Stealing Spree

Upon arriving home, I only brought the bags of presents upstairs before going straight to the bath with Akane.

No matter how high stamina I boasted to have, there’s just no way it would be inexhaustible. And that’s what happened to me. Right after sending the girls up to their train platform, I weakly sat on the train with Akane.

And noticing my state, my lovely silly girl let me use her shoulder. That’s when I finally took the nap that Ishida-senpai asked me to get earlier.

Admittedly, I pushed myself too hard today. Not counting the time when I had sex with Miwa-nee – because that was more comforting and satisfying than exhausting – my resting time only amounted to the time on our ride back home as well as the close to half an hour I spent with Ishida-senpai.

It’s really a miracle that I managed to finish the ninth lesson and ultimately spend time with Ayu and my girls without collapsing in front of them.

Well, it’s not like I was forced to do everything I did… That’s why I was more than thankful that only Akane saw me in that weakened state earlier. If it happened minutes before that, the other girls would probably stay to watch over me, risking the scolding and possible repercussions they would receive from their parents.

This wouldn’t happen every day anyway.

“Onoda-kun, I think you already heard from Sakuma-kun. We’ll probably be hosting a camping trip for your school. What do you think about coming with me to scout for a good place to pick?”

Before resigning to bed with Akane, I took my time again to check on the messages piled up on my phone and although not my intention to open her message, the preview of it urged my finger to tap on it.

And sure enough, Koizumi-san’s latest message to me wasn’t about her recruitment for me to become a model… Looks like she changed her style of approach, huh?

Even though it wasn’t finalized yet since it was only brought up recently, for this girl to invite me… there’s no doubt that she had an ulterior motive.

I wonder when was the exact moment she became fixated on me? Also, where’s the propriety that she always lauded? I already declined but she’s always updating me about those modeling auditions or gigs that she probably hoped I would be interested in.

“Husband, you’re creasing your eyebrows. Whose message made you like that?” After putting the tray of tea down, Akane sat down next to me, her face pushing closer to thoroughly observe my current expression.

“Ah. I’m just trying to squeeze my memory. How did I get Koizumi-san’s attention like this… What do you think?” Although it’s rude to show someone else’s private message to another person, the one I’m showing it to could be considered my wife already… Besides, she’s aware of my connection with Koizumi-san.

After reading that, Akane meaningfully smiled. She didn’t reply right away. Instead, she leaned down to pour me a cup of tea – brewed from the tea leaves Ishida-senpai gave me earlier.

As I took the first sip of this exquisite tea that probably costs a lot more than the gifts I received from my girls today, I listened to Akane’s insight about Koizumi-san.

“If you’re wondering when, I think husband can easily find the answer by looking back to your first interaction. As they say, it’s always the first impression who makes the greatest impact on how someone will treat you.” She started.

The first interaction? There’s not much that happened there. I silently watched her work on their project and helped her open a can of soda. Other than that, we had a rather harmonious time, right?

In the next instance, there’s the time I messaged her about Setsuna. And then the basketball match last week. I acted normally around her but maybe…

As I was on that line of thought, Akane continued.

“It’s easily noticeable how interested she is in you. The first thing she did upon becoming aware that you found out about something that’s still in the planning stage is to invite you. Not Sakuma-kun, but you.”

Right… She and Setsuna could just use Sakuma for that but the girl went directly to me.

I could attribute that to her intention to make me take up modeling but it’s still unusual for her to do this. I wonder if Setsuna is aware? Probably not?

Koizumi-san is someone who valued propriety more than anyone I know, her interest in me probably didn’t reach the level of wanting romance to bloom between us. She’s also aware that I’m dating Satsuki. Unless she had a hidden side that I still failed to see, all of this interest she’s throwing at me was most likely her way to dote on a junior she favors…

“Well, I think I’m busy enough to accept her invitation… I’m expecting her to continue recruiting me to become a model if I accept it.”

“Hmm… Why don’t you try it out, husband? You know, we got that photo she took of you from Satsuki. Satsuki asked Koizumi-san for it, or so I heard.” Akane amusedly suggested before bringing up the same photo that Koizumi-san sent me last week. “You look really different here. Cooler and more handsome. I believe most people won’t be able to connect you to this guy in the photo.”

She brought up another photo of me and put it side by side with it. And surprisingly, her words were correct… I look a lot different in that photo taken by Koizumi-san compared to the cold and gloomy guy in the other photo that Akane also kept on her phone.

“Try it out… Am I really fit to be a model?” I took another sip of the tea, downing almost half of it.

As I felt the warm, comfortable sensation filling up my body, I watched Akane as her lips curved up into a proud smile, “That’s the wrong question. It should be ‘Will modeling be fit for you?’. There are a lot of paths you can take, husband. But we all know that you can only take one among the many. And with the overhaul of your appearance, it’s no wonder that you’d be approached by the likes of Koizumi-san. She probably felt that it’s a waste to hide your natural charms from every woman in the world.”

“Now you’re exaggerating.”

“I’m not!” Akane rebutted instantly as she took another photo of me enjoying the tea I was drinking. She then showed me that before sending it to their chat group. Almost instantly, it became filled with heart reactions…

Well, that’s the expected reaction considering they’re all my girlfriends.

In any case, I was still not as exhilarated by the idea. But after we finished drinking the tea and saying good night to my girls, I sent a reply to Koizumi-san.

“I don’t mind it at all, Koizumi-san. However, I don’t think I will have the time.”

And her reply arrived in less than a few minutes.

“Oh! You replied. That’s great. But no worries, I’ll consult you and Satsuki-chan before deciding when and where. Is that enough for you?”

Akane also read that. And understanding I want her opinion on it, she nodded enthusiastically while once again showing a meaningful smirk…

This girl… She’s thinking a different thing entirely, isn’t she?