Stealing Spree

Nami's neighborhood was unlike mine. Even if the moon was already up-high, illuminating this dark night where street lights couldn't reach, the people were still active.

And being someone from this neighborhood, even just after leaving the Manga Café, we ran into people who were familiar with Nami.

Luckily, it's already dark and people wouldn't really call out if they saw someone familiar. At best, they would give a curious glance. However, we're still as close as a couple that it would surely be taken as a fact for days to come.

Whether Ogawa would hear about it or not, it's not in our hands anymore.

"Nami, we've been walking in this street for a while now."

"Hmm? Just go on, I'll tell you when it's time to turn." Still with that satisfied smile on her face, Nami's walking pace slowed down as if she wanted this moment to last for even a second longer.

I noticed her intention and naturally, I wouldn't point it out to her. We have the same idea in our minds after all.

While we're walking, I already called Akane and with it being their first time talking face to face, add their current state at the moment, I thought I was watching two cats fighting as they both purred at each other.

Well, Akane was certainly jealous but after telling her that I would be going home after walking Nami to their house, she calmed down.

And likewise, Nami became slightly jealous of the fact that I'm going home to Akane. She also calmed down when Akane calmed down and stopped hissing at her. In the end, the two let out a laugh as they both agreed that it's my fault for being a playboy. On that note, they're in sync.

In any case, they already had some interaction through their group and the way they both became jealous has a definite reason. It just so happens that their quirks coincided. Perhaps this would be a monthly occurrence now. I have to prepare for that.

After Akane, I also checked on Nao and Shio. Nao was already in her room, lying down while writing something in her notebook. When I asked what she's doing, she's actually listing the colleges and universities near my house. With that guy out of the way, she could now focus on the more important things. But for Nao, the important thing was how it would be convenient to attend a college near my house. That way, her plan to live with me during her college days could be realized.

When Nami heard about that detail, there's a silent inquiry in her eyes as she stared at me… Understanding the girl, I told her that if she wanted to and she's allowed, she could do the same.

Upon hearing that, Nami was truly overjoyed that even if there were people around us, she reached in to kiss me.

Unlike with Akane and Nao, Shio only sent a message through the Messenger with a screenshot of her phone screen that showed that Nobuo's message about where they would meet. She replied to that, changing the location near our neighborhood.

That way, she made it easy for me to reach her. Also, there are still two hours before the appointed time. She's currently at our house talking with Miwa-nee over a few drinks, helping themselves with my father's wine collection...

The two became that close already. With Miwa-nee acting like an older sister, the two were the only members of the adult group among my girls. Let's not talk about whether another adult would be added or not... I'm not actively looking for a new target.

"You're not deliberately trying to make us take a long detour, right?" With how long we're walking, I thought we should've already reached our destination.

Back when we first met outside the school, she reached the Train Station quickly. But now that I'm walking her to her house from there, it's already more than 15 minutes of walk and we probably still haven't reached their specific street.

Perhaps back at that time when we first met outside the school, she already left her house when she sent me the message asking about where I was…

"I wish I could do that. But it's already dark. Why not sleep over at our house?" Nami lowered her voice and a hint of embarrassment could be picked out from it.

Nonetheless, I knew that this was her attempt to tease me. How would she react if ride on it?

"Really? Then, don't mind me crashing in your room."

Upon hearing my answer, Nami froze as if she couldn't process what she heard. Her steps halted and she tugged at my arm with a slight force. "Huh?! Wait… I'm joking, Ruu… My room is… My mother…"

Patting her head to calm her down, I pulled her into my embrace. "Relax, I'm teasing you. However, if it's possible, I really will take that offer."

"… In the future, it will be possible."

"I see. Well then, I will settle to be introduced to your mother first."

And like the first one, she froze again with my suggestion, with puppy eyes, Nami lifted her head and stared into my eyes. "Ruu…"

Dropping my head to take her lips into a kiss once more, I smiled at her "And I'm teasing you again. Don't worry, I'll only send you until up to the gate of your home."

"Ugh… Why am I always losing at you?"

"Because my Nami loves me a lot."

"I can't deny that… But let me win next time! Back then, you said you're scared of me, right?"

"Well, you're still a little scary. However, when we're together, you're always transforming into my lovable Nami."

Her observation skill was still high and she could see things a lot better especially about our classmates. Even the way of how she continued dropping hints for Ogawa to pick up was scary.

Nonetheless, whenever in this kind of mood, Nami would turn to a little lamb that could easily be teased.

As we continued to walk through their neighborhood, we finally arrived at the street where her house was located.

It's already night so only those leaving to buy something at a nearby vending machine or convenience store could be seen outside the street.

Noticing Nami and recognizing her, most of the neighborhood ladies or uncles that we would run into had a knowing smile on their lips. None of them commented but surely it might be the talk of their neighborhood for a few days. Considering there were gossipers among them.

"Is this it?" I asked her when we stopped in front of a two-story house. It's obvious actually since there's their family name at the sign on their fence.

Looking at it from the outside, although it's a bit bigger than Satsuki's house, their house seems to be a bit lonely. Most of their lights turned off.

"Un. Thank you for walking me home, Ruu."

"Are you living alone with your mother?"

"Yes. Sometimes my two brothers will visit us along with their family. Sometimes, Shizu-nee will also stay for a sleepover."

"I see. That's why it appears a bit lonely."

As if my house weren't lonely when I was still living alone… It only started to have colors when Akane started living with me and now there's also Miwa-nee and Minoru.

"Don't worry too much. It's just night, that's why it looked lonely." She answered. After a slight pause, her face that was partly illuminated by the light coming out of their house reddened once more, lowering her head to hide that, Nami's sweet voice smoothly entered my ears. "Uhm… Next time, when everything's over with Kazuo, I'll invite you in. By then, you can crash in my room…"

"If you say it like that, I will not be able to stop myself from kissing you."

"Go ahead. Before you leave, kiss me."

Seeing her being this lovable, there's no way I would pass up this chance. Besides, there were no other eyes looking at us at the moment.

I put my hand on her cheek and gently lifted her head to look up at me. Even if we already kissed for uncountable times, I would never get tired of this girl.

Lowering my head to take her lips, we once again entered in a passionate kiss right in front of her house.

Nami's hand gradually slipped to my back, tightly embracing me. As we gradually enter into a trance, anything that happened in our surroundings became negligible. Minutes eventually passed as our lips continued to savor the last kiss we're sharing today.

However, two voices pulled us out of that state, one coming from their front door and the other, at our side or specifically from the house next to theirs.

"Nanami?" The two voices called out her name.

Looking at the sources of those voices as our lips slowly separated, standing at their front door was Shizu.

And coming out from their gate, Tadano, with a dumbfounded expression on his face

I somewhat expected Shizu but for Tadano, I forgot that he's her childhood friend. I just didn't expect that he was a literal next-door neighbor.

"Shizu-nee. Daiki." Nami answered.

There was a complicated look on Shizu's face as she looked at me. What happened to us earlier was still fresh in her mind. Looking at her eyes, there's still the trace of when she cried… There's the growing urge for me to also go to her to pull her in my arms once again, however, the situation wouldn't allow that.

Besides, I'm with Nami right now. Although she's fine showing our affection to Shizu, the existence of Tadano somehow made her tense.

Taking my eyes off Shizu, I decided to focus and ease whatever Nami was currently feeling.

I tightened my embrace on her. Just like that day when we revealed our relationship to him, I'm hugging her and at the same time, supporting her from behind.

We're both aware that there's the possibility of being caught. But all of that was cast away when we're together. It's already night anyway, for this guy to appear. He's probably waiting for her to show up.

"Are you with him until this late?"

This guy, what's with his inquisitive tone? He should still be convinced of our act. Well, it's not an act anymore but he shouldn't be this inquisitive, right? In their eyes, I'm Nami's boyfriend.

Feeling my arms wrapped around hers, Nami exhaled to calm herself down, and while holding onto my arms, she answered him calmly. "Un. We spend some time together."

Upon hearing that, Tadano somehow snapped but in the end, he couldn't raise his voice when it comes to Nami, "What's the real deal with you two? I heard from Kazuo. What you showed us was all an act. What's this then? Why are you spending time with him?"

Ah… That's why he's like this. That Ogawa talked. A great way to announce how he was cucked…