Stealing Spree

Asking Otoha about those two families was something I already thought of doing way before. But I held off until I got sufficient reason to do so. I could also ask my parents but I guess I would be saving that as a last resort. For now, I just wanted a general idea of how big or strong those two families are.

“Ichihara and Kujou? Ichihara isn’t a noble family. However, their construction business could be said to be national-level. The Kujous are based in Kyoto. They’re part of the old school nobilities who still held onto their tradition of sending their women to tie up business ventures. They’re not that strong politically. However, their roots as a Noble House were deeper than the Kaneko or Hasegawa. They’re part of those old cliques close to the Shogunate.” Instead of Otoha, it was Hitomi who answered me. Otoha simply nodded, agreeing to everything she just said.

In short, one was a business giant while the other was a deeply-rooted Noble House.

If I ever antagonize one of them, I would surely not be in a good place… How should I go with this if either of the two younger generations of those two families were after me?

The best course of action was to… remain neutral. But will I even be able to do that? Although they’re unlikely to wield their family’s power unwittingly, one was proven a spoiled brat who always has his daddy to wipe his ass.

Well, there’s no point thinking about it at this point in time.

After resting for a while, the three of us returned to the car and Hitomi drove us to our respective schools.

Before Otoha separated from us, she told me her plan to stay in our house soon. Perhaps not in a few days but in weeks. That’s according to Hitomi.

Even though her grandfather accepted our relationship, she’s still the daughter of her father. She couldn’t just decide to stay outside without informing him. Furthermore, she’s expecting her mother’s interference…

And that’s the reason why even after we passed the hurdle of coming out clean with her grandfather, she still couldn’t come and stay with me…

Well, there’s no rush. We have plenty of time in the future…

-

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“Finally. Come with me, shameless guy.”

Upon arriving and passing by the pleasantly smiling Eguchi-sensei, someone blocked my way right at the entrance of the School Building. With her obvious delinquent-like attire, blue hair, and the normally narrowed eyes as though I killed one of her kin, Izumi-senpai instantly grabbed my arm and dragged me with her while ignoring the eyes that followed us.

Apart from that one, she didn’t say anything else and most likely she’s just too lazy to explain herself to me. Thinking back to her concerned message for me two nights ago, this was probably related to it. Who knows?

But since we still have time before the actual start of the classes, I let myself be dragged by her while watching the girl do her best not to glance back at me.

“Izumi, where are you going with that guy?”

However, things just wouldn’t go her way. Not even five steps later, an inquisitive voice reached our ears which made the girl stop in her steps to look at the speaker.

Even without doing the same as her, I already recognized that voice. That annoying voice of a self-righteous and self-important prick. Most likely, his face was twisted into a frown as he glared at me upon seeing this scene this early in the morning.

That’s how it is with him, after all.

“I have some business with him. Why?” Izumi-senpai answered the guy coolly. However, I noticed how her grasp on my arm tightened a bit. She’s either a little affected that the guy saw her with me or she just didn’t want to explain herself to him. Whatever the case, Izumi-senpai’s infatuation with him had already dwindled to this extent.

Her previous devotion? Gone with the wind. Not that she’s fickle, the girl only got her eyes opened about the hopelessness of her situation… And well, I also laid out an alternative – a not-so-easy alternative, however.

Anyway, that’s Ogawa, alright. Because of Izumi-senpai’s reaction, I also couldn’t help but look at the guy and his ugly mug – or handsome for most. Behind him, there’s also Taku and Tadano. The former had his lips tightly sealed yet his eyes focused on me as though he was drilling into my head in his imagination while the latter remained neutral and a bit curious as to why Izumi-senpai was with me.

Looks like they all arrived together. Really a trio of cucks. If you add Fukuda, a quad. Let’s spare Sakuma from being grouped with them. That’s a conscientious act of mine.

Nami, Hina and Saki are already inside. Those three updated me even before I met up with Otoha and Hitomi. They’re early because they said they wanted to check on our clubhouse.

As for Arisa… I could spy that girl hiding in a corner, watching over us… What’s her deal? Probably trying not to make her friend embarrassed by refraining to tease her. When we made eye contact, I smiled at her. She smiled back but upon realizing that I caught her, she hurriedly retreated. Moments later, the phone in my pocket vibrated. Surely, it’s a message from her.

“W-what kind of business?” While stuttering right at the first word, Ogawa asked.

I looked at Izumi-senpai and she was having a hard time coming up with an answer. She then looked at me and bit her lips…

From that, I understood… She didn’t want to tell Ogawa because it concerned me. Or it’s about that rumor again. I wonder what she heard?

In any case, I decided to step up and answer for her.

“Nanya.” I said with all seriousness.

Failing to understand that, Ogawa's eyebrows creased, “Huh? Nanya?”

“Come on. It’s nanya! Nanya business, you slowpoke.” I shrugged and shook my head disappointedly.

But upon hearing that and understanding that I had just played him, Ogawa’s face turned black from madness.

Yet, before he could bark like a certain senior dog, Izumi-senpai pinched and twisted my ear a bit as she stepped forward. “This guy. Don’t answer for me… And can you stop antagonizing him every time you see each other?”

Perhaps thinking that he was being defended by Izumi-senpai, the guy’s blackened face regained some of its glow. But that was short-lived…

“Ah. Sorry, I can’t help it. He sounds like he’s about to say something along the lines of, ‘Whatever kind of business that is, don’t go with him!’. For the record, you’re the one who’s dragging me. Right, senpai?”

With a little difficulty, Izumi-senpai nodded, “Yes, I am. I waited for you. So don’t go running off while I’m talking with someone.”

Her gaze alternated between me and Ogawa. Eventually, it settled on the guy while she tugged at my arm that she was still holding, pulling me to stand behind her.

I thought of saying more but with Izumi-senpai openly doing this as though she’s protecting me – or protecting him from being annoyed by me further – I closed my mouth and only a meaningful smile remained on my lips.

A while later, Izumi-senpai made up some kind of excuse which miraculously got accepted by Ogawa. He stomped his way inside the School Building and the two followed behind him.

Once they were gone, Izumi-senpai turned around and faced me. After releasing a tired sigh, she resumed walking ahead, pulling me with her.

While doing so, she gave light as to why she waited for me this morning, “Don’t misunderstand, shameless guy. This doesn’t mean anything, alright? I… I just thought you have to know this right away.”

“Sure. I believe you.”

“You clearly don’t.”

“I never lie… I mean, I lie only on special occasions. And this is not one. Senpai must have a reason for all this. I’m willing to hear you out.”

Well, better not comment on how that was a classic tsundere line. She already used that twice. And although the first one sounded genuine, I feel like there’s really a reason for it this time. I’m just wondering why she didn’t contact me instead. Is it better to be said in person? Maybe…

After staring at me for a few seconds to discern whether my words were truthful or not, Izumi-senpai forced a smile and said, “… That’s great. Let’s go find a private place first.”