Stealing Spree

Because of the time, I could only bring Saki to the same place I brought Nami last Tuesday. We walked around the nearby shopping district while I wore the additional disguise that Ririka gave me this morning.

It’s nothing spectacular like I said but it did its job by not letting me be recognized by some shop owners that I visited with Nami.

If someone’s wondering, it’s a simple green headband. Saki actually laughed at it upon seeing me wearing it, tucking my fringes using it and exposing my forehead.

I probably looked like a delinquent by then because I also wore my uniform loosely and put on a rather aggressive expression just to complete the disguise.

In any case, that’s actually effective. Seeing Saki enjoy that short date as we acted like a couple while visiting various shops, it cleared up any indignation on my part to look like a delinquent.

Truthfully, I think the girl enjoyed it watching me maintain my act as a delinquent more than the actual date.

According to her, it’s like she’s seeing a completely different Ruki that the other girls had no idea about.

With that good of a mood she had, the girl happily rode her bus home. I offered to walk her home but the girl rejected it saying that she’s already content with the time I spent with her; our intimate moment in that room and the short date.

Helpless, I could only remind her about the possibility that Taku might wait for her and stalk her again. However, she assured me that she’d be fine and I didn’t have to worry too much about it.

According to her, that guy never tried to follow her to her house. At most, he’d stop right at her bus stop.

Unfortunately, my trait as a worrywart acted again, asking her to message or call me once she arrived home. Only by then would I be relieved.

After separating from Saki, I took the train as usual and thought of using the time I would be sitting inside to check and talk to everyone.

However, after one station, someone purposely stopped in front of me despite having a lot of empty seats.

With my eyes focused on my phone, the first thing I noticed was the pair of shoes that clearly belonged to a younger girl. And going upwards, at a corner of my sight not covered by my phone, the faint outline of the nearby middle school’s uniform.

Before I could raise my head to check on who it was, the girl’s familiar voice already called out to me. “Ruki-senpai? What a coincidence to meet you again! Do you still remember our bet?”

What coincidence? The high school I am attending and the middle school she’s attending are one station away from each other. I’m aware that it’s not impossible to run at her during one of my train rides.

Furthermore… we have each other’s contact addresses. I could remember exchanging messages with her once or twice. It’s just… she’s not one of my girls so I left her most recent message unseen.

With just that excited voice of a young girl, I didn’t need to raise my head anymore to confirm who she was. It’s the overly enthusiastic fan of Asahi that I met last Saturday; Sumire.

Like what I first observed, she’s in her middle school uniform and her fellow Asahi fan, the reserved Umi, wasn’t with her.

Sumire playfully stood in front of me, one of her arms stretched to its limit, clutching the grip for standing passengers.

Right. She’s fairly short.

Despite the difficulty in maintaining that position, the girl had a wide grin on her lips as if she found a comrade-in-arms in the middle of a battlefield.

She probably thinks that I’m now a converted Asahi fan.

Anyway, I’ll play along for now since my girls haven’t replied yet. Moreover, it’s a great way to pass the time on this train.

“Sumire, was it? Right, what a coincidence. But shouldn’t middle schoolers like you get home earlier? Did you go on a date with your boyfriend?”

I intentionally teased her just to see her reaction.

But really, middle schoolers were being sent home an hour earlier than high schoolers. It’s to not let them be out in the streets at night. But this girl… Looking at how her hair still hadn’t successfully dried up as well as the sports bag that most likely contained her PE or training attire, she’s most likely a member of a sports club.

“Wha--?! What was that Ruki-senpai? Although I’m happy that you remembered me, that’s kind of rude, y’know? I cannot be bothered with prepubescent boys.”

Sumire was appalled. In response to what I said, she pouted and puffed her cheeks. Still, she’s overflowing with enthusiasm like before.

Isn’t she tired?

“Ah, really? So, you like adults, is that it? Tsk tsk. That’s a dangerous line of thought for a young girl like you.”

“I didn’t say it like that! I’m an avid Asahi fan, Ruki-senpai! I don’t have any time for that kind of thing.”

“Hmm? I see. Then sit down. You’ll dislocate your shoulder if you continue hanging like a monkey there. Here.”

Although I was sitting at the corner of the seat, the passenger at my right left and right was taking up too much space with his legs rudely spread open while sitting. I just had to be a bit forceful at scooching over, opening a space for the girl to sit. One glare was enough to shut up the guy who’s about to raise a complaint.

“I can’t believe it. You’re being rude again, senpai! But thank you.”

Sumire giggled as she sat down next to me.

“Yeah. I can’t give you my seat so I opened one for you.”

“… Senpai, don’t ruin my gentlemanly image of you with those words! Anyway, you looked dashing back then. Do you only work on your image when going on a date? At this point, you’re like a wasabi ice cream that no kids wanted to pick because of how spicy you are.”

“Huh? What’s that bad analogy? Just say I’m colder than before, will you? Don’t make it so complicated.”

“Alright. Then why do you sound so cold, senpai? Could it be…” The girl put on a shocked expression and covered her mouth with one hand. “… you got dumped by your girlfriend? Did you sing Asahi’s song properly?”

I knew it. We’ll reach the point of her talking about Asahi again. This girl…

“No, I’m not dumped and no, I didn’t sing her song. There’s no point in doing so. She’s a fan though. Happy?”

“Really?! Then introduce her to me, senpai! I want to meet a fellow fan and talk about Asahi all day.”

What’s wrong with this girl’s fanaticism?

“Don’t you get tired talking about Asahi? I thought we’re having a normal conversation.”

“Hehe… I’m sorry. I can’t help it. By the way, if you didn’t sing… you lost our bet, Ruki-senpai.”

“Nope. Our bet is about whether she would be all over me after I sing it or she would hate it. There’s no clause whether I will sing or not.”

“Cheapskate.”

Without any other argument over it, that’s all Sumire could say while pouting as if I cheated her.

“Yes. I am a cheapskate. Now, take your rest. Your stop is approaching.”

“Eh? How did you know? Are you my stalker?”

“No. I remembered which stop you got on last Saturday. You’re too loud when you sit next to me, how can I forget that? On the contrary, aren’t you the stalker here?”

“Whaa! I will never--!”

Sumire was about to refute it but seeing her dumbfounded expression, that’s enough teasing for her.

“Really? Then good. By the way, I’m now a fan so you’re successful at converting me.”

Yeah. It’s enough to be a fan of Yue rather than approach her again. Knowing that she has an avid fan like this girl… I guess she’s truly doing well.

Anyway, for the rest of the time before the girl’s station, the girl’s enthusiasm was lit again upon knowing that I became Asahi’s fan.

Naturally, I remained as cold with my answer as before despite the girl’s unabashed eagerness from preaching about the greatness of Mabushisa Asahi.

By the time the girl left the train, I returned to focusing on my girls’ messages for the rest of my ride home.