Stealing Spree

Chapter 2828: Call me by name again

My memories with Nagisa weren’t that much different from most girls of my past. It was all about me ordering her to meet me somewhere where I would fulfill my desire and then some. When she was about to graduate, I let her go, telling her that she was already free. She didn’t protest like Yae or confess to me that she loves me. She simply took my words and quietly disappeared.

When I met her last Christmas at her part-time job selling those Christmas cakes, I actually felt a little relieved to hear her deny knowing me. Or am I?

Still, that meant she truly listened to me in freeing herself from her past.

However, she showed up the next day and gave me that gift along with a letter wherein she predicted I wouldn’t talk to her at all.

I might have coldly sent her away but that gift and letter must have had a profound effect on me. Something that I haven’t noticed until my change.

“Yes, it is true.” I finally answered as I took a step forward, standing next to Satsuki.

The girl clicked her tongue but didn’t stop me.

Meanwhile, not counting the confused Sakuraba Mikan, Nagisa stared at me speechless. She looked speechless, or rather bewildered.

Perhaps she was expecting me to deny it. But to hear me say it was true crumbled her current belief that I would never take any girl as my girlfriend.

“Y-you’re joking, right?” Nagisa’s voice cracked on the last word as she took an involuntary step back. Her composure gradually shattered right there in the narrow hallway, leaving behind raw disbelief that made her eyes shimmer with something dangerously close to hope.

I didn’t answer immediately. Instead, I let the silence stretch just long enough for Sakuraba Mikan to tilt her head like a confused puppy. At this point, her competitive fire or her curiosity to know my name was momentarily doused by the awkwardness radiating between the three of us.

Satsuki’s grip on my arm tightened possessively, her grumpy resting face softening into that smug little smirk she reserved for moments when she knew she had the upper hand.

“I am serious. A lot has happened since then.”

“Oh... really? What happened? And why do you sound that warm? What changed? No... what made you change?”

“It’s a long story but if you’re curious, I’m willing to tell you about it. Just that... can it wait for later?”

As much as I want to correct my past mistakes or just apologize to her, I’m still that guy who always puts my girls first. And I won’t simply change it just because of this unexpected situation.

Nagisa’s eyes trembled as her mouth opened and closed. She seemed to want to say something but couldn’t truly voice it.

I understood what might be running in her head. She couldn’t wrap her head around the idea that I changed from the heartless guy who only knew about satisfying my desire.

Maybe she tried moving on after that day but she definitely couldn’t forget about me.

And now that she encountered me like this, with a girl claiming to be my girlfriend, it’s probably messing with her head. The worst part? She wasn’t informed of my change. She wasn’t given closure especially when I sent her away and never contacted her after.

I mean, all this time, she’s probably waiting for me. Or not? Either way, meeting me like this was truly not something she’d find ideal.

If we ran into each other somewhere, that would be much better.

Nagisa’s fingers twitched at her sides before she forced a laugh. She sounded shaky and unconvincing. "Later? No, no. You don’t get to say that after everything, Ruki..."

Her gaze then shifted to Satsuki, "Maemura, right? Can I borrow him for a moment?"

"No." Satsuki promptly answered. That might seem childish to Nagisa but I understood where she was coming from. She wasn’t trying to be petty, she was just claiming what’s hers.

Nagisa blinked as her lips tightened. Her hands curled into fists before she managed to force a smile. "Is that so? Then, I’ll just--"

Sakuraba Mikan suddenly stepped forward, cutting her off. "Hold on, senpai! This is getting ridiculous."

She then jabbed a finger toward me. "All I wanted was his name, and now we’re knee-deep in some weird love drama? Just tell me so I can leave!"

The tension shattered like glass. Satsuki snorted while Nagisa’s shoulders slumped slightly.

Likewise, I couldn’t help but break into a smile. That’s quite funny and relatable on her part.

"You’ve already heard it. What more do you want to hear?" I said, glancing at Sakuraba Mikan while keeping my arm linked with Satsuki’s. The orange-haired girl scrunched her nose like she’d bitten into something sour.

"That was Shinonome-senpai calling you that! Not you introducing yourself!" She protested, pointing at Nagisa, who was still staring at me with an unreadable expression.

Satsuki exhaled sharply through her nose. "You’re really persistent for someone who lost."

"I didn’t lose to you. I lost to him!" Sakuraba Mikan argued as her competitive glare switched between us. "And I still don’t know his full name."

Nagisa inhaled sharply, her earlier emotional turmoil momentarily forgotten as she processed the scene. She then focused on me before saying, "See this, Ruki? Even if you don’t try, strays still flock towards you like that girl claiming to be your childhood friend. I haven’t thanked her for that time."

"You mean Akane? Well, what do you think?"

"Don’t tell me you..." Nagisa paused as if she realized what I was hinting at. "No. Impossible. You wouldn’t. No matter how devoted she is to you..."

"Indeed. It would’ve been impossible in the past. But... things have changed. That’s why, can you wait for me to explain everything to you? Also, I owe you an apology."

As she listened to my words, Nagisa’s expression twisted a few times. After all, she had never seen me act this way before. For her, it might’ve felt like looking at a stranger who took on my face. Meanwhile, Sakuraba Mikan crossed her arms impatiently, tapping her foot against the floor. "Hello? Still waiting for that name."

Satsuki snorted softly before nudging me forward slightly with her shoulder. "Go on, idiot. Introduce yourself properly before she explodes."

Right. This girl wasn’t part of my past messes. She didn’t deserve to be tangled in this awkwardness.

Stepping forward, I offered her my hand. "Alright. I’ll fulfill my promise. I’m Onoda Ruki. Nice to officially meet you, Sakuraba Mikan-san."

Sakuraba Mikan stared at my outstretched hand, as if it might bite her.

Her sharp eyes focused back on my face, then switched to Nagisa’s tense expression.

“Onoda... Ruki,” She repeated slowly as though she was tasting the syllables and confirming they matched the name she’d chased for months.

Then, unexpectedly, she grabbed my hand. She didn’t shake it. Instead, she yanked me forward. Her grip was surprisingly strong for someone so slender.

“Finally! Do you have any idea how many practices I skipped just to–” She cut herself off there. Whatever she was about to say, it caused her cheeks to flush.

Behind her, Nagisa’s eyebrows shot up. Then, Satsuki cleared her throat.

Perhaps realizing what she had just triggered, Sakuraba released my hand but not before squeezing once. I felt her calluses, her proof of hours spent dribbling and shooting.

"Anyway... We’re going to win today, mark my words! You’d better give them a battle plan for the second half."

Upon saying that, she turned to Nagisa, “And Shinonome-senpai... good luck!”

Without waiting for Nagisa’s reply, the girl dashed away, leaving us three.

With that kind of energy, I couldn’t help but chuckle. Despite what I perceived as her clumsiness, she’s so energetic and full of positive vibes. No wonder she’s so popular.

With Sakuraba Mikan’s footsteps fading down the hallway like she’d just scored the game-winning buzzer-beater, the narrow corridor suddenly felt too quiet.

Satsuki relaxed on my side but her possessive grip returned. On the other hand, Nagisa stood there like someone had dropped her into the wrong timeline.

She looked... smaller than I remembered. Not physically but emotionally. Like the confident senior who once waited for my texts at midnight had been replaced by someone who wasn’t sure if she was allowed to feel anything anymore.

“Ruki... Can you promise to tell me everything? You really... have a girlfriend now. And you’re letting her call you that. Out loud. In front of people.”

“Mhm. I promise.” I nodded. At this point, Satsuki also understood that what she did was already enough. And knowing that the girl in front of us was someone from my past, there’s not really a point in her antagonizing her further.

“One more thing,” Nagisa added.

“What is it?”

“Call me by my name again. Please?”

... This girl. She still hasn’t moved on.

“Does it matter?”

“It does. I miss it. No matter how cold you were back then, hearing you call my name was the closest I felt to being with you.” Nagisa’s voice cracked slightly as she twisted the hem of her shirt between her fingers, clearly afraid that I would continue to deny her that.