Stealing Spree

With Hana’s imminent return getting a clear date, I somehow found myself rather excited than worried. I admit, she’s successful in regaining my attention back to her. However, thinking about it, the girl probably gambled on being that aggressive in her approach because of the information supplied to her.

I still had no idea who it was but I’m expecting a message from any of the five idiots that could confirm my suspicion about that girl from the Seven Star Girl’s Academy who tried making contact with me two Saturdays ago.

Anyway, Hana has been silent these past two days. Our last exchange was about her attempt to use me as a mouthpiece to tell Hifumi and Chii that they only used them to get more information about me.

I guess to get back at her, I’ll tell those two the date of her return. It’ll be a magnificent sight if she tries to run away from the two who see her as a friend. This was just a guess based on her trait, no matter how cold she made it sound, she was just afraid to meet them again.

The girl had never gotten someone she could call a friend or she was confused if she could call Hifumi and Chii as her friends.

From the photos in the albums that she sent to me, she’s like an immaculate saint whose light prevented other people from approaching her. That’s why she looked so lonely and pitiful even with her usual angelic smile.

Anyway, soon after I sent a reply to all of them, I decided to check their replies later and started preparing to leave the stall.

However, as I was in the process of buckling my pants back, sets of footsteps entered the bathroom. They quickly erupted into conversation.

Ignoring them was easy. But the topic quickly rolled and it arrived at something that made me pause.

“Hey, what the heck is with that Onoda from Class 1?”

Yep. They started talking about me.

I couldn’t recognize the speaker’s voice but he’s definitely not from our class. The way he said that was filled with envy and at the same time puzzlement.

He knew me by name. But at this point, only those who were absent at that announcement or those who didn’t care enough wouldn’t know.

Anyway, someone else answered him and like the first guy, I couldn’t recognize his voice.

“What about him?”

He sounded indifferent but with how quick he replied, he’s just as interested. He knew that the first guy would continue.

“Everything! These past few weeks he became the talk of every girl in every class.”

Am I now? This guy must’ve been feeding off of gossip about me. Anyway, those may be gossip but I found this a great chance to hear the guys’ opinions about me. Not that I cared enough about my reputation but it’s to gauge how much of an influence I already have post-haircut and reveal as part of the Student Council.

“Dude, are you jealous? Has your crush started crushing on him?” A third guy spoke up, laughing at the first guy.

“Of course not! Why will I? It’s just too absurd how he’s getting this much attention.”

“Again, are you jealous? Reincarnate and get a good-looking face. Enough to rival that guy. He has it in him, you know?”

“Fuck you, man. Why are you defending him? Are you gay?”

“Alright, enough with that. I get what you’re saying. His popularity suddenly skyrocketed. And have you heard? According to someone I know from their class, he’s too close or very intimate to most girls. They can’t even pinpoint who among them is his girlfriend.” A fourth voice sprang up, calming down the tension between the 1st and 3rd guy.

I had no idea who that third guy was but he has great jabs. It all hit squarely on that 1st guy’s face.

“Are you joking? What girlfriend? That kind of guy will not get one. He’ll gun for the most beautiful in our year. And who do you think it will be?” And now, the 2nd guy rejoined their conversation.

“Fuck, not our Itou-ojou!” It’s the 1st guy again. I guess among the four, he’s the one who had the most beef against me. He’s that type of guy who could only complain about someone successful than better himself to compete.

“Calm down and piss properly you idiot!” The 3rd guy scolded him loudly this time. Another smack to his face.

Their conversation didn’t stop there, obviously. The 1st guy kept on shouting his complaints that were filled with envy.

They tackled my position in the Student Council and somehow arrived at the same conclusion as Nakanishi-senpai. Shizu found something special with me.

Following that, their topic switched to Shizu. Or rather, how she was two to three years ago. The first and fourth guy tried to debunk that claim by referencing how Shizu was as their Student Council President in middle school.

On the other hand, the third guy kept on jabbing on the 1st guy and subtly defending my position.

Did I get a fan, I wonder?

As for the second guy, he’s mostly silent but he’s the one providing more topics and he seemed really knowledgeable about the gossip surrounding me.

In any case, when I deemed their topic tasteless, I stood up again, pulled the flush and left the stall.

As soon as I opened the door, all four of them focused on me, speechless. Their topic that circled back on me was left hanging as they watched me walk to the sink where I started washing my hands.

A minute later, I took a glance at the four who now had complicated expressions as though they choked on their saliva except for one guy.

There’s no need to guess. He’s that third guy who’s mercilessly jabbing at the first guy and subtly defending my name.

He walked over with a big grin on his face. In his eyes, a look of fanaticism.

“Yo, Onoda. Did you hear everything?” He asked. Upon hearing that, the other three finally gulped their saliva down as they looked on in anticipation with my answer.

One guy in particular started sweating bullets, he’s probably the loudmouth who kept insulting me.

“Is that even a question? Do you want me to lie? I can do that.” I answered as I pulled out a strip of wipes, drying my hands.

“Ah. Yeah. Of course, you heard everything.” He wryly smiled as he glanced back at his group. He even eyed that sweating guy before shaking his head. “That aside, I’m a fan. Your reputation precedes you it seems.”

“Fan, huh? I’m not trying to be a celebrity though.”

“True that. But you see, you started becoming an inspiration to some. With all the rumors flying around, you can still act this cool and confident.”

This guy is complimenting another guy right to his face. That’s unusual.

“Man. Whoever believes in rumors anyway? If I react to each one, it will just create two more. So the best way of dealing with it is to act unaffected.”

“Damn, wise words, bro. By the way, I’m—”

“Isozaki, right? I told you I’m listening.” I cut him off by reciting the name that I heard from the other three. Well, he’s coming off really friendly. It’s not bad but there’s no way I’ll get a male friend. He can stay as a fan though.

“Yes. Geez, you’re even cooler in person. Don’t worry about them. Guys, you know? We always tend to shit talk someone else. They don’t mean harm.”

Well, he’s not wrong. Even girls do that. It’s not an exclusive boys’ trait.

“Sure. Not that I care. But you see, you all better not talk about the girls like that. They should be respected. That’s how you get them to trust you.”

“Did you just give us advice?” With his eyes widening in saucers, Isozaki’s expression became even more amazed at me. I guess, I really got myself a fan, huh?

“It’s up to you to take it. Anyway, I got to go. Continue on your merry shit-talking.” After saying that, I turned around and left the bathroom in unhurried steps.

From behind me, I could hear sighs of relief and another sigh of amazement. If they’re talking about me so intensely that they could even come to the point of disagreement, for sure, that’s also happening in some other corners of the school.

I’m not used to being this popular. However, there are some pros to being one; my presence alone shut them up.