Stealing Spree

"Hmm, are you surprised to see me here to pick you up? After missing the chance to check on you yesterday, I thought I could ride the bus with you today. So, of course, I had to be here." With a bright smile, I stepped out of the bus stop waiting shed to greet the girl who had just come to a halt, a few steps away from me.

Of course, Miyako wasn't surprised. She's literally just speechless to find me waiting for her here. The ray of the morning sun behind her was even giving the girl's appearance a more charming look.

Right. After sending Akane, Yae, and Ririka to school, I quickly made my way here even if I had to spend more for the bus fare. The few hundred I used couldn't be compared to this rewarding image in front of my eyes. Even without putting that much of an effort into it, Miyako's beauty remained timeless.

Actually, I planned to pick her up right outside their house. However, I changed my mind upon remembering that she sometimes takes a different route to get here to time her schedule when there are fewer students around taking the same bus.

We could miss each other since I didn't inform her about my coming here.

As for the reason why she does that, she once told me that it all started when rumors about her spread to almost everyone in our middle school. And upon entering high school, she just adopted the same habit.

Obviously, I was the same clueless guy from back then. I failed to notice that she was arriving late to school to avoid the other students.

If ever the time machine is invented in the future, especially one that's not going to change the present, I will blindly pay any amount to ride it for a chance to beat up my past self for all the things that I have done.

I mean, even if I stood by not regretting any of my misdeeds, I couldn't help but feel ashamed and angry about how much of an idiot I had been every time a memory of my past with my girls flashed back in my mind.

Her usually emotionless face twitched as she forced a smile, looking at me incredulously. "Mister. You do know how to send a message, don't you?" she jeered, "You can't say you do not when our last message to each other was just last night. Why specifically come here when we could meet near the school?"

While maintaining my bright smile, I shook my head as I took my step toward her. Reaching in to tuck her hair behind her ear, I replied, "Dear Miyako, do you really need to ask that? You already know the answer."

Ignoring the other pedestrians walking in our direction, I planted my lips on hers.

She made no attempt to dodge it. However, she also showed a minimal reaction. It's like she simply took it as is, without reciprocating my gesture.

"Still as scandalous as ever." Miyako sneered at me again but little by little, her lips gradually relaxed. Nonetheless, before it could form her perfect smile, she covered it up with her arm, denying me the view.

Yep. This girl had also started creating counter-teasing, knowing I'm already like a helpless lovestruck virgin for all of them. 𝑏𝑒𝑑𝘯𝑜𝑣𝑒𝑙.𝑐𝘰𝑚

Of all people, my throne of being the teasemaster was being challenged by my girls. That group chat is not just a Ruki Hub anymore but also a Ruki Countermeasure Council.

Well, it's not bad. Being alone on top of the hill wasn't always great. I'll accept all of their challenges.

"Should I tell them that I'm your boyfriend?" I pointed behind her as though there were other students coming from that direction.

I wasn't wearing any disguise today except for changing the way my hair was combed.

Due to that, without checking behind her, Miyako's eyes narrowed slightly as she quickly pulled out a face mask and put it on me, covering half of my face.

"You idiot. Stop making things difficult for you."

The girl then hit my chest lightly. Her worry about my situation is clearly conveyed by it.

"Heh. I'm kidding. No one is coming this way. I appreciate the readiness though. I lost this round of teasing."

As I admitted that, I pulled down the mask as I planted another kiss on her lips. This time, instead of not moving, she bit my lips with little force before quickly looking behind her to confirm.

Soon after doing so, she grabbed my collar and pulled me down to her, giving my lips another bite.

"Idiot Ruki. You deserve that bite." Miyako said as she released me. Following this, she pouted as she made her way to the waiting shed.

I was quick on my feet though. Stretching my arm to hook it around her waist, I matched up on her steps.

Miyako rolled her eyes at me but didn't say anything anymore. She still appeared a little upset about what I did though.

That's why for the next few minutes before the bus arrives, I used that moment to appease her. Now that I reviewed it, that's rather tasteless. Truly a deserving loss for me.

Thankfully, Miyako softened up to me after scolding me one last time. Even without saying it, she couldn't deny how happy she is at this moment.

When we finally got on the bus, the girl chose a two-seater and took the window seat. She used the tall backseats and the blind spot for being there to hide from the other passengers' eyes how she comfortably cuddled up with me.

Naturally, I played along with her. I glared at whoever would even try to glance at us. Due to that, no one took a seat near us.

Watching the girl enjoy this moment, I couldn't help but feel really relieved. I mean, unlike when I took her back in where she still looked a little gloomy, Miyako was now emitting a bright aura. Whatever was weighing on her mind had disappeared. And that included those three bitches that were bullying her.

Guessing correctly that it's part of the reason why I came to pick her up today, Miyako brought it up herself a few minutes after the bus began moving to our destination.

"Uhm… I never told you about them because I thought I could endure it. I thought I could get away from them… I was wrong. Even when I fought back, they only got even more enraged at me…" She started, her tone a little down. She probably didn't want to talk about this if possible but now that we were in this situation, she couldn't keep it hidden anymore.

I mean, I already know even if she still decides not to tell me. But for the girl to voice it out to me, it means she's now finally letting go of it. The thought of doing it by herself was already gone from her mind.

And sure enough, Miyako soon raised her head as a gentle smile showed on her lips. Her eyes twinkled in positivity as she continued.

"Thankfully, the other girls started showing up next to me, showing me their support. I first thought they were more of my rival to you than sisters but… they proved that they really thought of me as one of them, a sister… I'm indebted to them."

Indebted, huh? This girl… For sure, the others only thought of that as a matter of course. She was welcomed as another girl in our complex relationship. It's only natural for them to help each other.

"I'm sure that you're going to do the same for them if ever they get in trouble, right? That's the Miyako I know. You even helped me, a stranger, with my mindless and worthless questions back when I first approached you by visiting your previous club."

There's no point bringing up how I eventually tricked and took advantage of her. So, I stopped with that which instantly made the girl giggle at the memory that returned to her mind.

"Yeah. I helped an innocent-looking guy back then who looked lost at what he was doing. Who would've thought… hmm?" She trailed her voice there as she climbed up from her seat to target my neck.

"Thanks to that, we're now like this. Happily in love."

As I felt her lips pressing on a sensitive spot on my neck, the girl sweetly whispered, "Look at how shameless you are, Ruki. I hate and love that I cannot deny that… I wanna say you should take care of all of us, but let me be selfish for now. Hug me tight, Ruki."

"This girl… You can be selfish at any time. I trust all of you to get along, after all. When it comes to being understanding, I'm not a match against all of you." I replied at the same time as I followed her words, hugging her tightly.

For the rest of our bus ride, the two of us spent that just being all over each other.

No doubt. Deciding to come and pick her up is a very wise decision.