Stealing Spree

Chapter 2781: Swimsuit Appreciation

The photo loaded fully as I stepped into the train car and found a corner seat.

Sakuragi stood in what appeared to be a changing room mirror. Naturally, the photo didn’t change. It was her in a red bikini tied with thin strings that barely held everything together. The color popped against her skin, and the cut was daring enough for someone like her. It was high on the hips, low in the front, showing off her toned stomach and the subtle curve of her chest.

She had one hand on her hip, the other holding her phone while sporting a mischievous grin that screamed ‘rate me if you dare’.

Heh. I never thought among the four of them, she’d be this bold. But then again, she’s also the one who insisted on taking my opinion for their swimsuit choice.

I didn’t reply right away. I just let my thumb hover over the screen as more messages flooded in.

Hayakawa: Sakuragi-chan, that’s not what you picked, right? I swear you bought a different swimsuit.

Watanabe: She bought two. Check the paper bag next to her.

Kaede: Ruki, should I also send mine here? Or... I can private message it to you.

Sakuragi: I’m waiting for the verdict, Onoda-kun. Don’t be shy. 1-10?

I chuckled under my breath. Kaede aside, who was probably ready to send me a private message with her swimsuit photo attached, these girls were something else. Especially Sakuragi, she wasn’t even trying to hide how much she enjoyed pushing buttons.

Bold, playful, and zero filter. Dangerous combination. Still, she’s only half as chaotic as the gremlin I know.

I typed back slowly, letting the girls sweat a little and anticipate my response.

“Let’s see. I can give it a 9/10. The red’s perfect on you. Loses a point because I can’t see the back yet.”

As soon as I sent that, the bubbles indicating that they already read it and all of them were typing at the same time immediately popped up.

Not long after, the first wave of replies arrived.

Sakuragi: KYAAA!! He wants the back view!! Should I send it??

Watanabe: SAKURAGI NO. Think about yourself. Or your future boyfriend.

Hayakawa-san: You truly did not hold back, Onoda-kun.

Kaede: ...

Reading all that, I shook my head before pocketing my phone as the train rumbled forward.

Let them spiral. I’d give proper feedback when they all sent theirs. For now, the image of Sakuragi in that red bikini was burned into my brain, and I wasn’t complaining.

Ah. Right. I should message Kaede.

I quickly typed, telling her that only send it to me if she feels comfortable and I’ll give her my honest evaluation.

Maybe I’ll get a surprise after my part-time job?

—-

Upon arriving home, I was greeted by the scene of Hanabi sprawled on the living room couch like a limp noodle. Her legs dangled over the armrest, one hand dramatically draped over her forehead while the other clutched a pillow to her stomach.

In a way, she looked adorably wrecked. Like a satisfied kitten who’d played too hard and now couldn’t even muster the energy to get up.

Azusa was perched on the opposite end, legs crossed elegantly, flipping through a book with that usual haughty air, but her eyes flicked up the second the door clicked shut behind me.

Akane, who usually waits for me at the door, poked her head out from the kitchen doorway, golden hair tied back in a messy bun, apron still on from whatever she’d been experimenting with. Nao was right behind her, wiping her hands on a towel, that quiet smile already curving her lips like she knew exactly how my day had gone.

Miwa-nee was nowhere in sight. Probably upstairs with Minoru but the house smelled like fresh tea and something sweet baking in the oven. Nao’s doing, no doubt.

“Babe! You’re back!” Hanabi’s voice cracked halfway through as she tried to sit up too fast, wincing dramatically and flopping back down with an exaggerated groan. “My legs still don’t work right. This is your fault.”

Azusa snorted without looking up from her magazine. “Shameless junior. She’s been whining about ‘soreness’ all day like we don’t know exactly why.”

“Hehe... Jealous, Azu-chan?” The goofball teasingly asked as though she had already forgotten how she was just wincing.

“Don’t call me like that!” The egotistic girl huffed as she shut the book with a dramatic snap, tossing it onto the coffee table like it had personally offended her.

“Jealous? Of your whining? Please. I’m just stating facts, goofball. You’ve been dramatic all day. ‘Oh no, my legs~ Oh no, I can’t walk~’ We all know you loved every second of it.”

Ending that by clicking her tongue and rolling her eyes, Azusa then directed a glare at me as if everything was my fault.

Which... technically is.

Hanabi’s cheeks puffed out in that adorable pout, but the way she squirmed on the couch, thighs pressing together like she was remembering exactly how I’d wrecked her this morning, gave her away completely.

“Babe! Tell Azu-chan to stop bullying me!” She whined, reaching out dramatically toward me like I was her only salvation.

I approached her, placed a hand on her head before pinching her cheek, “Had fun yet, my lovely goofball? Don’t tease senpai too much. She’s already grumpy that she still hasn’t beaten me in anything, after all.”

“Psh. I beat you earlier. I’ve seen you surrender. Don’t lie.” Azusa grumbled but the embarrassment in her tone was evident. After all, she’s referring to how she squeezed one out from me and how satisfying that was.

“Sure, Azusa. Come, I missed you too, you know?”

“I don’t miss you, shameless junior.”

“No? Alright, I’ll pamper my goofball then.” I shrugged and pretended to focus only on Hanabi, who was already rubbing her cheek on my stomach with her arms wrapped tightly around me.

Azusa’s eyes narrowed into that familiar tsundere glare, the one that Maaya also used to have. But in the end, she’d just melt again if I went over and held her.

“Psh. As if I care,” She muttered, flipping her hair over her shoulder with exaggerated nonchalance.

Despite that, her gaze lingered on Hanabi’s arms wrapped around me. The subtle shift of her thighs pressing together on the couch, told me everything her words wouldn’t.

Hanabi caught it too. She peeked up at me with those mischievous eyes as if she had finally found another chance to have fun. Then, she stuck her tongue out at Azusa. “See? Babe’s all mine right now, Azu-chan. Fair’s fair. You don’t want him. I’ll take him all I want.”

“Ugh. As if I care. That guy would still kneel in front of me in the future.” Azusa said, pretending not to be bothered. Yet her cheeks flushed pink as she grabbed another pillow and chucked it straight at Hanabi’s head.

Hanabi squeaked and ducked behind me, using my body as a shield while giggling like a maniac. The pillow bounced off my shoulder harmlessly.

I then caught Azusa’s wrist before she could grab another one, tugging her gently but firmly toward us.

“Come on, senpai. Don’t be like that. You know I missed you too. Should I kneel in front of you now?”

Azusa froze for a second, her pride warring with the way her body instinctively leaned into my touch. Her clear blue eyes flicked up to mine, sharp and defiant, but the flush creeping down her neck gave her away completely.

“Don’t kneel, idiot. That would be unsatisfying. Besides, I didn’t miss you. You’re just... annoying. And late. And–”

“Got it. You’re grumpy because I’m late,” I cut her off, pulling her close.

Seeing that, Hanabi pulled me down her seat so that she could climb up my lap. She’s quite bent on teasing Azusa this time. I guess that’s her way to forget the soreness, huh?

Azusa made a frustrated sound in the back of her throat, but she followed down, settling next to me. She then buried her face against my neck, blonde hair spilling everywhere as her arms finally wrapped around me like she’d been dying to all day.

“Shut up, shameless junior,” She mumbled shakily yet I could feel the heat emitting from her face. “You’re the worst.”

“Mhm. The worst,” I agreed, pressing a kiss to the top of her head while my other hand slid down Hanabi’s back, supporting her, “But you love it.”

Hanabi giggled as she nuzzled closer. “See, Azu-chan? He’s got us both. No escaping now.”

Azusa let out a dramatic sigh, but her arms tightened around me.

From the kitchen, Akane’s amused voice floated over. “Husband, that’s unfair. Should Nao and I join the pile, or are you full yet? Also, don’t you have to go to the boxing gym? You’re gonna run late for your part-time.”

“Well, it won’t hurt to pamper you all for a moment, right? But you’re right. I have to go now. Babe, senpai, I’ll be back.”

I kissed them and patted their backs gently before slowly easing myself out of their clingy embrace. Hanabi made this tiny, disappointed whine, her arms tightening around my waist. At the same time, Azusa lightly bit my neck before reluctantly letting go.

I went to the kitchen and did the same for Akane and Nao before heading upstairs to check on Miwa-nee.

Once that was done, I picked the duffel bag that Akane had already prepared for me.