Stealing Spree

After doing the photo for the two girls, they went inside the bath while I took care of the dishes.

I was tempted to get in with them but I was aware that if I did that, I wouldn't be able to restrain myself from jumping onto them.

It would end up with all of us coming in late to school.

That's why even when they urged me to join in the bath, I only gave the two girls another squeeze and kiss.

Besides, I would need more time to go to school while theirs was only a 15 minutes walk from here.

I already received messages from my girls, worrying that I would be late again.

Well, they also mentioned how different I appeared from the photo Yukari and Elizabeth sent in their group.

My hair was combed upwards neatly much like how one would like when they attend their job interviews or whenever they would attend a formal event.

If I put on the glasses Ririka gave me, I would certainly look like an intellectual.

Ah. Well, that's just my own assessment. The girls have different reactions and according to Yukari, they had started to think about what kind of hairstyle they would make me wear when their turn came.

Those girls from my school, especially Aya, were happy enough to collect those photos they took. According to that adorable girl, it would be hard for our classmates to recognize that it's me if I showed up like that.

Well, perhaps I'd try experimenting myself soon. But in the meantime, these 'disguises' they're making for me were enough to satisfy them. Besides, no one found out yet that the guy sending Akane to school was the same guy sending another girl to their school gate.

Well, it only happened once with Ririka. The second time will be today, with these two girls. As long as no one's perceptive enough to notice or no one can recognize me as their schoolmate from middle school then we're safe.

The only thing we need to be wary of now is that Ka-- the newspaper club guy.

While waiting for them to finish their bath, I continued cleaning and tidying up, especially the room we just used. Well, it's better than doing nothing. If I only sat down and waited, I might succumb to the temptation of barging in the bath.

In the end, I still kept the hairstyle Yukari and Elizabeth did and instead of wearing my uniform back, Elizabeth gave me something to wear to disguise myself again. This time I probably look like a college student because of my attire. I'd just remove it later before boarding the train.

-

-

As we walked along the street towards their school, we once again gathered the attention of those walking with us.

And earlier… another student from their school chanced upon us going out of their house.

Although Elizabeth had no idea who that guy was, that guy's eyes widened as if he couldn't believe that there's another guy in that house.

Most likely he's someone admiring Elizabeth from afar and given that it was known how she was a chuunibyou in their school, that guy had no idea that Elizabeth was in a relationship.

However, if seeing me and Elizabeth leaving their house was enough to make his eyes widened, seeing both Yukari and Elizabeth hooked their arms on mine made him slack-jawed before running away towards the direction of their school.

"That guy. Do you really not know him? He might talk about what he saw to your parents."

Naturally, I was concerned that if her parents were to hear about this incident, she would be grounded again.

"Not to worry, my Prince. This Princess will take care of it. How do you think about sending him to the Void Dimension to forget what he saw?"

"Be serious. If something happened, tell me. If you can't resolve it on the first try, let me do the next attempt. Also, update me regularly. Not that I wanted to monitor what's happening around you… I'm just worried that my coming to visit you would result in you being put in a difficult situation again."

"Uhm. Ruki. Don't worry. I'm here. I'll support Risa to make an excuse."

Yukari interjected when she saw me about to get worked up.

Back when Elizabeth was grounded because we were caught in her room by her parents, Yukari told me that she watched and observed how worried I was for Elizabeth when that happened.

Well, I only heard about this through one of our conversations in Messenger.

That once again proved how oblivious I was about my feelings for them before.

As we continued our walk towards their school gate, more and more students showed up walking along with us. And upon noticing us, some of them couldn't help but wonder.

"Who's that?"

"Don't you know? She's that famous 1st-year chuunibyou and her bestfriend.

"No, not them. That guy between them. Look how close they are."

"Hmm? Why are you asking? Just keep your eyes on the road!"

"I'm just curious. They both look at him affectionately."

"I don't know. Maybe you're just envious that you're not walking with a girl?"

Similar conversations started to be thrown in our direction but apart from me, both Yukari and Elizabeth were too focused on stealing glances at me and observing the girls' reactions who were trying to take a glimpse of my face.

I don't know. It's almost the same thing that happened last Monday with Ririka.

When I was with Akane, the focus was always on her but now that I only look a bit different, why do those girls keep on glancing at me?

Ah. Well, let's just ignore those reactions.

I was only here for my girls. Apart from them, the other girls were insignificant. Even the couples were something I wasn't actively seeking out now. My desire was already being filled up by my girls and… Ogawa's suffering.

"My Prince, our castle is always open for your return."

"See you later, Ru--"

When we reached their school gate, Yukari stopped herself from completing my name. Well, it's not like they would instantly link me to the one who sent Akane early in the morning.

All of the students coming in would be seeing me for the first time today.

Patting both of their heads, the two then grabbed it and put my palm on their cheeks.

Ignoring the gazes of those coming in, the two girls rubbed their cheeks on my palm until they're satisfied.

When they finally let go and entered their school, I instantly felt the gazes of those behind me.

Well, it's not a new feeling so… same as the first time, I made my way back against the wave of students without meeting their gazes.

As my distance to the school gate widened, those staring at me became less and less.

And when I reached the front of the station, apart from the side glances of those curious ones, there's no more unnecessary attention.

Entering the premises of the station and moving towards the bathroom to remove my disguise, I unexpectedly ran into someone else.

Someone from my past that didn't chase after me.

Although I instantly recognized her, the girl knitted her brows as if she's thinking if I already had seen her before.

"Excuse me, do I know you?"