Stealing Spree
chapter-2225

Upon hearing my frank answer without any hint of changing my mind, Minami Shouko's face froze momentarily.

She blinked her eyes a few times before eventually letting out a laugh.

"You're joking." She said, "Tell me you're joking, Onoda-kun."

"Nope. I'm not interested at all. Especially after meeting you in person." I said, nailing it further into her.

Minami Shouko's grin faltered for the first time. Her eyes searched mine for any hint of a bluff. But she couldn't find any.

Her laughter died in her throat as she studied me, the air in the room thickening. I could sense her gloom. Or at least, the fact that she came here expecting me to be a like-minded individual. But she was wrong.

"You don't understand, Onoda-kun. I've been searching for someone like you for a long time." The confidence in her voice was slipping away, replaced by a desperation that was unnerving to hear. "Someone who could see through the masks everyone else wears. Who could challenge me, keep up with me."

Maeda had mentioned Minami Shouko approached her asking why she seldom smiles. From that, I knew she was craving for something genuine. So, when I saw that vulnerability in her eyes, I knew that was it.

"Are you happy with how your life is going, Minami-senpai?"

Her eyes narrowed slightly, probably not expecting that question.

"I am," she replied, but the way her voice quivered suggested otherwise. "Why wouldn't I be? I've got everything I want."

"Is that true?"

Minami Shouko took a moment to process my question. She was definitely caught off guard. Her eyes searched my own, looking for any hint of sarcasm or mockery. But there was none. My questions were genuine and she knew it.

Her posture stiffened, the facade of the confident game master slowly cracking. She took a deep breath, her hand gripping the armrest tightly. "What do you know about happiness, Onoda-kun?" she asked, her voice laced with bitterness. "You're surrounded by these... these... puppets, playing out your perfect little harem fantasy."

Hearing her call my girls in a different demeaning term triggered something within me, but I kept my cool. After all, this was her defense mechanism. Her way of coping with the fear of rejection and her own feelings of inadequacy.

"You call them puppets but to me, they're the most important people in my life. With them, I don't have to put on an act. I can be myself," I replied, my voice firm yet gentle, hinting at the warmth and affection I held for each one of them. "What about you, senpai? How's the fun you're deriving from these games? From this manipulation that you're doing? Do you feel satisfaction from them?"

Her gaze drifted away, and she took a moment to compose herself.

"It's... complicated," Minami Shouko finally said, her voice softer now. "But I've never felt more alive than when I'm playing. It's like... it's like I can see the truth in people when they're in my games."

"Heh. Then do you want to play a game with me?"

The sudden shift in topic took her aback. She leaned back into the chair, the tension in her shoulders loosening a bit. "What kind of game?"

"A simple one. It's called 'being honest'. You tell me what you really want. What's behind all these games? And I'll tell you what I think of it." As always, I fell back to this one. It's already one of my important tenets. My complex relationship was founded based on it.

Minami Shouko stared at me for what felt like an eternity before she let out a deep sigh, her shoulders dropping.

Seeing that, I sighed inwardly. Looks like I finally pierced her defense. But then again, it was already crumbling ever since I spoke of rejecting her interest in me.

"Well, Onoda-kun," she began, her voice still holding a hint of amusement, "you've got me there. I guess I'll have to play by your rules for now."

Minami Shouko leaned back in her chair, crossing her arms. She studied me, her eyes sharp, as if she was trying to find a chink in my armor. It was clear she wasn't used to being the one at a disadvantage. She took a sip from her tea, the liquid sliding down her throat as she thought of her next move. It was like watching a chess grandmaster contemplating the board, her eyes flickering with intelligence and a hint of something more... desperate.

I raised an eyebrow, sensing that the air around her changed. It looked like she suddenly recovered from a trance.

"Alright, Onoda-kun. Let's play your game of honesty," she said, the challenge back in her tone.

Well, looks like I still underestimated her after all that.

"You wanna start or...?" I said, setting the tone of our conversation to a playful one, hoping she'd take the bait.

Her eyes narrowed as she studied me, the gears in her head turning. "Very well. You say you don't need me. But, Onoda-kun, think about it. What if I can make you happier than all of them combined?"

What a bold declaration.

"Heh. You sounded confident, senpai. Tell me honestly, how can you make me happier?" I said, placing my tea cup down and leaning into the comfort of my chair.

Her smile grew smug. "I know you, Onoda-kun. I've watched you. You crave excitement. Adventure. And I can give it to you in ways they can never imagine."

"You're correct with excitement but only to my loved ones. Adventure? I can also get that from them. So, what are these ways you're speaking of?" I put on a meaningful smile, my eyes drilling into her.

Minami Shouko's smile faltered a bit. She didn't expect me to counter so quickly. Good. That means she's taking me seriously.

"You see, Onoda-kun, it's all about the thrill of the unknown. The adrenaline rush when you're on the edge. That's what I can give you. Something... unpredictable. Something that even your precious 'pets' couldn't provide."

"Minami-senpai. I don't appreciate you calling them names. But let's not get off-topic. You say you know me, so tell me, what do you think I truly want?"

Her smugness faded, replaced by a smoldering determination. "You want a challenge. You want to feel alive. And I can give you that."

"Empty words," I answered, my voice calm and unfaltering. "But I'll play along. Tell me, what's this grand adventure you're promising?"

Her eyes lit up with excitement, clearly enjoying the dance of our words. "It's something you've never experienced before. Something beyond our mundane school life. Something that'll test your limits, push you to new heights, and show you a world you never knew

existed."

"Again, empty words. Senpai, are you kidding me? You're not taking this seriously at all." I feigned a look of disappointment, though inwardly I was thrilled she was taking my bait. She was a tough nut to crack. I must admit. But even the toughest nut can be cracked. Minami Shouko's expression was unreadable. It was a mask of a poker face that I'd seen before, but this one was painted with a hint of annoyance. She didn't expect me to turn her down. Her plan probably didn't have this scenario.

Sensing that it was my time to flip this around, I leaned in closer, my voice dropping to a whisper that carried the weight of a declaration, "Let's go back up. Right from the start, you're not playing the game with me, senpai. I asked you to tell me what's behind the games you're doing but you came at me declaring you're better than all of my girls combined." Her smugness washed away, and for the first time, she looked at me with something akin to respect. "You're right," she conceded, her voice dropping to match mine. "I've been playing games for so long that I forgot how to be straightforward."

"You can be straightforward with me. You're forgetting it, Minami-senpai. Isn't this the reason you've done all this to get my attention? Because I'm like you"

Upon saying that, I leaned back, sipping my tea and enjoying the moment of Minami Shouko's

crumble.