Stealing Spree

Upon returning home, I expected to see a rather chaotic sight considering everyone that was supposed to come had already arrived.

However, that's not what I came home to. In our living room, I got treated by the sight of my girls crowded around Eimi.

They seemed very focused on something that only those who received me at the door noticed that I had returned.

Looking at it, I found Aya and Ria on her left and right. Behind her, Aoi’s arms slung around her neck, partly hugging her and partly combing her smooth hair. And in front, Hina was comfortably seated alongside Saki. Both of their heads were lifted, fully focused on Eimi.

The other girls were also nearby, seated on the floor or on the sofa.

Why are they so focused on Eimi?

Because the girl became their storyteller for today. And right as I stepped inside the living room, she was at the part where she was narrating a tale of something that happened last year which I could only vaguely remember by now.

“… Ruki always thought that he was a background character, right? In fact, he’s not like that at all. There was that one time when a girl in our class approached him during our break and confessed to him right in front of his desk. I won’t say her name but she’s one of those on the prettier and popular side.”

I'm always a background character though? Classmate A, right? I couldn't help but rebut in my mind.

In any case, it's true. Something like that did happen before. Now that she mentioned it, I think it’s one of those girls who wanted to belong to Machida’s normie group of five. I turned her down right there and then.

“I said confession but her motive for it is like a challenge that came from the popular group she wanted to belong to. Because Ruki was known for his tendency to opt out in everything that would make him stand out, he was often the topic of those bored out of their minds.” Eimi continued. I could sense a little vindication in her voice. She's not amused by that. Even though it was already in the past, the girl now had this sense of protectiveness toward me.

At this point, the girls finally noticed me. However, instead of running to me like they always did, they remained where they were seated and only waved their hands at me.

They’re that invested in the story that Eimi was telling them. Even Yua, who was supposed to be ready to go, couldn't lift her round butt off the floor.

As for their storyteller, her eyes slanted downwards as an apologetic expression passed by her face. She even bit her lips, probably feeling bad for being caught by me, telling tales from my past.

To answer that, I nodded at her, signaling that it was fine to continue.

It’s not like I was keeping them a secret. Furthermore, they’re different from the embarrassing stories of mine that Akane and the others loved to unearth.

For sure, they found the tales she's narrating as interesting. Because it’s something I could barely remember, they wouldn't be able to hear it from me.

Besides, in a way, hearing it from Eimi also refreshed my mind about it. The same as before, it's like the foggy memories became a little clearer.

If ever they ask me for more details, I may now be able to provide them.

Like how I caught that girl talking behind my back, insulting me with degrading words as if I humiliated her for that failed confession. Or how she blocked my path when I was about to meet one of them back then and asked me to buy her something as my token of apology.

Uh. Well, I probably shouldn't tell them about it, right? I could imagine them raising their blades and starting a crusade to punish her for it.

“Uhm. Ruki, you probably didn’t remember it, You turned her down rather politely. You kept up that kind of mysterious and cold yet acceptable attitude throughout the year.” Eimi continued. This time, however, she directed it to me. Her eyes focused on me, seemingly waiting for me to affirm it.

“Was I like that? I only remembered that I never tried to get to know everyone in our class. As for that girl… Let's just say, I was never interested in her.” I scratched my head and acted a little embarrassed which drew rolling eyes from most of my girls. If not for the current situation, they’d probably shout in chorus, calling me out for my shamelessness.

Eimi laughed at my answer before agreeing with me. And since she got my approval to tell them more of my stories last school year, she continued her narration.

While they were focused on that, I used that moment to check on the girls who arrived while I was gone one by one.

Edel, as always, channeled her inner koala upon seeing me. She was among those who waited for me at the door. And since then, her arms remained wrapped around me.

At first, she latched on my side before moving to my front. When we arrived in the living room, she moved to my back, rubbing her cheeks on it.

She only let go of me when Haruko pulled her to the side, freeing me.

Kana, on the other hand, only asked for a kiss and hug before she happily sat back down next to Rae.

And speaking of Rae, since it’s her first time coming to our house, the girl looked a little out of place. But when I approached her after guiding Kana, she latched onto my arm and teasingly whispered, “I've seen your room, Ruki. I cannot wait to sleep with you on it."

Chii and Hifumi were together with Hiyori on one side, they're like the others, very interested in Eimi's story.

When I approached them, Hiyori recharged her Ruki energy and whispered to me if it was fine to tell the others about how I always sing idol songs for her when she's down.

I rejected it right away. For sure, the others would request the same thing. I might just become an idol for all of them if that's the case.

Chii pulled me down to sit in the middle of them, allowing me to check on her and Hifumi at the same time.

"Kii, take care of Hifumi. She's kinda overwhelmed to see the others." Chii said after the girl greeted me with a kiss.

Hifumi reacted right away and pulled on my arm before saying, "No. I'm not… I just had a hard time coming to terms that everyone here loves you."

"I see. It must've surprised you."

"Y-yeah, everyone here is too pretty. I cannot beat Chii and Hana when it comes to that but now, there's more of them."

"This girl, this wasn't a competition. In my eyes, you're equally pretty and you all have your own charms unique to each of you."

"You're just saying that to comfort me."

"Not really. Why don't we ask them?"

"Eh… N-no need."

"Ruki is right, you're pretty, Hifumi-chan. I can imagine you becoming an idol without your glasses." Hiyori interjected and laughingly pointed that out. As an idol otaku, she wouldn't simply use that on anyone. She had an eye for it.

"Me? An idol? That's absurd!" Fixing her glasses to keep it on her face, Hifumi shyly turned her head away.

Seeing that, I couldn't help but add to it, teasing the girl, "Mhm. Hiyori is right. Next time, let me hear you sing."

With this, the girl completely lost it. Without anywhere to hide, she retreated into my embrace, not wanting to lift her head again in fear that the others would also say the same thing.

In any case, since I still had to finish my rounds, I carried the girl with me until she voluntarily returned to Chii's side.

Finishing with this, I stopped disturbing their focus on Eimi's 'tales of Ruki' and eventually moved to the kitchen where Akane, Haruko, and Yae gathered.

It has been a while since I saw the three of them together. And as always, they had this confident smile on their lips as if no one could topple their position in my mind. With a meaningful smile on their lips, the three girls received me, pulling me down on one of the seats before taking their positions. Akane on my lap and the other two at my sides.

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