Stealing Spree

Chapter 139: Itou Sistersʼ Circumstances

With the two sisters hugging each other over there, I went and sat next to Haruko.

Mina who placed herself behind her veered away from me. That girl... If she will always be like this around me then Iʼll take it upon myself to soften her up. Ah. But I need to be alone with her.

”Your smell carried the scent of another girl, Ruki. Did you…?”

Haruko commented when she rested her head on my shoulder. Aya and the other club members were still busy at their corner and since this corner is placed in a blindspot from where they are, they couldnʼt see us nor the two sisters.

”I was with Kana before picking Itou from her club. Ah. You havenʼt met Kana yet.”

Since we had just finished and all that time Kanaʼs too close to me, her scent was already stuck on me.

”Kana? Do you mean that cute and shy third year?”

So Haruko already heard of her. Well, weʼre first years so the seniors were still a bit unknown from us. Kana is probably somewhat popular, even with her being shy like that, or that trait of hers made her popular.

”Un. Thatʼs her.”

Telling Haruko about my other girls, this is already quite normal. She even watched the process of me stealing someone before.

”I see. Sheʼs one of your new girls. To think youʼll start with her.”

Weʼre chatting casually like this while the two were still locked in their embrace. Itʼs like those two havenʼt seen each other for many years. Now Iʼm wondering how they act at their house.

”Err… I chanced upon them during the 1st day so…”

”You donʼt have to explain, silly. By the way, how was your date with Akane?”

Err... Right. Why am I explaining it to her?

”It went well. Sheʼs happy when we went home the next day.”

Maybe if thereʼs a chance Iʼll also take Haruko somewhere. Well, all of them actually. So that they wouldnʼt feel left out. They have that chat group, whatʼs happening around me was probably being conveyed there and were becoming a topic for their discussion.

”Then good. Iʼll wait for my turn.”

Haruko comfortably snuggled to me while she pulled Mina on her other side. The girl was surprised but she didnʼt resist her. Itʼs Haruko after all. Her act towards me was in complete contrast compared to how she acted like a girl in love towards Haruko.

”Where do you want to go?”

Knowing their preferences is better than planning blindly.

”Water park. Ever since middle school, I wanna go and see some dolphins with you.”

Haruko answered, she even imitated the dolphinsʼ whistle which both Mina and I found cute. For her to have this kind of cute side, even though they kept talking about how attentive I am to them, thereʼs still a lot of things I donʼt know about them.

”Alright. Iʼll take you there soon.”

I already started thinking about how we could enjoy that date together.

”You donʼt need to rush, okay? Youʼre kind of overworking yourself these days.”

Taking her eyes off from the two sisters, Haruko looked up at me and touched my cheek.

”Iʼll always have the spare energy for all of you, you know? Seeing your smiles is enough to energize me.”

And itʼs the truth. Whenever I see their satisfied smiles, it also somehow satisfies me.

”Idiot. Weʼll be worried if you really overworked yourself. I told you to put some restraint, just like this, relax yourself while youʼre here.”

Err. Iʼm kind of bad at restraining myself, yesterday with Satsuki and today with Kana.

”Then Iʼll listen to my Haruko.”

I said as I also leaned myself to her. Just like that, while waiting for the sisters to calm down, we relaxed in each otherʼs support. Mina became something like a third wheel but she stayed at her seat even with how aggrieved she was by looking at us.

”Uhm. Haru, Mina, this is my little sister, Maaya. Ruki already knows you so thereʼs no need to introduce you again.”

After some time Himeko brought Itou near us and they sat in front of us next to each other.

”Nice to meet you. Thank you for taking care of Nee-sama. And Ruki, thank you for bringing me here.”

Itou bowed in front of us like a good little sister.

”Is it fine to ask a question, Hime?”

Not only me, Haruko and Mina were also puzzled by how they acted. Since theyʼre already together for a year, they knew Himeko has a sister but the way the two acted is highly unusual.

”Uhm, yes.”

”You can also ask me, senpai.”

Itou also chimed in upon seeing her sister being put to a question like that.

This girl, does she have a sister complex?

”No matter how we looked at it, you two, how are you at home?”

Though theyʼre probably expecting that question, the sisters both put on a complicated expression.

”We…”

Himeko was clearly having a hard time answering it as she took glances towards her sister.

”Nee-sama, leave it to me.”

Itou pushed herself forward and started talking.

Like what we expected, they never interact with each other at home and even during their ride from there to here and vice versa.

Their chauffeur was someone answering to their father, who took over the family after their grandfather retired. Their father was the most disappointed when Himeko became an introvert. Because of that, he wanted Itou to be the perfect heir. Grooming her to become one. But one thing they didnʼt account for was Itouʼs devotion towards Himeko. Even if no one will talk to her, she will always go to her side and cheer Himeko up. For her, Himeko is the best sister even if they all donʼt look favorably upon her.

When their father found out about that, they separated the two during their middle school. With Himeko being sent somewhere far away the two lost contact with each other. Their father was afraid that Himeko might influence Itou to also give in to the pressure of shouldering the responsibility.

Itʼs kind of cruel, yes. Only when Himeko graduated from middle school did she come back to their house and was enrolled here. By that time, their father thought that Itou was already distant towards Himeko but little did he know that Itou learned to restrain herself.

Secretly, she talked to their retired grandfather. His words still carried weight to the family so when she requested to be enrolled at the same high school as Himeko, it was granted despite their fatherʼs opposition. The only thing her father could do was to put that chauffeur to monitor them and made sure that the two wouldnʼt be as close as before.

Himeko mightʼve given up the successor position because of how heavy it is for her but for their own father to even try to break their relationship, thatʼs something.

”So, youʼre not allowed to be seen interacting with her?”

I asked after Itou finished talking. I directed the question to Himeko who was silently watching her sister talk about their circumstances.

”Un. Iʼm already used to being shunned by them but I donʼt want them to scold my little sister because of me.”

Himeko looked down as if sheʼs feeling bad that Itou might have a hard time because of her.

”Nee-sama…”

”Himeko, is there no way for your father to change his view of you?”

I asked again. If thatʼs what her father thinks of her, then she just has to change his view of her, right?

”I donʼt know. I donʼt hate him, actually. Heʼs thinking for the familyʼs sake.”

”Huh? What familyʼs sake are you talking about? Separating you two is for your family? Iʼm sorry but that sounds bull--”

Before I could curse, Haruko put a hand on my mouth to stop me.

”Alright. Stop there Ruki. Hime, you didnʼt tell me about this, I thought you just couldnʼt face your sister because of how you gave in to the pressure of being the oldest but seeing the two of you today, you both want to be close again, right?”

Haruko stood up and asked the two, she also has her own take of their situation.

””Yes.””

The sisters replied in concert.

”Then why not do it? Your father or whoever it is thatʼs monitoring you two, forget about them. Live your life without regret. Your father was too focused on your business that he already neglected that youʼre both human beings.”

Seeing Haruko already telling them what I wanted to say, I calmed myself down and quietly listened.

”But he will separate us again if…”

Itou was too worried that theyʼll be separated. Why though? They could just reject it. Are their fatherʼs words and commands absolute?

”Then do it secretly for now, and Hime, youʼre trying to change, right? Tell me, what do you plan to do?”

Haruko continued correcting their thoughts. Himeko also told me before that she wanted to change for her sister.

”Uhm. Ya-chan, I will have Father change his views of me soon. Iʼm working on a plan to help the family.

Himeko turned to her sister, she had a smile on her face thatʼs conveying how Itou shouldnʼt worry.

”Stop calling it family, Himeko. Your family is not your familyʼs company.”

Hearing family again, I couldnʼt help but open my mouth again.

”But thatʼs.”

”If youʼre really a family, he wouldnʼt distance the two of you from each other.”

How is that a family? Really. I might not have a perfect family since theyʼre always away from me but to separate two sisters from each other, thatʼs not what a family does.

”Onoda-kun, your words might seem right but itʼs hard to apply to us. Because they failed to give birth to a son, the responsibility to maintain the company falls to us. You saw me at our hotel. Even at my age, Iʼm already training to manage our businesses.”

Itou rebutted my argument. Pushing out that their family is different.

”Alright, letʼs say your environment is different, but do you think itʼs right for him to separate the two of you?”

This is what Iʼm pointing to. Why does he have to separate them when theyʼre that close.

”Of course not, but heʼs the current head, his words are hard to refute.”

”I know I shouldnʼt curse but thatʼs kind of bullshit. Whatʼs wrong with sisters being close to each other? And Himeko isnʼt the introverted girl they know anymore.”

I couldnʼt help but be agitated by Itouʼs counter-argument. Hard to refute, eh?

Feeling the indignance to accept it, I stood up and went to Himekoʼs side

Pulling her up from her seat, I took her lips and kissed her in front of Itou.

”Eh? W-what? Whatʼs happening?”

Confused, Itou couldnʼt help but raise her voice upon seeing me taking Himekoʼs lips.

”Himeko has already changed. I donʼt know whatʼs that plan she mentioned but you two should stop distancing yourselves from each other. You both love each other so show it. Donʼt restrict yourselves because someone says so. You see, Iʼm someone who does things because I want to, if I made up my mind, no one can change it anymore.”

”A-all that talk didnʼt explain why you kissed Nee-sama.”

Ah. Sheʼs hung up on why I suddenly kissed Himeko.

”Ah? That? Isnʼt it obvious? I made up my mind to have Himeko as mine. So, if I can be of help, tell me.”

”Nee-sama?”

”Thatʼs how it is, Ya-chan, this guy is…”

Himeko, who had just recovered from my sudden action, answered her sister with a red face.

”Alright, what that silly guy is trying to say is, ignore what your father told you and do what you want. Say, will you still accept it if he told you that heʼll send Himeko away again?”

Haruko, seeing the situation suddenly evolve to this, had a hand on her forehead as she tried to explain my actions.

Sorry, Haruko. I couldnʼt explain myself well.

”No, of course not! The three years apart from Nee-sama is already enough.”

Hearing that hypothetical question, Itou immediately rejected it.

”Then Maaya-chan, you know what to do.”

With a smile, Haruko told her.

”…Alright. I made up my mind, Iʼll show them how I really love to be with Nee-sama.”

She thought for a few seconds before answering with determination in her eyes.

”Uhm, me too. Even if I couldnʼt be the heir anymore, Iʼll do my best to help Ya-chan.”

Himeko too raised her voice to support Itou.

”If something happened, donʼt hesitate to tell me. My abilities are limited but if itʼs for a girl I like, Iʼll do my best.”

Getting taken in by the momentum, I also blurted out whatʼs on my mind.

”But Onoda-kun, can you remove your hand on Nee-sama first?”

Itouʼs eyebrows were bow twitching as she watched me still holding Himeko in my arms.

”No. If sheʼs supporting you then Iʼm the one supporting her.”

I answered as I pulled Himeko closer to me. Though Himeko is kind of trying to wriggle out her way out of my embrace, her resistance was too low.

”Idiot. Donʼt take Haruʼs place.”

Mina finally broke her silence as she said her piece.

”Haruko is mine so itʼs already understood that weʼre both supporting her.”

Right. Weʼll both support this former introverted girl.

”Huh? What did you just say?”

And because of my words, Itou once again fell into confusion.

Err. I forgot she didnʼt know our complex relationship. Maybe soon, she will also bring up Akane who she saw with me at their hotel.