Stealing Spree
chapter-2119

"Alright, let's calmly take a step back and analyze things properly. I won't deny that Akane and I are very active but what does that have to do with your relationship though?"

I'm certain that Akane and the others will ask this girl how our conversation went so... I should be very careful on how to clear her doubts and enlighten whatever path she's trying to tread from here.

This doesn't just concern her relationship but also her perception of herself.

Her low self-esteem was hidden beneath her cheerful and playful nature. I'm sure her friends are already aware of it but not openly. They also cannot bring it up since this girl can simply run away from it.

And so, that role was passed to me, I guess?

Eri visibly hesitated. Her cheeks take on the color pink. Coupled with the feeling of embarrassment from earlier, she's looking a little hot at the moment. Not figuratively but literally hot.

Despite the cool room temperature, I could see sweat forming on her forehead and neck.

"... Uhm. I thought with your experience, I could get advice from you, Onoda-kun." "Mhm. I get that. But like I said, advice for what?"

"About a man's mentality."

"I see. Looks like you thought this through. Do you want to use me as a point of reference? Will you use me as a comparison to your boyfriend?"

"No. No. Not like that. It's bad to compare. You're different from each other."

"Mhm. That's good. I thought I had to correct you on that. Eri, my answers may not be applicable to you and your boyfriend, you have to remember that. You can't just take what I say as the truth. However, for your sake, I'll try to answer and advise you as close to the general mindset of men as possible. Is that fine?"

"Yes! Thank you, Onoda-kun."

"Don't thank me yet. I haven't done anything yet, have I?"

"You already did... You cleared some of my doubts."

From the way I see it, that must truly be the case. A few words are enough to dispel some of her doubts. I don't know which doubts though.

"If you say it like that, then that's good. You are Akane and Fuyu's best friend so... I'll also treat you as one. I don't want to mislead you with my answers."

"... You're really good at comforting someone, Onoda-kun." Eri silently stared at me for a while before a relieved and kinda silly smile formed on her lips.

Once again, the way she moved felt like I just reduced the weight she was carrying on her shoulder. The girl became more relaxed. Seeing that, it also felt a little rewarding for me.

"I'll take that as a compliment then. But let's set that aside for now... You have something you want to ask first, right? Something related to me and Akane."

"H-how did you know?"

"Let's just say I can see it from your eyes."

Although she acted as though I caught her lying there, Eri scratched her cheek and shyly smiled. She understood that she was being obvious with it even if I didn't elaborate on how I figured it out. It was pretty obvious from her line of questioning, after all.

She's curious.

After gathering her courage and pushing down her embarrassment, Eri asked me the question.

"Okay... Onoda-kun, in the context that you and Akane already did it, did it happen with your or Akane's initiative?"

Yep. It's about this. Since she brought it up before the mention of her relationship, she wanted to know about how it happened to us. Something like a point of reference. The other thing about a man's mentality could wait for later.

"Eri, you're quite mischievous. But I promised to answer properly. Listen carefully, alright?" I paused for a moment to check on the girl and saw her glittering eyes. There's no going back in this.

"No one initiated. We both wanted it at that moment. You see... When I finally remembered my love for her, I asked her parents to let her live with me. That very night, I brought her to our room. We confirmed our feelings and our desire for each other gave us that push to deepen our connection. In short, it happened naturally for us."

"You both wanted it... I see." Eri muttered to herself and went silent as she took in my answer.

I waited for a while before continuing. I couldn't just leave it there, after all. She might think that she could follow our experience.

But that's not always going to work. Something wrong might have happened if she just used our experience as a textbook example.

"Listen, Eri. That was in the context of our first time. Do not try to replicate it. Like I said, we're kind of different. For those like you and your boyfriend who possibly don't have any experience yet, the process for your first time can be quite tricky."

"Tricky?"

"Mhm. You can't just jump with it. You have to communicate with each other about your desires first. Make sure that you're on the same page. Otherwise, either of you might be embarrassed when the other couldn't follow. Also, don't wait for each other to make the first move. If not, you won't be able to progress at all."

Although I wanted to add that she shouldn't be the one making the first move, I held it back. I couldn't dictate things for them. I'm just here to inform and give her a piece of advice.

"I understand. It's the same with kissing, right?" Eri nodded.

Alright. Looks like she's following properly.

"Yes. If you put it in the same context as your first kiss, it's a similar process. You can be shy and afraid to bring it up but nothing will happen if you both hesitate."

"That makes sense. Thanks, Onoda-kun."

"Mhm. So, with that out of the way. I think we can already wrap up this conversation here. That's general knowledge. But it's still up to you if you're going to continue to ask me about a

man's mentality."

That's right. What we just discussed already contained enough knowledge to guide her on her next move regarding her relationship.

However, when it comes to her deep-seated troubles, it's probably not enough.

Eri lowered her head, most likely arranging her thoughts. After a while, she closed our

distance again before saying.

"I think I still need advice on other things, Onoda-kun."

"I knew you'd say that." I smirked, "Let's start, then. Tell me what you want to know and I'll answer in line with the general male perspective."

General perspective. I don't know if I can answer properly but I just have to set aside my own opinion, right? I've read enough to know how an average guy's mind works.

If I have to guess, Eri's first question will be a follow-up to our previous topic but something more personal or close to heart.

Eri contemplated for a while before bringing up her first question, "Uhm, if I'm looking to take our relationship to the next step, is it fine if I make the first move?"

Called it. But somehow this feels like I'm back to talking to Mio about her troubles with

Miyoshi who's so cowardly that he can't even initiate a kiss.

Of course, Eri's situation here is different. She brought it up because of her mentality that she might be unattractive to her boyfriend.

What I said earlier about her attractiveness had yet to stick to her. She could be overthinking

or refusing to accept reality unless she heard him saying it.

That's the tricky part here.

But I still promised so... Here goes.

"It is fine. We're now out of the old age where women have little rights. If that's what you

want, you can do it."

"I see. But Onoda-kun, why does it feel like there's a second part?"

I smiled and patted her head as though I was praising her good intuition, "Indeed, there is a second part. I said I'd answer through the general perspective of males. Some guys will like a proactive girl while some like to be the one making the move. It's split."

Hearing that, Eri frowned as she removed my hand from her head.

"Eh? What's the correct answer then?"

"None. It's up to your interpretation of your boyfriend. I don't know him personally but you should know him best, right? You will know which group he belongs to."

"I see... You're right. I should align it with his perspective." She nodded a few times, finally

looking convinced.

As soon as she finished arranging her thoughts, Eri once again invaded my private space.

"I have another question, Onoda-kun. This time, I want to hear your thoughts. Not the general perspective. Is it fine?"

"Fire away." I shrugged. What else am I afraid to answer, anyway? Since she specifically requested to hear my thoughts then it's now up to her if she can take it.