[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-stealing-spree":3,"chapter-stealing-spree-stealing-spree-chapter-962":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},1761137,2333,"Chapter 962 Can we stay for a bit?","stealing-spree-chapter-962",962,"\u003Cp>When Auntie Yayoi picked me up at the station, it was only 1 pm. Having eaten with Eimi and Aoi, my stomach was still full.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thankfully, in consideration that they had just finished their lunch as well, what Mina prepared was just a pot of tea and a small portion of sweet snack to go along with it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As usual, the tea and snack Mina for me was thoroughly appreciated. I probably drank and ate half of it, leaving the half for the pair of mother and daughter to share.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I felt a little bad upon noticing that. Nonetheless, seeing me enjoying it, they both looked pleased and content.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Right. Even Auntie Yayoi reacted the same way.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I guess it stemmed from how proud she is of her daughter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I was the first guy she introduced after years of not having interest or being gloomy because of what happened in their past.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>More than just watching her daughter grow up, she’s delighted that she’s now walking a clear path ahead and returning to the lively Mina of days old.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her motherly gaze was still overwhelming but already manageable since I could shamelessly cuddle with Mina in front of her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Anyway, for the most part, we just talked about school and other topics. Her mother was clearly interested in what I could say about Mina. The girl was still a little embarrassed to fully open up with her mother. Their relationship was stronger than ever though. They bantered as though they were sisters and not a parent and child.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And watching all that, a warm and comfortable feeling filled my chest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yep. This is it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Compared to my indifference when watching Ohori-senpai weep, I will be overly concerned if any of these two women suffer once again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And I admit. My connection to Auntie Yayoi isn’t just through Mina. I also care for her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I don’t know if it will lead to a romantic feeling but at least at the moment, she’s one of those I deemed important to me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Anyway, although Auntie Yayoi was clearly dodging or suppressing the topic of the case for that former suitor who attempted to get her abducted, I brought it up before she could escape.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mina was also concerned about it. That’s why with the two of us chaining her to the chair through our gazes, Auntie Yayoi told us almost everything.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It’s only two weeks since that incident so, naturally, it’s still in court and the guy was still detained because the case charged to him was non-bailable. The wannabe-yakuza gang was silent because of Auntie Yayoi’s police protection. But from the reports given to her, they were nipped and quelled which resulted in their retreat from this area.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But because they could still come back, Auntie Yayoi would still be protected for a month or two.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Apparently, she was already approached by his close relatives to drop the case, even offering a huge sum of money. However, Auntie Yayoi refused to settle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They were angry, of course. And they returned a few more times. But according to her, since Wednesday, they stopped harassing her for it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It’s like they suddenly became tame and had accepted that there’s no other fate for that guy but to serve in prison for who knows how long.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“… Understand? You two should rest your worry. It will be fine.” Auntie Yayoi ended it with that. She showed us a brilliant smile devoid of any negative emotion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She could be just acting again but there’s no guarantee that she is.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mina and I looked at each other and wordlessly, we decided to drop the matter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Alright, you young couple. Are you going to come with me to the salon right now or take your sweet and precious time here?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Well, it hasn’t been 30 minutes since I arrived and… plenty of time left before my part-time job.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Uhm... Auntie, can we stay here for a bit?” I answered for the two of us. Mina turned her head to me, looking confused yet pleased before pinching my hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmm. Sure. Take care of my daughter, Onoda-kun.” As though she fully guessed what was on our minds, Auntie Yayoi winked at me before turning around and leaving the house.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A few seconds later, the faint sound of her car’s engine reached our ears before it disappeared completely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Left alone in their house, Mina who was snuggled to me, snuggled even closer while burying her face in my chest. In this way, she’s completely in my arms now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I could bring her to her room or just stay here with her… passing this precious time we had just being this intimately close.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What to do? I’m dying to kiss someone but she’s hiding her face from me. Mina, can you help me?” I asked teasingly while patting her head which was close to steaming before running my hand on her ponytailed hair.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her hair was clumped tightly so that I somehow felt the urge to loosen it up and see how that would change her image.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Save the kisses for later. Just… hug me tightly” Her muffled answer arrived instantly. I felt her warm breath seeping into my clothes and her hold on me tightening even further.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Feeling her quickening heartbeat and how she’s turning red by the second, I guess her mind was already a mess.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Alright, my tea girl.” I teased her before doing what she asked. Picking her up, I put her on my lap and held her even tighter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Following that, I stood up, carrying her in my arms and made my way straight to her room.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She’s aware of my actions but the girl remained silent throughout.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When I arrived at the foot of her bed, I climbed up, with the girl still in my arms, before laying down together.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Feeling the softness of her bed, Mina finally raised her head to look at me. She held my head in place before reaching for my lips.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After giving me a swift kiss, Mina lowered her head again before hugging me tightly once more.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She’s being this affectionate yet the girl couldn’t say straight what she wanted to do…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“How can you be this adorable?” I blurted out my thoughts and pulled her up. This way, she couldn’t hide her face from me anymore\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Shut up. I’m embarrassed, you know? Mom was hinting at us when she asked that question and you… you shamelessly said yes.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What could she be hinting at?” I feigned ignorance which made the girl a little annoyed. That resulted in her snuggling on my neck instead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Well, Auntie Yayoi already asked me about it last week. Directly, even. And today, leaving right after our conversation was clearly her way to give us the moment to be alone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The doting mother was giving her daughter the chance to finally climb the steps of adulthood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mina, understanding her mother’s intention, instantly became this embarrassed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Well, I appreciate the trust she’s giving me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It’s now my job to make Mina comfortable. However, whether we will end up doing it depends on this girl’s feelings…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the contrary, I found myself being satisfied watching the girl act this adorable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Don’t be such a tease, you shameless guy!” Mina bashfully nagged.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A few seconds later, the girl grabbed my head and kissed me once again. This time, Mina had no intention to stop.\u003C\u002Fp>",1237,"2026-06-08T09:43:27.748Z",1,"novelbin.me","39621715bdb542b63ec12768ebd9e735be9a78155732be3b5bb1d9ed910cfb09","stealing-spree-chapter-963","stealing-spree-chapter-961",2873,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fstealing-spree-cover.jpg"]