Stealing Spree

Shortly after, Akane and I covered the food I prepared and joined Ayu and Sena at the mini-gym. The four of us exercised together. The usual set exercises and an additional boxing instruction from Ayu. Also, Akane and I practiced our swings again. Though there wasn’t a ball, I also started working on my footwork in both sports. I also learned how to do some of the basic shots, just that, I couldn’t really put it into practice yet. I already had an idea when watching Fuyu play but that’s not going to help me improve.

Anyway, while we’re at it, I also slipped in what I forgot to tell Akane last night, about Fuyu’s mother and whether she’s aware of our relationship.

Akane confirmed that whenever she’s visiting Fuyu’s house, half of the time, she would talk about me. As for whether she directly talked to Auntie about me, the girl said she did but without mentioning my name. From that, we concluded that Fuyu’s mother deduced it from every info she gathered from them.

Anyway, Akane became more interested in what happened there and as I narrated it to her, it also piqued Ayu and Sena’s interest.

“Ru-kun, do you like Fuyu?” Ayu directly asked me when we were wrapping up our morning workout.

I know. It’s probably obvious by now but without me confirming it to them, it will all just be a guess.

“I do. However, I feel like I’m going to tread carefully when it comes to her...”

Honestly, I have no idea if I can hold onto those words considering what happened yesterday. I guess I’ll just have to see how it goes when we next see each other or when we get another chance to be together.

“Hey, introduce her to me, Akane. I want to check out what Ruki sees with her.” Sena narrowed her eyes at me before running to Akane.

With that question, my mischievous wife snickered as she gave a positive answer, “It’ll be a package, Sena. If I bring you to Fuyu, Eri, and Futaba will also be there. You know them, right?”

“Oh! Those two. The girls who Ruki avoided stealing because they’re close to you. Are they also interested in him?”

“Definitely not.” Instead of Akane, I was the one who answered that question. I mean, judging from Akane’s smirk and the way she glanced at me, I could tell that she’d say something controversial.

Unfortunately, speaking up for that elicited suspicious smirks from the two girls as if they were expecting me to step in like that. As for Ayu, she’s shaking her head at me before saying, “I get it. Ru-kun isn’t perfect. He can still be fooled into trap questions.”

Upon saying that, the three girls left me behind as they piled out of the room.

I stood there thinking what I said wrong and a moment later, I scratched my head.

Yeah. I got defensive right away as if I was expecting Akane to give a different answer. There’s no way, right? At least, I could see them as an interesting pair who complemented the dynamics of their group. That’s all.

Shaking my head at this, I swept away any unnecessary thoughts before chasing after my girls.

-

-

After a sumptuous breakfast where I got praised by my girls despite how simple the dishes I prepared, the four of us washed away our sweat in the bathroom.

With Eguchi-sensei messaging me that she was on the way, we didn’t stay that long inside there. At the very least, I got to hold them closely again.

And while we’re at it, we conversed more about other things.

I told Akane about my plan with Shizu later. If things went well, I might not be able to come home early or there’s also the possibility that Shizu would be coming home with me and staying the night here.

Well, we have prepared a date plan but I doubt we’ll be able to follow it when we’re going to start that late. Still, I look forward to it.

Sena told me that their next match was already decided. It’s the semifinals and it will happen before the finals match of Satsuki’s Basketball Club.

With that, I added a plan to find a way to excuse myself from their waiting room to attend Sena’s match.

Akane said they might also come to watch Sena and Satsuki’s match. She’s going to gather the other girls and come in groups. As for whether her best friends will be coming with them, she said she’ll convince them later, especially Fuyu.

I may not be able to attend them since I will be on both clubs’ benches, but thinking about it, will I ever miss a chance to be with them? I’ll find a way even if it’s just me greeting them before running back.

Ayu mentioned to me that she got a call from her former coach, Kamino Hitora, saying she was going to visit their Boxing Gym to check on her and Sena in the following month. Ayu was already dreading that day, thinking that her former coach might have reignited her passion to instruct her. Somehow, that coach of hers became one of her biggest fears to date.

When I asked Sena about that woman, she said she was fairly cool but super strict before narrating her experience in that training camp where that woman showed up to instruct the young generation.

I wouldn’t go into detail but... there’s one thing that stuck to my head after pooling in what Sena and Ayu said about her. Kamino Hitora is a ferocious tiger who shows no mercy even to her favorite students.

Anyway, there’s no point thinking about her for now, I doubt I’ll be on her radar unless she finds out my connection to both Ayu and Sena. Uh. No. It’s a definite possibility. People like her will surely have a great discerning ability to back up their prestige as excellent boxing instructors and athletes.

A while later, I finished my preparations. Instead of a school uniform, I put on a casual shirt and pants before topping it with our school’s tracksuit. It’s warm and comfortable and it’ll match what the Basketball Club wears. Still, Akane packed my uniform in a bag as well as another pair of clothes that I might use for my date with Shizu.

Following that, the three women sent me off at the door. Of course, I didn’t forget to dote on them first even after everything we’d done last night and this morning. We couldn’t help it, after all. Our desire for each other was just that inexhaustible.

As I began walking out of our street, I immediately spotted Eguchi-sensei’s car at the same place where she dropped me off last time.

Right. Even today, she’s choosing not to stop in front of our house. She’s probably still afraid to show up in front of Akane or this was just her way to be considerate.

In any case, that didn’t matter for now. Sooner or later, I’ll probably ask her to come home with me...

With the sky still dark, the interior of her car was a little dark, I couldn’t see her properly inside. Nonetheless, upon closing the distance, the front door was already opened and was just waiting for my arrival.

“Good morning, Ryouko-san.” I got inside the car and the first thing that I saw was Eguchi-sensei’s delightful expression washing away her drowsiness. It’s like she was so sleepy before my arrival but as soon as I climbed in, it was swept away instantly.

“Un. Good morning. Put on your seatbelt, Onoda-kun.” Eguchi-sensei said as she turned the engine on again.

I followed her instruction but before completely locking it, I leaned to her side and turned her face to me. She didn’t appear surprised at all. Instead, anticipation burned in her eyes.

However, another voice echoed from behind us before our lips could touch.

I blundered. I forgot something.

We’re not supposed to be alone in this car.

“Oi, Onoda. What are you trying to do? And Ryouko, you know I’m here yet... you’re not going to stop him?”

I glanced at the rearview mirror and saw the figure of the stern-looking Orimura-sensei staring at us in disbelief.