Stealing Spree

Buying me a tennis racket was definitely not what I was expecting when I encouraged Akane last night to take it up as a hobby.

However, knowing how her mind works, the girl possibly thought that it could be another way for us to spend our time together. And with Fuyu also put into the picture, my silly wife was still intent on pushing her best friend to me.

I had no idea if Fuyu picked up on that or not. But considering she was also smiling from her seat as she watched me open the obvious present, it's safe to say that the girl also welcomed the idea of being able to play with me.

A few seconds later, I unwrapped the tennis racket that was still in its bag. Pulling it out of the bag, a black tennis racket with a blue handle appeared in my eyes. Since it's still brand new, no scratch could be seen on its surface.

Holding it in my right hand, I raised it up and looked at the two girls while putting on a rather conceited smirk.

"We're gonna play, huh? Should I take the two of you on?"

And that instantly drew out a reaction from Fuyu who even stopped lifting a piece of the cake in her mouth, "Heh. That sounds like a challenge, Onoda-kun. Confident, are we?"

Yep. If it's about tennis, the girl wouldn't simply back down if a newbie acted like a big shot in front of her.

With an unkind smile and glinting eyes as though she'd pull out her tennis racket at any moment, Fuyu leaned forward and put me under her intimidating gaze.

"Against you alone, I'm not. But if Akane is put into the equation, I can exploit some loophole." Without backing down on facing her gaze, I answered with confidence.

And of course, the silly girl on my lap reacted to it. She even acted overdramatic by clicking her tongue a few times before saying in a deeper voice, "Husband, are you underestimating me? You're looking down on your lovely wife's ability?"

"I didn't say I was. But Akane, I know how your mind rolls. I'll take that as an advantage." I smirked and poked my girl's cheek which resulted in her pouting.

Watching that exchange from across us, Fuyu relaxed her expression and laughed at us. She then amusedly admitted, "I can't help but agree with Onoda-kun. Akane, you'll be our weakness. Why not let me handle him alone?"

"Mou… Not you too, Fuyu! Alright. I'll beat husband and let you finish him off!"

Wait. That sounds wrong to my perverted mind. But Fuyu thought nothing of that as she processed Akane's words by their literal meaning.

"Oh. Sounds like a plan. Onoda-kun, prepare yourself." Fuyu's eyes blazed with challenge as she pointed the fork she was using for her cake to me. "Akane and I will beat you down."

As for Akane who clearly understood the double meaning of her sentence, she issued a peal of jovial laughter as she poked my cheek, "Yeah, husband. Fuyu and I will beat you down. You won't mind being at our mercy if you lose, right?"

"Well, I won't. But what if I win?"

"Hmm? Of course, we'll be at your mercy."

Upon hearing that, Fuyu couldn't help but raise her concern, "Wait, Akane. That sounds wrong."

But Akane brushed it off easily. 'Don't worry, Fuyu. Even if husband wins, his overflowing consideration won't put us in a bad situation. Also, I don't plan to lose."

She then put on a confident smirk as she turned her gaze back to me, "I also know how your mind rolls, husband. You love me so much that you will eventually let me win."

This girl… While that was true in different contexts, now that she put a stake in it, there's no way I won't give my best. Besides, it's also a chance for me to make her decide on taking up that hobby. I'll beat her enough that she'd start striving to improve – the only problem is… I also only know the basics of it from the several PE classes where we played that sport back in middle school.

Anyway, spending the next few minutes talking about that match we promptly decided, it turned our evening to be a little lively.

Soon enough, the time for Fuyu to go home arrived. And like the last time, Akane won't take no for an answer as she put me on escort duty to make sure her friend will be able to go home safely.

Fuyu's considerate objection was also shot down by Akane.

Well, at least, we both tried, right?

And so, after sending my silly wife next door to not let her be alone in the house, Fuyu and I made our way to the station.

Nothing much happened on the way and even though we once again got mistaken for a couple, Fuyu remained silent next to me. Whatever was in her mind, I had no idea. But sensing that she was now more comfortable with my presence than before surely brought a smile to my lips.

And as an act of consideration, I didn't try to tease her. There's a better time and place for that, right?

Before long, we reached their neighborhood and took another few minutes of walking to reach their house.

Not that surprising, Fuyu's little sister, Fubuki, once again showed her fangs as she excitedly danced upon spotting us from a distance.

"Ah! Ruki-nii-san, good evening. Thank you for sending my elder sister home!" With an obvious teasing smirk, she leered at her older sister as she addressed me.

Hearing the little girl call me by my name, I looked at the girl next to me.

"That… I'm sorry, Onoda-kun. She cannot stop asking about you so I told her your name." She guiltily answered before approaching her little sister. "And you, I told you we're not dating."

"Eh… I never said you are, onee-chan. Did you hear it wrong?" The little girl cutely tilted her head. However, a second later, a cunning smile showed on her lips as Fubuki waved at me.

What a lively girl. Fuyu was no match for her little sister. Should I ask her to bring Fubuki to that tennis match? That'll be fun.

In any case, because Fuyu was a little helpless at stopping her little sister from making the situation any more awkward, she resorted to doing the same thing as before; dragging the girl inside.

Before disappearing within it, Fuyu turned around and looked at me with an embarrassed and kinda apologetic expression as she said, "Uhm… D-don't mind Fubuki, Onoda-kun, Thank you for sending me home, and good night!"

I thought that was the end but Fubuki, like a cute little animal, peeked her head out of the gate to also do the same, "Thank you again, Ruki-nii-san! See you next time!"

And with that Fuyu who was already out of options covered her little sister's mouth as she dragged her back in.

Nonetheless, in the few seconds that I remained in front of their house, I still heard Fubuki teasing her older sister. Really, I wonder if Fuyu could still keep her older sister's status after Fubuki grew up a few years from now.

She might transform into more of a menace who exists just to see her older sister flustered. Well, hopefully not.

Anyway, once I'm certain that everything was fine, I turned around to return to the station. I still have girls to pick up, after all. Ririka and Yae were still coming to spend the night with us… And well, to see me in that cosplay they made for me.