Stealing Spree

Chapter 2691: Taking care of the girl

"Alright. You win. I won’t peek but if you need help... just call." I turned away, stepping outside the curtained area.

The rustle of wet fabric followed, then the soft thump of her swimsuit hitting the floor. Silence stretched but I could still hear Umeda’s shaky breaths behind the curtain, followed by the creaking of the bed as she pulled the blanket back to cover her body.

Moments later, her voice called for me, "I’m done, Onoda-kun."

She sounded steadier but her voice was muffled by the thick infirmary blanket covering her.

I pushed aside the curtain to find her sitting upright, damp hair clinging to her temples, the discarded swimsuit lying on the floor beside the bed.

She clutched the blanket tightly under her chin but her color had, more or less, already improved. Obviously, she’s probably still in her underwear. Did it not get wet? Or she’s just too embarrassed to be fully naked?

Probably the latter.

"You know... the blanket is also wet. It’s going to stick to you soon and... I’ll get the privilege to see the curves of your body." I teased, gesturing towards the damp patch spreading across the thin fabric.

Her face immediately heated up before she glanced down at herself. The thin infirmary blanket clung damply to her skin, revealing the faint outline of her collarbones and the swell of her breasts beneath. She yanked it higher before muttering, "Pervert."

Her gaze flickered toward the pile of her discarded swimsuit. "It’s... soaked. Everything’s soaked. Why did you not get my uniform before bringing me here?"

"It’s an emergency. I mean, you fainted." I shrugged, trying to sound casual. "Priorities were breathing over modesty."

My eyes drifted to the damp blanket clinging to her thighs as I added. "Besides, you’re wrapped like a mummy. I;m not seeing anything scandalous."𝐟𝐫𝕖𝗲𝘄𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝕧𝐞𝚕.𝕔𝕠𝐦

"Ugh. I don’t know if I should be thankful or mad from that remark, Onoda-kun." Umeda rolled her eyes, but a small smile tugged at her lips.

She shifted, the damp blanket slipping slightly lower on her shoulder, revealing a strap of pale blue lace. Her cheeks flushed deeper crimson as she yanked it back up.

"Well, look at me. Am I not the one in a more revealing state?" I gestured down at my own soaked swim trunks clinging indecently.

Umeda’s gaze flickered downward instinctively, then snapped back to my face, cheeks flaming.

"That’s... different! You’re still in your swimming trunks! And your body... Uhm... there’s nothing wrong with it at all." Umeda stammered, her eyes darting away from my waistline only to land awkwardly on my chest before snapping back to my face. Her blush deepened, clashing violently with the pale blue lace strap peeking out from under the blanket where she’d tugged it down.

"Heh. Look at how energetic you are... Alright, enough about teasing you. How do you feel? Should I help you move to another fresh bed?" I asked, gesturing toward the neighboring bed also covered by a curtain.

The blanket slipped further as she nodded, revealing the delicate curve of her shoulder. She scrambled to adjust it as she nodded weakly, "I don’t know. I still feel a little dizzy... H-how will you help me move?"

"How did I carry you here?" I answered her question with another question and a grin.

Umeda blinked, her blush deepening as the memory surfaced. "Oh. Right." She glanced down at the damp blanket pooling around her waist, then at my outstretched arms. "But... like this? Without..."

"Unless you want to walk?" I raised an eyebrow. "Your legs still feel like jelly, don’t they?"

Umeda shifted, testing her weight. Her knees buckled instantly, forcing her to grip the blanket tighter. "Fine," she muttered, cheeks flushed. "But... eyes closed?"

"Do you want us to collide with the bedframe?" I chuckled, stepping closer. "Eyes open. Arms around my neck."

"Only this time. Only this time will I act this vulnerable around you, Onoda-kun." Umeda muttered, her voice trembling as she lifted her arms, waiting for me to pick her up.

"I understand. Don’t worry. I may be a pervert and a shameless bastard but I’m also a gentleman. At least, that’s what my girls tell me." I grinned, bending down to slide one arm beneath her knees and the other supporting her back. The damp blanket bunched between us as I lifted her effortlessly.

Umeda gasped softly as she instinctively wrapped her arms around my neck. As her embarrassment swelled again, she couldn’t help but press her forehead on my chest as her warm breath tickled my skin.

The damp blanket slipped dangerously low, exposing the curve of her back and the top edge of her pale blue panties.

"I’ll drop you." I teasingly whispered.

She froze instantly as she tightened her arms around my neck. Her eyes squeezed shut. "Don’t you dare!"

The blanket slid further, pooling around her waist now, fully exposing her lace-trimmed bra and the delicate slope of her stomach. Her blush spread down her neck to her shoulders.

"J-just put me down properly!" Her voice trembled, despite her embarrassment, her body instinctively arched toward the sensation.

Her fingers dug into my shoulders, torn between pushing away and clinging tighter.

"P-Pervert! Shameless! Gentleman liar!"

The insults tumbled out breathlessly as she pressed her forehead harder against my chest, hiding her face. Her legs shifted as she tried to kick the slipping blanket back up, succeeding only in tangling it around her ankles. Because of that, it almost completely slipped off her body.

But to her surprise, since she’s pressed this close to me, the blanket became clipped between us. It didn’t fall off. She managed to grab and pull it back up to cover herself.

At this point, I finally reached the other bed and gently lowered Umeda onto the crisp infirmary sheets. Her arms loosened from around my neck as she turned her face to the other side, clutching the damp blanket like a shield. Her breathing remained uneven and her cheeks still flushed crimson.

"Th-thank you," She mumbled, refusing to meet my eyes. The thin fabric clung to her curves where it remained damp, outlining the swell of her hip and the dip of her waist.

I grabbed the fresh blanket at the foot of the infirmary bed, shaking it open with a crisp snap.

"Here, cover yourself with this, then give that one to me," I said, tossing the fresh blanket over her trembling form.

Umeda pursed her lips but she did as I said. She pulled the fresh blanket tightly around herself, then handed me the damp one.

After that, she pulled on it and covered herself completely as though she was trying to hide from my gaze.

"I’ll stay here with you until someone brings our uniforms," I said, pulling a metal stool beside the infirmary bed. "Just take your time and rest."

Her reply was muffled by the blanket pulled up to her nose. "You don’t... have to."

"I insist. Was I not the reason you pushed yourself too hard?"

The blanket mound shifted slightly. A muffled sound escaped, part groan and part reluctant agreement. Her damp hair peeked out as her eyes seemingly searched for me.

I pulled the stool closer, its metal legs scraping loudly on the floor.

Umeda flinched at the noise but she was surprised when she found the can of chilled juice pressed close to her nose.

"Drink this to rehydrate yourself. Do you want me to open it?"

Umeda hesitated for a moment before nodding weakly.

The crisp fizzling sound of the can opening echoed sharply in the sterile silence as the sweet scent of the carbonated drink filled the air.

Umeda sat up to receive the drink, the fresh blanket slipped down once again but the girl stopped minding it too much as she tucked it under her arm to prevent it from sliding down.

"Alright, drink that. I’ll find something to put your wet swimsuit in," I said as I passed through the curtain and turned toward the supply cabinet. Behind me, I heard as Umeda took small, careful sips of the juice.

Thankfully, there’s a pouch with a ziplock seal inside the cabinet containing gauze pads. I grabbed it along with a dry towel.

Before returning to Umeda, I turned to the door, hoping to see Hayashi-sensei standing there with her arms crossed and an incredulous expression on her face if she saw me here with only my swimming trunks on.

Alas, she must’ve been still busy.

As for our class, considering the time, Ryouko-san and Orimura-sensei had probably finished wrapping it up. It won’t take long before someone, possibly one of my girls, comes here and brings us our uniforms. But until then... I’ll be looking after Umeda.

As I slipped back into the curtained space, Umeda looked up at me with a small smile. "Onoda-kun, are you not cold?"

Her gaze flickered to my bare chest and damp swim trunks. Before I could answer, she shifted sideways on the narrow bed, pulling the blanket taut against her hip. "There’s... room."