Stealing Spree

Familiar. That’s the first thing that I could think of as soon as the song started to flow into my ears. The soothing voice that was just humming at the start was all too familiar to me. It tickled a part of my memory. However, it would still need a bit more for me to recall who’s the owner of this voice.

Yua might be a singer but the songs she often sang for me or even at that Music Club were of the pop genre. They’re mostly upbeat and cheerful songs.

Akane was also singing for me whenever she would pamper me. However, all of those were love songs with deep meanings that were probably closer to our situation.

But this one… this ‘Steal your Heart’. It’s kind of sentimental and nostalgic. It’s enough to let someone remember something from his or her past. Whether it was a happy or sad occasion.

Nonetheless, compared to what most of the people who would listen to this song would feel from it, this sense of familiarity was stronger.

I could still be wrong but… the melody used in the song and the soothing or refreshing voice of the singer was something I already heard before.

And as someone who was only focused on my desire back then, I could say in finality that this voice belonged to one of them… One of the girls I’d stolen and cut off mercilessly.

Although it’s titled ‘Steal Your Heart’, it’s actually a recounting of the events that probably happened in the singer’s life. This girl next to me on the train recommended this because she probably thought that I would be moved by it and eventually became one of the singer’s fans. Her statement about how my date would love it if I sang it to her was probably her own exaggeration.

True, it would probably make Himeko happy when a straight-faced guy like me suddenly sings for her. Just imagining her beautiful smile as she watched me sing it in front of her was enough for me to have some sort of inclination to just do what this girl suggested.

Nonetheless, I had no idea if I was good at singing or not. That time when Kana and I went to the Karaoke Box wasn’t enough to judge it. And that’s simply because even if I was tone-deaf, the girl would still be too happy to hear me sing for her.

“Onii-san, how is it?” With her grin that was stretched from ear to ear, the girl named Sumire pushed her face forward with the light in it shining ever so brighter.

I had no idea if a longing expression appeared on my face upon hearing the song but judging from how the two girls acted; Sumire was expecting me to say I love it while the other girl named Umi was covering her mouth with both of her hands as if she was shocked, I probably showed a reaction.

“It’s great. But I don’t think I can sing it upon hearing it once.” I answered reservedly.

However, even upon hearing my answer, Sumire’s enthusiasm didn’t lessen; instead, it was even more intensified when she heard me saying that it’s great.

Although those words should come off as a kind gesture to not put them down, I truly think it’s great. Wonderful even. It made me remember that girl… Her name was kind of the opposite of what she’s using now. Asahi – Morning Sun as opposed to Yue – Moon, her real name.

She also somewhat changed her appearance now or it was what her manager thought was better for her. She let her hair grow freely unlike back then wherein she’s keeping it just above her shoulders.

She’s like Miho who confessed to me and got cut off early on. I surely hurt that girl’s feelings that she even made it into this song. The melody might be similar to what I remembered. She was always humming it whenever we’re together or when she’s in a good mood after all. Now that she fitted lyrics to it that retold our story in her perspective… the meaning became totally different.

Nonetheless, since she’s in a better place now, I shouldn’t meddle with her anymore. And that’s probably what she wanted as well.

It’s truly great that she became this popular. I'm happy for her. If she stayed with me, this probably wouldn’t happen.

Although I wanted to send my congratulations to her, I immediately put that idea at the back of my mind. Perhaps, I should just start cheering for her from the shadows of her fans.

Akane probably knew about her and… Yue most likely declined her invitation to that group of theirs and moved on with her life. That silly girl didn’t mention her to me since there’s really no reason to do so. She left it to fate for me to discover her. And if not for her concert today, I probably wouldn’t remember.

In the end, Yue became a moon who’s relying upon the light of someone else, me, to a sun that was constantly shining down from above, giving light to everyone.

That’s great. Truly. Knowing the current state of one of the girls who never looked back again was kind of relieving. Hopefully, the others were also the same.

“That’s fine! Then you just have to listen to the song together. Given how popular Asahi is, your date must’ve heard her song already. If she finds out you listen to the same kind of music, your stocks with her will creep upwards!” Sumire enthusiastically said.

Right. I got so lost in my thoughts that I forgot that there’s this girl who wanted to convert a stranger to a fan of that girl.

“Alright. Pass it to me and I’ll take you up on your advice… However, if this went south, how will you compensate me?” I put on a slight smile on my lips that would probably be taken in as my way to get back at her.

Upon hearing that, the girl always choked on her words and her friend shook her shoulder telling her to stop now.

However, as if she didn’t want to back down, the girl straightened her back and smugly declared. “I’m sure it will go well! And in the off chance that it doesn’t, I’ll treat you to something as compensation for your ruined date. How does that sound?”

“Sumire! What are you saying?!” Her friend shouted in horror. She’s probably worried about her friend being tangled with a stranger they only met on the train.

“I got this, Umi. This Onii-san will surely be successful. And if he does, it will be the other way around, he’ll be treating us to a hearty meal. Moreover, he’ll be another Asahi fan like us.”

So she already thought of what she would demand in case she won, huh? This girl is interesting.

And considering I would sing it for Himeko, I might lose this bet…

Well, even if it’s for my other girls, they would be too excited to hear me sing a song for them.

I guess the arrow I shot curved back to me. And I had no choice but to take it instead of deflecting it.

As the train continued to run and finally reached my destination, I left the train with an unexpected discovery and an unexpected bet that came out of nowhere. Sumire and her friend Umi were from the same middle school as most of my classmates. If Nami and the others were popular seniors, those two probably knew about them.

Naturally, I didn’t ask or their questions would be endless.

In any case, Yue and the bet were put to the back of my mind as I began focusing on this date with Himeko.