Stealing Spree

“Oh. Welcome home. Kengo-san, this is who I’m talking to you about. Koharu’s boxing instructor.”

Without delay, Ichihara-san stood up and introduced me to him. The way she immediately cleared up the conflicted expression on her face and even managed to sound a little lively on greeting him didn’t escape my notice.

Whether that was a genuine reaction or not coming from Ichihara-san toward her husband, I had no idea. But one thing was for sure, she’s hiding how troubled she is from him.

In any case, since getting the answer to my question was next to impossible by now, I dropped it from my mind and stood up just the same. Following that, I slightly bowed my head as a greeting while Ichihara-san was introducing me to him.

Even if I’m in conflict with Ichihara Jun, that doesn’t mean I have to antagonize everyone related to him right away. Furthermore, given that he didn’t even raise an eyebrow when Ichihara-san mentioned my name, he’s probably unaware of that said conflict.

Ichihara Jun had yet to raise a fuss about Marika getting close to someone else and causing a disturbance among them.

It could be that Jun was still sucking it up, thinking he could bring Marika back to him. He hadn’t opted to ask them for help yet. He still believed that he was practically holding Marika by her neck. The ringlet girl was living close by and she could be called up to their mansion for dinner and such.

I hope that’s the case. Because if it is, it will be in my favor. I can exist underneath his nose by being Koharu’s personal instructor. I can learn more about him and this family through this.

Well, if he’s thinking that he could still sway Marika back to him, he’s way past that point after today. I mean, the signs were laid out. She didn’t budge even after learning things about me from Sena. And she immediately went to look for me despite the risk...

Ichihara Jun trying to repair what was broken wouldn’t give him results. Unless he managed to make Marika fall for him which is very unlikely. He was given the chance for the past two years but he squandered it. He could only blame himself for letting the golden fish get fished out of his net.

“Hmm? Oh. I remember. But isn’t he too young? He doesn’t look that much older than our daughter.” The man eventually said after scanning me from head to toe or waist. His vision was blocked by the table and the divider, after all.

He had some kind of air of elitism. Something one would sense from a person of high standing. Mizuki had the same air on her before but not Otoha. That girl was so sweet to act like an elite, after all.

Anyway, in this guy’s mind, I was probably already marked as someone lower in standing to him. Furthermore, he probably tagged me with a ‘kid’ label. Hence, he didn’t think much of my presence.

Add to that, I was even respectfully bowing to him. Which should be a normal act for an employee towards his employer.

Ichihara-san answered, defending me by the facts she gathered by herself, ‘Yes, he is not. But Kengo-san, you’ve seen how enthusiastic Koharu became when I enrolled her in his course. She’s now exercising regularly and her complexion is getting better.”

“Hmm... Okay, if you say so. Where is Koharu? Won’t that brat greet her dad?”

I thought it would take a lot more to convince but surprisingly, that’s all it took.

He only contemplated it for a moment as though it was not that important before swiftly changing the topic.

By now, Ichihara-san already moved to where he is, serving him. She took his coat off and placed his indoor slippers in front of him even if he could reach it easily.

I remained standing there, acting a little subservient until he disappeared further into the house, perhaps to their room.

Ichihara-san followed him. I had no idea if she was going to tell him about Marika’s presence here and I had no window to ask her to keep it a secret. I guess I could only hope.

A while later, she returned from their room and walked past me to get to the training room. Most likely to get Koharu there and have her greet her dad.

When they emerged from it, Ichihara-san stopped for a moment to tell me that our conversation was over and I should wait for Koharu in the training room.

That confirmed that I wouldn’t hear about Ichihara Jun’s reason for preventing Marika from getting close to them.

Anyway, I simply nodded and followed her words.

No way I’ll pass up the chance to spend alone time with Marika while we wait for them.

Besides, with the current situation, there’s nothing for me to do. Also, it would be audacious to converse with her husband. In his mind, I’m not at his level to do that.

Maybe in the future, but tonight, I could only act as their daughter’s boxing instructor.

Upon entering the room, I immediately found Marika looking at me, a pleasant smile on her face.

As soon as I approached her, she couldn’t even hold herself back from jumping at me. But upon realizing that we could be seen through that glass wall, she quickly controlled herself and simply pulled me to sit with her on a bench.

Although she’s probably aware of what happened, I still told her what I saw and heard.

Shortly after, I brought up the question that was lingering in my head, “Senpai, won’t it be bad if Ichihara-san’s husband sees you here?”

“No? I ... I’m a visitor and Koharu-chan can vouch for me.”

“I don’t mean it like that. You know, he’s that guy’s uncle.”

“Oh. You mean Jun-kun? Not to worry, Uncle Kengo may be surprised upon seeing me. However, it won’t matter at all.”

“You sound confident on that.”

“I am. I have been living here for two years, Junior-kun. I may be naïve about a lot of things. However, when it comes to this family, I’m confident in my knowledge of the ins and outs. Remember, I’ve been trying to cultivate my relationship with Jun-kun. Getting to know his family is a part of it.”

Although she sounded a little gloomy halfway, I could understand where she was coming from. Besides, she cleared it up right away and her beautiful smile returned.

That’s why I reached for her hand to convey my support to her.

“That’s enlightening. I can’t help but see you in a new light from that, senpai.” I said in a lighthearted tone at the same time as I slowly entwined our fingers.

Marika sweetly giggled, “Geez, Junior-kun. Just say so if you’re going to praise me. I’d love to hear it from you.”

“Well, that’s amazing. But still... we have to be careful, senpai. Until I get you out here, we’ll be facing both your family and this one.”

“I understand. It’s not within my intention to bring you trouble, Junior-kun. I am aware that I am reckless tonight... I won’t be surprised if you scold me.”

“Scold you? Hmm. That’s not needed anymore when you already reflected on it.”

“You’re too kind.”

“Am I? Maybe. But only on certain occasions.”

I answered truthfully yet Marika’s response was a sweet-sounding laughter as she closed in our distance once again.

A moment later, she sneaked in another kiss before retreating right away.

Really, she’s just being mischievous at this point.

Anyway, our wait only lasted for about five minutes. When Koharu returned, there was a frown on her face.

As for the reason, it’s probably related to the voice I heard coming from the hall when she opened that door.

It’s her father who’s about to go out again.

“Natsuha, I’m going back to the mansion. You two can eat together. Oh, and treat that Instructor well. I like him to do a great job in keeping our daughter engaged in her self-development.”

That guy... He’s not even sparing some time to eat dinner with his family. I can understand that he might be busy but... what the hell?

In any case, that’s none of my business, right? But what I can do now is... to cheer up the frowning girl in my own way.

Continuing her lesson and keeping her busy with it until her unhappiness from that situation gets drained.

And since she’s with us, Marika joined Koharu which also helped in cheering up the girl.

As for Ichihara-san... she remained outside the room, only checking on us a few times until the end of our agreed time for today’s lesson.