Stealing Spree

I had no idea if I was dreaming or not but I woke up earlier than normal. Outside our window, I could faintly observe the minute vestiges of the orange hue out on the horizon gradually creeping to swallow the night sky.

It’s 5 o’clock in the morning.

Naturally, there’s a reason for this. On the bedside table where we put our phones down, my phone was ringing.

Thinking that it might be an emergency, I reached for it and checked.

However, upon seeing the registered name for it, the sleepiness that was still slightly affecting me instantly vanished. My groggy eyes fully opened.

To not wake up the two girls at my side, I quickly silenced the ringtone and stared at the screen for a moment, deliberating whether to pick it up or not.

It’s Hana.

And she’s using the same number as yesterday. I registered it just in case and sure enough, it’s not even a day before this girl once again tries to make her presence known to me.

I mean, can she not wait for a few hours?

Ugh… Who am I asking? She most likely specifically chose this time. And that’s for an added impact to me.

“Does she not know the concept of sleep?” I complained silently yet I found my finger slowly going to tap the screen to answer it.

Now that the drowsiness completely left my mind, I remembered that she was the last girl I thought of before falling to sleep…

Does that matter? I don’t know… I might still be dreaming, right?

I shook my head, and glanced at the two beautiful girls peacefully sleeping beside me before deciding what to do…

Thirty seconds quickly passed and my phone cascaded back to my home screen while showing that notification that I missed a call from ‘Hana’.

Right after that, an email arrived. Since it’s possible to preview the sender and part of its content, it only took a moment for my lips to curve slightly.

“Good morning, Ruki. You must’ve been still asleep, no? I thought of becoming the first one to greet you on this day. Too bad…”

Yep. That was Hana’s email… There’s probably more to it but I chose not to open it. Not just yet.

Placing the phone back on the bedside table, I once again slid down to my previous position and pulled the two girls close to me. And even without waking up. Akane and Miho snuggled to me while endearingly murmuring my name.

And that instantly put me into a brighter mood.

Since it was still early, I once again closed my eyes, forcing myself to sleep. The fact that Hana called and emailed again was pushed to the back of my mind.

When I opened my eyes again, it was already bright outside.

Our usual morning routine started. Before we prepared for school, I helped Miho set up the keyboard on one side of the room. She played a song for me to test it.

Although it’s still the same song that she composed, as it was an electric one, the sound wasn’t that authentic when she was playing it with the piano.

“Right. We can now continue your lessons for the three days that I’m here, Ruki.” Miho smilingly declared as she pulled me down next to her and guided my hands to the keys.

“I’m also trying to read up on how to recognize those notes but as you know, I’m still fumbling with it,” I answered while I let her press on my fingers to play an easy melody.

I did say before that I would try learning how to play it. Just so we could play a song together in the future. It’s not her wish but my own decision.

However, with how little I know about music or just the piano in general, it would take a long time for me to properly match her.

I won’t give up on it though… If it can make my girl happy then I will do it.

“That’s fine. With how busy you are, just knowing that you haven’t given up after declaring to do so is enough for me. Compared to you, music is the only thing I’m good at.” Miho said in a rather self-deprecating tone. But before I could even comment on that, her face lit up again as she faced me with her bright smile, “With you back on my side, I’m sure I will always be motivated to improve. We’re going to blow you away with the song we’re going to make.”

“Mhm. I’m already excited about it.” I returned a smile to her before pulling her in another embrace.

Although the girl accepted it happily, she eventually scolded me for interrupting her lesson. In any case, with her mood improving through it, we had a great morning together.

A while later, we went down to eat with Akane, Miwa-nee and Minoru.

-

-

“It’s been a while since I rode the train with you, Ruki.” The maroon-haired girl thoughtfully exclaimed as she took the seat next to me.

We’re now on the train to school. Although a little risky, I still decided to walk the two girls to their school. I couldn’t leave the girl behind even if she’s not really a sheltered girl who had no experience with public transportation.

“Well, you passed up the chance last night. We’d probably get the whole train car for us given the time.” I teasingly responded.

Upon hearing that, Miho blankly looked at me before shock crept on her face. “… You’re right, I didn’t think of that. I should’ve come with you and let Vivian bring my luggage today.”

On the side, Akane laughed at her reaction before cheering her up. “There’s always a next time, Miho.”

Just like this, while being sandwiched between the two girls, the first part of our train ride still felt like we were at home. In our own private space.

Due to that, envious gazes still fell on us. Furthermore, Miho wasn’t really hiding the fact that she was in love with me.

The only thing we were limiting was how intimate we were with each other.

Halfway through the ride, the trio of Fuyu and the other two with their boyfriends showed up, making our group large enough to help draw those unnecessary gazes away from us.

However, in place of that, Miho, whose relationship with me wasn’t clearly stated – since I wouldn’t ever deny being with her – became Fuyu’s sole focus.

The ponytailed girl’s suspicious meter was possibly raised to the max. Moreover, Miho being seated next to me cranked that further.

While Fuyu occasionally stared at me with her usual icy glare, she took the space next to Miho and chatted with the girl.

Being at the same year level as well as having the popularity to be talked about by other students, Fuyu and Miho weren’t strangers to each other. They know each other by name. From what I could remember, they were classmates once during middle school.

Anyway, we surely anticipated that this would happen. That’s why we’re not really worried. In fact, Miho skillfully held the conversation with Fuyu and steered it away from me.

That seriously frustrated Fuyu. But when she looked at Akane and how the silly girl openly flaunted our relationship as we conversed with Futaba and Eri, the girl became partly relieved.

When we left the train station, Fuyu drew next to me and whispered, “Onoda-kun… I’m sorry but I have to say this. I’m still suspicious of you. Nishioka-san… is someone difficult to befriend. But she doesn't seem like herself this time…”