Stealing Spree

Beginning my story right at the start where my desire to steal first manifested, I slowly narrated everything to Arisa-senpai.

At each turn of my story, Arisa-senpai’s feeling of disgust towards me gradually swelled to the point that she’s now finding it hard to look straight at me.

Everything I did and every despicable plot I hatched to steal someone, all of it was retold to her. Naturally, it was all from my perspective. Whether she’ll be like Shizu who would try to get the perspective from the girls, was still unclear.

Either way, from how much I made myself out to be a selfish bastard whose only goal was to steal girls to satisfy my desire, my standing in her eyes had surely sunk to the bottom.

By the time I finished narrating my story up to the point of graduating from middle school, Arisa-senpai put a hand forward, gesturing me to stop right there.

I followed her and just shut my mouth, not continuing what happened since the start of this school year.

For the next few minutes, silence ensued in the room with Arisa-senpai sitting down on the chair where I was sitting earlier before she arrived.

She lowered her head, digesting everything that I said thus far.

And while she’s doing that, I observed her and her reaction. Seeing that she had me stop there, it’s natural to assume that everything that happened between us was already trashed with little to no hopes to be recycled.

In any case, it’s not like I hadn’t predicted this.

Learning about her story, I knew that her reaction would be different compared to the others.

Kana listened to me and judged me based on how I treated her. Satsuki first thought that what she did was the same as me, that's why she accepted it. Aya and Rae didn’t care about my past, just like Kana, the two cared more about how I treated and helped them out. Nami listened to me and judged that it was truly despicable of me but in the end, her affection for me reigned.

A few minutes later, Arisa-senpai raised her head and uttered a question. “Onoda-kun, tell me, where are they now? Those girls you cut off.”

“Some of them moved on with their lives. Whether they hate me or not, I had no idea. But most likely it’s the former. However, some of them waited for me to change. And their waiting paid off, I... took them all back in.”

“Huh?”

Because she didn’t let me finish my story, hearing about the girls waiting for me and me taking them back in surely confused her.

“You heard it right, senpai. They’re now my girlfriends. Along with Nami, Hina and Saki.”

“... Why did they wait for you? Didn’t you hurt all of them?! Steal them from their boyfriends?! Did you steal them back for that twisted desire of yours?!”

Although her voice was still stressed, its volume was now lowered as if she’s holding herself back to truly rage on me.

“No. I did not. Honestly, that’s also what I was asking them before. I did those despicable things to them but they still waited. Let me finish my story, senpai. About what happened for this past month in high school up to this present.”

All this time, I maintained my calm, not changing even the slightest of my expressions. And naturally, Arisa-senpai caught all that.

Because of that, Arisa-senpai’s traces of fear in her eyes hadn’t escaped my notice.

It’s natural. Who would not be scared if someone you’re raging on remained apathetic and expressionless? In any case, that’s just what I felt at the moment.

“No need to. Just tell me, what is that change you’re talking about?”

“I see. Alright. Truthfully, this change is the crux of why we are in this situation now. Senpai, I... remembered the emotion called love as well as everything surrounding it. You might not believe me but, my twisted desire is just me taking a liking to a girl. Those who stayed probably noticed and felt it through my actions, leading them to also feel the same way for me. Learning about that, I decided to take responsibility for all of them. Hence, I am now in multiple relationships where they’re aware that they’re not the only one.”

“Crazy... That’s utterly crazy!”

Arisa-senpai had her fists clenched once more. Perhaps, if I was still near her, those fists had already landed on my chest. That’s how much rage she’s feeling at the moment towards me.

“Mhm... It is truly crazy. As I said, what we have is an abnormal relationship that’s totally against today's norm. And truthfully, my desire is still here, that’s why I unhesitatingly confessed my affection to you and Izumi-senpai.”

“Anyway, with this, my story is over. Senpai is now aware of who I truly am. The decision lies on you. But let me tell you something first. I love Nami, Hina and Saki just as much as everyone else, you can try to persuade them but I will only ask you to do it privately. Exposing my relationship to them will harm them more than me. As you can see, I am more than willing to take the fall rather than let them be hurt.”

That’s right. There’s no need to retell everything that happened for the past month. In the end, it could be summarized to how I remembered that emotion, changing my desire to steal to just my desire to make every girl I came to like and love mine.

“Also, even if your view of me has already changed to hatred, I still feel the same towards you, senpai. That’s not something that will change easily.”

I added which instantly made her rage once more.

“I don’t need your love. You can shove that down your throat. You’re a greedy bastard who tricks girls to accept that twisted relationship of yours!”

“That’s true, in a way. That’s why they have the choice to get out of this relationship whenever they want to. I will never restrict that. Senpai can use that as a point of persuasion to them. As long as you can convince them to make that choice, they’ll be free from this greedy bastard.”

“Choice, huh? You sound so confident that they will not be persuaded.”

“Not really, this is not about that, I just trust them enough that they all love me the same way I love them. Alright, call that confidence but that’s just it. Even if I don’t want to think about it, there will perhaps come a time where some or all of them will leave me. However, until then, I will be taking care of them every passing day.”

Only at this point did I probably show emotion.

Thinking about that possibility would always bug me. Nonetheless, I wouldn’t bring that up with my girls. I mentioned it to Arisa-senpai since even if she hated me after this, I still wanted her to be mine. No matter how small the chance.

Letting her show my somewhat vulnerable side was to appeal to her.

“That sounds admirable and it’s truly a clear possibility. But why are you still going after other girls? Why not focus on them? Forget about your attraction to me and do everything you can to make them happy.”

“Like I told you, it’s my unstoppable desire. Anyway, since senpai already has your own judgement, no amount of explanation will clear it. For your peace of mind, I’ll make my exit here.”

Now that I think about it, leaving is always my strategy these days. Giving them time to think. No... it’s also for me. To give me time to reorganize what I observed from them.

In any case, with Arisa-senpai still shaking at her seat, this was surely for the best.

“You bastard, are you running away?!”

“No. You’re shaking. You’re now scared of me despite these strong words. Why will I continue to terrorize you? It’s better for me to leave and let you be at ease. No matter how much you come to hate me, I still love you, Arisa-senpai.”

I stood up and walked to the door.

However, before I could slide it open, Arisa-senpai’s voice reached my ears.

“... Then don’t go. Stay here.”

Huh? This girl... She’s clearly afraid of me. Why will she let me stay with her?

“I don’t understand, senpai. Won’t it be better for you if I leave now?”

“How can you say so? Can you read my mind?”

The previous anger that’s coating her voice was gone and... truthfully, she sounded calm. As if everything that just happened earlier was an illusion.

“No. Of course not.”

“Then there’s your answer. Stay here and do not run away.”

“I’m not running away...” My voice trailed upon seeing that her eyes that were just shaking earlier stabilized. Although she’s not glaring at me, Arisa-senpai’s gaze brought a slight chill to my skin. “Alright. You win.”

After saying that, I turned around and sat back down on my seat, waiting for her next words.

However, minutes passed and none of us opened our mouths again. Apart from the soft sound of our breathing as well as the footsteps from outside from the students passing by, nothing else could be heard.

I fixed my posture and rested my back on the chair, likewise, Arisa-senpai also did the same.

With our eyes locked onto each other, time just continued to pass. Whatever was on her mind this time, I truly couldn’t read it anymore.

Ten minutes before the end of the supposed time for the Mentor Program, Arisa-senpai stretched her arms forward and gestured for me to draw near her, still without saying anything.

And like a moth to a flame, I stood up and traversed the few steps of distance between us.