Stealing Spree

“Please excuse me.” I politely muttered to the air as a proper show of respect as I followed Ishida-senpai into their front door. On my hand were bags containing the ingredients we bought at a nearby supermarket.

Once she changed into house slippers, Ishida-senpai placed another one for me before taking the bags from my hand.

“You don’t need to be so stiff. Feel free to rest in the living room, Onoda-kun. I’ll take this to the kitchen.” She raised the bags and went ahead of me.

Even until now, she maintained a neutral expression as if it’s nothing to her that she invited a man inside her house. Given that she knew how dangerous of a guy I was, she’s too relaxed around me that I was the one being giddy instead.

That was unusual.

Is this reverse psychology at work? I don’t know.

Earlier, when she proposed to cook for me instead of us eating in a restaurant, she also maintained a neutral expression or that’s how it looked like. There was no trace of her annoyed or displeased face that I often saw from her whenever I would go to our club. In fact, Ishida-senpai appeared to be an extremely amiable senior, doting on her junior.

Anyway, I might just be overthinking too much about her previous behaviors. Better to clear my mind and just wait on what’s going to happen.

There’s no one else in this house apart from us. Apparently, she’s living alone with her father who was seldom at home because of his work. He’s a divorcee and she’s the one who stayed with him among her other siblings.

Their house was surprisingly huge considering the place where it stood. The land prices here must be too high. So, after I entered from the front door and thought of following her directions on how to reach the living room, I was met with a long yet empty-looking corridor. It looked lifeless as if this place seldom gets any visitors. And even though someone was living here, most of the rooms and places were probably left untouched.

Naturally, I didn’t overreach myself to explore the house. I made my way to the living room that’s another huge space.

It’s complete with furniture but like the corridor, I felt it was too empty. Laughter or even idle talks probably hadn’t graced this place in a long while.

I stepped inside and found myself a place to sit before continuing my observation of this place.

After a few minutes, Ishida-senpai that had already changed into a more comfortable attire appeared from one of the doors, possibly the one leading to the kitchen and dining room, to check on me.

She had a gentle smile on her lips. “You seem listless, Onoda-kun. Are you surprised?”

“I can’t say I’m not. Senpai, is it really fine for me to be here?”

“I invited you. Why is it not fine? But I understand. I’m not Kana or Mirae-chan. Anyway, it’ll take at most twenty minutes to prepare our lunch, eat first before you go.”

Although it seemed to only appear for a moment, I noticed that gloom that passed by her face.

“That’s not what I meant, senpai. I might sound rude but… this place… It feels lonely.”

“Hmm? Lonely? Why do you say so?”

“Just a feeling. My house also felt like this a few months ago.”

Yeah. When I was still living alone in that house. Although Akane would sometimes come over to bring extra food or when she’s on her period to stick close to me, most of the time, the house felt as empty as this. I might’ve been bringing girls home but it’s also not every day. Most of the time, I would just meet them at school and separate from them there once my desire was satisfied.

“So, it’s different now? Has it become lively?”

“Mhm…”

“I see. Lucky you.” Ishida-senpai said the last two words in an almost inaudible voice as she turned around to go back to the kitchen.

“Senpai?”

“Wait there, Onoda-kun. I’ll call you when I finish. Read that notebook if you want or you can even turn on the tv if you want. Like you said, this house rarely has any other soul apart from me or my dad.”

“Then, let me help. It’s not every time you’ll have someone to help you in the kitchen, right?” I suggested. No, I already put down my bag on the side and was already walking towards her even before she said yes.

As the place reminded me of the previous state of our house, it somehow suffocated me. Before arriving here, I had no idea I developed some kind of fear of it. Afraid of the possibility that I would return to those days. Those days where there’s no Akane, Miwa-nee, Minoru and the other girls.

It’s like a fear that latched onto me after experiencing the happiness brought about by remembering that emotion and being with my loved ones.

Well, this might just be me being unnecessarily emotional but I couldn’t stand thinking about it again.

Ishida-senpai looked at me when I declared that but in the end, she didn’t reject me.

As I followed her into the kitchen, we first passed by their dining room that… once again, showed how gloomy this place was.

She’s living alone but the long table placed in the middle of the room was too big that it could accommodate at least 16 people. The table also felt like one you would normally find in movies. It’s too classy.

There’s also a small bar at the corner where different kinds of alcoholic beverages were neatly organized.

Nonetheless, when we reached the kitchen, I somehow breathed a sigh of relief. It’s normal sized but still, there’s a lot of room to move and there’s a higher number of kitchen utensils and appliances that I wouldn’t be able to fit in our kitchen.

After giving me another apron, Ishida-senpai and I started working for our lunch.

Well, she didn’t ask about my qualification to be her assistant, she assumed or she probably guessed that I have my know-how considering I told her about the state of my house months ago.

As we silently worked together, Ishida-senpai occasionally glanced at me while nodding her head as if a chef satisfied with her newbie assistant. I, on the other hand, simply did what I was told.

When we’re done preparing the ingredients, I had no more work to do apart from watching over her cheerfully humming as she stirred the pot of soup.

That simple action of her somehow dispelled the gloom of the whole house, giving it some color, at least.

Before I knew it, I was standing next to her, watching the girl pour her all onto preparing a meal.

“Eh? Onoda-kun, why are you here?” She asked after noticing me. “Good timing, here, taste it.”

Without waiting for me to answer her, Ishida-senpai picked up a small concave plate used for testing the taste of the soup. She poured a small amount into it and handed it over to me.

Well, I was also often Akane, Miwa-nee and my other girls’ taste tester whenever they’re cooking so I just did it like a routine.

However, Ishida-senpai somehow got stuck staring at me, her face seemingly flustered.

Whether it was from the steam blowing onto her face or something else, I had no idea. But I handed her back the plate and gave her my verdict. “It’s great, senpai.”

After waiting for a few minutes more I began setting up the table while she prepared the plates.

No, we’re not going to eat at that dining table. Ishida-senpai had me take out a foldable smaller round table and laid it out on the open space in the kitchen.

After putting down the two chairs opposite each other, Ishida-senpai brought out food.

“Onoda-kun, thank you,” Ishida-senpai said after sitting down at the chair across from me.

“What for?”

“For coming with me. It’s been a while since I ate with someone else.”

“Hmm? You’re not inviting friends here?”

She didn’t only have Kana as her friend, right?

“No… They will be shocked. Don’t you think so?”

“Ah. I get it. But why did you…”

Ishida-senpai didn’t wait for me to finish my question. “Isn’t it obvious? I want to eat with you. In here.” Using her chopsticks, she pointed at me and at the floor.

“I see… Senpai, you’re surprisingly a lonely person, huh?”

With that remark, Ishida-senpai raised her brows. “Where’s that coming from?”

This girl. Anyone else will have the same conclusion after spending time with you and seeing this house …

But instead of saying that, I swept it away by putting my hands together. “From my observation? Anyway, let’s talk about this later in length. Thanks for the food!”

“… Thanks for the food.”

It might not be on my plan but I decided to stay a little longer with this senior who had this surprising side with her.