Stealing Spree

Chapter 2617: Teasable Girl

”Why will I make you jealous? Anyway… you probably heard our conversation, right? An-rin, thank you for helping this clumsy girl out. I was kind of an idiot in the past. Abandoning her after I used her for my desire. Yet, she hadnʼt stopped loving me. All those years Iʼm not by her side, I owe it to you for taking care of her. You and Kushii.”

I reached for her hand, squeezing it lightly as I put on a grateful smile.

An-rin looked at me, dumbfounded. Then, her eyes darted away, suddenly finding the floor way more interesting than my face.

Her fingers twitched in my grasp, like she wasnʼt sure whether to yank her hand back or let it stay.

”W-whatʼs with the sappy stuff, Onoda-han?” She mumbled, ”I didnʼt… I mean, me and Kushii just did what friends do, yʼknow? Chizuruʼs our girl. No big deal.”

Her shoulders hunched slightly and the way her lips pursed like she was holding back something bigger told me it was a big deal.

An-rin wasnʼt used to being thanked like this, especially not by me, and it threw her off her rails. Her playful nature slipped off, revealing that same vulnerability Iʼd glimpsed earlier when sheʼd let me unravel her.

I pulled her closer before wrapping my arm around her waist again, ”Maybe itʼs no big deal to you, but it means a lot to me. Chiiʼs… well, sheʼs Chii. And knowing she had you two looking out for her when I wasnʼt around? Thatʼs something Iʼm not gonna forget, An-rin.”

Her eyes stared back at me like she was trying to figure out if I was messing with her or being real. This time, her snappy comeback didnʼt come. Instead, she bit her lip and leaned closer to me, her free hand fidgeting with the hem of her baggy shirt.

”Tch, youʼre, like, too good at this. Saying stuff like that… itʼs unfair, Onoda-han. Makes it hard to stay mad at you.”

”Mad at me? Whatʼd I do now? I thought we were past the ʼperv lordʼ accusations.”

Her cheeks puffed out again, but the indignation was half-hearted, more for show than anything else. ”Hmph. Youʼre still a pervert. Donʼt think I forgot how you… yʼknow, did all that stuff earlier.” She gestured vaguely toward her chest, her blush creeping down her neck. ”But… maybe youʼre not, like, the worst pervert. Maybe.”

”High praise from the chaotic gremlin herself. Iʼll take it.” I teased before I lowered my head, giving a soft kiss to her cheek.

An-rin instantly put her hand on her cheek before rolling her eyes. But then, a small smile tugged at her lips, betraying her attempt to stay grumpy. ”Y-youʼre a mega flirt, Onoda-han. Donʼt think you can just kiss my cheek and get away with it…”

Her voice was a mix of flustered indignation and that chaotic gremlin spark, trying to reclaim her usual fire.

But the way her fingers lingered on her cheek, right where my lips had brushed, told a different story. She wasnʼt as unaffected as she pretended to be.

I grinned, keeping my arm loosely around her waist, my thumb grazing the curve of her side just enough to make her squirm. ”Oh, come on, An-rin. Take it as my way to thank you. Did that get you all flustered?”

Her eyes widened, and she swatted my arm again, though it was more playful than painful. ”Flustered? Me? Pfft, as if! Iʼm, like, totally immune to your perv lord tricks, okay? That kiss was… it was nothing! But thatʼs totally an absurd way to thank me, Onoda-han!”

She squirmed a little but considering sheʼs not standing up, this girl seemed to like this closeness.

Somehow, she became more teasable in my eyes.

”Alright, you can kiss me too. To get back at me. Here. My cheek is free. Or if you want… my lips too.” I tapped my cheek with a finger before moving it to my lips.

The girlʼs eyes widened as she indignantly pointed at me, ”S-shameless Onoda-han. I wonʼt fall for that!”

”Shameless, huh? Whatʼs the matter, An-rin? Scared youʼll like kissing me too much?” I shot back, leaning in just a bit closer as my lips curled further into a teasing grin.

Her mouth dropped open and for a second, I thought sheʼd combust from sheer embarrassment.

Her cheeks were already a blazing red, and her finger, still pointed accusingly at me, wavered like she wasnʼt sure whether to poke me or pull back.

”Y-youʼre impossible, Onoda-han! Like, totally playing dirty! Iʼm not scared, okay? Iʼm just… not falling for your trap!”

”Trap? All I did was offer you a free shot. Fairʼs fair, right? Or are you all talk, chaotic gremlin?”

An-rinʼs eyes narrowed, her usual fire flaring up despite the flush still painting her face. She leaned forward, closing the gap between us until I could feel the warmth of her breath, her lips hovering just inches from mine.

I thought sheʼd actually go for it but her eyes flickered with that mix of defiance and curiosity that made her so unpredictable. Then, with a dramatic huff, she swerved at the last second, planting a quick, almost aggressive peck on my cheek before pulling back like sheʼd just won a battle.

”There! Happy now, perv lord?” She declared, ”Thatʼs, like, totally all youʼre getting, so donʼt get any more ideas!”

I chuckled as I brushed my fingers lightly against the spot sheʼd kissed, playing it up just to mess with her. ”Not bad, An-rin. A little weak, but Iʼll give you points for effort. Wanna try again? My lips are still free.”

Her jaw dropped, and she swatted my arm again, harder this time, her chaotic energy in full swing. ”Ugh, youʼre the worst! Like, who even says stuff like that? Youʼre gonna make me. Ugh, never mind!”

She flopped back against the couch, her baggy shirt slipping slightly off one shoulder, revealing the curve of her collarbone. She didnʼt bother fixing it, either too flustered or just too stubborn to care.

Unfortunately, before I could continue teasing her, the sound of the bathroom door opening echoed into the living room. Kushii was finished bathing.

And thinking that was her window to escape, the girl stuck her tongue out at me and ran away to the bathroom.

Seconds later, Kushii emerged into the living room, her hair still damp and clinging to her shoulders, wrapped in a fluffy towel that barely reached her thighs.

The faint scent of body wash, something sweet, like vanilla, wafted into the room, mixing with the lingering aroma of the tea we drank.

Kushiiʼs cheeks were still flushed, but whether it was from the warm bath or the memory of what weʼd done earlier, I couldnʼt quite tell. Her eyes darted to me, then to Chii, who was still dozing lightly against my shoulder, and finally to the empty spot where An-rin had just bolted from.

Without a second thought, she sat down and leaned closer to my side before daringly resting her head on my shoulder.

I instinctively wrapped my arm around her before whispering, ”Why are you still in your towel? Didnʼt you bring your change of clothes with you, Kushii?”