Stealing Spree

“Auntie, can I ask about what happened after I left yesterday? Even though it turned out to be a misunderstanding, I also couldn’t help but get worried when I heard it from Mina earlier.”

To get a clearer view of what actually happened, I raised that to Auntie Yayoi moments after the call with Mina ended.

Feeling guilty over such a thought was kind of hilarious in a way but outside of my complex perspective wherein my girls accepted each other, it’s probably something to be guilty about. It’s definitely fine to fantasize like that. For sure, the other girls were also thinking the same thing at times. The difference is… Auntie Yayoi wore it on her face. Hence, Mina misunderstood.

It took a good while to hear her response. She’s confused by Mina’s last sentence, after all. But that’s fine, we both had the time.

In the meantime, I used the moment to reorganize my thoughts. I started considering telling her about my whole past and the complex relationship she had gotten in.

Even though Ayu accepted it rather easily last night, the same couldn’t be said for Auntie Yayoi. If she could be guilty of such silly thoughts, I fear that her reaction would be worse if she found out that I wasn’t as great a guy as she made me out to be in her mind. Her tragic past was also a factor. She might just stop trusting men once and for all…

My choice was between trying the slow approach, gradually telling her about it in a way that she could digest it properly, and dropping everything all at once, leaving her distraught by the revelation for days to come.

… Right.

The latter would be the worst thing to do. As for the former, while it’s acceptable, it might still lead to the same conclusion…

That’s why I’ll stop the mindset of having to do it by myself. I will be needing Mina’s help. And together, we will try to convince her.

At the same time as I reached that decision, Auntie Yayoi’s expression reverted to its previous state.

While there was still a hint of guilt from it, she lightly nodded. She then lifted her body to sit down next to me and lean her head on my shoulder. Following that, she took deep breaths and held my hand before starting.

Like I asked her, Auntie Yayoi began her recollection of what she did after I stepped out of the house.

It’s actually within my expectation. She spent some time just thinking over what happened. Determining if that was a dream or not. Upon being convinced that it was real, she checked on Mina who returned to her bed to rest. There, the mother and daughter had another heart-to-heart talk but the core of it was me.

Mina’s understanding of her mother was naturally better than mine in certain aspects. Due to that, she managed to tackle the things that would trouble her mother the most. For example, she told her not to fret and act naturally around me. Because even if our relationship made a jump, there’s no changing that she’s Mina’s mother and I still respect her a lot.

“Mi-chan said that she’s a little jealous of me but at the same time, very happy. The smile she made was the same smile I saw years ago when she made a present for my birthday in the form of a written poem. Before our life turned upside down.” Auntie Yayoi’s voice cracked a little as she said that.

I checked on her and noticed her becoming teary-eyed while having her best smile. Even though the past still haunts her, Auntie Yayoi was already living in the present. And for her, it’s still Mina’s well-being first before hers.

So, yes. That’s the reason why she felt really guilty when the particular thought that she was better than her daughter made her feel guilty.

It’s a little underwhelming but that’s totally understandable.

Without interrupting Auntie Yayoi, I reached for her face and caressed it, wiping away the drop of tear that was about to fall. She appreciated that by kissing me on my cheek before continuing.

Soon, Auntie Yayoi finally arrived at what happened last night, the time she entered Mina’s room which brought about this situation. It was as she told me earlier.

She couldn’t sleep last night so she joined Mina in bed. It was a mix of bad timing and overreaction on Auntie Yayoi’s part that Mina caught her reeling in guilt.

And that continued until earlier before Mina left, Auntie failed to properly tell Mina the reason for her guilt. Hence, the girl turned to me for help.

“I understand now… Thank you for telling me everything, Auntie. Now… let me just say one thing regarding that.”

I put a little energy in my voice to lift our mood a little. And sensing that, Auntie Yayoi turned her head to me and put on a bright and lovely expression.

“Being guilty is fine but let’s solve the misunderstanding as soon as possible, alright?”

“Y-yeah. That’s my bad.”

“No. It’s my bad. I should’ve checked on you again earlier. But hey, it’s all good. I got a proper reason to visit you.” Although it’s in bad taste to own the fault again, I quickly changed the topic so her mind wouldn’t linger on it any longer.

Auntie Yayoi became speechless for a moment before lightly slapping my arm. “Oh… You, naughty boy! I know what you’re doing.”

“Really?” I put on a straight face, acting oblivious. But that’s ineffective.

“Yes. You’re really too mature and maybe you’re too much of an expert at handling a woman. You took another angle on how I can rest my mind, right?”

“Ah. I got caught, huh?”

Since I couldn’t deny all of that, I willingly played into it.

“Red-handed. But Onoda-kun, this is what I like about you. I became attracted to you because of that trait.”

After confessing that, Auntie Yayoi adorably stretched her arms out to me.

And using a sweet voice, she endearingly asked me, “I heard Mi-chan is always pampered by you. Can I ask for the same treatment?”

Maybe not the first time, but this was a moment where the woman couldn’t help but act not according to her age.

“Uh… I’m wondering if you’re the same Auntie Yayoi that greeted me from the kitchen the first time that I showed up here. Do you have a twin, Auntie?” I jokingly said.

Yeah. The Auntie Yayoi from back then might be a woman who loves to tease her daughter but she was too warm and graceful. Now, I feel like I’m with the younger version of herself. The one that hasn’t experienced that tragic past yet. A little playful on the outside but very sweet on the inside.

And yep, this wasn’t bad in any way.

Auntie Yayoi pouted and said, “I’ve closed myself back for years. Not entertaining any men that’s interested in me. Now that I have you, I’m going to get back all of those years… Will you allow me to?”

Yeah. Looks like my guess was on point once again. Trying to get back on all those years that she ignored men, huh?

Obviously, rejecting that was out of my options.

“Why won’t I? Feel free to do so, Auntie. And I… I’ll make sure that you won’t regret it.”

It might’ve sounded like lip service at the moment but I was still hoping that when I finally told her everything about me, she would be able to say the same thing she said today.

And with this, not only did I get a clear understanding of what was going on in her head after what happened yesterday, but we also got our first moment together. Outside of their bathroom.

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