Stealing Spree

“Guess,” I replied as my lips drew up into a smirk.

Sumire was obviously not amused about that. Nonetheless, she still opened her mouth, muttering her first guess and speculations.

“You can’t be searching for me, right? There’s no way. You’re the shameless senpai who kept on running away from me. What, have you turned into a new leaf after yesterday? Do you think I will laugh at your delusion? Don’t worry, you’re still my respected senior.”

Hearing her say all of that without pause while trying to tap my shoulder as though she was comforting me, I couldn’t help but laugh inwardly.

Yep. Like I thought, compared to Umi who I couldn’t really find the courage to tease because she might overheat like Hiyori, this girl has the making of a sponge. She could absorb it well.

“Heh. And here I thought I’ll see you as dumbfounded as yesterday. Good job. Unfortunately, they’re true. Both the secret I revealed yesterday as well as my reason for being here.”

Shifting my lips to a grin, I grabbed the girl’s arm and took it off my shoulder.

As she was still processing what I just said, the girl just stared at me, trying to figure out whether I was serious or not.

And at the same moment, the cheering for the game behind her resumed as the player who hit a double successfully stole another plate.

As I expected, the girl put the matter on hold and turned around to also cheer alongside the others.

Yep. Looks like she’s just as enthusiastic about the sport. Or, she found an escape from the headache I was bringing her.

By the time the cheering mellowed down, the girl leaned her head back on my chest and lifted her chin.

With her eyes still filled with doubt she muttered with a pout, “I’ll push aside what you revealed yesterday, senpai. But why are you searching for me? It’s not because you’re going to threaten me not to reveal that, right?”

“Girl. If that’s my plan, I shouldn’t have told you about it.”

“Ah. Right. Sorry. My head is in a mess. If it’s true that the song tells your story, that will explain why you have Asahi’s voice messages. But senpai, that tells another story, right? Care to reveal it to me?”

Without missing a beat, I promptly answered, “I’m in contact with her. That’s all you need to know. For now, at least.”

“Did… did Chii-chan-senpai know?”

Heh. Look at this girl, she’s the same as Umi. She’s also concerned for Chii. She got herself some great juniors.

I nodded.

“Mhm. She did. It’s a long story though. If you’re curious, I don’t think I can tell you about it this time.”

Sumire gasped but not because she was surprised. She probably realized something. As for what it was, I had no idea. She also looked like she was already done with her questions. While she kept her body leaning on me, the girl’s eyes already returned to the playing field.

The third batter had already stepped up to the plate and was tensely watching the pitcher. Everyone was also holding their breaths, waiting for the scene to unfold.

She has to hit it, after all. They already have two outs. It would be a pity if the runner on the third base failed to run back home after that successful steal.

In any case, it looks like inviting her to come with me should be shelved. If she’s this engrossed in the game, I would feel bad to take her away to watch another sport.

Even if Umi is with us, this girl will benefit more from this.

Or so that’s what I was thinking. But at the same time as the first pitch was thrown to the batter, Sumire opened her mouth again.

“I understand. It’s not my place to ask about it. However, senpai, you haven’t answered my other question yet. Why are you looking for me?”

This…

Are they twins? Why is she saying the same thing as Umi?

Wait. It’s probably because they’re like this that they’re hitting it well as best friends. It’s not just based on their mutual admiration for Yue that they also have similar traits and mindsets.

But then again, how will she respond if she finds out about my complex relationship? Umi saw it with her own eyes but Sumire only had that speculation from what I revealed to her.

Well, only Sumire could answer that and it’s not like I was planning to showcase it to her. For now, I better stick to what I came here for.

“Ah. I’m here to pick you up.”

“Pick me up? Senpai, you’re being unfaithful again.” The girl smirked, acting as though she had already read my intention.

Of course, she’s wrong.

“Cap that imagination of yours, I’m not asking you for a date. But if that’s what you think, shall I entertain that? What will you do if I hug you? You know I can do that easily when you’re this close to me.”

I returned the smirk as my urge to tease her gradually returned. Stronger than earlier.

Despite everything, this girl was really acting too comfortable around me. She’s daring enough to use me to support her back while she cheered for the players on the field.

“Pfft. Nice joke, senpai. I’m only resting my back on you. See how unfaithful you are. You’re talking about hugging your junior in public. There should be a limit to one’s shamelessness.”

“Oh? Do you think I can’t do it?”

Alright. This girl also had a talent to provoke someone. Now I couldn’t help but feel challenged.

However, like she said, we’re in public. There’s no reason to make a scene here when someone could see us. She’s just my smug junior trying to assert her position on me.

It’s probably an effect of how thrilled she was on the game she’s watching but still… she’s acting differently than when I hinted at her that I could see through the gap of her uniform. That time she’s innocently embarrassed.

What changed?

“Heh. I know you won’t. You’re shameless, senpai. But you shouldn’t be shameless enough to— eh?!"

Ah. I’ve done it…

Hearing her talk like she’s someone who knows me completely, I found myself failing to hold back from being provoked. And so, before I knew it, my idle arms already made their move.

Starting from holding her shoulders, they slid down her arms before eventually wrapping around her front. It’s not as intimate of a hug as my girls but at the very least, it could still be considered a hug. Her small body locked in my arms.

“Ah. Are you saying something, my dear junior?” I said as the girl once again looked up at me, an indignant expression on her face.

Fortunately, it was also at this moment that the loud dull thumping sound coming from the wooden bat hitting the softball rang out. With it being a clean hit, the audience that was holding their breath instantly erupted in fervor.

Likewise, Sumire who missed that scene angrily pouted at me before bringing her focus back to the field. In any case, she didn’t do anything to remove my arm around her and instead, dragged me along with her as she stepped forward to cheer for the runner who was approaching the home plate.

In the end, even with the sudden rush of excitement from what she just witnessed, the girl failed to hide the redness that quickly occupied her face. And so, she chose to run away from the scene.

A minute later, as we walked away from the vicinity of the softball field, Sumire was behind me, still miffed about what I did, pushing on my back. “Super shameless senpai, hurry and lead the way!”