Stealing Spree

Chapter 121: Miwa-neeʼs Worries

When Haruko fell asleep, I didnʼt leave immediately. For 10 minutes, I watched her sleep peacefully. She had a smile on her face and she kept mumbling my name. Whatever she was dreaming, I was there.

As I thought, I couldnʼt afford to lose them again. I want to satisfy all of them so they wouldnʼt be able to think about leaving me. The purpose of opening the option to leave was to let them feel that Iʼm not taking away their freedom to choose. And if ever someone opts out, I will surely be hurt by it. It just meant that I failed to satisfy her.

Err but I already took away that option for Haruko and Yae. Like Akane, theyʼre the ones I donʼt really want to lose, no matter what. This might be my possessiveness again and it now encroached the three of them.

After leaving the room, I went downstairs first to see if Miwa-nee is there, and surprisingly sheʼs nowhere to be seen. Not even an empty bottle. She didnʼt leave their room after going upstairs earlier.

Should I check their room?

Of course, I should. Letʼs assume she also wanted to talk to me.

Taking my feet to their room, I was hindered by the door. Itʼs locked and itʼs a bit rude to knock on it when itʼs already this deep in the night.

Miwa-nee was probably already asleep.

Iʼll be with Akane for the whole day tomorrow and weʼll only be back in the morning the next day. Should I wait until Sunday to talk to her?

I spent the next 15 minutes mulling over that thought. Only when the drowsiness took over me that I decided to not wait until Sunday. There might be a possibility that tomorrow will be the day her husband will come here and pick them both up. I need to know now so I can feel at ease at my date with Akane tomorrow.

Putting my hand on the door, I knocked at it while calling out Miwa-neeʼs name.

What should I say to her, anyway? That I heard from Akane that she got a call earlier and I was wondering what was that about?

Haa. Or should I straight up ask her about the reason why she left home?

Miwa-nee purposely did not mention it because Iʼm still a kid in her eyes and that I couldnʼt really help her.

And itʼs probably true. But I wonʼt stay as a kid forever, I will grow up, we will grow up and we will be exposed to that adult world Aunt Akemi, Shio and Miwa-nee was talking about.

It took me about 10 knocks before I heard activity inside and footsteps going to the door. A short while later, the door opened with Miwa-nee still half-asleep.

”R-ruki? What is it? Itʼs still the dead of the night.”

She started, thereʼs nothing wrong with her voice nor her question. Did something really happen?

”I came to see Miwa-nee. We havenʼt had a proper talk since that night.”

In the end, this is the reason I can come up with. But itʼs true, after that night, we did have a certain connection now but we havenʼt talked about the important things.

Like what will happen between us now or does it mean she also loves me? I donʼt know and Miwa-nee never voiced it out.

”This brat. That could wait, right?”

Putting a hand on her forehead, Miwa-nee expressed dissatisfaction.

”No. I…”

Why am I stuttering? Am I actually afraid to tell her that I want to know everything?

My gaze traveled from Miwa-nee to the boy sleeping soundly on his bed.

Ah. Right. Thatʼs what was making me afraid. I became too conscious of Minoru.

”Huh? What?”

Miwa-nee was starting to frown. Her half-sleep state was removed. I woke her up but here I am hesitating.

Haa. I should stop doing this and come clean to why am I here.

”I heard from Akane, you got a phone call earlier.”

When she heard what I said, Miwa-neeʼs expression turned from a frown to a gloomy one. It was only for a split second and she shook her head immediately.

”Itʼs nothing, you donʼt have to concern yourself over it.”

Miwa-nee averted her gaze from me as she whispered those words. In the end, she still doesnʼt want to tell me.

”Can I be honest with you, Miwa-nee?”

This is the last resort. Iʼll tell her everything I am worried about. If itʼs still not enough for her to talk about her own problem then thatʼs my loss…

I stepped closer to her and reached for her hand which was balled into a fist. This happened when I mentioned the phone call.

I didnʼt let go of her hand and held onto it until she somehow calmed down.

”Haa. Alright. Come in first. I donʼt want us to keep talking by the door.”

Sighing in resignation, Miwa-nee invited me in. I didnʼt miss that opportunity to hug her. She was surprised at first but in the end, she let me hug her as the door closed behind me.

”Coming here at this time. What are you thinking?”

The volume of her voice lowered in consideration for the sleeping boy. I feel sorry for him but I really love his mom and I want to share her worries, even if thereʼs nothing I can do yet.

”Iʼll be with Akane tomorrow and weʼll be back by Sunday morning. Iʼm just afraid that during that time, youʼll leave and I wonʼt see you again.”

I could feel her tremble a bit upon hearing what I said, then Miwa-nee turned around and patted my head.

”We wonʼt leave, Ruki. This much, I can tell you. But more than that, donʼt ask me yet.”

She lifted my chin and stared at me. Our lips were only a few centimetres apart. The words she said about them not leaving, is it fine to believe it?

”Why canʼt I ask about it? Miwa-nee, I want to hear whatʼs troubling you and share your worries.”

Iʼm probably reaching too far here. But I canʼt think of anything else.

”No. I donʼt want to drag you into it. You let me remember my buried feelings for you and that just further heightened this sense of responsibility Iʼm feeling.”

Miwa-nee shook her head and moved her gaze away from me like sheʼs afraid Iʼll pick up something from her eyes.

”Why? Does it concern me?”

Sense of responsibility... Is it really about Minoru? I really wonʼt know if she wonʼt tell me. And I donʼt want to assume things. Should I really wait until she decided to tell me?

”Ruki, please? Iʼll tell you when itʼs all over.”

Miwa-nee turned her gaze back to me and with pleading eyes and tone, she begged me.

”Is it because Iʼm still a kid in your eyes?”

I asked her back and the answer she gave me was as I expected.

”Yes. Itʼs like that. I donʼt want to burden you by telling you that. Just grow up and in due time, Iʼll tell you everything.”

Nodding her head, Miwa-nee hugged me back. My face was immediately buried in her voluptuous chest. Normally I would enjoy this sensation but after not getting the answer I want, I was frustrated instead.

”Why am I not satisfied with this answer?”

Now, this is just me pressing the issue but Miwa-nee calmly answered me. Sheʼs adamant about her decision.

”Because youʼre stubborn. Ruki, I love you, okay? For now, let me protect you from any unnecessary worries.”

Hearing ʼI love youʼ from her should make me happy but her next words just really hit me too hard.

Iʼm the one being protected and not the other way around.

”Miwa-nee, youʼre being unfair.”

”Maybe I am. And I wonʼt say this is only for you. Alright. You can go back now.”

Releasing me from her arms, Miwa-nee started walking back to their bed. Minoru was still sleeping there. That boy…

”Am I really no good?”

Now Iʼm just repeating everything. No matter what I say, Miwa-nee wonʼt tell me. Should I just make her drunk and ask her during it?

But if I did, sheʼll surely be disappointed in me. It will be like I forced her.

”Youʼre more than good but you see, itʼs not something we can solve just by sitting and talking it out. So as much as possible, I donʼt want you to know.”

But I already have an idea. I somehow already knew about it.

Miwa-nee, her gaze was alternating between Minoru and me. As much as I donʼt want to believe it yet, her words, even if itʼs vague, it all points in that direction.

”When will you tell me?”

Giving up, I could only sigh and turn to the door while throwing this last question that meant giving up on making her talk.

”When everythingʼs over.”

I stopped my tracks and looked back at her, Miwa-nee also stopped and just stared at me after saying that.

”Miwa-nee, I love you. Even if you tell me that, I will probably keep asking you, maybe not tomorrow or the next, but it will happen. I just canʼt stand seeing you shouldering all of that.”

Iʼm planning for our future but this, this just proved that Iʼm still far from accomplishing anything. I mightʼve been good at coaxing girls at my age but thatʼs all there is to it. Miwa-nee couldnʼt even tell me her worries because she wanted to protect me.

What should I really do? Itʼs not like I can stop and focus on making Miwa-nee acknowledge me. I know that my thinking is flawed. Iʼm loving a lot of girls and sacrificing everyone for only one is something I cannot do. Not at this point. Should I really just accept this and wait?

”I know but this is my choice, Ruki.”

Right. Miwa-neeʼs choice.

Even if Iʼm feeling indignation about this, thereʼs really nothing that I can do.

Turning around again. I continue traversing the last few steps to the door to leave their room.

But before I can reach for the doorknob. Miwa-nee came running and hugged me from the back, I could feel my shoulder turning wet. Tears. Miwa-nee is crying.

”Can you stay for a bit?”

She asked.

”If itʼs for Miwa-nee then I can.”

Right, for now, this is all I can do for her.

I turned around and reached my hand to her face, after wiping her tears away, I took her lips into mine. She didnʼt reject it and instead, she responded to it.

We left the room right after to not disturb the sleeping Minoru, settling on one of the empty rooms. Our inhibitions were released and from there everything naturally happened. Iʼve just thought of putting restraint earlier but this one time, I couldnʼt pass up on this. After all, time with Miwa-nee were always this short.

I really love this aunt of mine and Iʼm sure sheʼs feeling the same towards me. I canʼt do anything for her yet, but Iʼll make sure there will come a day when I can carry her burden for her. Well, not only for her but for everyone else.