Stealing Spree

After we finished eating, I left the Basketball Club with Hanabi in tow. Our destination? The Sena’s Boxing Club. Since their match was going to start two hours before the basketball finals, I had plenty of time to cheer for my girl.

Actually, I wanted to leave Hanabi behind. That way, she could get more acquainted with the girls in the Basketball Club. However, she insisted on accompanying me. She even went ahead to wait for me outside while I took my time to talk to Satsuki and Eguchi-sensei.

As for her reason, she said she’d just feel bad staying there since she wouldn’t be of any help to them aside from her goofy antics. Then, when I didn’t respond to it, she shyly murmured that another reason was... she’s not good in a crowd like that. She preferred to be in a small circle or just be next to me where she could have the most fun today.

Seeing how she emphasized those points, I didn’t say anything.

“It’s not fun... I can’t joke around or it will ruin their concentration, babe. With you, I can do what I want.” The goofball meekly added when we started making our way there.

I guess she’s also considerate of them.

“Are you sure about that? It’ll be the same where I’m going.”

“Ugh. It doesn’t matter. I have nothing else to do. Do you want me to wander around again? You said it’s dangerous.”

“Babe, I know you. You might’ve been scared earlier but that incident alone won’t be able to impede your desire to run around places to stave off your boredom. Is it really fun for you to stick with me?”

She’s an elusive goofball. She was just unlucky earlier that she encountered those animal trio. If she could somehow erase her presence from most teachers and students in her school, nothing is stopping her from doing the same here.

I mean, that’s probably what she was thinking when she decided to come here.

“It is. Don’t tell me you’re throwing me away now. Heh. After saying I won’t be able to get away from you. You’re contradicting yourself, babe.”

Look at this sassy goofball. She’s already clinging to it, huh? If not for the plan to watch and cheer for Sena and the Boxing Club, I wouldn’t be surprised if I dropped everything to bring this girl somewhere else to make her understand my underlying intention.

I shook my head before giving her forehead a light flick. Then, instead of replying to her, I grabbed her hand and resumed our walk.

Not knowing how to react to that, the girl could only rub her forehead as she matched my steps. And once every few seconds, she’d glance at my side frame. Most likely, she’s waiting for me to talk again.

When she realized that I wouldn’t, the goofball pouted and muttered discontentedly, “This is not fun... And you’re holding my hand again...”

I smiled inwardly and maintained my silence. For the next few minutes, until we reached the Boxing Club, I simply listened to the goofball complaints along with her mention of Matsuri and the plans she made for that surprise. She didn’t give me a proper date yet but it’s probably next week or the week after that.

And despite showing a bit of irritation because of my continued silence, the girl neither pulled her hand away nor asked me to go somewhere else.

I guess she really didn’t want to separate from me today. I got her so attached to me already and for sure, she had yet to realize it. Maybe she would later when we separated but for now, she’s like a little duckling who would follow me around wherever I go.

And so, after making sure that no one was around us, I decided to dote on her first before meeting up with Sena and Ayu.

Well, it’s a mild doting where I just keep patting her head or squeezing her rosy cheeks. I was holding myself a lot from locking her completely in my embrace but in the end, my desire for her won in the end.

“Hanabi, tell me if this is uncomfortable for you.” That’s all I could say when I finally lost it. All of her movements became frozen stiff as she was taken in by the surprise of being embraced by me.

Seconds before this, she’s just giggling while ruffling my hair – her own attempt to get back at me.

A few moments of silence passed and the first words she uttered were something different.

“... Ruki, I’m not Matsuri.” Her voice was soft and slow. Moreover, it felt like she was trying to figure out if I did this out of her likeness to her twin sister or if she just really didn't know how to react at how intimate this hug was compared to the closeness we achieved earlier.

“Hmm? I know that much. And I never said you are. If you’re Matsuri, I won’t just hug you like this. But you see, I think I lost control of myself here.” I replied with the same confident tone.

I pulled my head for a bit to get a look at her face. And sure enough, the first thing I noticed apart from the gradually changing color of her face was her trembling eyes.

Her mind was in disarray. This was probably her first time being hugged by someone other than her family. And due to that, she didn’t know how to act in this situation.

Her arms remained frozen but not for long. Slowly, as though the ice covering them gradually cracked, her arms dropped to her side before she lifted them to clutch the hem of my clothes.

“You don’t have to say anything. And if you’re confused about this, let’s just say I’m being mischievous here. I failed to hold myself back in expressing my desire for you.”

Yeah. I doubt that would work in calming her down but at the very least, it should be enough to provide her a brief respite.

I rested my head on her side, anchoring my chin on her shoulder. And since it was inevitable, my warm breath continued to brush against the side of her neck and blow through her hair. It’s making her shiver a little. And I don’t know if she’s conscious about it but it didn’t take long before she moved from just clutching my clothes to reciprocating my embrace.

After another round of silence wherein we could only hear each other’s breath and heartbeats, she tiptoed to reach my ear, “I’m not uncomfortable. Never will be. But Ruki. This... this is what you meant by not letting me get away from you, huh? Will it be fine if I ask Matsuri for her insight?”

“What insight? You’re smart enough to understand this, babe. But I guess it’s fine. You can ask her. I’m already expecting her to scold me for dragging you in anyway.”

Hanabi giggled at that response. I probably hit the bullseye on what’s going on in her head right now.

This was just my assumption but this girl might just be here for the fun bits and she didn’t want to think about anything else. But as quick-witted as she is, she cannot keep up with it.

“We’re in the same boat, babe. Matsuri will also scold me, I think?”

“You think?”

“Un. If I tell her what happened today... she’ll find out I skipped school.”

I almost burst out laughing from hearing that.

In any case, she’s right. She couldn’t lie her way out of that. But I doubt she’s worried about it. Even if I couldn’t see it, she’s probably sporting her mischievous smile at the moment.

Somehow, although our conversation went in a serious direction, it once again veered back to a lighthearted one where the two of us ended up laughing at ourselves.

Other than that, the embrace that lasted for a few minutes probably became our highlight for today. When we let go of each other, she naturally lifted her hand for me to take.

And just like this, we continued on our way.

Upon meeting Sena and Ayu, the sassy goofball strikes again.

Her introduction goes, “Hello. I’m babe’s babe. Nice to meet you.”