"Husband, is that?..." Akane murmured, leaning over Azusa's shoulder to look at the buzzing phone.
Well, I told her about the call I received earlier. However, she couldn't remember who Tsubame was. I guess given how short the time I spent with that girl, Akane, who kept on tracking my steps back then hadn't encountered her.
"Mhm. It is her. I wonder, I already agreed to meet her tomorrow. Is she checking in to make sure?" I said as I reached for it.
Meanwhile, Nao, Hanabi and Azusa also looked on curiously. Before picking it up, I told them about our past, how she's one of the girls I stole before and how she called me earlier to ask for a meeting.
Among the three, Nao was the first to speak, "She disappeared on you, huh? Lucky her, Ruki. She got away before confessing to you."
Her tone was a little playful but it was also a jab at her own experience of being turned down by me before she graduated from our middle school.
I stretched an arm around her, pulling her close, "Alright, I apologize again for turning you down and ignoring all of your messages. I shouldn't have done that. Because of it, you got tricked by that bastard Nobuo."
Nao leaned into my chest as she giggled softly, "Idiot Ruki. I'm just trying to tease you. Don't apologize. It's also my fault for being tricked. You've taken me back and that's all that matters."
Since Azusa and Hanabi didn't know about our story, they also stared at us blankly. The goofball tilted her head in confusion while the egotistical girl narrowed her eyes.
In any case, they didn't say anything. They just waited for me to continue speaking.
"Right. Let's bury that past. I still owe you a lot so... don't let go, alright?"
"Pfft. I never plan to." Nao bumped her forehead against my shoulder affectionately, her soft hair tickling my skin. Her warmth seeped through my shirt, a quiet reassurance that anchored me until the phone's persistent buzzing snapped my attention back.
Azusa huffed beside me, her borrowed boxers shifting as she crossed her legs. "Answer it already. Unless you're afraid we're going to hear something scandalous?"
"Well, I don't mind you listening in. I never plan to hide anything from my girls unless ultimately necessary." Right, just like that time Nobuo threatened me with whatever weapon he was hiding in his glove compartment. I only managed to talk him down at that time but if my girls heard about it, especially Shio and Nao, they'd be furious and worried at the same time.
No matter what, these girls would never want me to put myself in danger.
But this? It was harmless. So I swiped to accept Tsubame's call as I put it on the loudspeaker.
At this, Hanabi seated properly, Azusa leaned back, Nao continued enjoying the comfort of my chest and Akane grinned encouragingly.
Soon, the girl's voice crackled through the speaker. Her tone was soft and hesitant. It was as though she was already scolding herself for doing so. "Ruki? It's Tsubame. Sorry for calling so late... If you're already about to rest, you can ignore this."
She paused for a moment as she took in a deep breath, as if she was trying to calm her nervousness. "Actually... I was wondering if you could meet me earlier tomorrow? At nine, maybe? I'm sorry, circumstances changed and I might not be able to get out in the afternoon."
Huh? We set it at 3 in the afternoon and she even told me she could wait even if I ended up coming late. What kind of circumstances had changed? And her choice of words... is quite concerning.
Not be able to get out?
I glanced at the girls around and they, too, found that strange. They remained quiet though, letting me handle this.
"Nine is fine. But I still can't promise I'll arrive at the exact time." I answered calmly. "But Tsubame, what changed? Are you alright?"
It was a simple question, yet her sharp intake of breath made my fingers tighten around the phone. Beside me, Akane's playful grin faded, replaced by concern mirrored in Nao's gentle frown and Azusa's narrowed eyes. Hanabi leaned forward silently, brow furrowed as she fiddled with her sleeve. Even the anime's cheerful soundtrack felt jarring against the sudden tension crackling through the room.
It took a few seconds before the girl answered, her voice strained as though she was fighting back tears. "I... I'm fine, really. Just family obligations shifted suddenly. Morning is... safer."
The word 'safer' hung heavy in the air, sharp as broken glass. Then, one by one, the girls around me stood up with Akane guiding them silently toward the stairs. They understood that this was a phone call that would be best taken privately. Azusa hesitated for a second, her gaze lingering on my face, before nodding curtly and following Hanabi upstairs.
I could only follow them with my eyes. Akane communicated with me through eye contact alone, nodding reassuringly before vanishing upstairs with the others. Their footsteps faded quickly, leaving me alone with Tsubame's uneven breaths filling the silent living room. The TV was still playing but I reached for the remote and turned it off before tapping a button on the screen.
It was a request to switch to a video call.
The screen stayed unchanged for quite some time. Ten seconds? Twenty? Then, it flickered back to life as Tsubame's face appeared on it.
While her face remained the same as I remembered, there were still some noticeable changes. Her reddish-brown hair was slightly longer and her gray eyes seemed duller than the witty and cheerful girl I once knew. Her skin was pale and she was biting her lower lip anxiously.
As soon as our eyes met through the screen, she immediately tried to cover her face with her hands.
"Ruki... Sorry, I... I don't look great right now."
Although slightly dim, I could see her eyes trembling slightly, maybe surprised that I still looked the same as before, or it was just a reaction to seeing my face after a long time. Maybe she's remembering that month we spent together. Who knows?
"What do you mean?" I answered as I put on a smile, "You still look great, Tsubame."
"... You smiled?" Her voice cracked, fingers trembling as they hovered near her cheek. Well, it was a surprise to her. She probably never saw me genuinely smiling before. Even after stealing her, I remained to be that cold, heartless guy who's only focused on satisfying my desire. Updates are released by NoveI[F]ire.net
"Mhm... Does it not suit me?" I tilted my head slightly, letting the smile linger.