Stealing Spree

I’m aware. Linking those words to me quite easily might be too presumptuous of me. It’s not like I was the only one she could encounter to have that trait. But considering her past with me, that’s at least a fair assumption.

In any case, I found the way she answered that question rather unsettling. Was she aware that she dropped a bomb with that? The implications of those words that might reflect on her career…

I understood why the host wasn’t talking to her about her romance or anything. For the most part, it’s because of her undisclosed age. She should be still too young to be drowned in various controversies of a celebrity.

… That might end just because of that answer.

Most likely, she would become the headline of every news station or newspaper. Her fans would begin investigating once more to unearth who was that guy that inspired her.

Will she be okay?

I don’t know. And I know it’s not my place to ask. However, I can’t deny the sense of concern creeping into my body.

For the rest of that show. The host deftly steered the conversation away from that topic, preventing Asahi to say more. Kudos to her, I guess that host got another fan in me.

I’m sure Akane, Nao, Miwa-nee and even Nami, if she was also watching, linked that answer to me. But none of them said anything.

When the show ended, I spent time checking on the girls not with me before doing our nightly routine and resigning to our bed.

-

-

Early Thursday morning, upon turning on the TV and tuning in to the morning show, my prediction came true. The showbiz segment featured Asahi’s answer from last night.

As a successful artist who already held a concert in less than a year, the spotlight projected towards her was too strong.

In the commentaries made by the hosts of the morning show hosts, speculations arose. They even mentioned that her fans or even haters flooded the bulletin board of the talk show from last night to scoop out the truth.

Naturally, most of the speculations were false. However, those cannot be dismissed easily. Sooner or later, Asahi, or the management she belonged to, has to give a statement about it. To shoot down the rumors, speculations, and the downright attacks on her character.

Once again, I felt my concern growing for that girl...

However, even if I feel like this, contacting and showing up in front of her again wasn’t gonna solve anything. In fact, it might even get worse.

“Hmm? There’s that face again… Husband, I have her number. If you’re thinking of contacting her, you can use it.”

Perhaps noticing that my attention was fully drawn towards the TV, still going on with Asahi as their topic, Akane sat down next to me and said that.

Catching on to what she said, my head quickly turned to her. It’s a reflex yet, I somehow felt bad.

It clearly showed that no matter what I said, I was clearly taken in by the thought of Yue.

Akane’s lips were curved into a small smile. She’s not joking. She truly has Asahi’s number.

Even if she probably wished for me not to get entangled with Asahi, she wouldn’t hesitate to give it to me if I asked for it.

Perhaps rather than wait for me to come to a decision about what I wanted to do, she opened up an easy path for me to reconnect with Asahi.

As for how she came to have her number, it’s easy to guess…

“I look worried again, right? But no. I think it will be more detrimental for her if I step back in her life.”

I shook my head before picking up the remote control to turn off the TV.

Following that, I pulled Akane closer and affectionately snuggled in her embrace.

She had just finished cooking so she smelled like what she prepared for our breakfast and lunch. However, I feel at ease hugging her like this.

At least, it’s to convey that I was telling the truth about not wanting Asahi’s number.

A while later, I felt Akane’s hand lovingly patting my head. Even if I didn’t look up, she’s probably sporting her gentle and caring smile.

Silence then issued between us. Akane didn’t raise a follow-up question concerning Asahi. And as for me, I put it to the back of my mind.

This might look like I was running away from the inevitable and I partly agree with that. However, what I’m feeling for Asahi was still a blur. I’m concerned and curious, yes. That’s all there is to it.

For now, it’s better to observe where that issue will lead to… It’s not my place and certainly not something I could solve even if I stepped in.

-

-

After three weeks, the fact that Akane was being escorted by her boyfriend had been established properly to the point that only a few students even bothered looking at us.

Thanks to that, the precious moment where Akane proudly flaunted our relationship always energized the girl.

Today, because we left a bit later than usual, we ran into one of her three best friends, Fuyu.

It’s been a while since the last time I’ve seen her. It was when Akane still had a period. Well, I also saw her in a photo when she played tennis against Akane and Yae. They even became headlines. She’s still had her hair done in a ponytail. The air around her turned even holier than before. It’s as if she’s one sacred girl that it would be blasphemy if she was tainted in any way or form.

Uh… That’s a little exaggerated but that’s how I see her. Although she’s still somewhat overshadowed by Akane’s dazzling radiance, the girl was like a distant star that everyone could appreciate once the sun went down. On the same note, she’s also out of reach for most guys that admired her.

I mean, even though my identity of being Akane’s boyfriend already settled in the surrounding students’ eyes, some of them found another point to feel envious of me.

And that’s the natural privilege to talk to her a little casually.

“May I ask you a question, Onoda-kun?”

We’re currently walking down the path that leads to their school from the station. And Fuyu, who I noticed to be a little uneasy when we’re on the train, finally let out what’s eating up her mind. Along with that question, she also moved to my free side rather than continuing to walk next to Akane, resulting in me being sandwiched by two beauties.

Of course, there’s surely no other meaning to it for her, it’s just for convenience. Nonetheless, that’s not what it looks like to others.

Anyway, it’s not like I’d be pressured by their gazes. I remained nonchalant as I responded to her. “Sure, what is it?”

On my other side, Akane, who’s hugging my arm tightly while having a cheerful expression, looked at her friend. Her scarlet red eyes widened slightly, seemingly warning her Fuyu not to go through whatever she’s thinking of asking.

Fuyu stuck her tongue out to the golden-haired silly girl in response before focusing her sight back to me. After a few seconds of arranging the words to her head, she finally delivered her question.

… And it’s a question that I hadn’t expected at all.

“I might be wrong here or my eyes only fooled me, if that is so, I apologize in advance… Yesterday, have you been inside our campus?”

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