Stealing Spree

Because I was concerned over her current mental state, I waited until Satsuki fell asleep before ending the call.

It didn’t take too long anyway. Crying made the girl sleepy and with her mind gradually easing up after our talk as well as her tiredness from the practice in their club, even if she tried fighting the drowsiness, her eyes involuntarily closed without her notice. At the very least, she still managed to utter goodnight to me along with a relieved smile.

Even though her weird urge hadn’t been resolved yet, being aware of its origin, even if it’s just mere speculation on my part, allowed her some respite.

Whether my advice would work or not, that’s up to how she’s going to execute it.

But still, Satsuki being kind to Sakuma? The whole class would definitely fly into shock.

-

-

It’s already the fifth night since I brought Nao home. She only had two more nights left before her return.

My parents visited earlier to spend time with Minoru as well as update Nao about the case personally.

We were still at school back then so I only heard it from Nao.

Apparently, that Nobuo was given the deadline until tomorrow to show up before everything he built up would be rebuked. Moreover, the school would pursue a case against him, instead of the ‘victim’ or ‘victims’. His victim or ‘his lover’ before Nao and when Shio was still busy finishing her college course showed up to also give her testimony.

Obviously, her sudden appearance was made possible by my parents. They found her and informed her of what was happening.

In the days that passed, they went through proper channels and moved people. As for the exact details, they didn’t divulge. But they properly told Nao the key events.

From what they shared with Nao. That guy was lingering in their school’s vicinity, using a newly-bought unlicensed car. Perhaps, to prevent tracking. Unfortunately for him, someone spotted him. And that’s the start.

They followed and tracked his whereabouts, the places he went to and the people he met.

Aside from that, he was also seen stopping near Nao’s house. Most likely waiting for the girl. He’s clearly still obsessed with her even though the incriminating evidence came from Nao herself. Or he just wanted to silence her.

He was unaware that Nao was currently staying with me. That just showed that he had a very limited time. He was constantly in hiding so he could only go out in the morning and before nightfall.

There’s also one instance where he tried to follow Shio back to her apartment… I don’t know what happened but he failed to do so.

Hearing about that made me wonder how resourceful my parents are… or better yet, how terrifying their reach is. Just how large is the scope of their connections? Are they actually head of an intelligence bureau?

They told me not to divulge about the true nature of their jobs but then, they did this… the girls in the house would surely start wondering about it.

Continuing on.

That previous victim who successfully graduated and was currently studying in college was found rather easily. That Nobuo led them to her himself.

Because Shio divorced him and he would definitely be spotted if he went home, he’s staying in different hotels and motels. And two days ago, he sought refuge from that girl who’s staying at an apartment near her college outside of our city.

That apartment was actually being paid by him after a check was done. That meant, he didn’t really cut off his relationship with the girl after she graduated. And while he’s also married, he found Nao as a new target to groom…

Shio truly had it hard being married to that guy… All those years that she believed she married her dream guy was actually a one-sided affair. That guy was just trapped into marriage by her parents.

… If I didn’t catch Shio reading that light novel, she’d still be depressed today and Nao would remain a girl I had forgotten, still strung around him.

-

-

Friday morning. Nao and I went out early in the morning to buy bread at the nearest bakery.

Well, the nearest was around the vicinity of the train station… Due to that, we turned it into a little walk around our neighborhood.

Nao stuck close to me while calling me ‘honey’.

Right. She tried acting as my mischievous wife, flirting with me early in the morning. That made the owner of the bakery look at us strangely while grumbling ‘It’s too early to flirt. What’s wrong with this couple’s heads?’

When we heard that, Nao showed an embarrassed smile. However, that’s not enough for her to tone down her act. And since I somehow got influenced by her, I played along with her. And that annoyed the hell out of the owner. He chased us out of his store but his wife came running after us, laughing heartily while giving us extra bread.

She either liked our act or she liked the fact that her husband flared at our act. Either way, we thanked her for the extra and extended an apology for her husband which she simply waved off.

Happy that we got more than we bought, Nao happily munched it on our return walk. It’s a sweet type of bread so… as someone pursuing the same profession, she liked it a lot.

Naturally, she didn’t pass up on the chance to feed me. Letting me take a bite occasionally.

With that kind of act, the few pedestrians we passed by all frowned at us… Well, a few elderlies excitedly watched us while reminiscing about their own youthful past.

“Ruki, this Sunday, can you take us out on a date?”

Upon returning to our street, Nao suddenly sprang up a question.

Looking at how bright her eyes are currently, it’s a question she prepared beforehand. With a light smile on her lips, her face clearly expressed how she was expecting a positive answer.

“Us?”

“Un… Take me and Shiori-nee out on a date.”

From the way she said that without any pause… My guess about her preparing that question was cemented.

She wanted me to take both of them out on a date…

“That…”

“You don’t want to?”

“I do, of course. But Nao, you know the complications. Also, have you talked to Shio about this?”

No matter what, in the eyes of the public or those on the side of normalcy, she’s still my Class Advisor. A teacher who should be guiding me, not dating me.

If someone spotted us in broad daylight, imagine how it would affect her.

“Yes. I talked to her already. We’ll use her car and drive somewhere no one will recognize us.”

Along with a cutesy laugh that sounded ‘ehehe’, Nao then pointed in front of us.

There, a familiar car could be seen parked in front of our house…

“You sure took your sweet time, Nao.” With her arms crossed, Shio, who's already dressed up for school, welcomed us right at the front door.

Even though her words sounded like she was rebuking Nao, a gentle smile could be seen on her lips. And when her eyes landed on me, Shio blinked once before opening her arms to welcome me in her embrace. “Ruru… Hug me?”