Stealing Spree

Chapter 2059: I do like you

Minutes later, Fuyu settled down in my embrace. She didn't ask anything more and I also kept my mouth shut, waiting for her to sort out her thoughts.

She needed that the most after I dropped my backstory to her.

Although I also wanted to hear things about her, there's no rush in that. Regardless of what happened, I doubt I'd see her less after this day.

Anyway, since I had nothing else to do other than to wait, my hand just naturally moved back to brushing her hair.

I couldn't get enough of it and Fuyu found it comforting.

As time continued to pass, her hand would sometimes brush against my arm, warming it up. And then little by little, she grabbed my wrist, bringing my hand down to where she could see it. She then opened up my palm and placed her hand on top of it, filling in the gaps between my fingers.

Soon our fingers curled, locking our hands together. She glanced up and wrinkled her eyebrows as though she was telling me not to copy her.

I did loosen my fingers and her expression relaxed before a smile peeked from her lips. It's like the sun reappearing after a storm. It's soothing and heartwarming.

This adorable girl...

Is she really sorting out her thoughts or she just wants to pass the time like this?

Either way, I'm also gradually liking this atmosphere. It's neither heavy nor restrained anymore. Moreover, seeing her smile like that reinforces my feelings for her.

"Your hand is rough, Onoda-kun."

"Aren't yours the same?"

As someone who dabbled in sports like tennis, there's no way she could keep her soft hands. Especially when she's too passionate about it. Her hand might even be rougher than mine since I don't normally do weights. Just the normal exercise routine.

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"Fufu. Yes. I got calluses from my tennis racket."

"Well, that's the mark of your hard work." I smiled and patted her head. I also tried to feel that roughness from her hand using my thumb.

She was a little ticklish though so my thumb ended up restrained by her.

"Hard work, huh? You're more hardworking than me."

"Am I now?"

"Look at yourself. You rarely get time alone. And even if you get one, you can't stop thinking about the girls you care about."

That's considered hard work? I don't know.

"There you go. You just thought it was not considered hard work, am I correct? It's written all over your face."

... So she's already becoming a mind reader just like the rest of my girls. Is this an acquired ability for everyone involved with me?

"Alright. You caught me. But I have my reason."

"Uh-huh. Tell me." Fuyu smugly raised an eyebrow at me as though she was ready to berate whatever reason I could come up with.

Am I being interrogated now? Perhaps. Perhaps not.

But thinking about it, Fuyu is using this chance to further understand me. Is she looking for a way to justify accepting my situation?

It can't be, right?

"It's not hard work because..." I pause for a moment just to build up anticipation. And maybe to annoy her a bit. And it worked. Fuyu frowned and squeezed my thumb tighter. What a violent girl. She's cute this way though.

Without changing my expression, I continued, "... You see, my brain is hardwired like that. I tend to think about my girls whenever I'm idle. I also sometimes think about you. You can say I am wasting my time since they will reply to me immediately if I contact them. But then again, they'll scold me if they find out I spent my free time like that."

Somehow, they have a sixth sense about things like that. I can list a lot of examples but I may not finish them all in one sitting. That's how scary they were when it came to me wasting my free time.

"That sounds exhausting." Fuyu relaxed her frown. She then shook her head before lifting her other hand to press her palm on my forehead. "It's a miracle you haven't collapsed from overworking yet."

"Do I look like a machine to you?"

"Yes. You're like the tennis ball machine we used to train with. It inexhaustibly spits balls at us but we still have to feed the balls back to it. Sometimes, it will break down. Whenever that happens, we have no choice but to change our practice." Somehow, she completely reflected my figure on the tennis machine. She appeared regretful at one second and then relieved at the next.

... What is she trying to say here?

No. I think I understand what she means by making that comparison.

Just like Arisa and the rest, she sees my attitude of constantly thinking about them as me, burning myself out.

What can I say? I don't really have a hobby. I can read the novels that Aya and Kana recommended to me. I can view Mizuki's lessons. Or I can also try my hand at playing a song on the keyboard.

Yeah. I have a lot to do but all of those are still connected to them.

"Now that I understand you better, I can finally see your efforts. But Onoda-kun, is it really worth it?"

At this, the trace of worry finally showed up on Fuyu's beautiful face. She's truly concerned about me and I feel warm thinking about that.

Is she actually an angel? Hana has her angelic smile but that girl is quite savage when she needs to. On the other hand, this girl... she's simply perfect.

"It is." My answer was swift. And at the same time, I cupped her face with my thumb tracing the curve of her lips. "Seeing your smile is worth it."

Upon hearing that, Fuyu's eyes trembled a bit before her expression relaxed. A moment later,

a peaceful smile bloomed on her lips as she pressed her face further into my palm. The trace of concern disappeared like smoke that was blown away.

"That's such an overused line but why do I feel giddy hearing it from you?" Fuyu had a helpless smile on her face as she enjoyed the warmth from my palm.

"Beats me. Maybe it's because you like me?"

"I do like you... Yes. That's the answer." Fuyu sweetly giggled. Then she pinched my chin and

brought my face closer to hers. Without hesitation, she dropped a peck on it and then

continued giggling.

This girl... She also has a way with her words. My heart just can't stop skipping.