Stealing Spree

Chapter 2224: Our Game of Wits (1)

As Minami Shouko stepped into the room, her grin never quite left her face, though it flickered with uncertainty.

I caught that and made a mental note in my head that said ʼNot hopeless yet.ʼ

She walked confidently with her rigid posture yet purposeful in every step. I closed the door behind her and watched as she moved to the center of the room, taking in her surroundings with careful, calculating eyes.

She turned to face me, pulling back her hood to reveal long, jet-black hair, now slightly disheveled.

If I could compare her air to any of my girls, Iʼd say sheʼs a mix of Akane, Aoi, and Haruko.

Akane with her dedication.

Aoi with her unruliness.

And Haruko with her lack of fear for authority.

Ah. Iʼll add Hana with her influence. She was a recent transfer but she was already as popular as Maaya and the other girls. Her angelic smile was a timeless weapon.

”So,” Minami Shouko began, her voice smooth but with an underlying sharpness as if she wanted to cut me open and see my innards, ”... youʼve finally noticed me, Onoda-kun. Congratulations! Took you long enough, donʼt you think?”

Her sarcastic smirk was a little irritating but somehow, it fitted perfectly with the exquisite frame of her face.

I stopped a few steps behind her, crossing my arms as I met her gaze head-on. ”Youʼve been trying hard to get my attention, havenʼt you, Minami Shouko? I thought I should finally say hi to you.”

Her smirk widened. ”Was that what happened? Or have you gotten hit by a series of coincidences that eventually pointed at me?”

My lips twitched but I maintained my calm, not letting her get ahead of me.

Nonetheless, she was right. She probably arranged everything. Even the timing of Ryouko- sanʼs visit to inform me about her.

Thatʼs how scary this girlʼs maneuvers are if you studied it closely.

”Quite the confidence youʼre showing there. I noticed the coincidence but Iʼve known all along. Here... take the key back to where you picked it up.” I matched the air around her as I pulled out that item that I had never truly used.

Although I did try to chase it once where I ended up reeling in Kaede instead, it finally found a better use for it today.

Minami Shoukoʼs eyes followed the key as I placed it on top of her palm, not even trying to deny that it was from her. Or maybe, she bought my act.

Either way, this turned the winds in my favor.

The smirk on her face transformed into a calm grin. However, the tension spreading on her face didnʼt escape my notice.

It was like a performer whose mask was beginning to crack.

”Oh my. You kept it in your pocket all this time. Iʼm flattered.” As she closed her palm and pocketed the key, Minami Shouko leaned forward, our eyes locking into each other.

”I was still contemplating when to meet you. Yet, youʼve come here to my doorstep. Did you get impatient waiting?” I still rolled on the lie, pretending that Iʼve known about her for so long even though I honestly only heard about her today.

”Contemplating? Impatient? Oh please, Onoda-kun... Youʼve never planned to meet me at all. And with more and more girls surrounding you every passing day, Iʼm becoming increasingly anxious and jealous. Why them and not me?”

This girlʼs statement was nothing short of shocking but I expected her to be this ʼcrazyʼ.

In any case, in every situation, I couldnʼt afford to get into someone elseʼs rhythm so... Iʼd always tend to pull them in on mine.

”Because I love them. Plain and simple.”

She clicked her tongue and shook her head, ”Tsk. Tsk. Youʼre wasting your talents. Onoda- kun... If itʼs sex youʼre searching for I can give it to you. I can even ask some girls to give themselves to you as well. As long as youʼre... mine. Nothing else matters.”

”Alright. I call bullshit on that statement. Minami Shouko... You canʼt fool me by becoming crazier than you already portrayed yourself to be.”

”Bravo. Just as I expected of my kind.” The girl clapped thunderously as if she were celebrating my excellent answers.

Yep.

The game was already on the moment she stepped into this.

And all this time, weʼre trying to probe each other.

”Enough of this nonsense, we donʼt have all day. And Iʼm a busy person. Iʼm giving you this chance because...”

”Because?”

”Nah. Iʼd rather not say and let you guess.”

”Aww... Youʼre full of tricks, Onoda-kun. I like that. I wonʼt guess but I think Iʼm certain about your reason. Iʼll help you out and Iʼll keep it to myself.”

At this point, Minami Shouko pulled away and turned around.𝗳𝚛𝚎𝚎𝘄𝕖𝕓𝕟𝕠𝚟𝚎𝕝.𝗰𝕠𝐦

”Okay. Iʼll indulge you. You see, I set this all up because I had to make sure you were worth it. And I have to say, you didnʼt disappoint.” She glanced toward the empty chair across from the one I was sitting at earlier, ”Mind if I sit? Or is this going to be a standing confrontation?”

I gestured casually to the chair before taking my seat as well. ”Be my guest.” With a smile thatʼs not a smile, Shouko slid into the seat, still maintaining that overly confident posture as though the chair was a throne and she was the queen of the game sheʼd been playing.

”So, Onoda-kun, what now? Youʼve figured out my little game. Are you here to punish me? Lecture me? Or are you here to join me?” Her eyes gleamed with challenge.

”Join you?” I raised an eyebrow, suppressing a smirk. ”You really think Iʼd be interested in what youʼve been doing? Using others, manipulating them like pieces on a chessboard just for your amusement?”

I couldnʼt help but snicker inwardly at how ironic my questions were. I mean, if you looked at it from an outsiderʼs perspective, it perfectly encapsulated what I was doing.

Minami Shouko leaned forward, her grin now morphing into something different. ”It wasnʼt just amusement. It was about finding someone on my level. Most of these people are predictable. Easy to push around. Easy to read. But you, Onoda-kun...” Her voice dropped as her eyes narrowed slightly. ”Youʼre different. I couldnʼt read you. I couldnʼt push you around. And more importantly, you caught on. Thatʼs why I wanted you involved.”

Her words hung in the air, and for a moment, I simply watched her.

There was a flicker of sincerity beneath her bravado. If I could put it into words, it was a strange desire for validation.

However, it was twisted. Or maybe it got twisted at some point. Warped by whatever games sheʼd been playing with everyone around her.

”I see,” I said finally, my tone measured. ”So, all this trouble, dragging people like Maeda into your schemes, was to test me? To see if I was ʼworthyʼ of your attention?”

”Exactly,” She replied without hesitation as if it all made perfect sense in her mind.

Instead of responding, I stared at her without faltering picked up the teapot, and poured a cup

for both of us before taking a sip on it as I crossed my legs.

With her eyes following my every movement, I waited for the right moment when her

anticipation peaked before opening my mouth.

”Sorry. Iʼm not interested at all.”