Stealing Spree

Chapter 836 - Lost To A Dish?

I could surely count that as a slip of my tongue. But since I already care for her enough that she’s already getting the same treatment as my girls, it’s just a phrase that I was holding off on saying.

It’s fairly obvious just by looking at how I was treating her ever since the day I asked her to let me take care of her. Just that, I was trying to be considerate of her fear of men. As it was a trauma still deeply lodged in her mind, I had to be very careful concerning it. I even got to experience how it was for her. She’s close to breaking down in cold sweat. If I didn’t do what I did back then, we wouldn’t reach this point in our relationship.

True, telling me her past and the origin of her fear meant she started trusting me. Furthermore, I could say that she already warmed up to me, we even did more than just kiss. However, those were still in the context that she’s finding my side and my presence to be the most comfortable after Haruko… Ah. No. It’s already the most comfortable, she’s just not aware of it. We noticed that detail last week.

And today, when I came to pick them up, even if Haruko was next to me, Edel didn’t think twice to jump in my embrace.

Nonetheless, it’s still not right to assume that she already developed romantic feelings for me. Only Edel herself could judge that.

Now that I slipped and confessed unintentionally, I fell under her inquiring gaze.

My hand noticeably paused on stroking her hair but it’s only a second or two. I quickly accepted my blunder and… gathered my thoughts on what to do about it.

Since we’re not the only ones in the house, Akane, Haruko and Miwa-nee who were in the kitchen all stopped what they were doing. Even if I could only catch a glimpse of them at the corner of my eyesight, I was positive that they were staring at us, also waiting on how I was going to respond.

“Are you surprised?” I started with a question but my hand never stopped. Moreover, I searched for her hand and clasped it with mine, fitting it perfectly to calm it down if ever she started shaking.

“Y-yes. I thought you’re only helping me because Haru said so…”

“I see. So that’s how it looks to you. Remember what I said that day you told me about your trauma?”

“Un… You asked me to let you take care of me.”

“That’s right. And that still held true… Actually, even if I managed to convince myself that I was only going to help you overcome your trauma, my selfish mind already claimed you as mine.”

Yep. I could fool myself like that but at the end of the day, as soon as I decided to help her, an inclination concerning how I would hate her to be taken by another guy had also rooted in my subconscious.

It’s not just with her. Even when I decided to help Shizu, that’s the same case. I was only deluding myself that I would be okay if, in the end, they chose to not stay with me.

“The change that you’re exhibiting ever since that day also didn’t help. In fact, it reinforced the idea in my mind that I wanted to make you mine, completely.” I continued. My fingers combing her hair slid down further until it reached its end. Following that, I raised it and placed it on her cheek, my thumb gently caressing her pale lips. “There’s just one thing I’m scared of when it comes to you. That telling you the entirety of my feelings will trigger that trauma again. You grew up while holding onto your fear of men. Even if I am this close to you now, it’s only because you find my side as the most relaxing. You can forget your worries and fears whenever you’re clinging to me.”

“That… is true.”

With a slight pause, Edel nodded her head, agreeing to my words.

I stared into her pretty eyes that were now shaking, tears starting to well up from the glands. She’s too beautiful even at this moment and I admittedly felt a little pained for shaking her up like this.

“Alright. I said my piece and now we return to the beginning. You didn’t mishear it, Edel. I love you…” I relaxed my serious expression and put on another gentle smile. Well, I wouldn’t say this smile was perfect or natural but at least, it's a genuine one. “However, I cannot say that I love you more than the other girls connected to me. For this, even if others might find this distasteful, I wanted to be very honest with you.”

“You love me…”

That’s all she could say, just repeating my words as though she’s still in disbelief that it’s the truth.

Nonetheless, even if that was her reaction, I felt relieved. It didn’t trigger her trauma, not yet at least.

While her eyes remained focused on me, I also didn’t stop at caressing her beautiful face and her naturally pale lips. To make her more comfortable.

At this point, the three in the kitchen had already resumed what they were doing. In fact, Haruko was slowly creeping towards us and settled herself close but not inside Edel’s eyes.

Even with her active quirk, she’s more than aware that this was an important moment for Edel.

As for Minoru, even with an important conversation like this, he’s focused on what’s being shown on the TV. His giggles and laughter would even occasionally fill the room since it’s a very entertaining show. For kids.

Anyway, seeing that Edel couldn’t form words or she was still failing to gather her thoughts on how she should respond with my accidental confession, my hand returned to the back of her head and gently pushed her down to my chest before resuming to stroke her hair.

Minutes passed but Edel remained silent. But that’s fine, she didn’t fall asleep or anything of the sort. Moreover, I wouldn’t mind if she failed to come up with a response. Just the fact that she’s not pushing me away was already an acceptable answer.

Soon enough, the delectable aroma of the dinner they’re preparing in the kitchen wafted over us.

Even with that, it’s enough to make my mouth water. And perhaps also influenced by that aroma, a short, almost silent, growling of an empty stomach sounded.

Since I heard it clearly, it’s only either me or the girl that became silent in my embrace. And going with the process of elimination, I wouldn’t be lying to myself if I was the one who issued that growl.

I lowered my gaze and noticed Edel’s ear that was partly exposed beneath her silver hair gradually turned red from embarrassment.

“Alright. Let’s eat. Edel, can you stand?” I grasped her chin and lifted her head and I was met with her reddened face, eyes closed shut and bitten lips.

Right. Before the girl gathered her thoughts, her stomach betrayed her. Or she’s not really thinking of answering and just making herself comfortable in my embrace but – I repeat – the growls of her hungry stomach broke her silence.

“… I can.”

“Well, I didn’t hear it. Let me carry you to the table.”

Before the girl could react, I already lifted her from her seat. It’s that easy considering how close we were.

When my eyes caught Haruko, she was clapping her hands, satisfied at what she witnessed. She then went to Minoru’s side, taking the boy’s hand to lead him to the dining table.

“Edel, it’s fine,” I whispered to her before putting her down.

It’s perfectly fine not to react or answer if she really couldn’t yet. Nothing will change anyway. I will still love her and as long as she doesn’t push me away, I will continue helping her overcome her trauma.

And tonight, I will be pampering her all night.

Through my accidental confession, I already got Akane’s nod at letting her stay in our room.

“Husband, sit down next to her or help us prepare the table. You choose.”

Coming in at the perfect moment when Edel was deliberating whether to let me separate from her or keep me close now that she’s seated, Akane placed a dish down.

It’s the dish that made my mouth watery and Edel’s stomach growl.

Seeing that and inhaling its scent up close, Edel’s stomach betrayed her for the second time. And that resulted in the girl grasping my clothes tightly. She then pulled me down to sit next to her before using my chest to bury her crimson face.

It’s unusual. I felt like I won big time but at the same time, lost against a dish at gaining Edel’s reaction.. Either way, it’s better this way than letting her feel pressured.