Stealing Spree

Who the hell sends a key in a love letter? Or is this still a love letter?

That thought was the first thing that popped up in my mind. I picked it out of the envelope and inspected it.

It could either be a house key or a room key. Either of the two, there’s no indication what it was for.

I opened the letter to read its content.

At a first glance, the handwriting was really pretty. The fragrance was even more apparent upon flipping it open. Surely, the interior of my bag now had its fragrance.

Anyway, I read through the letter in less than a minute. That’s because there were only four sentences written on it. And it’s signed not by a name but by a single letter. K.

‘Hello, if you find this letter annoying, do feel free to throw it out. I’m writing this letter to express my admiration for you, Onoda-san but I doubt this paper will be enough to write everything I want to say. I left a key to a room somewhere around the School Building (I drew the location at the back). If ever you become curious enough to hear what I want to say, feel free to go there. I’ll show up to meet with you.’

What’s with the students of our school? There’s someone who sent a letter without any name or reason. Then there's this one, sending a key to a room in the School Building which was… something that a student could do.

Looking at the map she wrote to give me directions for it, it’s located on the third floor of the School Building…

Is it safe to assume that whoever wrote the letter is a 3rd-year student? I don’t know… There’s just not much information about it.

And obviously, the only way to find out about it is to come to that room, use the key and wait for whoever’s going to show up.

With my mind going all over these thoughts, thinking about different possibilities, the train stopped at my station.

Before entering our house, I cleared my mind and threw that matter to the back of my mind.

I wanted to greet my girls without looking troubled or bothered, after all. They’re sensitive that way or I was already too easy to read by them.

-

-

The night passed and Friday soon drew upon us.

Because it’s Miho’s last day to stay with us, her family’s housekeeper or maid; Olivia showed up at our door early in the morning with the car she used to carry us back this Tuesday.

It’s to bring her luggage back. Knowing that her parents would return later this day, we already prepared everything last night. The only thing that wasn’t packed was the keyboard she was using to teach me how to play.

Well, she’s going to leave that here. “Your lessons will continue, Ruki. I’ll be calling you every morning for this so… keep the keyboard here.”

Or so she said. But the meaningful smile on her lips told me that there was another reason for leaving it there.

For her, it’s probably like a mark of her existence in this room. It would feel like she’s always here.

Moreover, she told me how excited the girls were about the prospect of me playing a song for them.

With only a few days of lessons, I hadn’t even stepped into the beginner level yet.

“Olivia-san, why don’t you eat breakfast first? Miho cooked for us.” As I carried one of the boxes to the car, I asked the woman who had a stoic expression on her face.

Although she didn’t look like she was enjoying her job, she at least wasn’t really vocal about it.

Well, she’s different from Hitomi and Suzuki-san. Those two were assigned to their mistress. On the other hand, this woman here was possibly a maid tasked to cater to everyone from Miho’s family.

“I’m good, Onoda-sama.” She declined politely.

That’s the only exchange we had.

Before long, she waited for Miho to show up outside, informing her of the estimated time of her parents’ arrival.

“I see. Great job, Olivia. Remember, don’t tell them about this.”

“Yes. I’ll keep my mouth shut as per your instruction. Well then, I’ll be going.”

“Sure. Drive safe.”

Before the woman drove off, Miho added a reminder to which the woman swiftly answered with a nod.

Looking at the speeding car as it gradually disappeared from our sight, a thought popped into my mind.

It’ll probably be hard for me to get used to seeing Miho’s act when it comes to those employed by her family.

And considering the girl didn’t even see anything wrong with it, bringing it up would just be meaningless.

Besides, it’s not like the other party was being hurt or it’s lowering Miho’s morals.

Raising it to her would just make her confused. Perhaps in the future, I would at least tell her what I think about it. But for now, it’s probably better for her to realize it herself.

She’s going to be with us for a long time. Surely, she would witness Mizuki, Otoha, Himeko and perhaps even Rae how they act around those working for them.

-

-

An hour later, after sending Akane and Miho to their school, I was once again swimming against the wave of students.

Ignoring the attention thrown at me, I walked to the route that I memorized which would allow me to escape the situation easily.

However, before continuing to the station and taking the train to my school or meeting one of my girls, I stopped somewhere close to observe.

I brought up the list of names I marked. Those idiots who are trying to bug my girls…

Well, there’s not a lot that I found on my database that I somehow created during middle school. But still, it’s enough for me to understand that in this world, there are just really those who are persistent enough not to give up.

Only by scaring them would they open their eyes…

Uh. The question is… how will I go about this?

Call them out? Drag them somewhere?

Those weren’t that viable…

Since it’s for the silence in my girls’ everyday lives, I had to make them stop what they were doing.

A simple scaring and beat-up tactic wouldn’t do.

Fortunately, I got dirt on some of them… But those with who I didn’t have anything, they’re the ones I needed to observe thoroughly.

With how tight my time was these days, a few minutes whenever I would be here was the best I could spare.

“That one guy… Where have I seen him before?”

After two minutes or so, I spotted someone. He looked handsome enough to be walking with a group of girls. However, he only intruded on their group. And from how uncomfortable some of those girls appeared because of his intrusion, it’s safe to say that he’s someone reputable enough to not be openly hated for doing that.

I don’t know his name but… I seem to have already encountered him before.

When was it?

Ah. It’s that guy from that day I reconnected with the girls from this school, the one trying to hit on my Yua…

No wonder he looked so obnoxious to my eyes.

I’ve heard his name from Yua but he’s not among the names I listed. Did he stop? Or I just hadn’t heard about him from my girls?

Well, either way, he’s not actually the one that caught my eye. It’s the other guy with him who also joined that group as they walked to their school.

“The shameless bastard who’s dating Ohori-senpai…” My lips curved into a smirk as I shook my head at that discovery. So, they’re buddies, huh?