Stealing Spree

Seconds later, the girl remained silent. Perhaps she was too shocked that I recognized her just through her voice and the lower half of her face or there was another reason. In any case, without getting any answer from her, we’re getting nowhere.

Looking around, we’re starting to gather some attention from the passersby. If she took off her sunglasses and exposed her entire face, her fans would definitely recognize her.

Besides, even her bonnet wasn’t able to hide all of her hair. Now that I was this close to her, the shoulder-length, luscious light pink hair spilled from beneath it and flowed inside the thick coat she was wearing.

That’s another detail that confirmed her identity. Even if she refused to openly acknowledge her identity, what I saw was enough to be convinced that this badly disguised girl was none other than the rising star, Mabushisa Asahi.

Two minutes of silence later, I grabbed her wrist, stood up, picked up the bags I put down and dragged her with me.

As much as I wanted to hear her voice, we’re just drawing attention there. Moreover, I was losing time. I better finish what I came here for, first and foremost.

Fortunately, the way I dragged her didn’t appear as though I was forcing her. The girl willingly stood up and matched her steps with me.

In no time at all, we partly blended into the crowd that’s still roaming the shopping district.

“Alright, you don’t have to answer it anymore. I understand why you would choose not to answer anyway. Furthermore, you can go away anytime you want. I won’t hold you down. You see, I still have a lot on my list that I have to buy.” I said in a voice that only she could hear. At this point, I already removed my hand on her wrist yet she continued to walk alongside me.

In this way, the girl followed me to the storage locker where I stored what I was carrying and continued to do so as I went from shop to shop, buying the remaining presents for my girls.

During all that, the disguised girl remained silent. However, I could feel her interest being drawn to the presents I was buying. She couldn’t help but draw near and look at it closely. Even if her eyes were hidden beneath her sunglasses, I could imagine a curious glint flashing in them.

Well, most of what I bought were cute and girly things. Furthermore, more often than not, the shopkeeper would ask me if I was buying the item for my girlfriend. And obviously, I always answered yes.

But when I did, all of them stared at the disguised girl behind me. With her fancy facemask back on, some of them smiled knowingly while some uttered comments. Not an offensive one though. They just mentioned that she’s a lucky girl.

Well, there’s no point correcting them. Moreover, that way, I could watch the girl reacting comically. When we were out of the store, she’d run back to walk by my side after intentionally nudging my shoulder as her way to express her embarrassment.

There were times when she just stood there and held the hem of her coat though… And knowing who was beneath that thick garment as well as her habit that I didn’t forget, I also couldn’t help but smile at it.

Anyway, it's not wrong to say that the girl was observing me through all that. By the time I finished crossing out the last on my list, the shopping mall was five minutes before closing.

I quickly went to the storage locker where I stored my things, still with the disguised girl at my heels.

“Where are you staying? I’ll walk you back. This place is closing soon.”

Since there were little to no people around us anymore, I turned to her and once again tried to communicate with her through words.

Even if I found this encounter with her as welcoming, the day had to end. Besides, her voice never came out again after I recognized her. It’s like she turned mute or she just didn’t know what to say.

“I’m waiting for you to talk to me that’s why I dragged you around but if you still feel uncomfortable answering or talking to me then you don’t have to respond to it… It’s a lot better for you to not associate with me again anyway.” I said in a rather defeated tone.

Nonetheless, even after hearing all those, the girl remained quiet. She raised her head though. And most likely her eyes were observing me closely behind that pair of sunglasses.

“Before we separate, let me at least say this…” I paused for a while as I dropped the bags to the side. Following that, I straightened my back before bending my upper body forward, bowing to her in apology, “I apologize for everything I did to you before. I owe you at least this much. Still, you don’t have to forgive me. Everything I did won’t be easily erased with a simple apology, after all.”

After saying all that, I stayed like that for at least a minute before straightening my body again and picking up what I dropped.

The girl remained silent and she still appeared to have no plan in talking to me or even utter words filled with her resentment.

In fact, with this less than an hour of being with her, the girl didn’t even exude any negative emotion towards me. She silently followed and watched over what I’m doing. Those gestures she showed were all in accordance with how she was teased.

I had no idea what was in her head right now. And probably, I would have no other chance to find out. This encounter was a mere coincidence and as I have decided before, associating with her again wouldn’t really solve the controversies she was facing. Reconnecting with her might even aggravate it further.

That’s why I should save her from the trouble.

“Well then, take care of yourself, Yue.”

After saying that, my feet moved.

However, as I walked past her to reach the exit, the girl’s hand grabbed my wrist. Soon after that, her melodic voice once again left her mouth.

“Escort me, Ruki.”

Her words were short. However, that probably took a lot of her courage to say.

Thinking about it, this girl most likely never planned to have me find out who she is. However, she couldn’t prevent herself from calling out to me.

If I was truly the one that she’s pertaining to in her answer during that interview, it explained why she did that.

This girl was just like most of the girls who chased after me. She also fell in love without me noticing it. And until now, she hadn’t moved on from it.

After observing me for close to an hour, she’s most likely confused with how much I changed than the Ruki in her memory. Yet, she never voiced her thoughts.

And now, stopping me and asking me to escort her, this was probably her attempt to extend this chance encounter. Because in her mind, there might not be a ‘next time’ after tonight.

Naturally, that was all my assumption based on her actions tonight. Even if it’s not accurate, it’s probably at least 50% true.

In any case, since I already offered to walk her back, it would be weird if I rejected her, right?

That’s why…

I turned back around, unabashedly put her hand on mine and nonchalantly stood next to her, “Alright. Where to?”