Stealing Spree

Chapter 2845: Surprise Package?

It was around ten o’clock in the evening when I finally escorted Ria home. Apart from the gift that I personally picked after sensing that she wouldn’t pick one herself, I also bought a cake that she could bring home.

That one, I insisted. It’s still her birthday, after all. Even if the excuse she used was to meet her friend today, there’s nothing wrong if she brought home a birthday cake that ‘someone’ bought for her.

Still, we refrained from having me escort her to her doorstep, where her parents could see us together. We’d be keeping our relationship a secret for now. Her parents might not be able to take it.

She’s their smart and mature daughter who has a bright future ahead of her. Even the boyfriend she picked before I stole her had never been introduced to her parents. I mean, she was just trying to see how it feels to be in a relationship.

But, unfortunately for her, she ended up being targeted by me. But when I stole her, that ‘trial’ had transformed into something else. Being involved with me changed her perspective. And although I never thought that much about it back then, Ria held onto it even after I cut her off.

I watched her disappear into their front door from a block away before turning around and leaving the area.

On my way back home, I took my time going on a few detours. I met up with Aoi back at the same park, but we only met briefly. Her excuse for going out at this time of the night was to buy something from the convenience store, after all.

That’s why I accompanied the unruly girl there and bought her the dessert she was craving.

Then, she told me about what happened after we separated earlier in the morning. She chased after Ohori-senpai and sat her down for a talk. Not about me, of course.

It was about that ex of hers with his cuckold fantasy. Although Aoi said his reputation was already ruined, Ohori-senpai still seemed troubled about meeting him tomorrow. They’re from the same class, after all.

Aoi suggested that I steal Ohori-senpai completely, or rather, make our relationship seem real so that the cuck bastard won’t ever think that she’s still feeding him his fantasy.

Of course, I repeated to her the complication around it. That kind of bastard will always conveniently interpret things for his fantasy. Much like when Ogawa was still deluded in his fantasy that Nami and the other girls from their circle were still into him, and I was just tricking them all.

The only solution I could think of was... to truly bury that cuck bastard six feet under the ground.

Well, that’s not possible, so in the end, Aoi dropped that suggestion, telling me that she’d think of another way. She truly wanted to help that older friend of hers get back on her feet.

And seeing her that motivated, I couldn’t help but also feel the urge to back her up on it.

In the end, I eventually gave in, telling her I’d follow her suggestion but only if Ohori-senpai was also up for it. And when that happens, she’ll let me deal with that cuck bastard myself.

After all, we’re going to lure him out of the school to prevent any complications.

Aoi happily jumped into my arms when I said that and she asked me to carry her on my back and escort her to their house.

That’s her unruly side coming out again but who am I to reject her?

Anyway, once I finally got back into the train station, I then checked my messages and tapped on the most recent one. A late-night message by Yue.

It was nothing serious, just the girl ranting about her loaded schedule today. There’s a recording for a TV advertisement of some brand that signed her as their new face for the summer campaign.

She sent a short voice note right after.

“Ruki... I miss you. Today was nonstop. Rehearsals, fittings, then they made me pose for three hours under lights that felt like the sun itself. My legs are killing me. I wish you were here to massage and cuddle me to sleep!”

I smiled at the message as my thumb hovered over the reply button. The train rattled gently beneath me. The car was mostly empty at this hour, just a few late-night salarymen dozing off and one older lady scrolling on her phone. Perfect for a quiet moment.

“That’s what I wish too, you know? But Yue, hang in there. I’ll call you later to lull you to sleep, deal?”

As soon as I sent that, it was immediately marked ‘read’. Then the ellipsis appeared as she began typing her reply.

Yeah. She’s been waiting for me all this time. I could already imagine her lying on her stomach on her bed, legs raised, and face half buried in her pillow while she fiddled with her phone.

If only Tokyo were just a few minutes’ ride away, I would’ve gone there already and given her a full-body massage. And maybe stay with her for the night? Alas, we could only be satisfied with this.

"Later? Are you still not home?"

As expected, she’d instantly catch that.

But it’s not a problem. It’s not like I’m planning to hide this from her.

"Well, I escorted the birthday girl home. You must have read about it from your group chat, right?"

Right. Even if she was busy with her packed schedule for a popular celebrity today, she wouldn’t miss the chaos brewing in that group chat.

"Oh! I thought she was going to stay at your house tonight."

"Nope. It’s only Satsuki."

Her reply took a bit longer this time as she probably revised it a few times.

"Now I’m jealous. It should’ve been me staying over! Take me away from this place, Ruki!"

Reading that, a huge grin couldn’t help but form on my lips. What a silly girl. But I understand what she’s thinking.

"Alright. Let me take the first train to Tokyo later." I playfully replied before adding another line, "I’ll bring you home and lock you in our room."

Like this, the entirety of my train ride was spent talking with Yue. Although I wasn’t by her side, the girl was clearly waiting for my reply with bated breath, her typing bubbles appearing and disappearing like she kept rewriting the same message over and over.

“Ruki... you’re such a tease. First train? You know I’d cancel everything tomorrow if you actually showed up. But... yeah, I’ll wait. By the way, I didn’t contact you just to be pampered!”

The girl continued typing after that. And thinking about the coming week, I could already guess what she’s going to say next.

“You’ve heard about it, right? Kaoru-nee will be coming to your school tomorrow. To handle the preparation for my surprise concert at your school’s festival. After she’s done with it, she’ll come to your house.”

When I read it, it made me tilt my head in confusion. Why will Kaoru-san go to our house? Don’t tell me this girl brought a package for me?

Ah. No. That can’t be it. After all, she’d tell it to me herself if that’s the case.

I waited for a little more, and Yue continued typing.

“Chisato-nee called Kaoru-nee earlier. She asked her to deliver something to you. It’s nothing big, but I won’t tell you what it is. You can ask her, though. Also, I included the album we’re going to release this summer. Listen to it, especially my collaboration song with ‘Hikari’ and ‘Maki’.”

Chisato-nee-san is sending something? Why not come here directly though? Is she still so busy? Probably.

Although we talk regularly now, it’s mostly through messages. Sometimes she would even send a short voicemail, reminding me to eat properly and take care of my health. Honestly, ever since we reconnected, she’s now turning to me whenever she feels exhausted.

As for asking her what she’s sending over, it’s probably intended as a surprise. I had a few guesses on what it might be but... it shouldn’t be approved that quickly, right? I haven’t even debuted as a model yet. There’s no way they’ll green-light the music video for that collaboration song so quickly and star an amateur like me.

And then... Hikari and Maki, huh? Those are Akane and Miho’s chosen aliases to keep their identities hidden as the collaborators for that song Yue was going to release as a single and a part of an album.

“Got it. I’ll inform Miwa-nee about it. I’m looking forward to putting that album on loop.” I replied along with a wink emoji.

“I expected as much from you, my idiot Ruki. Won’t Akane be embarrassed though?”

“Oh, Akane? Don’t worry. I can already picture that girl singing along with it. Besides... it’s your heartfelt song for me, no? I will never tire of it.”

“Your silver tongue can even translate in text, Ruki. Aren’t you curious about Chisato-nee’s package?”

“I am. But if it’s a surprise, then I’ll hold onto my reaction until I get it.”

“Right. You’re that thoughtful. If I don’t know you well enough, I might think you have a sister complex. You’ve been so thoughtful of Chisato-nee, Ruki.”

Sister complex, huh? Maybe I do have it. I keep getting involved with ‘sisters’ after all.