Stealing Spree

Hina faked a gloomy expression earlier just to get a chance to be alone with me. This time, she bared her face in a rather upfront manner. Although she’s not like Saki who had her inferiority complex, she was used to comparing herself to Nami. Furthermore, she’s not aware of it.

She’s definitely selling herself short and thinking of herself as someone with lesser charms compared to the girl before her turn came.

By being upfront, the girl focused on showing my mom her sides that were different from Nami.

However, being a discerning woman, my mom quickly caught her on it. She smiled amiably and like what she did with Nami, closely conversed with Hina.

“Hina-chan, you’re lovely as you are. You don’t need to sound so desperate just because you think you’re going to lose to Nanami-chan. This boy was indiscriminate to those he loves. I bet he’s going to scold you soon for thinking like that.”

My mom intentionally let me hear that.

“On that note, did you fall in love with him because of your competitive spirit? No, right?”

“I…”

With that question, Hina appeared lost as her eyes sought mine. She looked helpless enough that she’s definitely asking me to save her.

However, instead of doing the obvious like supporting her and saying it’s not like that, I clasped her hand on mine and gave her a nod.

My mom’s question was spot on. Even if she ended up fully invested in me now, her affection towards me started with her competitiveness towards Nami and her cooked-up scheme to somehow open Ogawa’s eyes for her.

That didn’t go well and it just became the stage for me to sweep in. Some might think that I only became her rebound. She settled on me after finally giving up on Ogawa.

That’s true, in a way. However, that’s something irrelevant for me. I used to steal girls that were invested in their relationship with a few exceptions like Mizuki, Miho and Yukari.

The more important thing here is… she’s now mine and she already clearly expressed it to me. For example, she would probably reject the idea of meeting my parents if she’s still hung up on that coward.

Hina looked at our clasped hands and squeezed them. That’s enough to give her the determination to honestly tell my mom how our relationship came about.

“It started as that… I can’t help but feel competitive over the years with Nanami. With Ruki, I might still compete for his attention but that doesn’t mean I will jeopardize what he’s building for us… I can’t speak for the other girls, mother. But for me, I see myself being invested in this relationship with Ruki. I’m not perfect and I will have insecurities but even if that’s the case, Ruki accepted me for who I am.”

After a supply of courage, determination and assurance from me, Hina poured out what she’s currently feeling. Even my mom who probably thought she’d be able to tease Hina got slightly overwhelmed by the girl’s feelings.

Her lips curved upward and nodded in approval, “You’re wonderful, Hina-chan. I definitely look forward to seeing you more besides this shameless boy.”

Now, you’re calling me shameless as well… Anyway, as if I can retort to that.

With that clear appreciation by my mom, Hina beamed a beautiful smile and assured her that she’d continue staying by my side for my mom’s satisfaction.

And seeing the girl successfully picking herself up, I’m truly glad that she chose to come here. Before sending her back to her seat, I couldn’t help myself but also dote on her for a bit which Hina gladly received.

After her, Saki’s turn came next. And as I expected, her inferiority complex oozed out just from how she introduced herself.

“Greetings, mother, I… I’m not as beautiful or great as the girls before or after me but I… I’ll give it my all to be deserving of Ruki’s affection.”

Upon hearing that, Mom looked at me with inquiring eyes. Even though she hadn’t verbally asked a question, it’s easy to understand.

Before my mom could open her mouth I pulled Saki’s arms and placed her in front of me, hugging her from behind as I whispered in her ears. “Are you joking with me, Saki? I get that you still feel inferior to them. However, you more than deserved my affection. Also, leave it to me to make you feel more special than you are. I won’t force you to change instantly. Just… let me show you that I love you as much as I love them.”

At this point, both my parents were looking at us. My old man, who had already recovered from earlier, lightly sighed while my mom watched us in interest, swallowing down the words she was about to say.

“… I didn’t mean it like that.”

“Really? But it sounded like that. You can ask my mom for confirmation.”

She did as I said and found my mom confirmed it by a simple gesture of closing her eyes.

“… I messed up.” Saki sighed. Her tone was akin to someone who got defeated in an important match in their career. She then lowered her head and grasped my arms wrapped around her navel.

“Let’s say you did mess up… Is my Saki gonna let it stay that way?”

“But…”

“No buts… I wonder, where’s that chance-taker girl who always asked for a kiss right after opening the door to their clubroom?”

To avoid her from being too embarrassed, I naturally didn’t say that out loud. But my parents managed to catch it. My mom’s eyebrows raised in pleasant interest while my dad rubbed his chin, definitely interested as well.

“Truthfully, I actually got taken in by that boldness you always show me. Our first kiss, those chance-taking kisses that I just mentioned, the way you boldly ran after me which led to our relationship evolving further and… the way you told me not to seek for your permission anymore whenever a chance presented itself before us.”

“That’s…”

“Hmm?”

“… Do I really deserve it?”

“Definitely. Will I ask you to come with me here if you don’t? You don’t have to worry, Saki. They’re not going to bite at you.”

I tightened my arms and planted a kiss on her cheek before I pointed at my parents who’s waiting for our conversation to end so that they could get to know this girl further, in their own way.

“Aren’t you giving her special treatment, son? Won’t they be jealous of what you’re showing this time?” My mom naturally pertained to the girls behind us.

Although they didn’t hear our conversation, they saw how I affectionately held the girl.

Following her words, I twisted my head a bit to look behind me. Starting from Akane, everyone was pouting, clearly envious of my treatment of Saki.

“They’re jealous, alright.” I bitterly smiled.

Satsuki, with her chin resting on her palm, immediately snarled after seeing that. The others also had different reactions. Some settled down while some clearly showed how they wanted me to do the same for them.

Well, it’s just their way to appeal to me and I know for sure that… it won’t evolve to something messy. We’ll have time later and I’m going to shower them with my affection.

“Is that fine, Ruki?”

“Yep. They know I will be doing the same to them once we’re done here. You don’t have to worry about that.”

I assured Saki. And seeing how unfazed I was, my mom excitedly clapped her hands as if saying ‘I’m proud of you, son.’

After a while, my parents began talking with Saki to get to know her apart from what they heard from our conversation.

And a few minutes later, the girl with an inferiority complex stood up and bowed to the two before going back to her seat, her mood greatly lifted.

“We’re down to the last one, huh?”

“What are you talking about, dear? There are more of them who didn’t come. There are also the girls from the noble families as well as the only adult apart from Miwa…”

“… Ruki, you’re a mad lad.” Being reminded like that, my old man almost choked from how difficult it was for him to accept it.

Anyway, I only smiled at that exchange as I waited for the last girl to come over.

“Ruki…”

Unlike the other girls before her, Eimi abandoned the normal way of sitting next to me. She didn’t want to wait for me to pull her closer, she sat in front of me and grabbed my arms to wrap around her.

It’s the same as last Sunday when the girl strode forward and hugged me from the back as soon as she arrived.

“My~ How bold…” My mom teasingly exclaimed.

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