Stealing Spree

With Hana content to watch, I set to work preparing the meal. I kept it simple: a chicken stir- fry with fresh vegetables and a corn soup to go along with it.

While I was doing that, Hana, who had nothing to do but watch the pot boil, occasionally chimed in with playful comments or questions. But mostly, she just observed with a satisfied smile as I worked through the steps.

She never tried to disturb me, like sneaking up for a hug from behind. She knew better than to distract the chef. Instead, she always made sure to stay in my line of sight, where our eyes would meet, and we’d exchange silent smiles.

In her case, it’s like watching me, her husband, prepare a special meal for her. Meanwhile, she’s the source of my motivation. Each of her smiles added a new flavor to the food I was preparing.

Before long, the food was ready.

The aroma of the cooked chicken and vegetables filled the kitchen. I plated the meal and moved to the dining table that Hana had already fixed.

"Dinner is served," I said with a grin as I pulled out a chair for her. "Let me know if I’ve lived up to my reputation."

She sat down and then I moved across, sitting on the chair in front of her before filling our glasses with juice.

"Itadakimasu!" Hana said, bringing her hands together before taking her first bite. Her eyes lit up instantly, as I expected. "Mmm! Delicious! If I could, I’d eat your cooking every day."

"Glad to hear it," I replied as I also took a bite of the chicken. "But won’t you be like Akane and the others once you finish your ’training’? You’ll ban me from the kitchen so you can cook for me."

Hana tilted her head, thinking for a second before shaking it. "No way. I’d still prefer your cooking. I love it, especially when you’re wearing that apron." She giggled, recalling me moving around in the frilly pink garment. f

I already took it off but since she’d taken a lot of photos with me in it, the girl dreamily looked up, recalling those shots as well.

Wasn’t she being a bit mischievous?

I shook my head and smiled. "If it makes my Hana happy, I’ll keep cooking. But on one condition."

Her eyes sparkled with amusement as she raised a brow. "Oh? And what condition is that?" "I get to see you wear a ’naked apron’ sometimes," I teased, leaning in with a mischievous grin.

"Pervert!" Hana gasped, laughing but blushing all the same.

She didn’t reject it though. Instead, she fell into contemplation as though she was already imagining that scenario. The two of us wearing nothing but that apron...

Alright. That’s my influence on her, no? My Hana wasn’t originally a pervert.

Anyway, despite the atmosphere getting heated by that banter, the meal passed in a comfortable conversation. Every now and then, our eyes would meet, and the unspoken connection between us filled the gaps in our words. It became a quiet but meaningful exchange as we finished our meal.

Just as I was about to ask if she wanted more, there was a knock at the door.

Hana glanced at the clock and sighed.

"That’s Aunt Tomori," she said, standing up. "I told her I was having dinner with you and she didn’t need to bring me dinner anymore. She still insists on checking in though."

I smiled knowingly. "She said it back then. She wanted to keep an eye on you or us. I mean, she caught us in an intimate moment back then, after all."

"Un. That’s one way to look at it. She’s still buying our story and she’s supporting me for it. She’s probably here to check on you. Making sure you’re taking care of me," Hana

Meaningfully smiled as she prepared to stand and answer the door.

I nodded at her, letting her go. Meanwhile, I started cleaning up the table.

When Hana returned, Aunt Tomori stood there, dressed as casually as ever as if she just finished her work again.

Her eyes scanned the room before settling on me. A familiar, half-smile tugged at her lips. "Onoda-kun, I see, you really cooked dinner for Hana." She greeted me before she gestured with her chin, pointing at the table that I had yet to finish cleaning.

"Good evening, Aunt Tomori," I replied, offering her a nod in return as well as my usual smile, "You’re just in time. We’ve still got some food left if you’re hungry."

With that offer, the woman visibly leaked her lips as she inhaled the remaining aroma of the chicken stir-fry.

However, she shook her head, acting very demure.

Hana who was standing behind her couldn’t help but restrain her laughter again at how her Aunt was acting. She winked at me as though saying, she’d give Aunt our leftovers later. "I’m not here for food. I’m just making sure you two are not acting up on impulse again." On impulse, huh? Was she actually hoping to see Hana straddling me again with our lips locked in an intimate kiss?

Hana rolled her eyes at that before smilingly saying, "You don’t need to check on me every time Ruki is here, Aunt. Didn’t we follow your rules of informing you when he’s coming to

Visit?"

"I’m just doing my job as your guardian," Aunt Tomori responded with a smirk, before giving me a thumbs-up. "And Onoda-kun, I’ll give you five stars. Great job."

"Just trying to make a good impression, Aunt Tomori. Also, I live for Hana’s satisfaction."

"Well, you’ve already made one, so you can relax a little," she said as she walked into the living room, taking a seat in the middle of the sofa just like back then. Following that, she turned on the TV and relaxed on it, "I’ll stay for a bit. Don’t mind me."

...So she’s planning to monitor us, huh? This woman... It became a good thing that we failed to hold back at each other on the bus. Otherwise, I’d be going home without savoring my time with Hana again.

I exchanged a glance with Hana, who shrugged and sat next to her Aunt, giving up on the situation.

In any case, the tension that might have come with meeting her for the first time wasn’t present anymore. She wouldn’t ask me to cut my hand off like before.; This time, it was more like Aunt Tomori was just dropping in to check on us, a natural part of her routine as Hana’s guardian in place of her parents.

Once I finished cleaning the table, I joined them in the living room, Hana cuddling with me

Right away.

Aunt Tomori raised an eyebrow upon noticing that but didn’t say anything else.

She made light conversation as we watched a variety program, her questions more casual than probing. She had already gotten to know me enough on my previous visit, after all. Instead, she seemed more focused on teasing Hana, making her niece blush on more than one

Occasion.

After a while, perhaps thinking that she was interrupting our moment, Aunt Tomori stood up and stretched, her fitted shirt getting pulled up that show a patch of her similarly flawless

Skin underneath.

I didn’t stare, of course. I just caught sight of it.

"Alright, I’ll leave you two to it... Also, I’ll take your leftovers. I want to try Onoda-kun’s

Cooking. You don’t mind, do you?"

"Of course, please give me feedback later."

"Sure. Next time, Hana will be the one cooking for you."

"I’m looking forward to that.

After that exchange, Hana and I packed up the remaining chicken stir-fry and corn soup

Before walking Aunt Tomori to the door.

Before stepping out into the cool night, she reminded us to behave again... Unfortunately, we had already gone past what she’d witnessed before.

Once the door clicked shut, Hana turned back to me with a soft smile. Then, as if we had been waiting for this moment, our lips were drawn to each other as we moved back to the living

Room, savoring the rest of our time together that night.

Aunt Tomori’s visit didn’t lead to much, but it was a good sign that she seemed more accepting of our relationship now. There were no teary-eyed sobs when we told her our story. Instead, her silent admiration whenever she looked at us seemed to tell us everything we needed to know - her approval.

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