Stealing Spree

“Why didn’t you take a nap?”

Reading that message from Ishida-senpai minutes after I left her house, a smile was naturally drawn to my lips.

Well, how could I sleep when I was busy trying to remember her natural scent? She smells a little different when she’s in her uniform.

Anyway, I was back on the train, making my way back to our house.

I hadn’t accounted for the jar of tea leaves so I had to go back and leave it there first. However, I already asked Akane, before going inside Ishida-senpai’s house, to go ahead and bring my bag to meet up with the other girls.

I really stretched my time there with Ishida-senpai. I also took into account Goto Kenji’s presence, after all. But for him to be kicked out in ten minutes or fifteen if I also counted the time Ishida-senpai went to the kitchen.

Anyway, like always, Akane was already aware of Ishida-senpai. And even if she hadn’t seen or talked to her yet, that diligent and admirable senior sometimes came up as one of the few I would talk about during our nightly sharing of our daily experience… That’s why she’s already well-acquainted with Ishida-senpai even before I decided to court her.

And when I revealed that to her, Akane gave me a funny look that said, ‘I knew it would come to that point. You playboy~’

Uhh… I guess she already listed the girls outside our complex relationship that I often talked about as potential members.

And if I had to guess, there were other names on that list such as Misaki, Otsuka-senpai, and maybe Itou as well.

As for Eguchi-sensei and Sachi, Akane could guess that I wasn’t that invested in either of the two… However, if Eguchi-sensei remained that conscious whenever she was with me, it wouldn’t take long for me to change my mind.

Upon arriving home, I handed the jar of tea leaves to my mother who was still there with my father. She’s confused, of course. But I didn’t have that much time to talk anymore so I quickly left and returned to the station.

In the close to half an hour of sitting there, I already messaged Akane and my girls that I’m near. Furthermore, Coach Ayu who hadn’t messaged me at all for the past week called me, asking why I wasn’t there yet.

Apparently, most of my students for the program were already there, eagerly waiting for their Onoda-sensei to start the ninth lesson.

The call didn’t last long. As soon as she heard that I was already on my way, Coach Ayu ended it…

That made me suspect that the woman was avoiding me… Or I was just reading too much into it.

“Ruki, here!” Waving her slender arms even while I was still a distance away from there, Yua’s mood seemed to be at its highest. She had her occasionally dorky smile that made her look like an airhead. In any case, even with her happily swaying sidetail and the attire she’s wearing; a combination of a crop top shirt on top of an undershirt and jogging pants, the girl still looked gorgeous that those who heard her voice all turned their heads on her.

As expected of a model…

Copying her, the other girls who also started to see me approaching them all waved happily.

From what I gathered from the few seconds that I observed them from afar, two of them were standing in front of everyone, bragging about something.

And those two were none other than Elizabeth and Miho.

Yep. Most likely, they’re bragging about their recent experience. For Elizabeth, my visit to her house. And for Miho, her three days, four nights stay at our house.

Anyway, since they had already seen me, I quickened my steps and reached them in less than a minute. They’re still at the same fast food restaurant, taking the tables near the window. Yua’s voice was just so loud that it pierced the glass… or I just imagined that from reading her lips.

Upon entering, I instantly went to their side where Yua pulled me down to sit next to her. And while she was at it, she unhesitatingly hugged my arm tightly before resting her head on my shoulder.

I was about to say we have to go soon or Coach Ayu would scold me for being late when she declared something.

“Ruki, I got permission to stay with you the night before my gig.”

The girl said that cheerfully and positively while still sporting her dorky smile.

Wait. The way she worded that was a little weird. Got permission? From who?

No… It’s fairly understandable who gave it but I couldn’t wrap my head around that sudden declaration.

“Heh… Look at you getting confused. My mom isn’t a stranger to you, right? She’s aware of who saved me back then… And when I told her that we’re dating and you’re going to accompany me to it, she didn’t oppose it as much.” Yua explained. But the same as me, the other girls looked like they were hearing this for the first time.

Elizabeth, who clearly was just bragging before I arrived, covered her mouth dramatically before saying, “This princess cannot believe it. Yua must have used dark sorcery!”

On the other hand, Yukari muttered enviously, “How nice, getting permission from your mother…”

The other girls also reacted to it and while Miho looked like she was unaffected, she could also be seen gulping down and staring at Yua as though she’s a tough opponent to beat.

I mean, she sneaked out and coerced their housekeeper to keep quiet about her stay at my house, after all. She also couldn’t openly ask for permission.

“She really gave you permission? Isn’t she the strict type who won’t even acknowledge my existence before?”

Right. Although I couldn’t recall as many of the instances where I got to see her mother and interact with her, the impression that she’s like the template of a stage mother. A supportive yet very strict.

“That’s in the past! I’m going back to being a model. She can’t be that strict anymore. Besides… I told her I won’t take up any job if I can’t get her permission to stay with you.”

I see. So, she laced it with a threat… This girl…

I reached for her chin and turned her face to me. And while she was expecting a kiss, I flicked her forehead once.

“That’s not a great way to negotiate, is it?”

While clutching her forehead, Yua bit her lips and weakly nodded.

“Let’s see. Why don’t I meet her before I take you home? That way I can ask for her permission myself.”

“Eh…”

“It will be bad if she suddenly hates me for influencing you to rebel against her, right? You know, in every negotiation, each side should at least attain a common ground.” I explained, pulling out a page from Mizuki’s lessons. It’s business-related but it still works in this conversation.

And while I was doing that, the other girls silently listened, some of them amusedly watching us, especially Sena, Akane, Yae, and Miyako.

As for the others; Elizabeth, Yukari, Miho, and Aika, they’re sipping their drinks while waiting for us to finish.

“I… understand. I’ll bring you to her the day before and I will be coming home with you.” Taking at least half a minute to digest my words, Yua eventually nodded in agreement.

And right after doing that, she hit me with her puppy eyes while clutching my shirt.

Helpless against that kind of attack, I succumbed and put my hand on top of her head, patting and caressing it before kissing the part of her forehead that I kissed.

That should be the end of it and we should get going… However, I noticed that, as though they communicate telepathically, the other girls, except Miyako and Akane also put on the same expression. They’re all asking to be pampered as well.

These girls are forgetting that we’re in a public place, aren’t they?