Stealing Spree

Our first kiss after months lasted for five minutes. It started right in front of the door and ended after I brought her down on her long couch.

Well, we didn’t end it in a natural way. We were interrupted by the loud ringtone of her phone.

I removed myself from on top of her and let her get the phone that she left in her kitchen.

Although a bit reluctant to stand up and answer the call, I gestured for her to do so. It’s either her manager or her parents checking on her. Certainly, that’s not the first time they called. How long did she spend outside? Two or three hours at most. It’s already a wonder why they didn’t drive here to check on her if all she left for them was a simple message that she’s going out to breathe in the fresh air.

“Mom. I’m already home!�

“I left you a message, didn’t I?�

“No. No one recognized me.�

Since it’s not on a loudspeaker, I could only hear her response. But through that, it’s fairly easy to guess what they’re talking about. Her mother was worried that someone would recognize her.

Nonetheless, after picking that up, the girl started walking back to where I was sitting. I could see impatience slowly covering her face. She wanted to end the call already but with her mother not letting up with her questions, the girl had no choice but to listen and answer.

“No. No one is here with me! Why do you ask?!� The girl shouted at one point. She appeared panicky as her eyes instantly focused on me.

Did her mother possess a sixth sense to even ask that question? It’s either someone saw us and reported to her or that’s just a blind question. Unfortunately, the girl was caught in surprise, making her tone sound defensive.

“I swear. No one’s here with me. Why don’t you believe me?�

Yue eyed me and put a finger before her lips. Most likely, she finally caught on that her mother was just blindly asking. Good for her. Her mother failed to notice something unusual from her first answer.

Moments later, the girl loudly released a sigh. “I don’t want to see your face mom, I’m tired. Can I rest now?�

That’s an act to appear exhausted and to stop her mother from switching to video call.

Well, if she accepted that, her mother would surely ask for her to see her surroundings. I could hide but I guess, rejecting that was the easiest way to tread her path out of the conversation.

A few seconds later, the girl finally returned to my side. However, instead of sitting next to me, Yue opened my crossed arms.

Right. Like most of my girls, she chose to sit down on my lap and leaned back on my chest. She didn’t even think twice about doing it. It’s more like she’s claiming her previous spot.

Given that I was already here and I got successfully drawn in by her, I didn’t reject that, I even enclosed freed arms around her navel and fixed her sitting position so that it would be more comfortable for her.

Upon noticing that, Yue looked up and a satisfied smile bloomed from her lips before reaching in for my nape to lower my head down. Kissing her while she’s still on call with her mother, this girl sure was unruly.

“Okay. Stop sounding so tired, you’re only lazing your days in there anyway. Go and rest but don’t sleep yet. Your manager is on the way to check on you.�

We’re in the middle of another deep kiss when her mother’s voice rang from the other side again. And because I was already this close to her, I also heard it.

“M-manager is on the way?�

Yue stuttered her response.

“Yes. She’s also worried because of your sudden going out of your unit. Give her access at the front door, will you?�

“... Mom. Can you send her back?� Yue looked up at me again, her bright round eyes slowly losing their shine.

Naturally, I had to leave now if her manager was already on her way to this condominium.

“Why? Tell me, are you really not with anyone else there? Did you meet up with someone? That boy you talked about in your interview?�

Oh. She’s sharp.

“No! Why will I meet with him? I don’t even know where he is or if he still remembers me.�

Upon saying that, the girl’s expression twisted in bitterness. Despite her honest personality, there’s no way she could confess that everything her mother asked since earlier was true.

Still, our meeting was a lucky coincidence.

“Is that so? Then wait for your manager there. Goodnight, baby.�

“Okay. I’ll wait for her. Goodnight... mom.� Yue weakly answered despite how sincere her mother sounded at that last bit.

Following that, the tone which signaled the end of the call rang out.

“Ruki...�

With a voice that sounded like she was utterly defeated, Yue called out my name.

“I heard. It’s time for me to leave.� I nodded at her before putting my hand on her cheeks, caressing it to at least cheer her up.

Naturally, that’s not effective.

“... Can I see you again?� After savoring my caressing thumb, Yue asked.

“Probably.�

That’s the best answer I could come up with. Saying ‘yes’ might just put both of our hopes up.

“I don’t like that. I want certainty. Just answer yes or no.�

As much as I wanted to give her assurance that I could come and see her again, it would just put her more in a tight spot. There’s still that issue bogging down her career. And even if she said she’s willing to throw everything away for me, I wouldn’t just accept that. Besides, she wouldn’t just enter that industry without liking it in the slightest.

Tonight, she’s not thinking clearly because of this coincidence of meeting and reuniting with me.

Tomorrow, she’s still the famous singer, Mabushisa Asahi. Not the girl I stole, Sakurai Yue...

“Look, like I told you, you’re already in a different world. Even without that, I hurt you in the past. Not just hurt, I destroyed what’s precious to you. And I’m sure if you find out my--�

Yue cut me off by putting her finger before my lips. With her pink eyes that’s already on the verge of bursting into tears, she stared at me intently, her pupils burning with passion.

“Ruki... You know, you can’t hide it. You’ve changed. I’ll be blind not to notice that. And it’s not a simple change... It’s like you’re a different person now. No. Not a different person since there’s still the you that I fell in love with... but you’re warmer than before. This?� She pointed at my arms tightly enclosed around her navel. “You wouldn’t do this thing even if I asked you. But you did it today even if I didn’t beg you for it.�

“I did change but I wouldn’t associate it with being bad to good. I think I’ve gotten even worse than before.�

That’s not self-deprecation in my book. It’s just me viewing myself in an honest sight. But who am I trying to deceive? Yue? Myself?

This girl would definitely brush that away.

And I wasn’t wrong at that.

“Who are you kidding? Those things you bought? They’re presents, right? And they’re not just simple presents. You selected them with much care. You started caring openly. Whoever will receive them, I envy her... But you know what else I noticed? Those presents weren’t for a single person. You’re visualizing a different girl from each one of them.� Yue’s eyes then went towards the bags I dropped near her door as an envious glint flashed from them. “How lucky are they...�