Stealing Spree

The next few hours before noon was mostly spent inside Eimi’s room. While we somehow got heated up from the events leading to here, the two of us didn’t go beyond the line… Nonetheless, it’s still pretty satisfying for both of us…

I taught her things… one normally wouldn’t find in books. And while eager to learn how to pleasure me and take our relationship to the next level, Eimi was too nervous to focus completely.

It didn’t matter anyway. I also told her not to mind it too much since we’re going to have more chances in the future.

In the minutes leading to her cooking for lunch – she invited me to eat with them today which I didn’t refuse – we just talked about a lot of different topics. Either about our respective schools or just anything that came to our mind.

She also told me some of her observations of the girls in the same school as her. I mean, there were things that others could pick up while the person herself remained unaware.

It seemed to be the constant topic in their group chat, other than talking about me.

As a fellow first year, she could easily see and hang out with Akane, Aoi, Sena, Yua, Ririka, Miho, Elizabeth, Yukari, Hiyori, and Miyako. Some of them were even from the same class.

Their school had six classes for the first year… So, at most, two or three of them were from the same class.

Among them, the ones in the same class as Eimi were Miyako and Hiyori.

Imagine her surprise when she found that out back then.

Miyako was already known as the gloomy girl who seemed to always be in a bad mood. And on the other hand, Hiyori was someone too shy to interact with other people.

After getting to know that they’re girls in the same situation as her, she started inviting them to eat lunch together.

The same was happening to the other girls. In a way, they unconsciously formed groups.

Well, they’re also gathering together once in a while, and sometimes, the second-year girls join them.

Anyway, picking out some of her observations about the other girls, the one that got my attention was… Miyako.

Apparently, the girl would sometimes be visited by another group of girls. They would take her outside and whenever she would return, her hair would be a little disheveled…

Although that only happened two times, Eimi suspected that she was being bullied.

I never heard about that from Miyako but recalling my conversation with the girl, she once told me about reconnecting with her former friends. And I encouraged her to do so. Cheered her on…

Last night, the girl was behaving normally. I could never have guessed that something like that was happening… If she was really being bullied then… I have to do something.

In any case, because we promised to be honest with each other, I could only hope that it was different than Eimi’s guess. But if it’s true, the girl was possibly trying to solve it by herself and she still deemed it unnecessary to ask for my help.

My girls had their inherent stubbornness… Maybe influenced by me. Just when she started picking up her love for art again.

“Oi, Onoda-kun. Stop staring at Eimi. After staying in her room for so long, you still want to jump at her?” Bringing my mind back to the present, the little college girl, Anzu, tapped their dinner table loudly before pointing at me with her chopsticks.

She’s pouting like a little child who was annoyed at her playmate.

“Nee-san, isn’t it normal? I can’t help but always be drawn to her.”

“You perverted brat! Speak! How far have you two gone? Did you do it?”

“Anzu-nee! What are you asking?!”

Though the tactless question was directed at me, Eimi was the one who reacted as she hurriedly returned to the table with the dish she cooked for our lunch.

“Oh? Given how flustered this girl is… you two haven’t done it yet, have you?” Anzu smirked, completely ignoring Eimi’s reaction.

I helped Eimi put down the dish and pulled her to my side. And while her nose seethed from how much she wanted to retort against Anzu, I stopped her and opened my mouth to respond to the playful shorty.

“Yes. But Nee-san, can you stop asking us about this? You know… I might lose my respect for you.”

I shook my head and put on a frown which was proven effective.

Anzu immediately looked like she was scrambling to save what respect I have for her. She pulled back a bit and replied weakly, “Ugh… I can’t have that. But you two have been acting strangely… Also, even with that cool face of yours, you sounded like a pervert there.”

Yep… This was clearly her character. Given that she’s always been teased because of her height, getting me to treat her properly as an older figure made her favor me.

Or so, I think. However, she also couldn’t restrain herself from trying to tease her adorable cousin.

“Am I? Is it bad to admire my girlfriend now? Nee-san, is your ex not doing the same thing?”

As though I hit the nail on the head, Anzu’s expression instantly soured, “You… Don’t go and bring that bastard up!”

“I see… I’m sorry for that, Nee-san. I had no idea.” I apologized right away. It’s not sincere though. I just tried to get back at her for always teasing my Eimi.

“Tsk… Let’s just eat. I won’t tease you two anymore.” Anzu strongly dug her chopsticks into her bowl of rice and pouted further. She then lifted it and stuffed her face with the rice.

She’s eating out the stress she suddenly accumulated just by the mention of her ex that got stolen.

Eimi, on the other hand, probably thought she finally got another chance to tease her cousin. Her lips curved up playfully as she said, “I think Anzu-nee should pick someone better. Forget about that guy already. How long has it been? Every time Ruki is here, you always seem to get worked up. Are you just jealous of how close we are or are you actually trying to see if he’s like that guy?”

Ah. She’s right. That reason was highly possible. She’s holding another motive why she kept on acting like this whenever I was around.

She’s comparing me to that guy, huh? I wasn’t going to be stolen though so better to snuff out her candle of hope.

“Is that true, nee-san?” The same as earlier, I put on a disappointed expression and frowned as though I got a taste of betrayal.

“N-no!” She responded quickly. However, a guilty expression was creeping on her face and all she could do to hide it was raise her bowl further, covering her face completely.

Upon seeing that, Eimi became more emboldened as she delivered a follow-up, “Ruki admired you, Anzu-nee. To think that you’re trying to…”

Eimi trailed her voice before clicking her tongue.

Anzu flinched from her seat and gradually lowered her bowl, exposing her face again.

By doing that, I found her looking more and more like a younger girl who was being scolded by her mother.

In this case, Eimi took up that role.

“It’s not that at all. Eimi, don’t put words in my mouth, will you? Besides, I’m testing him for you…” Anzu then put me under her gaze, an apologetic expression could be seen from her, “Onoda-kun. It’s not like that, alright? I… I’m not trying to make you feel bad.”

Perhaps thinking that she’d gone too far, Eimi nudged me and whispered, “Ruki, comfort her. She might cry if you became cold to her.”

“Alright. But I must say… you two really are related to each other.” I whispered back and the girl could only silently giggle.

As I was someone who had no siblings nor any close relatives that grew up with me, I couldn’t help but see all these as a learning experience. And it’s almost the same as how I admired true friendships shown by other people.

Well, no matter. It’s not like what Anzu did was something I would take offense to. It’s annoying, yes. But that’s it. It’s practically harmless since our relationship wouldn’t take damage from her antics.

Anyway, to return the mood on the table back to normal, I followed Eimi’s words and faced Anzu.

“Nee-san, it’s fine. I get where you’re coming from.” I put on a smile and nodded at her.

“T-thank you, Onoda-kun!” Overjoyed by my answer, the girl’s face lit up. However, that’s not all. She stood up and ran to our side.

And before Eimi’s eyes, Anzu hugged my head, pushing my face in her surprisingly soft and stuffed chest.

A second later, Eimi's scream pierced my ears, “What are you doing, Anzu-nee?!”