Stealing Spree

Personally, as long as my desire still burns, being interested in another girl and working on them to make them mine wasn’t really weighing on my mind. The only complication in that particular case would be my continuous attempt at restraining and limiting that said desire.

In line with that, Coach Ayu, Ishida-senpai, Otsuka-senpai, Eguchi-sensei and even Misaki could very well become my target with as simple as a flip of a hat.

I only had to remove whatever I was using to plug in my desire from going haywire.

However, if I did that then there would be no stopping it. At least, this way, I was trying to let it be as natural as possible if I’d ever become attached to them. The same way as to how I was now with my girls.

True. There would be some unique circumstances but that’s up to chance. For now, I could only wait and see.

When I met up with Akane and the other girls, I also told them the situation. Why I came out a little late and why Sena wasn’t with me.

Hearing about Coach Ayu falling sick, they expressed their concern. Well, that woman was only grumpy towards me. The girls, even if she’s somehow suspecting them, weren’t included in her grumpiness.

After spending some time with them just walking around this part of the city, I returned half of what they used to register for the gym. At first, they didn’t want to take it but to stop me from being persistent, they reluctantly took it.

Well, it’s only half because they’d adamantly refuse it if I tried giving everything back.

“Think of it this way, I eagerly asked you to come with me but in the end, I miscalculated and almost let you all come in vain.”

“Ruki, you stubborn idiot,” Miho said in slight annoyance while releasing a sigh to which everyone nodded in agreement.

I scratched my head on that but I still stood with my decision. I saw that as me taking responsibility for them.

On our way home, Miyako and Yae went with the other girls that’s going in the opposite direction. It’s time for them to go home, after all. Although Elizabeth and the other girls also wanted to stay overnight next, they still had to get permission from their parents. Besides, they had to lie about who they would stay with. There’s no way they would be given permission if their parents found out that it’s the house of their boyfriend.

Upon arriving, I first brought Eimi to our house to rest before walking her home.

On the way there, we talked about a lot of things. What she thought about the other girls, about me and about what she’s expecting for our future. Well, she simply said that at the moment, she’s more than satisfied with our relationship. Besides, with her getting closer to the others, she took it as gaining like-minded sisters. The only thing she had a gripe about was the limited time she could spend with me but quickly told me not to worry about it.

Well, that’s an optimistic outlook and I feel that she’s truthful to her words.

That’s why I told her that she could come to our house anytime or I could pick her up from their house after school sometimes. She could join us at our dinner table or we could walk around the neighborhood, with just the two of us.

I guess one could say that it’s an incredible privilege for her. Nonetheless, I ought not to let her think that way. That’s why I told her that it was an advantage for being from the same neighborhood.

Eimi was ecstatic about that idea. Enough that she jumped at me in joy, right in the middle of the street.

Since the sky was already blanketed with the dark purple of the night, I decided to spend more time with her at the nearby park where we could have a little privacy before dropping her off at their house.

Because of the plan with Ship and Nao tomorrow, I told her that our weekly shopping date might be postponed to another day or week.

Well, I better plan on not just a shopping date next time. It’s great and all to walk around and shop like a couple at the supermarket, which she called another special privilege for her. Nonetheless, I still found it lacking. I want to see more of her, the same way I wanted to spend more time with the other girls.

“Take care on your way back, Ruki.” Flashing her most beautiful smile, Eimi waved at me from their front door. Next to her, her cousin, Anzu, was leering.

The short girl actually scolded me for bringing Eimi home this late. However, that’s just one of the reasons, there’s more…She’s sulking that Eimi left her behind. She’s too bored at their house after all.

“Mhm. I will. See you soon, Eimi. You too, onee-san.”

“Hmph. Go on. Stop flirting in front of my eyes. I bet you two already did more than just flirting.” Anzu acted snobbish before sneering at Eimi. Most likely, she’s trying to make her little cousin flustered.

Too bad for her, Eimi used that chance to take a jab at her. “Anzu-nee, jealous? Do you want Ruki to flirt with you as well?”

“Y-you little sh--!”

And just like that, I watched them for a bit where Eimi wouldn’t back down at teasing her cousin and on the other hand, Anzu kept on trying to get back at Eimi, only to fail completely. I guess the dynamics from the first time I saw the two of them together had already changed.

Eimi was no longer shy showing me how she acted around her cousin. In any case, the way they nag at each other could also be seen as a sign of how close they are to each other. Perhaps, that’s how it is to have a sibling.

Akane and I were more like lovers even during our childhood. But she had Fuyu and the other two now whereas, I still only have them and… my only friend was an innocent girl who’s slowly gaining interest in me, not just as a friend.

Haa… Anyway, there’s no use mulling over that.

After going back home, I was once again out of the street within an hour, in my hand a bag filled with my change of clothes.

Minutes of walking later, my feet led me to Shio’s apartment. After greeting the old landlady at the gate, I nonchalantly went up, acting like I live there.

Well, although Shio’s currently living alone here, it’s technically our apartment. That’s what she insisted. Both of our names were actually written on the contract and both of us signed it.

Even though it still hadn’t been revealed that I’m not a college student, that old landlady was a little sharp at understanding that Shio was older than me. There’s no problem with that. However, I would often get a glare from her. Perhaps, she’s thinking that I was neglecting Shio with how seldom she found me within the apartment grounds. She never voiced it out though so I might be wrong.

In any case, that’s that. It’s already understandable by now, I was going to stay here for the night.

But that’s only because Shio, Nao and I would be going out for our date before the sun rises from the east.