Stealing Spree

When I arrived at the train platform where Yae should be arriving, I was met with a crowd of people.

Looking around, they seemed to be passengers who had the same destination based on their shirts and other paraphernalia in their hands, a concert venue. Among them, I could see middle school students, high school students, college students and even salarymen.

And naturally, what’s noticeable from them was the topic of their conversation.

Since I had no choice but to listen to their conversation, I found out the identity of the celebrity who would hold a concert.

Mabushino Chika. A rising singer artist who was made famous through a video clip uploaded to a popular video streaming channel.

Of course, I heard of her but… considering I had no interest in celebrities like that, I never looked into her.

To think that her fans would span across a wide range of demographics as well as genders, she’s totally popular, huh?

Since I already messaged my girls and they’re all somewhat busy with something, I got the time to look her up while waiting for the train to arrive.

As soon as I inputted the name I heard in the search engine, numerous articles and even a Wikipedia page showed up on my phone screen.

There was also a photo of the singer artist at the side.

When my eyes caught that, I instantly felt some sort of familiarity with the girl in the photo. However, I couldn’t quite put a name to who was the source of the sense of familiarity.

Due to that, I tapped onto her Wikipedia page to read more about her.

Mabushisa Asahi, a young singer who was made famous by her self-composed song ‘Steal your heart’. Following the success of that video wherein she sang that song, she’s now a professional artist signed under the music label Arise. In just a year of that viral video that made her famous, she already released 10 singles and two albums. She also made guest appearances on TV shows and sang the Opening Song of a TV drama series and an Anime series.

“Asahi…” I muttered the singer’s name but I truly couldn’t remember anyone with that name.

I guess she probably only looked like someone I knew before. As to who that was, I also couldn’t tell unless I met the person again. Most likely someone I stole before but considering this girl was this famous, she couldn’t be connected to me in any way.

Putting away my phone, I looked at the distance to see the incoming train.

With the train’s arrival, those fans of the singer all excitedly stood up and lined up neatly before the yellow line. Some of them were even jumping up while they’re talking in loud voices.

As it turns out, the concert would be that singer’s first one. Hence the reason for the hype her fans were feeling.

In any case, I couldn’t care less about them anymore as I was anticipating the arrival of someone more important than any celebrity.

“Sweetie!”

As soon as the trains stopped and its doors noisily opened, the visage of the girl I was waiting for instantly filled my eyesight. Wearing a white one-piece dress and a matching white straw hat with red ribbon and a flower brooch as decoration, Yae happily ran towards me.

While she was running, I noticed many of the passengers’ eyes following her.

Well, who wouldn’t? The girl was too beautiful to look at. I could even hear some of them muttering asking the one next to them if Yae was a model. Then there were those who were middle schoolers and high schoolers who recognized her.

“Isn’t that Fujimura-senpai? Who’s that guy? Her boyfriend?”

“I heard she didn’t have a boyfriend. A friend, maybe?”

“But you just heard her calling the guy ‘sweetie’. What was that? A pet name?”

“Stop dawdling and enter the train car if you’re going. It’s about to close!”

Hearing that kind of discussion from them, it seemed that no one recognized me.

Ah. I should commend Akane for her foresight and precaution that there might be someone who could recognize me here. Furthermore, she was aware of how overly clingy Yae was whenever we could be together. That’s why the silly girl helped put on a disguise for me.

And even though I didn’t tell Yae about it, the girl instantly recognized me without second thoughts.

Although no one recognized me as the boyfriend of another popular girl from that high school, Yae would get new rumors about her because of those who recognized and saw her running towards me.

Perhaps when I send Akane this Monday to school, that newspaper club guy would ambush me again and ask me if I know the identity of Yae’s boyfriend.

If not for him showing up in a crowded place like their school gate, I would’ve already given that guy some kind of lesson not to bother me or any of the girls he kept on asking about.

Anyway, I would think of how to deal with that guy soon. For now, this girl in front of me was more important.

Before the girl reached me, I held out my hand to her which she happily took. However, that was proven not enough for her as she continued closing in towards me before hugging me tightly.

Fortunately, the passengers waiting here earlier were already inside and only those who disembarked the train in this station were left behind.

Burying her face on my chest and sniffing me as if she hadn’t smelled me for years, the girl was like a cute dog who’s wagging her tail while I was cuddling her.

“You’re too energetic today, Yae.”

Although I wanted to stroke her hair, the straw hat was on the way so I had no choice but to settle on her back while holding her just as closely as she did.

Yae had an extremely comfortable expression on her face as she lifted her gaze to answer me. “Why won’t I? I can finally be with you again. It’s been a week. There are a lot of instances when I thought of going to your school to pick you up. However, I always resist the urge. I don’t want to trouble you…”

“Thank you, Yae. It’s only been a month since the start of the school year. Our schedule will ease up as things normalize in school. By then, I can pick you up instead and we can pass by somewhere for a date before walking you home.”

That’s how it was. Even though I already have a lot of girls in my school… A time will come when I can spare some time to go to the other school and meet one or two of the girls there after school or before they go home.

Don’t ask how. I just know that I will definitely not let myself neglect them again just like how I did when my desire was running rampant.

“Promise?”

“Un. I promise. I can also visit your house. Meet your family and stay there for the night… If they will allow it.”

Upon hearing that suggestion, Yae’s eyes brightly lit up as she excitedly straightened her back to reach my lips. “I like that! But will it not trouble you?”

“Well, it’s part of the plan. There’s no way I will take you from them without informing them about it. I will let them know that their daughter or sister is in good hands.”

“Perverted hands, you mean.” Yae teased.

“Well, if that’s what you preferred.” I nodded and reached for her exposed ear, pinching the soft part. She’s not wearing her earrings today. But even without that, she still looked elegant. “Anyway, let’s go. Akane is waiting.”

Yae could only nod as her answer because she’s ticklish on that part of her ears. As she tried her best to endure giggling from being tickled, the girl moved from hugging me to hooking her arm on mine as we began walking down the platform and out of the train station.

Well, like with Eimi. I only have limited time to spend with her at this time of the day. I will be meeting Himeko near that hotel of theirs. To make sure that no one will disturb us aside from that sister of hers, Himeko had their chauffeur leave them.

Ah. No. It was Itou’s command their chauffeur obeyed. Although Himeko’s standing in her family had already slightly improved, she was still far from being accepted again. Perhaps, if not for Itou backing her, she would continue being an outcast.

Anyway, I have around 30 minutes before I leave to go to that date. I better think of a way to make use of this little time with Yae.