Stealing Spree

Because Yua walked with me while hugging my arms, the eyes of everyone were once again focused on us. However, they only have a questioning gaze as they wonder who I am.

I don't know if it's luck or not but none of those who saw us know me nor her. Well, it will be hard for her and the other girls if it's someone who knew us both. Especially with the rumors of my relationship with Akane, it might bear fruit to another rumor.

That's why halfway through, Yua pulled out a pair of glasses from one of her pockets with plano lenses and handed it to me.

"What's this?"

"Your disguise. I know you're worried about getting us into trouble with the rumors that might come up."

"... Will this be enough? I'm not Superman."

"I knew you'd say that. Then wear this as well."

While giggling, Yua pulled out a black face mask from another pocket and put it on me.

"There. No one will know that you're Ruki anymore."

Yua tapped my shoulders as she tried to inspect the mask and glasses hiding my face. The way she kept giggling showed how joyful this is for her.

"... And now, there's nothing wrong to hug your arm like this again."

I guess this is fine. Like she said, it will be harder for the others to recognize me in this getup.

A few minutes later, we arrived at their school, unlike my school which was named as the Fourth High School or Nao's school that was affiliated to it called the Third High School, their school has a proper name. Cloudpeak High School.

Though there's a name, there's really not that much of a meaning to it except that they didn't have the 7th period which the Administration squeezed in.

The school was also not that huge. There are only two buildings that were at two ends. At the front, there's the School Building that was slightly larger than ours.

Akane already toured me here with her words as she described it during one of our talks before sleeping. The infirmary and some of the clubs are located inside.

Then at the back gate of the school, there's the combined Administration and Club Building.

However, that's not where they are waiting. The room they got was inside this School Building. On the fifth floor, near the stairs to the roof.

"Are you nervous?"

Yua teasingly asked as we entered the School Building.

My eyes looked on and the first floor was almost deserted already. And even if a first-year saw her with me, she would just smile at them and they would be speechless. I guess she got a good reputation. But won't this tarnish it? Leading me around the school with her sticking close to me.

"Not really nervous. Well, this is a new place so... By the way, those students know you, won't they start a rumor about you?"

"It doesn't matter. To stop the others from approaching me, I already declared way before that I have a boyfriend. With you here, it helped me confirm that declaration. Only those persistent senpai kept on trying to talk to me."

Yua shook her head. She then tightened her hug on my arm as she tried to rub her cheeks on it.

I guess that explains why she's this clingy. And she's enjoying this too much and I don't hate it. Ever since seeing her again, it's making me remember the time I spent with her. She's not this affectionate before and even when I cut her off, she didn't react that much as if she already knew that it would happen.

Now, look at her. A lot was truly missed by my eyes back then.

"I see. Did you declare it like that because of me?"

We continued on our way and started ascending the stairs.

Though there are still students passing by or someone who knows Yua, their reactions were more normal.

Couples weren't unnatural after all.

I also recognized some of my previous classmates. I don't know their names. However, they would possibly recognize me if not for the disguise.

"No. You see, I only joined the group just to make fun of the other girls. It's funny to see them being devoted to you after what you did to them. When I read about Aoi and Ria being taken in by you again. I thought I should also try. Are you disappointed?"

Though she said it like that, it's easy to see through her lies due to her slightly trembling voice. She's trying to play it cool. Just that, I don't know which part or parts are lies.

"Not really. I think your reaction is the most normal. I pulled you all away from those guys who probably love you. I even did some despicable things just to get you to be mine and on top of that... I also took most if not all your firsts..."

As I was saying that, I could feel Yua's arms tightened their hug on me as if hearing all those were making her uncomfortable.

"... I was left wondering what did I do to deserve such devotion from all of you."

"... It's really like they said, you're a dense idiot, Ruki."

"I know. I am like that. That's why I am here. I want to know all about that and also whether you still want to continue this."

Second floor.

Third floor.

Fourth floor.

Only when we reached the steps to the Fifth floor did Yua managed to respond again. Along with that, she stopped in her tracks.

"You don't remember, do you? Or is it that unimportant that you don't really remember?"

With a slightly shaky voice, Yua looked me in the eye as she asked that.

"Maybe. You know how I was. And even if I changed to this, it didn't give me the ability to discern what I did for all of you that led to you still devotedly waiting for me."

That's how dumb I am, right? Even thinking back, I could only remember bits of things when I was with them. Not even for Haruko, Yae or the other four who managed to reconnect with me.

In one way or another, it's their words or actions which made me remember my time with them.

"... You really don't remember that day. When I was almost..."

When she reached that point, a tear ran from Yua's eyes as she stopped talking.

Ah. Was it that time? But that didn't necessitate for her to fall for me.

I turned around to face her completely and wiped the tear off her face,

"If you're referring to that day where I saved you, I remembered it. However, like always, I only remembered it just now. Maybe I don't think it's that important. You were mine, I wouldn't allow just anyone to lay their hands on you."

It was that Photographer on one of her modeling part-time. It didn't really reach the point where she would be violated. But that guy... he took a vulnerable photo of her and tried to blackmail her.

Thinking back, I was not any worse than that guy. But what's mine is mine so... I did some steps and that guy ended in prison. Though she was compensated because of that incident, it made her decide to stop her modeling for Fashion Magazines.

"... Pfft. Are you an old man with dementia? Only remembering when it was knocked into you. I'll let you remember. Everything you did for me."

Though she was giggling as she answered, I heard her soft sigh of relief amidst that. She looked up to me and smiled enchantingly before hugging me tightly.

"Let me savor the raffle I won. Once you entered that room, your attention wouldn't just be on me anymore."

"So, are you lying earlier when you told me that you only joined for fun?"

"Don't ask, dumb Ruki."

Her mouth twitched as she lightly bit on my arm.

These little gestures of hers... I couldn't deny that I missed it. Soon enough, my arms also moved to her back returning her hug.

"I wish I could have you all to myself but that's not possible, right?"

"Yes. I'm sorry."

"Idiot. Don't say sorry now when you couldn't do that before. Let's go... They might nag at me if I take up more of your time."

My apology is too late. But I'll still say it where it's due.

"Alright, lead the way."

After saying that, we released each other but Yua grabbed my arm again as we ascended the last flight of stairs. A few steps later, we arrived in front of a clubroom.

I looked up and read the name of the club.

Home Economics Club...

Those two girls... Yae said she prepared a room but isn't this Akane's clubroom? They tried playing me, eh?

Just by standing in front, I could already hear the familiar voices inside.

"Well then..."

Yua's hand reached for the door since I stood frozen in front of it. It's a sliding door so... with a slight pull, the scenery inside the clubroom slowly revealed itself to me.

As soon as it opened, the chattering inside stopped as all eyes fell upon me.

My eyes also scanned those who are inside. Apart from Akane, Yae and the other girls who I reconnected to, there are seven more girls. And it's the right count on who are talking to me in Messenger.

Maybe because of the face mask and glasses, their reactions were delayed. Only when they saw Yua who opened the door completely did they realize who arrived.

"Ruki!"

Not everyone shouted my name but all of them stood up and scrambled on their feet to get to me first.

Akane and the other girls who were watching at the side were shaking their heads helplessly with a slight smile on their lips.

No matter how I look at this, it will be harder to deal with them all at once...