Stealing Spree

Chapter 2408: Another Group Chat with the Five High-class Ladies

When the group chat died down, the next ones I focused on were Mizuki, Otoha, Marika and the Itou sisters, Himeko and Maaya.𝓯𝙧𝙚𝒆𝙬𝙚𝒃𝙣𝙤𝒗𝓮𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

Somehow, they also found it convenient to use the group chat feature to bring in a targeted discussion. Our topic was about dinner with the Kaneko later and Marika’s Aunt Kagura.

”You girls... Since you have time to chat like this, have you all arrived at school?” After skimming through the messages, that’s the first thing I sent since I knew they should either still be on the way or still preparing.

Mizuki was the first to reply, ”On the way. I had Suzuki-san make a detour to your house, Ruki. I gave the business proposal draft to Miwa-nee.”

”I see. Have you finished it already? You should’ve told me. I could’ve waited for you.”

”Forget it, you’re so busy these days that we can’t really get a hold of you that much. Next year, you better be prepared because all of us will be at your school.” Mizuki replied.

Even through text, I could imagine the girl smirking at her own cleverness.

After that, Himeko and Maaya replied that they had just arrived at school while Marika was just about to leave by car.

What a missed opportunity, if I knew Marika was still at home, I would’ve gone to pick her up. But then again, I might not be able to check on the previous group chat if that happened.

Lastly, Otoha replied, ”I’m taking a day off, Ruki. I’ll have to prepare for the dinner later.”

That girl... I could already tell that her preparation was to get a new dress she could show off to me later. Despite everything, she likes to surprise me with her elegance during important events. Knowing Otoha, she would choose something both modest and breathtakingly beautiful, perfectly suited for the occasion but with subtle elements only meant for my eyes to notice.

”Taking a day off, huh? Let me know if you need help with anything,” I replied to Otoha, trying to hold back my imagination from picturing her in an alluring dress that would get me stiff.

Her response came quickly. ”Help me pick something to wear then, Ruki. I’ll send you pictures once I get to the boutique. You’re my boyfriend; it’s your duty to ensure I look stunning, isn’t it?”

I couldn’t help but chuckle at her straightforwardness. ”Of course, Otoha. Send them over, and I’ll make sure to give you my full attention.”

Reading that exchange between Otoha and me lit up a fire in the competitiveness of the other girls who started expressing their need to get a new dress.

Soon enough, the messages in the group chat spiraled into a playful competition as the other girls began chiming in, expressing their desires to stand out in their own ways, all for the sake of pleasing me.

It was a blend of rivalry and affection, the kind of dynamic that always managed to bring a smile to my face. I’m really such a lucky bastard.

Mizuki was the first to add fuel to the fire. ”A dress, huh? Maybe I should pick something as well. Ruki, would you mind helping me choose one too? After all, it’s not fair if only Otoha gets your attention. I might be bringing you to another business dinner.”

Marika quickly followed up, ”Ruki-kun, do you also want to see me in a dress? I’ll wear one later when I come visit the clubhouse.”

Himeko’s name popped up on the group chat but she was shown typing for a whole three minutes, only for her message to be a short one. ”I haven’t worn what can be constituted as an elegant dress for so long, but for Ruki, I will. Ya-chan, will you also wear one? Let’s show it to him this weekend when he visits us at the hotel.”

Maaya, who’s always attentive to her older sister, replied instantly. ”Yes, Nee-sama! Ruki, we’ll send our choices to you. You better give us your honest opinion! Or else… we won’t wear it.”

For the two of them to communicate in the chat rather than in real life, they must’ve separated already.

I couldn’t help but chuckle as I read through the flood of messages. Even through text, their personalities shone through so vividly. To keep the peace, I sent a quick reply: ”Alright, alright. I’ll help everyone. Just don’t send me all your options at once or I’ll spend the whole day analyzing and imagining all of you in different dresses.”

Otoha responded with a smirk emoji. ”See? That’s why you’re the perfect boyfriend, Ruki. Always ready to cater to our whims.”

Mizuki chimed in again, her words playful yet with an edge of seriousness. ”There’s no such thing as perfect, Otoha. But if anything, he’s the closest one to it. His only flaw is loving all of us at the same time.”

That remark caused a brief pause in the chat before Marika broke the silence with a string of laughing emojis. ”That’s Ruki-kun for you.”

As more messages get sent to the group chat, their topic completely shifts to me. Somehow, the moment I appeared, they instantly forgot the reason why they created the group chat in the first place.

In the end, I took it upon myself to steer them back to it.

Regarding Kagura-san and the Kujou Family’s interference, even Otoha agreed that it would probably not be resolved quicker than we were hoping for. Those old men of the previous generation wouldn’t simply back down in the deal they entered. It was a matter of pride for them, after all. That’s why even though the eccentric old man told Kagura-san to connect him to the Patriarch of the Kujou Family, it would take a while for it to bear fruit.

Meanwhile, the Ichihara Family might do something drastic soon. I bet their current head and the Chairman of Ichihara Constructions, Ichihara Jun’s father, would soon hear about the problem with Marika.

Even Ichihara-san’s husband would be unable to stop him from interfering.

For now, we’re hoping for Kagura-san to be more sensible and protect Marika from them.

On another topic, Otoha believed that this dinner with her parents and siblings might bring up my origin as a member of the Onoda Clan from that prefecture. Her second brother went there himself, after all.

I have to prepare on how to answer their questions. However, Otoha wasn’t certain if her father was informed about my parents’ connection to her grandfather.

Mizuki advised me to be vigilant and not reveal too much. Just stick to the dinner and reinforce the idea that Otoha would never change her mind about us.

Marika and the Itou sisters didn’t have much to say about it but they shared their experiences on such a loaded dinner. For example, when Marika first arrived here and met Ichihara Jun and his parents. Or when Maaya was brought by her father to a party organized by people in the same industry as them. Even at a young age, she had to be perfect in front of those adults because of her future as the heir to their hotel chain.

As the train approached my stop, I typed a final message to wrap up the discussion. ”Alright, ladies. Let’s put a pin on this for now. We have a full day ahead. Send me your options for dresses later, and I promise to give you my honest opinions. And remember, no matter what you wear, you’ll all look stunning.”

With that, the silent tension accumulating within the group chat instantly dispersed, switching it back to a more relaxed atmosphere.