Stealing Spree

"Isn't that the chance you're waiting for? He finally wants to talk to you."

After replying like this to Hina's message, I observed her reaction from where I was.

As expected, the girl bit her lips and turned her head to me. Perhaps, she's trying to see if I was serious with my answer.

"What if he tells me that he accepts my feelings? What will you do?"

"Hina, like I said before. The choice is all yours. If this is before, I will say I am going to steal you back if that's what he will say… However, on the off chance that he truly changed after a day and you choose to be with him, I won't stop you. Isn't this what we talked about this Tuesday?"

Right. This was how it went back then. If she would really choose him after everything that happened between us, I wouldn't blame her and I would give up.

But that didn't mean I would stop caring for her.

"Don't worry, I will be there. So that if something unexpected happens, I will be able to reach you in time."

I sent a second message to Hina before replying to Nami. Well, the girl was nearby so she heard what Kazuo said to Hina.

Despite her observer skills, she's still confused if that guy really changed or not.

Nonetheless, she's now worrying more about Hina and what that guy might do.

"I'm going to eavesdrop on them later. To make sure that nothing can go wrong. But you see, I told Hina to make the decision by herself. If she still wanted to be with him then…"

"It's not like you to give up, Ruu."

"Perhaps that was another change in me? Either way, I already told her that I won't force her to become mine the other day.

It's almost a month since the change. Although I acted petty to Ogawa wherein I told him that I would steal everyone from him, I would respect Hina's decision, whatever that is.

As for Izumi-senpai… Perhaps my only goal was to stop her from wasting her life away on that guy. If after this plan that I cooked up failed to change her mindset about Ogawa then… I would also let her decide for herself.

The most pressing issue was Ogawa. Did he really change or not?

I had to observe him.

Nonetheless, there's no way he would be able to get Nami back.

"I see. What can I say? I'm glad to see you slowly changing before my eyes. You're forceful with me after all."

Well, it's not as forceful as before but let's not tell her that.

I only put her in situations where I could take advantage of her. From holding her hand to hugging her until we eventually kissed, all of those weren't that forced. She could reject those practice sessions if she wished to.

"Really? Do you want a redo, Nami? Courting you normally, confessing to you and asking you out."

"Hmm. That sounds wonderful, Ruu. But no. What we have is a special memory between us. It's quite fun to look back on it. You did trick me to accept that advice of yours and now here we are." Nami replied with a smirking emoji at the end. She's being playful again.

That advice was the one that led to the Act and eventually stealing her affection completely.

True, it's a special memory between us. It's not normal courting but perhaps in Nami's eyes, that's a lot better than the traditional ones where the guy would confess and the girl would accept.

After a while, the class settled down when Shio entered the classroom.

Not like the rare days where she's blooming, this beautiful teacher of mine was flaunting her commanding side again.

Due to that, those who wanted to raise their hands to start the day on a good note by asking a silly question instantly put their hand down.

After the usual greeting led by Kanzaki, Shio began her homeroom.

Well, we already agreed to also restrain the little nuance wherein we would be staring at each other or even the unconscious smile we would unknowingly put on whenever our gazes would meet.

Naturally, when her class began, I put my phone back to focus on her lesson. Although it was difficult to properly learn English, I was probably two times more focused in her class because, you know, she's my woman. Sometimes I also receive some kind of after-class or private lessons from her. Whether it be when we're on the bed or not.

According to Shio, becoming fluent in that language would be useful once I began wandering the adult world.

It's the universal language. In every country, even without knowing the native language, as long as one can talk and comprehend English, they will be fine.

After Shio's class, I sent her a message thanking her for the new knowledge I acquired from her lesson.

Although it's unneeded, this kind of small thing was enough to keep our relationship fresh.

Seeing her smile upon reading my message was too satisfying.

Most likely, she's the same. Knowing that I was keen on listening in her class, her duty as a teacher was being fulfilled.

I would never take advantage of the fact that we're in an intimate relationship to take it easy in her class. That's disrespectful.

Due to that, I always get extra pampering from her whenever we’re alone. That's to show how satisfied she was with me.

Time passed and as soon as the bell indicating the end of the 4th period rang, Ogawa stood up and Hina followed after him.

Before they disappeared through the door, Hina's pleading eyes found me, asking me to follow them.

After informing Nami, Aya and Satsuki that they should go first to the empty clubroom where we would be eating our lunch, I stood up and followed after the two.

Since its lunch break, a sea of students instantly filled the hallways but considering Ogawa wanted to talk to her in a private location, it's easy to guess their destination.

Outside the school building.

Whatever that guy was planning, I had to know.

Because you see, after pushing him to the edge and seeing how he transformed from a coward who could only glare at me or fantasize over his relationship with Nami to the calm guy who arrived earlier, I had to confirm what's wrong with him.

Did he get abducted by the aliens who cured his cowardice?

Or perhaps, he's still sick and he thought this was still a dream.

Ah. That second one was unlikely. Otherwise, he would approach me and stab me continuously to vent his accumulated frustration.

After a few minutes of walking outside the School Building, I found the two somewhere behind the three buildings and near the Equipment Storage Room I organized with Rae before.

Its surrounding was covered by trees so even if someone passed by, it would be hard to notice that there's someone near it.

I stealthily moved from tree to tree, using it to hide from that coward's gaze until I entered the range where I could hear their conversation.

Well, since the coward probably thought that no one could follow them, as soon as they started talking, he stopped looking around, letting me approach this close.

Now, let's hear what he has to say.