Stealing Spree

“Huh? What is this? Did I enter a pigsty?!”

Upon entering from the door, I heard Eguchi-sensei’s irate voice echoing across the whole Gymnasium.

I was just about to follow her inside. What did she see that her somewhat lively mood suddenly changed to this?

Earlier, with the girls’ Hana Countermeasure Meeting as well as the lunch break ending, I, along with the seven of my girls, started making our way to the Gymnasium after changing inside that empty clubroom.

However, on our way out of the Club Building, we ran into Eguchi-sensei. Whether it’s a coincidence or not, I had no idea. But as soon as she saw me, Eguchi-sensei asked me to follow her to her office.

I’m her Student Assistant so I have no reason to refuse. And besides, it’s already a usual occurrence for me.

Upon arriving there, Eguchi-sensei asked me for my opinion about the activity that she prepared for today.

Truthfully, I found that a little strange because it’s an activity that I already read, reviewed and found no problem with in her new lesson plan.

Based on the direction she was taking when she ran into us, the PE teacher was also about to go to the Gymnasium.

I wanted to say that I’m not suspecting her but it’s impossible. I couldn’t help but give meaning to it as it’s fairly obvious.

Whether she decided that consciously or otherwise, suddenly suggesting me to follow her when there’s no need to could be seen as her way to be alone with me.

Or maybe I’m just overthinking it. It won’t hurt to give her the benefit of the doubt.

Besides, during that time, nothing really special happened between us. There’s a little awkward air but Eguchi-sensei never brought up anything else aside from the review of that activity.

But the thing is, coming with her ate away, at most, twenty minutes of the allocated time for the PE Class. Furthermore, half of it was spent on going to and from her office.

And with that, for the first time in a while, Eguchi-sensei showed up late to her class…

This brings us back to this present.

Hearing that shout and knowing the people waiting inside, Eguchi-sensei shouted at the students of both Class 1 and 4.

I hurriedly followed her in to check. My eyes searched on my girls first and luckily, I easily spotted them on the side, away from whatever commotion that happened, sitting together. They also noticed me right away and showed me a reassuring smile, telling me that whatever made Eguchi-sensei shout, it was not them.

And that’s true. Turning my gaze away from the girls to finally check on what actually transpired, the mix of students from both classes were now standing stiffly in the middle of the Gymnasium.

They were mostly boys but there were also a few girls who joined up with them.

From the clues I gathered, starting from the loud noises that Eguchi-sensei and I heard outside, they’re probably playing something while screaming at each other.

At this point, Eguchi-sensei walked down and passed by them to take her usual spot before facing everyone. Her face still showed how upset she was from what she witnessed.

Following that, she cast her gaze over everyone, making those who were just sitting on the side stand up and line up like usual.

Obviously, I followed them and lined up along with our classmates. I specifically placed myself behind someone I could ask, Sakuma. He’s among those who were in the middle of the Gymnasium when Eguchi-sensei showed up.

“Hey, what did I miss?” I leaned forward a bit and whispered.

Sakuma instinctively looked at me, his eyes widening slightly before answering, “Right. You’re not here… Someone suggested playing a game while waiting for sensei to arrive. If you heard those screams, the game got so heated up in the middle that they started cursing and insulting each other.”

Ah…So that’s why… I only heard incoherent shouts from outside and when I entered, they were already quiet.

No wonder Eguchi-sensei was that displeased. The lively mood I saw from her when we were in her office was already nowhere to be found.

But really, it has only been a little over twenty minutes. What kind of game can make the players that obnoxious right away?

I was about to inquire more from Sakuma but I stopped when Eguchi-sensei’s voice echoed once again.

“It looks like I’m becoming too lenient on all of you. Have you all forgotten what I taught you about discipline?” The ‘terror’ teacher in the eyes of many crossed her arms and stepped forward before stopping in front of one of the students from Class 4.

He’s a burly guy that’s probably a member of one of the sports clubs. From what I remembered, he’s possibly the leader of Class 4. If we formerly have Ogawa in our class, that guy is his counterpart.

Well, I didn’t see him as a threat so I didn’t even remember his name. He’s not a delinquent. If there’s a term for him then he’s a jock.

Anyway, Eguchi-sensei didn’t wait for his response.

“I have arrived late for today’s class. That, I admit. However, that’s not enough reason to let you all get away from what you did.” She shook her head and walked away from that guy before stopping in front of Ogawa. “Ogawa-kun, what do you say? Have you also thrown away my lessons to the dumpster? Technically, the class is ongoing. Just because I’m not here doesn’t mean you’re free to do anything that you wanted. If it’s just a friendly game, I won’t mind it. However…”

Eguchi-sensei’s voice trailed there as she let out a huge sigh filled with her disappointment.

Based on her expression, Eguchi-sensei looked like she turned back to my first impression of her. The woman who lectured us about discipline during our class while we remained standing up. That scary teacher who threatened to hand out collective punishment if someone failed to maintain their posture.

Because of her gradual development in being comfortable in teaching mixed genders, she’s about to grow past that… but what happened today might revive that scary persona of her. Who knows?

Ogawa, who received all of that to his face, shrank from where he was standing. The guy couldn’t utter a rebuttal.

Right. The cowardly idiot was also among those from our class that clashed with the other class… I mean, he’s still seen as a leader – but only if I’m not around.

So, in this case, Eguchi-sensei’s disappointment mostly fell on the two leaders. She probably expected them to stop it but no… they became the commanders in that squabble.

Anyway, I asked another question to the guy in front of me. “Sakuma, what’s the real reason that you all fought in a verbal spar against them? It couldn’t be that you just suddenly cursed at one another because you got hit by a ball, right?”

“… That. Actually, it’s partly because of you.”

“Huh? That doesn’t make any sense.”

How did I get involved in this? I’m with Eguchi-sensei all this time…

“I also don’t know exactly what happened, I’m at the back, you know? But I think it’s because someone commented about you grabbing the spotlight from everyone in our class. And then… Fukuda’s goons argued that they were wrong… And starting from that, it devolved into a full-on throwing of insults at each other. It’s childish, isn’t it?”

Alright… What the hell is that? I’m not around but I somehow became the focal point of why this started? Their f*cking ego can’t handle a small jab like that? Or is it because they’re too ignorant?

“Childish or not, you’re all idiots.” I coldly spat which made the idiot guy laugh.

How utterly ridiculous… I might be aware that my influence is steadily growing but for my name to be used like that? It’s mildly infuriating. They should just take a jab at each other. I could help them with that…

Minutes later, Eguchi-sensei was still lecturing in front and no one defended themselves. Most likely, not only they’re guilty, but they’re also afraid that it would once again turn into a collective punishment from our PE teacher. If that’s the case then I’m with them… These idiots would just be hated by those uninvolved and dragged by them.

Let’s see… For the sake of my girls and Eguchi-sensei’s state of mind. Should I step up and clear this awful air away?