Stealing Spree

“You two… Judging from Eimi’s face, you did something outside, didn’t you?” Eimi’s cousin suspiciously asked as she circled around the two of us right at their front door.

Although what I first noticed was the pink apron she was wearing that was not her size and the smell of karaage wafting out from their kitchen that was truly appetizing, I calmly answered her question while wearing an apologetic expression.

“I’m sorry, onee-san. I couldn’t resist it. Especially when my girlfriend is this adorable.” Putting down the grocery bags on the floor, I then pulled Eimi by her waist.

Because the girl was quite overwhelmed by this cousin of hers earlier, I thought of helping her get back at her.

“Say something, Eimi.” I whispered to her which made her wake up from her stupor.

She was about to get overwhelmed from being flustered with her cousin’s question again but my voice helped her get out of that state.

“Anzu-nee, I also apologize. You see… Ruki and I stopped by the nearby waiting shed and… we just couldn’t resist each other.”

Although the way she said it sounded forced, the little girl in front of us who was trying to intimidate her with her glare had her eyebrows and lips twitched in annoyance upon hearing it.

She then turned around and stomped her feet as she went back to the kitchen.

Looking at her little back and shoulders that were shaking every time she would take a step, she’s really like Eimi’s little sister throwing a tantrum.

As we watched her do that, we followed behind her since we had the same destination. I was going to help Eimi unpack the groceries she bought.

Naturally, I left mine near their front door. That way I could just pick it up later when I leave.

“Why are you smiling, Ruki? Do you also like Anzu-nee?”

Perhaps noticing that I followed her cousin’s back with my eyes, Eimi couldn’t help but ask me when we reached the kitchen table.

Her question was said in a subdued voice to not let her cousin hear it.

Is she beginning to worry that I will also take a liking to her cousin? Not that she’s wrong for worrying but… that’s not the reason why I smiled and followed her back.

“Hmm? No. I’m smiling because you successfully got back at her from what happened earlier. You got too flustered because of her. Earlier, before you appeared from the front door, I heard you two arguing about something and you’re not backing down. But when you showed up in front of me, you got too embarrassed to retort to her…” From the way I answered, Eimi began getting flustered once more. But this time, it’s because of me telling her that I heard them earlier. “I actually want to see more of my Eimi’s headstrong personality. Tell me, do you think I will not like you if I see you retorting to her?”

Upon hearing my question, Eimi immediately shook her head and waved her hand in front of her.

“It’s not like that… I just don’t want to embarrass myself in front of you. Me and Anzu-nee, we’re always arguing about something. Even if it’s about something not important or the smallest thing we could think of. You can say that is how we always bonded. Moreover, although she’s not showing it, she still can’t move on from her ex so… she’s more competitive than normal. She will always want to be the one at the advantage.”

I see. I guess I don’t understand that part of not embarrassing oneself in front of one’s interest. I am a shameless guy after all. Furthermore, even though I sometimes act to get a girl’s attention, that’s only for a brief while. Most of the time, I would bear my true face in front of them.

“That’s a unique way to bond. I kind of want to spectate that on the sidelines. Then I will cheer you on.”

Although I could think of a similar occurrence like how Akane was always fighting with Miwa-nee back then, that’s not them bonding with each other. Akane was truly mad at Miwa-nee for making fun of me while the latter was only laughing it off.

“There! Imagine that. It’s too embarrassing to even think of it. Why do you want to cheer me on when I am arguing with someone?”

“Like you said, it’s the way you two bonded. Naturally, I’ll cheer for my Eimi rather than onee-san.”

“I told you, that’s embarrassing!”

As if she couldn’t stand thinking about it and becoming embarrassed about it anymore, Eimi protested by lightly hitting my shoulder.

“Alright, I’ll stop. I won’t talk about it anymore. I’ll just wait for the moment when that happens.” I smiled and held her hand before letting her hold a pack of sugar that I pulled out from her grocery bag.

With her eyes narrowing into a slit, Eimi placed the pack down neatly where it should be.

“Ruki, are you intentionally teasing me?”

“Am I? Guess.”

“You are…”

This time, Eimi pouted as she turned her head away, seemingly upset.

“Why is my Eimi pouting? Think of my teasing as our way to bond.”

I followed after her and hugged her from behind, completely ignoring that there’s another soul in this kitchen.

Well, she’s busy frying those aromatic Nikaido family-special karaage so I used the chance to make some memories that Eimi would remember.

Ah. In other words, I used this chance to flirt with my girl.

Upon feeling my arms enclosing her, Eimi seemingly melted. Although she kept her pout, I noticed the increase in her heartbeat, “I’d rather have you hug and kiss me than tease me.”

“Your wish is my command.” Tightening my arms to fully enclose her in my embrace, I then took her lips when she turned her head to look at it.

The grocery bag was still half unpacked but we’re already in this kind of atmosphere.

As we savor that kiss, we suddenly heard an obviously forced cough from behind us.

“You two lovebirds, stop flirting in front of me. It’s making my eyes sore. Finish unpacking that and prepare the table. We’re going to eat.”

Turning our bodies to face the source of the voice, her cousin had her arms crossed to her not-that-bountiful chest that was perfectly proportionate with her body figure. She’s clicking her tongue and had one of her eyebrows lifted, seemingly annoyed at what she’s witnessing.

Well, I was a guest here so… I didn’t retort to her by saying that she could choose not to look.

However, that’s not the case for the girl in my arms. Showing a playful smile on her lips, she responded to her cousin. “Anzu-nee, are you envious? Call your boyfriend here… Ah, wait, you already broke up.”

“Eimi! That’s not fair.”

Because she shouted her name, I thought her cousin would retort to her. But in the end, tears welled up in her eyes as she began bawling out.

And upon seeing that, Eimi left my embrace as she immediately went to her cousin worriedly.

“I’m sorry, Anzu-nee.”

“You’re mean, Eimi. Don’t embarrass me in front of your boyfriend.”

“Un. I won’t anymore. Stop crying now.”

Watching their exchanges from the side, I couldn’t help but shake my head and smile from what I was witnessing.

Now I don’t know who’s the older one. But that’s kind of a surprise. Is this why she didn’t want to argue with her, she could be that ruthless with her retort.

In any case, seeing this other side of her, I’m understanding more of her and in turn, I’m becoming more fond of the girl. My time here with her was proven to be worth my while.