Stealing Spree

After the first dial tone, Akane already picked up the call. With the same cheery and sweet-sounding voice, she asked excitedly.

"Husband! Are you on your way home?"

Even though I'm already used to her usual energetic voice towards me, hearing it still puts a smile on her face. Back when she first barged into my room and cried that morning when she thought her feelings reached me, I vowed not to see her tears again. But that happened two more times again after that and I'm probably about to do that again.

I used to think that when this time comes, this will be easy to tell her but now that I'm at this crossroad, I can't find the words to start.

Akane and I both know that this will come one day. From how she hinted to me, she's also already accepted this ever since she allowed Haruko and Yae inside our bedroom.

However, after three weeks of sharing the bed with her, now that I will change it, I feel like I'm having cold feet which is unlike me.

I may be overthinking things here but no matter how prepared we are, this day will eventually come.

Seeing how I couldn't reply to Akane, the girl beside me began to worry. She held my free hand to somehow reassure me in her own way.

Feeling her cold palm, I clasped our fingers together and nodded at her before replying to the girl on the other side of the phone.

"Not yet… Akane, can I ask you something?"

Hearing the seriousness in my tone, the excitement delivered by her voice plummeted.

"What's with this serious tone, husband? What is it about?"

"Tonight… Can I stay with Nao?"

After I dropped my question, I could hear how Akane took a deep breath. And among the other sounds being delivered to my ears, she put the phone away from her before she exhaled. Probably afraid that I will interpret that as her sigh.

"Of course you can. Husband, we already had an understanding about this, right? It's about time you do."

"I know… But even so, I'm kind of having cold feet."

"Hmm… Husband, I know you're trying to be considerate of me. I can feel it. Even if I tried to hint you that it's already fine to do it, you're still coming back to me. You already proved how much you love me and how special I am to you. You should stop holding back with your desire to stay with the other girls."

Right. In the end, I'm the one refusing to take this step. Even when I first went to Shio's new apartment, although she was waiting for me in the living room, if I called her to tell her that I would be staying with Shio for the night, she would gladly tell me to do so.

"You don't have to ask for my permission, I monopolized you for a few weeks already, husband. It's time for you to spend the night with the other girls. They're all waiting for this day."

"I can assure you, I will not think any less of you because of this. I accepted that I'm not the only one in your life. After all, we will be together until the end despite that."

"You now have a lot of girls you need to satisfy. And I even helped you get some of them back. Why will I think differently if you decide to spend the night with them? It's time for them to also experience what I experienced for a few weeks now. And no matter what happens, I will always be your silly wife."

From the initial seriousness in her voice to match mine, it eventually turned back to her cheerful tone. Maybe to lift the serious atmosphere that I unnecessarily put up.

"Akane."

"Don't overthink things and be good to Nao. That girl loves you as much as how I love you. If you ask her to move in, she will unhesitatingly do so."

"How did I become this lucky to have you?"

I'm more than just lucky to have her. Not just her, everyone who put up to enter into a relationship with me. They know the consequences it might bring them but they still stay. If I keep having inhibitions like this, this is no different than me holding back the progress in our relationship.

It's fine to be considerate but when it's time to step up, I should be the first one to step forward rather than wait for them to urge me like this.

"Don't ask me, idiot husband."

With a giggle, Akane replied. Just by the sound she made, it's not forced or faked at all.

"Akane, thank you. I will return him to you tomorrow morning."

Before I could respond, Nao pulled my arm that's holding the phone. Because it's silent in this park, even without putting it in the loudspeaker, Nao heard everything Akane said.

"Un. Drain him if you want, Nao. He kept on talking about how he wanted to build a future with all of us but look at him having cold feet at this point. Help me fix that head of his."

With her eyes radiating an unusual spark, Nao nodded continuously even if Akane couldn't see her.

"… I'm inexperienced but I will do so."

"I'll message you where his weak spots are. Enjoy the night with him and don't worry about me. We know him too well, that guy will surely spoil me tomorrow."

And with another giggle and with a voice louder than earlier, Akane playfully said.

"Sounds like the usual Ruki."

Nao agreed as her eyes turned to me, probably remembering how I also kept on spoiling her back then whenever I would return to her side.

"I know, right?"

With that, not only Akane but Nao also started to giggle cutely as if two sisters were agreeing about something. From the giggles, it became a hearty laugh that the previous seriousness had already turned too lighthearted.

"You heard our conversation, Ruki."

Nao released my arm holding the phone. The smile on her face stayed as she comfortably went back to resting her head on my shoulder.

"Alright. You two win. Thank you, Akane. I will spoil you tomorrow so prepare yourself."

Since it's already come to this and I already realized my shortcoming, there's no point dragging this anymore. She already accepted and even asked me to stop overthinking about these things.

Then, as usual, I will convert it to spoiling her the next time I'm with her.

"Un. I will look forward to that. Then, I will inform Miwa-nee and Shiori-nee, husband. I love you."

"Un, please do so. I love you too, wife."

For now, it's enough to only talk to Akane, those two adults will understand my decision today. Although I feel somewhat bad that I will not be able to send Shio back to her apartment, like with Akane, I will make up for it in the following days.

When the call ended, Nao and I continued to pass the time in the park for a while. There's no one else besides the two of us which made it feel like we owned this place.

Our talk about that man and telling Akane about my plan for tonight were already put at the back of our minds.

For the time being, we switched to other topics that didn't involve any of our ongoing issues. Just talking about any random things that will appear in our minds.

I'm not a humorous person but I still tried to come up with lame jokes fitting to what we're talking about to somehow make her laugh and lighten up the mood for us.

Well, I can only do so at the rate of 1 in 5 jokes or even lower than that. Almost the same rate when I did the same thing to the other girls.

Their laughs were coming out more naturally whenever I would explain the joke rather than when I'm delivering it. I guess I'm not really talented at that. Add to that my always expressionless face.

After a while, we decided to move to our original destination. With her clinging to my arms all the time, we arrived at the nearest hotel after 10 more minutes of a stroll.

Luckily, the hotel's not that strict and with Nao already at that age, we got a room without any additional hassle.

After paying for a night's worth, we were guided to our room.

Although the hotel staff kept on looking at us, especially at the lovely girl sticking close to me, none of them said anything which I certainly appreciated. I don't know what I will do if someone purposely tried to ruin our night.

It's not that luxurious compared to Itou's hotel where Akane and I stayed before but it's already passable. This is the nearest one from her school and that restaurant. I also did my research and the reviews I read are good otherwise I will pick somewhere else even if we need to take a taxi to get there.

"… Ruki."

Nao muttered as soon as the door behind us closed. Her eyes were naturally drawn towards the huge bed for two. With two pillows placed side by side and the somewhat romantic ambiance thanks to the room's decorations, Nao gulped down as she took in the entirety of the room.

"Let's not think of anything else tonight, Nao. I will make you a woman tonight."

Upon hearing my words, Nao's face that was illuminated with the somewhat dim light of the hotel room naturally reddened.

Without replying to what I said, Nao tapped on my shoulder while she alternately looked at me and the bed.

Understanding her intention, my arms naturally dropped from her back to put her in my arms to princess-carry her onto the bed.