Stealing Spree

It was close to four in the afternoon when I separated from Chii and Hifumi. The two girls’ next destination was Chii’s house. Hifumi was going to greet her mother.

From their jumbled story of the past, the trio stayed there a few times during that certain spring vacation. Hifumi apparently got treated well by Chii’s mother. That’s why she, at least, wanted to see her and thank her for all those years.

When I offered to send them there. I was obviously denied by them and walked me to the station instead.

Our usual roles got reversed.

In any case, I had a great time with them, especially when Hifumi gradually softened up to me. By the end of it, the girl never wanted to let go of my hand anymore. The envious Chii had to cut off in between us before the girl shyly retract her hand while showing a dreamy look on her face.

I got the urge to kiss her then but I held back… I mean, nothing is stopping me except that we’re still in a public place. Furthermore, given how upset she was when I showed up out of nowhere, I opted to just wait for the next instance.

Anyway, I got to hear their thoughts about Hana. They believed that they were closer than normal friends but Hana’s actions implied otherwise.

Really, I have to sit down and talk to that girl when she shows up next week.

Half an hour later, I successfully met up with Sena and started making our way to the Boxing Gym while chatting about the schedule she showed me leading to the Inter-High School tournaments.

“I see. So, for that training camp that Ayu signed you up for, there’s a preliminary evaluation on Tuesday and she will be taking you there?” I asked, repeating some of the details she just told me.

“Un. She’ll come to the school tomorrow, to inform them about it and get me excused for that day. And if I’m successful, that camp will happen next weekend.” Sena answered. Though she didn’t look as excited as I thought she would be, the girl still managed to produce a smile, perhaps to not make me worry.

Well, I already noticed it so… “Tell me honestly. Are you not feeling it?”

“Am I being too obvious?”

“Not really. You’re just forgetting that when it comes to observing you, I’m the best.”

Sena laughed and inched closer to cling to my arm, fully displaying her affection for me, “That’s right. You know me best and it’s hard to keep things from you… How should I say it? It’s not that I’m not excited… I’m thinking of the weekend that I won’t be able to see you.”

“That’s it?”

“What do you mean that’s it?” Sena tilted her head, confused at my words.

“I mean it as is… Is that what’s limiting you?” I reiterated. At this point, we stopped walking and I faced her, completely focusing on the girl and her reactions.

“Ye… yeah, it is. Am I becoming too clingy?” Sena answered in difficulty before showing a deprecating smile.

This girl… She’s clearly misunderstanding the meaning of my question.

I shook my head and reached for her cheeks, stretching them to the side to remove that unsightly smile on her lips.

Once I’m done, I fondled her cheeks, massaging them until her expression returned to normal. At the same time as that, I clarified her possible misunderstanding, “That’s not why I asked you that. You can be clingy all you want. I don’t mind. I asked if that’s the only thing bothering you because if that’s the case, I can solve that easily.”

“Eh?” She tilted her head once more, making the usually sharp and deadly boxer look incredibly adorable.

“Mhm… My Sena is too cute even when confused. Anyway, tell me where it will be, I’ll go and see you next week. Even if I have to sneak in there, it will be worth it if that means you’ll be energized upon seeing me.”

Right… It’s not like I will be busy. And even if I have a plan to go out with Ayu that same weekend, I will find a way to accomplish what I just said.

Satsuki will also be going to a training camp with the Basketball Club and Eguchi-sensei. For sure, if the girl acts the same way as Sena, I will do the same for her.

“Haa… I have the best boyfriend. Now I feel stupid worrying about it.” Sena sighed, reprimanding herself, and soon after that, her mood brightened up.

By the time we resumed walking to the Boxing Gym, Sena had already returned to being the lovestruck girl that she was. Never letting go of my arm and not a trace of her fierce fighter could be hinted at how she’s acting affectionately.

Five minutes later, we reached the vicinity of the gym. Even from afar, I could see that the entrance to it was bustling with people coming inside.

And the reason for that occurrence is the enrollees for my program.

Compared to yesterday, I was early and Ayu was probably still in the process of admitting them one by one. And with this being the last day of lesson for all of them, some of the kids also brought in someone to watch them graduate – if that’s what they’re going to call it – this Basic Boxing Program.

Sena also noticed that so… she quickly slipped out of her maiden-in-love mode as she watched in amazement how popular the gym became because of my program.

Not that I was going to take all the credit for that… However, it’s undeniable that the gym which used to be members-only got an influx of people coming in. Although there were other training programs that the instructors were offering, only my program became a full house and there were more getting reservations for the next sessions.

Soon enough, we reached the entrance. Some of the enrollees at the entrance who recognized me called out and greeted me with bright smiles on their lips. Naturally, I greeted them back. However, when we were about to go inside, I spotted something rather familiar from the corner of my eyes.

I stopped right before it and turned to the other side of the road.

Sena, who noticed my unusual action, turned to me and asked, “What’s wrong, Ruki?”

But with my attention already drawn to that, I failed to answer her right away.

“Where did I see that car before?” I muttered as I tried to recall it.

Yep. The one that caught my eye and gave me a sense of familiarity was a car. A black limousine that’s clearly out of place here…

It’s not Otoha’s grandfather or anything that the people of the Kaneko Family drive. Obviously, it’s neither the Hasegawa Family.

Maybe I found it rather irrelevant that I easily forgot that, only upon seeing it at this moment did it tickle my senses…

I was in the middle of that thought when suddenly, a clear melodic voice of a girl reached my ears. And even without looking at the speaker, I somehow understood that it was directed at me.

“My, aren’t you Junior-kun? What a coincidence.”

It was the exact set of words that I once heard before. At the convenience store. Last Friday. And obviously, it came from the same girl who uttered it.

Kujou Marika.