Stealing Spree

“I did.”

As I once again answered with full honesty, Hifumi’s expression twisted in clear embarrassment. She put on her glasses, puffed her cheeks adorably, and stepped closer.

“You’re supposed to lie there, you idiot!” The girl huffed and tiptoed to cover my face with her small hand. It’s her way to keep me from seeing her embarrassed.

Good thing she let go of the book she was holding first or I would’ve been smacked by it.

I loved that reaction from her though. I wouldn’t mind being hit by a book if I could see it one more time.

Reflexively, my arms moved at the same time as she did. They circled to her back just in case she tripped. But by doing so this made it look like I was welcoming her in my embrace and that brought her more shame than she was expecting.

The girl stumbled forward. Although she quickly put her hand in front of her, it’s not enough to prevent her from bumping into me. A moment later, her forehead hit my chest and she let out a barely audible groan.

And having realized what I did, I kept at it and eventually tightened my arms around her and pulled her closer before she could even back away.

Well, this was also my way to keep her from falling. But surely, that’s not how it looked. Other customers who were in the same aisle saw us and reacted differently. They either shook their heads for our public display or whistled before smiling in clear interest at what they’re witnessing.

Hifumi was unaware of that and neither was Chii.

Feeling the contact with me, Hifumi flinched comically. Moments later, the girl overheated. When she lifted her gaze to look at me, the glasses that she had just wiped fogged up from the rising temperature of her face and her hand. She weakly pushed on my chest.

From that gesture, Hifumi looked like she was in a dilemma whether to back away or remain in her position.

But that ended quickly, it was not even five seconds when the girl moved her arms to hug me back. Even with her fogged-up glasses, the girl never broke eye contact with me.

Whatever she wanted to say, they got stuck in her mind.

Understanding her state, I nodded at her before releasing her into my arms. But instead of letting her go completely, I clasped her hand on mine before saying, “Let’s go somewhere we can talk.”

Hifumi agreed to it before her mind solely focused on our hands. She probably even forgot that Chii was with her.

In any case, I didn’t leave that girl behind. Though I didn’t do the same for Chii, the fake gyaru took my other side and hugged my arm.

In this way, we left the bookstore with everyone’s eyes focused on us. Like earlier, they had different reactions. Envy, amazement, and anger.

Though none of them approached us, they all pointed their fingers at me, calling me different derogatory names.

Obviously, I ignored them and guided the two somewhere we could sit down and talk.

-

-

Around ten minutes later, with a tray in my hand, I returned to the table where the two girls were sitting together.

I brought them to a shop that seemed to be a trend nowadays. A milktea shop. It’s that kind of drink that mixes milk and tea – obviously – and gives it different flavors; mostly fruity ones, and fills almost a fourth of the tumbler with tapioca pearls.

Well, the two liked it anyway. Now that I got what they preferred, I handed it to them which the two excitedly received.

“Oh! An-rin and Kushii always bring me to a shop like this… I really like this flavor, Kii. Thank you!” Chii exclaimed. Her heart eyes were already gone and she now returned to at least show a bit of her gyaru persona.

On the other hand, Hifumi silently sipped hers while looking at me, partly conflicted and partly gratified.

“Mhm… I’m glad you liked it.” I replied before I joined them in tasting the drink.

For my honest evaluation, it’s not really a good combination for me. I’d prefer tea or coffee over this… In any case, since I already bought it, it’s a waste to throw it away after buying it.

For the first few minutes, the three of us were silent. And perhaps she noticed how suffocating it became, Chii started to tell us stories. Mostly about her escapades with her gyaru friends.

There’s one where they went to an arcade and fought against each other on the claw machine’s prize that they managed to snag or how they kicked out those boys who were bothering them and trying to stop them from having fun.

Although Hifumi and I couldn’t relate to her completely, seeing Chii’s genuine enjoyment of those things kept us engaged to listen to her.

And when she noticed that she was talking alone, the fake gyaru pouted, “You two, am I the only one with a tongue here?”

“Well, I love hearing about your stories,” I answered and Chii immediately reached for my nose to pinch it.

“Yeah. Everything’s interesting for you as long as it’s about us, right?”

“I can’t deny that. But those are stories I haven’t heard from you yet. I naturally found them interesting. I don’t know about Hifumi. She’s been quiet ever since I showed up.” I honestly answered. And using this chance, I pointed the topic to the silent girl.

“Well, duh. You hugged her right away. You’re lucky she didn’t run away from you.” Chii snickered and nudged the girl next to her using her elbow.

“Chizuru!”

“See this, she recovered her voice. Now, Fumin… Kii surprised us, are you not pleased?”

Hearing that question from Chii, Hifumi stared at me. However, when she noticed that I was also staring at her, she immediately evaded my gaze and turned to the girl next to her. “It’s not a question of being pleased or not, Chizuru…”

“Hmm? What do you mean?”

“How should I say this…?” As her voice trailed, the girl took a glance at me before releasing a small sigh, “I’m not prepared to see him today, I guess?”

“Oh. I think I understand now.” Chii acted as though she realized something. However, as the one who’s aware that I would come and see them today, she really dressed up pretty. Or at least, fashionably enough for me to continue admiring her beauty.

On the other hand, Hifumi’s outfit could only be described as ‘conservative’. She didn’t doll herself up nor put on a beautiful dress that could attract eyes.

Nonetheless, when they’re next to each other like this, they still look good together and I couldn’t help but be drawn to her as well.

Well, maybe that’s just me since I love the two… their differing fashion sense doesn’t matter.

“Right?” Hifumi sighed once more. But a few seconds later, she once again looked at me, her reluctance from earlier already gone. Most likely, the conversation with Chii cleared her mind and made her recover to how she usually was.

After sipping another mouthful of her milktea, the girl addressed me, her eyes slanting a bit, “Anyway… Ruki, we’re in contact. Is it so hard to say that you’re coming?”

“Well, I thought of surprising you. And I’m successful. You’re so cute back there, Hifumi.”

“Ugh… This guy. I sometimes forget how hateful you are.”

“If I’m recalling this right, I’m always a hateful fellow. You girls just tolerate me.”

“Right. That’s the case, isn’t it?” She smirked and as though she now fully regained her lost composure, she confidently leaned forward and pointed at me, “So, I think I won’t buy that ‘surprise reason’. You’re spying on us, aren’t you?”

“Hifumi, if I’m spying on you, I won’t show up in front of you like this. Let’s just say I learned of your meetup and I showed up uninvited. Also, I have something to tell you.”

“What is it?”

“It’s about Hana. She’s coming back next week.”

As soon as I mentioned Hana’s name, not only Hifumi but also Chizuru immediately jumped from their seats and held me by my collar,

“What did you just say?!”

“Is that really the truth?!”

These girls… If they’re reacting like this with the mere mention of that, it’s really a bad idea to tell them Hana’s message for them.