Stealing Spree

Chapter 367: Even if weʼre like this now?

”Thereʼs no other idiot in this room and thereʼs no other idiot who approached her and took her interest. No doubt, thatʼs me.”

I grabbed her finger and bit it lightly.

And as a reflex, Mina immediately pulled it out before delivering a slap.

”Idiot. When I first saw you, youʼre too hateful. You looked at us in an extremely perverted way even if that was the first time you met us. Even if I heard things about you from Haru, I instantly deemed in my mind that youʼre nowhere close to who she described and that I wouldnʼt let you steal Haru from us.”

Ah. Thatʼs why, huh? Back then Iʼm still the same desire-driven guy. And when Haruko told me that I was going to steal them, my desire for Himeko and Mina was ignited.

The two of them got a really bad first impression of me. I remember that when I first met Himeko alone, she was like a warrior going into a hopeless war. But despite that, sheʼs so brave that I ended up getting fond of her. Thatʼs why the next time I met her, I didnʼt stop until I got her to open up to me.

”But now, Iʼm about to steal you from her. No. At this point, Iʼm not stealing you from her. Itʼs like Iʼm the outsider entering your relationship.”

Thatʼs like that. The initial premise was to steal their affection but whatʼs really happening was that I was butting into their forged bond. With Haruko as the middleman, I was introduced to them to be the… Key for Haruko to continue being with them.

Because if that didnʼt happen, Haruko would eventually choose me.

That might sound arrogant but thatʼs how it was to that girl.

Thatʼs why, if I failed at opening up the other three seniors, Haruko would end up letting them go despite their clear feelings for each other.

”Psh. Youʼre still way off the mark. You have to do more work. And I… still want to see your sincerity. Youʼre keeping up with your promise now but what will happen after I accept you?”

”A promise is a promise. I will continue dropping by to see you. Naturally, I canʼt promise that it will be everyday. Weʼre just lucky that my destination these past few days always includes the Book Club.”

Well, itʼs not entirely true, because thereʼs a lot of them, I was now keeping a tight schedule. Since I was already visiting the Book Club, itʼs already a waste to not visit her here.

Nonetheless, if something really came up that I wouldnʼt be able to fulfill my promise for the day, I would let her know in advance.

”There you go being stupidly honest again. Canʼt you lie to make me feel even better?”

”Nope. Not gonna do that. As long as itʼs not something I deemed to be something I needed to hide from all of you, I will continue being honest. Lying once will eventually become twice and in the end, I might get too used to lying that every word leaving my mouth is a lie.”

”That one too, youʼre always too serious. There are things that girls rather donʼt want to hear. Keep that in mind.”

”If itʼs something like that, I will prefer not talking rather than delivering a lie. And as long as you ask me something, I will give an answer truthfully.”

”… And another one. Youʼre too stubborn, Onoda-kun.”

Thatʼs three, huh? Stupidly honest, Serious and Stubborn. Are they bad traits? I donʼt know but I was already like this way before the change in me. Even when I was still solely driven by my desire.

I was stupidly honest to tell them upfront how I wanted to steal them.

I was too serious when it came to stealing them that I was ready to do anything to succeed.

And I was too stubborn when it came to protecting them after the conquest.

”Un. Iʼm aware of that. By the way, you can call me Ruki from now on, Mina.”

Honestly answering her again before changing the topic, Mina was taken by surprise that she ended up stuttering.

”N-no. I wonʼt call you that. Youʼre still not up to my standard.”

”Even if weʼre like this now?”

Weʼre sticking close to each other that at this point, we could now accurately measure each otherʼs temperature.

Our faces were too close to each other that while speaking, we could smell each otherʼs breath. A little nudge was enough for us to overlap our lips again.

”Even if weʼre like this now. Alright. Timeʼs up.”

Mina repeated my question as her answer before removing her hand and preparing herself to stand up from me.

”I see. Too bad.”

Using this chance, I acted as if I was disappointed that our timeʼs up.

And surprisingly, thatʼs effective. Instead of standing up, Mina reached for the teapot in the middle of the table to fill my cup again. ”Idiot. Finish this first then.”

After taking that cup and downing it in one gulp, I then grabbed her head and kissed her once more.

This time, Mina accepted my kiss without any fuss as if she expected that I would do this.

Holding her tight as our kiss gradually deepened, I slowly laid her back down before continuing on it.

Focusing on her lips and tongue and eventually, her neck, Mina didnʼt reject me. However, I restricted myself to go lower than that and Mina did the same.

Even if we had the tacit understanding of what we feel for each other, itʼs not the time yet.

Thereʼs no need to rush.

Even if Mina was refusing to admit it, I knew that I had successfully climbed up to her heart. The final key for her to admit it is that upcoming match with her mother.

Once that event ends, Mina will become mine.

-

-

”Thank you for the tea. I look forward to tomorrow.”

”Shameless guy, which part are you looking forward to?”

”Everything, of course.”

After hearing my answer, Mina blushed once more before firmly closing the door of the club on me.

The way she stuck her tongue out again was too adorable. Because a few minutes earlier, I was just sucking on it.

Well, thereʼs still tomorrow and the days after it. Letʼs be patient.

Leaving this part of the Club Building on a good note, I made my way to my next destination.

The Student Support Club.𝕗𝚛𝚎𝚎𝐰𝗲𝗯𝗻𝚘𝚟𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝕞

Without Ogawa today, I wonder whatʼs happening there. Do they still function as a group or a sense of dissonance is already eating away at them?

Ah. Even if heʼs there, thereʼs already that sense of dissonance. Their group isnʼt centered around him anymore.

Ever since I went there and introduced myself as Namiʼs boyfriend, the core of that group has changed to me and my relationship with Nami.

”Youʼre here.”

As always, Saki opened the door for me. The visible smile on her lips was like yesterday, filled with different meanings.

Before she could ask for it, I pulled her close and kissed her.

”I guess this is how we will greet each other now,” I said after releasing her lips.

Not knowing what to answer, Saki could only lower her head to escape from my gaze