Stealing Spree



Chapter 2525 A Headache for Mami

The walk to Mami's house was short. She walked ahead with her pace matching ours, but her shoulders were visibly tense. It was as if she was bracing herself for something.

Chii and Hana regained their place by my side, their earlier teasing replaced by a quieter awareness, sensing the shift in mood.

The streetlights buzzed softly overhead, casting long shadows across the pavement as we approached Mami's house. It's a modest two-story building with a neatly trimmed hedge and a single light glowing in the front window. She slowed as we reached the gate, her fingers tightening on her bag strap before she turned to face us.

"Thanks, Onoda-senpai...Uhm, Harada-senpai and Shinohara-senpai too, though we didn't have a proper introduction yet." The girl put on an awkward smile as she scratched her cheek.

Since Chii came from the same middle school as them, only Hana was the one she interacted with for the first time.

Hana put on her usual angelic smile and waved her hand. "No need for formalities, Mami-chan. It's nice meeting you."

Mami nodded, her awkwardness easing slightly under Hana's gentle demeanor. "Yeah... thanks. Same here."

Chii stepped forward, resting a hand on my shoulder as she grinned at Mami. "Don't mind Kii too much, okay? He's shameless, but he means well. You'll get used to him." Mami's lips twitched into a faint smile but it was easy to see the conflict in her eyes. "I'm starting to see that. Thanks for... putting up with Nina back there. And walking me home."

"No problem," I said, keeping my tone light but sincere. "It's the least I could do. I know you have a lot of questions about me, or rather, my closeness to the girls. If you're worried for Nami. Don't be."

Her gaze flickered to me, then dropped to the ground as she shifted her weight from one foot to the other. "W-why shouldn't I worry? I don't know what's happening. You're close not just to Umi and Sumire... But to them too..."

The girl reluctantly pointed at Chii and Hana, who understood what she was trying to say. That it was unthinkable to see me close to other girls when I was supposed to be Nami's boyfriend. She's unaware that... I'm dating all of them.

I held Mami's gaze for a moment. The distant sound of a car passing filled the silence as I considered how much to say.

Chii and Hana stayed quiet beside me, their presence steady but giving me room to handle this.

"Mami-chan, I get why it looks confusing from the outside. And I don't blame you for worrying about Nami. She's your friend and senior, and you're looking out for her. That's a good thing."

Mami's brow furrowed slightly, her grip on her bag tightening as she waited for me to continue.

I took a small step closer, just enough to close some of the distance without crowding her. "I can tell you the truth but you can also ask her for it. What do you think?"

"...I." She hesitated, "Won't you at least deny it, senpai?"

"What's there to deny? The closeness you've seen... They're all real. You also saw it on your last visit to their clubroom, right? It's not just Nami. Hana, Saki, Arisa and Izumi too. That's why Ogawa hated me, I don't know if he's still holding onto that. Because I'm the bastard who stole not just Nami's affection but also the other girls in your circle."

Mami's eyes widened, the tremor in them unmistakable as my words sank in.

Her mouth opened slightly, but no sound came out at first. It was as if she were grappling with whether to believe me or demand more.

Chii shifted beside me, her hand slipping from my shoulder to rest lightly on my arm. Hana tilted her head, her angelic smile softening into something more contemplative as she watched Mami process everything.

Finally, Mami found her voice, though it was quieter than before, laced with a mix of confusion and unease.

"Senpai... you're saying you're with all of them? Not just Nanami-senpai? And they're... okay with that?"

A normal reaction, of course. She's unlike Nina who discovered it naturally and even accepted it because of her fantasy.

Her question hung in the air, heavy with disbelief. I could see the gears turning in her mind, trying to reconcile the image of Nami. Her dependable, cheerful senior with the reality I was laying out.

Her fingers twisted the strap of her bag tighter, almost as if it were an anchor keeping her grounded.

I nodded slowly, keeping my tone steady and calm. "Yeah, Mami-chan. That's exactly what I'm saying. It's not something simple or conventional, I know. It's too complex but it's the truth. They're all important to me, and they've chosen to be with me too. Nami included."

Mami's gaze darted between me, Chii, and Hana, searching their faces for some sign of contradiction or discomfort. Chii offered her a small, reassuring smile, while Hana gave a slight nod, her expression serene but unwavering.

"... Unbelievable."

As expected, she couldn't accept it right away. The girl took a step back as though she wanted to run away from this fact.

"Alright, I apologize for confusing you, Mami-chan. You can go in now. Pretend you didn't hear anything. That might give you more peace of mind."

Mami froze for a moment, her eyes locked on mine as if searching for a crack in my words, some hint that I was joking or exaggerating.

But when none came, her shoulders slumped slightly, the weight of it all settling in. She took another step back toward her gate, her fingers still twisting her bag strap like it was the only thing keeping her steady.

"I... I don't know what to say, senpai," She murmured in difficulty, "This is... a lot. I need to think about it."

"That's fine," I replied gently, keeping my tone soft to avoid pushing her further. "You don't have to say anything right now. Take your time. If you want to talk to Nami about. it, she'll tell you her side. No pressure either way!"

Mami nodded slowly, her gaze dropping to the ground again. The glow coming from her house's window cast a shadow across her face, hiding her expression for a moment. Then she looked up, her eyes flickering with uncertainty and something else. Maybe curiosity, maybe frustration. Who knows?

"Good night, Onoda-senpai. Harada-senpai, Shinohara-senpai. Thanks again for... walking me." Her words were clipped, polite but distant, as if she were retreating into herself.

"Night, Mami-chan," Chii said warmly, giving her a small wave. "Don't stress too much, okay? We're still your friends."

Hana echoed the same sentiment with a slight tilt of her head. "Rest well. We'll see you tomorrow. You're helping at our club's festival booth, right?"

Mami gave a faint nod, then turned and slipped through her gate. The soft creak of it closing behind her marked the end of the conversation. Her silhouette disappeared into the house, leaving the three of us standing in the quiet street.

Chii let out a low whistle, breaking the silence as she leaned into my side. "Well, that went about as smoothly as a train wreck, Kii. She's gonna be chewing on that for days." Hana elbowed me, clearly upset at what I did, "You lacked tact, idiot Ruki. You could've spared her from the headache, now she's going to think about it all night." "Well, didn't I give her an opportunity? This is something she can bring up with her boyfriend. Not that I'm hoping for it to result in anything bad but... she's bound to find out sooner or later."

Of course, I was planning to message Nami too. She might just be able to help Mami in soothing the chaos brought about by our truth.