Stealing Spree

Chapter 2331: Are you flirting with me?

”Shameless brat, I havenʼt asked for a massage yet, why are you already there?” Hayashi- sensei asked with raised eyebrows.

She then lifted her chin, her sharp gaze seemingly piercing through me. No matter how much she tried to act upset, I could feel slight amusement flickering behind her composed demeanor.

I just finished my short report regarding everything that happened around me yesterday. With nothing really special happening, Hayashi-sensei also had less to say about it.

”I thought youʼd need a massage after dealing with me all the time, sensei. Consider it preemptive care.” I cheekily replied, flashing her a grin that had her narrowing her eyes in return.

”Hmph, what an incorrigible brat. At least take up from your father. Heʼs a witty guy who always has a way to explain everything. If heʼs the one standing there, explaining why he has to massage me, he will say something like, ʼItʼs to keep my sensei in tip-top shape for the upcoming cultural festivalʼ or something like that,” Hayashi-sensei replied, though her stern expression was cracking into a smile.

Sheʼs fantasizing. This woman... She still hasnʼt moved on from him, has she? Or maybe, sheʼs just using him again to compare me with. Now that sheʼs becoming more conscious of me after these repeated meetings, she needed something to keep her in check.

”Mhm. I can imagine him saying that, but sensei, I think itʼs only applicable if youʼre my mother. Otherwise, itʼs no good. He cannot be compared to a shameless brat like me.”

”You donʼt have to rub that in my face. Ugh.” Hayashi-sensei frowned as she waved a dismissive hand at me.

She leaned back as the tension in her shoulders loosened slightly beneath my touch. Despite her complaint, I already started my usual massage, relieving her.

”Enough about that. Since you wonʼt stop, just do it right. I hate to admit but you have a way of twisting the mood, Onoda-kun. Itʼs both frustrating and oddly... refreshing. But donʼt get carried away. Iʼm not praising you!”

Although she said that, Hayashi-senseiʼs protest was clearly half-hearted. Soon, she closed her eyes, allowing me to continue massaging her shoulder.

”Donʼt worry, sensei. Iʼm only like this because I respect you.”

Her eyebrows twitched again, maybe finding it unbelievable how shameless I was. ”Respect, you say? Iʼll be enlivened if thatʼs really the case. Donʼt think just because Iʼm inexperienced, I wonʼt know that youʼre flirting with me. Youʼre really insatiable.”

”Flirting? Sensei, Iʼm not doing that yet. Youʼll know Iʼm flirting if I start to be more... affectionate,” I replied with a lowered voice, just enough to tickle her ear. My hands moved from the broadness of her shoulders to her neck, gently working the tension out of her muscles.

Her eyes snapped open, and she shot me a glare that could melt steel. But she didnʼt stop me.

”Who are you trying to fool, brat?” Hayashi-sensei huffed. ”Your charm is as subtle as a ringing bell. In short, itʼs too obvious. But fine, if youʼre going to act like youʼre not flirting, Iʼll pretend not to notice it. Anyway, enough about your antics, you have a question, right?”

Look at her, diverting the topic to escape my teasing. It was so endearingly predictable. But well, Iʼll let her off with that.

I straightened up, dropping my playful tone but leaving my hand working closely. ”Right. About that. This unity workshop... Do you have any specific expectations from each class? Or is it more of an open floor for ideas?”

Although her head was now resting on the softness of the sofaʼs backrest, Hayashi-sensei adjusted her glasses while keeping her eyes closed as her expression returned to the serious educator she often portrayed.

”The workshop is meant to encourage creativity and collaboration. We want all classes to come up with proposals that represent their unique dynamics while still being feasible within the schoolʼs resources. That said...” She paused for a moment then opened one of her eyes to stare at me from below, ”I trust youʼll ensure your class doesnʼt submit something outrageous. Youʼre one of the representatives from your class, am I right?”

”Outrageous? Us? Never,” I replied with mock indignation, ”Sensei, do you not trust me enough? I told you despite my complex relationship, Iʼm still prioritizing my studies. This cultural festival might not be related to it but since Iʼm going to do it with my girls, Iʼll naturally give my best.”

”So, anything related to your girls, youʼre going to do your 100%?”

”Yes, Sensei. After all, for me, their happiness is a reflection of my success,” I said with a genuine expression that made her click her tongue again.

After that, she closed her eyes, focusing her senses back on the sensual experience my hands were giving her. Her breathing slowed down as she let out a gentle sigh of relief, enjoying the

massage.

”I mean it, Onoda. None of your schemes disguised as ʼinnovative ideas,”” She warned with her voice laced with a hint of her concern.

”Understood, sensei. Iʼll make sure itʼs something that gets the stamp of approval from both the teachers and the students. And you.”

I said as my arms once again wrapped around her, holding her just like the previous days.

”This brat...” She breathlessly murmured but the way she lifted her head and leaned it against my chest showed she didnʼt really mind me doing this.

After a while, I momentarily released her to move back and join her on the sofa, slipping myself behind her, letting her lean on me instead of the backrest before holding her intimately from behind, indulging myself in her wonderful fragrance. She didnʼt protest, just leaning into my embrace, the tension in her body slowly dissipating.

”Now, tell me if youʼre not flirting with me.” She smilingly said, her voice carrying a mix of exasperation and resignation. ”Youʼre lucky Iʼm tolerating this, Onoda-kun. I should throw you out for this audacity, right?”

I chuckled softly, tightening my embrace just a little, ”I think youʼre fond of me, Sensei. And Iʼm so lucky to have that privilege. And even if you can call this flirting, I also see this as my way of showing you my respect and appreciation. Also, to continue to provide you comfort.” ”Respect? Appreciation? Comfort? You have a very warped way of showing those things. And donʼt think I didnʼt catch that smirk.” She repeated with a skeptical tone. Nevertheless, she

still didnʼt push me away,

”Then why arenʼt you stopping me?” I teased, lowering my voice again as I rested my chin lightly on her shoulder. ”Maybe you enjoy this too much to resist?”

She scoffed but she couldnʼt hide the faintest hint of pink tinging her cheeks. ”Enjoy it? You must be delusional. Iʼm simply too tired to deal with your nonsense right now. Iʼm just using you for comfort. Give and take, thatʼs how it is.”

”Right. Of course,” I replied, my tone humoring her. ”Whatever helps you sleep at night,

Sensei.”

She let out a defeated sigh, leaning further into me as if surrendering to the moment. ”Youʼre insufferable, Onoda. If I didnʼt know better, Iʼd say you were a professional at this.”

”Rather than a professional, Iʼll say Iʼm used to this. Iʼve fallen for a lot of girls. If I canʼt even make you comfortable, shouldnʼt I consider myself a failure?”

She stiffened slightly at my words, her sharp intellect undoubtedly picking apart my statement for any underlying motives. ”You sure know how to twist words to your

advantage.”

”Well then, what if I acted more audacious like... kissing you?”

”If you did that, Iʼll throw you out of this room right away.”

”Alright. Forget that. But honestly, sensei...” I said softly as I slotted my head closer to her that our cheeks were now touching. ”You do so much for everyone, Sensei. You deserve to feel

appreciated too.”

Her lips parted as if to respond, but she hesitated, her expression softening. For a moment, the strict, no-nonsense teacher persona seemed to fade, replaced by a woman who carried a quiet vulnerability beneath her composed exterior.

”Youʼre too smooth for your own good,” She finally muttered, turning her face slightly away, though she made no effort to break free from my embrace.

We sat like that for a while, the atmosphere calm and intimate. It was a rare moment where words werenʼt necessary and the silence felt more comforting rather than awkward.