[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-stealing-spree":3,"chapter-stealing-spree-stealing-spree-chapter-2013":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},1762188,2333,"Chapter 2013 Doting on the two","stealing-spree-chapter-2013",2013,"\u003Cp>Upon exiting the station, Umi and I continued walking hand-in-hand while Sumire kept glancing back at us from time to time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She clearly wanted to return to my side and get the same treatment. However, she also had this stubborn bone in her that didn't want to admit being embarrassed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Umi couldn't help but whisper at each other, discussing her friend's behavior. Just like she said, she'd never acted this way before.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But then again, it must have been because Sumire had never liked anyone before. Apparently, she never had a crush on someone. She's the athletic girl who loves to listen to music and has no time to care about boys.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although she's great at socializing and has been pretty well-liked by her seniors, no one has yet to truly catch her fancy. Until she met me, I guess?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If there's one then it's her quick idolization of Yue a.k.a. Mabushisa Asahi who's also a girl like her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Anyway, Umi also honestly admitted that she had crushes before but kept it to herself since she was not interested in getting a boyfriend. It's enough for her to admire someone from afar. Not to mention, she's timid and soft-spoken to boot.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She was also uncomfortable when we first met. I mean, it was mostly Sumire who approached a stranger like me on the train. But after getting to know me, she gradually finds it comforting to be in my presence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I don't know what she exactly meant by that, honestly. Nevertheless, I patted her head again to show my appreciation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Our conversation came to a stop right there because we soon entered a shopping district that was part of the route to their house.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There were more people out and about so for Umi's sake, we let go of each other's hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With her personality, she's still not at a level where she can ignore the doubtful stares of strangers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It's better like this than making her uncomfortable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In any case, since there was more foot traffic here, we caught up with Sumire who seemed to stop before a certain sports shop. Her eyes seemingly homed into one of the products on display.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I followed her gaze and saw that she was staring at the pair of a softball bat and gloves on display.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It's probably branded and expensive for it to be showcased like that. Upon glimpsing at the price tag, it's close to what I earned from Ichihara Jun's hired delinquents.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For a middle school girl like Sumire, it will take her a month or two of not spending her allowance before she can afford it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Mhm. When is your birthday, Sumire?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Eh? What? Why are you asking?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Maybe I will surprise you with something?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That... Don't tell me... No! I'm not thinking of buying that! I'm satisfied with the regular ones.\" With her eyes shining from realization, the girl tried to clarify in panic.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I guess I'm being obvious with my intention, huh? Besides, it's probably going to trouble her more if I do get it for her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It's the same kind of troubled feelings I was getting whenever my girls with rich backgrounds tried to gift me with expensive things. For example, the condominium unit that Mizuki signed to my name.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Is that so? Then let's go in. I'll buy you one right now.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Wait. Senpai. You don't have to. And my birthday is still months away!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It's fine. I've already decided. Treat it as my congratulatory gift for you becoming the 4th batter.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why wait for her birthday when there's already a cause for celebration?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even though their next competition would probably start during summer vacation, she might as well get new gear for her training.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It will also aid her in overcoming the incident today that relates to the sport itself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"... Umi. Senpai is not listening to me. Help.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sensing that I wasn't going to back down no matter what she said, Sumire turned to her friend for assistance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unfortunately for her Umi was already on my ally in this regard\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I don't think I can help out. Ruki-senpai looks determined. Just accept it, Sumire.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hear that? I'm glad Umi understands me well.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once again, I dotingly patted Umi's head before pulling Sumire into the shop.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Five minutes later, we stepped out of it with Sumire already holding onto the bag containing the new bat that I had her picked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It's considerably cheaper than the one on display. She tried to pick the cheapest one but even a layman like me knows to check for quality so she eventually gave up and turned to a decent yet budget-friendly brand. It's also the shop's best selling so I got a discount when I bought her a pair of gloves to pair with it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Unbelievable... How can I continue sulking if you're being this good to me, senpai?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Give up and just allow this handsome senior of yours to pamper you.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Ugh. You win this time!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although she sounded like she was forcing herself to give up, the girl's subsequent laughter reflected her current state. Jubilant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After this, we continued on our way with Sumire taking my other side.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>We also stopped by a stationery shop where I bought Umi a small gift too in the form of a set of pens. I couldn't splurge this time since there's no excuse to use. Nevertheless, Umi appreciated it a lot since she picked it herself after we circled the shop.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then before leaving the shopping district and continuing to their neighborhood where we had to part ways, we bought some snacks to eat while walking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>We stopped by a park to finish them and the two tried to contest on who would feed me. In the end, I took a bite of what they were eating before letting them do the same on mine.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just like this, this short detour out of my original destination ended up being a moment that I spent with my lovely juniors.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When it was time for us to get up and continue on our way, Umi asked me to hug her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I naturally granted that even hugging her from behind and cuddling her while we sat on that bench.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for Sumire, the girl pulled me somewhere obscure or out of the public eye before asking for the same treatment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I guess when it comes to these things, she's more reserved than Umi.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Do you think Umi won't know what we're doing here?\" I teasingly asked Sumire as she slowly settled in my embrace.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She's almost a head shorter than me so her default was to bury her face on my neck and rub her nose on it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My scent must also be calming for her because after sniffing me once, her breathing stabilized and she became more relaxed while enjoying this moment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her figure was probably on the smaller side but she's still developing. Who knows? Her figure might be more like Satsuki's after her muscles continued to develop from relentless practice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"How can she not? We... We were talking about you a lot, senpai. We're trying to understand why you find us precious when you have all the other senior girls around like Chii-\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>chan-senpai...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Instead of playing into my teasing, the girl's answer was more in serious territory.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Looks like my influence was really getting to them, huh? But that's to be expected after what happened. It's great to hear that they're thinking about this a lot. Their actions were surely the result of looking into what they eventually decided to do regarding my enigmatic way of catching them in my net.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I'll be honest with you. I simply adore you both a lot and that's enough for me to find you precious. As you already know, I'm not your typical senior.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sumire raised her gaze to stare at my face. From her bright eyes, I could see a lot of things that she couldn't really put into words. For example, she's probably wondering why she's drawn to me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I don't really have an answer to that so I can only do what I do best. Dote on her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I put on a smile and started caressing her face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Little by little, an enchanting smile also peeked from her lips as she shyly whispered, \"I'm glad I talked to you on the train back then, senpai...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A simple sentence but it contained most of her feelings for me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If Asahi became her idol when it comes to her songs. I probably became the closest she could have to a figure she looked up to. It's not so close to being loved yet but she loves the feeling of being appreciated by me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Me too.\" I kissed her forehead and continued with a playful, \"Next time, I'll bring you and Umi with me to see Asahi. I'm sure you three will be thrilled to meet each other.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Upon hearing that, Sumire's eyes widened as though she just heard something unbelievable. But then, her face became beet red, perhaps because of the kiss on her forehead.\u003C\u002Fp>",1517,"2026-06-08T09:44:08.670Z",1,"novelbin.me","fdd5c681b42b133f887bb253be6e97232ac1494fc7ce52a049ac0071db817aa3","stealing-spree-chapter-2014","stealing-spree-chapter-2012",2873,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fstealing-spree-cover.jpg"]