Stealing Spree

When I heard their life story from Mina, I somehow expected her mom to not be that welcoming. She got cheated on by her ex-husband. He even tried to put all the blame on her. If anything, I thought she’d start holding a grudge against men. There’s also the issue of her child being implicated by the situation that turned the former lively girl into a silent recluse.

True. Years had already passed but if not for Haruko meeting Mina, the girl would surely stay the same.

Looking at this from a different perspective, her mother probably brought up competing with Mina as an excuse to bond with her and at the same time, check on me. That’s killing two birds with one stone.

I heard bits of stories from Mina but that’s surely not enough to conclude everything. All I got from that was… her mother, despite also suffering from what happened, did her best to raise her.

And today, hearing the two continue to banter behind me wherein Mina always lost from the teasing and her mother would lightly make fun of her, there’s no doubt that they’re a pair of mother and daughter that gets along too well. Perhaps, much like Nami and her mother.

There’s not a trace of their dark past. The laughs I heard were all genuine. Her mother probably moved on from that long before. Who knows?

Given the directive by Mina to stay put, I followed it wholeheartedly and just waited in the living room, with my back turned to them. Naturally, hearing her mom’s giggles and Mina’s short-fusing from the teases, I tried my hardest to resist the urge to look at her.

So instead of that, I used that time to observe the place where Mina grew up and had grown accustomed to.

It’s a simple but neat house. Although the living room and the kitchen could directly be seen from the front door, the other parts of the house were separated by a wall with a curtained doorway as its passage.

Because of the curtain, I couldn’t see through the other half of the house but that’s definitely where her room was located. Whether Mina would bring me in or not depends on the result of their ‘tea-making competition’ where I would serve as the judge.

When my curiosity got satisfied, I then settled myself in inhaling the aroma of the tea and the mouth-watering fruit pie.

Even though no one had mentioned about the competition that they’re doing yet, that was probably already happening as another fragrant tea that I already got used to smelling wafted over from the kitchen.

It’s not the recipe she perfected, but it’s enough to contend with what her mother made. Their distinct aromas fought against each other on my nose, leaving me parched.

“Onoda-kun, sorry for the wait.”

“Great job not moving there, shameless guy.”

Thankfully, my wait soon ended. The tea they’re brewing was finished and they both returned from the kitchen, their hands full.

Mina’s mother, Yayoi, brought the sliced fruit pies, placing them on the coffee table. Mina, on the other hand, brought the teacups and forks

They’re both acting as a host and honestly, the mother and daughter pair were both graceful and attentive.

Before they returned to the kitchen to get the teapots, her mother told me to relax while Mina, despite having a scowl, went behind me and massaged my shoulders gently.

I looked up at her and thanked her but that was met with the girl pinching my lips to stop me from talking to her.

I used that chance to grab her hand and kiss it instead, making her flustered again. The girl pulled her hand away and ran to the kitchen where her mother giggled heartily at her reaction.

From my action, I somehow solidified her mother’s assumption that I’m her boyfriend even though Mina kept denying it.

Anyway, they soon returned with their teapots. Her mother just placed hers on the table and sat down opposite of me while Mina began filling up the cups with her tea.

It’s a type of green tea that she fine-tuned herself to bring about a unique taste. The sweet aroma of it instantly filled the living room wherein, the slight tension that I was feeling vanished completely.

Once my cup was filled, the thirst that I was feeling since earlier moved my hand. I drank her tea straight away and sighed helplessly at its taste.

It’s truly great. If we’re still in the Poem Appreciation Club, I might ask for a refill before pulling her down on my lap and hugging the girl as my way to thank her for it.

I know. It’s a weird way of showing gratitude but it’s my Mina we’re talking about. She’s someone who seldom makes a move. I had to be proactive lest my relationship with her wouldn’t progress to this point.

After putting down my cup, I smiled at the girl. “Thank you, it’s delicious, Mina.”

The girl beamed a smile before proudly looking at her mother as if innocently saying, “Look, he said it’s delicious! I won!”

Upon seeing all that, her mother looked on interestingly at me. “Hmm? It looks like Onoda-kun’s taste has been thoroughly caught by you, Mii-chan. Do I still have a chance here?”

Honestly, suggesting a competition was already dubious, in the first place when she knew that I could be biased with Mina. I didn’t need to guess that it’s just an excuse on her part.

I had no idea if Mina caught on to that but I could at least attest to her desire of winning against her mother. It’s like some sort of validation on the girl’s part.

Her mother taught her skills in tea-making and raised her. Mina clearly wanted to thank and be praised by her at the same time.

And I… I became the instrument for it.

It’s not that bad anyway. I got this chance to meet her mother and… to win her heart completely.

Nonetheless, I have no idea if everything will go smoothly.

With a tinge of amusement in her eyes, Mina’s mother asked her to sit down and clarified that it’s not the start of their competition yet.

“This here is just an appetizer, Onoda-kun. Here eat this and give me your cup.”

She put a slice of fruit pie on my plate and filled the emptied cup with the tea she made.

“Eat that first before drinking my tea, alright?” She reminded me. “And while we’re at this, Mii-chan, you start eating too. You left the house too early. She didn’t tell you that, did she?”

Hearing that, I looked at Mina for confirmation. And true to her mother’s words, she embarrassedly averted my gaze while saying. “Mom, you didn’t have to tell him that.”

“Oh? I believe Onoda-kun preferred to hear it.”

“Yes, I do. Thank you, auntie. I had no idea. If I had known about it, I would’ve left earlier.”

“That’s just how she is when she’s excited, Onoda-kun. Mii-chan is originally an energetic kid. Unfortunately, she became this stubborn at admitting what she really felt.” Her mother heaved a sigh. Soon after that, she then started talking about Mina. Her childhood experiences and every interesting thing that happened to her.

However, there’s no mention of how she turned from being an extrovert to an introvert. I guess it’s normal… there’s no reason to tell me about that.

On the other hand, as I listened intently to her story while occasionally spying on the girl who sat down at my side and began eating the fruit pie, I was enlightened.

This was truly her mother’s way to check on the guy that has gotten close to her. Or rather, the reason why she’s returning to her old self. And that was further proven in her closing remark.

“Onoda-kun, thank you for bringing out my daughter’s bright side once more.”

However, it’s not me who should receive this gratitude. It’s Haruko and the girls from the Poem Appreciation Club.

“Auntie. I don’t think I deserve your whole gratitude. Mina was already a wonderful girl when I first met her. It’s her close and special friends who pulled her out from the darkness and made her shine once more. I’m just an ordinary guy who fell in love with your daughter.” I answered and that earned me a pinch at my side.