Stealing Spree

Hana’s message did amuse me. It’s kind of seeing a child being fascinated by something she had just discovered. And funnily enough, that didn’t end there. Even though she should’ve understood that I read her message, the girl continued sending different types of stickers, most of which were ridiculous.

I stared at it for a bit longer, wondering when she would get tired of it.

Somehow, I could imagine the girl without her usual angelic smile as she laughed a lot from watching those stickers, especially the animated ones, move around. Which would definitely be adorable of her.

But well, since I couldn’t just stop and chat with her and Ohori-senpai catching up to me, I had to tuck the phone back in my pocket, without sending a reply to the girl.

If she finally noticed that the ‘Read’ label was gone, the girl would most likely send me another message. If I have time later then I might send her a reply.

The girl has yet to start trying to steal me. But for me, I’m already in the process of taking her back. While our end goal sounded the same, the situation would be different. There’s no point trying to make an excuse about that anymore. If, in the end, she still didn’t want to be in our complex relationship then I would stop caring for her and treat her just the same as any other girl I have no clear interest in.

As my attention returned to the tragic senior, we were now walking alongside each other. The girl was wearing a rather thick jacket, covering most of the skin of her arms, on top of her light-orange dress that only reached half of her thighs. She’s also wearing tight short pants that cover her knees. Her stylish headband from last time was nowhere to be seen but in place of it, she just let her hair down. Even the braided part was combed to the point that she seemed to have worn off her usual style.

She had her head lowered while clutching a small shoulder bag on her left.

At the moment, we probably looked like a couple walking around on the weekend. And somehow, the direction we were traversing was heading straight to that certain establishment.

Ohori-senpai did say that we should change location but she’s not planning on stopping there, right? There’s no reason to.

Or so I hoped. But that’s where I was wrong.

Ohori-senpai abruptly stopped in her steps as soon as we walked right in front of it. Her hand then reached for the hem of my shirt, stopping me from walking past it.

I glanced at the girl and watched her lower her head further before saying, “H-here is a good place to talk, Onoda-kun.”

Alright. Is this girl serious? Even if she only planned to talk to me and tell me her story there, no sane girl will do the same as her.

“Senpai, if you’re joking, you can now deliver your punchline,” I said, turning completely to her.

Since it was the weekend, the street wasn’t without any pedestrians. There were people ahead and behind us. And by stopping here, we’re already gathering attention.

Not that I mind those. But it’s kind of dangerous if someone who recognized one or both of us saw us.

Ohori-senpai refused to answer and just clutched the hem tightly before turning towards the establishment.

She’s determined to pull me inside. Is that it?

This place is her boyfriend’s favorite love hotel to bring his girls in. Is she trying to do the same?

While it’s true that the rooms inside were great for having a private talk if she didn’t want anybody else to hear, the walls of this kind of establishment were too thin. If someone occupied the rooms next to us, we’d be subjected to hearing other people’s moans.

Well, I wouldn’t be too affected by that but it’s just too ridiculous for this girl to suggest it.

Wait. There could be another possibility.

Is that guy somewhere around here, watching us? Is she also trying to give him a taste of his own medicine?

With that thought in mind, I scanned our surroundings. However, with too many people walking and standing around at every angle, it’s pretty hard to spot someone that should be making himself inconspicuous at the moment.

I took a few more seconds to search but Ohori-senpai’s tug never waned and soon enough, we were before the door of the establishment.

It opened automatically and we were instantly faced with the lobby. While there’s no one in it at the moment, this love hotel wasn’t fully automated. On a wall to the side, a huge screen showed the different rooms, available and not, with proper labels. That’s how their patrons would pick which room to take.

As the girl stepped forward once again to finally enter it, I decided to just go in with her for now, to get out of the public’s eyes.

But once inside, I grabbed her wrist, removed her hold on my shirt, and asked for the second time. “Senpai, are you sure about this?”

Although that could be taken with a different meaning, the girl simply nodded as she awkwardly walked to the side where the screen was placed. She then glanced up. Her eyes focused on one of the more normal rooms.

And by the looks of it, she prepared herself for this as she was probably the one going to pay.

Without minding my hand enclosed around her wrist, the girl walked toward the lobby where a receptionist was already waiting for us to check-in.

It’s a woman and by the meaningful smile hanging on her lips, she’s surely thinking we’re here to have a good time.

“Hi. Have you picked a room?” She asked, her eyes fixed on me instead of the girl.

Well, it’s normal that men take charge of checking in most of the time. I was about to answer her but Ohori-senpai put her hand on the desk, a little loudly as though she was very nervous about it, and shouted.

“Excuse me! We want this room!” Her finger then pointed at the one she picked earlier.

The woman was surprised and that raised one of her eyebrows. She’s clearly waiting for me to say something first.

I know this is a bad idea but since we’re here, I guess I should just let this happen. Not like I’m going to pounce on her once we’re inside. If she’s doing this to spite the guy – whether he’s really outside or not – then I can help her with that.

However, will this really change anything? I thought she wanted to stay with him?

Ugh. I guess without hearing the full story, it’s hard to make a conclusion.

And so, my head moved, nodding at the receptionist. “Yes, please. The room that she picked.”

“Oh. Alright then, will you be resting or staying?”

That usual question. Rest was surely just one or two hours while staying was for at least six hours. And since we’re just going to talk, the answer was clear.

“Resting.” I followed up. And that made the woman’s smile grow wider before turning to Ohori-senpai who was now becoming more restless. “What a lucky girl. Alright. Here’s your key.”

Ah. Right. It’s not the same as before when most of these receptionists would just ignore me because of my look. But now… looks like the effect of the haircut was still in effect.

Ohori-senpai involuntarily blushed upon hearing that as she scrambled for the money to pay for it. But well, since I was the guy here, I stopped her and pulled my wallet out.

I could just ask her for it inside the room, anyway.

Upon paying for it and grabbing the key to the room, our positions became reversed. Instead of pulling me again inside, Ohori-senpai could only meekly follow as we reached the elevator.

Luckily for her, no one was inside it when it showed up, giving her space to relax while waiting to reach the floor where the room was located.

“Senpai, I played along with this but you can still back away. You’re definitely not a regular at this kind of establishment. Besides, your hands are cold. Did your courage run out?” I asked the girl whose head was once again lowered. She’s visibly shivering that she’s now using my arm to warm up by closing our distance.

“I… It’s my first time here. I’m sorry for dragging you here, Onoda-kun. It’s because of this.” Upon saying that, she pulled out her phone. Showing on the screen was none other than her chat with her boyfriend. And a few minutes ago, the guy sent her a photo.

Right on my guess, it’s us approaching this establishment.