Stealing Spree

Reading that message that seems to be followed by ‘Can you come to see me?’, I guess telling me to see her when I have the time wasn’t enough. Koizumi-san was most likely still bugged about who I came here with.

Obviously, being caught two-timing Satsuki was kind of inevitable when I already made myself known to a lot of people inside this building. Still, there’s no way I could just deny Yua in front of her.

On another note, wouldn’t that be the golden chance to get her off my case? Although I would probably prepare myself from being hated by her as well as Setsuna-nee-san finding out as well, it was something I would still have to come clean for sooner or later.

After weighing my choices, my fingers danced on my screen, typing out a rather cautious reply.

“Yes, I am. Does Koizumi-san need me for something?”

Taking the initiative to ask that, I saved her time to think of how she could reach that point.

And as expected, she took it rather positively. “I do… Might I ask you to meet me? I’m on the fourth floor, west wing. You will have to pass the open studio where someone else is having a photoshoot. I’m in a small room to wait for my next turn.”

Now, that’s rather straightforward coming from her, the woman who has ‘maintaining propriety’ as her dogma.

But then again, I didn’t inform her about what I was doing here aside from accompanying someone. She’s totally taking her chances this time.

As for her reason… I just have to find that out, right?

Anyway, reading that again, it appeared that the procedure of their photoshoot was different from the one with Yua. Instead of doing it side by side, they’re taking turns. That explained why Sayo-san was the only one who didn’t return to the dressing room.

Before replying to her, I sent a message to Yua which the girl read instantly. Since I already told her earlier that I met Juri downstairs, informing her of the new invitation I received was smoothly done.

Given that the woman had already become a topic in their group chat, Yua was among those who believed that Juri’s interest in me wasn’t normal.

And hinging on that rationale, Yua permissibly told me that she was leaving the decision to me.

Yep. The girl assumed that I was asking for her permission.

Looking back at how I kept on reporting every little thing that I was experiencing here, it’s easy to notice that I was subconsciously sending that intent.

“Don’t worry about me, Ruki. Mom is here. I’ll message you if there’s a change.” Yua sent another message along with stickers that seem to be sending encouragement.

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Really, she’s now the same as Akane and the others, encouraging me to get more girls.

Well, it could also be her way for me to confirm whatever suspicion we all have regarding Juri.

Taking a few seconds to decide on my next actions, I released a small sigh and typed my reply.

“Alright then. I’ll just go and check what’s up.”

“Yes! I think I’m going to Mashiro-san about her. I’m getting more intrigued with her.”

“She’s a nice girl, for sure.”

If there’s something negative about the girl, I could only point out her persistence. But that could also be a positive trait, right?

“Oh! See that. You have a positive impression of her. We’re in the same field. I can also be her friend, or sister when the time comes. I heard from mom that Juri-san is considered the top model in their agency.”

Even Auntie knows about her, huh? Unfortunately, she’s from a rival agency.

“Girl, let’s not assume early on, alright? Besides, I’m supposed to be your escort and bodyguard today. I can’t be distracted by her.”

“Come on, Ruki. You’re just as interested in her. Otherwise, you won’t bother interacting with her, let alone talking about her with us.”

She got me. I couldn’t refute that.

After exchanging a few more messages with her that eventually turned into the girl actively teasing me, I started making my way to the fourth floor to meet Juri.

-

-

On my way there, I passed by several people, mostly the technical staff or just helpful hands brought by the studio. Either they’re carrying new clothes from downstairs or switching out props and storing them in a different room.

Because I was rather dressed fashionably to not look out of place, most of them assumed that I was another model. Some would even stop to ask for my name and which magazine I appeared from.

Naturally, I would always tell them the truth. That I am not a model at all but just a simple tag-along of someone. However, that’s proven futile to dissuade those who bothered to ask. None of them gave me a dismissive glance, instead, most of them expressed interest in taking a photo of me.

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Luckily, those could be counted on one hand, otherwise, I would truly be troubled. I did say most of the people here were already used to pretty faces, after all. I would be eating my words if a lot of them stopped to get to know me.

Anyway, that’s that. I soon passed by the said studio. Like Koizumi-san said, it’s opened and I could see people busily moving and waiting for Sayo-san.

The woman spotted me but since she was rather busy posing in front of the camera, I already walked past before her attention returned to me.

Shortly after that, I reached the room Juri designated.

I knocked once and her clear voice instantly rang out before the door opened slightly.

“You’re here!” Sensing that little excitement mixed in her voice, my attention instantly focused on her, checking out what changed from the cool woman from earlier.

“Uh, Koizumi-san?” I couldn’t help but mutter that when I felt her fingers enclosing around my wrist. And not long after that, she pulled me inside the room and pushed the door behind me.

​ As always, my eyes instantly took in the interior of the room. It was kind of empty save for the two stools set in the middle. On one side, I could spy a dressing mirror. And embedded in that same wall was a hanging rack filled with different dresses. Not summer-themed though. More like, they’re for ball dances.

Juri was wearing an off-shoulder blouse padded by a thin, skin-colored undershirt that covered what the blouse failed to cover. As for what she’s wearing down below, it was a knee-length pleated skirt.

Somehow, seeing her in this fashion, I could feel a sense of disconnect from her normally cool, fashionable aura

Perhaps noticing what I was thinking about, Juri turned to me and said, “Ah. Sorry! You must be confused, right?”

“Yeah. I can’t say I’m not. You didn’t specify the reason even when I asked, after all.”

Her fashion aside, whatever it was that she wanted to say, meeting like this in a small room would give any guy a wrong idea. Fortunately, I wasn’t any other guy nor a main protagonist type like Ogawa who would be flustered just because he was alone with a girl in a tiny room.

Ah. I jabbed at him again, huh? Eh, whatever.

I waited for the girl’s reply as we both sat down on the stool. My eyes never left her gaze, fully intent on hearing what she had to say.

“How should I say it? It will lack the necessary propriety to say it through a text message.”

“Is it that serious?”

“I… think it is. I’m going to ask you for a favor.”

“What kind?”

When I asked that, Juri’s eyes visibly darted around as though she was having trouble forming words. However, maybe understanding that she was running out of time, she took a deep breath and faced my gaze again.

And with an almost inaudible voice, she leaned forward and bashfully whispered, “If it’s not any trouble, can I introduce you to someone as my… boyfriend?”

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