Stealing Spree

Chapter 316: Slap to the Face

”Stole… How did you do that?” With confusion in his eyes, Tadano repeated a word thatʼs too familiar to me.

Of all the things I said, thatʼs what he picked up, huh?

”Thatʼs something you, as a coward who couldnʼt confess to her if not for my urgings, will not understand.” I shook my head.

Upon hearing it, his clasped fist tightened and he started trembling visibly from anger. However, he reined it in.

”You know, you and Ogawa have this similarity. Youʼre both too scared to confess to her. For you, youʼre scared that she will stop being your friend. On the other hand, that guy just didnʼt have the guts to do it. If not for Nami meeting me, nothing would change.” I continued.

He was about to reply but I slammed him again with another one, causing him to shut his mouth. ”Ah. Right. You two still confessed to her in the end. However, itʼs all too late. Compared to the two of you two, as soon as I realized I like her, I confessed my interest in her. True, that act, I used that as a springboard to actually make her mine but hey, each to their own. Before you two have noticed, Iʼve already crawled my way up to her heart. All those times youʼre all thinking about the consequences, sheʼs already aware of what I felt for her. Now, did you see the difference?”

Slapping him with the truth of how I did it, itʼs on him now whether he understood it or not. At the end of the day, Nami still looked at them as her friends… If she wanted to keep it like that, I would help her do that.

This slap should wake them up.

”…”

Observing this guyʼs reaction, I could see that heʼs trying to process everything. Eventually, his trembling anger stopped and his expression turned stiff.

At least he still had his reason. If this was Ogawa, I wonder how he will act?

”If youʼre still not convinced, just wait until sheʼs ready to reveal everything. And donʼt you dare interrogate her like that again… If you do, make sure youʼre ready to face the consequences for doing that.” After adding a threat to it, I turned around.

That was enough. His cheeks were already red from those words that I slapped to his face. If he still couldnʼt wake up from that then Iʼll add more in the future.

If he could pass my words to Ogawa, then thatʼs a lot better. Let him feel the secondhand slap.

”Well then, go back to your house, itʼs late. I donʼt really care if Ogawa will hear about it, in fact, I want him to accept this reality and wait for that day. You best advise that guy that if he wanted to, he could directly confront me, not the way he did earlier.”

What he did earlier was trying to ease his accumulated frustration. Heʼs waiting for me to fold and tell him words that will make him feel good about himself. Thatʼs nasty. Iʼm starting to really feel bad about Izumi-senpai for chasing after that hopeless idiot.

At least Izumi-senpai was doing everything she could to chase after and make him look her way, unlike him whoʼs trying to delude himself in a fantasy he, himself, wrote.

Without waiting for Tadanoʼs reply, I resumed my steps and never looked back again. Taking my phone out, I messaged Nami like I promised to tell her that everythingʼs taken care of and Iʼm on my way home.

A few seconds later, Namiʼs reply arrived. Upon seeing that, I released a sigh of relief. Sheʼs back to normal.

After Nami, I also messaged Shizu to thank her for being there.

If sheʼs not at their doorstep, it would be even harder for Nami if itʼs her mother who went out to see what was happening.

Shizu also replied asking if I dealt with Tadano.

I didnʼt see it immediately since I already pocketed my phone, only when I sat inside the train did I manage to send a reply.

Following that, Shizu bid me take care on my way home for the first time. Upon reading that, even if itʼs a simple message, it managed to put a smile on my lips.

A lot has happened in school. Ending it in this way with Shizuʼs message, I felt that everything I did was worth it.

-

-

”Welcome home, Ruki.”

Surprisingly, the one waiting for me at the door when I arrived home wasnʼt Akane.

”Un. How come itʼs you, Miwa-nee?” Although Iʼm not complaining that itʼs her, I just really got too used to Akane welcoming me home.

”Akaneʼs at your room, asleep. She kept calling your name earlier. That girl, I donʼt think her period would affect her to that extent... Right, her friend stayed with her until she calmed down and fell asleep.” Miwa-nee shook her head but a smile could clearly be seen on her lips as she recalled Akaneʼs antics.

”I see. Sorry for the trouble, Miwa-nee. What about her friend?”

Well, itʼs not like Iʼm expecting to see Fuyu here. I just wanted to express my gratitude. She helped me with Akane after all.

”She already left. She left this behind for you to read.” Miwa-nee handed me a folded piece of paper.

Upon opening it, a neatly handwritten message was in it saying ʼIt was tough but sheʼll be fine. Please take care of Akane, Onoda-kun.”

It was a simple message but it spoke a lot of how much Fuyu cared for Akane. Seeing them having great friends like Fuyu for Akane and Momoiro-senpai for Kana, Iʼm starting to feel somewhat envious.

The one closest to a friend towards me was that guy who I stole Satsuki from.

Will I ever have someone I could call like that?

Probably none. Either way, Iʼm already content being with my girls alone. Theyʼll not just be my partners but closest friends as well.

After reading it, I folded it back and pocketed it.

On the side, Miwa-nee took my bag and entered alongside me, like a wife assisting her husband.

Upon noticing that, my arm naturally moved to pull her in my embrace, tiptoeing to plant my lips on hers. As if already used to it, Miwa-nee soon responded to my kiss with more passion.

From her lips and tongue, I could taste the somewhat stinging sensation of the alcohol from the wine she was drinking.

”You boy, youʼre always this bold nowadays,” Miwa-nee said after our lips separated.

Sheʼs already a bit red because of the effect of the wine but after our kiss, Miwa-nee flushed further that she seemed more drunk now than when she greeted me.

”Seeing my Miwa-nee acting like a housewife for me, I couldnʼt help it.”

”Although I liked it, as the adult closest to you, I need to remind you to always mind the time and place.”

”Un. I understand Miwa-nee. Iʼll keep that reminder in mind.” I nodded and dropped another kiss on her luscious lips.

Once weʼre done with that round of kisses, we moved to the living room.

The first thing I noticed was Minoru already sleeping soundly on the sofa with a blanket draped over him.

I looked at Miwa-nee and inquired with my eyes and the answer I got was her eyes pointing to the kitchen or more precisely, the dining table.

On it, there was a bottle of wine, half-empty. And sitting on one of the chairs was Shio silently sipping her wine as she observed me.

I almost forgot that sheʼs still here. So thatʼs why Miwa-nee hadnʼt brought Minoru upstairs yet. Theyʼre not finished drinking that wine.

I walked behind Shioʼs chair before leaning over to hug her, circling my arms on her shoulders. ”Are you trying to get drunk before that meeting?”𝘧𝓇𝑒𝑒𝑤ℯ𝑏𝓃𝘰𝑣ℯ𝘭.𝘤ℴ𝘮

”Un. Itʼs better this way, Ruru. I will be more courageous when I confront him. That man will not scare me anymore.” Shio nodded and put the glass on the table. With her hands freed, she stretched her arms to the back of my neck, initiating a bout of kisses with me.

Like with Miwa-nee, the taste of what sheʼs drinking was passed onto me. Nonetheless, I welcomed it and turned it into a deep one, letting her forget the troubles that she will soon face.

Sheʼs here to steel herself for whatʼs coming after all. Although I already changed her mind, having spent years with that guy, Shio was afraid that he might still have a tiny hold over her. Thatʼs why by drinking and spending time with me, sheʼs gathering more courage on top of the encouragement I gave her earlier.

”If you want, I can come with you.”

”No, I told you. I can do this.”

”Alright. Iʼm just trying if you will change your mind.”

Even if I want to follow her there, the right thing to do Is to restrain myself.

She already showed me her determination, it would be disrespectful and undermining to her if I still insisted on going after her. She already changed it so that it would only be around 10 minutes away from here, I just have to be ready to go out at any moment.

”Ruru, Iʼll check in on you every 10 minutes. Moreover, I doubt the meeting will last for more than that. Also, donʼt sleep yet Ruru, Iʼll go here instead of the apartment.” Shio cupped my face. Although her breath was filled with the smell of what sheʼs drinking, her words were serious and sober enough.

Thereʼs no point in me being stubborn anymore so instead of answering, I nodded my head and this time, I initiated another kiss.

I decided. Before she goes out to meet that guy, I would encourage her further… in my own way.