Stealing Spree

After separating from Chii and Sumire, instead of going straight home, I decided to surprise someone today.

It’s been a while since I decided to do this but I still have no time to do so.

In a way, by not doing so, I’m kind of letting them down.

If only it was easy to stretch the 24-hour per day and make it 48 instead. That way I could devote half of that day just going around to meet all of them.

Anyway, with my destination set, it took me close to an hour to reach it.

Standing before the familiar two-story house, I looked up and glanced at the curtained window. On the side of it, a rope dangled which led to the balcony of the room.

After sending a message to the girl I’m visiting, I watched how the curtain parted and the girl’s face peeked from it. Following that, she quickly left the confines of her room and went to the balcony to see me properly.

With her iconic crown resting atop her hair, Elizabeth waved her hand energetically. And even without hearing her voice, seeing how her face lit up instantly made my coming here worth it.

I’ll say it again, I love that girl. Even if she has a serious case of eight-grader syndrome.

Well, it’s not like she’s unaware of it, she’s just choosing to act that way. Deep inside, she’s still the lovely girl that was just happy to be with me.

“Wait for me there. I’ll ask properly. That way, I won’t need to climb up and sneak in.” Instead of shouting at the girl, I sent another message to her.

After reading it, the girl nodded continuously while beaming an extremely elated smile.

Good thing, she hadn’t spouted something like ‘Oh Dark Prince, you graced this Curse Princess your presence. Now, my infinitesimally cold halls will be subjected to your warm blaze, melting this frozen ice, turning it into a stream that can weaken mine curse!’

Wait. Let’s not emulate her mind.

After sending that message, I pressed the doorbell and waited.

In less than thirty seconds, a middle-aged man showed up, all gnarly as soon as he saw the uniformed me…

“Who might you be?”

Yep. That’s Elizabeth’s father. Although we already met before, he had already forgotten about me… or rather, he couldn’t recognize me because of my new look.

Moreover, maybe being too handsome also irked him.

I mean, even if he wouldn’t let me meet Elizabeth before, he wouldn’t scowl like this…

“It’s nice meeting you again, uncle. We’ve already met before. Do you remember?”

“Huh? What the hell are you talking about?”

“I’m Elizabeth’s… Ah. No. Uncle, my name is Onoda Ruki…I’m dating your daughter.”

“You???” With his eyes widening like saucers, the middle-aged man almost stumbled back from disbelief. When he regained his balance, he stepped closer to inspect me. “Don’t f*ck with me, kid. Tell me, who are you?”

Now with an extra vein popping up on his forehead, it’s the typical uncle that I already dealt with before.

No… He was also like this when he saw me inside Elizabeth’s room.

Looking at him, his appearance didn’t change much. He looked like your typical Japanese salaryman that’s probably in a managerial position. It’s actually his wife who had half the foreign blood that Elizabeth inherited.

Peering above his shoulder, I could see that blonde woman watching from their front door. She resembled Elizabeth a lot. Although not as beautiful as when she was young, she still had her charms on her. Enough for this middle-aged man to always come home to his wife.

“Uncle, I’m telling the truth. I’m Onoda Ruki. We already met before…” I humbled myself and lowered my head. “I apologize for the past but I… we’ve recently gotten back together. I love your daughter…”

“What the hell is love? Can that let my daughter eat? If you’re not gone in five minutes, I’ll be calling your parents! Hurry, give me their number.”

This shamelessness. You’ll call my parents but you need to get their number from me?

“Uncle shouldn’t be mad. I can see her in their school if I want to… but I’m presenting myself here to you… To show you my devotion to her.”

“Who needs your devotion? Risa is still young and naïve. You better stop tricking her!”

With his nose fuming from fury, Elizabeth’s father screamed with his drool spraying all over. Good thing I maintained a certain distance or else I would be showering from it.

Perhaps noticing that her husband was getting too angry for no reason, Elizabeth’s mother approached us. “Honey, why are you screaming?”

Oh… So, she’s going to act like that? She’s eavesdropping but acting as if she had just been startled by her husband’s screams.

Looking closely, the woman had a slight hint of interest on her lips when looking at me… Is that a seal of approval?

I remembered that back when they caught me or when I tried asking them for Elizabeth, she’s just quietly letting her husband deal with me.

“It’s this boy, honey. He’s spouting too much nonsense.”

With his anger suddenly mellowing out with the presence of his wife, the middle-aged man pointed at me.

Well, it’s great that she instantly went to diffuse the situation when he started screaming at me. Otherwise, their neighbors would notice the commotion. Furthermore, this street wasn’t devoid of passersby. They’d also be startled and become interested in what's happening.

Even though the night was already about to fall,

“Auntie, nice to meet you again. I’m Risa’s—”

“Oh. I remember you.” As though she’s just waiting for me to talk to her, Elizabeth’s mother stepped forward, covering her husband.

Upon seeing how his wife behaved, a bout of confusion happened on his face before looking at me weirdly.

However, as if the cat got his tongue, he didn’t say anything and just watched on. Despite calming his anger, he’s still looking at me with hostility.

At this point, I could see Elizabeth also peeking out of their door. From the way she made a fist and mouthed words of encouragement, I instantly got reenergized.

“I see… I must’ve made a negative impression years ago but… I think I found the courage to introduce myself again to you.”

“Hmm? Is that the only reason you’re here?” While nodding her head, the half-Japanese mother of Elizabeth crossed her arms. By doing this, she’s trying to pry out everything from my mouth.

Or at least, she wanted to hear more from me rather than just my introduction.

“Uhm… Actually, there’s another reason. It’s to ask for your daughter.”

“This boy!”

“Stop being too worked up, honey. Our daughter is not getting any younger. Besides, I like the sincerity of this boy.”

“Honey, that’s not it. Do you know what he did before?”

“Of course, aren’t I there as well? But what if we really just assumed it? We caused our daughter’s sadness when we grounded her.”

Auntie, you didn’t assume it. We really did a lot of things in your house that day.

But well, I needed her help this time so when she glanced at me again, I bowed and smiled in gratitude.

“Ugh… That’s better than letting her fall prey to an untrustworthy lad.”

However, Elizabeth’s father was truly a stubborn guy.

I should make some concessions… Rather than ask for her and bring her somewhere they cannot see…

“If uncle is so against me, we can just spend time here… I won’t take her anywhere. As I said, I’m here to properly introduce myself.”

Saying all that with sincerity, the middle-aged man closed his eyes and acted like he didn’t hear me.

Seeing that, his wife faced me with an apologetic expression before saying, “If that’s the case then… you’re welcome here.”

And with that, even before her husband could react, Elizabeth’s mother opened the gate to let me inside.

As soon as that happened, Elizabeth who was watching from their front door rejoiced as she quickly ran towards me. “Ruki!”

Before their very eyes, they watched their daughter jumping in my embrace.

While her father looked really shocked at it, her mother was nodding her head in approval while showing a very welcoming smile, “Look, our daughter has finally grown up.”