[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-stealing-spree":3,"chapter-stealing-spree-stealing-spree-chapter-2007":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","Stealing Spree",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},1762182,2333,"Chapter 2007 Another Blunder","stealing-spree-chapter-2007",2007,"\u003Cp>\"Wait! Forget that. I misspoke. I meant devoted to Ryouko, not me!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just when I thought she was not going to realize it, Orimura-sensei suddenly jumped up in panic as she desperately corrected herself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Maybe if she was a little closer to me, she would've grabbed my collar and shook me like crazy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nonetheless, I had this gut feeling that it was more of a slip of the tongue rather than a misspoken word. It could be her real thoughts leaking out unintentionally in the heat of the moment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In response to her, I put on a teasing smile which immediately triggered her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What are you smiling at, you brat?!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Nothing, sensei. I just thought it might be more interesting to be courted by you.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>While I didn't really mind if she started helping me to get more alone time with Ryouko-san, that's not really going to change anything. This request might as well not exist since I'm already devoted to her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Also, at some corner of my head, I was also looking forward to what Orimura-sensei would do if she didn't correct herself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No! Erase that thought in your head! Next time, Ryouko will be with us.\" Orimura-sensei shook her head furiously. Her poor table also became a victim of her attempt to deflect, hitting it as hard as she could.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sound rang out so loud that even from where I was sitting, I could see how her palm turned red from it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But even if that's the case, her current stance showed that she's not amused by me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Is that enough to deter me? Obviously not.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I understand. But sensei, think about it for a moment. Won't it be better if you actually succeeded? It will prove your point more\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You... I... I don't need it.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There's something strange in her reply and halfway through it, her voice just dipped lower as though she had a different answer but shelved it down, perhaps for the sake of her friend.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If she's like this, my fascination with great friendship would surely prevent me from pushing her further.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, a question popped up in my head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Will she be satisfied this way?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I don't have an answer to that as only Orimura-sensei will know what she really wants.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hmm. Alright. If sensei says so, who am I to change your mind?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I relaxed my face and body, releasing the slight tension building up on me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Upon hearing that, Orimura-sensei audibly sighed in relief. It's like she had just passed a deadly situation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I continued observing her reaction and found her also relaxing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And then, a few moments later, she stood up and walked over to me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Taking the empty space next to me, Orimura-sensei then placed her hand on top of my head, ruffling my kempt hair.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I'm glad you're a bit reasonable this time, shameless brat. You should always be like this.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Sensei, I'm always reasonable. You're the one who--\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Psh. Don't argue with me. Just you wait. You'll find how liberating it is to devote yourself to only one woman.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Maybe it will be liberating. However, I really cannot see myself leaving everyone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I've already walked away from the girls before and it's not a great sight. Those tears that I have only begun to realize how precious they were haunting me. I vow to myself never to hurt and make them cry again...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I'm afraid you'll fail this time, sensei.\" I forced a smile before slowly removing her hand from my head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Maybe sensing the emotion in my voice, Orimura-sensei got stuck staring at me. Even when her hand dropped to my side, her eyes lingered on my face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And then slowly, her body inched closer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whether that was an unconscious act or not, I have no idea. However, it didn't take long before her arms closed in around me, embracing my head and then pulling me inside it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Compared to her panicky state earlier, this felt more like her own impulsive reaction.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And when she realized what she had done, it was all too late.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"This... Don't misunderstand, shameless brat. You sounded lonely. My body moved on its own.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That couldn't be an excuse because that's really what happened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In any case, I just looked up at her and smiled before silently mouthing, \"Thank you...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She's someone whose feet are grounded in the norms of this society. That's why I get her reasoning in her quest to correct my ways. But like Eguchi-sensei, she's also someone who's compassionate to others.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Orimura-sensei released a sigh again and then instead of releasing me in her arms, she tightened her embrace. I went along with it and eventually, my head pressed down against her softness. Consequently, my arms wrapped around her waist, hugging her just the same.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I thought it should be enough for her to pull back but Orimura-sensei didn't do anything. She let it happen before finally, her hand returned to the top of my head, affectionately caressing it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It's surprising, shameless brat. I never thought you'd have this weak side on you.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No one's perfect, sensei. Of course, I'm already defective as I am. I'm like this because I made it my goal to live for them in the future. And I'm sure nothing is going to change my mind.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You're still on that tirade. You're young, Onoda. You have a lot more to learn before you can be certain of your future. I'll help you straighten your path so... bear with me, alright?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Orimura-sensei's tone was softer now. It's like she dropped her guard down after seeing that I'm not always as shameless as I portrayed myself to be.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her caresses felt good and more than that, her embrace was warm and cozy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I can't promise anything, sensei. But one thing I can say is... I like this. Being close to you, that is.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Ugh. Don't ruin the moment, you idiot. Hurry up and get better. You still have a class to take.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Sensei, I forgot to mention. I don't have a class anymore. I got approval to leave early. Didn't I arrive here with my schoolbag? After we're done here. I'll be leaving the school today.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Huh? Wait. Where are you going?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Somewhere with some of my girls. I'll be escorting them on an important trip.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There's no point keeping it from her anymore. She's already mostly aware of my affairs anyway.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Furthermore, it's also my way to check how she's going to react.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And sure enough, Orimura-sensei halted her gentle strokes on my head as she immediately focused on what I mentioned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Girls? Haa... You shameless brat. I thought I was making progress.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Sensei, you can't be serious. Showing a weak side to you doesn't mean I'm already changing... You have a long way to go before you see some progress, if not at all.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I shrugged and lifted my head to look at her again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Orimura-sensei's face was twitching. She's both taken aback and annoyed. Following that, her fingers on top of my head curled and grasped a clump of my hair before yanking my head back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I resisted it since she used her strength there. If I let her be, she would have broken my neck.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, because of what I did, the result became rather interesting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Our gazes coincided once more in a way we could both see each other's reflection. Orimura-sensei closed her eyes, took a deep breath and exhaled. Likewise, I cleared my thoughts before framing her in the middle of my vision\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A moment later, as my arms tightened around her back, her hand loosened its hold and slid down to my nape.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her palm was sweaty and warm and the sensation transferred to me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Without communicating further, Orimura-sensei gently pushed on it, bringing my head up. But at the same time, she lowered her head, capturing my lips with hers as soon as they collided.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"... I changed my mind. I don't have the luxury of time to wait for the next instance, shameless brat.\" She declared after pulling back momentarily.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And then without waiting for me to reply, the woman pressed in once again, sealing my lips with another kiss.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It's hard to figure out her emotion through it but at the very least, I could sense her desperation. She probably thought she was doomed to fail if I left today without my faith in myself being shaken.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, she still hadn't realized that by doing this, she once again put herself at the forefront. Just like last time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She should've learned her lesson that... I could so easily turn all of this in my favor and she'd be powerless to stop me.\u003C\u002Fp>",1449,"2026-06-08T09:44:08.670Z",1,"novelbin.me","2418d4d697586ebd8d8ce3f1118c83011afafc426ec14279189ca11cd0c275bf","stealing-spree-chapter-2008","stealing-spree-chapter-2006",2873,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fstealing-spree-cover.jpg"]