Stealing Spree

For the next twenty minutes since I gave Otoha the phone at my mother’s behest, I became a bystander. Just eavesdropping and watching how Otoha went from being totally respectful to my mother to someone who could talk freely with her.

From being too stiff with her words to being too comfortable that they began joking with each other, taking the girl’s mind off the current issue with her grandfather.

Moreover, the way she called my mother as ‘mother’ was probably even more endearing than how she called her own mother.

At first, their topic went from how Otoha and I met until they began talking about our experiences together. Because it wasn’t in loudspeaker, I could only infer from Otoha’s words what topic they were in already.

Nonetheless, seeing the girl relaxed while talking to my mother somehow relieved me that they would be too scared of her when the time I introduce them to each other comes.

After 20 minutes, Otoha tried to apologize for calling me here but before she could finish that, I already moved behind her and stopped her from doing that exactly.

There’s no need to apologize when I chose to go and stay here with her myself. Even my appointment with Ishida-senpai was dropped. I messaged her and apologized saying I would move that appointment to before I go to the Student Council later.

“Ruki…”

“Do I look like I forced myself to come here?”

“… No.”

“Then that’s it, whatever was on your mind. Let me clear that up.” Although my words might sound dry and cold, I gently caressed her face while planting my lips on hers.

And after finishing that one long kiss between us to clear Otoha’s mind, my hand moved to the phone in her hand to put it on loudspeaker.

It’s time for me to join the conversation, no?

Besides, I already heard activities outside the room. Although it might not mean bad news, I could expect Mihara-san to return at any moment.

“Otoha-chan? You became quiet. Is it because of my idiot son?”

“Yes, mom. It’s your idiot son preventing her from apologizing when there’s no need to. Anyway, you seem awfully free today, where’s dad?”

“He’s still sleeping. You know where we are, it’s still dark here.”

Ah. That’s right. They’re in a different time zone… No wonder there’s not much noise in the background.

“Then go back to sleep, we have to go.”

At this point, like I expected, the door opened and Mihara-san entered. After bowing slightly, her eyes focused on Otoha.

Seeing that we’re still on the phone, she held back with her words. And that meant the news she brought wasn’t something bad or urgent.

Noticing that, Otoha slightly nodded her head. She had the same conclusion.

“Ruki, your mother is hurt. You don’t need to push me away, do you? Anyway, Otoha-chan, I’m looking forward to seeing you in person. We’ll be there by Wednesday.”

“Likewise, mother… Also, thank you for giving that suggestion to Ruki.”

“Oh! That… don’t you worry about it. I’m actually glad that you didn’t resent him for what he did.”

“Rather than resenting him, I’m thankful for him back then. However, it’s truly sad that he cut me off. In any case, he’s back now and… I love him, mother. More than before.”

Otoha lifted her head and endearingly stared at me while caressing my cheek as she said that.

“Is that so? Well then, before that son of mine nagged again, let’s end this here. See you soon, daughter-in-law.”

“Yes!” Relishing on how she was called as ‘daughter-in-law’ by my mother, Otoha happily answered.

When the call ended, she pulled my head down once more, letting me feel her ever-blooming affection for me.

Once our lips separated, we both looked towards Mihara-san who’s waiting for Otoha’s go signal to say what she brought from outside.

“Ojou-sama, the operation is successful. Hirokage-sama has been moved to a VIP patient room. Hiroyuki-sama and the madam are in his room to check on his condition.”

“That’s great! It’s a success, Ruki!”

Upon hearing that, Otoha’s joy overflowed as she almost jumped from the bed. “Thank you, Hitomi-san. I will go and see grandpa.”

“I understand. However, Onoda-sama cannot come, Ojou-sama. I apologize. Even if he’s in his disguise, he won’t get past the guards.”

That’s also what I expected. Disguising as a nurse was already pushing it. Thankfully, it went smoothly because of the situation.

“Eh? Can’t he go as my nurse?”

“He will be checked and get found out that he’s not a real nurse… It will be more dangerous for him…”

Dangerous… isn’t an overstatement. Given how important her grandfather is… there’s no way they will just let someone suspicious be in the same room as him. I even doubt that idiot would also be there. He’s probably thrown out of the hospital by now.

“But… Ruki…”

Seeing how Otoha wouldn’t drop it, I decided to interject and put it to rest. “It’s fine, Otoha. We both know it’s impossible for me to go with you there. With all the guards and your parents there… They’ll be extremely suspicious.”

“… Is it really impossible?”

With her being downcast, I embraced her again to lift that gloom. “Come on, it’s not like we’ll be separated again. I also wish to accompany you throughout but with the current circumstances, it’s impossible.”

She totally understood the situation, the girl was just being stubborn.

Letting her be comfortable in my embrace again, Otoha eventually sighed and gave up.

“Uh… You’re right. What are you going to do?”

“Hmm. It depends. I can wait until lunch here or go to school.”

“… Because of me, you skipped.”

Before she could be gloomy again, I beat her to it by kissing her and patting her head. What’s important for her at this moment is to go to her grandfather’s side.

“I told you, don’t blame yourself. I already made an excuse. As long as I arrive before lunch, it’ll be fine.

The girl was already aware that we had to separate again, for now. It’s just her way to express how much she wanted to be with me. Even if she didn’t say it, she’s trying to prolong our time together because of how she spent the two hours just sleeping next to me.

After deliberating for a few minutes while asking me to hold her tight and kiss her more as if she’s trying to fill her mind of our moment together, Otoha eventually sighed and put on a resolute expression.

“Then… Hitomi-san, please drive Ruki to his school.” She turned to MIhara-san first, instructing her chauffeur before returning her gaze to me. “Ruki… I… If grandfather wakes up, I want to introduce you to him. When that happens, can Hitomi-san pick you up?”

As I expected, we’re thinking the same thing. Her parents wouldn’t be here all day, they had more pressing matters to attend to while the Family Head was hospitalized.

If he wakes up later… Otoha can tell him about us and that will give me access to meet him, without needing to disguise myself again.

“Un, no problem. Although it’s not what we planned before, I guess it’s better this way before your mother pushes for the engagement again.”

Grounding her at their home and calling that idiot here to comfort her, her mother was surely the one against the freedom her grandfather gave.

“Yes, that’s also what I think… Then Ruki, see you. Wait for Hitomi-san here.”

After saying that, Otoha stood up from the bed. And since she had just woken up, I helped fix her dress that got crumpled when we laid down on the bed.

Following that, the two women left the room, leaving me alone to wait.

With my attire that of a nurse, wandering around this hospital seemed to be impossible. The chance of me being pulled by a doctor or another nurse somewhere was high…