Stealing Spree

I had some guesses why she's waiting for me but I didn't expect it to be Mina asking for my help.

What kind of help though?

And why does it sound like she picked me specifically for it when there's Haruko and the other girls in their club.

It's not that I'll reject it, in fact, I'm more than happy to be of help to her. This will be my chance to show off to her, right?

Still, I'm just kind of surprised. After how she seemed to be a tough nut to crack, she will then come to me like this.

Observing her face and noticing some trace of worry in it, I deduced that it's probably a personal problem.

"What is it about? If I can help then I will do it. Besides, it's for you."

"Don't hit on me like this. I'm being serious here, only you can help me."

"Why don't you start by telling me what kind of help you're seeking?"

"… Uhm, will you hear my story?"

"This girl… Is that even a question? You know my intentions towards you. Let's go and sit and I'll be your ears." Not waiting for her to do it, I pulled her to the same table where we sat around before, "Ah, wait. I'll just inform those at the neighboring clubroom first."

After taking out my phone to send a simple message to the three at the Book Club telling them that I'm in this room, my focus then turned to the girl who's probably trying to think how she would start.

"Although I want to say we have all day, there are others waiting for me, don't worry about anything and tell it to me as it is. I'll try to understand it myself."

Compared to before, being this close to her, Mina was already not trying to steer clear away from me. If I want, I can reach my hand to her waist to pull her even closer but of course, at this point, I still have to control myself. That kiss she initiated before was her surrendering at my stubbornness in my desire to steal her.

Well, of course, it's a lot different than how a normal girl would do it. Being in a relationship with Haruko made not just her but all of them becoming bold like that. Back then, Himeko also responded to my kiss after easing up her mind on the thought of me courting her. Let's call it 'courting' now since I got the blessing of Haruko to make them fall in love with me.

We're all far from normal so even our version of courting was a lot different than how those at the same age as us do it.

"No. It's not like that… You see, do you remember? I told you about my mother teaching me how to brew tea." Mina started.

Although I almost burst my bladder from drinking her tea back then. I couldn't deny that her tea was definitely delicious. If I were to choose, I wanted her to prepare that for me everyday. Of course, one or two cups are enough. Not a whole teapot.

In any case, is the help she needed about her tea? Or her mother?

"Un. What about it?"

Like earlier, it took her a few seconds to gather her thoughts and when she did, Mina lowered her eyes and she seemingly sunk down in her seat. "… I accidentally bragged about it to her. That my tea-making skill was recognized and praised by someone."

"That someone, is it me?"

"Who else? Aside from Haru and everyone in this club, only you got the chance to take a sip of the tea I personally brewed."

"I see. It's a surprise, you can brag. I thought you'll also be somewhat reserved in your home."

Well, I could imagine her closeness with her mother. She took the time to impart her skills to Mina after all. But for this girl to brag, it's not in her nature. More like, I will expect her to keep what happened between us a secret and even our conversation.

"Uhh… Yes, I'm reserved. But my mother... She's always trying to come up with new ways to prepare tea and I'm the one testing it for her."

"I see. Then something happened that you ended up bragging about your own skills to her?"

Perhaps my guess was spot on, Mina slightly flinched.

Upon seeing that, I sneakily inched closer to her.

I want to see her reaction closely. At this distance, I put my hand behind her and slowly crawl it to her other side. She's occupied with her story so… she hadn't noticed that the distance of at least half a meter when we sat down was already reduced to less than a fourth of it. It's not wrong to call this as us huddled closely together.

"... Un. She told me to come up with my own way and she will come up with her own. Then… she told me to bring that someone to be the judge."

What is this mother-daughter rivalry? If my guess is correct then her mother got hurt by her recent feedback or if not hurt, she wanted to test her daughter's skills and Mina bragging about it resulted in her mother involving me in it…

"I think I now understand the situation. But you can tell her that it's Haruko, right? Or any of the four girls with you. Why does it have to be me?"

"…I slipped and told her that it's a boy."

With me already this close to her, the minute details that were happening on her were clearly captured by my eyes, the reddened ears and neck of hers. She's totally embarrassed by what she's telling me.

"Mina… Tell me, are you naturally clumsy?"

"I'm not! I just got carried away…" Raising her voice and matching my gaze to deny it, Mina almost tumbled.

Luckily, I'm already so close to her that I immediately got a hold of her. My arm behind her took the chance to grab onto her waist and my other arm holding onto her shoulder.

"Seeing you flustered and embarrassed like this… It's making me want to come with you and introduce myself as your boyfriend."

"No. Idiot! I never told her you're my boyfriend." Breaking my gaze with me again, Mina swiped away my hold on her shoulder before shrinking down again.

There's already an imaginary steam coming off her head. The headstrong and cool Mina from back then has now reduced to this state with just one embarrassing story.

And well, she's telling it to me because I'm the only one who can help her. If not for that, I'm sure I will only hear this event from Haruko's mouth.

"But I'm sure that's what's in her mind if you bragged about being praised by a boy. Won't it be better to introduce me like that?"

"... Ugh stop your nonsense. Will you help me or not?" Mina grumbled. And her tone was already almost close to pleading. If I continue teasing her, she would either storm off the room or cry on the spot.

"Don't you think asking like that is useless? If it will allow me to spend time with you then my answer is always yes… Besides, I can't let you bring in any other guy to substitute me."

"As if I know any other guy…"

"Right. I'm flattered. Can I kiss you, Mina?"

"Stop being shameless. I'll kiss you when it's over. It will be out of gratitude."

"Can't I ask for an advanced payment?"

"No. If you can't wait then I'll look for another guy." Clicking her tongue Mina pushed away my face that was inching closer to her.

"As if you know any other guy."

Throwing her words back at her, Mina's face turned black as she bit her lips.

"Ugh… Go. Leave me alone now."

"But I'm still feeling comfortable like this with you." I tightened my arm around her waist, pulling her closer to me. We're now in the same state as last week. Feeling her body this close to me, I could push her down now and she would be powerless to resist.

However, I wouldn't ever do that.

At this point, I'm just trying to tease her. Besides Mina saying to leave her alone was also without any compelling force. It's like how one tries to deny something when what one meant was clearly the opposite.

"Well, I'm not. I'll go back to Haru's side."

Now, she's trying to escape because if she continues, she will really succumb to my teasing.

Well then, let's leave it at this. Thanks to her bragging I now have a chance to truly spend some quality time with her. What else can I ask for? Moreover, it will be in front of her mother. Ah. Let's see, I'll introduce myself as a close friend first when that time comes.

"Haa… Alright, I'll remember what you said, kiss me when it's over. By the way, can you at least tell me when it will happen?"

I released my hold onto her and went back to the same distance. Due to that, Mina released a sigh of relief as if she got out of a dangerous situation.

"Soon. I still need to come up with a new recipe. You will keep visiting me, right? I'll have you drink my tea whenever you're here and give me feedback. I'll make sure that it will be your favorite flavor."

"I see. I was just thinking that it must be nice to always drink your tea. I'll come by everyday."

"Un. Now go." Mina stood up and pulled me by the arm before pushing me towards the door.

"Alright, you don't need to push me away, I will go. See you tomorrow, Mina." I pulled the door open and stepped out of it but before I closed it, I turned back to her. "Ah. By the way, you looked really lovely. I wish I could see more of that."

"Will you continue your teasing and be kicked or will you obediently close that door?"

"I will tease you before closing this door." Reaching my hand, I slowly circled it to the back of her head before pulling her into a kiss.

Although she could actually resist given that I intentionally moved slowly, Mina didn't resist it and our lips once again met for the second time.

A minute later, Mina pulled her head away and took a step back taking my hand off the doorknob. "… See you tomorrow shameless guy. Don't forget." After reminding me like that, the last I saw from her was her tongue sticking out before she pushed the door closed.

That girl… I'm becoming more fond of her. Well then, time to go home with Nami and Aya.