Stealing Spree

Chapter 2834: Don’t blame me for this

“I should let you go back to your girls. They won thanks to you, after all. And... Just... know that I’m happy you changed, Ruki. Really happy.”

Nagisa turned to leave, but after a few steps, she paused and glanced over her shoulder with the teasing smile I remembered from our old encounters. Only now it lacked the undercurrent of resignation.

“One last thing. If you ever need someone to listen without expecting anything back... I’m here. Take care of them, okay? Especially that grumpy girl of yours. She looks like she’d bite anyone who tries to steal you.”

Without letting me respond to that, Nagisa continued walking away as if she were escaping from me. Or rather, she was holding herself back from throwing herself into my arms again.

I watched her back for a second.

And before I knew it, my legs already got me chasing after her.

With how large my strides were, I reached her before she turned on a corner.

And to her utter surprise, my arms wrapped around her from behind, pulling her back to me.

“R-ruki?”

“Why are you running away already? Don’t you want to hear my thoughts about you?” I started with a gentle tone that I probably never used with her before.

Nagisa’s body stiffened slightly but she didn’t squirm out of my hold. If anything, she’s probably reliving the moments we had been intimate, like her body remembered the shape of mine even after all this time apart.

“...What thoughts?” She replied in a shaky whisper. Her hands came up to rest lightly over my forearms, gripping them lightly. “You already apologized. That’s more than I ever expected from the old you.”

I tightened my embrace and rested my chin on her shoulder, breathing in the sweet scent that invoked more memories of her in my head.

“Thoughts like what do I feel about you right now. And honestly, my body moved on its own upon seeing you walking away like you’re escaping from me.”

“Back then, I would’ve let you go without a second thought. Or order you to disappear if you lingered too long. But now? Perhaps I don’t want you walking away thinking this is just another cold dismissal.”

Nagisa turned her head a bit to meet my gaze before letting out a shaky laugh, “You’re overthinking it again, aren’t you? From the way I see it, you’re not dismissing me.”

“Well, be that as it may. But tell me. Are you afraid that if you jump into my arms, I’ll push you away like before?”

“... No. It’s not that, Ruki.”

“Then what? I can tell, Nagisa. You’re holding something back.”

“Geez. I don’t really know how to act around you, Ruki. This gentle version of you... it’s like meeting a completely different person wearing your face.” She answered with a sigh.

It was quite heavy.

I get it. That should be how it felt for her. Unlike the other girls from my past who saw this changed me, she probably held my image of that unfeeling guy, who told her to leave on her own during that snowy winter after giving her a warm drink, close to her heart.

It was difficult for her to forget that easily.

“Maemura seems fierce. Protective. She didn’t hesitate to claim you in front of me. I envied her confidence. Back then, I never dared to claim anything from you. I just... waited for your calls. Your orders. I do wonder how different it will feel right now but...”

She trailed her voice again as if she couldn’t continue to imagine that scene.

“That’s on me, Nagisa. I treated you like a toy I could pick up whenever I wanted. When I let you go, I didn’t even give you a proper goodbye. I just said ‘be free’ like I had the right to decide that for you. I’m sorry. Truly. You deserved better than being someone’s outlet for his desire.”

Her eyes shimmered as her tears once again threatened to flow down her beautiful face. But she held it back. “You idiot... I told you I don’t resent you. I clung to the memory because it was all I had. Every time you said my name, even coldly, it felt like I mattered to someone. Even if it was just for an hour in some hidden spot.”

One of her hands reached for my face, cupping it, “Hearing you say it today, without any command behind it... it felt real. Like closure. Or maybe a new beginning? I don’t know yet. But now you’re holding me like this... you’re being unfair, Ruki.”

I loosened my hold just enough so she could turn around in my arms if she wanted. She did. Slowly, until we were face to face again.

“Mhm. I know. I’m unfair. After all, I’m still the same guy in a lot of ways,” I admitted, brushing my thumb along her cheek to catch a stray tear that finally slipped free. “Still greedy. Still surrounded by girls who put up with my mess. Still shameless enough to chase after you when you try to slip away. But the difference is... I actually care now about what that does to all of you. To you.”

Her lips parted, a small, vulnerable sound escaping before she pressed them together again. “You care... enough to stop me from leaving?”

“Enough to tell you that I never forgot you either, Nagisa. Not really. That Christmas gift you left? The letter? I’ve read it and stored that box safely, no matter how much I refused to admit that it was supposed to be for your new boyfriend.”

“I... I never had one. I just... told you I do. Maybe my last desperate attempt for you to take me back.” This time, she put on a defeated smile before continuing, “It didn’t work.”

“Well, that’s how I was. I tunneled my vision only to my desire. But I understand now. You weren’t just another girl I used. You were one of the ones who made me realize how deep the hole I’d dug for myself actually was.”

Upon hearing that, Nagisa’s hands curled into a fist as she hit my chest with it. And I could tell, she couldn’t hold it back anymore.

Her face twisted slightly, not into a frown but a pained one, “Then why did you send me away like that? Like I was nothing?”

“Because I was a coward who didn’t know how to stop being cruel without breaking everything else I had going on,” I answered honestly without sugarcoating.

My voice stayed low, steady. “I thought freeing you was the kindest thing I could do. Turns out it just left you carrying the weight alone. I’m sorry for that too. For making you wait in silence.”

She stayed quiet for a long moment, forehead eventually dropping to rest against my collarbone. Her shoulders trembled once, twice, then stilled as she exhaled a long, shaky breath.

“...Idiot,” she muttered, the word muffled against my chest but carrying no real heat. “You really are different. The old Ruki would’ve never said any of this. He would’ve just told me to be grateful he even remembered my name. And then, he would’ve already dragged me somewhere private and told me to strip.”

I chuckled softly, one hand sliding up to cradle the back of her head while the other stayed at her waist, keeping her close. “Yeah. And the new me is telling you that you don’t have to carry that old version of me anymore. You can let it go. Or... if you still want something from this changed bastard... it’s the fact that I’m still as shameless as before.”

Nagisa lifted her head again, eyes searching mine like she was still half-convinced this was some elaborate dream. She unfurled her hand and gripped my collar only to smooth the fabric out gently, almost affectionately.

“How shameless?” She asked. Her eyes seemed to be daring me to show her what I meant from that.

“Like this?” I gently nudged at the back of her head before leaning closer. The girl closed her eyes but as the distance between our lips shrank, I paused.

A few seconds passed like that before Nagisa caught on to what I just did.

She opened her eyes as her lips quivered slightly before turning into a pout, “Y-yeah. This is how shameless you are. Ugh...”

“Sorry, I can’t help it.”

I pulled back slightly but the girl seemed to move like lightning, hooking her arm around my nape.

“You started this. Don’t blame me for finishing this.” With her eyes shining with determination and unmasked affection, Nagisa pulled me down with surprising strength as her lips caught mine in a kiss that carried her months of bottled-up longing and unrequited affection.