Stealing Spree

Cracked voice, spinning eyes, and uncontrollable shakiness. That’s how I would describe Ishida-senpai’s state at the moment. What I revealed to her shook her to the core. Although she’s supposed to be someone who was already educated about it, the terms I used must’ve been too much for her. Besides, she hadn’t expected that kind of side effect. She was certain that it was a relaxation tea.

In any case, I held her hand to calm her down even if she was still gripping that certain sensitive part of me. However, even if I resisted the urge to be turned on, it still hardened a bit which made the girl get a better grip on it.

Fortunately, by not mentioning it and only focusing on how I could calm her down, Ishida-senpai also didn’t act excessively. I mean, her head was already in chaos by imagining what I mentioned. Grabbing me was more of an unconscious action on her part in line with my revelation.

A while later, she finally overheated. With her crimson face and a very flustered expression, the girl let go of what she was grabbing and grasped my shirt. Using my chest as her escape route, Ishida-senpai curled further and fit herself even more in my embrace.

Watching her like this, I couldn’t help but think back to the time when even talking to her was a little scary because of her dedication to the club. It’s not that she changed a lot, Ishida-senpai simply opened herself up for me to fully understand her. And now, I keep falling for her at every second we spend together.

“I apologize for that, senpai. But that’s the truth. That’s why it got us curious about its origin.” Sensing that the girl already recovered a bit, I reiterated my words. This time, I went straight to the main point.

“Uhm. I have no idea, actually. It’s been sitting there for months since my father brought it home as some kind of souvenir from one of his trips abroad. I can ask him about it later but… I don't know how to word it to him.” Ishida-senpai murmured that last bit as though she was too shy to bring up the side effect to her father.

True, it would be too awkward for her however, she probably got too fixated on what I told her. She forgot that she could just not mention it. She could simply tell her father that she gave the tea away. Afterward, she could then guide him to tell her everything about it.

“How about this? Ask him if the tea is really effective for getting a good night’s sleep.” I suggested after I further simplified what was in my head.

And sure enough, perhaps realizing that she’s tackling it at a different angle, Ishida-senpai lightly hit my chest before murmuring continuously, “Y-yeah, you’re right. I don't have to tell him about what’s happening to you?”

I put on a teasing smile and replied, “Who knows? Did I make you that curious?”

“Clearly not! Geez. You’re too wild, pervert.” Or so she said. Maybe not knowing that I could hear her, she muttered again, “I-it’s not the time yet… I won’t bring you to my bed easily…”

Naturally, I acted like I didn’t hear it and simply patted her head continuously until she calmed down.

Ishida-senpai said she was going to contact me when she got the answer from her father. Because he’s in a different country with a time zone six hours behind us, she didn’t want to disturb him in case he was still sleeping.

And with how she brought up her father, I used that moment to ask about him. Particularly, how he is as a person.

I mean, I’m going to meet him in the future if I keep Ishida-senpai by my side. It’s something I should prepare for, the same way I prepared myself when meeting the parents of my other girls.

Afterward, I also told her about my plans today; the visit to Auntie Yayoi and the modeling gig. Furthermore, I promised that I would keep in contact, updating her whenever I could.

On that last bit, I got scolded by the girl. She said it’s too excessive if I update her around the clock. Like my other girls, it was enough that she knows I’m still alive somewhere out there.

Well, that’s true. But I just couldn’t help it. I mean, that’s what I was doing ever since the change in me.

Thinking about it, it’s probably something I adapted to ensure the girls that I previously cut off that I won’t do the same thing again.

I know. It’s not needed anymore given how much they trust me and my vision nowadays but I was still unable to put it down. It’s a ‘me’ problem that I haven’t resolved yet.

Talking about that and more, time quickly passed and my time of departure arrived.

Somehow, none of us brought up the club in our conversation. Well, it’s still in the same state anyway. She’s still writing her scenario and I haven’t written mine. But maybe starting tomorrow or the coming week, we’ll start preparing that room for our booth.

As I stood up and let go of her, Ishida-senpai had me wait for a while. She disappeared to their kitchen before bringing back a vase filled with water.

Yep. She’s going to put the rose in it. Although it wouldn’t really last, at least, it would allow the flower to not wilt right away.

According to her, it’s the first flower she received from me so… she’s going to treasure it.

Really, she’s too precious.

Going to my next destination, I once again ran into someone I never thought I would on the train.

Wearing a turtleneck outfit paired with short jeans and heeled sandals, I spotted my ‘second’ friend, Sachi, sitting on the train. Fortunately, she was a distance away, preventing me from being in her line of sight.

Judging from how dressed she was, she was probably going on a date or a get-together with her friends.

Uh. I guess it’s the latter because I spotted other members of the Volleyball Club approaching her, coming from the next train car.

But that got me wondering, don’t they have a training camp too? Well, even though I sometimes reply to the girl’s message, I haven’t heard anything about that. Maybe they’re not going to compete?

In any case, I shouldn’t show myself to her today if I want to get to my destination soon. I simply observed them from afar and checked the last message I received from her.

“Hey, Ruki! Do you have plans on Sunday? Wanna hang out with us? I’m going to the mall with the other members of the club. To relax before our training camp. There won’t be boys but if it’s you, I think everyone will be excited. What do you think?”

That’s a long message… And she’s inviting me.

Oh shi— That was sent two days ago.

Is it a good or bad thing that I never opened it before today?

Yeah. It’s neither. However, seeing them here and just the fact that it had been two days since she sent that invitation, I found it awkward to type in my refusal…

Nonetheless, because she would notice that I read it, I quickly typed in the first thing that came across my mind.

“I think it’s too late to say yes, right? I apologize if I only read it now. Have fun there!”

Upon sending that, I quickly put back my phone before she could read it. But seconds later, I heard the girl’s incredulous voice from where they were, “… Unbelievable! Is he a hermit who never checks his inbox?! Next time, I’ll invite him in person!”