Stealing Spree

When we returned to the Literature Club, both Kana and Rae easily noticed Ishida-senpai’s changed behavior.

Because of what had transpired in that room, the usually grumpy senior was now meekly sticking to my side while clutching the sleeve of my uniform.

She still hadn’t recovered from it. I mean, because of what she said, I was compelled to do it again until she finally admitted to liking it.

Naturally, it was with her consent, whether silent or not.

Ishida-senpai, who somehow got drunk from it, was only struck by extreme embarrassment when we were about to enter this room. Perhaps, knowing that she’s going to face Kana and Rae after being that intimate with me short-circuited her brain.

In any case, answering the two girls’ inquiring gaze, I led Ishida-senpai to them. I hadn’t started speaking yet when the girl lunged at the two, hugging them together before narrating the gist of what happened.

Although we intimately kissed and embraced each other to the point that we felt each other’s body clearly, Ishida-senpai still didn’t consider that as us having entered a relationship.

She still wanted me to continue courting her. And that included me visiting her house again.

Earlier, the girl mumbled it and possibly thought I hadn’t heard her… She said, ‘I wish I could cook and eat with you again…’

Yep. Even without direct admittance of those words, the only instance we did together was when she invited me to her gigantic house where she lives alone; considering her father was seldom home.

Anyway, all I needed to do there was to confirm what happened. Kana and Rae stared at me meaningfully. Possibly because even if they’re more or less pushing the girl to me, hearing about it won’t be as easy to swallow as they thought. For Kana, she’s someone who she's been friends with for more than two years while for Rae, she’s our admirable senior who always grumbled about why I was late.

To make the girl more comfortable, I let the three of them talk to each other while I filled in the curious girl using vague details.

Well, she’s here. It’s already great enough that her curiosity didn’t get the best of her and spoil the mood. She’s still a considerate girl beneath her identity as the curiosity monster.

“No wonder you now smell like Rumi-senpai. How long did you hug her, Onoda-kun?” Barely a whisper, Otsuka-senpai leaned forward while donning a mix of curiosity and tease on her face.

“That’s a secret, senpai. You know, it’s not something to gossip about to others. And Ishida-senpai might be uncomfortable with it so… ask another question.”

“Tsk. It’s what I’m curious about.” Otsuka-senpai scowled for a moment. “Anyhow, have you completed your objective for going out?”

“Yes. It’s upstairs. I have to ask for permission though.”

This girl… It’s a little surprising that she managed to curb that curiosity down by herself. Is she learning how to do it now? I am observing her but, of course, she’s kind of at the bottom of my priority list when compared to my girls. Even when I’m here, I’m more focused on Kana and Rae.

“Great! Take me there next time, alright? I also want to see it.” Otsuka-senpai exclaimed with her eyes glistening in excitement.

Uh. Scratch what I just said. Looks like it’s not that she managed to tone down her curiosity, she just prioritized another detail.

Should I start expecting her to do something when I bring her there? Right. It’s better to be prepared than be caught by surprise.

“Sure. I’ll take you there tomorrow.”

“Great! I can’t wait! Now read this.” Otsuka-senpai then handed me a notebook filled with her handwriting.

Focusing my eyes on the opened page, the girl in front of me eagerly watched while radiating a very proud aura.

Thinking back to what we've been doing these past few days in the club, I understood what she wanted me to read.

Her scenario for our Cultural Club Booth.

Before starting to read it, I first checked on the three girls. They’re still talking to each other. But when they noticed me looking at them, Kana and Rae gave me a nod while Ishida-senpai puffed her cheeks and grumpily blew air through her nose.

Whatever that meant, she’s adorable.

Anyway, focusing back on the notebook in my hand, I started reading it for the sake of this curious girl’s sanity.

‘Who screamed?’

That’s the front title. According to what was written, it’s a scenario where the ‘player’ or the visitor has to solve a mystery involving it.

Thankfully, she skipped on adding the details and focused on the core scene, otherwise, this would be like reading a novel.

Otsuka-senpai intended it to be the first one in the five scenarios we’re going to connect. That’s why… she added a lot of stuff that was irrelevant to the scene she wrote but will be useful to the next or… we had to incorporate in our scenarios.

The difficulty was easy since she intended for it to be solved early on to raise the enthusiasm of the visitors who will try.

How considerate.

But reading at the end of her notes where she added a postscript, I couldn’t help but applaud her genius.

“So, while the mystery will be solved easily, there will be a twist on the fifth scenario? How will you connect it?” I raised a question to the girl which she answered with more tongue clicks.

The way she did it was rather cutesy, reminiscent of my first impression of her. Had she not become a monster filled with curiosity, I would probably also see her as an adorable creature at the level of my Aya, Kana and Edel.

Uh… Wait, I was getting sidetracked.

“You’re naïve, Onoda-kun. Isn’t that your problem by now? I finished my scenario. It’s now up to our upcoming Club President to take on the shoes and connect it to your scenario. Don’t say you’re not going to be the last one, I will be disappointed.”

While mimicking whichever character who’s using a rather irritating accent, Otsuka-senpai comically acted in front of me before laughing loudly in the end.

Because of that, the three girls behind me also looked on and wondered what happened.

As an answer to that, Otsuka-senpai sent a peace sign to the three before saying, “Uhm… Don’t mind us. This is… an encouraging act for this guy here.”

She rolled her eyes, spun around and made another cutesy act before sitting back down in front of me.

Watching her do all that, I had no idea whether to be amazed or weirded out.

I closed the notebook and handed it back to the girl. “Sure, I’ll take the last scenario. But senpai, I won’t be able to do that if your ‘mystery’ was as vague as you’ve written.”

“No worries. This is just the first draft. Kana-senpai and Mirae-chan already agreed with me and they’re going to create one that’s connected to it. It would be a blast if we pulled it off! Think about the new students that will join us next year. They’ll hear about how legendary our booth became because of it.”

I dig how enthusiastic she became but this girl… she’s looking too far up ahead.

“Stop counting your chickens before they hatch, senpai. It’s great that you’re enthusiastic. But we had a lot of work to do aside from these scenarios. It also doesn’t help that I’m always busy… I’ll be relying on you a lot or… you can be the president instead. What do you think?”

Not that I’m expecting her to take it when I have just accepted that position wholeheartedly earlier. I also expect her to decline this… Needing her help was true though. On top of being too focused on my girls, I might even become a Student Council President. Maintaining this club would be impossible if ever that happened.

“Onoda-kun… Have you forgotten why you’re chosen instead of me? I drove our members away because of my excessive curiosity. No way I can be an effective President.”

“Mhm… That’s true. But senpai, I will still need your assistance. There’s no telling how busy I will become in the future. For Kana and Ishida-senpai… Rae, you and I will have to work together to hold this up.”

“That’s true… Wait a minute, we’re getting out of topic.”

“Nah. It’s still on topic, senpai. The Cultural Festival and the position of the President are connected. We won’t have a club if we fail to gather new members next year.” I bitterly smiled and waved my hand to quickly slip out of that depressing topic, “Anyway, great work. I’m glad to have a reliable senior.”

Upon hearing that, Otsuka-senpai proudly smiled while rubbing her nose. “Un… Being praised isn’t bad.”

That’s honest praise, true. However, she’s acting too obvious at wanting to hear my praise since earlier… I just gave her what she wished for.

Following that, Otsuka-senpai and I talked about other things connected to our club.

As for Ishida-senpai, Kana, and Rae, they soon finished convening and joined us. Unsurprisingly, Rae and Kana flanked me and stuck close for the rest of the club time. Although they’re acting unaffected by Ishida-senpai’s confession, it’s clearly written in their every move.

Naturally, I acted obliviously and catered to pamper the two while occasionally checking on Ishida-senpai who still hadn’t reverted to normal.

In a way, the conversation became a one-man show by Otsuka-senpai as the attention of the rest of us lay elsewhere.