Stealing Spree

Chapter 350: How Many?

As the train started to move to its destination, the shaking of the train started.

Without anything to grab onto for my balance, I naturally placed my hand just next to Chiiʼs head, ending up for us to be in a position where I was seemingly covering her escape.

”Chii. Do you want to hear about it now?”

Because she had her head lowered without any sign of her lifting it to meet my gaze, I opened a conversation just to take her attention.

The train ride would at most last for 20 minutes so to make use of that time, itʼs better to have something to talk to than spend it without even looking at each other.

In the classroom or even when outside it, this girl was even more energetic than Saki.

She would greet anyone or would laugh with her fellow gyaru friends in their group.

However, every time she was with me, that gyaru persona of hers was always toned down to the point that she was only using it to mask whatʼs really going on in her mind.

”You said itʼs inappropriate here.”

Without meeting my gaze, I heard her answer which was almost a whisper.

Looking around us, thereʼs no one who we should be cautious of. This was just her not knowing what to do in my presence.

”It is. Since itʼs too long and… you might not like what you will hear.”

Telling the girls about my past was always riddled with my pessimism about it.

But with the few instances that I did, their reactions were always contrary to what I was expecting.

”Itʼs you. I bet itʼs just filled with you stealing everyone you see.”

”Thatʼs close or rather, accurate enough.”

”Heh. Thatʼs so like you. But I still want to hear everything from you, for real.”

”Then let me can I hug you?”

”W-wha? In here?”

”Not hug ʼhugʼ, Iʼll just lean closer to whisper it to you. What do you think?”

”Youʼre totally trying to make me flustered, arenʼt ya?”

”Maybe? Iʼll be honest then.” After saying that, I leaned closer and drew my mouth close to her ears before whispering, ”I want to make use of this time with you, Chii. Whatever the result, whether your hate for me that you buried will be brought back to the surface or not, I will keep liking, no, loving you. I messed up before so let me do this right today.”

With our current position, it would not be wrong to see us as a couple in public. However, this position also made it hard for anyone who would stare at us to see our faces.

The last thing I needed now was a distraction.

For example, Fukuda. He could be a great friend but with both of us liking the same girl, just like with Sakuma or Ogawa, it wouldnʼt end up too well.

And, I had no intention to back down now that I confessed to her.

If not for me wanting to know everything about what happened to her and what she truly thinks about me, she wouldʼve already accepted me back in her life earlier.

She specifically let me know what she told Fukuda about liking someone else after all. And that someone was me.

”Youʼre still this forceful.”

”Tell me if you donʼt like this, Iʼll take a step back.”

”… Are you for real? Go on. Let me hear everything about what happened to you.”

”Then, donʼt fall asleep, Iʼll kiss you if you do.”

”That kind of threat… donʼt you think thatʼs too mild and I might intentionally sleep for you to kiss me?”

”Thatʼs what I was aiming for.”

”Still shameless, Kii.”

”Un. That trait of me wonʼt change. Well then, let me start.”

Enclosing my free arm to her back while keeping my head close to her ears, I started my story which she silently took in.

Itʼs not a great story but every time I would tell it to them, I would include everything. Well, except the perspective of the girls. It was still the same unadulterated version where I highlighted every bad thing I did to accomplish what I set out to do. To satisfy my bottomless desire.

Capitalizing on the crowded train, I stuck as close as possible to her.

It was a long story that even after arriving at the first station since weʼd ridden the train, the story still hadnʼt reached the halfway point.

And for a few minutes after I started, Chii, whose arms were crossed in front of her, was now holding onto my side while her chin was resting on my right shoulder.

If weʼre just close before, itʼs now too clear to see that weʼre hugging each other.

Perhaps weʼre an eyesore to the office workers around us, they all had their backs turned towards us, conveniently giving us the privacy that we needed.

”Kii, itʼs fine now. Jump to how you changed. I bet before that change youʼre doing the same thing over and over.”

”Youʼre not going to comment on what I did to some of the girls I mentioned?”

”What for? Itʼs something that happened in the past. I just want to hear about it not to criticize what you did. Being the stupidly honest guy like you, thereʼs no way youʼd craft a story with a reason to make me hate you or to pull my hate for you to the surface.”

”I guess youʼre right. The change happened when I realized how Akane is a crucial part of me.”

”Akane? I see. Sheʼs still with you even now. At first, I thought sheʼs like me but with how she openly approaches you, that girl… she loves you even before you stole me.”

”Un. She held onto that despite seeing me with different girls, hoping that I will change and look back to her again one day…”

”And she won. Her waiting paid off. Now I can confirm why youʼre not alone at your house anymore.”

Because of our position, I couldnʼt see the expression she had this time. But judging from how her voice was somewhat cracked, sheʼs feeling down. And itʼs because of Akane.

”I thought I was the first one who fell in love with you. That sheʼs nothing but a clingier girl you stole from someone. I became totally complacent on that part.”

”Un. Sheʼs different from the rest of the girls I have now.”

As always thereʼs no point lying to her. Everyone knew that thereʼs one special girl living with me at home.

Well, if they see Miwa-nee and Minoru, they will also instantly understand. That part will probably be the hardest for them to swallow. The others who already saw Minoru might be accepting it but those who havenʼt yet, I donʼt know how they will take the fact that I am already a father.

Nonetheless, I still stood by being completely honest with them. I will not keep the truth about Minoru and Miwa-nee.

”How many? Including the girls from our class.”

Instead of following up with what I said, Chii asked a question.

Perhaps itʼs because sheʼs already convinced with what I told her or she just wanted to know after knowing about Akane.

”Twenty-five. Not including those who I am still trying to get.”

”Huh? How are you still alive? No. In the first place, do they know?”

With how she became suddenly stiff, she was surely surprised from hearing the numbers.

Well, anyone would be surprised. To be in a relationship with all of them, it was unimaginable with the current moral of the world.

”They do. What do you think?”

”Youʼre insane, Kii… How? How will I fit in that?”

This girl. Is that really what she should ask? And after calling me insane.