Stealing Spree

The same as yesterday, I put Coach Ayu down on the sickroom’s bed and went to get medicine for her fever.

Minutes later, Sena showed up in the room with water and towel, all ready to tend to the sick woman on the bed. I messaged her as soon as I put Coach Ayu down so she probably cut her shower time short, evident by her wet hair that she failed to dry completely.

While we both sat down and looked after Coach Ayu, I told Sena what happened. She listened to everything I said first before commenting on it.

“I can’t say I’m entirely glad, Ruki. I just know that it’s for the best if that will happen. You two have been too awkward to each other, after all. Even before I teased her about having a crush on you. Do you think I won’t notice it?” Sena reached for my hand and squeezed my palms. This was her way to vent whatever negative feelings she acquired upon learning about it.

Even if she’s already expecting it, being faced with the reality of the situation would still hit her like a dull arrow shot from far away. It would still hurt even if she wasn’t pierced by it.

Surely, that’s what they’re all feeling whenever I introduce a new girl to them. Not that I experienced the pain they endured. Nonetheless, I was widely aware that I was doing them wrong, and that included even the new girl I introduced to them.

In the end, I was the only one with little to no repercussions whenever that would happen.

I raised my other hand for Sena to press as well. Even if just a little, I wanted her to vent whatever she was feeling to me rather than keep it bottled up.

While enduring her thumb strongly pressing on my palm, I replied, “Nothing has been decided yet. Her fever returned before that happened so… it would still be put on hold. That’s better, don’t you think so? Coach Ayu can still change her mind after thinking about it thoroughly.”

“Haven’t you already decided to accept her? If she changed her mind then you’re both going back to square one.”

Sena was truly concerned over Coach Ayu and I guess, I also admire that. She’s someone who’s always with her throughout her journey in her boxing career after all. If someone knows Coach Ayu better than me, then it’s only Sena.

It’s no wonder she found out and became certain about Coach Ayu’s interest in me.

“Mhm… Still, I can’t force her if she doesn’t want to, right? True, I will definitely feel bitter if that ends up being her choice and I will possibly try to get close to her again when I find a chance in the future – since I already came up with this decision to not run away with my interest in her. However, forcing her will always be out of the question. And that’s the same for all of you.” I paused for a while as my lips stretched into a small smile. It’s for reassuring her that I wouldn’t just fall into self-deprecating again.

After that, I continued, “Embracing my abnormality as well as this desire that can’t be quelled, the best thing I can do for now is try not to always act on it and set some boundaries that I will never violate. As you all know, the most important thing I have to do is to build that future and keep all of you happy so that my worst fear of you leaving me will not happen.”

Upon hearing that, Sena’s concerned gaze settled on my face. After a few seconds, she slowly nodded her head and kissed me tenderly. “You’re doing that already. Even at this moment, I’m happy just being with you. As for Inaho-neesan, you’re right that giving her more time is better. I might also talk to her. We can lay what’s inside our minds and through it, help her understand what it is she truly wants.”

For her to call Coach Ayu with her first name as well as the endearment as her older sister, Sena was truly speaking from the bottom of her heart.

A while later, Sena put our chairs together as she snuggled herself inside my embrace. Our conversation continued but the topic soon went in a different direction. Sena began talking about her experience with the strict yet considerate coach and older sister. And when she was done with that, I picked the girl up and laid her down on the neighboring bed and started becoming intimate with her while we looked after the patient.

In that way, we still managed to spend quality time with the two of us until it was time for me to leave.

Coach Ayu woke up halfway through it and silently watched us. Only when we stood up from the bed did we notice her slightly opened eyes. None of us mentioned what happened before she collapsed and Sena offered to take her home again.

To not make it awkward for Coach Ayu, I didn’t insist on walking them right at the front gate of the Imai household. I separated from them at the intersection that leads to the train station. Like always, I escorted them with my gaze, making sure that nothing would go wrong before continuing to my destination.

Once I got to sit down inside the train, I messaged Sena, updating her that I safely reached the station and asking her to update me later.

And while I was at it, I checked every message from my girls.

Well, like I planned, I had another destination before going home today.

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I rode the train for close to an hour before it reached my destination, a shopping district located in the middle of our city.

It’s close to the hotel of the Itou Family as well as the venue where Asahi held her concert before.

In that shopping district, apart from the shops lined up on various streets, the only shopping mall in the city could be found there.

I planned to get everyone a gift. Although I might not be able to get something expensive for them, I was determined to get something that they would like.

For example, Otoha still loved stuffed toys. It’s the best time to add another one to her collection.

For Akane, I was thinking of getting a necklace for her with a locket that could store a photo inside.

I already made the list anyway. Before getting Misaki’s replacement pin, I would be roaming the whole shopping district to get everyone their present which I planned to give to them as a surprise. Of course, Akane and Miwa-nee would be getting theirs first and I would ask them to not tell anyone about it…

No matter what, everyone loves that kind of surprise.

Thirty minutes in, I already got at least more than half of what I planned to buy. Both of my arms were already filled with bags and even the bag that contained what I wore in the gym was occupied with some of the smaller gifts I bought.

Upon reaching the center of the mall, I spied empty benches. Thinking I should at least rest before pushing on to look for the last items on my list, I approached that place.

However, it was at that moment that I saw someone that made me curious. Coming from the opposite direction that I came from, there’s a girl clad in thick clothes, a bonnet, a pair of sunglasses as well as a fancy face mask.

It wouldn’t take a genius to understand that it’s a disguise or rather, a poor attempt to blend in the crowd. Because by wearing all of that, she’s sticking out even more than me.