Stealing Spree

To make sure that I would be able to leave the bathroom without being caught, Hina opted to leave first. Although her face was still red despite finishing quickly, she was quite confident about her excuse in case someone pointed it out. She even playfully teased me that rather than her, it would be me who’d need some explaining to do.

I mean, a certain part of my pants was a little wet due to cleaning up the stain that got stuck on it. Furthermore, it’s still bulged up from being half-erect… My improved stamina had once again shown its prowess. We could’ve gone for another round if we stopped caring about the next class.

Alas, knowing how I was serious at acquiring whatever knowledge I could get in school, Hina wouldn’t ask me of that… Also, even though it’s already weeks ago, she’s still reflecting on that time she got heartbroken by Ogawa’s rejection to answer her confession. I stayed with her after lunchbreak and brought her to the infirmary, faking a sickness.

Uh. That’s also the day my relationship with her and Saki progressed a lot.

Anyway, that’s that. Unless I ask her to skip class with me, she’d probably not propose it herself. And that’s the same for everybody.

Two minutes later, when I received her signal through a message, my feet hurriedly carried me out of the women’s bathroom.

Thinking she was waiting for me outside so that we could go back together, I even prepared something to further lighten up our mood.

However, instead of finding Hina there, I found someone else.

Leaning against the wall with her hands clasped in front of her, Hana quietly waited.

Upon seeing me stepping out, excited and all, Hana easily got infected as her warm smile stretched wider.

“Ruki…” The girl called out my name as she traversed the few steps between us.

She was about to hug me but upon noticing my puzzlement, she retracted her arms and carefully explained what happened, “Hina-san asked me to wait for you here, Ruki.”

Obviously, that’s the only explanation. But what was she thinking? Did she not want me to interact with Hana?

No. Wait… I might be wrong with my reading. Unlike Nami, Hina and the others only expressed their vexation for not being able to do something about it earlier. Moreover, it’s Hana who wedged herself between us resulting in Hina bringing me here. It’s just her retaliation against Hana’s move.

“She also entrusted me with a message…” Hana continued as she locked eyes with me, “She said ‘you know what to do’.”

That girl. At least elaborate on it!

Hana also appeared a little puzzled at that message. She tilted her head, watching how I would react to it.

Let’s see… I know what to do, huh? Is she referring to what I said about my feelings for this girl? Is she giving me the chance to try and steal the girl instead of getting stolen by her?

I gotta ask her later.

For now, I guess I’ll do just that. We only have the time needed to walk back to the classroom anyway. I should see how this girl would respond if I stopped acting distant from her.

Having decided that, I first cleared up my mind before closing in on Hana.

As expected, the girl's reaction became a little sluggish. She hadn’t anticipated me to be proactive in approaching her.

Before she could blink her eyes, my arm had already found its way behind her. The same way as I held her earlier inside that stall, I locked her in my embrace.

“R-ruki?” That’s all Hana could say seconds later. Her body tensed up a little bit as she tried to lift her head and read my expression.

Unfortunately for her, I rested my chin on her shoulder as I slowly circled my other arm to her back.

“Let me say this before we return to our classroom…” I started. “… I missed you. And I’m more than flattered to know that the only reason for your return here is me.”

“This… Am I hearing things? Have you eaten some dubious pill that flipped what’s on your mind? Are you the real Ruki?” Hana’s voice was filled with disbelief. Yet, her tense body gradually relaxed, replaced by elation. She’s happy from hearing those despite her skepticism.

“Nah. I’m the same person. Do you know someone as shameless as me? No, right?”

“That… But you… you’re favoring them all this time.”

“Of course, that’s normal. They’re my girlfriends, not you. I won’t be able to forgive myself if I prioritize you over them. As much as you want to steal me, I also have this desire to have you back. Obviously, without leaving any of them. Now that you’re here, I think it’s about time I tell you about this.”

I couldn’t say that through our messages, after all. In any case, there’s no way she’s unaware of this. The way she appeared earlier and kissed me as a greeting. She’s confident that I wouldn’t be repulsed by her.

I guess she got the impression that I wouldn’t be this forward to her because of how I tried to disregard her in favor of my girls.

Anyway, I was seeing success with this.

A few seconds later, Hana’s heartbeat quickened as she once again attempted to stare at my face.

This time, I let her do it. I pulled my head back and faced her.

Somehow, I couldn’t help but smile from seeing her extremely flustered expression. This was rare, after all. Even back then, only when I caught her off guard would she show this kind of face. Moreover, her left golden eye was fully exposed to me. It’s still as beautiful as before. However, the same as her right eye, it properly conveyed her feelings at the moment, sadness and ambiguity.

“… You’re being unfair, Ruki.”

“I’m aware. But aren’t you the same? You want me to abandon everyone for you. I guess we’re cut from the same cloth. There’s no reason for you to be envious of me anymore. I’m not the same as before. I’m not as free as you think. Today and in the future, I’ll continue being tied up with my responsibility to all of them.”

Hana looked like she didn’t want to accept everything that I said. She’s still holding onto that image of me. The one who was unfettered by anything and anyone.

“Why are you telling me this?”

“Simple. Because you needed to hear this from me. Now, it’s up to you if you’re still going to be stubborn. Just know that if I’m with any of them, I will never act like this. You’ll always be on the sidelines.”

“Is… Is that so? Then watch me do the impossible.” Hana forced a laugh but her grip tightened on my back. She’s just trying to look strong when she’s already shaken by what I revealed to her.

“Well, suit yourself. Let’s go back then. I bet they’re already speculating about what's taking us so long to return.”

As I said this, I released her from my embrace and extracted myself from her grip. I then stepped to the side and walked past her.

Yet, I found myself turning around and having her face me again.

Earlier, I got kissed by her. This time, I returned the favor. While she was still lost in her thoughts, my lips overlapped with hers as I kissed her deeply, without holding back my feelings for her.

A while later, Hana matched my steps as the two of us started making our way back to our classroom. We didn’t start another conversation but halfway through it, I heard the girl whispering to herself. I could barely make out the words she was using except for one.

“…love…”

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