Stealing Spree

Chapter 2776: Vulnerable

I let the words hang there for a beat, watching the way she clutched her arm. She still wouldn’t look at me fully, eyes fixed on some random spot on the wall like it held all the answers.

“Mhm? My feelings are always genuine, you know? If I say I’m interested in someone, then that’ll be the truth. And if I say you’ve also been running in my head since that time. There’s no lie in it.”

I paused for a moment as I looked on, amused at how she seemed to be holding back from rebutting my words.

“In any case, you’re right. Sakuma can be straightforward. Honest in that puppy-dog way. However, he won’t be able to do it without a proper push. He’d probably trip over his own feet trying to ask you out properly.”

“Ask me out...” The way she echoed that phrase sounded a little sad. And if I weren’t wrong... she would never change her mind about only seeing him as a younger brother. If he did ask her out, she would most likely turn him down. And that’s a mortifying thought for her.

After all, she resolved herself to only treat him like that despite what had happened between them in the past.

"Well, in the end, it’s your choice, Setsuna-nee-san. And honestly, I will also respect whatever decision you arrive at. And I think it’ll be more comfortable for you not to be bothered by the fact that I’ve started to occupy a part of your headspace. Treat me like you always do. A shameless bastard.”

Setsuna-nee’s glare sharpened at that, but I could tell that’s the most she could do at the moment.

She’s probably cautious not to throw her hands at me. That if I caught her arm, she’d spiral down the abyss that was me.

In any case, she was like grasping at the last threads of her defenses, trying to hold onto the familiar role of the grumpy older sister who could brush me off with a scoff and a pillow throw.

“Fine. Get off my bed, shameless bastard,” She decisively said, but her voice cracked on the last word, betraying how thin her resolve had gotten.

My lips curved up into a meaningful smile as I raised my hand on my sides, like I was surrendering, “Mhm. Got it. And where do you want me to go?”

“Whatever. Go under Juri’s blanket or hide in the bathroom. Just don’t show that moronic face in front of me for some time. I need to think.”

“I see. Well then, just call me when you need me, Setsuna-nee-san. I’m serious about making it up to you. And since we were quite inconsiderate back there, let me apologize for it.”

I stood up and bowed slightly, keeping my tone light but sincere. “Sorry for the noise earlier, Setsuna-nee-san. We got carried away. I’ll give you space now.”

Setsuna-nee didn’t respond right away. She just stared at me like she was trying to figure out if I was mocking her or actually apologizing.

Her cheeks were still flushed, eyes narrowed, but the earlier fire in her glare had dimmed a little. Like she wasn’t sure how to keep being mad when I was handing her an easy out.

Finally, she huffed and flopped back against her headboard, pulling the pillow over her face again like it could block me out completely.

“Whatever. Just... do what you want. And stop trying to get on my skin. It’s weird.”

Weird, huh? Well, she’s not used to being teased, after all.

In any case, I didn’t push it. I just nodded and moved back to Juri’s bed. I climbed up and lay down, facing the wall.

Since she told me not to show her my face. Then that’s what I’d do.

Still, I could perk my ears up and attentively listen to any rustling coming from her side.

Setsuna-nee didn’t say anything for a long minute. The room stayed quiet except for the faint rumbling of the air conditioner and the occasional muffled chatter from the hallway outside.

I lay here on Juri’s bed, staring at the wall like she’d ordered, but every nerve was tuned to her side of the room. Waiting for the next huff, the next pillow throw, the next sharp word that would tell me exactly how deep I’d gotten under her skin.

However, what I ended up sensing was the soft rustle of fabric and the creak of her bed as she shifted.

Then nothing.

Another minute passed like this, which actually felt longer than that.

Soon enough, a quiet, almost reluctant sigh reached my ears.

“You’re really just gonna lie there like a good boy?” Her voice came out soft, edged with that familiar irritation. Like she was annoyed at herself for breaking the silence first.

I didn’t turn around. Just kept my tone casual. Right. Like a good boy.

“Mhm. You told me not to show my face. I’m following orders, Setsuna-nee-san. Besides, I’m giving you space to think. Are you done thinking?”

Instead of an answer, I heard a beat.

Then the bed creaked again, louder this time.

Footsteps. Bare feet padding across the floor lightly but the silence in the room allowed me to pick it up almost instantly.

A moment later, I felt the mattress dip behind me as she climbed onto Juri’s bed without asking.

My heart gave one hard thud, but I stayed still, facing the wall like nothing had changed.

Setsuna-nee settled in close. Close enough that I could feel the heat radiating off her body and smell the faint citrus shampoo in her hair.

She didn’t say anything for another long moment. Just sat there, knees probably pulled up to her chest again, that oversized hoodie swallowing her frame.

Finally, she spoke, or more like a whisper.

“You’re such an idiot, you brat.”

I couldn’t help the small smile that tugged at my lips. “Yeah. I’ve heard that one too many times before.”

She huffed, the sound closer now. Like she’d scooted an inch toward me. A little more and she’d probably lie down next to me.

But with what happened earlier, she might smell what remained from what Juri and I did not even ten minutes earlier.

“Why do you have to be like this?” The question came out frustrated, almost pleading. “All sweet and honest and... ugh. It’s annoying.”

I turned my head just enough to catch her in my peripheral vision.

True enough, she was hugging her knees, chin resting on them, staring straight ahead at me like a murderer about to stab her victim in his sleep.

But her ears were still pink. And she hadn’t moved away.

“Annoying how?” I asked softly. “Is it because it makes it harder to keep hating me?”

Setsuna-nee’s shoulders stiffened. She didn’t answer right away.

Then, quietly, her voice fell like a light feather fluttering down, “I don’t hate you, idiot and shameless bas– brat.”

The way she seemed to change the bastard to brat was too amusing. Still, the words hung there, heavy in the small space between us.

This time, I turned fully to face her, propping myself up on one elbow.

She moved back slightly but only enough to give me space to turn my body.

“You don’t?” I said in a slightly teasing tone.

She pouted and then shook her head once. “No. I... I don’t know what I feel. It’s messy. You’re messy. Everything about you is messy.”

“You make Juri smile like an idiot. You make Satsuki light up like she used to before everything went to shit because of that incident. And you...” She trailed off, jaw clenching like the next words physically hurt her. “You get in my head. And I hate that I don’t hate it.”

I stayed quiet, letting her words settle.

Setsuna-nee finally fixed her eyes on my face. Our gazes instantly met and I could see the vulnerability playing on her pupils. They’re shaking.

“I’m not like them,” She muttered. “I’m not gonna just... fall into your arms because you say pretty things. I’m not gonna share you like it’s normal. Things like what you did with Juri might be normal to you but I... I don’t know how to react to that.”

“I know,” I replied simply. “You’re not like anyone else. That’s why I’m still here, waiting for you to figure it out. No pressure. No rush.”

She stared at me for a long second, something conflicted flickering behind her eyes.

Then she huffed again and flopped sideways, her head landing next to me. But she immediately shifted down and her obvious destination was my chest, burying her face there.

“Just... shut up and stay there,” She mumbled as I felt her breath seeping into my shirt. “I need to think. And you’re warm, so don’t move.”

I smiled as I carefully placed my arm over her, careful not to push too far.

“Yes, ma’am. Take all your time in the world. But just make sure you’ll finish thinking before Juri walks in on us like this on her bed.”

“I know that, idiot!” She snapped, ramming her forehead against my chest. And then she settled.

Now this brings me back to that time when we hid in that old, cramped shed back at the camping trip.