[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-stealing-spree":3,"chapter-stealing-spree-stealing-spree-chapter-2054":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},1762229,2333,"Chapter 2054: Cannot make the same mistake","stealing-spree-chapter-2054",2054,"\u003Cp>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Minutes later, Fuyu took the initiative to slip away from my embrace. She moved back to pick up her tennis racket. However, it took her a while to turn back around and face me again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She used that to stabilize her heart which kept on thumping and her reddened face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I was tempted to tease her but decided to hold back... We're not done yet with the coaching, after all. I could still get another chance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And so, just like that, I obediently listened to her lesson and completed the tasks she gave me after her demonstration.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Impressed at my tenacity, Fuyu became generous with her praises for me. Moreover, she also ended up enjoying the feeling of being able to coach someone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>By the time we finished, both of us were pretty exhausted. I grabbed her wrist and guided her to the bench in the room to rest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She followed me without a fuss, knowing I wouldn't do anything.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I grabbed her bag to store the ball and her racket back. And then I picked up the towel that Akane prepared for our use.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You have to rest well tonight, Onoda-kun. We can't have you play while tired.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Mhm. The same goes for you, right? Don't worry, the tea Akane prepares at night can give us a good night's sleep. You'll feel refreshed tomorrow no matter how exhausted you are before sleeping.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Eh? What kind of tea is that? Sounds miraculous.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yeah. It is miraculous.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I didn't dare tell her the side effect on me. What would she think if I added that? She might run out of here in embarrassment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then again, she will still be embarrassed when she hears us tomorrow morning...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In any case, I didn't lie to her about its effectiveness. That's the important thing to note. \"Hmm. Do you drink it everyday?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I do. Otherwise, I can't keep up with how busy I am.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When we eventually finish that jar of tea leaves, I'll probably need to find an alternative. But will it be easy to find one? I guess I'll end up sluggish again for accomplishing a lot of things in a day.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But in my opinion, it'll always be worth it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I see. You're busy, huh?\" Fuyu muttered silently. I could sense her apprehension to ask me the question bugging her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So, after a while, I urged her to do so.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Go on. You can ask me anything, Yuuki-san. You don't have to hold back. If you're uncertain about something, don't be burdened by it by not asking. As much as possible, I want to answer your doubts or suspicions.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thinking that I caught her act, Fuyu sighed helplessly, \"Geez. How did you even sense that I wanted to ask a question?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It's clearly written on your face, Yuuki-san. I get it though. I may be the most shameless guy in the world right now. And what you know about me can still be considered shallow.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What do you mean?\" Intrigued, the girl perked up a bit as her eyes drilled on my face. Mhm. We're already at this juncture.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I mean it as is. Yuuki-san, I may be sincere to you but I have things I'm still keeping from you. Akane knows about it all and she accepts it. But if it's you, I believe you'll end up hating me even more than you already did before.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What? That serious?...\" Fuyu widened her eyes at me. But a few seconds later, she appeared to have realized what I was hinting about, \"Does that involve the other girls close to you?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Mhm.\" My answer was swift and without any hesitation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Upon hearing that, I noticed her hands on her lap loosely holding the towel curled up tightly, crumpling the poor cloth. She was that agitated by my answer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I see...\" With a hint of disappointment in her voice, Fuyu lowered her head, perhaps afraid to find the truth written on my face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I know I can't just keep her in the dark about it. I don't want to repeat the same mistake I made with Yayoi-san.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If Fuyu ended up losing her interest in me after finding out how deep the quagmire she was going to sink into by being involved with me, then that's fine.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At least, she would spare herself from being hurt.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It would be regrettable but that's a lot better than telling her to live in a lie that I'm only involved with a few girls.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After gauging that the silence was already about to be suffocating, I opened my mouth again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Alright. Sorry for making the atmosphere awkward. Thanks for the coaching, Yuuki-san. I'll do my best tomorrow.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Upon saying that, I prepared to stand up and give her the space to think about the things I said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, perhaps sensing my intention, Fuyu instinctively grabbed my wrist before I could even lift my butt off of the bench.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her grip on my wrist was also as tight as when she was holding her racket. She didn't want to let me go\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With a complicated expression written on her face, she said, \"Don't go yet. I haven't said anything yet.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I stared at her for a few seconds to discern her intention. Upon noticing the seriousness emanating from her, I nodded and settled down.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Alright. I'm all ears, Yuuki-san.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fuyu appeared relieved for a moment but soon after, she pressed forward as though she wanted to hear my answer clearly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You... Are you sure I'm going to hate you?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With her clear, unperturbed eyes that seemed to convey her sincerity, I found myself losing\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>out on her. Yep. She's determined to hear this.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It depends on whether you can accept the truth or not.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Akane accepts it. Why can't I?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Only Akane can give a definite answer for that. What I'm about to say is simply my own interpretation or assumption regarding it... You see, I think Akane came to terms that it's the only way for her to not lose me again.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As I said that, I couldn't help but feel the pinch of bitterness. That's how it is with her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because I cannot change at all, Akane can accept it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fuyu's eyes widened a bit before a hint of loneliness flashed on her face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"... That sounds cruel.\" She pursed her lips in order to prevent her eye glands from shedding a\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>tear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yes, it is. That's how it will look like for those uninvolved with us. But you see, Akane and I. Do we look like we're hurting each other?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No. She's been even more cheerful ever since you accepted her.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Mhm. That's how it is. Yuuki-san, your situation is different. Maybe you got influenced by Akane which led you to also be drawn to me.\" I paused for a moment as a guilty smile popped up on my face, \"I am also at fault for shamelessly getting close to you... I really like you, Yuuki-san. But I don't want you to hurt yourself because of me. It's also fine if you end up hating me. That way, you can finally get rid of me from your head.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As cruel as it is, this needs to be said if I want us to make some progress. Be it positive or not,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I'll take it. It's only right for her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A period of silence soon ensued. Fuyu seemed to be stuck digesting my words but her face clearly showed how she was having a hard time processing them.\u003C\u002Fp>",1254,"2026-06-08T09:44:11.345Z",1,"novelbin.me","eeb0f12cbe4630688972a3ffff2cf1217c9e8ca51aa54c7e91669a178ed8983d","stealing-spree-chapter-2055","stealing-spree-chapter-2053",2873,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fstealing-spree-cover.jpg"]