Stealing Spree

On our return walk, I held Komoe’s hand tightly, keeping her close to me. The girl happily accepted it and even went as far as hugging my arm. If anyone saw us at this moment, they would have easily mistaken us for a couple, openly flaunting our relationship as we strolled down the street.

I didn’t care about it though. And even if the eyewitnesses were students from our school, with the night as our camouflage, no one would recognize us.

As we neared the school gates, we crossed the street and turned onto the bend that would lead us to her house. Only a few minutes of walking remained before we reached our destination.

Perhaps dreading the imminent moment of separation, Komoe looked up at me and squeezed my hand a little tighter.

I glanced down at her, studying her face illuminated by the soft glow of the street lamps. Her lush, soft hair was still her most striking feature, looking as fluffy and smooth as before. My fingers seemed to glide effortlessly through those silky strands whenever I ruffled her hair.

But beyond that familiar trait, a lot had already changed about her.

Her eyes, which once seemed uncertain and filled with hesitation, now appeared more determined and confident. She had grown so much from the girl who once struggled with her self-worth after facing rejection from someone in her class.

The overthinking trait that once kept her from going back to school had now been replaced by her newfound desire and a quiet resolve to continue staying by my side.

Earlier in the day, we shared a meaningful moment. A connection strong enough to wash away any lingering doubts she had about her place in my heart. All those worries were subverted. No longer would she think that I wasn’t interested in her or that she wasn’t good enough for me yet. Komoe had fully grasped that she was no different from my other girls.

I chuckled softly at her words. "Hmm? There you go again. It’s been quite a while since you returned to school, hasn’t it? Why are you still thanking me?"

The girl replied while donning a bright smile, "Why not? I’m still here because of you. You didn’t just bring me back to school. You also introduced me to new people. More... like- minded people who I can trust. Tomiko, Marika-senpai, Shizu-senpai, and all the girls in our clubhouse. And while I’m a little jealous of how close they are to you, I’m really happy you never abandoned me."

Her words made my heart ache in the best way. That’s genuine gratitude behind them. From what I could see, it was a reflection of how much she’d grown.

I smiled at her and replied softly, "I told you before, didn’t I? I promised I would always be there for you. And... by now, I’m sure you’ve noticed, but I’ve come to care for you in the same way I do for them."

Komoe’s eyes sparkled at my words, her hand tightening around mine as her smile grew wider before admitting in a soft voice filled with delight, "I noticed. Your hugs and kisses say it all... Hehe. I bet my sister will ask me again why I’m grinning so much today."

Hearing that, I raised an eyebrow as I got intrigued by that last part.

"Miura-senpai does that?"

"Yep," Komoe giggled, "Come on, Ruki. She’s being too obvious about her interest in you, ’handsome-kun’. Sometimes she asks me about how things are going between us. It’s like she’s checking my ’progress’ with you."

The idea of Komoe’s older sister teasing her about me made me chuckle. "So, Miura-senpai’s been prying, huh?"

Komoe nodded enthusiastically. "Uh-huh! She pretends she’s only half-serious, but I know her enough that she also wants to be like me. She wants to know what it’s like being close to you... though I never tell her everything. That’s just for me."

The girl adorably stuck her tongue out at the end as she looked up, reveling at the imagination of her sister being miffed at her reluctance to share.

"Well, I wouldn’t mind if she asked me directly," I teased, giving Komoe’s hand a gentle squeeze. "But I’m glad you’re keeping some things just between us."

I get it. Miura-senpai was also kinda straightforward when outside their clubroom. But how often do we run with each other? Almost zero. nøvel.coɱ

We met a few days ago but she just playfully stood with me while watching the others play Sagara-senpai’s game.

Komoe’s smile turned a little bashful as she pressed closer to me. "It’s like a secret I want to keep... at least for now. Though, if things keep going like this, I’ll be happy to share more with her one day. Who knows, maybe she’ll want to stand beside you too."

Not you too! Ugh... Well, can I even stop that when her sister was being very obvious with her attraction to me? Though I first thought that she was just teasing me. The more I interacted with her, the less likely that was just a playful banter.

In any case, I smiled at Komoe’s honesty. She had come a long way since the day I met her, and it was clear that her feelings for me had only deepened over time. The fact that she could now talk about her emotions so openly was proof of just how much she’d grown.

"Well, no matter what happens, you’ll always have a special place with me, Komoe," I said softly before pulling her to a quiet corner just a few blocks from their residence. There, I shamelessly claimed her lips again, conveying more of my growing affection for her. Komoe accepted it wholeheartedly.

"You’ve become so much more than I ever expected. And I’m proud of you." I continued after our lips separated.

Her eyes lit up at my words, and for a moment, she looked as if she wanted to say something more, but instead, she simply leaned her head against my chest and smiled, her expression full of contentment. Shortly after, she enjoyed the comfort of my chest as we spent a minute

There.

As we continued to approach her house, the moment between us felt quiet but comforting. Even though our walk was coming to an end, the bond we shared had only grown stronger. "Thank you, Ruki," Komoe whispered as we reached their gates. "I’ll see you tomorrow?" "Of course," I replied, giving her a soft kiss on the forehead.

With that, I watched her disappear into their yard, sending her off with my eyes.

As I was about to turn around to return to the girls, I suddenly felt a presence behind me. Instinctively, I turned, half-expecting Komoe to have come back for another kiss.

But to my surprise, it wasn’t Komoe. Standing there with her hands on her hips, a playful yet sincere expression on her face, was Miura-senpai. Like the last few times I visited their house, she was no longer in her uniform but dressed in casual clothes that perfectly accentuated her enchanting figure. If Nishimura-senpai saw her like this, he’d probably have a nosebleed. Unfortunately for him, he wasn’t here.

"Heh... Look at you glowing. You thought I was Komoe, didn’t you?" she teased, her eyes gleaming with amusement. "Handsome-kun, thank you for escorting my sister. You’re really taking good care of her, huh? I’m jealous."

Ignoring the teasing, I scratched my head and replied, "Don’t mention it, senpai. I’m the reason she’s late getting home. It’s only right that I walk her home."

"Just like yesterday?" She asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Y-yes... Just like yesterday."

Miura-senpai let out a soft chuckle, "Pfft. Come on. It’s not like you to stutter, handsome- kun. Besides, I’m not here to interrogate you. I’m one of the few - or maybe many? - girls who have interacted with you closely. I’m aware of that irresistible charm of yours and your overly considerate nature. It’s no surprise there are a lot of girls around you, most of whom

Are in love with you."

I shrugged, knowing there was no point denying it. "Well, I won’t argue with that."

Amused, she tapped my shoulder.

"Un. You shouldn’t. I don’t care about that, anyway. What I care about is how you treat my sister. And from what I’ve seen, you’re doing a good job. More than that, even. I’m thankful for it. She’s not as troublesome as she used to be. Mama has been really happy about how much she’s changed too. She even mentioned wanting to invite you over again to thank you

Properly."

Auntie Miura, huh? Well, I could accept that since Komoe would like that too. Unfortunately, now’s not the time.

"Oh... You don’t have to bother. I’m just doing my job." I humbly rejected.

"Your job? Oh please, handsome-kun. This is way beyond the scope of your job anymore. Not that I’m complaining." She added with a smirk, folding her arms across her supple chest.

Her gaze softened for a moment before she continued, "Anyhow, I’m sure you have to head back now, right? Don’t let me hold you up. I’m just here to get a glimpse of you."

I couldn’t help but smile at that, appreciating the moment of light-hearted banter and sincerity. And whatever she meant by that, I wouldn’t play dumb and sweep it off like a dense

Idiot.

"Alright, senpai. Thanks for checking in on me. See you tomorrow. I’ll be heading back now." She waved me off with a playful wink. "Go on, Handsome-kun. Don’t keep them waiting too

Long."

With that, I turned and made my way back, feeling a sense of gratitude not just for Komoe, but also for Miura-senpai’s unexpected warmth. She’s something as well and like before, despite her obvious advances she never went over the line.

I guess I should treat her better when I run into her again in the future. Or whenever I visit the

Game Club.

A few minutes later, I returned to the school gate where the next group was ready to go.

This time, I got sandwiched by Arisa and Izumi who each took an arm to lock in their embrace.

The fake delinquent acted like she was forced by Arisa though. So, in return, I switched it up by clasping her hand tightly instead.

When the bus arrived, the three of us took the furthest seat at the back where they used my shoulders as their comfortable pillow.

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