Stealing Spree

Chapter 228: Clearing the Old Lady's Doubt

After Miwa-nee calmed down, I escorted her back to their room. Hugging her until she fell asleep, Miwa-nee slowly told me her story.

This time, she didn't hold back anything anymore. Telling me everything that happened to her ever since she left the house to marry her husband.

Most of it was already something I guessed before. It's never a happy marriage for her. She tried but it didn't work once he caught on that Minoru might not be his. But to avoid embarrassment, her husband never called for a divorce. For a career man like him, a divorce would become a stain in his record so he didn't want to go through it.

Oftentimes he wouldn't go home while leaving Miwa-nee in the dark. She really couldn't blame him since it was clearly her fault so for the sake of Minoru, she endured.

Before she decided to leave, her husband had started to go home drunk and in the morning, he would nag at Miwa-nee which Minoru saw.

If it's just ignoring her, Miwa-nee admitted that she could still endure it. However, that drinking and nagging became a regular thing that if it continued it would be bad for Minoru. That question of his for me was the result of it.

After a month of enduring that, Miwa-nee contacted my mother about it and was given the suggestion to go back here. With Minoru.

"Miwa-nee. Don't ever think of leaving now. Let's raise Minoru, together. I might be full of issues even in the future but I genuinely want to become someone you can rely on."

"We won't leave. I also decided. The boy is smiling more here than when there's only the two of us. But Ruki, you really shouldn't be concerned about our well-being for now and just focus on what's in front of you. I keep telling you this not because I want to push away but to help you focus. We'll always be here, so you don't need to worry."

"Alright. I'll listen to Miwa-nee."

-

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Akane and Shio were waiting for me in the living room after I left Miwa-nee's room. The two expressed their concern both for Minoru and Miwa-nee. And also, for me.

Though they didn't ask me about the issue that got brought up, it's already implied. Unless we talked about it openly, they wouldn't ask.

Since I promised Shio that I would escort her home, I asked Akane to wait for me or she could sleep first and I would wake her up when I came back from the apartment.

Even if that thing happened which put the house in a kind of saddened atmosphere, I still wanted to hear what she wanted to tell me about the something good which happened to her.

The ride from our house to the apartment complex where Shio rented a 1LDK unit only took up 10 minutes.

As soon as the car passed through the gate, we got a glimpse of the old lady managing the apartment complex. She's the one who opened the gate for us upon seeing the familiar car.

Just like when we first came here, Shio linked arms with me after getting out of her car. The place was already silent and the few tenants living here had already turned up to bed.

"Good evening, grandma."

Shio warmly greeted the old lady when we passed by her little house in the corner where she was receiving those inquiring and those signing for the contract.

"Good evening, Shiori and her husband. Hmm… I never got to know your name. It's late, did you take your dinner outside?"

The old lady greeted back with a smile. When her gaze passed by me, she squinted her eyes first, maybe trying to see my appearance better.

"It's Ruki, grandma. Yes, I took her to dinner. To make up for the two days I'm not home."

The mention of the dinner became a convenient tool to make up the excuse for why I didn't go home to our apartment for two days.

"Ruki, huh? Young man, you shouldn't leave your wife alone. You're just starting out as a couple. Don't let that become grounds for your separation. Young ones nowadays are too carefree."

Though a bit unconvinced, the old lady could only accept my excuse while sliding in some kind of advice for me.

And upon hearing that, Shio interjected and made up another excuse.

"He will do that, grandma. He just got busy on something in his college."

"Is that so? Well, that's what's hard if you marry when one is still studying. Alright, I won't take up your time now. Have a good night."

"Good night to you too, grandma. It is cold out tonight. You should also take care of your health. Next time we will open the gate by ourselves."

The old lady nodded and responded warmly to Shio's concern. It's really different with her. When I asked Shio about it, she said that the old lady was only warm to women. That's why when we're checking out the place, if I talked in her place, the old lady would be difficult to deal with.

With that, we cleared the old lady's growing doubt about my identity. I guess I should start escorting Shio home for the following days and sneak out later. It will also be a precaution to that Nobuo. If I see him nearby, I will be able to deal with him.

Without breaking the link in our arms, Shio and I reached her apartment unit. Until now, she's the only tenant on the third floor giving us more peace and silence.

As soon as we entered the room, Shio put down her things and pulled me towards the living room and down into the sofa where she snuggled to my arms like a kitten.

Her unit was still a bit empty due to her things still left at her previous house. I told her that I would help her take it but yeah, it's still a sensitive time. We have to wait for the divorce to go through. That way, that Nobuo wouldn't have any claim to her anymore. And whatever the court would decide, it's already a certainty that she would be able to get something from him.

"Grandma still didn't notice that you're too young to be a college student."

Shio giggled upon bringing up our encounter with the old lady.

"It's dark. I guess I can only show my face here during the nights. Otherwise, it would be bad for you."

That's the only explanation why I could pass up as Shio's husband. If the old lady saw me during the day, we would instantly be exposed.

"That's enough for me, Ruru. As you said, this is our special place. When the time comes, you would be able to stay here with me even if it's only occasionally."

Shio lifted her head and initiated a kiss. Naturally, I didn't shy away from it. The time earlier at her room and in the car ignited my desire to take her.

Now that we're in a private place and somewhere we called our special place, there's no point restraining anymore.

It didn't take long for us to be filled with our passion for each other.

With our clothes naturally dropping on the floor, Shio rode me for a while before I put her down on the sofa to finish it with me on top of her.

However, we didn't end it with just one. After resting for a while, I carried her to the bedroom and initiated another round. Just like when we first entered this room, Shio and I rolled on the bed trying to take the initiative from one another. In the end, I let her ride me again and finish it in that position.

After an hour of being lost in our passion for each other, Shio comfortably lay on my chest as she asked me to stay until she fell asleep.

Only after making sure that she's already deep in sleep did I start making my way out of the apartment complex.

I left Shio a note at her table that she would surely see in the morning. As much as I wanted to stay and sleep there with her, the silly girl was still waiting for me.

With how much she changed these past few days, if I asked her if I could sleep somewhere else, I'm sure she would readily agree to it but yeah, there's a perfect time for that.

Around 20 minutes after leaving the apartment complex and walking back on foot, I arrived home and found Akane sleeping on the sofa while the TV is on. It's that late-night anime once again, eh?

There were papers strewn on the low table in front of the sofa. When I looked at it, it's a draft about something that Akane was working on. She probably fell asleep while working on it.

I turned the TV off and organized the papers on one side before going over to the sleeping girl.

There's that silly smile on her lips as she kept mumbling something. And like always, she's dreaming about me.

And because of how charming she looked, I couldn't restrain myself once more as my lips naturally took hers into a kiss.

As soon as I did that, Akane's arms naturally hugged me as her eyes slowly opened. There's a dreamy look on her face before giggling cutely.

"Welcome back, husband!"