Stealing Spree

A while later, the presence near the door stood up and carefully walked away. But a few steps later, I heard a thud followed by Auntie Yayoi’s subdued yelp as she hurriedly scrambled to her feet.

She tripped for being too sneaky, huh? I guess that serves her right for peeping.

I couldn’t help but imagine her expression though. Auntie Yayoi always carried herself as an adult in front of me. A doting one at that. Although she’s been rather playful lately, teasing both of us, the way she always ruffled my hair like she was doting a son kept her in that position in my mind.

But that changed today. I even got the urge to put on my clothes and run out of the room to catch her there.

Well, with Mina resting next to me, that urge got shelved to the back of my mind.

And soon enough, Auntie Yayoi’s presence already disappeared. However, I should expect her to act awkwardly once I leave this room.

Anyway, Mina would surely not believe it right away if I told her that her mother peeped at us. Eventually though, since she’s aware that I wouldn’t just lie to her, especially when it’s about her mother.

Considering the door was only slightly opened which made it impossible for me to see outside, Auntie Yayoi either pulled it back once she was done peeping or only listened to our voices.

It’s her daughter’s first time. Could it be she’s just worried for her? No. That’s just me trying to dodge reality.

The way she reacted when she almost walked in on us already gave me an idea of what was going on in her head.

Uh… I guess I should talk to her before leaving. Not to catch her lying but to check on her reaction.

Ten minutes later, when Mina’s breath regulated, turning into gentle snores indicating that she was now deeply asleep, I planted a kiss on the girl’s forehead before I slowly extricated myself from her.

Substituting In my place was one of her pillows. Then, I fixed her sleeping posture before covering her up with the blanket.

As much as I wanted to stay with her, my time was ticking. Instead of staying until she woke, I decided to make another visit to check on her tomorrow.

After putting on my clothes and checking on my phone, I stood up and watched Mina sleeping peacefully again. But by doing so, it brought about the urge to kiss her once more. Not just her forehead but also her lips.

And once that’s done, I whispered to her ear, “I’m going, Mina. I’ll see you later.”

Even though that didn’t wake her up, the girl somehow responded with a gentle hum followed by her beautiful smile as she called my name.

That small unconscious gesture was enough to draw another smile on my face.

Upon leaving Mina’s room, I reorganized my thoughts before straightening up my expressions. I decided to act oblivious for now and leave without perceiving the incoming awkwardness by Auntie Yayoi.

However, my hope was instantly dashed when I found Aunt Yayoi sitting in their living room, facing that curtained area. Due to that, her eyes quickly focused on me.

Her hair was a little messy and her face had a pinkish hue. She had her arms and legs crossed. It’s as though she’s specifically waiting for me there.

A second later, she opened her mouth, “What? Are you leaving already, Onoda-kun?”

It’s a simple question yet it sounded like she put some weight into it that made my pre-planned response cut. Nonetheless, that’s not enough to simply blow away my composure, I smiled and bowed slightly to her before answering, “Yes, Auntie. Thank you for having me.”

“… Hold up. You’re leaving just like that? How is Mi-chan? Why isn’t she with you?”

What is this? Is she trying to interrogate me to dodge the awkwardness?

Facing her gaze, I quickly caught on to how her eyes were shaky. Her fingers and feet were also restless; rhythmically tapping her arm and the floor.

“She’s asleep. I tucked her in her bed properly”

“Oh. I see. That’s understandable… So, you two, did you do it?”

While she had a look of understanding, the woman continued to press on. And now, she even directly asked about it.

If I didn’t know any better, I would probably think that this was truly just her concern for her daughter.

“Can I not answer that, Auntie?”

“As her mother, don’t I have the right to know?”

Ugh. Normally, mothers would get the answer from their daughter’s mouth rather than their boyfriend or partner. But this woman… I guess I could attribute that to how she sees me as another child of hers. Or am I wrong with that interpretation?

Either way, it appeared that I wouldn’t be able to leave if I refrained from answering her. Even though she already knew the answer, Auntie Yayoi was definitely trying to bury her misdeed by fronting this act of being a mother.

Well, at least, that would save us from the awkwardness. However, since I was aware of it, it already changed the way I view her.

Taking a few seconds to act like I was contemplating, I took a deep breath and cleared any unnecessary thoughts before answering her honestly.

“Indeed… Then, Auntie… Yes, we did it. It’s our first time.”

“Did she cry?”

“No… She held it in. She accepted me wholeheartedly.”

“I see… I’m glad Mi-chan had her first experience with someone she dearly loves. Thank you, Onoda-kun...”

Nodding her head gently, Auntie Yayoi’s lips stretched into a satisfied smile as she muttered that.

But in that sentence, it sounded like there was a double meaning to it. Like, was her first time an unpleasant memory for her?

“Auntie, there’s no need to thank me.”

“My, you’re right. You’re both precious to each other. It must have been delightful.” Auntie Yayoi chuckled lightly. At this point, she had probably already pushed away that awkward feeling in her chest.

But really… who else talks about this with their girlfriend’s mother right after doing the deed? No one, right?

I thought that was over and I was already free to go. However, Auntie Yayoi’s next words put me on a stump.

“Anyway, before you leave. Take a bath first, Onoda-kun. Wash your sweat away.”

I did plan to take a bath with Mina but because she fell asleep, I decided to just take one before meeting up with Ayu later. It’s not like my sweat stinks. Moreover, I doubt Koizumi-san will smell me during our meeting.

“Uhm. Auntie, I don’t think I needed—”

“I insist, Onoda-kun. Go and take one, I heated the tub. I’ll bring you a towel.”

Upon cutting me off like that, Auntie Yayoi stood up and entered the curtained area and into her room, not giving me a chance to utter my refusal.

When she reappeared, the woman stared at me as though asking, ‘Why are you still there?’. She then shook her head and walked behind me before pushing me to their bathroom.

Right, she intentionally didn’t say anything more to completely shut off my refusal.

“Here, I’ll leave the towel here. Put your clothes there. I have to apologize that I can’t offer you something to change into. We don’t have men’s clothes here.”

After saying that, she quickly turned around to leave, closing the door to this little area before their bathroom.

Upon looking at the steam coming from inside it, it got me to stop and think. She truly prepared it for me… Perhaps even if it’s not solely for me, she still did it with the intention to help both Mina and me.

However, after recalling everything that happened, this was another ploy for her to completely cast off her guilt for peeping at us.

If I confronted her about it, the situation might’ve been different…

Well, I guess there’s no other choice but to take this bath…

As I thought this, I quickly stripped down and used a small towel to cover up my lower body before entering the bath.

With my shamelessness, even if this was an unfamiliar bathroom, my mind quickly accepted this situation.

As I closed the door behind me, I walked beneath the shower and was ready to start.

Or so, I planned to…

My hand had just reached the knob for the shower when I heard the other door, the one that leads outside this combined laundry room, washroom, and bathroom, creaked open. And despite having an opaque view of the outside from the actual bathroom door, I saw Auntie Yayoi coming in and immediately stripping down to her underwear. Ah no. It might not be her actual underwear, but the one most women used when cleaning the bathroom.

Seconds later, her voice traveled from outside at the same time as the bathroom door slid open, “On a second thought, allow me to wash your back, Onoda-kun.”

Now, this caught me off-guard.